Is the Sprint/FreedomPop network compatible with AT&T and T-Mobile phones?
It seems to work just fine. It is strange that its not a real phone number, only a VOIP style app - but it still works with iMessage and WhatsApp, and they can make and receive calls in a pinch.
Can you send / receive text messages to short codes?
look at the specific bands that your phone supports. there is no other way of knowing. a good amount of phones are CDMA and GSM. if your phone is carrier locked, you will also need to find a way of undoing that.
I have one in a spare Verizon note 4 - it gets h+ networking rather than 4g, but its useable.