03-18-2021, 08:04 PM
(This post was last modified: 03-18-2021, 08:14 PM by C0ffeeFreak.)
It's mainly identified by the by the IMEI on activation. Sometimes the phones get here before the carriers get the updated IMEI lists and models so it shows up as unknown Android device. There is something on an SOC in the Pinephone when this happens that identifies the phone as the Huawei Y9 Prime to the carrier if they are watching. Either the phone or components must be supplied by Huawei. That only lasts until the carrier and Google start to see your browser data packets. The user agent string will identify it as a Arch64 Linux computer. You can spoof that but you have to keep up on it. Spoofing can break after updates to the browser. I would just activate it in another device and then put the sim in a the Pinephone. Use a carrier that doesn't restrict what phone you want to use. Also, port your number to Google Voice. That way you won't risk loosing it if your carrier drops you and you can use it on any phone or even multiple phones, not to mention as a home phone via VIOP box all at the same time. You also never have to worry about porting problems if you have to change carriers.