My daughter got duped and bought a stolen SGII for Boost Mobile (the previous owner's service was still active when she got it). Is there a way to re-flash it or hack it so it can be activated on her Boost Mobile account? If not, is there a way to flash/hack it to run on Sprint, Verizon or Credo Mobile?
Thanks in advance
I'm sure what you want to is illegal.
Contact the owner and return it.
I has a sig
neuropsychosis said:
I'm sure what you want to is illegal.
Contact the owner and return it.
I has a sig
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Okay, well forget the "illegal" part (altering the MEID/DEC). It appears its common to flash phones TO Boost from Sprint and Verizon, but not the other way around (FROM Boost to Sprint and Verizon) - is this a correct observation? Even if I could flash from Boost to Sprint and Verizon, would I be able to activate the phone given that its not able to activate on Boost?
Oh and we did contact the owner, but since she promised to smack the ish out of my child so there goes being nice.
What does the sticker on the phone chassis under the battery say ? Irrespective of that, it's an issue to sort out with the carrier given it's obviously IMEI blocked. There is nothing 'legitimate' you can do to fix it, and talk of anything 'not legitimate' is not allowed here.
DiGiTY said:
Okay, well forget the "illegal" part (altering the MEID/DEC). It appears its common to flash phones TO Boost from Sprint and Verizon, but not the other way around (FROM Boost to Sprint and Verizon) - is this a correct observation? Even if I could flash from Boost to Sprint and Verizon, would I be able to activate the phone given that its not able to activate on Boost?
Oh and we did contact the owner, but since she promised to smack the ish out of my child so there goes being nice.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yeah..previous owners are like that.
Sent from the little guy
Contact the owner and return it
or just have a lucky chance to bump the IMEI with generic one....or else sale it oversea....at least you get yr money back
illegal, thread closed. Also IMEI changing is illegal in most countries so discussion on this isnt allowed either.
Related
Hello all,
Had a question I couldn't find the answer to. What if my girlfriend sold her Inspire to buy an Atrix?
Let's say she sells it and doesn't have enough money to buy the Atrix right away off contract and has to use a Motorola RAZR for a while. A few questions need answering:
1) Can we call AT&T and have them change our plan to non-smartphone?
2) Are they going to ask for the new phone's IMEI and allow the Inspire to be
activated under the buyer's account without any issue or do I have to let them know it's going to be sold to someone else?
3) Is it possible to get scammed buying a 2nd-hand phone that's been marked as lost or stolen and not being able to activate it?
4) If she got an unlocked, non-branded Atrix or any other smartphone will she be able to use the internet on the non-smartphone data plan without AT&T crying foul?
Thanks for your comments and help.
garekinokami said:
Hello all,
Had a question I couldn't find the answer to. What if my girlfriend sold her Inspire to buy an Atrix?
Let's say she sells it and doesn't have enough money to buy the Atrix right away off contract and has to use a Motorola RAZR for a while. A few questions need answering:
1) Can we call AT&T and have them change our plan to non-smartphone?
2) Are they going to ask for the new phone's IMEI and allow the Inspire to be
activated under the buyer's account without any issue or do I have to let them know it's going to be sold to someone else?
3) Is it possible to get scammed buying a 2nd-hand phone that's been marked as lost or stolen and not being able to activate it?
4) If she got an unlocked, non-branded Atrix or any other smartphone will she be able to use the internet on the non-smartphone data plan without AT&T crying foul?
Thanks for your comments and help.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
1) dont rellay have to ..at&t will scan the imei and see you are using a non-smartphone plan and give you ( i believe ) medianet plan..
2) yes, at&t will allow that inspire to be used by another account ( new owner)..doesnt matter.
3) ?
4)again, as soon as that new smartphone is being used under your account..its only a matter of time before at&t scans your imei and sees you're using a "smartphone" ..and youll be upgraded to a smartphone plan.
