Looking at getting a smartphone

NeonSamurai · 06-03-11, 12:57 PM

Unfortunately not as it is a CMDA phone. CMDA uses a built in identification system, and to unlock the phone requires a special code (which most providers will not give out). CMDA also makes it a royal pain in the butt to switch carriers, as they need to be reprogrammed to work with that specific carrier (and will probably refuse to unlock it again). Plus most carriers will flat out refuse to deal with unlocked CMDA phones.

GSM on the other hand doesn't have any of these problems, and if the phone is not locked to a carrier, you can switch out the carrier's sim chip as you like and easily switch carriers.

AVGWarhawk · 06-03-11, 01:24 PM

Ok, unlocked to me was being able to get into the programing configuration. It is to my understanding the EVO can be unlocked in this manner. Does a pay as you go phone work for you perhaps?

NeonSamurai · 06-03-11, 01:41 PM

Most pay as you go phones are GSM, so in a sense yes. Though I will probably go for short term monthly plans.

An unlocked cellphone means that phone is not locked to only one carrier. Most cellphones purchased from carriers in the us and canada are sim locked to only that carrier, even if you purchase the phone outright.

So given my needs, the phone I get has to be unlocked GSM, so that I can easily switch carriers as I need to.

06-03-11, 12:57 PM	#1
NeonSamurai Ocean Warrior Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Socialist Republic of Kanadia Posts: 3,044 Downloads: 25 Uploads: 0	Unfortunately not as it is a CMDA phone. CMDA uses a built in identification system, and to unlock the phone requires a special code (which most providers will not give out). CMDA also makes it a royal pain in the butt to switch carriers, as they need to be reprogrammed to work with that specific carrier (and will probably refuse to unlock it again). Plus most carriers will flat out refuse to deal with unlocked CMDA phones. GSM on the other hand doesn't have any of these problems, and if the phone is not locked to a carrier, you can switch out the carrier's sim chip as you like and easily switch carriers. __________________ SH3 Newbie Guide Links and other helpfull stuff

06-03-11, 01:24 PM	#2
AVGWarhawk Lucky Jack Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: In a 1954 Buick. Posts: 28,291 Downloads: 90 Uploads: 0	Ok, unlocked to me was being able to get into the programing configuration. It is to my understanding the EVO can be unlocked in this manner. Does a pay as you go phone work for you perhaps? __________________ “You're painfully alive in a drugged and dying culture.” ― Richard Yates, Revolutionary Road

06-03-11, 01:41 PM	#3
NeonSamurai Ocean Warrior Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Socialist Republic of Kanadia Posts: 3,044 Downloads: 25 Uploads: 0	Most pay as you go phones are GSM, so in a sense yes. Though I will probably go for short term monthly plans. An unlocked cellphone means that phone is not locked to only one carrier. Most cellphones purchased from carriers in the us and canada are sim locked to only that carrier, even if you purchase the phone outright. So given my needs, the phone I get has to be unlocked GSM, so that I can easily switch carriers as I need to. __________________ SH3 Newbie Guide Links and other helpfull stuff