Can an unlocked CDMA iphone from Verizon work on Sprint?

Discussion in 'iPhone' started by slamdunksaliby, Jan 11, 2011.

  1. slamdunksaliby Member

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    Hmmmmm just like u can unlock to t-mobile? =p
  2. _JKK_ Front Page Reporter

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    Unlocking on CDMA is very different, as compared to GSM (which is what AT&T/T-Mo run on).

    You can do it. You need the ESN number, and you need to know someone inside of Sprint that will activate it on their network. There is no hack to unlock it, or anything like that.
  3. slamdunksaliby Member

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    oh ok that makes sense....so the iphone could run unofficially on all four major carriers then...
  4. halolordkiller3 Well-Known Member

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    wow all i have to say is, thank god im getting a job there soon XD I will be more than happy when i get the job to do it for you guys
  5. b777forever Well-Known Member

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    Maybe somebody could flash it to work on Sprint and Cricket.

    Don't shoot me down about that idea, me dont know techonologee
  6. _JKK_ Front Page Reporter

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    It can get you fired, and I'm not totally sure how high up you have to be. It's different than just activating a regular phone, as you have to actually enter it into the system.

    it's all pretty mysterious; I'm just saying what I've heard on some of the more technical phone podcasts/articles out there.
  7. halolordkiller3 Well-Known Member

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    I meant over time lol, but im sure by then it will be on Sprint or the unlock team will have something, but you can't just activate it like on sprint.com. Why? because CDMA phones have unique hex number and what not to them
  8. Weeth Active Member

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    Interesting... I wondered this as soon as I heard about the cdma iPhone release!
  9. intellca New Member

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    It is "not possible" to unlock a CDMA phone for use on another network... Here's why,

    Each CDMA phone have a unique hardware code like your ethernet adapter, which is almost like an embeded "SIM" chip, and different code groups are sold to specific companies. Yes you theoretically can flash the hell out of the iPhone's bootrom and achieve unlock, but the CDMA hardware ID stays the same, which means the CARRIER (other than Verizon) have to manually enter ANOTHER COMPANY's CDMA harware ID into their system for it to work on the new network, Doesn't that sound like LEGAL issues NO carrier would EVER strap themselves into?

    Enough said...
  10. ishey94 New Member

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    Well, you can flash to change the ID and then it will work, but that is illegal... I've never worried about unlocking a CDMA phone before, this is a curious subject for me.