Thanks for the help with the other questions, but to help explain the third question:
#3 tends to be an issue on Sprint/Verizon, where the ESN can be good or bad. Say the phone is marked as stolen, or you cancelled your account and didn't pay the ETF, you can't take that phone off your account and activate it again. It's blocked. I actually am trying to sell an Epic and Evo and had to find out for sure if everything was in the clear before trying to eBay them.
TL: DR Phone with bad ESN means you end up with an expensive PMP.
garekinokami said:
Thanks for the help with the other questions, but to help explain the third question:
#3 tends to be an issue on Sprint/Verizon, where the ESN can be good or bad. Say the phone is marked as stolen, or you cancelled your account and didn't pay the ETF, you can't take that phone off your account and activate it again. It's blocked. I actually am trying to sell an Epic and Evo and had to find out for sure if everything was in the clear before trying to eBay them.
TL: DR Phone with bad ESN means you end up with an expensive PMP.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
now i understand. yes you are correct..thats what stinks with sprint/verizon...someone may correct me if im wrong but..once those phones are marked as stolen/not paid...the ESN is bad. only then..to get that cell working again is to have it flashed to a 3rd party cell provider. here in san antonio, TX..we have a 3rd party cell provider..Cricket.
defnow said:
now i understand. yes you are correct..thats what stinks with sprint/verizon...someone may correct me if im wrong but..once those phones are marked as stolen/not paid...the ESN is bad. only then..to get that cell working again is to have it flashed to a 3rd party cell provider. here in san antonio, TX..we have a 3rd party cell provider..Cricket.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No your correct, it's one of the few advantages of GSM over CDMA...
Sent from my Milestone using XDA App
I bought a Motorola Photon, and if possible, I'd like to get it running on Boost Mobile. I really need some guidance on what to do. From scanning the forums for other phones, it seems I need to do more than root it--I need to unlock it. Do you I need to use something like Pudding? (http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1216143)
I realize at this point that I would not be able to use 4g with Boost.
Any help and suggestions are appreciated.
stellar7 said:
I bought a Motorola Photon, and if possible, I'd like to get it running on Boost Mobile. I really need some guidance on what to do. From scanning the forums for other phones, it seems I need to do more than root it--I need to unlock it. Do you I need to use something like Pudding? (http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1216143)
I realize at this point that I would not be able to use 4g with Boost.
Any help and suggestions are appreciated.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You need a Boost phone, this phone will not work on Boost, whether you root and unlock it or not.
What he said. There currently isnt a way to unlock for domestic carriers. Sorry to say but your sol at the moment. Might as well sell it.
Sent from my MB855 using xda premium
Doesn't boost carry the other Motorola phone like the Photon? Starts with an E. I can't remember what it's called at the moment though.
Edit...
Electrify.....Not sure if Boost DOES have it. But figured I'd put that possibility out there. If they don't, Sorry!
No, they don't. Check out Boostmobile.com to see the phones they carry.
xTMFxOffshore said:
Doesn't boost carry the other Motorola phone like the Photon? Starts with an E. I can't remember what it's called at the moment though.
Edit...
Electrify.....Not sure if Boost DOES have it. But figured I'd put that possibility out there. If they don't, Sorry!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Sent from my MB855 using XDA App
stellar7 said:
I bought a Motorola Photon, and if possible, I'd like to get it running on Boost Mobile. I really need some guidance on what to do. From scanning the forums for other phones, it seems I need to do more than root it--I need to unlock it. Do you I need to use something like Pudding? (http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1216143)
I realize at this point that I would not be able to use 4g with Boost.
Any help and suggestions are appreciated.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
yes it is possible, but you wont find any help here. its a legal grey matter on the process. im sure if you check craigslist you can find someone that does it for a modest fee
I thought they did. Don't have nor want Boost.
Sent from my Photon via XDA
shabbypenguin said:
yes it is possible, but you wont find any help here. its a legal grey matter on the process. im sure if you check craigslist you can find someone that does it for a modest fee
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks everyone for your input. Thanks especially to shabbypenguin for the information.
