Develop Bugs

question about esn cloning and phone specific features

DISCLAIMER: this has not and as far as you know will not happen.
these are hypothetical questions used to further my education about cell phones and networks and how they function.
now that the disclaimers i out of the way.
hi ive got a question about esn cloning.
my phone with bell is the htc touch its got a 5$ mobile browser plan that basically acts as unlimited on device(and tethered with modded rom) data plan.
if i wanted to get say a touch dual or another smart phone the dataplan i have would end up not working and would need to be $30 instead of $5
could i get another cdma phone bell or otherwise clone my touch's esn to it and have the same plan i have now with the cheap data
is it possible? (im not asking if it is right,wrong,legal or illegal because this is only hypothetical)
thanks

anyone have any idea?
bump

[Q] Incred on Sprint

No, I'm not asking when/if the Incred is gonna hit Sprint.
Due to a falling out with Verizon, I'm now with Sprint, and would like to bring the $300 phone over to them (even if I would love to get my hands on an Evo). Now, considering I've never even considered taking an unlocked phone and dropping it onto another provider, I was hoping someone here in the forums may know whether or not it is possible to do so.
I mean, they're both CDMA and Sprint does use Verizon's towers...

It's not possible sadly. Not for any technical reasons, there are no issues there, but Sprint won't activate a phone's ESN number that's not in their system. The ESN contains the model number/vender/etc. Being that this phone is a VZW-exclusive, there really isn't a lot you can do... sorry =/.

DeeBG said:
It's not possible sadly. Not for any technical reasons, there are no issues there, but Sprint won't activate a phone's ESN number that's not in their system. The ESN contains the model number/vender/etc. Being that this phone is a VZW-exclusive, there really isn't a lot you can do... sorry =/.
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HTC is known for releasing phones that are better than and similar to other carriers versions, so i'd try to hold out, HTC releases phones every other month or so too. You can still use the phone as a Wifi only device atleast so its not entirely useless.
also, from the sound of it DeeBG, the ESN seems to be the same as a VIN for a car, didn't know the ESN contained all that info, i thought it was just an id like a MAC I.D. on wireless devices.
As far as them not activating the ESN, a while back they were part of the Open Handset Alliance, as was Verizon, and T-Mobile was also in there, and as far as i've read, Verizon is the only carrier that left it.
An H-SPL* unlocked HTC Touch Pro 2 with Windows Mobile from Verizon can be made to work on Sprint, its just that the 3G won't work (just to give an example)
*H-SPL is the equivelant of Root on Android, except on Windows Mobile OS

Trey_Miller said:
No, I'm not asking when/if the Incred is gonna hit Sprint.
Due to a falling out with Verizon, I'm now with Sprint, and would like to bring the $300 phone over to them (even if I would love to get my hands on an Evo). Now, considering I've never even considered taking an unlocked phone and dropping it onto another provider, I was hoping someone here in the forums may know whether or not it is possible to do so.
I mean, they're both CDMA and Sprint does use Verizon's towers...
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You're chances are about as good as Janet Reno winning a Miss America pageant. Sprint will not activate it as the MEID is not in their database nor would they even remotely entertain the idea of adding it as they can not support it if there are problems.

anything is possible but you are then on your own with no warranty or support from sprint. if you search around you can find how to do it but it is not easy and really not worth it unless you enjoy messing around with programming phones.
best bet is to ebay your INC and get an EVO on sprint. you'll probably come out ahead money wise anyway.

I say try activating it online. It wouldn't hurt to try. Can't speak for Sprint, but I've activated an old MotoQ from Sprint on Verizon's network within the last 6 months or so. So, I at least know Verizon does it. Or maybe they both carried the same phone at one point. But, trying doesn't hurt.
Edit: Comment back here when you figure it out.

Help flashing my htc evo to boost!!!

