Related
Ill be moving to japan by years end and was wondering what network could I use to work with the Atrix? And if anyone has any experiance living in japan, how does billing work?
From everything I've heard Japan has domestic market phones that make the Atrix look like old news. You might be better off getting a phone/plan locally when you get there.
...I beg to differ on that one.
Here in Japan, there are some good Android phones, but they're almost always locked down. For example my SH005. great phone except the battery won't last a whole day.
I picked up an Atrix I plan on unlocking and using that over here.
anything that has the 2100 band (pretty much all 3G phones in the US) will work on Softbank. if you're going there permanently, then if your phone is unlocked you can probably just drop the SIM in. if you're going temporarily then you will probably need to grab a prepaid SIM but it should still work in the phone. you pay for all minutes used, incoming calls are free, and softbank has a good deal on unlimited mail for prepaid (300 yen per month) plans.
shadowfalx had issues with softbank in JP.. he tried 2 Atrix handsets and couldn't get either of them to work with data..
It had to be his APN settings. I've used dozens of non-softbank phones over here, starting with my GSM WinMo Treo 750, and as long as the APN settings were correct, it worked on data fine. There's one other person with an Atrix I know here in Tokyo; He's a Google employee here. So I know it'll work.
Kueller said:
From everything I've heard Japan has domestic market phones that make the Atrix look like old news. You might be better off getting a phone/plan locally when you get there.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Like what?
Japan is behind the times these days, still loving flip phones, blackberries and just joining the iphone love.
Symbian is alive and well in Japan. That should tell you everything.
starrwulfe said:
It had to be his APN settings. I've used dozens of non-softbank phones over here, starting with my GSM WinMo Treo 750, and as long as the APN settings were correct, it worked on data fine. There's one other person with an Atrix I know here in Tokyo; He's a Google employee here. So I know it'll work.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Have you ever heard of people getting extremely high charges for data? I read about that on another forum (gaijinpot, search for "softbank bill" on the title, I can't link to it). They say softbank will usually not allow you to use a cell phone they didn't sell on their data network if you ask them directly. The thread is 3 or so moths old, I don't think too much has changed since then.
Again, it's all in the plan/APN settings you start off with beforehand, along with checking My.softbank.ne.jp to see if you're getting ridiculous charges...
Some people go into the store, get a prepaid phone, then just swap the SIMs. No prepaid phone here comes with data!
Others are moving from a featurephone to a smartphone. Those have data, but are tied to a specific APN. When pulling down more data than allowed from that APN, they charge exorbitant fees. Hence plan changing is a good thing.
Finally, some people go from iPhone to another Android. iPhones here have totally different APNs they attach to.
It's all in the name controlling the plans for their customers, that's all. Connect to the one you're paying for, then you shouldn't have any problem.
Again, I used an AT&T treo 750, HTC Tilt, HTC Tilt 2, from T-mobile, and an out-the-box unlocked iPhone 3GS from Singapore with no issues. Of course you NEVER tell them that you're using a different phone from the one that's on their system. But as long as you're connected properly, they generally don't care.
That being said, theres another option called B:mobile here. They're an MVNO and use DoCoMo's network. They just sell you a prepaid SIM card. I may try them out, just to see what kind of service is there and if it could save me some ¥. This guy is test one right now actually:
http://softbanksucks.blogspot.com/
Wow, that was really informative starrwulfe. I was looking for this kind of info because I just got an Atrix off of ebay and I plan to use it with a Dell Streak's SIM which I got from softbank on the 2-year contract. You're saying that if I backup my APN settings from the Streak I should have no problems on the Atrix, correct?
For the record, I pay about 9,000 yen per month. That includes ~6,000 for the unlimited data plan, ~1800 for the phone, and all the crap you have to sign in when you make the contract.
OP, If you are going to stay in Japan long enough and you intend to use a lot of data on the Atrix you may want to consider getting a basic android smartphone from softbank on an unlimited data plan and swapping SIMs.
Exactly.
I have a Sharp Galapagos SH005 here now, but like you, I'm switching to an Atrix too (in fact it should be here before Saturday) and that's exactly what I plan to do.