This can be done with most htc and samsung phones, but [modern] motorola phones are nearly, if not completely, impossible.
there is a big dif between rooting and unlocking the bootloader vs unlocking the phone for dif carrier use. u would have to unlock the spl to use it on a dif carrier. good luck with that. might as well get a new phone.
That is what everyone has been saying. It's near impossible.
Sent from my Photon via XDA
This doesn't make any sense. You want to move your photon over to Boost? Why?
If you bought on a new/upgrade contract price, you are already in the contract and can use it on Sprint. Why would you move it to a network that won't support it (officially anyway) and also won't support the Photon's 4G?
If you bought out of contract, you paid a high (full) price for it. Why would you bring it to a network with crappier speeds than sprint and doesn't support your phone's 4G. You would have been better off buying a Boost phone on contract.
In addition, methods to enable your photon to work on Boost can cause issues like SMS or MMS not working or not working reliably. Basically, its not worth the trouble and I can't understand why anyone would want to do it. If you want to use Boost's network so much, why not save yourself the hassle and just get a phone from them and officially supported by them.
Some people don't think or look at the bigger picture I s'pose.
Sent from my Photon via XDA
shabbypenguin said:
yes it is possible, but you wont find any help here. its a legal grey matter on the process. im sure if you check craigslist you can find someone that does it for a modest fee
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
well i cant get into the legal aspect as im no lawyer but ive done over a 00 EVO4G,3d,EPIC,TRANSFORMER,MOMENT,EPICTOUCH,SHIFT,SAMMY7INCH TAB AND MORE! but i have yet to figure out the notorola PHOTON TO BOOST MOBILE SOLUTION! and im deperate as i ran out and dropped cash money for a NIB unit from the sprint store where i live! so if you have any at all help please PM me asap thanks
PS
there are other threads here about htc solutions but no other brands that ive seen anyway alot of the stuff was lost when MOBILE-FILES STOP ALLOWING THOSE TYPES OF THREADS
---------- Post added at 05:43 PM ---------- Previous post was at 05:39 PM ----------
illa said:
there is a big dif between rooting and unlocking the bootloader vs unlocking the phone for dif carrier use. U would have to unlock the spl to use it on a dif carrier. Good luck with that. Might as well get a new phone.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
na not quite actually he would have to modify the esn/dec
---------- Post added at 05:47 PM ---------- Previous post was at 05:43 PM ----------
wintrxtrem said:
This can be done with most htc and samsung phones, but [modern] motorola phones are nearly, if not completely, impossible.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
ANYTHING IS POSSIBLE BUT YOU ARE RIGHT MOTOROLA IS PRETTY MUCH LOCKED for NOW but someone somewhere knows something! either way it sucks as i think that if you buy the phone you should be able to take it anywhere as it's yours ( hey the gsm guys can! why not the CDMA guy's?
either thanks to all
---------- Post added at 06:18 PM ---------- Previous post was at 05:47 PM ----------
MultiDev said:
This doesn't make any sense. You want to move your photon over to Boost? Why?
If you bought on a new/upgrade contract price, you are already in the contract and can use it on Sprint. Why would you move it to a network that won't support it (officially anyway) and also won't support the Photon's 4G?
If you bought out of contract, you paid a high (full) price for it. Why would you bring it to a network with crappier speeds than sprint and doesn't support your phone's 4G. You would have been better off buying a Boost phone on contract.
