Tman wrote:
> I just bought a Motorola t730 on the internet that said for Surewest
> however I checked it out and it since verizon uses the same technology
> and sells the same phone i figured it would probably work... I
> activated it under verizon however I have to dial area codes within my
> local area so I brought the phone in and the girl said "the phones
> defective" I said what do you mean, she said " you must have gotten
> the phone from a different carrier since the software is different" I
> asked her to load verizons software and she said "it cant be done" I
> said well since the phone works after you guys activated it last week
> over the phone I guess I will just keep dialing the area code until i
> get everyone programmed in then she said " thats fine but you are in
> roaming and getting charged .65 cents per minute". I left speechless
> I have a couple of comments and questions
> 1. It appears that Verizon and all other cell companies for that
> matter make you buy only phones from them out of contract at inflated
> prices or they suck you into a new 2 yr contract
Verizon will activate phones not originally sold by them. The VZW employees who
said otherwise are either clueless are lying. However,
> 2. Where do find the f**kin software! someone has to have it!
It's not quite that simple. Motorola, whose marketing department seems to be
run by a bunch of trained monkeys, likes to assign the same model number to
phones that use completely different technologies. A V60 meant to run on a
GSM
network will work with
GSM carriers (e.g. T-Mobile, AT&T, Cingular) but not
carriers that use
CDMA as their underlying technology (like Verizon, Alltel and
Sprint PCS). THe question is whether it's a
CDMA phone. If so, Verizon should
have no problem activating it and flashing the phone with Verizon firmware -
Verizon SELLS (or sold, anyhow) the
CDMA version of the T730!!! (In fact, if it
IS a
CDMA phone, there's a damned good chance that Verizon originally DID sell
the phone.)
If it's a
GSM phone, you're pretty much screwed, as
GSM and
CDMA are
incompatible technologies. If it is a
CDMA phone, and it is not locked, you're
golden, Verizon should have no trouble activating it. If it's locked -- and
some providers do lock their phones -- you will need to see if you can get the
master subsidy lock code from Surewest. Some providers set an MSL on their
phones so you can't take them to other carriers. All of the carriers that
provide flat-rate unlimited wireless do. I've not heard of Surewest before, but
it says on their website that they provide flat-rate unlimited wireless, so
they're not making tons of money on airtime and therefore there is a good
likelihood that they DO lock their phones. But if you can get the MSL from
Surewest, Verizon can still program the phone for you.
Verizon DOES have firmware (what you refer to as software) for the Motorola
T730 - they used to sell the phone.
> 3. Verizon give me cheap phone that works for more than 6 months so I
> dont have to find a cheap phone that works only on your network
See if you can get the T730 unlocked (more on that in a minute)
> 4. What happened to 1 yr contracts? 2-3 yrs is crazy some marriges
> don't last that long
One-year contracts are still an option. T-Mobile, I found out last week,
doesn't do anything but one-year. Verizon would prefer that you sign a two-year
but they definitely still offer one-year contracts. So does Sprint, and I
imagine the other carriers all still offer one-year deals too.
> since the gps in phone should show I am in my home area...I probably
> wont do this for 2 long since I am sure I will get tired of it
>
> Does anybody have any suggesions other than " get another phone you
> cheap bastard"?
Well, first you have to see if the T730 you bought uses the right digital
technology. I think you're ok there. I did a google search for the words
surewest
cdma
and Google spat out a bunch of pages listing the Nokia 8270, 3586i, and 2285 --
which are all
CDMA phones -- and a
CDMA version of the Motorola V60s.
So I'm betting the T730 you have *is* a
CDMA phone and *will* work on Verizon's
network.
Next, see if the phone is locked and if you can get it unlocked. Unlocking it
may be a big issue. Carriers often sell phones at less than their cost, and
make up for it by locking you into a contract. However, you didn't buy the
phone from Surewest. Also, their website surewest.com says that they are a
local telephone company serving the Roseville, CA area (outside Sacramento). If
you're not in their local area you wouldn't be using their wireless services,
and can make a very good case that they aren't losing a customer by providing
you with the lock code.
This is probably something you'll have to escalate to a manager, but try the
front-line customer service reps first.
http://www.surewest.com/care/contact...rt_numbers.php says your Customer
Service number is 1-866-SUREWEST.
Once you have the lock code (if the phone is even locked), go back to Verizon,
but don't talk to the same yahoo you talked to the first time. Ask for a
manager and explain your situation. THERE IS NO REASON THEY SHOULD REFUSE TO
ACTIVATE AN UNLOCKED MOTOROLA T730 ON THEIR NETWORK. PERIOD. IT'S A PHONE THEY
SOLD; IT'S A PHONE THEY SUPPORT.
Let us know how things go for you!
Hope this helps
--
JustThe.net Internet & New Media Services,
http://JustThe.net/
Steven J. Sobol, Geek In Charge / 888.480.4NET (4638) /
sjsobol@JustThe.net
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