u/MCDiamond9

https://ebay.com/itm/287519587254

After T-Mobile began their 2G GSM shutdown on August 3rd, 2026, vintage cellphone enthusiasts in the United States no longer have any nationwide legacy cellular to use old phones with. As a result, I decided to look through my collection to find the oldest 4G LTE phones and see if they can still register onto the LTE network(s). Signed up for US Mobile Dark Star (AT&T) and Warp (Verizon). By the way, Dark Star works in literally any LTE device even if no VoLTE!?

I've actually never used Verizon Wireless except right before the CDMA shutdown, so I was astonished that one of the oldest 4G LTE Verizon models still works! This one is Android 2.3 and only CDMA 1X/EvDO+ LTE B13. Literally, just put in the SIM and it connects to 4G LTE. No calls, but SMS texts and packet data LTE works normally. Photo #2 shows the weird state it's in, the phone expects to be connected to CDMA + LTE hybrid, so signal icon is a cross 🚫, but 4G LTE shows up.

Insanely cool GSM bricks, now unlocked using a clone card kindly loaned from another collector! It's been my dream to use these bricks for years! I'm thoroughly enjoying these amazing and rare GSM phones which are basically 30 years old at this point, even older than I am. Call quality was surprisingly good on the 6000e, and reception too, a 40 minute call held up well. Even if T-Mobile GSM shuts down, at least I got a few glorious days to use them.

Bought in Japan for 2k yen, which is high for a vintage phone but it's for good reason. I was able to SIM unlock it and it's working on T-Mobile's GSM! It's one of the only unlockable Japanese phones with full browser (APN settings) and J2ME apps.

Mid-range model with CCD camera, MiniSD card, full MP3 player, V-Appli (J2ME), 3G, QVGA screen, it's full of multimedia functions and higher end than most phones of the time.

The shutdown date, August 3rd, 2026, is approaching quickly, so I had a renewed interest in trying one of the oldest GSM 1900 phones ever on the network, the Ericsson CH688. Very rare phone that was also not easy to unlock. Really, it blows my mind still that this 1999 phone can still make calls even though it's almost 2030 now.

The prepaid line actually got fully cancelled and suspended after I swapped it into other newer GSM phones, which is certainly a first for me. Calling customer care, they told it was indeed due to using a 2G-only device, but that didn't stop me from getting service reinstated and putting the SIM into the Ericsson. IMEI TAC so old no IMEI checker even knows the model at all.

Of course, this is all just for fun, wanted to enjoy the last chance I can see a real commercial US GSM network before it's history. I also visited a T-Mobile store to get a "5G upgrade," but the legacy prepaid plan would need to be upgraded. No free replacement, oh well...

Anyone knows if the shutdown will be gradual or all at once? Anyone also hanging on to a precious legacy SIM?

This 3G UMTS/HSPA coverage is strictly only available on Chunghwa Telecom in the premises of the airport and nowhere else, I wonder why they silently kept the legacy network around. Either way, super cool to see, now that Japan's Docomo completely shut down 3G HSPA as well without a trace. Furthermore, the secondary international airport had 3G coverage last year, but it's no longer available as well.

Just fixed up the battery on this bad boy. What a legendary, unique early Samsung!!

https://1xbts.org/

After Sprint and Verizon Wireless shut down their CDMA networks in the United States back in 2022, it was previously thought that all CDMA-based cell phones were doomed to be obsolete, unlike GSM cell phones with the Osmocom project. Thanks to the dedication of a single individual, u/xoclipse, old CDMA phones can be used once again!

The functionality of the base station is still heavily being worked on, with no guarantee for compatibility and glitches. However it's already enough to allow many CDMA phones to acquire the system and update the clock, or even receive SMS/calls, which might not be possible without the project (many CDMA phones don't have a manual setting for date/time). It's incredible to finally use CDMA phones just as they are meant to be.