yashsingh1/xdaforums huggingface dataset:
[Essential Phone Guides, News, & Discussion] DrvLikHell:
They have a $20 service plan?! Sweet! I'm surprised she told you that. I'm going to do that exact same thing. Thanks so much for that information dude!

Just out of curiosity, what do you get on the $20 plan?
[Essential Phone Guides, News, & Discussion] Caltinpla:
You'll get 100 minutes of talk , and 100 texts but you can use wifi calling and messenger for text. My 2 other lines have unlimited everything so I don't care about it much. I can hook this phone to the other 2 phones using the 10gb tethering allowances.

---------- Post added at 11:01 PM ---------- Previous post was at 10:16 PM ----------

No, you have to call them and request the unlock code when your phone has met the 50 days. In my case, the rep told me that I only have 25 days to go, so I only stay with them for a month. Not too bad after all :good::good::good:
[Essential Phone Guides, News, & Discussion] Nochis:
It was unlock after 2 days off paying the lease. I didn't even activate the phone. They wanted me to have the phone activated for 50 days. But it was unlocked after 2 days. I tried the ucci unlock under settings and it didn't work. I just inserted a Verizon sim and worked.

I didn't pay any service, what I did was use a family member upgrade line. Now they can upgrade again if they want to.
[Essential Phone Guides, News, & Discussion] vincentallen2:
My free cameras were just delivered an hour ago by UPS.

I purchased the phones from Best Buy on December 5th, paid them off on the 6th. They were carrier unlocked on the 7th, so I registered for the free cameras that same day. According to Sprint, they approved the free camera request on the 8th and shipped them on the 11th. I just received them tonight on the 15th.

According to UPS, the company sending the 360 cameras goes by the name "Brightstar".

Now that I actually have the cameras in hand, I'll be canceling my sprint service tomorrow since it's within the 14 day satisfaction guarantee Window. I have to say, $301 for two Essential Phones and two 360 cameras is a hell of a deal.

Hopefully this timeline helps or answers some questions that you guys might have.
[Essential Phone Guides, News, & Discussion] DrvLikHell:
I think you had one of the very best timelines I've read about. I tried registering for my second 360 camera and the website keeps giving an error. Ugh, more calls to Sprint.
[Essential Phone Guides, News, & Discussion] cfclay:
Who are the emails coming from about the denial?
[Essential Phone Guides, News, & Discussion] Caltinpla:
I rather do it the right way just to be safe than sorry. I called Sprint numerous times and found many different excuses just trying to get away with the phone and the camera with the least expenses. I requested and spoke with the supervisor and was told even if I already paid off the phone and cancel the service within 14 days customer satisfaction guarantee I still have to return the phone and the camera to their local store then get the full refund. I personally don't think you can get away with that easy. They have your credit, your phone imei numbers so they can ruin your credit and report your phone in case you failed to return them.

Here is their policy:

For Sprint Lease

---------- Post added at 03:49 AM ---------- Previous post was at 03:21 AM ----------

From Sprint customer device support. I just received a second denial email for my second phone.
[Essential Phone Guides, News, & Discussion] i killed tupac:
this kind of program will be a death rattle for this phone...Sprint is losing their ass on it, are obviously not happy about it. Won't bode well for the future of the PH1 I fear.
[Essential Phone Guides, News, & Discussion] cfclay:
Care to post a picture or give the from email address?
[Essential Phone Guides, News, & Discussion] Caltinpla:
noreply@sprint.com
[Essential Phone Guides, News, & Discussion] DrvLikHell:
Just got off the phone with Sprint... I talk to them more lately than I do all of my friends/family combined... They said the lowest plan they had for me was the $45 plan for 2GB, so your $20 plan must have been a manager special or something. The rep did offer me a suspended plan for $9 a month just to keep the phone active. He said it'll qualify for the 50 days of activity that way. I'm uncertain about that so I'm going to call or chat with Sprint again tomorrow to verify that once the plan takes effect.

I paid off the lease on my second phone today as well. We'll see if they screw this one up too or if it's done right and gets unlocked on Sunday.

I also got a denial for unlocking from Sprint, though it was because I asked for an international unlock. The letter came in the mail, as in US Post.

