Changing numbers?

I have an idea that I think might work but Im not sure. Iv had my current cell phone for 8 months now, and want to upgrade to a different phone, however, not being able to qualify for any rebates (1 year, 2 year, etc...) Id have to pay full price for anything. However, the other phone on my family plan is eligable for the 2 year rebate, and therefore the discounts and such. Would it be possible to use the other line to upgrade to the new phone, then swith the numbers so I get the newer model, and the other person on my plan gets my current phone?

I thought it was called an ESN change when you swithced numbers, but through my research I guess its illegal? so I guess I was wrong. Any help you guys could give me would be greately appreciated.

(just a quick question, iv had my family plan for about 20 months now, and after 2 years, renewed my plan (not cancelled and resigned, just renewed) so the original phone we have from way back when qualifies for the 2 year rebate correct?)

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Originally Posted by helloiamhere

I thought it was called an ESN change when you swithced numbers, but through my research I guess its illegal? so I guess I was wrong. Any help you guys could give me would be greately appreciated.

You mean an ESN "swap" when you talk about transferring a line of service from an old phone to a new one. When people say they want to change their ESN, they usually mean they want to tamper with the serial number because there's a reason Sprint won't activate it the way it is (lost, stolen, unpaid bill, etc).

Sorry, I don't have a definite answer to your other questions. There are a few Sprint CS reps sneaking around our forums but the truth is Sprint has a policy against them posting work-related stuff in forums so they're not as active as I wish they could be. Also, I'm always giving out the number for Sprint Business Care in these forums and they might eventually get mad if I keep doing it (if you call Business care there's usually no hold, no recordings or button pushing, someone asnwers the phone on the second ring!) *achoo!*

Yeah, an ESN swap was what I meant. Thanks for clearing that up for me.

I talked to the sprint rep today at the store and he said I could get the phone I want(a900) with the discounts on the older line, then after 31 days, do what they call a "flip-flop" and have the new phone on my original number!

This is doable. However... it can mean problems. I would not recommend it. there is always Ebay to get a new phone without having to pay through the nose. Just make sure that the seller has a good reputation and that the phone can be activated on your account.

Would you even need to do an ESN swap in this case? Doesn't Sprint use a SIM card and you could just switch cards between the two phones?

Either way, that's the beauty of SIM card phones...

No, Sprint does not use SIM cards. There is a serial number imprinted in the memory and on the back of each phone. It is not as easy as moving a card from one phone to another.

Yeah I'm pretty sure you can do that. A Sprint Store person told me that once.

As for SIM cards, Dude222, this is unique to GSM technology. GSM is used by Cingular and T-Mobile here, as well as others. CDMA, the technology we Americans developed that Verizon and Sprint use, as well as others, I'm not sure how the phones are programmed, but I could definitely tell you how calls are coded so that the bandwith is divided for multiple users to access the network.