What Is the Verizon ESN?

 A Verizon electronic serial number, or ESN, is a unique number assigned to mobile phones that helps identify the validity of the device. Verizon verifies the ESN every time a call is placed or a phone is activated. According to the Telecommunications Industry Association, phones manufactured in the mid-2000s began transitioning from the use of ESNs to a newer Mobile Equipment IDentifier (MEID) standard.
A Verizon cellphone's ESN is a permanent number assigned to that device by the manufacturer. Verizon confirms the legitimacy of each mobile phone using its network by verifying the device's ESN each time a call is placed. This is done by checking the cellphone's ESN against a database of serial numbers approved for use on Verizon's network. The ESN also serves as a security measure to prevent unauthorized phones from being activated. If a cellphone was reported stolen or is being used on a different account, Verizon can determine that the device is not eligible for activation by checking its ESN.
The location of the ESN varies from one model of cellular phone to another, but commonly, it is printed on the back of the phone, sometimes under or below its battery. The ESN is also burned into the cellphone's microchip at the factory. The ESN is an 11-digit number, but it can also be represented in a hexadecimal (HEX) form comprised of a sequence of eight numbers and letters.
Mobile phones began transitioning from ESNs to Mobile Equipment Identifiers, or MEIDs, because manufacturers had run out of available number combinations. An MEID is typically found in the same location as an ESN and it is used in the same manner by Verizon. An MEID is comprised of a 14-digit combination of letters and numbers. The first character in an MEID is always a letter, from "A" through "F."
A cellphone's mobile identification number (MIN) is also communicated to Verizon along with its ESN. The MIN differs from the ESN because it can be altered by Verizon as needed, and is not linked strictly to a cellphone but also the person and account to which it has been assigned. The MIN helps identify each device being used on the network at any given time, and it is used in conjunction with an ESN to prevent unauthorized activity.

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My Verizon Phone Wants to Dial When I Am Listening to VCast

VCast is Verizon's content service that customers can use to download music, videos and other media. If your phone wants to dial contacts while you're listening to VCast, you may have a software issue that requires attention. Depending on the cause of your problem, you may be able to resolve the issue without contacting customer service.
When your Verizon phone wants to dial while you're listening to VCast, perform a soft reset. The phone may be caught up in a temporary process that may be prompting it to auto-dial. A soft reset can possibly stop the process and allow you to continue to listen to VCast without interruption. The reset doesn't cause any alterations to your phone's data or settings. To reset your phone, remove the battery for at least one minute. After replacing the battery, you can power on the phone and restart VCast.
Check for new updates to your phone's software if the problem persists. The problem may be related to a software issue that has already been addressed by Verizon through an update. Most updates are available to download and install directly to the handset without the need to connect your phone to a computer. An active data connection is needed to download the software update. Once your phone is updated, restart it to determine if the problem was resolved.
As a last resort, you can hard reset your Verizon phone if it still dials while when you're listening to VCast. A hard reset is an option if the problem is related to a software or hardware issue that wasn't resolved with an update. The reset completely wipes all of the data off your phone and restores it to its factory settings. Before resetting your phone, back up any data such as music and pictures. After the process is completed, check VCast to determine if the problem was solved.
Persistent problems with dialing while listening to VCast may be an indication of a bigger issue with your phone. Contact Verizon's technical support to receive additional troubleshooting assistance. A replacement phone may be issued if the problem persists. Depending on your mobile service plan and warranty, the replacement phone may be issued at no charge to you. If it's determined that the problem is related to misuse, you may need to pay the cost of your service deductible or be charged the full price of the phone.
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Activation Instructions For Verizon Cell Phones

We are providing this guide for both new and existing customers of Verizon Wireless. The following instructions are specific for those who use Verizon Wireless.

Step 1: Remove the battery out of your Verizon cell phone and locate the ESN number, which is on the sticker under the battery. The number you are looking for is either noted as an ESN number or a HEX number and is located in the back of the phone under the battery.

Step 2: Once the ESN or HEX number has been located, simply call the Verizon Wireless phone number below. A customer service rep shoud be able to get your phone up and running in 10 minutes or less.

Verizon Wireless Customer Service Phone Number - 1-800-922-0204

NOTE - If you purchase the phone from the internet, we do no recommend going to the actual Verizon Wireless store. A sales persons main intention once you walk in the door is to either upgrade your current phone or sell you a new contract and may make up a variety of reasons why your phone can not be activated. Additionally, most store workers are only trained on the few models that are on hand in the store and may not be familiar enough with the phone to activate it. The best trained people are found when you call in your phone via Verizon customer support.

Tip - If you can not locate the ESN or HEX number on a Blackberry or Palm Treo cell phone, you can find these necessary number for activation by entering *#06# on a Blackberry and on a Palm Treo you can enter ##786 or #*#786 followed by the center button. This will show you the internal ESN number / HEX number of the cell phone. *#06# works on some other phone models we have tried as well.



Chris Samaras is the owner of The Blue Dot, a company that would like to bring awareness about the impacts of cell phones on the environment. Their website offers great deals on new, used, and refurbished Verizon Cell Phones. A great place to buy Blackberry cell phones and save money.




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3G and 4G For No Contract Verizon Wireless Phones

Verizon Wireless Phones come in a variety of makes and models, most running on 3G technology even as the carrier is busying installing their 4G network. BlackBerry Cell Phones for Verizon are among the most popular of brands available, with a feature set that defines it as, more properly speaking, a smartphone.


2G technology is the most widely used network technology for mobile phones. More than 80% of cellular phone users around the world use 2G technology at present. One disadvantage that 2G technology has compared to 3G is that data rates are limited - it is relatively slower than 3G. Lower data transfer speed means slower music and video downloads, problems when making a video conference call, or long waits for sending/receiving large media messages.

That is the main reason for the development of newer network technologies such as 3G that offer a data transfer speed of up to 2Mbps (2 Mega Bits per second). Anyone using a 3G phone knows that that is far from being true; in fact, it almost never exceeds 384Kbps, at most.

A new technology being developed these days, 4G, will supposedly allow data transfer speeds as high as 100Mbps (50 times faster than today's 3G!) outdoors, and a blasting 1Gbps indoors.

So what are the main features of 4G technology?

- Wireless internet with a bandwidth much wider than the 2G or the 3G - 100 MHZ.
- Much higher data transfer speed - up to 1Gbps.
- Video conference calls - with more than 2 callers, and due to the faster data transfer rates, less problems; also, will not get stuck as often as it does with 3G.
- Improved security features to prevent frauds and theft.
- On account of the wider bandwidths, data transfers will be relatively cheap

There are not enough details about 4G technology to compare with other technologies. Without a doubt it will be better, faster, and probably cheaper, but all users would have to get the new devices, meaning compatible devices (which probably aren't going to be cheap), and wait for the new networks and antennas that will go with this newest technology.

Anyway, NTT DoCoMo, the Japanese company working on devloping 4G technology in association with HP, estimates that 4G services will be launched (in Japan only) somewhere between 2010-2016, and it will probably take a couple more years after that for it to get to the United States so that we still have plenty of time to adjust and get ready.



This article on 3G and 4G was written by Paul Wise. Paul has used BlackBerry Cell Phones for Verizon for years and would recommend CellKraze.com to anyone looking for No Contract Verizon Wireless Phones without the contract.




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