Guide on flashing your iPhone 4 (CDMA) to metroPCS

[rla2680]

definitely going to try that

[hellojustinr]

I live in Dallas area. Bought an iPhone off eBay and dialed *22805 and got into OTA update of metro, my prl changed to 2004 and I have metro PCS signal on phone. I added esn and switched phone calling customer service. But when I dial a number now, it does not recognizes my phone and won't let the call go through. Any help would be appreciated.

sorry for not posting in a while but that means you just have the prl loaded. your phone is not connected to your account yet, just dial *228 to connect your iPhone to your account.

The activation process works the same as it does with all other phones except there's no data or MMS

Oh yeah and like flashed phones, you have to get your MEID added to the metroPCS inventory which should cost you around $50. Look around eBay for someone who can add or somewhere local

[hellojustinr]

**Update May 28, 2012**

First off, there is a new untethered jailbreak out for iOS 5.1.1, if you haven't updated, update NOW! Even if you think you're good at 5.0.1, you might as well update (especially you iPhone 4S users, I did and it helped a lot with my battery life). If you decide to hold out too long, Apple will eventually come out with a new update and stop signing iOS 5.1.1, and since all iDevices are downgrade-able using redsn0w (yes including the iPhone 4S), everything is reversible.

Now I would like to provide some updates on my progress

The simplified method of getting talk and text to work on MetroPCS still works, you just get your ESN added to the MetroPCS database (convert your MEID to ESN beforehand!) either locally or online, dial *22804 and press 5 to update Roaming Lists (it will say "Service Update Complete"), then dial *228 to program the phone like any other basic flashed phone (follow the instructions), before you know it, talk and text will be working just like any other phone. The method isn't really new and is by far the easiest.

Now for those who don't have OTA programming I have something new for you guys, as well as you guys with Sprint iPhones too!. This is all thanks to a guy named rich hathaway, he's been making great progress in the scene! We can now manually program the Mobile Device Number and Mobile Identification Number, and that's a great big deal for people who don't have OTA from MetroPCS! To get the whole thing working, you will have to first follow the PRL flashing guide coming up next


--Flashing PRL through the filesystem--
The one thing I was NEVER EVER able to get working, was flashing the PRL through the filesystem, I tried SOOOO many times it would never work for me, and guides for a Verizon iPhone on iOS 5 never existed (you had to follow the Sprint one) so I got even more confused, well I now finally got it working, and even those who just plan on using talk and text, should flash the latest MetroPCS PRL through the filesystem, it will get you that 3G icon up there (which is the actual MetroPCS 3G network) and give you better reception (newer PRLs provide more information on newer towers). Using the latest PRLs (302x) is so much better than the old, basic 2004 PRL MetroPCS usually provides with all flashed phones (as like I said, they treat all flashed phones like dumbyphones)

You will need to be jailbroken to flash a PRL through the filesystem, for iOS 5.1.1 just use Absinthe 2.1 from greenpois0n.

To get your PRL flashed on to the phone, I recommend firsthand restoring the software to a fresh, clean state (if Apple releases a new update within weeks from now, disregard that, DO NOT GO PAST 5.1.1 until an untethered jailbreak is available for that newer version). Jailbreak it with whatever solution.

1. Add the repo v.backspace.jp/repo and install the iOS 5 CommCenter patch, this is what finally got my PRL flash to work! Don't worry it's compatible with iOS 5.1.1 too.

2. Download iFile from Cydia Store, it's Free

3. Download iFunBox (Mac) or iPhoneBrowser (Windows) on your PC, they're free

4. Download the 3029 MetroPCS PRL for your mobile device, it's free, just Google it, it's going to have a filename of 3029.PRL for this step-by-step

5. Now, on iFunBox/iPhoneBrowser, navigate to /System/Library/CarrierBundles and navigate to your corresponding Carrier Bundle folder, which is either Sprint_US.bundle for Sprint iPhone devices or Zeppelin_US.bundle for Verizon iPhone devices

6. Drag the 3029 PRL file into the Carrier Bundle folder

7. Now go on iFile and browse to /System/Library/CarrierBundles onto your Carrier Bundle folder and rename the current existing carrier.prl to carrier.prlbackup, and rename the 3029.PRL file you copied to carrier.prl

8. Now open carrier.plist in the Carrier Bundle folder with Property List Viewer and enable PRLPushFlag

9. Restart the device, it will say "Searching..." but will always end up with "No Service" that's perfectly normal, now just go back into your Carrier Bundle folder and disable PRLPushFlag and restart. Done!

