Video Guide: How to activate your phone Step 1: Make sure your device is eligible Your hotspot, phone or tablet must be a Sprint locked device, with a clean ESN. To learn about locked devices. You cannot have an outstanding balance with the device's previous carrier and the device cannot, currently be active with any other carrier. Will give you a list of supported phone and tablet models. We do not have a list of supported hotspot models at this time, so you will simply have to try your device on our activation page. If your device is not listed, don't worry. That only means we have not tested it to confirm that it's eligible. If you're not sure if your device will work or not, we encourage you to simply try your phone's MEID number. It will tell you if your phone is eligible or not. Step 2: Visit to start the process Go to and enter your email address, physical address and your device's MEID number, as well as your billing information. For phones, you may also be asked for your ICCID number. This is the SIM card number and it is necessary for access to the LTE network. If you are not asked for this number and you cannot access LTE after activation, please to have the ICCID number added to your account. If you need to get a new SIM card from Sprint, to make sure you get the right one. Step 3: Pay the $19.99 non-refundable activation fee There is a non-refundable $19.99 activation fee for all BYOD activations. Sign up for a My Sprint profile. Activate/swap device. Cancel at any time by contacting Sprint customer service or dialing *2 from your Sprint phone. You will be charged this amount at the time of activation. Step 4: Download the calling application After you have completed the BYOD activation, perform a power cycle on your device. Turn the device off, wait ten seconds, then turn it on again. You will also need to download our talk and text application. On Android devices, it's called the FreedomPop Messaging application. This is usually the second search result in the Play Store. On iOS devices its called the FreedomPop Free Talk and Text application. If you are unable to access the internet, or you are only receiving a 3G connection, make sure you have the correct ICCID number on your account. If this number needs to be updated. You may also need to complete a. Step 5: Move number to new phone (optional) FreedomPop provides you with a free local phone number. However, if you like, you can port your exsisting phone number in from another carrier for $9.99. To learn about the porting process. The old account will have to remain active until the port process is complete. Make sure to get the PIN number and Account Number from your previous carrier. If you have any additional questions or if you have trouble activating your BYOD device, please for further assistance. A FreedomPop representative will get back to you shortly. Article Summary. In the past, carriers made it difficult to switch cell phone providers while bringing your own device (BYOD). Due to changes in FCC regulations, it is now easier to unlock mobile phones and switch providers. BYOD cell phone plans are becoming more popular due to the money saving potential. CDMA Different cell phone providers use different technologies; either GSM or CDMA. T-Mobile and AT&T operate on the GSM network technology, while Verizon and Sprint operate on the CDMA technology. For the consumer, this means that switching providers is generally limited to networks that operate on the same network technology, though there are some exceptions. The difference between GSM and CDMA is that GSM-compatible devices use a SIM card to identify subscribers, whereas CDMA-compatible devices use only electronic serial numbers (ESN) to identify subscribers. A GSM compatible device still uses a serial number, but it's called an IMEI. A SIM card can be removed from one device and inserted into another within minutes using a phone from the same carrier, while a CDMA phone utilizing an ESN generally has to be reprogrammed. Before Unlocking Your Cell Phone Before unlocking a device, consumers should review available BYOD cell phone plans to ensure the plan and the network technology that the carrier operates on (CDMA or GSM) are compatible with their device. 4G LTE Technology allows for more flexibility for switching providers to BYOD cell phone plans between GSM and CDMA networks. For example, some T-Mobile 4G LTE devices can be used on Verizon's LTE network because they both run on the same frequency spectrum. However, Sprint's LTE network is run on a different band of spectrum than T-Mobile or Verizon. Surprisingly, Sprint still will not activate any non-Sprint device on it's network. Unlocking and The Four Major Carriers Verizon, AT&T, T-Mobile and Sprint are the four major cell phone providers in the U.S. Despite the recent changes in FCC regulations regarding, some carriers are easier to work with than others when unlocking your device to switch cell phone providers. One requirement to unlock a cell phone and switch to a BYOD cell phone plan, regardless of carrier, is that the device must not have been reported as lost or stolen and cannot be associated with fraudulent activity. For GSM devices, this is tracked by the IMEI serial number and for CDMA devices this is tracked by the ESN. How to Unlock a Verizon Phone (CDMA) Making the switch from the Verizon network to a BYOD cell phone plan requires the device to be paid for in full if financed through Verizon Edge, the terms of the contract must be fulfilled and the account must be