Hey! I purchased an htc evo from a friend of mine who fail to pay his phone bill, so the phone have a bad esn. Can someone guide me thru flashing it to boost mobile please. I look all over and couldnt' find nothing on flashing htc evo too boost. I found something on epic to boost that's about it. I heard writing the meid is different can someone please help me out. thanks. I purchase a boost incognito as a donor phone.

sakpase said:
Hey! I purchased an htc evo from a friend of mine who fail to pay his phone bill, so the phone have a bad esn. Can someone guide me thru flashing it to boost mobile please. I look all over and couldnt' find nothing on flashing htc evo too boost. I found something on epic to boost that's about it. I heard writing the meid is different can someone please help me out. thanks. I purchase a boost incognito as a donor phone.
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i have seen guides but from what i read it a royal pain the ass and don't work 99% of the time

I bet its a stolen phone

HERE'S a tutorial on flashing to metro. It will be a good start but you will need to change the addy from metro to boost. A little google searching should help you out but like I said, start here.

I know two people, that got there evo stolen too bad they can sorta still activate it on ghetto metro.
Any talk of boost/metro flashing should be banned >=]

The information in my post here: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1008909 may be helpful.
I completely agree with both nsxla and weehooherod... stolen phones shouldn't be able to be able to be activated. At the same time the way providers tie you into using their devices is as ridiculous as Apple's software copyrights not allowing you to use software you purchase on non-approved hardware (that's another topic). I have an acquaintances that is a area sales manager for a big cell company and his only argument for carriers not accepting outside phones is that they are not optimized for the individual provider's network and hence can bog it down. Yeah... mmmm hhhmm

Flashing to Metro is perfectly fine, because you don't need to illegally modify your phone, hell metro openly flashes evo's to their service.
However, putting an evo on Boost is outside of the legal guidelines since it requires a donor phone to clone onto the evo.

As far as MetroPCS and other pre-paid services bashing them is just plain ignorant. In some states you'll get better coverage with Metro than you would AT&T or some other contract providers and the prices are good.
To the OP: Metro has better coverage than Boost in my area so it might be worth checking out where you live.

Serious questions about evo on other networks

Hi, i have seen evo work flawlessly on other networks and many guys on ebay and craiglist have been selling them. I have a few questions, i would appreciate if you guys can answer them as honestly as possible, coz i m considering getting one, but at the same time i dont want to land up in trouble. I will happily pay 20 bucks more a month than do something which is legally not accepted.
1. I hv seen phones which have their MEID registered in d databases of the other networks. Now my question is , is there anything wrong or illegal if people get the meid of evo registered onto the network by social engineering ?
2. Can you trust the craiglist/ebay guys, coz even if they get your meid registered, they will know your phone no and your meid, what if they mess with it later ? Can they misues the meid/no and if they do, who will be held responsible ?
3. What happens if later the network figures out by some means that the registered meid is not of their supported phones ? What action can they take ?
4. What challeges will i face if i need to transfer my number to a different handset or if i wish to port my number ? Will they block my number if they find that the meid is of an unsupported phone ?
5. Lastly, if i need to sell my phone, what do i do ? How do i get my number out of the phone and what all things need to be done.(sorry for my limited knowledge, i have very limited experience with cdma)
PS : I m only talking about where the phones meid is registered and not where the phone has been programed/cl*ned etc.
All help will be greatly appreciated. Thanks

techspark said:
Hi, i have seen evo work flawlessly on other networks and many guys on ebay and craiglist have been selling them. I have a few questions, i would appreciate if you guys can answer them as honestly as possible, coz i m considering getting one, but at the same time i dont want to land up in trouble. I will happily pay 20 bucks more a month than do something which is legally not accepted.
1. I hv seen phones which have their MEID registered in d databases of the other networks. Now my question is , is there anything wrong or illegal if people get the meid of evo registered onto the network by social engineering ?
2. Can you trust the craiglist/ebay guys, coz even if they get your meid registered, they will know your phone no and your meid, what if they mess with it later ? Can they misues the meid/no and if they do, who will be held responsible ?
3. What happens if later the network figures out by some means that the registered meid is not of their supported phones ? What action can they take ?
4. What challeges will i face if i need to transfer my number to a different handset or if i wish to port my number ? Will they block my number if they find that the meid is of an unsupported phone ?
5. Lastly, if i need to sell my phone, what do i do ? How do i get my number out of the phone and what all things need to be done.(sorry for my limited knowledge, i have very limited experience with cdma)
PS : I m only talking about where the phones meid is registered and not where the phone has been programed/cl*ned etc.
All help will be greatly appreciated. Thanks
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Simple answer to all questions. This would require MEID cloning which is illegal.