To confirm you've installed the PRL, go into Settings > General > About and click on the Carrier to reveal the PRL version


--Manual programming for areas with no OTA coverage or Sprint iPhone devices--
This method does two things, allow you to program the MDN and MIN yourself, and set the SPC code for Sprint iPhone devices to "000000" which will allow Sprint iPhone devices to update over OTA properly now

Now, picking up where the manual PRL flash left off, go back to Cydia, and add the cydia.easyflashstudio.com repo

Download the Cricket Carrier Bundle for your iPhone, it will allow you to access a hidden menu along with setting the SPC code to 000000 for Sprint iPhone devices

Restart the device and if the carrier bundle installed properly, you should have a cricKet icon on your top left corner, don't worry that's changeable. Now go into Phone, and dial ##626 (##NAM) and enter 000000 when it asks for the SPC code and your Mobile Device Number (MDN, your personal number) and Mobile Identification Number (MIN, you can get this from MetroPCS, tell them you're manually programming your flashed phone).

Done! To change the cricKet logo to MetroPCS, you will have to go into your Carrier Bundle folder and change the Carrier Name to MetroPCS

--Proper FaceTime and iMessage functionality with your personal phone number--
Another thing I've had problems with on having my iPhone on MetroPCS getting my personal phone number to activate through it, I've always had to use my email for it, it's not a big problem as I'm not going to get FaceTime calls anyways over data and iMessage won't work over data as well. However for those who just want proper functioning FaceTime and iMessage this is how you do it

To get FaceTime and iMessage functionality to work properly with your number (and not just use your email), you will have to have 1. The International Texting Plan (which I think is an extra $5 for those plans that don't have it) and 2. a jailbreak (which shouldn't be a problem now for any of you at the moment).

To get these functioning properly and activated with your number, you will have to go on Cydia and download iFile, it's Free.

Afterwards in iFile, navigate to /System/Library/CarrierBundles and go in either the Sprint_US.bundle (For Sprint iPhone) or Zeppelin.US.bundle (for Verizon iPhone)

Now open carrier.plist with Property List Viewer and change the PhoneRegistrationGatewayAddress from its original number to +011447537410207. This will allow the phone to register its phone number on the official Apple iMessage and FaceTime servers in UK and will send an international text message, if you don't have an international text messaging plan, the number will text you saying to use TalkText SMS you will need to call 611.

If all goes well, it should say activated on your phone number.

[hellojustinr]

For 3G data, a company called CDMATools has found a method to input various usernames and passwords in just like other smartphones, they're however charging for they're method, locking access for each specific paid phone (through the MEID). To use this method you will have to use their program, DFS flashing tool. It will cost a one-time $100 fee to register your phone on their system, onto which you will have unlimited access to modify your settings (just like you would be able to, with QPST and QXDM).

The most important part is 1. to have the 3029 PRL installed so your phone can actually see the 3G networks, and 2. to put in your credentials to allow your mobile device to connect to metroPCS's 3G network

THe most important parts with DFS is
Username
xxxxxxxxxx@mymetropcs.com (your number@mymetropcs.com)

Password
xxxxxx (6 digit MSL code, which can be obtained by using http://www.whiterabbit.org/android/ and inputting your MEID)

and setting the Mobile IP to Simple, mostly everything else is unimportant, I know it's unbelievable you have to pay $100 to input these settings in, but it's the only way for now.

If you look up [VIDEO] iPhone 4 CDMA MetroPCS 3G DATA WORKING someone has a video up on the whole process

[Jimmy Page]

**Update May 28, 2012**



Now open carrier.plist with Property List Viewer and change the PhoneRegistrationGatewayAddress from its original number to +011447537410207. This will allow the phone to register its phone number on the official Apple iMessage and FaceTime servers in UK and will send an international text message, if you don't have an international text messaging plan, the number will text you saying to use TalkText SMS you will need to call 611.

If all goes well, it should say activated on your phone number.

I am not able to find PhoneRegistrationGatewayAddress on carrier.plist
Any help with that will be appreciated.

Edit: Anyways I found it, it said PhoneNumberRegristrationGateway and since the name was too long I was not able to find it. Now, whenever I try to activate facetime/imessage I receive a text back from +011447537............. number and it still does not gets activated. Lol. I am always out of luck from this facetime *****. I would love to use it with my own number though..

