Super Confused iphone 5 mystery

[newport123]

1)purchased iphone from craigslist was told its a verizon version by the seller
2)popped in sim and it said its not a valid sim. i am thinking this is a sprint phone and i was tricked. Phone does show the bars but says can not be activated due to incompatible sim.
Phone is still not activated and i can not even mavigate to the home screen tried connecting with itunes etc
3)call apple and they confirm this is a sprint phone
4) call up sprint provide seriel number and imei and they say its not a sprint phone and they didnt mention if its stolen or reported stolen. I had asked this in bold in my email to sprint

So now i have a iphone 5 which i can nto activate . Its locked and lying as a paper weight

In the mean time i buy a AIR update to new os install itunes 8 etc etc
i decide to connect the iphone 5 just for fun and boom it says syncing and shows me the home screen. I am happy I do a quick song and dance sequence with 5 yo mama jokes. JK

Now when i go to general about i am super confused
Carrier says AT&T 13.0
Model is MD657LL (This is a sprint model number)
So which iphone 5 is this Friends ???????


Model Number is A1429
http://www.apple.com/iphone/LTE/

[jent]

Did you pop in an AT&T SIM?

Verizon and Sprint iPhones can be unlocked internationally but not domestically, meaning the GSM radio in CDMA iPhones can be unlocked for use with any non-American GSM carrier.

[newport123]

Originally Posted by jent

Did you pop in an AT&T SIM?

Verizon and Sprint iPhones can be unlocked internationally but not domestically, meaning the GSM radio in CDMA iPhones can be unlocked for use with any non-American GSM carrier.

With ATT sim it said not compatible sim etc etc
but it was showing me bars on the top left

[Myiphone7]

My guess AT&T

[Justinf79]

Odd, was it a new phone in a shrink wrapped box, or a used one?

[newport123]

Originally Posted by Justinf79

Odd, was it a new phone in a shrink wrapped box, or a used one?

used got it off craigslist
when i started it it went through the initial set up process

[Justinf79]

Hmm, I'd maybe try contacting the seller, and see what exactly he/she did to it.

[RNVarma]

What does it say for model on the back of the iPhone?

[newport123]

Originally Posted by rnvarma

what does it say for model on the back of the iphone?

a1429

[Prime85]

Originally Posted by newport123

a1429

That number is either for sprint or verizon is a CDMA phone

[RNVarma]

I would guess you have the CDMA A1429 model per http://www.apple.com/iphone/LTE/

[617aircav]

I am amazed at how people bu phones on Craigslist and do no check to see if the phone is working.

[jent]

Originally Posted by Prime85

That number is either for sprint or verizon is a CDMA phone

Sprint and Verizon's unlocking policy keep the domestic GSM carriers locked out, so that will not work with any U.S. GSM carrier.

[Jtludwig]

Originally Posted by jent

Sprint and Verizon's unlocking policy keep the domestic GSM carriers locked out, so that will not work with any U.S. GSM carrier.

Please stop posting incorrect information.

While the Sprint Iphone 5 is locked, the Verizon version is GSM unlocked out of the box for any GSM carrier worldwide, including the USA.

[darster]

Originally Posted by jent

Sprint and Verizon's unlocking policy keep the domestic GSM carriers locked out, so that will not work with any U.S. GSM carrier.

Verizon phone works with T mobile and smart talk. So much for your knowledge.

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To OP, you have a Sprint phone. This is exactly what happens with the sprint iphone 5 when trying to activate AT&T sim. If you had Verizon iphone 5, it would have worked. AT&T gsm network will work with the verizon phone, but you will not get LTE. With Sprint phone, nothing from AT&T will work unless you get Sprint to unlock the phone.

[deannnnn]

You definitely have a CDMA phone, it is not an AT&T phone. You need to call Verizon to activate it, you can't just put a SIM card in and expect anything to happen. It wouldn't work with an AT&T SIM because it's locked to a CDMA network (either Sprint or Verizon) which is preventing it from connecting to AT&T.