Buying a used phone and putting it on an existing VZW line

[Anubis]

How hard is this to do? i know you can purchase an off contract phone and do it without issue. but im curious about a used phone that would have most likely already been used and such

for some reason i remember it being more of a PITA because VZW uses CDMA vs everyone else where you simply change out the sim card

 

[SunnyD]

Yes, do an ESN check before you buy though. (Call VZW customer support and ask them to check the ESN number of the phone you're buying) Otherwise odds are you'll get a phone that's blacklisted and therefore you got scammed.

 

[Anubis]

what would cause a phone to get blacklisted

stolen is assume?

 

[Binky]

It's very easy. Android phones do this during the initial setup phase of the phone.

Here's an ebay guide that may help, although I dont remember ever speaking with a person to activate a phone.
http://reviews.ebay.com/Verizon-Activation-Guide-for-Replacement-Phones_W0QQugidZ10000000012139300

 

[SunnyD]

what would cause a phone to get blacklisted

stolen is assume?

Stole is one way. The slightly more popular way is non-paid bill/account. Keep in mind, you can potentially GET a phone that is CURRENTLY active and working, happily swap it to your account, and then magically have it shut off later for the same reasons. It's rare, but it does happen.

 

[Red Storm]

Stole is one way. The slightly more popular way is non-paid bill/account. Keep in mind, you can potentially GET a phone that is CURRENTLY active and working, happily swap it to your account, and then magically have it shut off later for the same reasons. It's rare, but it does happen.

This is why I do all my phone selling/trading local and at a Verizon store.

On the ESN, I've read that it's not a very good idea to give that bit of info out to random strangers. Is there truth to this or not?

 

[SunnyD]

This is why I do all my phone selling/trading local and at a Verizon store.

On the ESN, I've read that it's not a very good idea to give that bit of info out to random strangers. Is there truth to this or not?

ESN numbers can be cloned, so yes, not a good idea. The fact of the matter is that there's not terribly many people out there that would know how to do it, and, if it happens, they're on the hook for a couple federal felonies.

Long and the short of it is, if I'm going to be buying your phone from you, you're giving me the ESN number before I hand you cash so I can have it checked and verified. If you're not willing to give me the ESN number to do the check, then I'm going to assume it's blacklisted and not going to buy it, period.

 

[AlexAL]

The slightly more popular way is non-paid bill/account. Keep in mind, you can potentially GET a phone that is CURRENTLY active and working, happily swap it to your account, and then magically have it shut off later for the same reasons. It's rare, but it does happen.

Yup, this is what worries me a bit. I am looking to pick up a used Atrix 4G off craigs list and I am not sure how fully I can protect myself. If I were to check the EMS before buying and then straight away unlock it, would the phone still be blockable? What about after Motorola releases the 2.3 over the air upgrade?

 

[SunnyD]

Yup, this is what worries me a bit. I am looking to pick up a used Atrix 4G off craigs list and I am not sure how fully I can protect myself. If I were to check the EMS before buying and then straight away unlock it, would the phone still be blockable? What about after Motorola releases the 2.3 over the air upgrade?

The Atrix is a GSM phone, not CDMA. Phone accounts are tied to your SIM card (ICCID), not the IMEI of the phone with GSM.

 

[AlexAL]

The Atrix is a GSM phone, not CDMA. Phone accounts are tied to your SIM card (ICCID), not the IMEI of the phone with GSM.

I really did not think of that. Just to confirm, could I buy a presumably locked used Atrix 4G, buy a SIM card with pre-paid minutes (do such exist or am I just confused), and then use the phone not worrying about AT&T blocking it? I would then either unlock it or wait for the Motorola over the air upgrade. Basically I need an unlocked GSM phone (to also use in other countries with GSM SIMs) and a way to use it that is not a monthly plan.

I have been in Europe with pre-paid SIMs for too long lately and just have no idea if something similar is possible here.

 

[cronos]

I really did not think of that. Just to confirm, could I buy a presumably locked used Atrix 4G, buy a SIM card with pre-paid minutes (do such exist or am I just confused), and then use the phone not worrying about AT&T blocking it? I would then either unlock it or wait for the Motorola over the air upgrade. Basically I need an unlocked GSM phone (to also use in other countries with GSM SIMs) and a way to use it that is not a monthly plan.

I have been in Europe with pre-paid SIMs for too long lately and just have no idea if something similar is possible here.

Yes, locked AT&T phone (except for the iPhone series, which needs a whole new chapter to explain) can be used with AT&T prepaid (GoPhone) SIM card or prepaid SIM cards from AT&T MVNOs (H2O, etc). You only need to unlock it if you want to use it with a SIM card not from AT&T (T-Mobile, outside the US).

 

[SunnyD]

I really did not think of that. Just to confirm, could I buy a presumably locked used Atrix 4G, buy a SIM card with pre-paid minutes (do such exist or am I just confused), and then use the phone not worrying about AT&T blocking it? I would then either unlock it or wait for the Motorola over the air upgrade. Basically I need an unlocked GSM phone (to also use in other countries with GSM SIMs) and a way to use it that is not a monthly plan.

I have been in Europe with pre-paid SIMs for too long lately and just have no idea if something similar is possible here.

If you get a locked Atrix, you get a locked Atrix... you'll only be able to use it on AT&T regardless of prepaid or postpaid. But yes, you can get an AT&T Prepaid (GOPhone) SIM and use that.

 

[AlexAL]

If you get a locked Atrix, you get a locked Atrix... you'll only be able to use it on AT&T regardless of prepaid or postpaid. But yes, you can get an AT&T Prepaid (GOPhone) SIM and use that.

However, the expected android 2.3 update from Motorola that everyone is expecting every day now should unlock the Atrix 4G and make it usable on any GSM network.