Bad ESN work on WiFi ?

[sgrinavi]

Since my loser step stole all my old phones and hawked them for drug money I need an android device to use in my car for an OBD reader, -but didn't want to spend too much. If I pick up a cheap phone with a bad ESN will the the wifi still function or will it keep popping up messages telling me to activate the phone or something stupid?

 

[Tom]

Do you know how stupid this sounds ?

 

[TerryMathews]

Since my loser step stole all my old phones and hawked them for drug money I need an android device to use in my car for an OBD reader, -but didn't want to spend too much. If I pick up a cheap phone with a bad ESN will the the wifi still function or will it keep popping up messages telling me to activate the phone or something stupid?

Ignoring Tom's rudeness,

Yes, you will still be able to use WiFi. The phone may or may not keep trying to activate depends on the device and the carrier.

 

[crashtestdummy]

So someone stole your phone, and to fix this you want to feed the market by buying a stolen phone?

The cheapest legit fix that'll run smoothly is probably a Lumia 520/521 for $100.

 

[Raghu]

If you can find Nokia 822/928 then they will work as well as a regular phone on the ATT/TMo network too.

 

[Tom]

Ignoring Tom's rudeness,

Yes, you will still be able to use WiFi. The phone may or may not keep trying to activate depends on the device and the carrier.

Does this mean my Mom was being rude to me back in the day ?

 

[Kenmitch]

Does this mean my Mom was being rude to me back in the day ?

Without passing harsh judgment one would need a transcript of the conversation to make a logical conclusion.

A bad ESN can be from not paying the bill, lost phone that is found, original owner doing insurance claim then selling it, along other scenarios.

 

[TerryMathews]

Does this mean my Mom was being rude to me back in the day ?

Probably?

 

[Tom]

Without passing harsh judgment one would need a transcript of the conversation to make a logical conclusion.

A bad ESN can be from not paying the bill, lost phone that is found, original owner doing insurance claim then selling it, along other scenarios.

1. fraud.
2. type of theft
3. fraud
4. what other scenario ?

 

[sgrinavi]

Do you know how stupid this sounds ?

I know, right

So someone stole your phone, and to fix this you want to feed the market by buying a stolen phone?

The cheapest legit fix that'll run smoothly is probably a Lumia 520/521 for $100.

Thanks, that sounds good

1. fraud.
2. type of theft
3. fraud
4. what other scenario ?

I dunno, I wasn't really trying to get away with anything, I just wanted to see if it was a viable alternative. I just see a bunch of them on ebay, from sellers with decent feedback.

 

[Tom]

Hey, I don't mean you shouldn't get one, not my business, just putting the first part of your story with the second part didn't sound right.

 

[sgrinavi]

Hey, I don't mean you shouldn't get one, not my business, just putting the first part of your story with the second part didn't sound right.

I'm not offended and I see the irony - I just don't think every phone out there with a bad ESN is stolen or obtained in a fraudulent manner.

EDIT - maybe I should find a decent used 7" (wifi) tablet....

 

[zerogear]

Why not consider looking into those cheap wifi only Chinese imported tablets, I think a lot of them can be had for less than 200$

 

[styrafoam]

Rather than looking for something specifically with a bad esn I would probably just grab an Evo, nexus S, etc. Current phones with a bad esn still command a decent price for parts or people who are able to rewrite the esn.

 

[sgrinavi]

Why not consider looking into those cheap wifi only Chinese imported tablets, I think a lot of them can be had for less than 200$

If I was going to spend that much I'd get a Nexus 7 (2012). You see the 16 gb variety going for $149

Rather than looking for something specifically with a bad esn I would probably just grab an Evo, nexus S, etc. Current phones with a bad esn still command a decent price for parts or people who are able to rewrite the esn.

Wasn't really looking for that specifically, just didn't want to rule it out. At the end of the day the money is wasted on something I could never activate - might as well get something that I could use someday if I wanted to.

 

[thedarkwolf]

That is exactly what I do. I picked up an old crappy optimus for nothing with a bad ESN and use it for Torque and a few other things around the house. I still use a regular dumb phone for actual calls.

 

[sgrinavi]

I just ordered a "like new" Nexus 7 - 16 gb (2013 model) from Amazon for $159. I kinda wanted one any how.

 

[gmaster456]

Get a cheap $50 Nextbook tablet

http://www.walmart.com/ip/Nextbook-7...vices/22127002