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SuperflySister

Q: If I purchased an iPhone through boost mobile can I use it for another carrier later?

I'm thinking about going with Boost mobile for a carrier. If I were to buy an iPhone though Boost mobile and later I decide to switch carriers can I switch with that iPhone?

iPhone 5s, iOS 9.3.2

Posted on Jun 11, 2016 8:03 PM

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Q: If I purchased an iPhone through boost mobile can I use it for another carrier later?

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  • by bryan.vance,

    bryan.vance bryan.vance Jun 11, 2016 8:09 PM in response to SuperflySister
    Level 3 (869 points)
    iPhone
    Jun 11, 2016 8:09 PM in response to SuperflySister

    You would have to contact the carrier to ask this but I think Boost phones are the same as Sprint phones so unlocking afterwards may be a challenge.

  • by Macology,

    Macology Macology Jun 11, 2016 8:26 PM in response to SuperflySister
    Level 2 (383 points)
    Desktops
    Jun 11, 2016 8:26 PM in response to SuperflySister

    Hello SuperflySister,

     

    Boost Mobile is a subsidiary of Sprint, and like Sprint, the Boost Mobile network is CDMA. Currently national carriers here in the United States operate their devices on GSM networks as well as CDMA networks. For consumers, the key difference between CDMA and GSM is that GSM phones keep user data on SIM cards whereas CDMA phones rely on network whitelists in order to verify subscribers. So what does this mean for you?

     

    If you do want to switch carriers after purchasing a phone that is compatible with Boost Mobile's CDMA network, you will have to get the permission of the carrier to have the phone unlocked for use on another network. Note however that even if you are granted permission by the carrier to have your CDMA phone unlocked, that does not mean that your phone will function on all networks. For instance, Sprint phones will not work on Verizon at all even though Verizon also uses a CDMA network. You can take a Sprint phone to AT&T even though AT&T uses a GSM network, but full service is not guaranteed.

     

    The onus will be on you to research carrier phone compatibility if you decide to start with one network and switch to another. That said, I do not recommend trying to take a CDMA phone from one carrier to the next unless your circumstance affords you no other option.

     

    Best of luck.

  • by Meg St._Clair,

    Meg St._Clair Meg St._Clair Jun 13, 2016 10:39 AM in response to Macology
    Level 9 (58,969 points)
    iPhone
    Jun 13, 2016 10:39 AM in response to Macology

    Macology wrote:

    Note however that even if you are granted permission by the carrier to have your CDMA phone unlocked, that does not mean that your phone will function on all networks. For instance, Sprint phones will not work on Verizon at all even though Verizon

     

    This is outdated information. Verizon can activate any unlocked iPhone 6/6S or 6+/6S+ (except for ones intended for sale in China). So, should the OP buy one of those models from Boost, as long as it's unlocked it will be usable on Verizon.

     

    The iPhone SE is a bit more complicated but the problem is not that Sprint and Verizon are CDMA carriers. The problem is the LTE bands the different versions of the iPhone SE use.