Edit: And [MENTION=6034013]Caltinpla[/MENTION] you should probably blot out your info a little better. I could probably decipher it if I stared at it long enough, or ran it through some software.
[Essential Phone Guides, News, & Discussion] seniorstew:
Was just looking at the pricing on sprints website and it says the price is after bill credits.. Does that mean if i lease it and pay it off tomorrow I will owe the full $500 plus for the device?
[Essential Phone Guides, News, & Discussion] DrvLikHell:
With the current promotion, yes. And I think it's $700. Well, 29.17 x 18 = 525.06, but they list the full price of the phone as $700
[Essential Phone Guides, News, & Discussion] Caltinpla:
Call them back and request to talk to their customer device support for phone unlock dept. They are the only one who can change your service plan.

Their customer care support could not do anything for me then they transferred my call to that dept.
[Essential Phone Guides, News, & Discussion] seniorstew:
Damn should of gotten it when it was $200
[Essential Phone Guides, News, & Discussion] tech_head:
Funny thing when I picked up my phone today.

They gave me someone else's phone and they got mine.

MEID was one digit off.

You can't even imagine the mess.

Finally they did what I suggested.

They called the primary line on the other account and had them brng the phone back to get the correct one.

They didn't notice because it was a new business line.

I noticed because the number on the phone did not match the account.

I'll go back and pick up the correct phone in the morning.

They have cameras but said I must use the website. So those of you that got the camera in the store, you scored.
[Essential Phone Guides, News, & Discussion] borijess:
Ok I just got my phone 2 days ago. Now what should I do? I want to pay it off and unlock it to work on any network. Don't mind the international unlock. Can I do this now and i know if i don't activate i won't get camera. Can I activate and cancel and pay off right away so I can register for free camera?
[Essential Phone Guides, News, & Discussion] seniorstew:
Where you able to get it for $200 after paying it off?
[Essential Phone Guides, News, & Discussion] tech_head:
I ordered my phone on 12/2.

$30 at order, $90 in payments, $30 payoff.

Just registered for the camera. Will pay off the phone as soon as I can get a shipping confirmation for the camera.
[Essential Phone Guides, News, & Discussion] coolmaster121:
Sounds like you are about to embark on an unforgettable journey that is Sprint's 14 day customer satisfaction guarantee. Good luck! I cancelled on the 21st of November and they are still telling me that the back office is working out my final/first bill issue.
[Essential Phone Guides, News, & Discussion] borijess:
How are you guys creating a sprint account online if phone is not activated? I don't even have a phone number.
[Essential Phone Guides, News, & Discussion] tech_head:
You should have an account or customer number on your receipt.

It's not clear but when you go to Sprint.com you can create an online account with that information.

On a side note. All phones come locked with a Sprint SIM inserted. Even removing it and trying another, you get an invalid SIM message.
[Essential Phone Guides, News, & Discussion] Caltinpla:
I bought my phone online and Sprint emailed me a link to create an account online after I placed my order. And the phone number was attached on the receipt in the box alongside the phone.
[Essential Phone Guides, News, & Discussion] borijess:
I don't see the option on my account where in can pay off lease early on my webpage.
[Essential Phone Guides, News, & Discussion] cfclay:
I think you have to call
[Essential Phone Guides, News, & Discussion] Caltinpla:
You can use the Sprint online chat head or call them.
[Essential Phone Guides, News, & Discussion] DrvLikHell:
Things are getting a bit ridiculous. I paid off the lease on my second phone, but since my Sprint bill had already been generated, they're telling me that now I have to pay the first months bill in order for the lease to be closed. Normally I'd say that's BS, but I believe they didn't charge me tax on the lease payoff and that got added to the bill. My first phone was paid off before there was a bill and the unlock also went through before there was a bill, so I believe that was the difference. The same thing happened to my friend who didn't pay off his lease until after his bill was generated.

The absurdity is that even though I switched both phones to the standby plan, they're still forcing me to pay $65 for the unlimited plan, even though I was only on that plan for nine days. Supposedly they'll prorate me on the next bill for the time that I didn't use. If they don't, that just adds to the reasons I can give them for why I want to cancel. The strange thing is that my other phone was on the $45 2GB plan, and when I switched that over to the standby plan (two days prior) the bill changed to reflect that right away. I guess I keep getting caught between these odd billing windows.