Easy way to tell what APN you should connect to is to check the color of the SIM cards. Black ones are iPhone only cards, gray ones with green bands specifically say "SMARTPHONE" on them-- they go into the Android phones here. Feature phones have a regular gray card.
You can find the APN info and password easily by googling a little... But if you can back up your APN info, can you share it with me? mine is locked (current phone can't be rooted)
Ok, now I'm having trouble here with getting my Atrix set up on the Softbank network.
Phone calls and SMS work, but data doesn't.
Seems they have some unpublished APNs now with the new android phones. My Galapagos plugs into some other APN than what the normal silver cards did. Unfortunately I can't see what my APN is now on my current phone since they've locked that part out.
What I'm also afraid of is that they may have also started using things like imei checking and user agent binding as well. Great, now what can I do?
Sent from my SBM005SH using XDA App
Just so you know, I have this with sim card out of my iPhone and my atrix works on the softbank network. So it was see if only thing stopping me for connecting to softbank is apn info.
again if anybody has sharp galapogos APN information for softbank I would happily pay pal a donation
Sent from my MB860 using XDA App
starrwulfe said:
It had to be his APN settings. I've used dozens of non-softbank phones over here, starting with my GSM WinMo Treo 750, and as long as the APN settings were correct, it worked on data fine. There's one other person with an Atrix I know here in Tokyo; He's a Google employee here. So I know it'll work.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It was APNs....sort of. Motorola Atrix requires you to add your Username and Password to a file in '/system/etc/ppp/peers/pppd-ril.options'. With out this you can call and use wi-fi but can not use mobile data.
and for APN's this site is helpful:
http://android.modaco.com/content/a...internet-mms-apk-for-softbank-users-in-japan/
Just remember is you want tethering and aGPS add them to the list in APN Type. So it should read default,supl,mms,agps,dun,tether remember NO spaces
Starrwulf do you have root on you Galappagos phone? if so you can look at the APNs.....Let me make a guide quickly and I will update this post.
Required:
SQLite editor
Root
1) Open SQLite editor and accept the root permissions.
2) Go to Dialer storage.
3) telephony.db
4) carriers
This opens a database file with all the APNs preloaded on the phone. You should be able to look for the one that has a 'Yes' in the current field.
I assume this is the same or similar on the Galapagos (I don't have one specifically though)
Thanx _Dennis_ for being so helpful!
Unfortunately, this thing has no root-- or rather may have temporary root, but not full root.
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1054132
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?p=13747122
If I could gain just enough access to that file, then maybe theres a good chance it's in there.
I don't think SuperOneClick works... any suggestions?
maybe try gingerbreak? it may gain you root but you may not be able to change anything, which would be ok.
Or even better do you have adb access? if so I will find the correct .db file.
--edit: correct file is /data/data/com.android.providers.telephony/databases/telephony.db
or try these settings:
apn carrier="SoftBank Internet"
mcc="440"
mnc="20"
apn="andglobal.softbank.ne.jp"
user="andg001softbank"
password="pumbbghkpgyybsxa"
mmsc="http://mms/"
mmsproxy="andmms.softbank.ne.jp"
mmsport="8080"
type="default,mms"
preferred="true"
from: http://android.modaco.com/content-p...-mms-apk-for-softbank-users-in-japan/page/40/
I'm on the freenode IRC channel #moto-atrix, my name is shadowfalx do to someone already having _dennis_ registered though, if you want more real time help
You, another friend of mine here on Gtalk, and I found that MoDaCo thread all at the same time!
Those settings did the trick actually! So now I'm good to go. Now I need to figure out how to push that other mms.apk thru ADB to get my useragent changed...
BTW I'm new to the Android Mod scene. I started messing with WinMo back in the States, then moved here and had a very hacked Tilt 2 on softbank... when it gave up the ghost, I went into the iPhone jailbreak scene. Now I'm here! So I'll accept any and all advice you can give me, sensei/senpai!
You don't really need the mms app Download 'Handcent' from the market and change the UA in settings. Also I suggest getting 'market enabler' requires root but it allows you to fake a US sim card in the market and get US only apps.
