Hi to all. I’m new to this forum, just signed up. Found this spot while doing my endless Google searches on CDMA, GSM, Sprint and Verizon. I don’t know if this topic has been covered before or not so please if it has please for give me and also I’m really not in the know of all this Telcom stuff so bear with me a little, thanks

Okay here I go… I now know that Sprint and Verizon both use the CDMA network but thing I don’t understand is why can’t you take a Verizon phone over to sprint and vise versa? I know friends that have done phone swaps with T-Mobile and Cingular (I know they are GSM) by unlocking phones. Can something like this be done with CDMA carries? If so please inform how and if not, why not?

I’m a Sprint customer looking for a PDA phone but just isn’t happy with the phones available. Verizon offers Samsung SCH-I730 which is a Dual Band 1900 / 800 MHz digital CDMA phone and I would really like to get it without switching service providers. Can someone enlighten me please?

Thanks in advance,

MK

I'll step in,

Due to the specifics of software loaded onto each different carrier's phone...No.

Hardware wise yes, you can do this, if you were somehow to find out the MSL codes for each phone (also called a sublock).

Since you have to hard code the programming on these. (Manually program, not OTA) you could do so with the sublock/MSL, but trying to tell the VCast to log into Power Vision, or vice versa, you are likely to make the software crash or not understand the information being sent/recieved, possibly frying your phone. Your voice calls would go thru just fine. Software on CDMA phones are more dependant on what the carrier's specific specs are, unlike GSM where the software is not.

If you are looking for a phone similar to the Samsung I730, I suggest purchasing the PPC6700 by UT Starcom. So far this has been a rock solid phone, EVDO speeds with also WiFi built in, 1.3 MP camera, and the new Windows mobile version.

BTW, employees that hand out sublock/MSL info can be terminated. Finding an unnatural ESN on the system is a lot easier to do now a days.

Better to give up the hassles and look at a similar phone that the carrier offers when it comes to CDMA.

GSM is different in that as long as the SIM lock is off, you can put any chip in there and use the voice side...but it takes a bit of programming to get the Data side to work properly, and in most cases, it doesn't work properly.

Thanks for the info. I have looked at the Audiovox / UT Starcom phone but just wasn't sure how it would hold up in the long run. Guess I'm going to have to bite the bullet and just get it.

I really do appreciate the info though .

Anytime, the UT Starcom phone is doing great, hardly ever see this phone in my tech office.