Direct Purchase?

[darioism]

Hey all, I'm new to the forums but plan to get an EVO right after its release. I'll also want to start tinkering with developing apps. I'm kind of new to the world of smartphones, and would like to know if the following plan would work. Sorry if I don't know the exact terminology.

Is it possible to purchase the HTC EVO directly and outside of the contract? Right now I'm on Sprint's cheapest plan, and I don't want to upgrade to Sprint's data plan which would cost me $50 more per month. I know that a direct purchase would be more money, but assuming I have the phone for two years, it can't be $1,200 more ($50*24). I'm only going to use the web features at home or in the office, where I have WiFi anyway. If I REALLY need to use the data service here or there, it still won't cost me $50 more paying per KB. When at home or in the office, I could also use Google Voice to make all of my phone calls over WiFi if I go over my 300 minutes (which I won't).

Will Sprint allow me to activate an unlocked phone on their network? Are there glaring gaps in this plan?

Thanks in advance.

 

[SirSlayer]

Hey all, I'm new to the forums but plan to get an EVO right after its release. I'll also want to start tinkering with developing apps. I'm kind of new to the world of smartphones, and would like to know if the following plan would work. Sorry if I don't know the exact terminology.

Is it possible to purchase the HTC EVO directly and outside of the contract? Right now I'm on Sprint's cheapest plan, and I don't want to upgrade to Sprint's data plan which would cost me $50 more per month. I know that a direct purchase would be more money, but assuming I have the phone for two years, it can't be $1,200 more ($50*24). I'm only going to use the web features at home or in the office, where I have WiFi anyway. If I REALLY need to use the data service here or there, it still won't cost me $50 more paying per KB. When at home or in the office, I could also use Google Voice to make all of my phone calls over WiFi if I go over my 300 minutes (which I won't).

Will Sprint allow me to activate an unlocked phone on their network? Are there glaring gaps in this plan?

Thanks in advance.

I would say no. They are requiring you to have the data plan to have the phone. 79.99 a month minus discount if you have one. I don't think you can get around it with this phone.

On the other side I do know you can buy the phone off contract, but may still require the data charge.

 

[darioism]

Thanks for the info SirSlayer. I found out that the phone goes for $450 when purchased off-contract, which isn't bad if my devious plan would work. I know that Sprint's policy states that they won't activate any phone that they don't sell, but they do sell the model, just with their own software on it. We can't just buy the physical phone from anywhere, and then call them up and say hey, this is my new ESN to associate with my account?

 

[SirSlayer]

Thanks for the info SirSlayer. I found out that the phone goes for $450 when purchased off-contract, which isn't bad if my devious plan would work. I know that Sprint's policy states that they won't activate any phone that they don't sell, but they do sell the model, just with their own software on it. We can't just buy the physical phone from anywhere, and then call them up and say hey, this is my new ESN to associate with my account?

The ESN's for each phone are in their Database. So if you try to activate it they will flag it and you will have to pay for the data plan. The Phone will not work that well without data. At least with all the Google integration. Now you could take the phone to another carrier like Cricket and get it put on their network, but at first not everything will work.

 

[Colorado_Al]

Thanks for the info SirSlayer. I found out that the phone goes for $450 when purchased off-contract, which isn't bad if my devious plan would work. I know that Sprint's policy states that they won't activate any phone that they don't sell, but they do sell the model, just with their own software on it. We can't just buy the physical phone from anywhere, and then call them up and say hey, this is my new ESN to associate with my account?

In a word, no.

 

[sikclown]

Thanks for the info SirSlayer. I found out that the phone goes for $450 when purchased off-contract, which isn't bad if my devious plan would work. I know that Sprint's policy states that they won't activate any phone that they don't sell, but they do sell the model, just with their own software on it. We can't just buy the physical phone from anywhere, and then call them up and say hey, this is my new ESN to associate with my account?

The others are correct... You will not be able to activate this on Sprint without a compatible plan. I tried this when I bought a Hero. It would not let me activate it on a line without data.
Also the EVO is a Sprint exclusive so the only way to buy the phone is through one of Sprint's channels i.e. Sprint store, Best Buy, Radio Shack, etc. Yes you can get it on Ebay but that phone still originated from a Sprint channel. There are no "unlocked" versions of the phone like there would be with GSM phones or European phones.

 

[bgiesler1644]

Yes you can just purchase the phone without activation, if not from your sprint store from Radio Shack or EBAY. The WIFI will work fine, but here are the catches. You won't have phone number so google voice can't be activated. The app market does work, updates for the phone are over the "Wire" so your not going to get those. The sprint only apps connect using the cell network so TV, Navigation and NFL app won't work. Texting is out. Things like Iheart radio do work the GPS does work so you could use google maps and skymap. I had a Hero for a while and I used it as your going to. My intro to android. I bought my hero off ebay with a supposed bad ESN, but I found out later the ESN was good they guy had taken the esn from the box and the one on the phone was clean so I activated it, used it for a month and sold it for $230 on ebay to finance my new EVO.

 

[darioism]

In short, DARN! But, thanks for the info. Hopefully others will be able to make use of this thread as well.