Does "flashing" a cell phone from one wireless provider to another actually work?

[Lyle]

Does "flashing" a cell phone from one wireless provider to another actually work?

Most cell phone retailers are telling me "no"; but want to sell me a new phone. Many blogs I've read so far say it does work. Anybody here tired it? I'm tired of buying new phones.

 

[pearlsbeforeswine]

I've never done it, but from what I know about it, it's only possible with certain kinds of phones (definitely only phones that are CDMA) and certain carriers (also CDMA). You can't just flash any phone to work on any carrier. Try going to a store that's run by the carrier directly instead of a store that's a reseller (the resellers would be more likely to try to get you to buy a phone).