Bad ESN/IMEI CDMA/GSM from US carriers abroad - Help - GSM-Forum

kaning · 11-16-2015, 21:45

Hi,

I've been reading a lot about this but with so much information, and outdated, i hope someone can help me on this.

Imagine i buy a bad ESN/IMEI phone from US carrier. Are they blacklisted and locked only for US carriers?
Can i use it on Europe GSM carriers with all features(voice,internet etc)? (ofcourse by SIM unlocking if thats the case)

Also, i saw those unlocking codes websites, they only work for clean ESN? Remember, its to be used outside USA.

Many thanks

crack0rs · 11-22-2015, 01:59

Yes, you can. Database isn't international. Your phone must support or allow enabling the GSM bands used in country of choice and not be provider locked. i.e. verizon phones are usually internationally unlocked.

ESN is ONLY for CDMA. A phone that supports both has IMEI and ESN/MEID(new phones). RUIM on CDMA overwrites ESN and other identity information in phone NV with its own stuff... but leaves imei alone.

Try to find a phone with unlocked bootloader and no image signature enforcement so you can flash different radios... ie verizon or sprint or tmobil might work best with your provider or have the bands you need.

11-16-2015, 21:45	#1 (permalink)
kaning Junior Member Join Date: Nov 2015 Posts: 5 Member: 2487067 Status: Offline Thanks Meter: 0	Bad ESN/IMEI CDMA/GSM from US carriers abroad - Help Hi, I've been reading a lot about this but with so much information, and outdated, i hope someone can help me on this. Imagine i buy a bad ESN/IMEI phone from US carrier. Are they blacklisted and locked only for US carriers? Can i use it on Europe GSM carriers with all features(voice,internet etc)? (ofcourse by SIM unlocking if thats the case) Also, i saw those unlocking codes websites, they only work for clean ESN? Remember, its to be used outside USA. Many thanks

11-22-2015, 01:59	#2 (permalink)
crack0rs Junior Member Join Date: Nov 2015 Location: USA Posts: 6 Member: 2484404 Status: Offline Thanks Meter: 0	Yes, you can. Database isn't international. Your phone must support or allow enabling the GSM bands used in country of choice and not be provider locked. i.e. verizon phones are usually internationally unlocked. ESN is ONLY for CDMA. A phone that supports both has IMEI and ESN/MEID(new phones). RUIM on CDMA overwrites ESN and other identity information in phone NV with its own stuff... but leaves imei alone. Try to find a phone with unlocked bootloader and no image signature enforcement so you can flash different radios... ie verizon or sprint or tmobil might work best with your provider or have the bands you need.