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[Q] ROM to make smartphone into basic (dumb) phone?

Not even sure how to search for this and tried Google and some other forums, but settled on asking the question here when I couldn't find an answer.
To be specific: I have a Droid Incredible that is left over once a member of family plan upgraded to iPhone. We are on Verizon. Another member of the family plan has a basic phone (enV3) which is breaking so we need a non-data replacement. Since I have this extra Droid, I am trying to understand why we can't use it...
I know that Verizon requires a data package with any smart phone. My understanding of the magic you all do here is limited, but I have a vague thought that it has to do with ESN or MEID that tells Verizon what make & model phone you have, alerting them to the fact that you activated a smartphone on the line, and giving them the signal to slam some charges on the account for monthly data.
My question (finally) is why can't I just flash a ROM on the phone that disables the 3G antenna thing and makes the phone look like a basic phone to Verizon? Ideally I'd like to still have the ability to get on WiFi and use the phone features, just not the 3G data side of it. We already use it as an "iPod" like device. Even though it isn't activated, I can connect to Google Play and Amazon App Store over Wifi and install apps. I can check email. I can play games. I can even dial and get the operator where they say I can make a call if I enter a credit card. Why cant I keep all that functionality I already have and just hook it up to my family plan to make calls with it too? Maybe the answer is that it IS possible, but nobody is interested in creating such a ROM. Maybe there is some technical problem making it not feasible. Or maybe it does exist, but searching couldn't find it cause people rarely want to do such a thing...
I just want to learn why this cant be done, so someone enlighten me. If it actually can be done, all the better. Again, specific details are Droid Incredible on Verizon Wireless family plan.

jmb.filter said:
Not even sure how to search for this and tried Google and some other forums, but settled on asking the question here when I couldn't find an answer.
To be specific: I have a Droid Incredible that is left over once a member of family plan upgraded to iPhone. We are on Verizon. Another member of the family plan has a basic phone (enV3) which is breaking so we need a non-data replacement. Since I have this extra Droid, I am trying to understand why we can't use it...
I know that Verizon requires a data package with any smart phone. My understanding of the magic you all do here is limited, but I have a vague thought that it has to do with ESN or MEID that tells Verizon what make & model phone you have, alerting them to the fact that you activated a smartphone on the line, and giving them the signal to slam some charges on the account for monthly data.
My question (finally) is why can't I just flash a ROM on the phone that disables the 3G antenna thing and makes the phone look like a basic phone to Verizon? Ideally I'd like to still have the ability to get on WiFi and use the phone features, just not the 3G data side of it. We already use it as an "iPod" like device. Even though it isn't activated, I can connect to Google Play and Amazon App Store over Wifi and install apps. I can check email. I can play games. I can even dial and get the operator where they say I can make a call if I enter a credit card. Why cant I keep all that functionality I already have and just hook it up to my family plan to make calls with it too? Maybe the answer is that it IS possible, but nobody is interested in creating such a ROM. Maybe there is some technical problem making it not feasible. Or maybe it does exist, but searching couldn't find it cause people rarely want to do such a thing...
I just want to learn why this cant be done, so someone enlighten me. If it actually can be done, all the better. Again, specific details are Droid Incredible on Verizon Wireless family plan.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Simple answer is that changing the ESN of a phone is illegal and will not be talked about on XDA. Can it be done. Maybe but you won't any info here on it. A search for change ESN would have told you this.
Thread closed

What do I need to do to my SM-P905 to use it as a phone?

I just pulled the trigger on a refurbished SM-P905 (Verizon) tablet. I would like to have the option of sticking my phone's SIM card in it and use the tablet as my phone (with an ear piece, of course).
What would I need to do to the tablet in order to make that work? Root? Install additional apps? Would CM12 work?
Assume that I have a Verizon cell phone that I would pull the SIM from and put into the tablet when I needed to use it as such.
Thanks!

I have the international version of the note pro SM-P905
from my previous knowledge,
any android tablet can be used as a phone except that phone calls will be heard through the speaker unless you use an ear piece.
I already have a phone sim installed on my note pro and it is working fine out of the box
I use it the sim for data and I made a few phone calls without any problems
no need for root or anything else
I don't know about Verizon note pro model but it is suppose to be the same

Thanks! I was concerned that the tablet wouldn't have the necessary phone apps and background software that it would need right out of the box.

I have the P905V as well.
I haven't tried a phone sim on I cant say for sure on the phone calls themselves.
however I am using a T-mobile tablet sim with text messaging and the text messaging does not seem to work on this tablet.
Verizon and sprint use CDMA for voice, SMS and 3G data
When they moved to LTE (Which is a GSM technology) they basically just added a sim card slot for data on top of the existing CDMA hardware.
Some Verizon phones also have the Sim slot enabled for GSM calling for people that travel internationally.
unfortunately most tablets (and even a lot of phones) dont have that feature and only use it for LTE
I suspect that this is the case here.
there is chance it might make calls if activated under Verizon though you would need a dialer installed. (Perhaps someone with one activated with Verizon could chime in if they have tried it)
The best option I've found on an alternate carrier is to use your google voice number in the hangouts app to make VOIP calls.
it works great for that and you basically have calling coverage anywhere you have data.
Groove IP also works pretty good and doesnt use much data.
unfortunately VOIP is the only option I know of.
On a side note, as stated above the international version has the full phone features in GSM format, this is often the case with international versions of tablets.
Sadly the US only versions often have things stripped out by the carrier, sometimes out of necessity and sometimes to push people to use their service etc.

