OT: In need of "retired" Sprint cellphones
I'm doing some work with a not for profit organization that is providing some local low income families with free cellphones and free service. Unlike the federal "lifeline" service which does not provide a smartphone option, without charging that is. The organization has an agreement with a Sprint MVNO which provides 100 Minutes/100 SMS/100 MMS/100 MB of data at absolutely no cost to the consumer. Also, lifeline limits the service to one phone per household. We're trying to provide a way to keep families with kids connected. Right now we've had to limit the number of phones per family to 2, mainly because of a lack of phones. I believe they need to be Sprint branded phones. I do not know if the other Sprint MVNO's like Boost or Virgin Mobile will be able to port correctly, as I believe the settings that need to be changed are locked out. The one Virgin Mobile phone I did try to activate, the MSID activated, but I was unable to complete the configuration, even manually. But it could just have been that it was a very old version of Android on it. 2.4 If I recall correctly, so some slightly newer ones *may* work and allow for the OTA provisioning. While retired smartphones are preferred, I've also configured several flip phones. Better for use with older people who are confused by the idea of smartphones. If you have anything lying around that you'd like to donate to the cause, email me off the list. I'm looking for functional devices, not the phone you left on top of the car and took the asphalt dive, or the ones dropped into the tub/pool. If you can include the IMEI/MEID/ESN numbers, I can verify that they can be activated. Also if you could let me know the make and model of them. If they are the older flip phones that need non-standard chargers, those accessories would be greatly appreciated. Thanks everyone! Joseph Oprysko. -- Normal Person: Hey, it seems that you know a lot. Geek: To be honest, it's due to all the surfing I do. Normal Person: So you go surfing? Normal Person: But I don't think that has anything to do with knowing a lot... Geek: I think that's wrong on a fundamental level. Normal Person: Huh? Huh? What?
Are unlocked and unbranded phones acceptable? Sent from my iPhone
On Aug 13, 2016, at 23:37, Joseph Oprysko via vcf-midatlantic <vcf-midatlantic@lists.vintagecomputerfederation.org> wrote:
I'm doing some work with a not for profit organization that is providing some local low income families with free cellphones and free service. Unlike the federal "lifeline" service which does not provide a smartphone option, without charging that is. The organization has an agreement with a Sprint MVNO which provides 100 Minutes/100 SMS/100 MMS/100 MB of data at absolutely no cost to the consumer. Also, lifeline limits the service to one phone per household. We're trying to provide a way to keep families with kids connected. Right now we've had to limit the number of phones per family to 2, mainly because of a lack of phones.
I believe they need to be Sprint branded phones. I do not know if the other Sprint MVNO's like Boost or Virgin Mobile will be able to port correctly, as I believe the settings that need to be changed are locked out.
The one Virgin Mobile phone I did try to activate, the MSID activated, but I was unable to complete the configuration, even manually. But it could just have been that it was a very old version of Android on it. 2.4 If I recall correctly, so some slightly newer ones *may* work and allow for the OTA provisioning.
While retired smartphones are preferred, I've also configured several flip phones. Better for use with older people who are confused by the idea of smartphones.
If you have anything lying around that you'd like to donate to the cause, email me off the list. I'm looking for functional devices, not the phone you left on top of the car and took the asphalt dive, or the ones dropped into the tub/pool.
If you can include the IMEI/MEID/ESN numbers, I can verify that they can be activated. Also if you could let me know the make and model of them. If they are the older flip phones that need non-standard chargers, those accessories would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks everyone!
Joseph Oprysko.
-- Normal Person: Hey, it seems that you know a lot. Geek: To be honest, it's due to all the surfing I do. Normal Person: So you go surfing? Normal Person: But I don't think that has anything to do with knowing a lot... Geek: I think that's wrong on a fundamental level. Normal Person: Huh? Huh? What?
It's the Maddie Dixon community center, they have a food bank, offer furniture to families in need, they have a clothing "boutique" clients can get clothes from. A number of years ago I had setup a computer lab for them where they were having after school programs and GED classes. During the holidays they provide clients who request help both with gifts for the children as well as food. The computer center has since closed, but this is another program I'm trialing with them. On Sunday, August 14, 2016, Evan Koblentz via vcf-midatlantic < vcf-midatlantic@lists.vintagecomputerfederation.org> wrote:
I'm doing some work with a not for profit organization that is providing some local low income families with free cellphones and free service.
What's it called?
-- Normal Person: Hey, it seems that you know a lot. Geek: To be honest, it's due to all the surfing I do. Normal Person: So you go surfing? Normal Person: But I don't think that has anything to do with knowing a lot... Geek: I think that's wrong on a fundamental level. Normal Person: Huh? Huh? What?
participants (3)
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Cory Smelosky -
Evan Koblentz -
Joseph Oprysko