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Switching Carriers


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#1
Jaydo

Jaydo

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Hello out there!

I'm brand new to this forum, and I'd appreciate some insight on a topic that's new to me. I heard someone recently talking about "wiping" an android smartphone to a different carrier than it was purchased from. This guy had taken a T-Mobile Sidekick and "wiped" it so that he could use it with ATT. Did I hear him right? If so, I gotz a few questions.

#1, Is it possible?
#2, Is it legal?
#3, How would I go about doing it?

I would really like to be able to take a Samsung Rugby Smart ( available through ATT Contract ), and "wipe" it to run with ATT Prepaid service.

I'd appreciate any feedback on this.

Thanks!

Jaydo.
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#2
SRX660

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Sorry for the late reply.
When you talk about wiping a phone to be able to use it with a different carrier, you are usually talking about CMDA(Code Division Multiple Access) phones. Of the 4 top carriers 2 use CMDA phones( Verizon and Sprint)while the other two use GSM(Global System for Mobile communication). GSM phones do NOT have to be wiped and a new system installed. They only have to be unlocked.

Here is some good reading on the subject.

Difference between CMDA and GSM.
http://www.wisegeek....sm-and-cdma.htm

Changing carriers with a CMDA phone.
http://www.pcmag.com...,2369455,00.asp

So the above PC Mag article tells you why you sometimes cannot switch a CMDA phone to a different carrier.

So you then want to know about GMS phones and how to unlock them.
http://www.pcmag.com...,2069846,00.asp
and a unlocking FAQ
http://www.thetravel...nlockingfaq.htm

hope this helps
SRX660
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#3
famitharose

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Yes it is possible to switch GSM carriers in your mobile Samsung Rugby Smart( available through ATT Contract ) only after getting into unlocked from the AT&T network lock.Unlocking a mobile phone is legal in most countries ,the ban is lifted.You can unlock your mobile from getting the service from any online vendor like ClassicUnlocking.com.After getting unlocked you can use any other carrier in to your mobile.
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