I have Hancent... But I don't see anywhere to change the UA in the settings.... Am I missing something?
I have a SIM-unlocked AT&T Titan, and I was looking forward to using it to the max.
However, I've run into a problem. When I click Internet Sharing, it tells me to contact AT&T. My carrier allows tethering, and I don't think AT&T will do anything for me.
What is my recourse?
slick69 said:
I
However, I've run into a problem. When I click Internet Sharing, it tells me to contact AT&T. What is my recourse?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Throw the Titan in the ocean. Seriously though, not much you can do. I am using an AT&T "unlocked" Titan on Tmobile that I bought from Microsoft and I can't tether even though Tmobile doesn't care. Until someone manages to unlock this phone it is really a worthless investment. Don't get me wrong, I love the promise of the Titan it's just that the corporate scumbags at AT&T have severely disabled it.
alyn99 said:
Throw the Titan in the ocean. Seriously though, not much you can do. I am using an AT&T "unlocked" Titan on Tmobile that I bought from Microsoft and I can't tether even though Tmobile doesn't care. Until someone manages to unlock this phone it is really a worthless investment. Don't get me wrong, I love the promise of the Titan it's just that the corporate scumbags at AT&T have severely disabled it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I wish AT&T, being the "premier partner" of WP7, wasn't allowed to hobble it so severely.
AT&T Charges a premium for tethering. So why do you expect AT&T ever give you a phone with free tethering? It locked down iPhones and Android phones. Wp7 will not be any different.
foxbat121 said:
AT&T Charges a premium for tethering. So why do you expect AT&T ever give you a phone with free tethering? It locked down iPhones and Android phones. Wp7 will not be any different.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Tethering is possible if you follow the "permanent unlock" post further up on the topics list. This permanent unlock has the added advantage of enabling internet sharing on OTHER NON-ATT sims. Be careful NOT TO RUN HTC Connection Setup after you do this as somehow this little HTC apop reenables the ATT internet sharing lock. I am posting this with an ATT Titan with Permannent unlock and a TMOBILE sim with Internet sharing enabled. Unfortunately all I can manage is edge with Tmobile in this phone but I assume in Europe I can have full 3g. This hack does not enable Internet sharing with an ATT sim unless you have the tethering plan. And for what it's worth, ATT are cretan ass*****s when it comes to tethering. I bought their PAYGO 1 gig data plan and it will not allow me to tether. Please explain to my why the f*** I shouldn't be able to tether when I PAY for a specific amount of data??!! Obviously I can't HOG bandwidth as I PAID for this data. When I go over my 1 gig I am charged more. Seriously, ATT have their heads up their a** and I am looking forward to seeing them go out of business. They are simply the worst provider on the planet and should be boycotted at all costs.
Fixed
Hi,
I think I have found the solution to this issue (a lill time consuming though).. It wasn't working for me and after doing the following I am able to do the internet sharing on my unlocked AT&T HTC Titan...
First you need to reset your phone to factory settings by doing the following (beware that all your personal data, applications and settings will be gone so better sync your phone with your PC first.. ):
Go into settings->about->reset your phone (you might need to scroll to the bottom). It confirms twice.. do that to reset your phone
After the phone is back on, try setting it up as your would do to a new device.
*** HTC Connection Wizard or Setup(whatever is that app called) seems to be the culprit so DO NOT install that app ever if you want the tethering to work.. It seems it resets some registereis as soon as it is switched on which blocks the tethering there after**
You might want to use 'reinstaller' app from the market place which will help you get all your previously installed apps by connecting to the Windows Live account and going through the list of apps you ever installed using that Windows live account. This process is the most tedious one but still better then nothing..
Once all this is done, connect your phone back to your PC and sync back in all the content that you lost from your cell while resetting.
Hope this helps.
not working
vikingsunil said:
Hi,
I think I have found the solution to this issue (a lill time consuming though).. It wasn't working for me and after doing the following I am able to do the internet sharing on my unlocked AT&T HTC Titan...
