hello i have problem whit my LG g3 vs9850 from verizon wireless! it;s unlock and i used this one on T-mobile network.
But i Buy this phone in Craigslist! but today the phone not work. I check the imei and this it;s STOLEN...Can I repair the imei???
can We Fix the imei??
thanks!
jefry_valdez said:
hello i have problem whit my LG g3 vs9850 from verizon wireless! it;s unlock and i used this one on T-mobile network.
But i Buy this phone in Craigslist! but today the phone not work. I check the imei and this it;s STOLEN...Can I repair the imei???
can We Fix the imei??
thanks!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Nope, you got screwed. Chances are it hadn't been reported lost/stolen, by the rightful owner, before you bought it, or the person who sold it to you, reported lost/stolen, and filed an insurance claim, after they sold it to you.
Changing IMEIs is illegal, btw.
jefry_valdez said:
hello i have problem whit my LG g3 vs9850 from verizon wireless! it;s unlock and i used this one on T-mobile network.
But i Buy this phone in Craigslist! but today the phone not work. I check the imei and this it;s STOLEN...Can I repair the imei???
can We Fix the imei??
thanks!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
U B Screwed........
You can't repair the IMEID.
jefry_valdez said:
hello i have problem whit my LG g3 vs9850 from verizon wireless! it;s unlock and i used this one on T-mobile network.
But i Buy this phone in Craigslist! but today the phone not work. I check the imei and this it;s STOLEN...Can I repair the imei???
can We Fix the imei??
thanks!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You are the proud owner of a small WiFi tablet
Should work great as a small WiFi tablet, though.
Sent from my VS985 4G using Tapatalk
If possible.... That phone could go to one of our devs... Don't think they have a Verizon one.
Although I'm sure you're more than pissed off about it and that's the last thing on your mind right now.
Sorry you got hosed
- Tapatalked from the G3
Sorry OP got burned.
As a side note.
DON"T BUY PHONES ON CRAIG'S LIST!!!!!!
Unless you meet at a Verizon store, don't even think about it.
If you say meet at a Verizon store, a thief will pass.
Personally, I say use -> http://swappa.com/
I have bought 4 phones there and sold 3 and never had an issue.
They check the IMEID and also check to see if the phone is tied to an account.
Swappa is definitely the way to go .
- Tapatalked from the G3
Related
Hello
I bough what it looks like a brand new i717 on craigslist at @ $200. It is in pristine condition, boxed with all the accessories including a genuine flip case... everything fresh and still smelling like new. It has a bad IMEI though.
The seller said it was a display unit on an AT&T store and that they block the IMEIs of the phones that are removed from the display counter. The guy even had an AT&T t-shirt... Truth or lie? I don't know, it still seemed a great deal to me and I bought it anyway since I've seen them on ebay selling well above $300 in "used" (all scratched up) condition.
So, I have two questions:
-Is it true that a blocked IMEI will work overseas? (I also took the risk on buying it because I will move overseas in a few months)
-Is there anything I can do to use it now with my T-Mobile account?
Thanks
Not sure about it working overseas. No experience.
But you could also sell it to somebody who wants to use it on T-Mobile USA since a bad AT&T IMEI doesnt matter on T-Mo
Looks like you are screwed unless you can find stuff to manage stolen phones... I'd take our as a lesson of "if it looks too good to be true..."
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I717 using Tapatalk 2
melcali said:
Not sure about it working overseas. No experience.
But you could also sell it to somebody who wants to use it on T-Mobile USA since a bad AT&T IMEI doesnt matter on T-Mo
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Really? I thought AT&T and T-mobile shared a blacklisted IMEI database. Can anyone confirm if it will work with T-mobile?
If you unlocked it, it can work overseas and if you root it and flash t mobile blaze ics modem you can use it on T-Mobile like what I'm doing now getting hspa speed
Sent from my SGH-I717 using xda app-developers app
jacky37 said:
If you unlocked it, it can work overseas and if you root it and flash t mobile blaze ics modem you can use it on T-Mobile like what I'm doing now getting hspa speed
Sent from my SGH-I717 using xda app-developers app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
yeah they have an alliance that will track imei numbers as of 12/1/12...
domenicostorino said:
Hello
I bough what it looks like a brand new i717 on craigslist at @ $200. It is in pristine condition, boxed with all the accessories including a genuine flip case... everything fresh and still smelling like new. It has a bad IMEI though.