^^ As i mentioned, these are not cloned ones. They have the og meid of d evo registered onto the database by some means. No techie work has been done on the phone, the meid that is printed on the box, d same meid is shown under the settings.

tgruendler said:
Simple answer to all questions. This would require MEID cloning which is illegal.
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It's only illegal if you are cloning a phone that you do not own. It's like downloading an ISO. If you already own the cd you can download it as much as you want.
Sent from my PC36100 using XDA App

This is still pretty shady.

Out of curiosity, what is the advantage of doing this? At least in the United States there are really only 2 big players that support CDMA networks -- Verizon and Sprint. Personally I think Sprint has some of the most reasonable pricing for their unlimited plans. I suppose you could use it on Cricket's network as well but why would you want to do that other than price?
I think the $69.99 price/month (I guess it's actually $79.99 after you tack on the $10 for 4G) is really fair. I previously had a 25% discount through my employer which made the final bill each month $70. I have since dropped my own line and switched to my parents' family plan. Now I only pay $30/month.

It's only illegal if you are cloning a phone that you do not own. It's like downloading an ISO. If you already own the cd you can download it as much as you want.
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True. I would like to know one thing, if i get the phone from ebay/craiglist and later that guy clones a different phone(which he owns) with the meid and no which is on my evo(since he would knw everything abt my phone) and if caught, who will be the one who will land up in trouble ??
Out of curiosity, what is the advantage of doing this?
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Price ! Boost - $50 unlimited. I am happy with gsm, i m just considering it at the moment, but i first need definite answers to all my questions before i take a step forward.

I don't think Boost uses GSM. I believe it's iDEN networks. But the Evo is a CDMA phone so I don't see how you could use it on a GSM or iDEN network. Maybe folks outside the US don't have this problem but certainly in the States I think you're tied to a CDMA network so your only options are Sprint, Verizon, or Cricket.

gamblor01 said:
I don't think Boost uses GSM. I believe it's iDEN networks. But the Evo is a CDMA phone so I don't see how you could use it on a GSM or iDEN network. Maybe folks outside the US don't have this problem but certainly in the States I think you're tied to a CDMA network so your only options are Sprint, Verizon, or Cricket.
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No no, i m sorry i didnt explain it well. Boost uses cdma. What i meant to say was, i m currently happy using gsm, i was considering switching to cdma, only if i get proper answers to questions i listed

That makes more sense. Boost must have migrated because I swear they used iDEN. Still -- I like my family plan option (which I realize may not be an option for you). Yes it has 1500 minutes/month but you only use minutes if you call a land line -- mobile to mobile calls are free. Can't beat $30/month for an Evo.
Whatever you choose, good luck.

They use both now but, I think they are migrating to an all cdma network since sprint is really doing away with the nextel network. They started using cdma in early 2010. But if you can get it on the network it will work. I would personally do it myself *google*.... and stay away from the shady people and make sure it is done right.

[Q] What's bad ESN??

I know this is a stupid question bud Ive seen Evos with "bad ESNs" so cheap Ive began to wonder what it is. I know its something bad (duh its fkn obvious) but what exactly is this ESN?? and can I still activate the phone with sprint n use it? thnx!

You can't activate it if it has a bad ESN
Sent from my PC36100 using XDA App

Bad ESN's are phone's that are essentially "lost" or something else. You wont be able to use those phones on Sprint, but you can flash on another carrier like MetroPCS or Criket.

Electronic serial numbers (ESNs) were created by the U.S. Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to uniquely identify mobile devices.
The ESN is "bad" in the sense that it is reported stolen or the account has an outstanding balance remaining. It cannot be activated on a network. There are ways to zero out the ESN and cloning. ESN cloning is illegal. Thus, for all intents and purposes, a phone with a bad ESN can be your new Wi-Fi bound media device

oook, so basically if I want a PHONE (call, txt, web,...) I should avoid bad ESN phones, unless I want an HTC branded iPod... well thnx every1 for the fast replies =)