One of the Sprint reps said that I'll already get the next bill around the 24th of this month. That's so crazy, two phone bills in two weeks. This is the problem people have with you Sprint! My first bill isn't even due until the 30th. At least I'll get to see if they prorated things correctly before I pay my first bill. If not... oy! I have a feeling that they're going to be glad to get rid of me. That will be on Jan 31st for one phone and Feb 3rd for the other one. Then I should have both phones fully unlocked, international unlock too, never to be relocked to Sprint, two "free" 360 cameras, and I'm out.

MVNO for Life!
[Essential Phone Guides, News, & Discussion] wolfu11:
Yeah I have a similar issue, I paid off my phone via chat, when I got the shipment notification (prior to any bills being generated) but noticed they didn't include taxes. When I got my phone it was unlocked but I

Had to put the sim in to register for the camera deal which locked it. After I registered for the free camera I noticed a bill populated that included the tax for my phone. My phone unlocked again the next day so I called to cancel my account and was told that my account will be closed at the end of my billing cycle(I was on my second day of the plan). I was going to argue about the 14 days satisfaction guaranty but figured I had the unlocked phone in hand so I'm going to pay the bill with included taxes for my phone payoff. I also just ordered the H20 3-in-One sim to port my number to and let it die so that way I won't have to deal with calling them again next month if/when they mess it up. I doubt I'll see the 360 camera but... I am happy getting the phone for under 200 if that is what the case will be.

I was with sprint over a decade ago and almost every month my bill was screwed up some things never change.
[Essential Phone Guides, News, & Discussion] Jonathanlc2005:
lol even after i cancelled the line they still dont want to unlock the device claiming it has to be active for 50 days
[Essential Phone Guides, News, & Discussion] borijess:
Had a horrible time yesterday with sprint trying to cancel and payoff lease. Spent two hours bounced from one person to another. I believe I spoke to 6 or 7 people and one of them hung up on me. Finally got the retentions group and he was based in the US and he knew what he was doing. He cancelled lease and put in form for unlock code. Sprint is horrible Service and CS.
[Essential Phone Guides, News, & Discussion] Caltinpla:
Has your phone been active with Sprint for 50 days? If not, you're probably get a denial email just like I did, just saying. Good luck!
[Essential Phone Guides, News, & Discussion] Caltinpla:
They also denied my free camera even I still have my phone active with them currently. I'll be sure to have a conversation with them later... terrible service!!!

Never again Sprint!
[Essential Phone Guides, News, & Discussion] borijess:
No just with then for a couple of days before I cancelled yesterday.

---------- Post added at 06:30 PM ---------- Previous post was at 06:28 PM ----------

I registered for the camera online yesterday and it went through. Either way I cancelled Service so I probably won't get camera. The camera does not really matter. If I get it great if not I will live. :svetius:
[Essential Phone Guides, News, & Discussion] tech_head:
I bought my phone 12/2/2017 activated 12/15/207:

We have located your registration which has a confirmation number of ESS-******. Our records indicate that you registered on Saturday, December 16, 2017. Please note, if you registered on or before 12/7/2017, you will receive your Essential 360 Video Camera by Christmas. If you registered after 12/7/2017, please allow up to 5 weeks for delivery. And remember, you've got to keep your account in good standing to receive the free camera.

Try online and not through chat.
[Essential Phone Guides, News, & Discussion] Caltinpla:
I tried to register online the same day I activated my phone but failed. The next day I successfully registered my free camera with the ESS-xxxxxxxx.

The denial email was probably system generated because of my phone was not activated at the time.
[Essential Phone Guides, News, & Discussion] tech_head:
Yes, phone must be active.

I just paid off my lease.

I'll wait to get the unlock until I have the confirmation that the camera has shipped.

I may wait the 50 days so that I can fully unlock the phone.
[Essential Phone Guides, News, & Discussion] Caltinpla:
That's my plan too. Get the phone unlocked properly and the free camera then see yah, Sprint!
[Essential Phone Guides, News, & Discussion] DrvLikHell:
My first camera has finally shipped, should be here on Thursday, but the second camera is still being processed. Good to see that it's not actually going to take five weeks.

On the other hand, I read elsewhere that a phone which was previously unlocked for international sims was relocked without having the Sprint sim in it. That's disturbing. I will be selling both my phones when all of this is over and done with. Even if that shouldn't happen if I go through the proper steps of paying off the lease and waiting for 50 days, just the idea that a phone can be controlled remotely like that is disturbing.