[hellojustinr]

I am not able to find PhoneRegistrationGatewayAddress on carrier.plist
Any help with that will be appreciated.

Oops my bad it should be PhoneNumberRegistrationGatewayAddress

[hellojustinr]

I am not able to find PhoneRegistrationGatewayAddress on carrier.plist
Any help with that will be appreciated.

Edit: Anyways I found it, it said PhoneNumberRegristrationGateway and since the name was too long I was not able to find it. Now, whenever I try to activate facetime/imessage I receive a text back from +011447537............. number and it still does not gets activated. Lol. I am always out of luck from this facetime *****. I would love to use it with my own number though..

That means you don't have international texting in your account, it's required as it sends an activation message to Apple's servers

[Jimmy Page]

That means you don't have international texting in your account, it's required as it sends an activation message to Apple's servers

I bet I have international text messaging. My iPhone does sends text to the activating number at UK and when (Sends a silent text) and when UK's number replies a text with activating token, instead of phone getting a Silent text, the whole 'token' text pops out on the screen. So, my phone says, Waiting for Activation.

[hellojustinr]

hmmm that's odd, I myself haven't been able to actually try the method since I don't have international texting

[hellojustinr]

I have good news for people who have Cricket or are in a Cricket-covered local area
http://www.businessweek.com/ap/2012-05/D9V3RTV01.htm

Cricket Wireless is going to be the 5th US carrier to carry the Apple iPhone! No need to do all this if you're on Cricket!

[alexsairu]

1. Add the repo v.backspace.jp/repo and install the iOS 5 CommCenter patch, this is what finally got my PRL flash to work! Don't worry it's compatible with iOS 5.1.1 too.

2. Download iFile from Cydia Store, it's Free

3. Download iFunBox (Mac) or iPhoneBrowser (Windows) on your PC, they're free

4. Download the 3029 MetroPCS PRL for your mobile device, it's free, just Google it, it's going to have a filename of 3029.PRL for this step-by-step

5. Now, on iFunBox/iPhoneBrowser, navigate to /System/Library/CarrierBundles and navigate to your corresponding Carrier Bundle folder, which is either Sprint_US.bundle for Sprint iPhone devices or Zeppelin_US.bundle for Verizon iPhone devices

6. Drag the 3029 PRL file into the Carrier Bundle folder

7. Now go on iFile and browse to /System/Library/CarrierBundles onto your Carrier Bundle folder and rename the current existing carrier.prl to carrier.prlbackup, and rename the 3029.PRL file you copied to carrier.prl

8. Now open carrier.plist in the Carrier Bundle folder with Property List Viewer and enable PRLPushFlag

9. Restart the device, it will say "Searching..." but will always end up with "No Service" that's perfectly normal, now just go back into your Carrier Bundle folder and disable PRLPushFlag and restart. Done!

To confirm you've installed the PRL, go into Settings > General > About and click on the Carrier to reveal the PRL version

when i check the PRLPushFlag and re spring it doesn't say searching or no service and i uncheck it and go to settings i'm still on 2004 ? what do i do ?

[hellojustinr]

This happened to me as well and I almost gave up hope in getting this phone working, but somehow I got it to work (finally!)

The best way to go with it, is to restore your iPhone and set up as a new iPhone.

Otherwise, the other, fool-proof method, is to just use DFS ($100 one-time fee) to get it set up and working all at one go. Version 4.0.0.3 brings an update that allows DFS to flash any PRL automatically to the iPhone, which works a lot better than the file system method.

[alexsairu]

If i restore it Do i have to add my esn to there inventory again and repeat all the steps ? And am i gonna have the same # ? contacts ? Ect ?

[Jimmy Page]

If i restore it Do i have to add my esn to there inventory again and repeat all the steps ? And am i gonna have the same # ? contacts ? Ect ?

Every CDMA device (Including your phone) has a unique identification/serial number, ESN which stands for Electronic Serial Number. That number has to be added to a cell phone company's database (metroPCS in your case) which then identifies your device using that serial number. Now once that number is added to the database of a cell phone company, even if you burn your phone, have it run over by train or thrown under deep sea, your serial number is always on the cellphone company's database. So, no you don't have to re-add your ESN because of the restore. Anyhow, the data that is stored in your phone, the PRLs, your MDN, MIN etc MIGHT get erased because of the restore, so you might have to repeat the process. But you don't have to add the ESN again to the inventory. I hope that helps.

[alexsairu]

Thanks it did !