Thanks for the info! That's exactly what I was afraid of, that the Verizon version of the OS on this tablet wouldn't include the phone/texting software. So I'm wondering if the CM12 rom does..?

Unfortunately while the Verizon version is rootable on android 4.4 there are no custom roms for it currently.
Also note that they released the 5.1 update for the Verizon model but its not yet rootable.
I've kept mine on 4.4 for this reason but a lot of people have opted to give up root for the newer software.
I know this all sounds like bad news but this is really an amazing tablet, I actually use it exclusively and no longer use windows at home.
I also often use it for calls over VOIP.
but unfortunately if custom roms and voice calls are what you are looking for in a tablet the international version would have likely been the better choice.
The Verizon Version does have a few perks due to the snapdragon 800 processor, charging faster being the biggest.

Thanks! I just purchased mine and its supposed to get here tomorrow. I'm probably going to send it back. I don't want to be stuck on 4.4 just so I can have root, and I don't want to deal with not even having root on 5.1. Then add-on that you can't unlock the bootloader on the Verizon version, and it's a no-go.

Do I need a non-carrier edition of a phone to properly tether without rooting?

I recently purchased a used LG G4 (H810 - AT&T version). I couldn't pass up the $180 price. I am on Straight Talk in the USA with an AT&T SIM. My previous phones have been nexus devices or unlocked non-carrier models. I have always been able to use the built-in Android wi-fi tethering. I don't use a lot of data, but I do need to tether occasionally. This is my first carrier-branded device on Straight Talk. Being an AT&T phone, they do everything they can to block tethering. I have tried countless apps on the phone, along with ones that do a USB tether with a PC. (ClockworkMod Tether, PDANET) I have not been able to get anything to work. This particular model is NOT ROOTABLE. Have I made a mistake buying this phone? Do I need to get an international unlocked edition if I want to do wi-fi tethering? I really like the phone and the camera is great, but not being able to tether is very dangerous in my profession as I am on-call 24/7.

Switching to AT&T from Verizon, will I be able to root?

I know people are tired of the "Verizon users not being able to root because bootloader" threads. I myself have given up hope that I'll be able to do so with Verizon. However, I'm planning to switch to AT&T(Not specifically for rooting purposes, mostly because it's cheaper for more data and has comparable coverage to Verizon in my area) and I realized that if I switch to an AT&T SIM card, there could be a chance the bootloader is unlocked. Has anyone had any success in that area or are Verizon phones simply hard-wired with a locked bootloader even if a factory reset and different carrier SIM is installed because it's a Verizon model? I'm honestly just curious at this point, I'm not expecting success.

I'm using a unlocked Verizon pixel. Just use search terms in this device threads. Follow instructions and it worked for me. You can never go back to Verizon though a system process called Verizon services runs. Can be stopped and appears (I don't use Verizon) to effect anything. System process can be stopped, when I remember I do, runs as a background process. And never relock bootloader.

kkjb said:
I'm using a unlocked Verizon pixel. Just use search terms in this device threads. Follow instructions and it worked for me. You can never go back to Verizon though a system process called Verizon services runs. Can be stopped and appears (I don't use Verizon) to effect anything. System process can be stopped, when I remember I do, runs as a background process. And never relock bootloader.
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Gotcha, thank you very much! I don't have very much love for Verizon so I doubt I'll want to return(And I'd probably just get a new phone if I did go back) so that's good news.

Yeah. Back on Android 7.12 (I think), Verizon rolled out an update to VZW customers that would make it impossible to unlock the bootloader, therefore impossible to root.
But if your bootloader is already unlocked, you're good to go.

Okay to flash unlocked firmware on leased (sim-locked) phone?

I've been searching all over but can't seem to find a concrete answer.
I have an AT&T branded/firmware Note 20 Ultra that presumably is sim-locked, as I picked it up on a promotion, and am forced to lease it on monthly payments.
I'm not interested in getting it sim-unlocked, and AT&T wouldn't do it anyway because it's still getting paid off.
I want to flash the U1 version of the firmware to get some of the carrier disabled features (i.e. call and text on other devices). I'm willing to risk losing wifi calling/volte etc. My only concern is mucking things up since the phone is still leased and locked to AT&T. I know flashing an unlocked firmware won't unlock the carrier restrictions, but is it even possible to flash if it is still carrier locked? Will the flash get botched, or will AT&T be able to see that I installed an 'unlocked' firmware and revoke the promtional rebates i'm paying, or something?

You can flash U1 on a sim locked U without issue. However if you are specifically looking for call & text on other devices, you should try just installing the apk from apkmirror - which is what i did so i could also keep the carrier features. It did take a factory reset & multiple attempts for linking and unlinking with my S7+ tablet, but it works flawless now.

Wow, that worked. I'm shocked; I guess all the info I could find was outdated. I just installed the latest apk version, enabled it on my phone in settings, and did a single restart. No restores necessary. I will keep in mind that flashing info, but this was all I needed for now. Thank you!!