iPhone 4S - Verizon, SprinT, AT&T...

[AeroCare]

So I have a Verizon 4S. Looking for a reason to either sell it or keep it. It's hard to figure out because it's the first Apple CDMA/GSM model so it's a mystery.

Help me out :

Since the phone 4S is the same basically for all three carriers, after jailbreak will I be able to use it on Sprint also? I know people flash their Android phones from one carrier to the other but I figure they're flashing ESN which I don't need to do, my 4S is paid off and legal.

Is there a technical reason or is it a carrier policy deal?

 

[AeroCare]

BTW I was going to post the same question on the Android forum requesting info on anyone who has done it with their Android phones but I noticed that many of the people here also have Android phones and also post over there so maybe one of those could help here?

 

[rom x]

you cannot use a verizon iPhone on sprint not even a JB iPhone will work. but you might be able to use a JB iPhone from sprint on cricket cause they use the same technology.

 

[AeroCare]

If it's about the same technology then I would be able to do it. All three, Verizon and Sprint and Cricket, are CDMA carriers.

 

[owieh]

Why not ask them to unlock it?

 

[AeroCare]

It's not locked.

 

[iP5]

The CDMA carriers will not port over ESNs from outside of their network. If you had a friend on the inside, technically he could drop it into their network as a new device from Apple. He'd lose his job the minute it was discovered though.

End result, the device will only work on it's carrier of origin or potentially on international GSM networks.

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[Europa]

I don't think it will work. It's locked to Verizon and unlike T-Mobile, Sprint doesn't use a SIM card (which allows people to switch phones by switching the card). So even if the hackers did make a CDMA unlock, you won't be able to just pop a Sprint SIM card into it to get it working on that carrier. I think you'd have to take it into Sprint to have it switched over to their network and even if they could do it, they wouldn't be allowed to do it since they could tell that it is a Verizon-locked phone.

Not saying it's not possible; I just don't see it happening anytime soon. We don't even have a GSM unlock for the AT&T iPhone yet, and that's far easier by comparison.

 

[Europa]

It's not locked.

If it's a Verizon iPhone, it's carrier-locked to Verizon. Getting it working on a GSM network (with an 02 SIM, for example, would be much easier). I'm not talking about roaming on O2 with the SIM that's already in the phone (which is how it's designed to work stock), I'm talking about an actual O2 prepaid SIM so you don't have to pay Verizon roaming charges when you get home.

 

[AeroCare]

I know how sim cards on GSM carriers work, thanks. It's not locked to Verizon, I can use all my international sims fine in it.

I suppose then that's why Android phones have to be flashed. Thanks for the answers.

 

[iP5]

I know how sim cards on GSM carriers work, thanks.

I suppose then that's why Android phones have to be flashed. Thanks for the answers.

Flashed? All CDMA phones are locked to their carrier of origin regardless of OS.

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[AeroCare]

Flashed? All CDMA phones are locked to their carrier of origin regardless of OS.

I don't understand. Are you trying to say something different from what I said and you quoted or are you just repeating the same thing?

 

[iP5]

...

I suppose then that's why Android phones have to be flashed. Thanks for the answers.

I don't understand this statement. Flashed in what way?

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[AeroCare]

Let's start from the beginning, what do you understand by flashed?

 

[Europa]

I know how sim cards on GSM carriers work, thanks. It's not locked to Verizon, I can use all my international sims fine in it.

I suppose then that's why Android phones have to be flashed. Thanks for the answers.

But as far as the CDMA chip goes, it is locked to Verizon. It won't work with any other CDMA carriers. I did hear that Verizon and/or Sprint might unlock the GSM chip so you can use international GSM SIMs. AT&T won't do that. Did Verizon unlock it for you so it would work with those international GSM SIMs?

 

[AeroCare]

Yeah, that's true. I did hear that Verizon and/or Sprint might unlock the GSM tray so you can use international SIMs. AT&T won't do that. Did Verizon unlock it for you so it would work with those international GSM SIMs?

Yep, that's why I said previously that it's unlocked. That's the only thing they can unlock, the GSM Sim tray for use with international carriers.

 

[iP5]

Let's start from the beginning, what do you understand by flashed?

Some kind of software/firmware update/change.

So CDMA Android phones can be flashed to work on a competitors CDMA network?

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[AeroCare]

Some kind of software/firmware update/change.

So CDMA Android phones can be flashed to work on a competitors CDMA network?

Yes they can. Now I understand why you posted what you posted previously.

 

[iP5]

Wow. Ok, my statements about CDMA only apply to Canada when we had CDMA carriers. Thought the policies were North American standards.

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[AeroCare]

No problem.