Unlocking Cell Phone to Use on a Different Network

[A_Hamilton]

I am currently on Sprint's network and am looking at switching carriers, does any one have information on what I'd need to do to unlock my phone, and, to be able to use it on a monthly pay as you go plan in the United States?

 

I'm trying to keep my Blackberry (of all things) so that I don't have to buy a new phone!

 

Thank you for any help in advance!

 

[keerthiprasad]

I imagine that the only networks this phone would work on are the mvno's run off sprint (boost mobile, virgin, etc.)  Im not sure what is offered in your area.  You can ask sprint to unlock the phone for you if you are off contract.  It has been sometime since i've dealt with this issue, but I think that is correct.

[Ross812]

I'm going off memory as I checked into this a year and a half ago when I started a virgin mobile contract. Both boost and virgin charge extra for the use of a blackberry. You could get it to work if you spoof the ESID, which is illegal in the first place. To find a working ESID you would have to buy a virgin mobile or boost mobile black berry or steal an ESID which is very illegal. I really like my virgin mobile service, and their android phones are pretty cheap.  I have this one and its pretty good:

http://www.amazon.com/LG-Optimus-Prepaid-Android-Virgin/dp/B004LJ8N78/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1334694504&sr=8-1

 

they also have a version with a physical keyboard:

http://www.amazon.com/LG-Optimus-Slider-Prepaid-Android/dp/B0060NG6M2/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1334694504&sr=8-4

 

 

[A_Hamilton]

Thank you for your answers on this. I don't want to do anything illegal, I just want to be able to continue to use the phone that I paid for 2 1/2 years ago. I knew that Congress forced cell phone carriers to release the phones people's phones at some point, just didn't know the steps to move to another network.