The seller said it was a display unit on an AT&T store and that they block the IMEIs of the phones that are removed from the display counter. The guy even had an AT&T t-shirt... Truth or lie? I don't know, it still seemed a great deal to me and I bought it anyway since I've seen them on ebay selling well above $300 in "used" (all scratched up) condition.
So, I have two questions:
-Is it true that a blocked IMEI will work overseas? (I also took the risk on buying it because I will move overseas in a few months)
-Is there anything I can do to use it now with my T-Mobile account?
Thanks
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I have two questions, are you trying to call at&t and have them turn the phone on or are you just putting a sim card in and its not working? And if you did put a working at&t sim in without calling what did it say or do on the phone?
melcali said:
Not sure about it working overseas. No experience.
But you could also sell it to somebody who wants to use it on T-Mobile USA since a bad AT&T IMEI doesnt matter on T-Mo
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
truth77 said:
I have two questions, are you trying to call at&t and have them turn the phone on or are you just putting a sim card in and its not working? And if you did put a working at&t sim in without calling what did it say or do on the phone?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No, I haven't called At&t at all... I don't think I'm going to have any luck asking them to fix the imei of a blacklisted phone that I boought on Craiglist... I do have a T-mobile sim but I haven't inserted it yet. Why? because I have read many times that if you insert a sim on a phone with a blocked imei they will block the sim card automatically...
MrGalione973 said:
yeah they have an alliance that will track imei numbers as of 12/1/12...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Oh that sucks. I will unlock it and take it with me overseas... I guess I shouldn't have any problems using it there (Lima, Peru).
Ok this sucks even more. A friend grabbed the phone and inserted his own AT&T sim card just to "see what happens"... his line got automatically suspended. It didn't even work when inserted the sim back to his own phone. Of course this has just happened a few minutes ago (Saturday night when customer service is closed).
I will call customer care tomorrow. Do any of you guys know what are the steps to restore the line? Is it just a simple call or does he need to buy a new sim?
Thanks
whoa that sucks. i didnt know they are that quick to take action.
That is a great way to screw with people that try to steal phones...
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I717 using Tapatalk 2
Radimus said:
That is a great way to screw with people that try to steal phones...
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I717 using Tapatalk 2
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I agree. He called ATT this morning and his line was suspended as "lost or stolen". The rep never said anything about using the sim on a blacklisted device or anything similar. They restored his service right away,
Anyway... my i717 is now stored and I won't mess with it until I move overseas. Beware of inserting your sim on an blacklisted device!
Not to hijack your thread, but a "friend" of mine just stole a brand new note from best buy and wants me to help him unlock and root it. Not that I really care about best buy (and I really don't care that he stole it) but I'm thinking on refusing on general principle just because his actions raise the prices of phones and service for the rest of us. What would you do?
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I717 using Tapatalk 2
I'd tell your friend, that if he was clever enough to steal it, then he should be clever enough to get a job and buy one... the thieving little socialist.
In the principle of helping anyone root their phone, I'd not do it for them. I would help them read and learn how to do it, as that helps general understanding of what they are doing and may eliminate future help calls.
LittleRedDot said:
Not to hijack your thread, but a "friend" of mine just stole a brand new note from best buy and wants me to help him unlock and root it. Not that I really care about best buy (and I really don't care that he stole it) but I'm thinking on refusing on general principle just because his actions raise the prices of phones and service for the rest of us. What would you do?
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I717 using Tapatalk 2
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I717 using Tapatalk 2
Have you tried using it on Straight Talk? Its att so it probably wouldn't work. Just an idea.
Want to sell it? I'll buy it from you. Mine has a dead pixel and while its annoying it's not bad enough for me to buy a new $220 screen.
LittleRedDot said:
Not to hijack your thread, but a "friend" of mine just stole a brand new note from best buy and wants me to help him unlock and root it. Not that I really care about best buy (and I really don't care that he stole it) but I'm thinking on refusing on general principle just because his actions raise the prices of phones and service for the rest of us. What would you do?
