I broke the LCD screen on my cell phone recently and my contract is not up for a few months. In the meantime I was planning on using an old phone that I had just lying around the house. My two options at this point would be either a Samsung SCH-A645 or Moto E815. Obviously the Moto is a significant upgrade but there is one problem; it is a Verizon phone. Now I know that this specific model works on Alltel's network, because my dad used to use one as his work phone. However when I called Altell to ask them how I would go about switching the phone over they told me that it was not possible because it was against government regulations. Now that is a load of bull. What the service representative meant was that she a) did not know how to do it and b) since she wouldn't be making a commission off of it that she didn't want to find out how to do it. Now both companies are CDMA capable and since Verizon recently bought out Alltel there is obviously no general compatibility problems. Also I have seen on other forums and threads how to do just what I am asking but with different phones. I was wondering if anyone out there has any idea how I would go about making the conversion. Thanks in advance for any help
I can convert it for you...or you can look around Howard forums/ etc and read up it. You need a data cable, the USB moto developer drivers, and p. s. t. 7.23 or better, and the alltel monster flash file. It's not against gov't regulations or anything, only alltel's profit margin. You can check this out... http://wiki.howardforums.com/index.php/Motorola_V3c_Tutorial:_Flashing_to_Alltel_User_Interface or this HowardForums: Your Mobile Phone Community & Resource - How-to: Tutorial on flashing your VZW E815 to the Alltel 05.05.00 firmware except you will want to only do the flash process, and not the "fix get it now" nonsense. this one is good to for a general guide Mark_Venture's Verizon Phone Info Page here is a little more from a thread i answered a while ago, i'm still looking for the write up I did on it... http://www.howardforums.com/archive/topic/1247736-1.html
Some misconceptions in your post: 1. Reps don't let commissions fuel their actions. If the phone is activateable they would help you. 2. Verizon has NOT bought Alltel. They are in talks to merge, that's true, but no governmental approval has been given and the two boards have not agreed on anything beyond the merger in principal. Bottom line is that Alltel has the absolute right to control what equipment is used on their network, and a Verizon phone won't function properly. Those few folks who do sneak incorrect equipment in almost always end up with huge roaming bills that Alltel will NOT correct as it is not the fault of the company that the consumer has found a way ot put non-authorizd equipment on the network.
Not to be condescending but check you information again. Alltel's and Verizon's boards have reached an agreement but your right that the govt hasn't approved it yet. Would be a big surprise if they didn't though. News of their agreement has been all over the news, Google it and I'm sure you can find it. And it technically is not a merger since Verizon will acquire the equity of Alltel for $5.9 billion and then assume its $22.2 billion in debt. Whats more my Aunt works for Alltel and she said once the deal was agreed on about half her department just quit their jobs (now granted they werent the worlds greatest jobs making payment collection calls) because they realized that a bunch of them would be out of work in about a year anyway now. But I guess I'm just frustrated that Alltel can't seem to help me out with this. I really don't think I'm asking too much and their refusal help me out for these next few months has me seriously doubting that I will renew my contract with them. But hey like you said it is their network. Just hope when I figure out how to do this I don't get slammed with roaming (but since most of Alltel's airtime is simply time/space bought off of Verizon's towers anyway I don't think this will be an issue. Plus both service providers work equally well in my area)
Wirelessly posted (MOT-VEGAS/00.72 UP.Browser/7.2.6.1.797 (GUI) MMP/2.0) Yes that is definatley something that can happen with non Alltel phones, but only if they are not flashed...
Actually, although the two boards have agreed IN PRINCIPAL no details have yet been discussed besides initial financials. This I know for a FACT. So no agreement has yet been reached and finalized YET, although both boards are still wanting to close the deal by year's end. Oh, and BOTH companies refer to this as a Merger, not a buyout. And again, even if you did get your Verizon h/s onto Alltel, you would likely get huge roaming charges (as I have seen in EVERY case where this has happened) regardless of what system you were roaming on.
No I don't "know it all" but I do know the basics. Until governmental approval from the DOJ and FCC has been granted, the two companies can't sit down and do any further discussions beyond the initial step of agreeing in principal. It's just common business practice and law.
As long as they are still competitors (which they currently are.) Any discussions or decisions about day to day operations at either company company cannot be decided by the other... Basic antitrust laws are real clear on this. However if they follow Sprint/Nextel example they will probably have some folks from both companies stashed away in a Hotel somewhere discussing technical aspects of the merger, those people cannot have any communications or decision making capacity in the current operations of either company. As for flashing the phone that can be done... Metro PCS now makes a common practice of this...
I haven't used an Alltel branded phone on my account in years. I've used several different Motos and a few different Palm Treos. I've never gotten charged for roaming ever. I flash all my Motos with Alltel firmware before I activate them though. As long as the phone has Alltel firmware and an Alltel PRL, how in the world do you figure they could charge you for roaming? My current phone is a Amp'd Mobile v3m flashed to Alltel firmware. I guess I'm just one of the lucky thousands that do this all the time. By the way, next time you get a handset through XBM, run the ESN through the here, you may be surprised just where your phone started out it's life. As a matter of fact, I've only done about three XBMs on other phones on my account and none of them were originally Alltel phones. All were refubed Verizons if I recall......
Well bravo for you. Glad to hear you have had good luck...howerer........... Most stores are not supposed to, and won't, flash the phone. Most people just get a foreign handset and try to activate it and end up with big bucks on their bill.. THAT was why I was referring to. I was never referring to flashed phones.
A buddy of mine has worked at alltel for a while now. Not sure what the news says, but his system at works says verizon now, and at the end of DEC he will become a verizon employee. I have asked the same ?S, i have an Alltel contact but i want to use a verizon phone after dec. No reps can give me a def answer. Some say yes, some say they are not sure, and one guy totally denied that Alltel was goin to be verzion, ..lol If i here anything from my friend i will give you all a heads up, but i dont see what the prob would be after the first of the year. And those of you with alltel, after the first verizon is goin to expand there Rev A net connections. Half the reason i went ahead and got the air card.
Well it looks like it's happening anyway. I haven't seen anything from the FCC's website the last I checked. :|
