Sprint Cdma Options In Phones

[latinprince05]

I've heard about the sprint nextel merger and how there phones are close to being compatible, would this mean that sprint network would be gsm compatible? My other questions is what other options is phones do i have when it comes to a sprint network. I am looking for a phone similar to the v635, i saw the motorola a840 but it says verizon only? Could this phones be unlocked and switched to sprint?

Thanks in advance

[carcomptoy]

There is no way Sprint and Nextel phones are compatible...the former runs on CDMA (code-division multiple access) whereas Nextel's exclusive iDEN network runs on TDMA (time-division multiple access) just like GSM (but they're not necessarily 100% compatible). This incompatibility is why I find the merger stupid...but in any case, they're incompatible, and unless they come up with some miracle solution, will always will be. Sprint is very restrictive, and so the only phones you can use are they phones they offer, even though there are unlocked CDMA phones.

If you insist on staying with CDMA, then the closest thing to a V635 would probably be an E815 or A840...technically these phones are already "unlocked" so you could technically use it on Alltel or U.S. Cellular, but as I said, Sprint is very restricted...

[latinprince05]

There is no way Sprint and Nextel phones are compatible...the former runs on CDMA (code-division multiple access) whereas Nextel's exclusive iDEN network runs on TDMA (time-division multiple access) just like GSM (but they're not necessarily 100% compatible). This incompatibility is why I find the merger stupid...but in any case, they're incompatible, and unless they come up with some miracle solution, will always will be. Sprint is very restrictive, and so the only phones you can use are they phones they offer, even though there are unlocked CDMA phones.

If you insist on staying with CDMA, then the closest thing to a V635 would probably be an E815 or A840...technically these phones are already "unlocked" so you could technically use it on Alltel or U.S. Cellular, but as I said, Sprint is very restricted...

the e815 looks hot and is on my price range, but i really woudnt like to purchase the phone and later find out it doesnt work on a sprint network? Has anyone ever had any experience on non sprint phones on a sprint network

[latinprince05]

how do i swap esn between a sprint phone and lets say the e815?

[carcomptoy]

You can't swap ESN...it the phone's personal serial number and only that phone's serial number...have you tried asking a Sprint representative? hmmm, maybe not...they might be ignorant:p

[latinprince05]

You can't swap ESN...it the phone's personal serial number and only that phone's serial number...have you tried asking a Sprint representative? hmmm, maybe not...they might be ignorant:p

yes you can swap esn, many people do it

[aresthoth]

yes you can swap esn, many people do it
True, but Sprint does not allow you to register/activate a phone with a foreign (i.e., non-Sprint) ESN. Of the major CDMA carriers, only Verizon Wireless (VZW) allows this. It is a bit of a pain, but many people on VZW have activated phones that VZW does not sells, but that are compatible with VZW's network. Sprint, however, simply does not allow it. To put it more succinctly, if Sprint doesn't sell it, now or in the past, then you are SOL.

[carcomptoy]

yes you can swap esn, many people do it
Yes you can swap ESNs but that requires changing phones...you can't change a phone's ESN because that is its own serial number...like a car's VIN. The only way you can do that is illegally, which of course isn't condoned here at MobileBurn:rolleyes:

[Serifan]

the e815 looks hot and is in my price range, but i really woudnt like to purchase the phone and later find out it doesnt work on a sprint network? Has anyone ever had any experience on non sprint phones on a sprint network
Like others have stated, it (the 815) will work on Sprint's network; Sprint just won't activate it. Besides, the E815 is branded and customized by Verizon Wireless.

[carcomptoy]

So if Sprint won't activate it, how will it work then?

[latinprince05]

So if Sprint won't activate it, how will it work then?

they'll activate a sprint branded phone and then you can swap the esn's from the sprint phone to the e815, i yet haved figured out how to do it. And i problably wont, but i am 100% sure it can be done. Plus you can flash the e815 and take out the verizon software in it.

[carcomptoy]

Yeah, I know you can reflash the e815, but how can you switch ESNs...

Besides, isn't that illegal, considering you'd have to mess with the manufacturer given serial number and would have to hack into the phone?:rolleyes:

[latinprince05]

Yeah, I know you can reflash the e815, but how can you switch ESNs...

Besides, isn't that illegal, considering you'd have to mess with the manufacturer given serial number and would have to hack into the phone?:rolleyes:

if i knew i would have an e815 on a sprint network, people in the forum know but since they never done anything illegal in there life, they refuse to share with us...

[Serifan]

So if Sprint won't activate it, how will it work then?
I was talking about compatibility. Sprint's policy is to not activate phones with a foreign ESN, but technically the phone can/will work on their network because it is compatible. It is no different than how many Verizon Wireless customers use Sprint branded phones and other phones that VZW doesn't carry.

[carcomptoy]

Hmm I was under the impression Sprint adds something extra so that non-Sprint phones won't work...like some code or something in the phones.

But I did of course know that they have compatible technologies...

[Serifan]

I was under the impression Sprint adds something extra so that non-Sprint phones won't work...like some code or something in the phones.
Sprint doesn't add anything; they simple won't activate a non-Sprint phone. I understand the business reason for doing this, but not even VZW (Verizon Wireless) is that strict. VZW definitely makes it difficult and have tighten the reigns a bit lately, but you can still activate a non-VZW phone on VZW's network.

[player4288]

Hi, I am interested in purchasing a Sharp 903sh and connecting it to the Sprint network. However, being a Sprint customer for 3 years, I can verify the strict restriction they have on connecting foreign phones to their network. But if this were not an issue, would this phone be compatible with the sprint network? The phone is advertised as being quad-band compatible (wcdma/umts, and gsm 900/1800/1900mhz triband). Thanks.

[carcomptoy]

Um...sorry but they're in NO WAY compatible. I know it's a big confusing since it says it supports WCDMA but WCDMA and CDMA are very different technologies and come from two different branches of the wireless tree.

The only phone you'd be able to use this one on is T-Mobile or Cingular, but I'd be wary of the latter since many of the places it covers uses 850MHz, which the 903sh doesn't have obviously...just go with T-Mobile and GET MORE!:p