In addition, methods to enable your photon to work on Boost can cause issues like SMS or MMS not working or not working reliably. Basically, its not worth the trouble and I can't understand why anyone would want to do it. If you want to use Boost's network so much, why not save yourself the hassle and just get a phone from them and officially supported by them.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
its all good and some of what you say is tru but i personally rather take the one time hit of the full price phone versus the long lasting spendy contract! and far as speeds the spped that is different on the boost to sprint conversions is 4G which does not work at all as boost only supports 3g and iden but spped wise boost cdma and sprint cdma is the same in one! the diiference is in the handset
as you can run a boost phone like a incognito or prevail and they get 3g but you can take a sprint phone such as my baby V950 renegade which supports EVDO revA and the sppeds double at least. its in the cheap handsets where they slow you down if you dont believe me run the slowest of them all the motorola bali or mirro and speedtest dslreports.com/mspeed and then same line same area test any sprint hanset that you can activate on boost legally threw customer service and you will see the spped double instanly as they are built to be faster clearer and handle more data. thats why i rocked the sprint OOOG V3m RED EDITION for almost 2yrs shortly after it came out! and that was when boost mobile cdma was only in 13 test states either way to each his/her own i'm still tring to figure mine out but i'm close to quiting
Hell, Id love to see this on BoostMobile as well!
That or the GSM unlocked for TMobile/SimpleMobile (yes I am aware 4G and HSPA+ wont work, IDGAFRA, thats i dont give a flying rats arse)...
Sprint can blow me, At work and home and (when I was attending) school I had to use my Airave or WiFi, almost no service where I specifically was at, and I am sorry, but if you cant serve my home with even simple Voice/Data, I am not going to pay you an extra $10 a month for service I dont get, and before the "get another phone" nimrods chime in, I want the hardware on the Photon, there isnt another exactly like it at the moment (even the Atrix 2 falls short, and ill die before I use AT&T)...
Not only that but the last person I talked to in retentions leveled with me and we came to the agreement that Sprint is just trying to bleed customers dry by double charging for hardware (after-all, thats exactly what they are doing), its too bad he wouldn't consent to being recorded
BUT I left sprint after 5 years, convinced my parents of 7 years, and a few friends/extended family, and a few school friends/members as well (I helped them pick out and setup/tweak/config their new phones on other carriers, small price to pay to stick it to Sprint, 20~ customers might be a drop in the bucket to them, but dammit its my drop in the bucket! I hope the bottom rusts out!!!), so I am happy!
Using my HD2 right now, wanted the Photon, but until it gets BoostMobile (yeah, underling of Sprint i know, irony present), or an up-to-date cricket or Tmobile/SimpleMobile ability, I am stuck with mah HD2
stellar7 said:
I bought a Motorola Photon, and if possible, I'd like to get it running on Boost Mobile. I really need some guidance on what to do. From scanning the forums for other phones, it seems I need to do more than root it--I need to unlock it. Do you I need to use something like Pudding? (http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1216143)
I realize at this point that I would not be able to use 4g with Boost.
Any help and suggestions are appreciated.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
After researching this for a friend, some months ago. This is what I found, from other sites. I have no personal experience, just reporting others experiences.
"What works is to call Boost Customer Service and Play Dumb. Don't volunteer information. Tell them for example, that you/your kids broke your phone and someone gave you their old one. Give them the ESN and if they ask you what sort of phone Play Dumb and tell them you don't know "Um its a clamshell with a keyboard?" If they tell you it can't be activated, thank them and hang up. Keep trying, you will eventually get an operator who will swap it in for you."
"Alright guys this is my first post to help you guys out. I just "migrated" my sprint number to a boost Mirro I bought at wal mart. I set up service of course first and for most. Then called the boost customer care line... You'll have to log into your boost account... go to support and contact customer care... The 800 number is at the bottom of the screen left hand corner. You'll have to of course call the number from a different phone than the one on your account. At that time when you call and enter in all the info the automated system asks for make sure you let them know that your calling to report a lost/damaged/stolen phone. It will ask you to enter in the hex esn id... you'll have to do this a couple times... Then the automated system will "give up" and put you on the line with a human. I told them my phone kept resetting and that I bought another, and verified the esn number from phone I wanted active on the account (touch pro), as well told the csr that this was the same style phone I had. No questions asked he got it activated, I did a hard reset on my phone, and then went in and hit update profile... (Not sure if I had to do the hard reset... but that's what active sync is for) All working just fine... Just thought I'd try and help."
Good Luck.
rbeavers said:
After researching this for a friend, some months ago. This is what I found, from other sites. I have no personal experience, just reporting others experiences.
