MetroPCS will flash existing CDMA handsets

That's great to see Metro flashing phone from other carriers for use on their network. I think thats a very smart move for them. Not only can you bring your existing CDMA phone, but if you don't like their choice of phones you can buy a CDMA phone on eBay and have it flashed for use on Metro.

 

It's a big hassle to re-flash firmware so I'm surprised they are willing to do this. I could see wait times at certain stores over an hour depending on how busy they are.

 

It'll be interesting to see what they mean by "compatible CDMA handsets". That's a loophole you could drive a truck through.

 

Im sure pre-GPS phones will be out. You can pretty much use any carriers UI as long as the phone is not locked to a network of the IMEI or ESN blacklisted.

Its a pain to have another carriers UI especially the data settings but you can work around it.

Verizon would be kinda a pain as it seems almost every menu and button take you to somewhere to buy something.

 

They may not necessarily mean they'll flash every phone. I'm sure they can't do every model out there, and many others they'll probably just unlock them and program them with MetroPCS settings whenever a full flash is not necessary. I can see Verizon phones needing a full flash, though. Then, in order to avoid long waits, they'll probably just ask people to come back later on in the day or the following day depending on how busy they are. If you know what you're doing flashing or programming a phone takes only a few minutes.

This is an old practice in countries like Dominican Republic where bringing US CDMA phones for activation is a normal everyday business transaction and almost every (Codetel [formerly Verizon Dominicana] or Centennial, or Tricom) store you go to could unlock/program or even flash almost any CDMA phone. Of course, a fee is always required for this. Although the sale of Verizon Dominicana in 2006 has transformed the technology landscape because they converted their network to GSM/UMTS so it makes it easier for imported phones being activated. They're the largest wireless carrier in DR.

 

Wirelessly posted (Walkguru's: Opera/9.50 (J2ME/MIDP; Opera Mini/4.1.11328/534; U; en))

i think that this is a great deal maybe others will start doing it too

 

I don't see them being able to do every cdma phone out there. Wouldn't they have to obtain new firmware versions from the manufacturers (ie. Samsung, Sanyo, Motorola, LG etc) in order to meet their particular requirements?




EDIT: Had To Edit Larry's Typo

 

I think just a simple flash for the network settings and PRL and change 411 and 611 and any special numbers for balances etc.

 

They probably just load the standard plain "brand-less" firmware if they have to. They probably have connections with the manufacturers to quickly download the firmwares. AFAIK, only the largest carriers will heavily customize and brand firmware. So I don't see MetroPCS loading customized menus and branded features on 3rd party phones. I can see them just unlocking the phones, resetting and wiping all to factory settings and reprogram the phones in most cases. This of course requires them to have a large collection of data cables, unlocking software and hardware and a vast database of secret "hack" codes to address most CDMA phones, and this they have to have at every location, and that's not counting the trained technicians they need to pay to do this. Sounds like a big investment.

I wish every carrier had some sort of facility where customers can go and take care of this without having to go underground for it. Carriers are just losing all that business if you ask me.

 

Yes they will have to have quite an extensive data cable inventory to be able to cover the many different phones people will bring in.

 

That's not nearly as big a deal as most people think. There are companies that make equipment just for this task and they can be ordered with complete data cable adapter kits. It's no different than having all the cables needed to transfer peoples phonebooks from phone to phone.

 

Nokia, HTC and Blackberrys are missing from the list.

Nokia has been quiet due the qualcomm lawsuit, are they making CDMA phones anymore?

 

Remember HTC is branded as UTStarcom on Verizon, it's on the list as PPC-6700 under that name, that's the HTC Apache. So fret not, HTC is on the list, I'm sure blackberry is a different kind of animal though.

 

it would just make sense on those "incompatible" phones to factory settings and firmwae.....even if it is just a regular phone not all phones will be compatible

 

I heard that MertoPcs will be offering MetroFlash at their corporate stores and at a few chosen Authorized Representative locations. Does anybody know how the FEW will be chosen? The software that is going to be used from what i hear is called "Houdini" I'd like to know more about this is this the manufactor or the platform. The software is going to cost about 300 bucks.. thats all i know for now.............

 

okay well i dug up the sight for Houdini Software

Home | Houdinisoft.com - Test, Unlock, Flash

and it looks like the sell universal cables for over 200 handsets.....thats what the software works with


according to this reply by a Metro employee on Phonescoop they are even flashing smartphones too: MetroPCS Invites You To Use Your Own Phone Forum (Phone Scoop)

 

Hi there!
I went to several metro PCS Stores and I've been doing some research. Metro flash works only on voice and SMS. No web, no MMS. Regarding to smartphones, in their website list is the samsung I830.
And there is a guy in Fort Lauderdale (FLorida) who says that he can flash some smartphones and PDAs into Metro PCS including some internet acces on some of them. Here's the address where I found it. I have not talked to him yet, but I'm looking forward to it.
FLASH YOUR PDA CELL PHONE WITH METRO PCS!!!!

 

The biggest incompatibility, which cannot be solved by firmware, is wanting to use a PCS handset in one of MetroPCS's AWS markets. This article has a table of what spectrum is where.

COtech