Flashing your cell phone sounds like a term used for showing off your mobile device. Not quite. Cell phone flashing basically means changing the software on one phone and reprogramming it to work on another carrier’s network.
How it works
According to CTIA, there are over 300,000 cell towers in the Unites States (1). Each carrier uses certain towers. For example, let’s say you use the Verizon network. Your phone is programmed to recognize Verizon’s towers for your signal. When you’re within reach of a Verizon tower you get service. If you’re too far away from a Verizon tower, but within reach of another carrier’s tower, then you may still get service. However, because you’re using another carrier’s tower you pay roaming charges. Flashing the phone breaks its connection with Verizon towers, and redirects it to the cell towers of another carrier.
Why flash a phone?
There are two main reasons to flash a phone:
1. When your carrier of choice doesn’t sell your phone of choice. In this case, you can buy your favorite mobile phone from a different provider and flash it to work on your current provider.
2. You switch carriers but want to keep using your old phone, especially when buying a new one requires signing a contract.
Partial flash vs full flash
A partial flash reprograms the phone but doesn’t change the software. As a result, you won’t be able to use features on the phone that are specific for the old carrier. For example, if you flash your phone from Verizon to Cricket, features such as VZ Navigator won’t work anymore. You will at the very least get voice and text. Most carriers will also allow MMS and internet access.
A full flash rewrites the phone’s entire operating system. You can then load the software from another network and use all the features that come along with it. This will erase all your data and settings, but a professional technician will know how to back it up and reload it onto your new phone.
What phones can be flashed?
Not every phone can be flashed. It must be a CDMA phone, which stands for Code Division Multiple Access. Carriers that use CDMA include Verizon, Sprint, Cricket, Boost, Metro, and Page Plus.
The other type of phone is GSM (Global System for Mobile communications). These phones use a SIM card, whereas CDMA phones don’t. You’ve probably heard of unlocking a phone. It’s similar to flashing, but for GSM phones. AT&T and T-Mobile use GSM phones.
For more information on how to flash or unlock your phone, click here.
(1) http://www.ctia.org/your-wireless-life/how-wireless-works/wireless-quick-facts
