How can I determine if my CDMA phone is unlocked?

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cdma

5 posts

Wannabe Geek

#55404 3-Jan-2010 10:08

I have an old Pantech tx-130c phone that after charging I was surprised to find is still active with Telecom (with 12 cents on the account).

I am going to the USA where www.pagepluscellular.com has the best rate on cell phone services. They use the Verizon CDMA service and are happy to use my existing CDMA phone provided it is unlocked. I also have three other telecom CDMA handsets (family shifted to Vodafone), but I prefer sacrificing the clunky Pantech.

How can I determine if the handset is unlocked before I leave for the states? I rather not take four phones just to find out.

Valok

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Geek

#286651 3-Jan-2010 13:01

ull most likely find its cheaper ($20US for a Virgin prepay) and easier to just grab one over there. Not sure if they are anything like here concerning the fact that cdma handsets are not locked but have to be registered to the network via there ESN. Telecom NZ dont even bother doing this as its way to much of a headache.

cdma

5 posts

Wannabe Geek

#286659 3-Jan-2010 13:35

They wrote:

Thank you for your e-mail.

We are more than happy to activate all CDMA phones on our network. For best results, please make sure the phone is compatible with the Verizon network and is unlocked.

We will be happy to activate your phone. Please provide the ESN (Electronic Serial Number) and the city and state where you would like the phone activated. Once the activation is complete we will send your number and further instructions to complete the activation.

Please contact us if we can be of further service.

-------------------------
So the question is: Would a Telecom CDMA phone accomplish this?

nzbnw

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Spark NZ

#286663 3-Jan-2010 13:57

It depends, when they say all CDMA phones, I have a sneaky feeling them mean all Verizon Wireless CDMA phones.

A few years ago Verizon where talking about an open network allowing anyone to connect a CDMA phone from an alternative carrier (i.e. Sprint) to their network. Does anyone know what happened with this?

If this is the case then your new provider *may* need the naming instructions for you phone. From memory Pantech's have two NAM's (i.e. Nam1 - Telecom NZ) and Nam2 which could in theory be used for Verizon. Send them then ESN and see if they will connect it for you.

nzbnw

cdma

5 posts

Wannabe Geek

#286695 3-Jan-2010 16:57

Thanks nzbnw,

So from the comments above, it does sound as if Telecom does not bother locking its CDMA phones and if this is correct, it may just work. Now I will have to see if I can manage to get them to do it before I leave, as I would rather do it over the phone (voip) rather than kill half a day in some store in a shopping mall. If it does work, I'll post it, since it may make it easier for Kiwi's travelling to the US. According to friends in the US, this is the least expensive cell network, and it has excellent coverage.

sbiddle

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#286698 3-Jan-2010 17:17

I'd just pick up a prepaid cellphone in a store. Far easier yet again and they normally all come with credit. If you look around you'll probably get a phone for US$10, probably $30 for something a lot better.

nzbnw

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Spark NZ

#286708 3-Jan-2010 18:34

sbiddle: I'd just pick up a prepaid cellphone in a store. Far easier yet again and they normally all come with credit. If you look around you'll probably get a phone for US$10, probably $30 for something a lot better.

+1

When I was last there I purchased a Samsung A137 AT&T Go Phone from Radio Shack. It was $34.99, reduced to $19.99 or so when you purchased a $20 credit which more than lasted me my 2 week stay.

I've seen similar deals for T-Mobile USA, Sprint and Verizon also.

nzbnw

munchkin

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#286723 3-Jan-2010 19:56

Verizon have connected my old CDMA mobile to their network before, I went into a store and it only took ~10 minutes (all they had to do was enter the ESN into their system and give me a number).

You can take any phone you like - you won't be 'sacrifing' it, so to speak - you can have it reconnected here if you want.

In the T&C's for my old Hyundai TX115c, Telecom does prohibit connecting your phone to another network :-P - Kinda hard to enforce, though.

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cdma

5 posts

Wannabe Geek

#286725 3-Jan-2010 20:07

Thanks for all the comments, especially the Verizon CDMA comment as this tends to confirm I can do it over the phone.

I realise I can buy a phone over there, but this does not address my needs. I need the phone working when I am at baggage claim to meet my pickup trying to find me at LAX when they don't let you stop unless someone is getting in.

I also want everyone to know my domestic number before I fly and to have it on my business card. For this reason I have an Optus phone in Australia where I pay $5 a month ($60 a year) so I can have a permanent number on my business card, and have the same convenience as soon as I land.

With pagepluscellular.com I only have to add $10 every 4 months to keep it active (the cheapest available in the USA right now). I have one such phone now, but need to arrange one for my wife, hence these questions. They sent me a reconditioned CDMA phone, and when I got it, I realised I have all sorts of old CDMA phones, so why buy another?

Jadefuzy

63 posts

Master Geek

#286730 3-Jan-2010 20:26

Personally i think you should up Grade To and UMTS/GSM Mobile phone IF it's feasible for you to do so. i got a nokia 6120 Classic on telecom's Xt mobile network they are unlocked so if i go to Australia i can just put a sim card in from over there on what ever network. same with the USA

munchkin

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#286731 3-Jan-2010 20:28

As strange as it may sound, CDMA definitely has the coverage advantage in North America.

Not to mention that re-suging an existing phone is much cheaper than buying another.

cdma

5 posts

Wannabe Geek

#286772 3-Jan-2010 23:32

To reply to Jadefuzy, I already have an unlocked Nokia. I'm on Vodafone here. I already have an Australian sim card that I pop into my second unlocked Nokia as soon as I land in OZ. Since 2003, I have had a US gsm sim card with Cingular that I would pop into my backup Nokia when I landed in the USA, and in 2006, it was a great solution. But then they were sold to AT&T, and AT&T requires a $100 refill to keep the number active for 360 days. By the time I got to the USA in 2009, I had hundreds of dollars racked up. I would call back to NZ and chat like it was a local call, ignoring the US$3.49 per minute charge and I still never burned through the funds on my account. However, two months after that trip, all those funds would be wiped out unless I bought another $100 refill.

So when it was time to add another $100 to keep the number active, I did the research, found the cheapest vendor was $30 a year, and they use Verizon's CDMA network. So I ported the number over, and they sent me an LG phone for $20 with $10 credit. Now that we need to arrange for a second number in the US, I wanted to see if I could use an existing CDMA phone and set it up before departure.
Thus, the original question I asked was about CDMA in the USA, and I think I have the answer.

nzbnw

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Spark NZ

#286774 3-Jan-2010 23:48

It will be interesting to hear how you get on.

nzbnw

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#289097 11-Jan-2010 21:19

You will need to talk to Telecom to get your AKEY and SPC (Service Programming Code) as well as the ESN.

The AKEY is a private key that goes hand in hand with your handset, and the SPC is what you use to reconfigure the phone. Without both your handset won't be able to be reconfigured to the Verizon PMN to authenticate to the Verizon network. Google a bit about the AKEY and SPC, as it's vital to the CDMA auth process. PM me if you need it as I can ask someone nicely and see if it can be tracked down for your handset.

However I still would think that it's far easier to buy a GSM phone and get a sim card.. for the above reasons ;)