gov. passed law about CDMA network.......

I seriously doubt that. Not going to happen anytime soon. Obviously that person was smoking something other than tobacco or was just ignorant.

There's nothing. If the feds lowered the boom on CDMA, that would cause major headache for millions of people and some very big phone companies, so there would be BIG headlines if this were the case. But there's no headlines. So I guess you need to talk to someone else at your local Verizon store, because the guy you talked to is obviously out of the loop, or his mind.

I don't think Verizon would intentionally try to lose business for themselves.

Verizon doesn't use GSM, at all. Only in some new phones they came out with where you can roam on GSM INTERNATIONALLY ONLY.

if you wanted them to activate your old phone and they said NO, its probably because your phone was made in 2001 or earlier. 2002, maybe. as well. I believe as of some time in late 2003, all new cell phones had to be E911 complaint.

This was a law passed by the government allowing emergency rescue services to locate you more easily should you call 911.

for verizon, the phones had to be "tri-mode", or dual mode digital. that means your phone had to be 800 mhz analog, 800 CDMA, and 1900 CDMA/PCS or just 800 CDMA and 1900 CDMA/PCS (all digital)

its likely that your old phone is just 800 mhz analog and 800 mhz digital. that's why they won't do it.

as for getting your phone fixed -- even if you don't pay the $5 per month insurance, most phones should have a 1 year warranty and 2, verizon does offer a great upgrade program, allowing you a $100 discount off the new customer price every two years if you sign a new contract.

hope this helps,
kevin

the reason you cant activate your aold phone is probably because it was a GSM phone..you cant use GSM on verizon. they cant mix, the have to be synced perfectly

I think the rep was just trying to say anything he could to get you to buy a new handset. Either that or he was just very confused.

Besides, what network you were using doesn't have anything to do with whether you can "port" your number to a new phone.

The two things don't sound related at all.

I concur with some of the others here. The pre-E911 phones that do not have GPS capabilities are not allowed back in service. As long as your phone is on the service and working, you are OK. But, if it breaks or you take it out of service for any reason, it's history. I have a Startac that I tried to put back in service while my wife's phone was being repaired and ran slam into this. I went round and round with Verizon customer service (yeh, not an accurate description sometimes) and that was the gist of it. In fact, their computer system is programmed to refuse adding any phones that do not qualify. Best thing to do is get another one that does work. I found a good deal on Ebay and didn't have to extend any contracts to put it in service.

If your old phone is a verizon phone then they should transfer your numbers. If it is cingular or another company, they might use TMDA or GSM. Verizon only uses CMDA and has been for quite sometime. The government has nothing to do with it, its the transfer data form..