what exactly does it mean - does it mean that phones that use the same type of service CDMA/GSM/PCS whatever you can jump between companies?
Aren’t sprint and vzw both using CDMA now? so technically couldn’t you use a VZW phone on sprint if it is unlocked? I don’t really know much about phones in this respect so if this is completely retarded don’t feel bad about saying so 
its only for GSM phones. And nextel i suppose. CDMA doesn’t use sim cards, they’re not cool enough. Basically an unlocked GSM phone means you can put a SIM in from any provider and your number and all your info goes with it, no matter what brand of phone.
[quote=“Joe,post:2,topic:26299"”]
its only for GSM phones. And nextel i suppose. CDMA doesn’t use sim cards, they’re not cool enough. Basically an unlocked GSM phone means you can put a SIM in from any provider and your number and all your info goes with it, no matter what brand of phone.
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no. GSM != iDen.
otherwise you are correct.
vzw wont activate anything not in their system
sprint wont activate anything not in their system]
i can speak for alltel/USCellular/MetroPCS, but i would assume the same
[quote=“Dex,post:3,topic:26299"”]
no. GSM != iDen.
otherwise you are correct.
[/quote]
iden takes sim cards though. theoretically if there was another iden provider you could use a nextel phone with them
[quote=“Joe,post:5,topic:26299"”]
iden takes sim cards though. theoretically if there was another iden provider you could use a nextel phone with them
[/quote]
right, but it won’t read a GSM sim card, and an unlocked GSM phone still doesn’t operate at iDen frequencies. isn’t iDen just enhanced TDMA?
yeah, other than its walkie talkie usefulness IDEN is a piece of shit. I think sprint is kicking people off of it for everythign except direct connect. the only thing you could unlock a nextel phone for is that prepaid company that uses IDEN with the ghetto commercials, boost mobile or something
[quote=“Dex,post:6,topic:26299"”]
TDMA?
[/quote]
TDMA??? 
I thought that went away like 10 years ago!
[quote=“Joe,post:7,topic:26299"”]
yeah, other than its walkie talkie usefulness IDEN is a piece of shit. I think sprint is kicking people off of it for everythign except direct connect. the only thing you could unlock a nextel phone for is that prepaid company that uses IDEN with the ghetto commercials, boost mobile or something
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i still…no matter how many times it is explained to me…can not see the usefulness of a walkie talkie on a phone. seriously…past the group talk feature, but even that is a stretch.
and boost mobile is for rappers…and rappers only.
[quote=“BikerFry,post:8,topic:26299"”]
TDMA??? I thought that went away like 10 years ago!
[/quote]
it did…except for nextel. but that shit is literally worthless. if you for some unforseen reason need a direct connect system, sprint’s system is better…particularly during peak times.