Putting Verizon Firmware on an Alltel v60i

I recently switched over from Alltel to Verizon. Instead of buying a new phone (I'm waiting until the v60p comes out), I decided to move my v60i from Alltel to Verizon. I started the account over the phone because I need to have an Atlanta area code while I still reside in St. Marys, Ga. because I'm going to Emory University in the fall. The sales rep tells me that I'll need to go by a Verizon store and get the Verizon PRL and firmware put on the phone. He even tells me that "we do it all the time here" (referring to the firmware).

So I drive an hour to the nearest VZW store with a tech. When I get there, they tell me that they can't put the VZW firmware on the phone because it will "fry" the phone. So they put the PRL on there (v. 50083). I call the sales rep I talked to at VZW and of course I get his voicemail, and there is nobody else there at Verizon who will take responsibility for my phone if it fries. The techs at the store won't do it either because it comes out of their paycheck if they mess it up.

Is there any way that they can do this? Do I need to unlock the phone somehow? I have a Motorola v60i with Alltel firmware and a Verizon PRL leaving me without mobile web and TXT Messaging that is as slow as molasses. Plus I can't do *228 PRL update, and I don't have all of the Verizon roaming indicators because I still have the Alltel firmware!

Any responses would be greatly appreciated!

Thank you,

 

Okay, I went to a store in Charleston, SC while visiting my grandmother. They loaded the most recent software version on it (2200.01.2F), but there is nothing that indicates it is Verizon software except the main start-up banner. The main screen just has a "D" with a box around it. The second screen which displays the caller ID on the outside just says "Motorola" whenever you open the phone. It used to read "ALLTEL" with the old software. At least I was able to get the tech at this store to do something. What are the roaming indicators for Verizon? The triangle at the top is steady. Can somebody who uses a v60i with the Verizon software tell me what their main screen displays? Do I just have the generic Motorola software? All responses appreciated!

 

Thank you! After several weeks, I finally have some resolution on this issue! Now, if I'm not going to be in my home SID (the Atlanta market) for a while, can I reprogram my phone to recognize the current SID I'm in as my home SID, do the *228 update, and then reprogram my phone again with my correct home SID? Will that cause any problems? Also, I have forgotten the v60i's key sequence to do that.

Thanks again,

 

Cenobyte--Okay, I programmed my phone to recognize the current SID I'm in as my home SID, and then I attempted to do the *228 update, choosing option 2. It said "I'm sorry, but we're unable to program your phone at this time." Then the screen said "Excess SPC Failures." What does this mean? Where do I go from here?

 

All right, let me give you my current status to sum it all up. I have the 2200.01.2F software version. The splash screen says Verizon whenever I power on the phone. When I go the Browser select option, it lists "VZW" as an option. However, my main screen just has a "D" with a box around it, and the roaming indicator at the top is steady, even though I know for a fact that I'm on a Verizon tower. I am out of my home market at the moment, so the indicator should be flashing because I'm on a Verizon tower. It doesn't say "Verizon Wireless" on the main display. Cenobyte, you told me to do the *228 update to get the ERIs, but whenever I do that, it just says "I'm sorry, but we're unable to program your phone at this time." Where do I need to go from here? VZW tech support has been of no help so far. Can anyone tell me what a normal v60i on Verizon is supposed to say? Anyone have any ideas? I need some help!

 

Gadget, are you a Verizon customer? On your v60i, does it say "Verizon Wireless" across the main display? Does it always say this whenever you are on a Verizon tower or just sometimes? Right now, I'm on an odd SID, and my triangle is steady.

 

Hey Tadlock, since you're on Verizon and have a v60i, please tell me what your main display says when you're on the Verizon network. What does it say when you're off the network? What does the triangle at the top do when you're roaming on Verizon (i.e. outside of your home market) and what does it do when you're roaming that will cost you money? Also, please look under your menu under "Other Information" and tell me what your ERI version is. Thanks for your help!

 

Tadlock, you're the man! Thanks for the help! I've been trying to get that information out of somebody for quite some time now!