[jibble]

I just got a blackberry 8703e for free, so i figured i would use it for a while and see if i like it.

I have a few questions that im not sure about

1. It's for Verizon, I have Sprint. How do i go about unlocking it for sprint?

2. Where can i find some newer software/ROMS/mods?

3. General BB links for tweaking and modifying?

[Dubdub]

1. Can't run a Verizon device on Sprint. Sprint currently doesn't allow non-Sprint branded devices on their networks. They are slowly trying to change that policy, but not yet AFAIK.

2. Check the stickies in this section for a possible OS upgrade. you will need an OS for an 8703 however. An 8700 OS will not.

3. I doubt that you will find many links for mods. Basically a BB is very secure and what you see is what you get. You can check the aftermarket software section for 3rd party software if that is what you are looking for. To take full advantage of the bB, you will need a BB data plan which incluudes Internet and push email.

[jibble]

i thought they just passed a law saying you can now "unlock" phones for use with other providers?

[jibble]

so i just got off the phone with Sprint tech support and found out that all you need to do is unlock the phone. I drilled the tech support girl asking as many questions as i could come up with and here is what i found out.

(This is for Verizon -> Sprint)
1. The phone model does not matter (as long as it's CDMA)
2. Either personally unlock it, or call Verizon so they can do it, but BB unlock codes are always zeros

I'm looking into it today and will post my results and a "How to"

[Dubdub]

Originally Posted by jibble

i thought they just passed a law saying you can now "unlock" phones for use with other providers?

Don't think it is a "law". Perhaps an FCC ruling of some sort. In any case the carriers (Sprint and Verizon) have not yet implemented any plans to ad competitors devices to their networks. We will see it some time in the future, but not soon is my guess. There is talk on various forums about it coming.

Sometime you can get a friendly CSR who will check the ESN out and if it is in their database, they will go ahead and activate it.

[jibble]

well...the tech lady said it's easily done. Maybe she was just one of the "nice ones"

I also called Verizon and they said the same thing, but im a sprint customer so i can't request the phone to be unlocked. They have to do it.

...still looking into it