This Guide is pertaining to CDMA cellphones only!!! not GSM!!!!
And i will not be including nothing about Sprint Cellphones, as they will never release the unlock code. Please do not ask me because i do not have no answers.

As most of you folks out there have heard that VERIZON WIRELESS has bought out ALLTEL.  If you can talk to the right people in Verizon Wireless you should not have no problem using your existing handset.

Verizon Wireless and ALLTEL never have locked their phones. Which alot people do not realize.

Verizon and Alltel share the same towers and use simular phones.  (CDMA)
But it will be several months before the merger is complete.
Verizon programs their phones by using over the air programming (OTA) and the phone must be unlocked and be activated with verizon for the OTA to work.

Dial *228 this is what most folks are used to doing when updating the prl in a alltel PHONE. Instead same thing but be using Verizon cell towers, and no the OTA that Verizon uses will not lock the phone. It will remain unlocked. When dialing *228 select option 1 to program your phone. To update the prl (PREFER ROAMING LIST) select option #2. OTA is just a easier way of programming the phone without the user having to input all the numbers, like the sid and their mobile number.

As I have few never activated before alltel phones still new in the box.

Just keep in mind when reprogramming a alltel phone manually you must obtain the HOME SID.
For prl for ALLTEL areas: *228 (option 2)
For prl for Verizon Wireless areas: *228 (option 1) to program the phone
then every once while dial *228 and select (option 2) to update the roaming capibilities (prl)

For most nokia cellphones the programming code is *1234#12345# this will take you to the main programming menu of the phone. You can scroll down to SPC (SERVICE PROVIDER CODE) Some cellular companies lock the phone so you cannot reprogram them such as Sprint. Go to SPC and enter six number (0)s not the letter o if the phone says accepted, the phone is not locked.

For the Motorola RAZOR or RAZR from ALLTEL & VERIZON WIRELESS, the code is #073887* (do this quickly) then it will say enter security code: the default is 000000

For most Motorola cellphones (NOT THE RAZOR)
The code is

List of known CDMA CELLULAR PROVIDERS THAT LOCK THEIR PHONES, and refuse to give out the subsidy lock code:

• SPRINT PCS
• VIRGIN MOBILE (Part of Sprint)
• US CELLULAR
• CRICKET
• QUEST
• METRO PCS
• NTELOS (???????)
• ALLTEL (PREPAID CELLPHONES)
• SIMPLE FREEDOM (Part of ALLTEL) except the nokia 3585i (BLUE) that comes from SIMPLE FREEDOM is not locked.
  
• TRACFONE (PREPAID) - Very hard to unlock!! Do not bother trying unlock one of these phones!!!!!

BE CAREFUL WHEN BUYING THESE PHONES FROM EBAY, AS THEY ARE LOCKED AND THE PROVIDER WILL REFUSE TO RELEASE THE SUBSIDY LOCK CODE!! I HIGHLY RECOMMEND THAT everybody out there VOID THESE USED CELLPHONES as they are pretty much PAPERWEIGHTS!!!
Always look for the VERIZON WIRELESS or ALLTEL PHONES, as they are never locked and can be reprogrammed. But I am not sure about the ALLTEL prepaid cellphones.

You choose which 2 options you think is best: Either one will work with Verizon Wireless prepaid cellphones.

(1)The prepaid cellphones are locked from both companies,  Verizon Wireless will release the lock code for prepaid cellphones, If you do this have alteast one month of prepaid service with them, then ask them for the lock code which will be released.  I have successfully have unlocked several VERIZON Wireless prepaid cellphones without hassle from VERIZON. When they give you subsidy lock code reset it back to 000000 for OTA to work.

(2) In order to unlock the Verizon Wireless prepaid cellphone call Verizon Wireless and tell them you have to program the phone manually because you have no service what so ever. Somewhere in the talking, they will tell you a 6 digit code to input into the phone (THIS IS THE SPC CODE), after you push this and that to get to the nam programming part. Be sure to write this code down. So that you can go back in again if you have to. I recommend resetting the SPC code back to 000000 so you won't have to play around with it.

As I have sucessfully have used a verizon cellphone with ALLTEL without issues, but be aware the data side may not work right, unless you can ask Verizon for the information necessary to reprogram the data side of the phone to work with their mobile web and V-CAST things.  But the basic settings here will allow the phone to be used as a basic phone, such as calling receiving phone calls and TEXTING.

Verizon Wireless has bought out ALLTEL beginning of 2009.
May Alltel be remembered with good, as they were very good to provide good service for country folks, but had a strong relationship with Verizon Wireless for their Roaming partner for Alltel customers.  Thank you VERIZON.....

I could be wrong about ntelos cellphones, as they may not be locked, but i cannot confirm this, if anyone has information about ntelos phones not being locked please inform me so that i may update this review.

My name is Michael Gibbons and I been tinkering with cellphones for the past seven years, what makes them work, why company lock them for whatever reason. Why go prepay or post paid I have decided to put this guide in after reading articles and internet news, and decided to put this knowledge to use so that other people can make use of it too. Sometime i might put a guide up about GSM cellphones but as of now, i am sticking with CDMA type cellphones. I will try to update this guide as new details emerge in the cellphone industry.