flashing a VZW droid Bionic to Virgin Mobile

[BioHazzrd]

I have a virgin mobile Motorola triumph and I want to upgrade to a Droid Bionic. I've heard its possible and I would love to upgrade to a nicer phone. How would I go about flashing this phone to Virgin or are there any good tut out there? Thanks for the help in advanced.

 

[Slug]

I don't believe this can be done without altering the ESN/MEID, which is illegal and therefore not a permitted subject of discussion on AF.

If I'm incorrect (and that's quite possible!) I'm sure someone will point out the required steps to do what you ask legally.

 

[MacFett]

The only ways I have found on the net is to take an existing Virgin Mobile USA phone and clone it's ESN/MSID, which basically gives you two phones with the same ESN/MSID which is illegal, it is federal fraud.

There may be other ways, but I have not found them.

 

[BioHazzrd]

From what I have heard it would be illegal to clone the phone but if I switched ESNs so the Bionic has the Triumph's Virgin mobile ESN and the Triumph has the Bionic's ESN then it is perfectly legal... wouldn't want them with the same ESN anyway I want to use just the Bionic and not have inbound calls going to the Triumph

 

[Petrah]

I have a virgin mobile Motorola triumph and I want to upgrade to a Droid Bionic. I've heard its possible and I would love to upgrade to a nicer phone. How would I go about flashing this phone to Virgin or are there any good tut out there? Thanks for the help in advanced.

Call Virgin Mobile and ask. If they offer service for a phone they do not sell, then I'm sure the entire VM community here will want to know about it.

Let us know what they say.

 

[Petrah]

From what I have heard it would be illegal to clone the phone but if I switched ESNs so the Bionic has the Triumph's Virgin mobile ESN and the Triumph has the Bionic's ESN then it is perfectly legal... wouldn't want them with the same ESN anyway I want to use just the Bionic and not have inbound calls going to the Triumph

Tampering with the ESN of any phone is illegal. However, I'm sure you wont believe this until you actually call Virgin Mobile and ask.

The Commission considers any knowing use of cellular telephone with an altered ESN to be a violation of the Communications Act (Section 301) and alteration of the ESN in a cellular telephone to be assisting in such violation.

 

[MacFett]

Call Virgin Mobile and ask. If they offer service for a phone they do not sell,

They do not, they have a very strict policy of only allowing phones they sell branded as VM USA phones to be allowed on their network.

 

[Petrah]

They do not, they have a very strict policy of only allowing phones they sell branded as VM USA phones to be allowed on their network.

lol MacFett. You would figure by now you of all people would be able to read between the lines and see my sarcasm.

Edit: Can I snag your avatar? I think everyone should be using it!

 

[MacFett]

Yes, I saw your sarcasm. Not everyone knows you and your sarcasm though so I was reading between the lines for the OP.

I would be flattered if you used my avatar.

http://dl.dropbox.com/u/29605000/blocked_by_sopa_avatar.jpg

 

[xbrokdikdogx]

Tampering with the ESN of any phone is illegal. However, I'm sure you wont believe this until you actually call Virgin Mobile and ask.

It doesn't matter what "the commission" considers, what matters is what the law actually states. If you go read the actual laws they state, and I am paraphrasing here:

1. Cloning is illegal.
2. Swapping ESN/MEID for the purpose of stealing service is illegal.
3. Selling a phone with an altered ESN/MEID is illegal.
4. Altering the ESN/MEID to use the phone in the commission of another crime is illegal.

So if the OP hypothetically swapped the two phone's ESN/MEID and just threw the other phone in his safe and never turned it on both phones would have unique ESN/MEID and this would not be illegal in and of itself.

However, if he did any of the other things listed above it would be illegal. Also, Virgin like all other corporations make you agree to terms of service, if you violate these they will just cut you off. Also, they don't allow discussion here about how to do this.

 

[Petrah]

So if the OP hypothetically swapped the two phone's ESN/MEID and just threw the other phone in his safe and never turned it on both phones would have unique ESN/MEID and this would not be illegal in and of itself.

The OP did not ask a hypothetical question, so the above statement is irrelevant. He outright asked how to flash a phone (and no one here is trashing him for asking... he more than likely did not know). Slug gave him the proper reply.