Root question (hopefully simple)

[gloriousnumber1]

Years ago before I went to Verizon, I had another carrier. My aunt gave me her old phone, which used to be with another carrier (not Verizon either), and I had to pay a phone place money to make it work for my carrier. Is that the same thing as rooting?

 

[GideonX]

Nope. What you described is called "flashing" to another carrier.

 

[pbenitez]

My problem was with Grooveshark

 

[vincentp]

No, that's different. In order to switch carriers they probably have to flash the phone with new radio firmware or baseband or something. Rooting is different, as it gives you access to modify things on your phone that you shouldn't be able to otherwise - think administrator access.