Changing Carriers

[shiningarcanine]

I had the $6.99 a month, 10 cent per minute plan from Virgin Mobile. I brought a LG Optimus V in March and activated it on their network. Earlier this month, the touch screen stopped working, so they sent me a warranty replacement. When I tried activating it, they told me that it was not comptaible with my plan. I called their customer service. They told me that it is their new policy and that I had to change plans to have a working phone. I asked to speak to a carrier and it was too early in the day, so they told me one would call back. That was Monday. By Saturday, there was still no call, so I called them. The first person tried to help me, but we were cut off as he was going through the procedure to upgrade my phone. At this point, I suspect his supervisor cut the connection, as I had plenty of connection difficulties with them, including during a later conversation with a supervisor immediately after I asked to speak to his supervisor.

I did some research and I found out about PagePlus. They use Verizon's network and are willing to try to activate my phone on their network. They tried a few things to enable my phone to work, but they failed. They referred me to flashtotalk.com and houdinisoft.com and said that if that didn't work, I would need to get a different phone. They told me that there are plenty of unsupported options that other people have working, including the Apple iPhone 4, but the only ones they guarantee will work are the ones on their website and I would prefer to use my LG Optimus V.

With that said, I found a thread at xda-developers.com that talks about getting the LG Optimus V to work on Verizon's network:

[Mod] Using the Optimus V on Verizon - xda-developers

Would someone more familiar with these things explain what the changes needed to change carriers are? Also, I am interested in upgrading my phone with the Cyanogenmod firmware. Are the changes needed to switch carriers already in the upstream Cyanogenmod code or would I need a special build? Currently, I am looking at the IHO-Purity-X (Xionia kernel) firmware, although I would prefer to use firmware that I compiled myself.

 

[LeslieAnn]

My advice, sell the OV and get a different phone if you want a new carrier.
If you trash your phone it's worth nothing before you even use it.

Also, if you use data much at all, Page Plus is not going to be a bargain for you. The $45 plan has only 30megs of data. Email checking only, if that. Almost no matter where you go, you will not beat $35 a month with lots of data, I looked.

If you want data and a bring your own phone, Simple Mobile isn't bad, but you need another phone and your bill WILL go up.

Sell your phone or spend the time getting VM straightened out. it's the weekend, you aren't working yet you expect full tech support? Not going to happen.

 

[watskyhotsky]

a smartphone requires a special plan... this should have been common knowledge.

you go and get that OV set up on Virgins smartphone plan, which used to have a low tier of 25$ and up. but changed, their lowest tier now is 35$ and its a pretty good plan. way cheaper than anything you get on verizon and for the 300 minutes, unlimited texting, and full 3G internet, its a way better deal than that 10 cents a minute plan.



your jumping headfirst into some crazy stuff. getting a CDMA phone to run on another network? just buy a different phone.

if your ultimate goal is to be a real cheap-ass you are truly better off sticking with Virgin Mobiles plans........

 

[shiningarcanine]

The phone is only for brief conversations and I do not like text messages, so I keep them disabled. Data would be nice, but I have access to Wi-Fi 99% of the time, so I can wait until the prices drop to $5 to $10 per month before I jump on the bandwagon. I see no reason to stay with Virgin Mobile.

 

[watskyhotsky]

The phone is only for brief conversations and I do not like text messages, so I keep them disabled. Data would be nice, but I have access to Wi-Fi 99% of the time, so I can wait until the prices drop to $5 to $10 per month before I jump on the bandwagon. I see no reason to stay with Virgin Mobile.

wow, 5 or 10 bucks a month for unlimited data+text and 5 hours of talk is ridiculous. 25$ is crazy enough. they will never drop it down THAT cheap

now your head is just in the clouds

I really think you would be better off with some kind of tablet, something that doesnt require a data plan and can connect to wifi, at least youll be able to use google voice over the wifi you have so much access to.

there is no reason for someone like you to be owning a smartphone if thats how you use it.


just my two cents, im known to be kind of an Ahole

 

[shiningarcanine]

As long as you are an honest , I don't mind.

Anyway, the voice connection is intended for emergency usage (e.g. 911 calls, informing people I will be late, etcetera). I have no need to use it on a daily basis.

 

[zedorda]

If u just use ur Wi-Fi and buy GrooveIP u will have a completely free Wi-Fi phone no carrier needed and since ur near Wi-Fi 99% of the time no worries.
F.Y.I. Within the U.S. any cell phone with or without a carrier has to allow access to 911 calls if they are available. Federal mandate.

 

[watskyhotsky]

If u just use ur Wi-Fi and buy GrooveIP u will have a completely free Wi-Fi phone no carrier needed and since ur near Wi-Fi 99% of the time no worries.
F.Y.I. Within the U.S. any cell phone with or without a carrier has to allow access to 911 calls if they are available. Federal mandate.

very true. the perfect plan

 

[jdcnosse]

Samsung (I believe) released an android phone that was wi-fi only, I remember reading about it.

Samsung Galaxy WiFi 3.6 Takes the "Phone" Out of "Smartphone"

Of course this isn't "technically" a phone, so it probably wouldn't have the 911 mandate. However you could then go with any cheapo pay-by-minute plan and use a cheapo phone for the voice when you're not on wifi.

Although it does mention that it's like a phone without a SIM card...makes me wonder if you could just drop a SIM card in it and have calling...

 

[watskyhotsky]

Samsung (I believe) released an android phone that was wi-fi only, I remember reading about it.

Samsung Galaxy WiFi 3.6 Takes the "Phone" Out of "Smartphone"

Of course this isn't "technically" a phone, so it probably wouldn't have the 911 mandate. However you could then go with any cheapo pay-by-minute plan and use a cheapo phone for the voice when you're not on wifi.

Although it does mention that it's like a phone without a SIM card...makes me wonder if you could just drop a SIM card in it and have calling...

i read about that awhile ago. I thought it was more akin to an iPod touch. no cell radio, no sim slot, no phone software stack (no dialer app) it would never be able to work on any cell network without the cell hardware in it.

 

[jdcnosse]

i read about that awhile ago. I thought it was more akin to an iPod touch. no cell radio, no sim slot, no phone software stack (no dialer app) it would never be able to work on any cell network without the cell hardware in it.

Yes I thought so too. There's two parts to that article that confuse me, which may be because they're dumbing things down for the average reader to understand, but then I re-read it and it somewhat makes sense. I guess they only reference SIM cards to show that it doesn't have one and therefore no calling ability.

Of course VoIP would still work...

 

[one80oneday]

If the OP already has the OV than why would he buy a different phone to use VOIP over WIFI?

 

[jdcnosse]

If the OP already has the OV than why would he buy a different phone to use VOIP over WIFI?

He probably wouldn't. But someone else reading this might like to know that

 

[shiningarcanine]

If u just use ur Wi-Fi and buy GrooveIP u will have a completely free Wi-Fi phone no carrier needed and since ur near Wi-Fi 99% of the time no worries.
F.Y.I. Within the U.S. any cell phone with or without a carrier has to allow access to 911 calls if they are available. Federal mandate.

When I say emergency calls, I mean calls informing my advisor why I will be late for a meeting before I am late.

 

[zedorda]

When I say emergency calls, I mean calls informing my advisor why I will be late for a meeting before I am late.

That you will need a carrier for unless ur near a wifi and have a VOIP on the OV.