First you need to reset your phone to factory settings by doing the following (beware that all your personal data, applications and settings will be gone so better sync your phone with your PC first.. ):
Go into settings->about->reset your phone (you might need to scroll to the bottom). It confirms twice.. do that to reset your phone
After the phone is back on, try setting it up as your would do to a new device.
*** HTC Connection Wizard or Setup(whatever is that app called) seems to be the culprit so DO NOT install that app ever if you want the tethering to work.. It seems it resets some registereis as soon as it is switched on which blocks the tethering there after**
You might want to use 'reinstaller' app from the market place which will help you get all your previously installed apps by connecting to the Windows Live account and going through the list of apps you ever installed using that Windows live account. This process is the most tedious one but still better then nothing..
Once all this is done, connect your phone back to your PC and sync back in all the content that you lost from your cell while resetting.
Hope this helps.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Not working at all..it is not giving option for not installing HTC apps..by default it is taking it and not allowing to back or doing something else..
@vatsal1212 - I did the same prior to Dft HSPL and it didn't work for me too. If you want the IS to work with your AT&T phone you will need to flash custom (fully unlocked) rom. However, it is not a straight forward process especially with AT&T branded Titan. I suggest for you to read these related threads:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1684912
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1713109
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1693334
Goodluck
slick69 said:
I have a SIM-unlocked AT&T Titan, and I was looking forward to using it to the max.
However, I've run into a problem. When I click Internet Sharing, it tells me to contact AT&T. My carrier allows tethering, and I don't think AT&T will do anything for me.
What is my recourse?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Getting rid of this message is easy if you have interop unlock. You will need to send root tools to the phone with a xap deployment tool (like from the windows phone sdk) then use the registry editor to add this value
[HKLM\Comm\InternetSharing\Settings] OpenMarketEnabled=dword:1
Then edit this value so it reads:
[HKLM\Comm\InternetSharing\Settings] EntitlementURI=./Vendor/MSFT/Registry/HKLM/Comm/InternetSharing/Settings/OpenMarketEnabled
Here's a link to a thread that explains the process poorly. The key is to have the two lines above in your registry. No matter how you get to the regediting step. Worked for my focus flash.
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1776363
to day I stated to have problems with my internet on my SGP621 LTE I'm on T-Mobile and i'm getting the connect me messages basically t-mo want's me to get a separate tablet data plan. I was wondering if there is a work around so that I can use my tablet as a regular phone with data internet access without an additional data plan which I would not pay for. is there a way to make my tablet SPG621 to show as the regular Z3 phone and not as a tablet so that I can use the internet 3G/4G LTE thank you:crying:
I think that's just an offer. You don't have to do this. As far as i know you can use your SIM in any device you like. And ... Xperia Z3 Tablet Compact can be considered as a big phaplet.
jaime4272 said:
to day I stated to have problems with my internet on my SGP621 LTE I'm on T-Mobile and i'm getting the connect me messages basically t-mo want's me to get a separate tablet data plan. I was wondering if there is a work around so that I can use my tablet as a regular phone with data internet access without an additional data plan which I would not pay for. is there a way to make my tablet SPG621 to show as the regular Z3 phone and not as a tablet so that I can use the internet 3G/4G LTE thank you:crying:
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
jaime4272 said:
to day I stated to have problems with my internet on my SGP621 LTE I'm on T-Mobile and i'm getting the connect me messages basically t-mo want's me to get a separate tablet data plan. I was wondering if there is a work around so that I can use my tablet as a regular phone with data internet access without an additional data plan which I would not pay for. is there a way to make my tablet SPG621 to show as the regular Z3 phone and not as a tablet so that I can use the internet 3G/4G LTE thank you:crying:
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I agree with nico_las. I use my SGP621 on T-Mobile USA as well, and it's not mandatory I switch over to a tablet plan. It's just an offer you can refuse.
Is there a way to refuse this offer? Like, my data no longer works as of maybe two hours ago, and I am not the only one reporting this. Can I refuse an offer and retain it? I called 611 but as usual the pre-paid support folk never know anything outside of their scripts...
the problem is that t-mo knows is a tablet and the internet wont work, calls ant and text does work but not mms and everything that requires internet, if any body know how to disguise as a phone/phablet like the z ultra by modifying the IMEI or something. thanks
Yes, I am currently Experiencing this Issue as well, and I told T-mobile Rep to stop forcing people like this. I can just sell this phone and buy a note 4, with smaller screen and it will work just fine.....but they basically want to force people into it, so they can make money out of it.