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I717 using Tapatalk 2
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I wouldn't have a friend like this. Can't stand a f'n thief. I'm an anti-cop kind of person but I've been ripped off and it sucks. Tell him to kiss your as#. I hope he gets busted when he puts a sim in it.
scottx . said:
Have you tried using it on Straight Talk? Its att so it probably wouldn't work. Just an idea.
I wouldn't have a friend like this. Can't stand a f'n thief. I'm an anti-cop kind of person but I've been ripped off and it sucks. Tell him to kiss your as#. I hope he gets busted when he puts a sim in it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Agreed
XDA is no longer worth my time.
Cell Spa sales stolen phones
Unfortunately I bought a Galaxy S2 in September from a cell phone store (" Cell Spa" in Sugar Land Texas) that sales stolen Phones. I was able to call AT&T and told them to release my SIM card and they did. They told me the IMEI on the phone was linked to a stolen phone so basically there was nothing I could do. They are not concerned about returning the phone to the original person who claimed the theft so I'm stuck with a blacklisted phone????:crying:
What was that line from Forrest Gump? Oh yeah, "stupid is as stupid does". Anyone that buys or sells stolen phones, gets what they deserve. Remember....it was stolen from someone that actually paid money for it!
Sent from my Nexus 7 using xda app-developers app
So I bought a L9 T-Mobile last Saturday to use it with simple mobile but always get no service, I go several places that repair phones and all say was a bad sim so I bought a new one and same thing happend. I go to another place and say that my IMEI can be blacklisted and when he check says is blocked and reason is STL. I check here at home and says unlock... Im asking is there anything I can do to use this phone? I read that changing roms cmay also change the imei but I'm on 10g so means I can't root it yet.
Slackys said:
So I bought a L9 T-Mobile last Saturday to use it with simple mobile but always get no service, I go several places that repair phones and all say was a bad sim so I bought a new one and same thing happend. I go to another place and say that my IMEI can be blacklisted and when he check says is blocked and reason is STL. I check here at home and says unlock... Im asking is there anything I can do to use this phone? I read that changing roms cmay also change the imei but I'm on 10g so means I can't root it yet.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Changing the IMEI on U.S. soil will land you in Federal Prison for a long, long, long time.
On a good note, I don't believe that T-Mobile has implemented IMEI blocking yet. Are you sure the device is for T-Mobile? Does it say T-Mobile on the top right corner of the glass? If so, try your sim in another device. If it works you may have a bad device.
What is the Firmware version and Baseband version?
You can try doing a factory reset.
Here are instructions on doing this: http://www.resettoo.com/hard-reset-lg-optimus-l9-p769-to-restore-factory-settings. Good luck.
Yes have the T-Mobile logo. I bought it from the girl next door on my vacation on Florida. She say she bought a Galaxy 3 so didnt need this phone anymore and give it to me for $150 and since I have a mytouch 3g slide I obviously accept but use mini sim and wait till I got back and bought a mini sim just to find that dont work.
Android
4.0.4
Baseband Version
L6260_MODEM_SIC_01.1233.00
Software Version
P76910g
Slackys said:
Yes have the T-Mobile logo. I bought it from the girl next door on my vacation on Florida. She say she bought a Galaxy 3 so didnt need this phone anymore and give it to me for $150 and since I have a mytouch 3g slide I obviously accept but use mini sim and wait till I got back and bought a mini sim just to find that dont work.
Android
4.0.4
Baseband Version
L6260_MODEM_SIC_01.1233.00
Software Version
P76910g
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I don't have my L9 handy. Maybe someone with 10g can confirm the same baseband. If it is different, that may be the issue.
Would you be able to have someone with a T-Mobile sim try it in your phone?
Not yet, thinking on going to T-Mobile and check, if works then transfer my number to them. Would suck change $40 to $50...
Symptoms of an IMEI Blocked Device
CANNOT:
Dial 611 to reach T-Mobile customer care
Make/Receive Calls
Text Messaging
Data/Internet
Use any tools or menus such as calendars, contacts, etc.
This is taken direct from T-Mobile.
I can verify for you whether or not its blocked if you like.
I PM you the IMEI, hope is not blacklisted... Is a good phone and I dont wanna use like an MP3/Video.
Also I check and I can open the tools like contacts, calendar, etc.
Wow! I was not aware that T-Mobile is already blocking IMEI. Thank You for the info.
Worst case scenario is you may be able to use one of those sim unlock services on Ebay to unlock it for AT&T.