"What works is to call Boost Customer Service and Play Dumb. Don't volunteer information. Tell them for example, that you/your kids broke your phone and someone gave you their old one. Give them the ESN and if they ask you what sort of phone Play Dumb and tell them you don't know "Um its a clamshell with a keyboard?" If they tell you it can't be activated, thank them and hang up. Keep trying, you will eventually get an operator who will swap it in for you."
"Alright guys this is my first post to help you guys out. I just "migrated" my sprint number to a boost Mirro I bought at wal mart. I set up service of course first and for most. Then called the boost customer care line... You'll have to log into your boost account... go to support and contact customer care... The 800 number is at the bottom of the screen left hand corner. You'll have to of course call the number from a different phone than the one on your account. At that time when you call and enter in all the info the automated system asks for make sure you let them know that your calling to report a lost/damaged/stolen phone. It will ask you to enter in the hex esn id... you'll have to do this a couple times... Then the automated system will "give up" and put you on the line with a human. I told them my phone kept resetting and that I bought another, and verified the esn number from phone I wanted active on the account (touch pro), as well told the csr that this was the same style phone I had. No questions asked he got it activated, I did a hard reset on my phone, and then went in and hit update profile... (Not sure if I had to do the hard reset... but that's what active sync is for) All working just fine... Just thought I'd try and help."
Good Luck.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
thanks for the input but this is old news we are trying to figure out if this phone has a repair solution as far as ME)&*(&(+ or ES&^)(*&_()*+ thats all the getting the phone on the account is cheese cake ive did over a 1000 and thats being nice as i have been doing it every since boost mobile cdma was only in 13 test states either way hope i did not affend you but i'm really trying to get the photon on boost mobile and its not impossible at all just need leaked info or someone who works at motorola as a developer/programmer ? at least thats my guess
sdwyz74 said:
thanks for the input but this is old news we are trying to figure out if this phone has a repair solution as far as ME)&*(&(+ or ES&^)(*&_()*+ thats all the getting the phone on the account is cheese cake ive did over a 1000 and thats being nice as i have been doing it every since boost mobile cdma was only in 13 test states either way hope i did not affend you but i'm really trying to get the photon on boost mobile and its not impossible at all just need leaked info or someone who works at motorola as a developer/programmer ? at least thats my guess
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
As stated in earlier post, some numbers are illegal to change.
____________
Hope your Good @ It
Yeah, I wouldn't screw with it too much.
rbeavers said:
As stated in earlier post, some numbers are illegal to change.
____________
Hope your Good @ It
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Can you please site a statue or regulations that says that. Is this state or federal law that would be broken, or maybe an FCC regulations.
People just blur out that its illegal without any proof.
I found this article that would suggest that there is nothing illegal about it, but if someone can point me a source that would prove otherwise I that be great.
http://cellagainfranchise.com/breaking-news-unlockingflashingjailbreaking-any-cell-phone-has-become-legal/
Thanks
Hey all,
I have an LG Optimus V and well, Ole' Bessie is burning through her final days. She just can't handle the workload as well as she used to. My friend offered to sell me his Photon because he is leaving Sprint soon. Virgin Mobile is picking up 4G soon so I was wondering if I could put the Photon on Virgin Mobile. I would do ESN swapping but I'm giving my OV to my mom so that is strictly out of the question. Do you think I could smooth talk a Best Buy employee into setting me up with a VM ESN or do you think maybe a customer service rep would maybe let it through? Considering the fact that they are both Sprint-run, I'd assume that there shan't be too much of a problem. I've read about people doing this kind of stuff with the Evo 4G where they call up Boost (also Sprint) and give them the phone's serial number. In alot of cases the reps just let it into the system. What are your thoughts on this, and has anyone gotten their Photon onto Virgin Mobile with stuff like MMS and 3G data working (I'm not too crazy about 4G because I live in the woods anyways so there is no 4G service near me)?