I am interested in how to disguise the tablet as a phone as well.
I really really want to kick Tmobile in the ass and never come back as a customer........but they know other carriers do the same thing......We are at the losing ends
we need to ask to devs if we can get help on this issue. what we need is to disguise out tablet as phone or phablet
I think you're being overly optimistic. I appreciate it. But we barely have support enough on this device to get a proper root, much less ROM support. I feel like it should be possible to pass this off as a normal Z3... But not sure. In any case it will take root at minimum and most likely an unlocked bootloader... Which I don't plan on pursuing until I know I can keep remote play, DRM, cast support, etc.
I hope it happens... And I'm with you... But I think it's a lost cause. I'd like to hear from an actual Dev about it though... Just not a lot of them in the English world with this tablet not on shelves outside of Asia.
Hey guys, a few thoughts.
First, there is chatter about this in 3 or 4 different threads. It doesn't have to be this thread, which I created yesterday, but we should band together and use a single thread for longer-term discussion.
Second, I actually don't think that this is an attempt by T-Mo to gauge more money out of us; we are a tiny percentage of their user base and are probably an attractive demographic for T-Mo in a sense. This is simply bureaucratic disorganization (I think they simply don't know how to provide 'free data for life' without considering the 621 a 'data only device,' damn you all who rallied for that), and unfortunately execs are not going to make an immediate priority of satisfying a tiny percentage of prepaid customers on cheap plans. What I personally expect will happen at some point, T-Mo will act in accordance with its 'uncarrier' mantra and be the first carrier to recognize that there is increasingly no difference between a phone and tablet. They will offer substantially the same plans for any data enabled device and will be the first carrier to officially support "phablets.'
Third, I am also very curious what can be done to trick T-Mo's system, in the mean time. I can say firsthand that altering the device model # inside your build.prop file will do nothing. Switching up the APN, nothing. But I didn't personally get that creative before giving up. One thing to note, on an older device, I downloaded a root app to ltyer my DNS servers (switched from T-Mo to OpenDNS). Within X many minutes of rebooting I could not make phone calls or receive texts and no data icon appeared either, but I did have data and T-Mo was probably unable to meter my data usage. Try at your own risk.
Fourth, *****ing accomplishes nothing. The great thing about buying unlocked, is the ability to switch carriers at the drop of a dime (which is coincidentally what T-Mo deserves from us right now). AT&T has LTE on four frequencies and the 621 supports all of em. I already made the switch to AT&T, and everything is smooth at the moment. And I can always switch back. As a light talker I miss my $30 plan (and the small $$ I had left over in my acct), but $60 for talk, text, and a tetherable 4 GBs of LTE isn't terrible when you can buy 5-10% off discounted refill cards from Calling Mart. Cricket is also on AT&T's network now and $60 will get you 20 GBs of <= 8Mbps LTE, $10 more if you want to tether without worry. I would be curious for an expanded discussion regarding our options, since I am only so familiar with the ins, outs, and possible pitfalls of them.
good one
Would anyone like to test for compatibility/pitfalls/etc on Harbor Mobile? $50/mo for unlimited talk/text/LTE and 3GB tethering on T-Mo's network, purportedly.
https://www.harbormobile.com/plans/
They also have a good looking tablet data plan ($15 for 5GB) that would be more useful if we had dual sim slots.
MetroPCS would be the other competitive T-Mo pre-paid option. Not sure how these companies detect phones/tablets. They don't offer free data for life, which might or might not make a difference.