What if I had this phone when I was working in a hostile country when the government fell and I was relying heavily on my phone for correspondence with locals and US officials to navigate my way out of the country. What if all of the sudden Sprint were to decide to lock the phone and my sim stopped working. I'd be dead. F*ck that.
[Essential Phone Guides, News, & Discussion] tech_head:
I did my payoff via "chat".

Done in five minutes.
[Essential Phone Guides, News, & Discussion] Jonathanlc2005:
I called them via PC and told them in I'm germany with a locked phone and they still didn't unlock it
[Essential Phone Guides, News, & Discussion] tech_head:
Sprint specifically states:

"The device must be or have been active on the Sprint network for a minimum of 50 days"

https://www.sprint.com/en/legal/unlocking-your-sprint-device?ECID=vanity:legal_unlocking

So I would guess that any unlock for a device that does meet that requirement might be temporary.

The device has Sprint firmware embedded.

If you go into fastboot you can see that there are remnants of Sprint. It identifies as a Sprint Variant.

It is completely possible that it can check counters to see if it has been active on Sprint for 50 days.

It doesn't need to be remotely done by Sprint. It could be the firmware on the phone re-locking based on counter values.

I don't know, but I do know that lifetime counters for total on time, etc are persistent.

Remember, even if you flash a ROM there are sections of the firmware you do not replace.
[Essential Phone Guides, News, & Discussion] borijess:
How long did it take to cancel phone number?
[Essential Phone Guides, News, & Discussion] DrvLikHell:
You're right. I thought about the counter/timer thing late last night. That would explain why it relocks without a sprint sim card. I'd be interested to know if this possible international sim counter is triggered on a non-sprint phone when you put a sprint sim in it, or if it just locks the domestic sim part. I wonder if the international sim unlock might always be temporary. I think I read in a couple places about people who were current Sprint customers and they had to keep requesting the international unlock.

This brings up another issue, because what if you pay off the device, wait your 50 days, then request the international sim unlock as you cancel service, and Sprint tells you that the international unlock has been done, but doesn't tell you that it's temporary, or lies about it (unknowingly or otherwise). Then a month later it relocks the international sim lock and now you're no longer a Sprint customer so they won't even listen to you about an international sim unlock.
[Essential Phone Guides, News, & Discussion] tech_head:
The terms state that if you are the account holder and have the device they can unlock it/provide a lock code as long as the account was left in good standing.

Bus based on some of the verbiage I think that the ICU is temporary and DCU is permanent after 50 days.

The DCU is only permanent after 50 days and will revert if you put a Sprint SIM in the device.

Just speculation. I do know the device checks for a Sprint SIM when you reboot.
[Essential Phone Guides, News, & Discussion] DrvLikHell:
So there's no way to make the ICU permanent? Even if you wait 50 days, have an account in good standing, etc?
[Essential Phone Guides, News, & Discussion] tech_head:
It doesn't appear so. But, I plan to keep the phone for the full 50 days so I can get them to unlock without issue.

I'll cancel the account and leave it fully paid.

They will have no reason to deny any activity. I don't plan to sell the phone and I have a spare phone for international travel.
[Essential Phone Guides, News, & Discussion] DrvLikHell:
That's terrible. I have spare phones too, but I have a lot of apps that I don't want to have to duplicate or have data separated between two phones. How much longer do you have until your 50 days are up? I have to wait until the end of January, but I'm going to do the same as you just so Sprint can't hold anything over my head and so I'm completely done with them, forever.

I already factory reset my phone and it's going back in the box later today. I'm not going to have a phone that I paid for but is still locked to a carrier, even in part.
[Essential Phone Guides, News, & Discussion] tech_head:
Having two phone sucks, but if I travel for work, it's no big deal.

My company provides a work phone. If I'm out of the country, it's for them anyway.

But I' can get rid of them until the end of Jan.

But on day 51, I'm done.
[Essential Phone Guides, News, & Discussion] Jonathanlc2005:
thats exactly what i ment by my post
[Essential Phone Guides, News, & Discussion] DrvLikHell:
I spoke to a guy who works for Sprint on another platform, a platform like this, specifically about the Essential, and he said that once the device is paid for and past the 50 day term that both sim unlocks will be permanent. I suppose we will see at the end of January. Or maybe we'll see at the end of February if the unlock stays.