Thanks, worldindo1.
worldindo1 said:
Hey all,
I have an LG Optimus V and well, Ole' Bessie is burning through her final days. She just can't handle the workload as well as she used to. My friend offered to sell me his Photon because he is leaving Sprint soon. Virgin Mobile is picking up 4G soon so I was wondering if I could put the Photon on Virgin Mobile. I would do ESN swapping but I'm giving my OV to my mom so that is strictly out of the question. Do you think I could smooth talk a Best Buy employee into setting me up with a VM ESN or do you think maybe a customer service rep would maybe let it through? Considering the fact that they are both Sprint-run, I'd assume that there shan't be too much of a problem. I've read about people doing this kind of stuff with the Evo 4G where they call up Boost (also Sprint) and give them the phone's serial number. In alot of cases the reps just let it into the system. What are your thoughts on this, and has anyone gotten their Photon onto Virgin Mobile with stuff like MMS and 3G data working (I'm not too crazy about 4G because I live in the woods anyways so there is no 4G service near me)?
Thanks, worldindo1.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
From everything I have read on the subject the only way to do it would be illegally and with some know how.
CCallahan said:
From everything I have read on the subject the only way to do it would be illegally and with some know how.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well, as I mentioned with ESN swapping, that isn't illegal. The "technically" illegal part is CDMA Workshop. But that is neither here nor there. I'll see if I can get Best Buy to do it for me.
worldindo1 said:
Well, as I mentioned with ESN swapping, that isn't illegal. The "technically" illegal part is CDMA Workshop. But that is neither here nor there. I'll see if I can get Best Buy to do it for me.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Post your results and let us know how that goes.
Also, here is a thread on Phandroid about this subject and if you check post 14+ Loki has said that ESN swapping is in fact illegal (even just talking about it): http://androidforums.com/motorola-p...ize-sim-card-does-photon-use.html#post4293152
I have no knowledge on the subject personally but have no reason to doubt it.
esn changing "swapping" is illegal. if you were repairing an esn it would however be okay. but spoofing an esn for that purpose is illegal.
i am not a moderator but i have seen posts like this many times and they all get shut down. so this post will probably end here.
ask virgin mobile if they'll allow you to use the photon on their network. that's about your only option.
na7q said:
esn changing "swapping" is illegal. if you were repairing an esn it would however be okay. but spoofing an esn for that purpose is illegal.
i am not a moderator but i have seen posts like this many times and they all get shut down. so this post will probably end here.
ask virgin mobile if they'll allow you to use the photon on their network. that's about your only option.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Again, au contraire. If I were to sit around and scan ESN numbers from OTHERS phones, that is illegal. If I have a preexisting service with VM, it's not illegal to do with my property what I please. In fact, since 2003 ESN swapping has not been illegal. Theft and using your own property are 2 different ballparks. Say I bought a 4G VM phone and used that phone's ESN for the Photon, I would be using the same service and the same data that I would with my donor phone. This sits in a gray area of law, where the uses and methods of obtaining the ESN determine it's legality or illegality. While I'm paying for my service, I own all of the data and numbers attached to my account. You have to step back to see the whole picture. And for the mods, this is NOT me asking how to change my ESN or instructing anyone in how to do so. I already know how. I just figured a bit of input might be wonderful, and to see if anyone has gotten their Photon on VM. I also did not make this thread to hash out the legality of ESN modification. I have rested my case above.
EDIT: Cloning was the word I was looking for. If you clone someone's ESN without permission or their prior knowledge, it's by every definition illegal. Normally just simply notifying the company that you have multiple phones (say you want a cheap phone to use for business trips), they will shrug and go, "Hmmph, whatever." This phone I'd be buying is unlocked anyways. Correct me if I'm wrong, but doesn't that mean I can go to any service I want?
This is my Tapatalk 2 signature. Rockin' the app on my Nook Color running ICS 4.0.4, courtesy of Dalingrin, Fattire, and our other beloved XDA weenies (nemith, keyodi, arcee, hacdan, etc.)... oh, can't forget eyeballer
I haven't heard of anyone being successful switching phone over to VM. Please let us know the outcome once you get further into the process.
