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Can a Sprint iPhone be activated on the Verizon network?

DDustiNN

DDustiNN

macrumors 68020
Original poster
Jan 27, 2011
2,485
1,371
I'm just wondering if anyone has had experience with this, as I don't really want to make a such an expensive gamble/purchase without knowing for sure.

I was looking at an iPhone 4 which the seller claimed had a bad ESN on Sprint. I checked the MEID on a free ESN checker website, and it confirmed that the ESN was indeed bad for Sprint. However, when I changed the check to Verizon, it said it was good. Then when I checked on Verizon's official Device Eligibility website, it did say "Your device is eligible to be activated on the Verizon Wireless network."

I know, I know, the first response would be, "So what's the problem?? Go for it!" right?

But I just want to confirm that this actually is possible, and not just some sort of glitch or something. I don't want to be stuck with a phone I can't activate.

Thanks in advance if anyone can share their experience :D
 
FSMBP

FSMBP

macrumors 68030
Jan 22, 2009
2,712
2,623
DDustiNN said:
I'm just wondering if anyone has had experience with this, as I don't really want to make a such an expensive gamble/purchase without knowing for sure.

I was looking at an iPhone 4 which the seller claimed had a bad ESN on Sprint. I checked the MEID on a free ESN checker website, and it confirmed that the ESN was indeed bad for Sprint. However, when I changed the check to Verizon, it said it was good. Then when I checked on Verizon's official Device Eligibility website, it did say "Your device is eligible to be activated on the Verizon Wireless network."

I know, I know, the first response would be, "So what's the problem?? Go for it!" right?

But I just want to confirm that this actually is possible, and not just some sort of glitch or something. I don't want to be stuck with a phone I can't activate.

Thanks in advance if anyone can share their experience :D
Click to expand...

No.
 
DDustiNN

DDustiNN

macrumors 68020
Original poster
Jan 27, 2011
2,485
1,371
FSMBP said:
No.
Click to expand...

Have you experienced this? Or did you read the post explaining that the Verizon site said it was good, hence my question and why I was concerned?

----------
Givmeabrek said:
What's a bad ESN? A stolen phone?? :eek:
Click to expand...

It usually means the owner has a delinquent account (owes money, broke contract early and didn't pay ETF, etc). However it can also mean a phone was reported lost or stolen.
 
FSMBP

FSMBP

macrumors 68030
Jan 22, 2009
2,712
2,623
DDustiNN said:
Have you experienced this? Or did you read the post explaining that the Verizon site said it was good, hence my question and why I was concerned?
Click to expand...

Not directly. But I do know Verizon will not activate a Sprint cellphone and vice-versa. In fact, all US carriers will refuse to activate a 4S if purchased on another network (despite the fact the 4S supports GSM & CDMA networks and is fully compatible). It's crappy & I really hope this changes.
 
L

likethesoup2

macrumors 6502a
Mar 29, 2011
529
21
Orlando, Florida
Speaking just for me - I'd rather pay a little more, and know what I'm getting is going to actually work, than try to get a bargain and wonder if it's going to work.

But hey - maybe that's just me . . .
 
DDustiNN

DDustiNN

macrumors 68020
Original poster
Jan 27, 2011
2,485
1,371
FSMBP said:
Not directly. But I do know Verizon will not activate a Sprint cellphone and vice-versa. In fact, all US carriers will refuse to activate a 4S if purchased on another network (despite the fact the 4S supports GSM & CDMA networks and is fully compatible). It's crappy & I really hope this changes.
Click to expand...

Hmm, I see... Well the phone in question was an iPhone 4, so it's just CDMA of course... Maybe that could make the difference? When searching a bit on Google, I did see the same thing you just mentioned about the 4S, but I wasn't able to find any answers about the 4, so that's why I asked here. I really don't know. I was just hoping someone else had tried it or something :)

----------
likethesoup2 said:
Speaking just for me - I'd rather pay a little more, and know what I'm getting is going to actually work, than try to get a bargain and wonder if it's going to work.

But hey - maybe that's just me . . .
Click to expand...

Oh I understand that completely, and I'm the same way. That's why I posted here, just looking for definitive confirmation either way haha. But a $100 difference is pretty substantial if they're actually the same phone :D
 
FSMBP

FSMBP

macrumors 68030
Jan 22, 2009
2,712
2,623
DDustiNN said:
Hmm, I see... Well the phone in question was an iPhone 4, so it's just CDMA of course... Maybe that could make the difference? When searching a bit on Google, I did see the same thing you just mentioned about the 4S, but I wasn't able to find any answers about the 4, so that's why I asked here. I really don't know. I was just hoping someone else had tried it or something :)
Click to expand...

It's for any phone. I just used the iPhone 4S as an example because it is fully compatible to run on any network & carriers still refuse it (as in, carriers can't use excuses like 'it won't work properly on our network').
 
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