Phones have the capability of being "locked" by the service provider.
Providers do this to keep you from taking the nice phone they "gave" you to
use with another provider's service.

Verizon, for whatever reason, doesn't lock their phones, so it really isn't
an issue for you. In fact, most providers who lock their phones use GSM
technology, which isn't compatible with Verizon, so I'd be quite leery of
buying a phone advertised as "unlocked". You could wind up with a GSM
version of a phone (for instance, Moto makes a GSM version of the RAZR)
which absolutely will not work on Verizon.

HTH,
Dean

"Alan Briker" <ajb723@optonline.net> wrote in message
news:C1B372AB.53870%ajb723@optonline.net...
> Thanks so much for the useful advice and would appreciate any further
> recommendations on a Verizon phone. Anyone with experience with the LG
> 8500-
> looks sexy. One other question- what do the ads mean that say "locked" or
> "unlocked"?
>
>
> On 12/23/06 11:20 PM, in article oenjh.3526$sz5.14@trndny03, "Dean"
> <dean173@yahoo.com> wrote:
>
>> _________________________________________________
>> If I buy a phone on e-Bay
>> will Verizon activate it (assuming it is aVerizon compatible phone).
>> -------------------------------------------------------------------
>> Yes, as long as the serial number (ESN) is not listed as stolen, nor
>> blocked
>> due to non-payment or criminal activity.
>>
>> __________________________________________________
>> If so, what do they charge?
>> -------------------------------------------------------------------
>> Shouldn't be more than about $15. Depending on your plan, if your old
>> phone
>> was Get-It-Now capable, and the new one is also, you may get lucky and be
>> able to activate it online yourself for free.
>>
>> __________________________________________________
>> Is e-Bay a reliable source?
>> -------------------------------------------------------------------
>> Sorry, but that's kind of like asking if you can get a good deal on
>> something at ANY auction. It's not eBay that occasionally rips people off
>> (usually), it's up to the conscience of the individual seller.
>> I, and most people I know, have had excellent luck with cellphones and
>> accessories purchased via eBay. The advice given elsewhere here in regard
>> to
>> checking a seller's feedback is great advice, and fundamental to a
>> positive
>> eBay experience.
>> __________________________________________________
>>
>> One question you didn't ask, and perhaps should, is for a recommendation
>> of
>> what phone to buy. I can pretty much guarantee some more good advice if
>> you
>> post that question here.
>>
>> I'll get my 2c in first. Since you aren't happy with the Kyocera, you may
>> want to avoid them, even though I had a KX-1 "Soho" for over a year and
>> never had a problem with it. OTOH, the display is tiny and the reception
>> wasn't quite up to par with my newer phones. Motorolas: the v60 series,
>> though dated, are now pretty cheap, pretty much bulletproof. Reception is
>> good, but I think the display is poor--small, dim, and not enough
>> contrast.
>> Good battery life. v265's are relatively modern and work well. Again, the
>> display, though in color, isn't the best. If you find a v325 for a
>> reasonable price, grab it. Good phone. The v710's, 720's and e815, though
>> great phones with big bright displays, tend to suffer from flaky
>> software.
>> Text messages can freeze the phone. The camera can freeze the phone.
>> Sometimes Bluetooth works, sometimes it doesn't. Everyone raved about the
>> e815, so I got one. Great reception, great display, great sound. Due to
>> the
>> chance of getting a bad one, I'd avoid buying a used one. My brand-new
>> one,
>> never abused, crapped out at six months, and I had to take a refurb,
>> which
>> was never quite right. Recent LG's, above the 4000 level, are decent
>> phones,
>> reliable and stable, but again, they really didn't get the reception
>> thing
>> quite right until the 8300 (possibly the 8000, don't know that phone).
>> The
>> 8300 is a super phone, if they made the display a hair bigger, the
>> speakerphone a hair louder, the phone a hair thinner, and added a missed
>> call beep, close to perfect! Actually, LG covered most of these points
>> with
>> the 8600, with the exception of the missed call beep. It would have been
>> my
>> next phone, except for the damn beep.
>>
>> There are others, of course, (I'm not real familiar with the VZ Nokias),
>> but
>> choose carefully. Unlike a new phone, no 15 day return policy....
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> "Alan Briker" <ajb723@optonline.net> wrote in message
>> news:C1B31007.536F8%ajb723@optonline.net...
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> First time on this ng- please excuse if this question has been asked
>>> before.
>>> Currently have a Kyocera phone with Verizon. It sucks, but I'm not
>>> eligible
>>> for upgrade for 10 months, which is what is left on my contract.. I
>>> don't
>>> want to pay retail at Verizon for a new phone. If I buy a phone on e-Bay
>>> will Verizon activate it (assuming it is aVerizon compatible phone). If
>>> so,
>>> what do they charge? Is e-Bay a reliable source?
>>> Alan
>>>
>>
>>
>
>
>
>