The phone supports the 1900Mhz 3G band for that network.
There are plenty of pre-paid carriers that use the AT&T network. Net10 is one of them, and they have unlimited everything for a good price. Good luck.
Oh I didnt knew I can have 3G outside T-Mobile network. I might have to try that. Will keep update on what happend.
Slackys said:
Yes have the T-Mobile logo. I bought it from the girl next door on my vacation on Florida. She say she bought a Galaxy 3 so didnt need this phone anymore and give it to me for $150 and since I have a mytouch 3g slide I obviously accept but use mini sim and wait till I got back and bought a mini sim just to find that dont work.
Android
4.0.4
Baseband Version
L6260_MODEM_SIC_01.1233.00
Software Version
P76910g
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Heres my bb
Sent from my LG-P769 using xda app-developers app
Yup we got the same data... also as Jrkoffjonson PM me is marked as blocked.
(My prior comment was not meant to upset the OP. Just some personal opinion. Removing them now.).
To summarize: proceed with caution as you already guessed what might have happened with your new phone.
nsfgp said:
T-Mobile was selling this for $199 with free $50 refill twice in the last 2 months.
I don't think "the girl next door" is giving you a good deal at all. Probably something "HOT" she was trying to unload quick. No ebay fee/trace left behind for the authority now that it is your problem.
Good luck ... proceed with caution.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Love when people do this kind of advices...
My final guess is she sell it to me, she report it stolen, bought a S3 with the money and im with a L9 that I use as a tablet...
Slackys said:
Yes have the T-Mobile logo. I bought it from the girl next door on my vacation on Florida. She say she bought a Galaxy 3 so didnt need this phone anymore and give it to me for $150 and since I have a mytouch 3g slide I obviously accept but use mini sim and wait till I got back and bought a mini sim just to find that dont work.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
These days mobile service providers have joined together and sharing centralized IMEI data for any possible criminal activities happening over the phone. Just dont buy any phone from anyone you dont know well. Even if you have bought it from relative may put you in legal issues. Always ask for bill (invoice), warranty card and box, even if warranty is over.
Just imagine that "girl next door" also does not know that the phone is used for illegal activities (drugs/terrorism) and may be thats the reason the phone IMEI might have been blocked and is still traced by International Investigation Agencies, then what? You might have saved some dollars at the cost of your fortune. So beware. Dont do this again. These days we are all wired and easily traceable.
Jrkoffjonson said:
Symptoms of an IMEI Blocked Device
CANNOT:
Dial 611 to reach T-Mobile customer care
Make/Receive Calls
Text Messaging
Data/Internet
Use any tools or menus such as calendars, contacts, etc.
This is taken direct from T-Mobile.
I can verify for you whether or not its blocked if you like.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Slackys said:
Yup we got the same data... also as Jrkoffjonson PM me is marked as blocked.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
@Jrkoffjonson, Which site you checked for blocked IMEI?
I was looking into straight talk but dont know if is also a t-mobile network. I unlock the phone for $8 so Im happy.
So I unlocked a bad ESN T-Mobile Htc one phone using a unlock code and an at&t sim. I also flashed the phone and replaced the tmobile stock with the att stock. Is it possible to get this phone to work now? Or is there no chance?
Also I first unlocked the phone then I replaced the roms.
If anyone has any clue if this could would would be a life changer! Thanks in advance.
ultrav33 said:
So I unlocked a bad ESN T-Mobile Htc one phone using a unlock code and an at&t sim. I also flashed the phone and replaced the tmobile stock with the att stock. Is it possible to get this phone to work now? Or is there no chance?
Also I first unlocked the phone then I replaced the roms.
If anyone has any clue if this could would would be a life changer! Thanks in advance.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Perhaps you should stop stealing phones. Half kidding. T-Mobile and AT&T now share the EIR lists so in theory it should not work on either.
So is there anyway to get this working on any carrier at all?
And umm, I purchased this phone on craigslist. the guy lied to me so now I'm stuck with a bad esn phone....
Nope, all the carriers share a blacklist of stolen phones. If it gets blocked on one it gets blocked on them all withing 24 hours.
