For years, we have chronicled Sprint’s total failure to let users easily change phones. Despite not having SIM cards, despite turning down USIM cards, and adding complexity with PowerSource phones… Sprint has disabled ESN swaps since the rollout of Vision data services.
After years of consumer complaints, Sprint decided to address the change with the migration of the Ensemble billing system. The unified billing system finally integrates all Sprint and Nextel customers onto one account management system. That is infrastructure Sprint has needed to allow for online phone changes. Competitor Verizon Wireless avoided such issues, and has consistently allowed for online phone changes since before the turn of the century.
However finally, Sprint is rolling out online handset changes for Sprint PCS customers. After logging into My Sprint account management, you will be given the option to change active handsets. Your account must have already been migrated to the Ensemble billing system for this to take effect. If you have not yet been migrated, your account will be by the end of the year, and you can call customer service to find out if, and when your account will be migrated to Sprint’s unified billing system.
