Converting Cricket to Alltel: Questions (LG AX500)

I converted a Cricket LG Ax5000 from Cricket to Alltel, and it works pretty good (follwoing Alltel's instructions on how to activate the phone).

Unfortunately, the firmware needs to be flashed/upgraded (I think) in order for the phone to be fully functional. For example, it only has BREW instead of whatever the Alltel process is for acessing the WAP internet.

Also, there's never a "D" in the top. It's just a 1X (nomatter what I set the Data Settings to).

In short, I fear that simply activating the phone is going to partly disable it. It may need a true firmware upgrade.

Is it possible to get a firmware upgrade?

Or, conversely, is the phone actually fine the way it is, with the Cricket firmware, but with me unable to upgrade the software to AllTel. (Can I access WAP, for example) without AllTel's firmware?

TIA!!

~john

 

So, will this be a problem--without having AllTel's firmare/software. The phone seems to work fine.....

Could it be that, since Cricket doesn't disable the 1X, that the phone might work *better*??

TIA!

John

 

Straight from factory non-branded LG AX5000 works on Alltel

A few updates on the non-branded LG AX5000.

1. It must have come straight from the factory, because the boot up routine and everything else is pure LG. If the Cricket service is using this phone, they don't have their own firmware.

2. If you find a naive/nice Alltel representative, they'll activate a non-branded LG AX5000 . . . but I have yet to find ANYONE from Alltel who'll consider doing a firmware install/upgrade.

3. Without the Alltel software/firmware (whatever it's called), the phone may not have full functions......but I only use this phone for making and receiving calls and text messages. I loosely suspect that the internet capabilities won't work.

4. It reads "1X" instead of "D," but that appears purely cosmetic. I think Alltel decided against having the 1X show up because it might confuse people.

I'll update the post if I find anything noteworthy.

Best,

John

 

I'll only speculate, but here goes.....

The LG 5000 (or the LG AX5000, as Alltel calls it), appears to come from the factory and Cricket doesn't add anything to it. No cosmetic or software alterations.

The ones for Alltel are branded, both cosmetically and with a software change--but it's not that much different. Menu changes, minor stuff.

I suspect I'll find that some part of the Alltel software package is actually necessary for something (like sending a picture message or internet stuff), but to this point I can't find it.

If you took an Alltel branded phone with Alltel software, I would guess that you could activate it on the Cricket service . . . and it would work just fine. But that's just a guess.

Additionally, I suspect most phones for Alltel would work on Cricket, with the same potential for some features not working.

Verizon, though, is another story. From what I've read, their software/firmware is much more invasive/controlling. I suppose there would be a greater chance that something would go wrong. But I do bet it would work, just activating it.

On a related note, if Cricket does firmware upgrades, then you might be able to bring a Verizon phone in, and have them flash it BACK to the LG factory-original state. Then activate it.....and all would be well!

Just speculating......

John

Wo

 

Yep, pic message doesn't work. I do though have the PRL right for my area, and the phone does *228 just fine.

So, I guess I'm okay on the roaming issue.......put I'm intrigued by the firmware. I didn't know that the store could even do that. Maybe some can and some can't?

It was that way with Verizon: the bigger stores had more cables, etc.

Anyway, this is the first new that I've heard saying Alltel can actually do it in the store....

As for firmware on the net, I see the Alltel firmware for the Motorola phones all over. But is that the same firmware that gets zapped into the AX5000?

TIA!

John