Bought a used HTC One M9 (Sprint). ESN is OK, but after purchase learned 'Owner Mismatch / FED Not Met', which I think means it's not stolen but a previous owner owes Sprint. The seller says he bought it used also and it's not him who owes Sprint, and can't or won't help me.
I paid a lot for this and need to activate it somehow, somewhere. Currently with a Sprint MVNO but open to moving to any network where I can activate it. Can it be used on a GSM network, or just CDMA?
What do I need to do to finally use it? ASAP, please, as in my frustration I just broke my current POS.
Thanks for any and all help!
Outta luck. Get a full refund if you can. Sprint's got a really nasty policy when it comes to unlocking for cricket/boost AND it's CDMA only so... Unless you're gonna to global to like Korea or India you can't activate it anymore. The only methods left are things like editing IMEI, but that's illegal lol.
I'd like to use the phone, and though I could ask, I doubt the seller (an individual) is going to agree to a refund.
Can you tell me or point me where I'm likely to find accurate directions and the program or tool to edit the IMEI? The phone's not rooted (nor have I experimented with that), but I can be careful (with guidance) if that's my only real option.
Thanks for helping!
I was told there's a guide to repairing (changing) an IMEI number here at XDA, but haven't found it. Can someone correct me? Also, as a clueless noob, any and all advise on the subject would be greatly appreciated.
Phone is an HTC One M9 for Sprint, bought used. Clean ESN (not blacklisted, stolen or reported lost), but previous owner owes Sprint money, I'm told when trying to activate it. I'm with a Sprint MVNO (Kroger i-Wireless, that allows bring-your-own-device, but since I can't return the phone to get my money back, willing to move to any service where I can activate it.
Not clear on this stuff, but I don't have it unlocked (boot, S-ON, or carrier) not is it rooted, though I'll do whatever it takes to be able to use it (myself or pay someone else to do it).
Please help.
kevinprice said:
I was told there's a guide to repairing (changing) an IMEI number here at XDA, but haven't found it. Can someone correct me? Also, as a clueless noob, any and all advise on the subject would be greatly appreciated.
Phone is an HTC One M9 for Sprint, bought used. Clean ESN (not blacklisted, stolen or reported lost), but previous owner owes Sprint money, I'm told when trying to activate it. I'm with a Sprint MVNO (Kroger i-Wireless, that allows bring-your-own-device, but since I can't return the phone to get my money back, willing to move to any service where I can activate it.
Not clear on this stuff, but I don't have it unlocked (boot, S-ON, or carrier) not is it rooted, though I'll do whatever it takes to be able to use it (myself or pay someone else to do it).
Please help.
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yeah, get a refund or give up...editing the imei isnt like editing a build.prop heh...and if you cant get a refund get something for it as its now a paperweight, if you have money then just simply go buy a used one online from swappa, ebay etc..
Sorry to hear about your troubles. Sprint is a real bastard with FEC. This phone can do GSM, you could take it to T-mobile but you would first need to do a simunlock on the phone. There are two kinds, domestic sim unlock and international sim unlock. You will need to have a domestic sim unlock done on your phone before it will accept a t-mobile sim card. Also, the phone will do voice and 3g okay but LTE support is limited (sprint version does not support all of the lte bands which t-mobile uses).
Honestly you are probably better off selling the phone on Swappa (assuming you werent able to refund from seller). Phones with FEC problems will usually work on Sprint directly, but not with MVNOs. When buying a sprint phone for a MVNO always ask the seller to check the IMEI at your operators website or ask for the IMEI to check yourself.
May be useful hint regarding Mismatch or FED problem
Old post, but there may be people searching high and low with this very problem and I hope this helps someone.
Domestically, it just may hypothetically be possible to go ahead and activate the phone with prepaid Sprint. Without purchasing a plan, even, just getting the number assigned. Maybe you would need to deactivate the phone online, or it may not even matter. Then, it's a possibility an mvno such as....ring+ may accept and activate the esn you provide when you check for the eligibility online.