Possible Solution?
jaime4272 said:
to day I stated to have problems with my internet on my SGP621 LTE I'm on T-Mobile and i'm getting the connect me messages basically t-mo want's me to get a separate tablet data plan. I was wondering if there is a work around so that I can use my tablet as a regular phone with data internet access without an additional data plan which I would not pay for. is there a way to make my tablet SPG621 to show as the regular Z3 phone and not as a tablet so that I can use the internet 3G/4G LTE thank you:crying:
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I work for T-Mobile and have also have the same issues with my Z3tc I, being a store manager, have limited resources available to me but i plan to submit a ticket in hopes of resolving this issue, it would help if i had multiple issues to report however. If you folks are willing to help me out with this (power in numbers as they say) i think we may have a chance of getting a fix, what i need from each of you is your T-mobile telephone number that you've been using your Z3TC on and i can submit this ticket. Email your name and phone# to [email protected] and I'll do my best
I was about to e-mail Tyson, and just saw this posted (by a post-paid customer) to a T-Mo Support thread I had participated in:
"Just got off with customer service with the solution. To fix the problem you need to get a new sim card. The customer service rep said T-Mobile will provide them for free then everything should work fine. What happened is the info on the sim says its a tablet, once the sim info gets changed on T-Mobile's end there is no way to change it back and the only solution is to get a new sim card. Hope this helps you guys."
(https://support.t-mobile.com/thread/86423?start=15&tstart=0)
thref23 said:
I was about to e-mail Tyson, and just saw this posted (by a post-paid customer) to a T-Mo Support thread I had participated in:
"Just got off with customer service with the solution. To fix the problem you need to get a new sim card. The customer service rep said T-Mobile will provide them for free then everything should work fine. What happened is the info on the sim says its a tablet, once the sim info gets changed on T-Mobile's end there is no way to change it back and the only solution is to get a new sim card. Hope this helps you guys."
(https://support.t-mobile.com/thread/86423?start=15&tstart=0)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I don't think this is correct. I already got a new SIM for mine because that's what Tmobile support had me do originally. It didn't fix the issue. However I noticed under my account that it had my device listed as a Xperia Z tablet as in the old version when I got the new SIM. So maybe if you change it to a Z3 and get a new one it will work... But I doubt it.
The tech support I most recently talked to said they updated their systems with the Z3TC information and classified it as a tablet so the data won't work unless you get on a tablet data plan. But if I get on a tablet data plan then I can't have phone and text on the same SIM. He said there was no way for them to accommodate both.
And I tried explaining that the only difference between tablet and phone is phone capabilities... Which we have... So it should be a phone.
I see that more and more people are having this problem and being that t-mo knows that our SGP621 is a tablet the only thing to do is to disguise it as something else other then a tablet. I know that phablets do work fine like the xperia z ultra. we need some technical help on doing this guys.
Need more help
tysontthompson said:
I work for T-Mobile and have also have the same issues with my Z3tc I, being a store manager, have limited resources available to me but i plan to submit a ticket in hopes of resolving this issue, it would help if i had multiple issues to report however. If you folks are willing to help me out with this (power in numbers as they say) i think we may have a chance of getting a fix, what i need from each of you is your T-mobile telephone number that you've been using your Z3TC on and i can submit this ticket. Email your name and phone# to [email protected] and I'll do my best
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I've got about 5-6 people's info so far, if i could get 10 or so i think we could make some headway here. I have tried SIM swaps, tried using a regular z3 for a couple days and switching back, tried rooting and IMEI changing nothing has worked thus far... this seems like the best chance here.
tysontthompson said:
I've got about 5-6 people's info so far, if i could get 10 or so i think we could make some headway here. I have tried SIM swaps, tried using a regular z3 for a couple days and switching back, tried rooting and IMEI changing nothing has worked thus far... this seems like the best chance here.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Are you still looking for folks for this?
I just ordered one and will be trying to use it on Tmo.
Just sent you my contact information, I'm also having the same issue with T-mobile.
Thank,
Scott
tysontthompson said:
I've got about 5-6 people's info so far, if i could get 10 or so i think we could make some headway here. I have tried SIM swaps, tried using a regular z3 for a couple days and switching back, tried rooting and IMEI changing nothing has worked thus far... this seems like the best chance here.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
This won't be a problem on AT&T's network. Why not just switch? For high data users, Cricket has competitive prices, for low use folks there are several mvnos to choose from.
afblangley said:
This won't be a problem on AT&T's network. Why not just switch? For high data users, Cricket has competitive prices, for low use folks there are several mvnos to choose from.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Does anyone have an update on this? I think I got hit too. My internet stopped working this morning and I've been calling T-Mo and they said they don't know what the problem is.