in good standing. Verizon has the most relaxed policy for unlocking cell phones amongst the four major carriers. In fact, Verizon actually does not lock the majority of their smart phones. Exceptions with Verizon include postpaid non-iPhone Global Ready 3G Phones (though the following unlock codes can be used for these devices: try 000000 or 123456 to use these phones on a different carrier). For prepaid devices, Verizon Prepaid Phone-in-the-Box devices are locked to the carrier for the first 12 months after activation. After this, the same unlock codes (000000 or 123456) can be used to unlock a Verizon device. Unlocked Verizon 4G LTE devices should still be able to be used on T-Mobile or AT&T plans, though Verizon operates on a different technology. To be sure, always check with the new potential carrier. Again, Sprint will not activate any non-Sprint device on it's network. How to Unlock an AT&T Phone (GSM) Similar to Verizon, the service plan commitment with AT&T Wireless must be fulfilled and the device must be paid in full if purchased through the AT&T Next Early Upgrade Program. In addition, if there's been a recent upgrade, to unlock a previous device, there is a 14 waiting period. For AT&T Wireless postpaid plans, the account must have been active for the past 60 days and for prepaid plans; 6 months. AT&T allows customers to apply for a device unlock online. Detailed device and account holder information is required to do so. Unlocked AT&T 4G LTE devices should still be able to be used on T-Mobile or Verizon plans, though Verizon operates on a different technology. To be sure, always check with the new potential carrier. Again, Sprint will not activate any non-Sprint device on it's network. How to Unlock a T-Mobile Phone (GSM) T-Mobile limits the number of unlocks each customer can have per year. Before T-Mobile will unlock a device, it must have been actively used on T-Mobile's network for at least 40 days. T-Mobile is a bit more lax regarding contract fulfillment. At least 18 consecutive months of on-time payments must have been made. Alternately, there is the option to switch to a monthly Simple Choice plan. Either way, an account in good standing, with no overdue payments is required. Financed phones through the EIP (equipment installment plan or T-Mobile JUMP!) must be paid off completely with no past due balances. For prepaid devices on the T-Mobile network, the account must be active for at least 12 months before being granted an unlock, though there are options for those who've been active for less than 12 months. Detailed device and account holder information is required to do so. Exceptions are made for deployed military personnel who wish to unlock their T-Mobile devices. Unlocked T-Mobile devices should be able to easily convert to AT&T. In some cases, an unlocked T-Mobile 4G LTE device can be converted to Verizon. Unfortunately, at this time, Sprint does not allow any non-Sprint device on it's network. How to Unlock a Sprint Phone (CDMA) Like the other major U.S. Carriers, in order to unlock a Sprint device, the device must not have been reported as lost or stolen and can't be associated with any fraudulent activity, the contract must be fulfilled with no outstanding balance and financed phones (Sprint Easy Pay, Sprint Lease and iPhone for Life) must be paid in full. Sprint customers now receive a notification when their device is eligible to unlock and phones launched (not purchased, launched) after February 2015 are automatically unlocked. Sprint is unique in that they allow eligible customers to unlock their device for international travel. This does mean that the device will necessary be unlocked for domestic use. Sprint also does not require contract completion or handset payoff for deployment. Of course, documentation is required. Activating a Sprint device on another carrier's network is more difficult compared to other cell phone providers. Sprint phones have been known to be mostly incompatible with the Verizon service. On the other hand, some Sprint devices have dual compatibility meaning they support both GSM and CDMA. These phones are identified as 'global' phones and may be able to be used on the T-Mobile and AT&T networks. The device itself determines compatibility as some global device features don't always function properly. Other Cell Phone Provider Options An MVNO is a mobile network virtual operator. An MVNO is a cell phone carrier that subsists on the network infrastructure and radio spectrum of a larger mobile network. They pay a wholesale fee and then sells the service at retail prices under their own branding. Essentially, an MVNO is more of a reseller versus a competitor. They are typically much smaller than their wholesaler and can afford to operate on lower profit margins, while providing more for the money. BYOD Cell Phone Plans Handset satisfaction doesn't always lead to satisfaction with a cell phone provider. Researching BYOD cell phone plans might lead to finding a cell phone provider that offers cost-savings as well as the ability to avoid lengthy cell phone contracts. Before unlocking, device compatibility should be checked with the potential cell phone provider of the BYOD Cell Phone Plan. MVNOs allow for more options to switch from GSM to GSM and CDMA to CDMA, however at the end of the day, the money still goes to the same place. After contract completion or paying off a financed cell phone is the perfect time to research BYOD cell phone plans to save money.
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