Sell it on ebay. International customers will pick it up
Sent from my HTC One using xda app-developers app
nexicon said:
Sell it on ebay. International customers will pick it up
Sent from my HTC One using xda app-developers app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
How much do you think they will go on ebay? I am really not trying to be at too much of a loss so I hope I can get atleast 400$. the item is in mint condition.
You can get closer to 500+. Just make sure you list it as bad imei and sign up for the global shipping program ebay offers. They will take care of international shipping. Be careful when it comes to shipping to india and russia. They take a while to deliver and may get lost
Sent from my HTC One using xda app-developers app
try straighttalk their tmo compatible sim comes with its own imei number
skinsfanbdh said:
try straighttalk their tmo compatible sim comes with its own imei number
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Um SIM cards don't have imei numbers I thought...
skinsfanbdh said:
try straighttalk their tmo compatible sim comes with its own imei number
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
have you tested this theory out? Let me know if anyone knows if straight talk can work with a bad esn phone?
In my opinion there is a HUGE loop hole, i have an AT&T HTC One I just bought today just found it has a bad ESN via swapper, but little secret, it still works perfectly fine using a previously activated sim, so your best bet, get another handset on the carrier you wish to use (GSM only) activate that handset, pop the sim card into the bad esn phone, and eureka, service and no MM#6
zquesti0nmark7 said:
In my opinion there is a HUGE loop hole, i have an AT&T HTC One I just bought today just found it has a bad ESN via swapper, but little secret, it still works perfectly fine using a previously activated sim, so your best bet, get another handset on the carrier you wish to use (GSM only) activate that handset, pop the sim card into the bad esn phone, and eureka, service and no MM#6
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I don't understand how your phone still works on AT&T if it had a bad ESN. A bad ESN means the phone WON'T work on that network. So if an AT&T phone had a bad ESN, no matter what SIM card you put in it, it won't work.
But if you have it working, I wouldn't be complaining. I remember back when Tmo didn't have a no-throttle plan, I reached my 5GB, but I was still getting fast download speeds. I got the text message in all. This happened for about 3 months. Then it stopped. =.[
I'm not going to get into the details I read in this thread about carriers sharing their ESN's. That is new to me. I'll have to go read about that on my own time.
I am curious when this will actually be enforced.
I have been using a One with a bad ESN on ST AT&T LTE for several months with no issues. I know they are supposed to share the blacklist...but will they really enforce it when it could bring them extra business. I have even used a LycaMobile (TMobile reseller) sim in the phone and it works as well.
Bad thing about CL and T-Mobile is you buy a phone, it's clean, works a week or 2 and then gets blacklisted when they dont pay the bill. AT&T & Verizon dont blacklist for non payment, although they may start for people who get the phones on payment plans.
Hello Folks,
I have accidentally broken the G5 Sim Card Tray. Can anyone tell me where I can purchase another one from?
Regards,
- Harris
HI harroldo seems these boneheads don't wanna at least give an opinion. I have to say if it was psychically damaged your best bet is going to a electronic shop that has a rework station of sorts and before going
order the part so that they won't try to over charge you for it then let them do their job.
Has anyone found out where they sell the replacements? I sent my phone to get the screen repaired to LG and they lost the sim tray and they say the do not sell it nor can they send me one. So my phone is useless until then, any info on this?
keaganmendoza said:
Has anyone found out where they sell the replacements? I sent my phone to get the screen repaired to LG and they lost the sim tray and they say the do not sell it nor can they send me one. So my phone is useless until then, any info on this?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If they lost it, they will have to replace it for you, it's BS for them to say they can't get you one.
keaganmendoza said:
Has anyone found out where they sell the replacements? I sent my phone to get the screen repaired to LG and they lost the sim tray and they say the do not sell it nor can they send me one. So my phone is useless until then, any info on this?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That's BS. If they genuinely can't replace the tray, they will need to give you a new phone.
Sent from my LG-H850 using Tapatalk
My LG G5 would not turn on a few days after purchase. Purchase was made outright. When getting the phone back from LG warranty (some 6 weeks after purchase), the sim card tray was gone..... I called LG and they transferred me to Best Buy where I purchased the phone. I cannot get any help from the store where I purchased or through LG directly.
Do yourself a favor and don't buy this phone. LG are not a company that deserves loyalty or your hard earned cash.
website such as ebay or aliexpress can help you! There are plenty
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.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
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.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
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!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
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.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
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.....