I also received my first 360 camera today. It's neat, but I'd be a bit disappointed if I paid $180 for it. I'd definitely be more enthused about something with a mechanical zoom and full manual controls instead of all that fisheye, but it's still pretty neat. Sorta takes away the need to aim.
[Essential Phone Guides, News, & Discussion] borijess:
So I pre-order one essential phone and paid and cancelled number last week. I received the phone like a week and a half ago. I registered for the camera this past weekend. And look what I got in the mail today. TWO ESSENTIAL CAMERAS. LOL.
[Essential Phone Guides, News, & Discussion] borijess:
Proof is in the camera.
[Essential Phone Guides, News, & Discussion] Ascertion:
Lol I bought two Essentials and only got one camera. You're welcome! ?
[Essential Phone Guides, News, & Discussion] borijess:
Lmao! Thank you
[Essential Phone Guides, News, & Discussion] tech_head:
Still waiting for my ship confirmation.
[Essential Phone Guides, News, & Discussion] wolfu11:
Did you get a email ship conformation?
[Essential Phone Guides, News, & Discussion] borijess:
No. Just UPS shipment notification.
[Essential Phone Guides, News, & Discussion] wolfu11:
I just checked ups mychoice and I have a package coming tomorrow from BRIGHTSTAR USA so it looks like it's the camera.

I registered on 12/14 so 1 week not bad at all.
[Essential Phone Guides, News, & Discussion] Caltinpla:
Yeah, same here... Christmas gift from Sprint after all the hassles! :laugh::p:good:
[Essential Phone Guides, News, & Discussion] tech_head:
Yep, just check my UPS MyChoice.

Funny thing, I see two packages with different tracking numbers from Bright Star?

Two cameras? Someone did say they got shipped two.

Keep one, sell one?

Makes the phone almost free.

Here in Ca. if you get a package you didn't ask for, it's a gift.
[Essential Phone Guides, News, & Discussion] Caltinpla:
Oh... Yeah... Baby!!!

Just got 2 free cameras from Sprint... I didn't expect it!

Never got any notifications from Sprint. My UPS MyChoice notified me this morning that I have a package delivery today from Brightstar USA??? So I googled it and found out that is Sprint's authorized wireless supplier.

Well, Sprint made my day! I just registered my 2 free cameras exactly last Friday 12/15 and I got them both today just one week later!!!

Now, I'm just waiting for my 50 days up so I can have my phones unlocked. I'm halfway done...not too bad!!!
[Essential Phone Guides, News, & Discussion] dentedilupo:
does the sprint essential phone is gsm unlocked to use in europe with any sim card?

can anybody reply me please

thank you
[Essential Phone Guides, News, & Discussion] DrvLikHell:
Read back a few pages, we sorta covered it quite a lot.
[Essential Phone Guides, News, & Discussion] tech_head:
I got my two free yesterday.

A friend of mine waited to register and they are out of cameras.

I guess I have hers?
[Essential Phone Guides, News, & Discussion] DrvLikHell:
I got my second one yesterday. I wasn't expecting it because the website never said it was even shipped. Now I guess I can take 720 degree video...
[Essential Phone Guides, News, & Discussion] Caltinpla:
Cool...the sooner the better!

Enjoy your camera.
[Essential Phone Guides, News, & Discussion] phidung3721:
For anyone wants to get cheap Essential phone from Sprint, the $145 deal is gone. But you can still get it for $283. It's $6 a month for 18 months and $175 buy out. You might not get the camera though.
[Essential Phone Guides, News, & Discussion] wolfu11:
Thought that was after a 23.17 bill credit each month? or did you find a different deal?
[Essential Phone Guides, News, & Discussion] tech_head:
Won't get the camera.

The camera promotion is over.

They are cheap though. You can find them for $50 on eBay.
[Essential Phone Guides, News, & Discussion] primaleph:
How / where would I register for a free camera? This is the first I've heard anything about it.
[Essential Phone Guides, News, & Discussion] heov:
This is false. It's $29 a month with a $23 credit. Effective is $6 a month. Look at the details.

Because of this, if you pay off early, you have to pay 29*18+175=697... sprints retail price.