How possible/difficult is it to program a phone onto a verizon service plan?

[Comdrpopnfresh]

My sister for a new plan with a freebie phone. She's becoming unhappy with it, and I'm wondering how doable it is to buy an unlocked phone on newegg, or the like, and program her service onto it. If it can't be done by an end user- any ideas how much verizon charges, if they provide that service?

I'm also wondering, because my moto slider phone has a nasty tendency of crashing- but it doesn't restart. It'll happen randomly; when placing a call, paging through contacts, etc. I'm considering giving 'freemymmoto' a go, but would feel more comfortable knowing I could reset the software and reprogram the phone to it's previous service and state.

 

[Slick5150]

As long as its a phone Verizon supports it shouldn't be much of an issue. In fact, you can probably either just take it into a store and have them do it, or call Verizion and give them the ESN/MEID of the phone and then do OTA programming (dial *228)

 

[lokiju]

Just check the ESN of any phone before you buy it, if it checks out as legit and clean then you're free to add it to your account.

http://www.verizonwireless.com/b2c/store/controller?item=serviceOnly&action=enterEsn

 

[pm]

The main problem is that all of the phones that Newegg lists as "unlocked" are all GSM (AT&T and T-Mobile) phones, and they are incompatible with Verizon's network.

You can do what you are proposing - and to the best of my knowledge, Verizon doesn't charge anything to do it - but you need to make sure you are using a Verizon phone.

No idea about freemymmoto - I googled it and the only entry back from Google is this thread.

 

[extide]

The main problem is that all of the phones that Newegg lists as "unlocked" are all GSM (AT&T and T-Mobile) phones, and they are incompatible with Verizon's network.

You can do what you are proposing - and to the best of my knowledge, Verizon doesn't charge anything to do it - but you need to make sure you are using a Verizon phone.

No idea about freemymmoto - I googled it and the only entry back from Google is this thread.

You don't want an 'Unlocked' phone (A phone being unlocked really only applies to GSM anyways)

You want a 'Verizon' phone.

 

[uli2000]

Verizon will not activate any phone not in their ESN database (basically, sold by them). Right now, you can only activate a phone that's Verizon branded and was sold by them. It also must have e911 capability (all phones since 2002 or so have this) and have a clean ESN/MEID (not shut off for non payment, lost or stolen). This should be changing (the VZW branded phone part), but dont know when.

 

[boomhower]

Verizon will not activate any phone not in their ESN database (basically, sold by them). Right now, you can only activate a phone that's Verizon branded and was sold by them. It also must have e911 capability (all phones since 2002 or so have this) and have a clean ESN/MEID (not shut off for non payment, lost or stolen). This should be changing (the VZW branded phone part), but dont know when.

That is not true. You can get Sprint phones activated on Verizon. I have seen both Sprint Diamonds and Pre's activated on Verizon. It is not an easy process by any means and never have tried it personally(they are to rich for my blood) but have seen the phones.

 

[extide]

That is not true. You can get Sprint phones activated on Verizon. I have seen both Sprint Diamonds and Pre's activated on Verizon. It is not an easy process by any means and never have tried it personally(they are to rich for my blood) but have seen the phones.

This requires re-flashing the phones to use Verizon's frequency bands (as they are slightly different than Sprint's)

 

[uli2000]

This requires re-flashing the phones to use Verizon's frequency bands (as they are slightly different than Sprint's)

No it doesn't. Both use CDMA 1x/ev 850/1900

 

[pm]

My understanding is that it is possible to move a Sprint phone over to Verizon's network but it is not at all easy. You need the MSL for the Sprint phone (either sweettalk a CSR rep, or use a program to read it off), and you'll need a PRL for the Verizon network and a way to move it over to the phone, and a;though the PRL will let the phone make voice connections, it won't get you EVDO data access - for that you'll need to change the settings for that from Sprint to Verizon inside the phone.

In theory, Verizon announced over two years ago that they'll accept "any app, any device". In reality, they need to be certified and they are very restrictive on what they accept and Verizon CSR reps won't (easily) let you move a phone onto their network that doesn't match their MEID/EVN database.

It can be done, but it's both technically challenging and requires a lot of persuasiveness. There's a guy who got a Sprint Palm Pre (for voice anyway) onto Verizon's network - it was on Gizmodo as I recall months ago.