I have a 5s on Verizon, but would also like to buy a 5c and use it too, using the same SIM card I'm using now.
iPhone 5, iOS 7.1.2
To use an iPhone on Verizon, the firmware has to be flashed for the CDMA carrier...you cannot just change the sim and move to a CDMA carrier. You need to buy a Verizon iPhone 5c.
Sprint is a CDMA carrier... I also didn't say I could just swap the SIM card, I'm asking how I do this (use it)
That is true, but to change from one CDMA carrier to another the firmware must be flashed, you cannot switch sim cards like you can with GSM carriers.
How do I flash the carrier firmware to another
The user cannot do that as it involves returning a chip...you will have to see if Verizon is willing to help with that...they will have to work with Sprint as Sprint has to authorize the unlock/flash of their iPhone.
Unlocking a GSM iPhone is a simple matter, unlocking a CDMA iPhone is complicated and not something the user can do. The carrier with Apple must make the changes to the chips.
It is much simpler to just by the iPhone setup for Verizon.
I think SoN1NjA understands that switching SIM cards will not work. He/she is asking how to flash the firmware, which is what you said would be needed.
And I said the user cannot flash the firmware...only the carrier and/or Apple has that technology available.
The ones for Verizon are $115 more
Aren't there computer programs for things like this out there
SoN1NjA wrote:
Aren't there computer programs for things like this out there
Not for the general public...in the four or five years since the Verizon iPhone 4 came out I cannot recall a single user saying they had success getting the iPhone refreshed. Before buying, talk with Verizon, see what they say, talk with Sprint, see what they say about authorizing the flashing. Since the iPhone is locked to Sprint, the authorization to unlock, i.e., flash is solely up to them. Apple will not get involved, Verizon will not help unless Sprint authorizes it. These are all contract-legal matters.
So how likely would this be? A blind person shooting a penny or highly likely?
I really cannot say how likely...this is entirely up to Sprint and Verizon. Start by asking Sprint about their requirements to unlock the CDMA radio, and then Verizon about reflashing for their usage. I would not buy without first asking if they will even let me do that. If Sprint comes back like a lot of carriers and says, only after completion of a contract for xxx months, you have to decide if it is worth that kind of commitment.
SoN1NjA wrote:
So how likely would this be? A blind person shooting a penny or highly likely?
100% not going to happen. Verizon doesn't flash Sprint phones.
If Sprint unlocks the phone, then it doesn't have Sprint's firmware, so don't unlocked phones not need carrier firmware?
SoN1NjA wrote:
If Sprint unlocks the phone, then it doesn't have Sprint's firmware, so don't unlocked phones not need carrier firmware?
"Unlock" is not a concept that has any meaning for CDMA. It is a process that only applies to GSM. The phone will have Sprint's firmware on it even if Sprint unlocks the GSM side. CDMA phones come from Apple with the appropriate carrier firmware already installed.
No matter how many different ways you ask this, the answer is still that you can't use a Sprint phone on Verizon's service.
I would like to use a Sprint iPhone 5c on Verizon, ESN is clean
