Could one per-say use the ESN on an Op V to...

[epicb0dyc0unt]

Flash a Sprint iPhone to VM? Yes? No?

 

[Locool676]

It's not as easy as flashing ESNs. LeslieAnn converted a Sprint EVO to VM, and she always states that is was 20-40 hours of hard, hard, hard work.
In short, No

 

[epicb0dyc0unt]

Bah figured as much. What if I really wanted to do it anyway?! XD
Or at least attempt it.

 

[Conrail16]

As posted by LeslieAnn in a similar thread:

You cannot activate an Iphone on Virgin, the only Non-Virgin phone you can activate is the Sprint Optimus S but you can put an Iphone on VM, it's been done using the previously mentioned methods. My understanding is that it's actually easier on an Iphone than many other phones to get calls ans sms, data is a bit trickier and you have almost zero chance of getting MMS to work. You might by using an aftermarket sms program like Go SMS for Iphone, however it's a very slim chance.

Beware of people claiming it is easily done, there are videos of people on Youtube showing off that they did it, but if you watch, most of the time, they can't get data working properly. Almost everyone underestimates the amount of work involved in doing these types of swaps.

As yourself, do you really want to spend however much on the phone and 20+ hours trying to make an Iphone partially work(?), because really, that is about what you can expect.

 

[LeslieAnn]

Also, please not,
Discussion of ESN flashing is considered illegal on here so don't expect any help.
It's also illegal in some states.

 

[epicb0dyc0unt]

It was more of a theory than an actual attempt. I was merely curious. Thanks guys.

 

[LeslieAnn]

You don't really want an Iphone anyway.

For one, your signature tells me that you would be bored to tears with one.
Second, they are not as fantastic or capable as people like to think. Even Woz (Apple co-founder) says Android is more capable, even though he still prefers Iphone. If you want a delicate, yet valuable piece of art that still functions as a phone, great. If you want a phone that can take a beating and you can play with, get an Android.

I had the option of Iphone and every time I considered it, I wanted to kick myself.

 

[droidmyme]

Also, please not,
Discussion of ESN flashing is considered illegal on here so don't expect any help.
It's also illegal in some states.

Its not illegal to ask if something is possible in theory, so long as you dont get into discussion of details.

There are actually legitimate and legal reasons for wanting to change a phones ESN. For example, if you purchase a phone from someone and they never deactivated their account, then that person changes their phone number and you cannot get in touch with them, you may be unable to activate that phone even though you purchased it, legally. This actually happened to me once.

Sent from my VM670 using Tapatalk 2

 

[LeslieAnn]

Its not illegal to ask if something is possible in theory, so long as you dont get into discussion of details.

There are actually legitimate and legal reasons for wanting to change a phones ESN. For example, if you purchase a phone from someone and they never deactivated their account, then that person changes their phone number and you cannot get in touch with them, you may be unable to activate that phone even though you purchased it, legally. This actually happened to me once.

First off, discussing it is legal, discussing how, is not.

As for the rest....
No, no, no. Oh, and did I mention, No?
I studied up on this A LOT.

In some places changing an ESN is illegal, PERIOD. There is no extenuating circumstances, it is illegal. PERIOD. Missouri is one such place. It is illegal to change it under any circumstance. I don't even think they have an exception for carriers and manufacturers.

Technically what you are proposing as legal (not deactivating, etc..) is also illegal. A phone deactivated for non-payment or lost/stolen was deactivated for a reason. Swapping numbers to change it can get you charged with possession of stolen property but also fraud, since technically you are stealing from Sprint since the phone was never properly paid for (or early termination fee was never paid, either way, the phone is now dead legally).

And yes, even if the phone was legally purchased, unscrupulous and unknowing people can get the legal phone you just bought put onto the illegal list. You check with Sprint they say the esn is good, you buy the phone. The next day they call and cancel their account, which is still under contract and your phone now has a bad esn. Doesn't matter if if was legal when you bought it, changing the esn now to avoid that is fraud. You are breaking local and federal rules at that point. It doesn't matter if your intentions were good or not.

The newly proposed federal law about cloning will be specifically targeted (and meant to clear up confusion) at people doing this exact thing you are trying to say is legal.


Now, will you get busted?
Not likely, but it's still against the law.

 

[droidmyme]

Yep, that what u said about someone changing the acct status is what happened to me. I bought a phone, it was a legal deal, and I got burned because Sprint believes they own the phone if you cancel a contract. Like I said, I didnt cancel the contract, it wasnt ME. I paid $120 for a phone that Sprint told me was clean. Now you want to tell me that extenuating circumstances dont apply? If that is the law, Id say its a pretty poor one.

Sent from my VM670 using Tapatalk 2

 

[roblox84]

Yep, that what u said about someone changing the acct status is what happened to me. I bought a phone, it was a legal deal, and I got burned because Sprint believes they own the phone if you cancel a contract. Like I said, I didnt cancel the contract, it wasnt ME. I paid $120 for a phone that Sprint told me was clean. Now you want to tell me that extenuating circumstances dont apply? If that is the law, Id say its a pretty poor one.

Sent from my VM670 using Tapatalk 2

It probably depends on where you live. I would say if changing your esn is technicaly illegal then in my area it is mostly frowned upon because I have seen cell phone "shacks" at the mall that do esn changes as well as places that you can send your phone in and get it done. I would imagine your average cop or citizen wouldn't even realize what an esn change is when walking by one of those cell phone places or that it is even technically illegal.

 

[Discovered]

Just stay away from this idea, Jerry was just talking about how they are really busting down on this. Plus there are other threads on this subject. This shouldn't even be a topic

Sent from my LG-VM670 using Tapatalk 2

 

[LeslieAnn]

It probably depends on where you live. I would say if changing your esn is technicaly illegal then in my area it is mostly frowned upon because I have seen cell phone "shacks" at the mall that do esn changes as well as places that you can send your phone in and get it done. I would imagine your average cop or citizen wouldn't even realize what an esn change is when walking by one of those cell phone places or that it is even technically illegal.

Carriers, like car manufacturers have the ability to do it legally, in most cases. As would their franchises. Some still dabble onto the illegal side, partly because they don't know, and partly because they just don't care (Cricket).

And yes, the average beat cop doesn't realize it, and it's not his job, it's an FCC thing, not local law enforcement. It's not the local cops who come knocking when you operate a pirate radio station, it's the FCC, supported by local and federal law enforcement.

Most people don't even know what an ESN is, much less the laws around it. Even people who know the law, often only know the original.

Just stay away from this idea, Jerry was just talking about how they are really busting down on this. Plus there are other threads on this subject. This shouldn't even be a topic

No they aren't.
They have merely proposed a law. That could take years, it hasn't even gone to committee and if the carriers all agree to do most of it voluntarily, the law is almost moot.. Besides have you seen our congress lately, do you REALLY expect this anytime soon?