Switching to Verizon

[philipnew]

I am wanting to know if you have US Cellular Galaxy S3 can you put a Verizon ROM on it and activate the phone on Verizon? If so does anyone know what functionality you could expect (4G?, rececption, etc)?

 

[famouzstarz#AC]

unfortunetly big red does not allow you to bring your own devices, you will need to either buy a vzw branded s3 / device or sign your first born away with a 2yr contract and enjoy the bounty of shared data.

 

[CR6]

Actually US Cellular is a CDMA phone and you can activate most Verizon branded phones with them and visa versa. Simply give them a call and they can usually do it right over the phone.

Also, if you purchase a Verizon phone outright, you can still get unlimited. They also have other plans available aside from the "shared data" plans that they are pushing so hard. They don't advertise them much, but they ARE still available.

tap'n

 

[famouzstarz#AC]

Actually US Cellular is a CDMA phone and you can activate most Verizon branded phones with them and visa versa. Simply give them a call and they can usually do it right over the phone.

Also, if you purchase a Verizon phone outright, you can still get unlimited. They also have other plans available aside from the "shared data" plans that they are pushing so hard. They don't advertise them much, but they ARE still available.

tap'n

can i get more infor on the "other plans"

 

[US cellular customer]

I did an online chat with a verizon customer service rep:
Customer: Hello. I have an account with US Cellular and I own a Samsung S3. I am thinking about closing that account. I do not want to buy a new phone, will I be able to activate this phone on Verizon since they are both CDMA phone and verizon also carries the S3?
VZW Tech: Hello! I can understand wanting to use your phone with us. You can sell it to a third party or go on Cell Phones - Smartphones: Cell Phone Service, Accessories - Verizon Wireless to see if we will give you some money for the device.
VZW Tech: If you activate service with us, it needs to be a Verizon Wireless device.
Customer: Even though they are the same device with different software and a different cover? A Verizon store could just load the verizon software?
VZW Tech: I understand that it is possible, it is something that we do not do.
VZW Tech: If I could, I would have no issues.
Customer: If the verizon software were loaded on by Samsung would a Verizon store activate it?
VZW Tech: I just want to be honest with you. Verizon wireless only activates our devices.
VZW Tech: The device ID has to be loaded in our system, it is more than just software on the phone.
Customer: Verizon can't add the ESN on thier system?
VZW Tech: Verizon will not add a non-Verizon phone in the system.
VZW Tech: I have no problem with it, the company only activates their devices that are made and tested for us.
Customer: What do you mean that you have no problem with it? Doe that mean if I talk to the right person someone CAN add it?
VZW Tech: As a person, I do not see why we would not.
VZW Tech: There is no one in the company that will or can activate a non-Verizon phone on our service.

 

[philipnew]

Thank you.

 

[philipnew]

Is there something specific you have to ask for if you go to a verizon store to get more info on the other plans? Last time I went in there that was only thing the rep talked to me about.

 

[famouzstarz#AC]

I did an online chat with a verizon customer service rep:
Customer: Hello. I have an account with US Cellular and I own a Samsung S3. I am thinking about closing that account. I do not want to buy a new phone, will I be able to activate this phone on Verizon since they are both CDMA phone and verizon also carries the S3?
VZW Tech: Hello! I can understand wanting to use your phone with us. You can sell it to a third party or go on Cell Phones - Smartphones: Cell Phone Service, Accessories - Verizon Wireless to see if we will give you some money for the device.
VZW Tech: If you activate service with us, it needs to be a Verizon Wireless device.
Customer: Even though they are the same device with different software and a different cover? A Verizon store could just load the verizon software?
VZW Tech: I understand that it is possible, it is something that we do not do.
VZW Tech: If I could, I would have no issues.
Customer: If the verizon software were loaded on by Samsung would a Verizon store activate it?
VZW Tech: I just want to be honest with you. Verizon wireless only activates our devices.
VZW Tech: The device ID has to be loaded in our system, it is more than just software on the phone.
Customer: Verizon can't add the ESN on thier system?
VZW Tech: Verizon will not add a non-Verizon phone in the system.
VZW Tech: I have no problem with it, the company only activates their devices that are made and tested for us.
Customer: What do you mean that you have no problem with it? Doe that mean if I talk to the right person someone CAN add it?
VZW Tech: As a person, I do not see why we would not.
VZW Tech: There is no one in the company that will or can activate a non-Verizon phone on our service.

just like is said only vzw devices can be activated on big red

 

[Xopher]

Part of the issue might be the LTE band. US Cellular uses LTE band 12, while I believe Verizon is on band 14. The CDMA provisioning might also come into play for 3G as well. A lot of that is built into the LTE SIM, but it might depend on if the phone has the right LTE radios.

I'm pretty sure the US Cellular LTE phones drop to 3G when roaming on Verizon's network.