[fetuseater]

Hey folks.
A friend of mine gave me their Verizon Blackberry Curve. Does anyone know if it's possible to use a prepaid card with this? For example would I be able to buy one of those verizon prepaid unlimited texting cards and use it? Or could I even buy a to go phone and put the sim card in this one? I have the 8330 model. The carrier is verizon. Any information would be helpful.

I've done a lot of googling and searched these forums but can't find a solid answer for this one.

[dc/dc]

The 8330 does not accept SIM cards, so no, you can't put in a goPhone or any other SIM card and it is not possible to use it with Verizon prepaid service.

If you would like to use this device, you must sign up for a contract voice, messaging and BlackBerry data plan with Verizon.

[fetuseater]

So prepaid is completely impossible? Shoot.

[dc/dc]

Originally Posted by fetuseater

So prepaid is completely impossible? Shoot.

With Verizon, yes, it is completely impossible.

[fetuseater]

What if I were to unlock the phone?
Is there a service that would allow me to use prepaid cards?
They're my only option.

[tsac]

Verizon like ATT now require a Blackberry Data plan for all their BB's so as DC/DC stated
your out of luck with the pre-paid cards

[MidnightDraven]

And you can't unlock a CDMA phone.

[fetuseater]

Originally Posted by MidnightDraven

And you can't unlock a CDMA phone.

Really? What about this?
I've found some sites that say they unlock blackberry's.
Even a how to do it yourself.
I would post the links but my post count isn't great enough.

So in other words I'm completely screwed? Would the verizon people be able tom somehow help me on this?

[MidnightDraven]

No. a CDMA phone isn't unlockable.
A GSM phone is.

Either use it on verizon, with a contract, or your screwed.

[fetuseater]

Alright, thanks.

[dankarlinski]

Wirelessly posted (White and Nerdy)

To clarify, CDMA is basically without sim cards (verizon/sprint)

With sim cards is GSM (everyone else)

All gsm phones can be unlocked. Cdma cannot unless it is a world edition ( in a WE phone, it has GSM radios_

The 8330 is not a world edition phone...

[rambo47]

Locking simply limits usage to the carrier that issued the device. CDMA devices are not locked at all, but mutual policies prevent using a Verizon phone with, say, Sprint. The CDMA carriers simply refuse to activate any device that doesn't carry their own brand. Even if they sell the exact same model, if the specific device in question was not originally sold by Verizon, then Verizon will NEVER activate it. Same with Sprint.

To see how serious they are about this policy, consider this: Verizon bought Alltel but refuses to activate Alltel devices on the Verizon network. Users need a new contract with Verizon and a new Verizon phone.

The only thing you can do with a CDMA device to use it on another network is to flash it to one of the cheap-o carriers like MetroPCS or Cricket. Personally, I'd rather use the old device as a paperweight than go with one of those carriers. Or just sell it and move on.

[dc/dc]

Originally Posted by rambo47

Locking simply limits usage to the carrier that issued the device. CDMA devices are not locked at all, but mutual policies prevent using a Verizon phone with, say, Sprint. The CDMA carriers simply refuse to activate any device that doesn't carry their own brand. Even if they sell the exact same model, if the specific device in question was not originally sold by Verizon, then Verizon will NEVER activate it. Same with Sprint.

This is partially correct. CDMA phones have what is called an MSL, or Master Subsidy Lock, that is set by the carrier to prevent access to the programming menus that would allow someone to activate a CDMA phone on another CDMA provider. This is similar to the subsidy lock set by GSM phone manufacturers. However, since these mutual policies are in place between the major US CDMA providers, they usually just set the MSL to be all zeros.