Ubuntu for Phones or new Android OS

Ubuntu for Phones or new Android OS

so I got a barely used phone from my buddy. He had thought it was stolen
just after buying it, but has recently found it and given it to me because
it has a little port for a SIM card. Since I have T-mobile I thought that
I would simply have to root and unlock the phone via some online tutorial
and pop the SIM in, but to no avail. I can't find much info on the phone
and it seems to only run CDMA. Nothing happens when I insert my SIM card.
It is the ZTE Engage V8000. It is a Muve Music phone from Cricket.
I was wondering if I could just put Ubuntu for Phones on it and it would
detect my SIM. Would that work? I feel like Ubuntu for Phones might be
thrown out there enough for it to work. If not, how can I get my SIM card
to work on the Android OS? Do I need to install a whole new operating
system? Is there any way that I can use this phone? My current phone
doesn't seem to have a strong enough antenna for my area. It's a cheapy
knock-off from Hong Kong so anything else would work. Any help is much
appreciated