Then after you have successfully gotten your assigned number, maybe an hour later you might decide that ring+ isn't right for you after looking at the prices and stipulations more closely and deactivate device.
Then, you may find that you are able to activate your phone on the mvno of your choice.
Maybe I know of someone who thought they were buying a brand-new never activated Sprint-branded phone that could be used on an mvno and ended up accidentally finding a way. Or thought that since the phone was used and deactivated and had that Sprint brand on it but no indication that it was a prepaid device and not postpaid that a Sprint mvno of their choice would accept.
So i bought a G5 on ebay. seller says it's unlock for both international and domestic and should work also with sprint.
Trying to activate with meid just give you cannot activate this phone on sprint site. Sprint store says not compatible with sprint network. I was able to get them to give me a sprint g5 sim card anyway. when i insert that at home, the phone detects sprint 3g network
got online with sprint chat, they again says phone is not registered in sprint network and therefore cannot be used.. they keep on saying i have to use a sprint labeled g5 phone?
Is there anything i can do about this? is sprint reps just being an ass (not their fault or maybe because they just being brainwashed by the corporate) or is there some real technical thing preventing them from registering my phone? It did detect sprint network when sprint sim is inserted after all.
Anything i can do about all this? Thanks.
wildpig1234 said:
So i bought a G5 on ebay. seller says it's unlock for both international and domestic and should work also with sprint.
Trying to activate with meid just give you cannot activate this phone on sprint site. Sprint store says not compatible with sprint network. I was able to get them to give me a sprint g5 sim card anyway. when i insert that at home, the phone detects sprint 3g network
got online with sprint chat, they again says phone is not registered in sprint network and therefore cannot be used.. they keep on saying i have to use a sprint labeled g5 phone?
Is there anything i can do about this? is sprint reps just being an ass (not their fault or maybe because they just being brainwashed by the corporate) or is there some real technical thing preventing them from registering my phone? It did detect sprint network when sprint sim is inserted after all.
Anything i can do about all this? Thanks.
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Maybe if you really got high enough up on the engineer food chain, they might be able to override it. The software they use to activate phones will not allow phones outside of their system. If it's not on the list of acceptable IMIEs too bad. Had the same problem a while ago on a Nexus 5x that was fully compatible. It wasn't in the list even though they said all 5Xs are compatible on their website. After a couple of hours on the phone, I decided it was just easier to return the phone on eBay.
idontkn1 said:
Maybe if you really got high enough up on the engineer food chain, they might be able to override it. The software they use to activate phones will not allow phones outside of their system. If it's not on the list of acceptable IMIEs too bad. Had the same problem a while ago on a Nexus 5x that was fully compatible. It wasn't in the list even though they said all 5Xs are compatible on their website. After a couple of hours on the phone, I decided it was just easier to return the phone on eBay.
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Anyone has any hints or tip on how i can accomplish this? what do i need to say to the sprint rep? I think it's BS they doing this. They allow BYOD but then they do this kind of crap? I really don't understand at all!
wildpig1234 said:
Anyone has any hints or tip on how i can accomplish this? what do i need to say to the sprint rep? I think it's BS they doing this. They allow BYOD but then they do this kind of crap? I really don't understand at all!
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Why don't you return it to the seller? Unless it's the Sprint version of the phone or the RS988 it's not going to work with Sprint.
idontkn1 said:
Why don't you return it to the seller? Unless it's the Sprint version of the phone or the RS988 it's not going to work with Sprint.
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It was actually RS988. I think it was a prior verizon phone as i went to verizon website just testing out adding the imei. it says the phone is no longer eligible to be activated on verizon...... what kind of bs is that?
I guess it;s possible that that phone didn't have all the bands needed by sprint? Anyway, i went ahead and returned it. Got a sprint labeled G5..... the imei seems to check out so far when i tried it on sprint website.... just haven't tried to switch over yet since i still need to back up data from old phone over.....