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Sprint..How do they activate all those phones?

M

Macky Mac

macrumors member
Original poster
Oct 19, 2010
36
0
I was a customer with Sprint over 10 years ago. I do remember that activating/programming a phone was a real pain. You had to enter in lots of secret coded information and tell the phone its new phone #.

SO I ordered an iphone from Sprint and they say I will receive it ready to use out of the box..... HOW can they activate AND program ALL of those iphones???

Don't know how many they sold to new customers??? But it has to be close to 50k iphones???

Anyone have any idea how they can activate all of those phones and have it delivered by friday?:confused:
 
Yes I have heard about OTA...but Sprint website says I can start using it right out of the box.

OTA still requires that "something" happens before I can use it.... I would have to turn it on and pres * or # something to start OTA.????

Which means it can't be just an OTA.... They have to marry my ESN with my account AND tell my iphone all of that information WHILE it is in their warehouse????

Please tell me they won't open the box and screw with my shiny new iphone???:eek:
 
Doesn't the 4S do wireless syncing? Maybe they can just set up a wireless router in their warehouse and then set up all 200,000 phones wirelessly at once without opening any boxes.
 
Macky Mac said:
Yes I have heard about OTA...but Sprint website says I can start using it right out of the box.

OTA still requires that "something" happens before I can use it.... I would have to turn it on and pres * or # something to start OTA.????

Which means it can't be just an OTA.... They have to marry my ESN with my account AND tell my iphone all of that information WHILE it is in their warehouse????

Please tell me they won't open the box and screw with my shiny new iphone???:eek:
Click to expand...

All the ESN data is barcoded on the outside (bottom) of the box. They scan it, add it to your account, and as soon as the phone is turned on and checks in with Sprint - bam - your phone is activated.
 
ZBoater said:
It's magical.... :apple:
Click to expand...

It really is a great advancement. If you've ever had the experience that the OP is talking about, it was painful.

It is pretty incredible to get a phone, open the box, turn it on, and be able to make a call without any programming or having to can the carrier and go through 20 prompts.
 
I just can't stomach the fact that someone is gonna open my new iphone box and put their nasty hands all over my brand new white iphone:eek::eek::D

Seriously....How can they program and activate all of those phones???

Things that make you go Hmmmmmm!!!!!

Maybe I should just accept that its magic.....
 
Macky Mac said:
I just can't stomach the fact that someone is gonna open my new iphone box and put their nasty hands all over my brand new white iphone:eek::eek::D

Seriously....How can they program and activate all of those phones???

Things that make you go Hmmmmmm!!!!!

Maybe I should just accept that its magic.....
Click to expand...

Did you gloss over this post?

xraydoc said:
All the ESN data is barcoded on the outside (bottom) of the box. They scan it, add it to your account, and as soon as the phone is turned on and checks in with Sprint - bam - your phone is activated.
Click to expand...
 
Macky Mac said:
I was a customer with Sprint over 10 years ago. I do remember that activating/programming a phone was a real pain. You had to enter in lots of secret coded information and tell the phone its new phone #.

SO I ordered an iphone from Sprint and they say I will receive it ready to use out of the box..... HOW can they activate AND program ALL of those iphones???

Don't know how many they sold to new customers??? But it has to be close to 50k iphones???

Anyone have any idea how they can activate all of those phones and have it delivered by friday?:confused:
Click to expand...

Is why i like SIM cards better. I can switch to any phone i have and it will just work. I wish they all had SIM cards because IF T-Mobile goes away, i really dont want to be stuck with AT&T because it isnt very good here but i love the SIM cards.
 
They don't put your account info into your phone; they put your phone info into your account.
 
Macky Mac said:
I just can't stomach the fact that someone is gonna open my new iphone box and put their nasty hands all over my brand new white iphone:eek::eek::D
Click to expand...
1. Wow...

2. Read the thread, just couple posts above you...

xraydoc said:
All the ESN data is barcoded on the outside (bottom) of the box. They scan it, add it to your account, and as soon as the phone is turned on and checks in with Sprint - bam - your phone is activated.
Click to expand...
 
gillybean said:
Doesn't the 4S do wireless syncing? Maybe they can just set up a wireless router in their warehouse and then set up all 200,000 phones wirelessly at once without opening any boxes.
Click to expand...
I hope this was a joke.
 
Macky Mac said:
Yes I have heard about OTA...but Sprint website says I can start using it right out of the box.

OTA still requires that "something" happens before I can use it.... I would have to turn it on and pres * or # something to start OTA.????

Which means it can't be just an OTA.... They have to marry my ESN with my account AND tell my iphone all of that information WHILE it is in their warehouse????

Please tell me they won't open the box and screw with my shiny new iphone???:eek:
Click to expand...

OTA just requires you to turn your phone on. Once it registers on the network, Sprint sends the phone all the programming info it needs. You don't have to do press anything other than the power button. Sprint's had fully automated OTA programming for about 4 years now.
 
This thread is hilarious, between the OP not getting it and the wireless router comment.
 
gillybean said:
Doesn't the 4S do wireless syncing? Maybe they can just set up a wireless router in their warehouse and then set up all 200,000 phones wirelessly at once without opening any boxes. :rolleyes:
Click to expand...

There, I fixed it for you. The smiley indicates you were being funny or sarcastic. Otherwise, well, I just don't know any polite way of saying it, so I'll keep my mouth shut. :rolleyes:
 
Vegastouch said:
Is why i like SIM cards better. I can switch to any phone i have and it will just work. I wish they all had SIM cards because IF T-Mobile goes away, i really dont want to be stuck with AT&T because it isnt very good here but i love the SIM cards.
Click to expand...

LTE will bring SIM cards for everybody :).
 
Thnaks for all of the input....I'm asking a question because I don't know the answer. I asked the question because I have ZERO experience with CDMA technology. I owned a Sprint phone over 11 years ago when there was only spotty coverage across the country. Back then CDMA phones (Sprint) had to be manually programmed with the phone number and other info. I remember it being a several minute task. I also remember havng to update the PRL in order to use new towers in my area or when I travelled about.

Do you still need to do the PRL updates?? Or is that automatic as well?
 
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