Cell phones forum: switching my phones???

Please clarify what you are trying to do. Do you want to take the Alltell phone and put it on the Sprint network? Do you want to take the Sprint phone and put it on the Alltell network? Are you trying to do both of those tasks? Are you trying to get both phones on the same network?

The main difference is, CDMA carriers like Sprint, Alltel & Verizon use the ESN (electronic serial number) on the actual phone to gain access to their networks/services. GSM carriers are slightly different in that they require an active SIM card along with any compatible device (handset). In this regard, you can move the SIM card to another (unlocked, or locked to the carrier in question) phone and still get service. Switching phones among the various CDMA carriers isn't as easy since they would have to be made aware of the new ESN and also have the phone's firmware/software be compatible with a new carrier's services. You will have to call customer service to see if they will (yet) allow this switch. They might very well tell you to go with a GSM carrier for this model of service.

-Pedro

To change handsets, you would have to call your provider to switch the ESN #'s and w/ CDMA (Sprint/Verizon/Altel) and not all phones are capable of being used on another carrier. Only GSM carriers (At&t/T-mobile) use SIM cards, can be unlocked to use on other carriers and do not require customers to call in to their carrier to swap handsets.