Wifi and 3g are 2 different frequencies. The wifi card in your laptop wouldn't be able to pick up sprints 3g signal.

Even if your phone isn't activated you still should pick up Sprint's signal. As long as you have cell service you should have 3g. The 3g indicator won't show until you activate but the signal indicator should show. As long as you have at least one bar you should be good. There are a few apps that will show the network signal strength if you want a more accurate reading than the icon in status bar

 

Likely not because they would send a ping through your 3g to figure the strength and you have no data connection other than WiFi. Phone is available by law for emergency calls. There are coverage maps on virgin mobiles site.

 

Yes it's the law all phones have to be able to.

 

The apps won't show 3g data since you aren't activated. Just signal strength of Sprint Signal from towers. I tried one called network signal info on an unactivated phone and it showed signal strength. If you can pick up cell signal you can get 3g but you won't know speeds until you activate

 

Yes

 

All cell carriers are required by law to processes all 911 calls regardless of account status of the phone dialing 911. I kept a cell in my wife's glove box for her for years just for that reason.

 

Yes only 911

 

Wow.. learn something new every day. I did not know this!

 

ok bak on topic if you have DECENT signal you should be good

 

Download Opensignal maps if you can through wifi, then see how strongthe ssignal is?

 

If you're running the stock rom, I've no idea. Isn't the notification bar white with black icons and text with the bars being green depending on signal strength? I honestly don't remember. I know the Gingerbread roms have green 3G text with green bars and the ICS roms are blue. They can also be theme dependent.

 

When your signal icons turns green, it just means you are synced with Google servers. This allows for gmail updates, play store notifications and app auto updates, if you have auto sync set.

 

I just looked this up and you're correct. I had no idea! Learn something new every day.... thanks for teaching me something new.

I'm convinced though that had I bought a phone with Android 2.3.* on it, I would of already read the user manual and knew that info.

 

Try OpenSignalMaps - Cell Phone Tower and Signal Heat Maps

 

Tap play store
Tap far left button
Tap My apps
slide bar near the top to the left to show all appsThis shoul show you all the apps in your account.
Just tap on the ones you want to install
This will also show you any apps that need to be updated

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