Expert: DebiN - 8/26/2009

Question
Hi - I have a Sprint 8130. I was going to change the chip to use in Costa Rico, where they handle the cdma, but when I opened the back I found that Sprint had micro-welded a cover over the chip.

I can find a professional to take off the chip, but ... will putting in my Costa Rican chip then work in the 8130?  (I know CR system supports the 8130 as others are usig it here.)  Thanks, mm

Answer
Your Sprint 8130 is not a GSM phone. It doesn't have or use a SIM card. There's nothing under the area that is welded, so don't waste your time or money trying to get the cover off. There's nothing underneath. This particular model of phone is a CDMA only phone and does not use a SIM card. RIM makes all their phones with the area for a SIM card, but the CDMA models do not use one and even if you took off that welding, it still wouldn't work with a SIM card because it doesn't have a GSM radio. The radio antenna inside of it is CDMA only. If Sprint has a roaming agreemeent with a carrier in Costa Rico and the phone you have can be used there, then you just need to get Sprint to enable roaming for you. Those other 8130's you have seen there, who are they branded by? If they are local carriers, then they are non-US CDMA and may be using a CDMA SIM card which is not used for the CDMA carriers in the US. There are other 8100 series, that are GSM, like the 8100, 8110, 8120, but all the US 8130s are CDMA only and do not use a SIM card. I hope this helps. Thanks. DebiN