Help What exactly is FLASHING?

[imowt]

i just bought a phone for boost (evo design) and boost wants to start me at the 55.00 plan when I have a plan with them currently (evo shift) which was flashed I think because according to them I have a SANYO lol
but I have an evo shift ( someone I know set up my account)
He said if it was flashed I would not be starting at the 55.00 I would continue with my current 45.00 plan ...IS THIS TRUE?
I guess I just don't know the meaning of "flashing"

 

[Rxpert83]

Flashing is commonly used term to describe getting a phone from one network to another.

Ex taking a sprint phone and using on boost.

The legality of this is currently in a grey area, and I believe will become illegal soon unless the carrier does it for you

 

[birdhouse1575]

Your Evo Shift has the ESN of a Sanyo. I assume, then, that you're on the regular monthly unlimited plan as there are no Sanyo android phones on Boost for you to have the android plan. Switching to an Evo Design 4G would raise your monthly plan to $50 from $45.

By the way: your Evo Shift was ESN swapped with a Sanyo (illegal), not flashed.

Flashing is tweaking network-related things like MMS and data settings so that the phone will work on another carrier.