The correct answer is...No, the Motorola i530 NEXTEL service configured handset is NOT COMPATIBLE with the Boost Unlimited Network, but the Motorola i530 BOOST service configured handset is compatible. Here is the supporting data on my post...
The answer must be qualified. The Motorola i530 cell phone is made by Motorola...obviously. Motorola preconfigures it for use by specific service providers such as Nextel (no longer in existence-See Sprint), Sprint and Sprint's pre-pay plan Boost. A Nextel configured phone is not, repeat not guaranteed as compatible with the Boost network. I know because I have one.
The problem started after my successful activation and having made 1 phone call. When I went to call another number, the phone said "Svc. Rstr." which I later found out from Boost Customer Service (CS) meant Service Restricted (not Service Restore as I had mistakenly surmised). CS said that this code is put on by Boost for several reasons, one being if there is a billing problem. As I just activated the service and had $28.10 left on my original $30 account start up, I new this was not the reason. After several phone calls to CS and Tech Service, one Reset All and three Master Resets later, my phone service was restored.. Three days later, during my 2nd phone call using the Boost service, I was disconnected from my call after about 2 minutes of talking. I was greeted by the "Svc. Rstr." notification again. When a land line was available, I again contacted Boost.
After 2 days and several more phone calls to Boost, one Reset All and three Master Resets, I now had the "No Service" notification on the handset. Boost said that all the diagnostics that they ran on the line and the handset indicated that the service was fine, but that the phone might not be. They asked if I had another handset to try. Duuhhhh...NO I did not! I asked them to assign a trouble ticket to document the problem, but they said that they would not because it was not a service issue. After 8 phone calls to Boost Customer/Tech Support and 1 with a Boost Supervisor, I was finally told that the phone was either bad or it was having compatibility issues...irrespective of either, I was finally told by a Tech Support Supervisor that Boost could not guarantee their service was compatible with the Nextel configured Motorola i530 handset phones. Why was that disclaimer not advertised on their Boost website? Furthermore, putting a Boost SIM Card into a Nextel configured handset could damage the SIM Card making it unusable.
So the moral to the story is to buy a handset CONFIGURED (not just advertised as compatible) for use with the service that you want to sign up for...do not buy a handset and then look for a compatible service.
The answer must be qualified. The Motorola i530 cell phone is made by Motorola...obviously. Motorola preconfigures it for use by specific service providers such as Nextel (no longer in existence-See Sprint), Sprint and Sprint's pre-pay plan Boost. A Nextel configured phone is not, repeat not guaranteed as compatible with the Boost network. I know because I have one.
The problem started after my successful activation and having made 1 phone call. When I went to call another number, the phone said "Svc. Rstr." which I later found out from Boost Customer Service (CS) meant Service Restricted (not Service Restore as I had mistakenly surmised). CS said that this code is put on by Boost for several reasons, one being if there is a billing problem. As I just activated the service and had $28.10 left on my original $30 account start up, I new this was not the reason. After several phone calls to CS and Tech Service, one Reset All and three Master Resets later, my phone service was restored.. Three days later, during my 2nd phone call using the Boost service, I was disconnected from my call after about 2 minutes of talking. I was greeted by the "Svc. Rstr." notification again. When a land line was available, I again contacted Boost.
After 2 days and several more phone calls to Boost, one Reset All and three Master Resets, I now had the "No Service" notification on the handset. Boost said that all the diagnostics that they ran on the line and the handset indicated that the service was fine, but that the phone might not be. They asked if I had another handset to try. Duuhhhh...NO I did not! I asked them to assign a trouble ticket to document the problem, but they said that they would not because it was not a service issue. After 8 phone calls to Boost Customer/Tech Support and 1 with a Boost Supervisor, I was finally told that the phone was either bad or it was having compatibility issues...irrespective of either, I was finally told by a Tech Support Supervisor that Boost could not guarantee their service was compatible with the Nextel configured Motorola i530 handset phones. Why was that disclaimer not advertised on their Boost website? Furthermore, putting a Boost SIM Card into a Nextel configured handset could damage the SIM Card making it unusable.
So the moral to the story is to buy a handset CONFIGURED (not just advertised as compatible) for use with the service that you want to sign up for...do not buy a handset and then look for a compatible service.