Hi folks,
I'm looking to possibly switch to T-Mobile, but I know that coverage is spotty in my home town. (I don't go home often... Maybe once or twice a month for a weekend)
Because of the spotty coverage, wifi calling is a feature of T-Mobile that is very appealing to me, but I've been hearing rumors that their wifi calling feature doesn't work unless you purchase the phone directly from T-Mobile (which obviously cannot be done).
However, I do remember seeing a screenshot of the Xperia Z5 Compact's wifi calling settings and there was a tab listed for T-Mobile. Now why would a phone include wifi calling options for a specific carrier if that carrier refuses to support that phone?
Now let's say there is no way to trick the Z5 into letting me use wifi calling on T-Mobile... I read an article stating that CM13 will support T-Mobile's wifi calling. If CM13 was developed for the Z5C, would that do the trick?
Praying that someone with some more experience can shed some light on this matter. Is there any hope for me?
T-mobile announced that they'll be giving mini towers to customers for free (that's not wifi calling but an actual LTE tower for your house that uses your internet connection) so you can just call them up and ask when they'll start sending them out.
Does it just generate an LTE signal? That works well if the phone had working T-Mobile voice over LTE; which i'm not sure it would if I purchased an unlocked model. That router would be great for my home, but I'm concerned for other areas of my hometown, where I actually would need service (for example: car accident). If I could connect to a local coffee shop's wifi connection to make calls; that would make my life so much easier. I would hate to only have service in my home because that would make me feel bound to my house.
JGoldz75 said:
Does it just generate an LTE signal? That works well if the phone had working T-Mobile voice over LTE; which i'm not sure it would if I purchased an unlocked model. That router would be great for my home, but I'm concerned for other areas of my hometown, where I actually would need service (for example: car accident). If I could connect to a local coffee shop's wifi connection to make calls; that would make my life so much easier. I would hate to only have service in my home because that would make me feel bound to my house.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It's only phone based: https://support.t-mobile.com/docs/DOC-24269
FYI, I did use T-Mobile on an unlocked, unsupported phone last year for few months and I don't recall ever not having phone signal. Data is another story but calls were always available and I do travel a lot across the world. Their international data is pure BS - it just doesn't work.
And finally, the T-Mobile WiFi calling menu you saw is for the old T-Mobile in the UK that has now been merged into EE. You can flash that firmware but it probably won't work with the USA version depending on what moron wrote the integration and how much configuration data they hardcoded in the app or if it works it might be connecting to a UK gateway.
weasal said:
It's only phone based: https://support.t-mobile.com/docs/DOC-24269
FYI, I did use T-Mobile on an unlocked, unsupported phone last year for few months and I don't recall ever not having phone signal. Data is another story but calls were always available and I do travel a lot across the world. Their international data is pure BS - it just doesn't work.
And finally, the T-Mobile WiFi calling menu you saw is for the old T-Mobile in the UK that has now been merged into EE. You can flash that firmware but it probably won't work with the USA version depending on what moron wrote the integration and how much configuration data they hardcoded in the app or if it works it might be connecting to a UK gateway.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It's not that I think the phone will not have service because it's unlocked. T-Mobile just doesn't have great coverage in my hometown area at all. I did the Test-Drive a couple months back and remember getting 0-1 bars at all times... never holding on to a signal long enough to make a single phone call or send a text message. Thanks for the insight into the T-Mobile - EE thing. I didn't realize that. It would be lovely if it did work in the USA but I doubt it The T-Mobile Nexus 5 (arguably one of the most modded phones out there) never got t-mo wifi calling so I doubt this will.
Thank you!
Just so you know, I flashed to EE (even though technically I'm on MetroPCS which is a T-Mobile subsidiary), and I couldn't find that screenshot in any of the settings menus, nor could I locate it via "settings, under device, call. UK EE" as someone suggested in that thread. I do have a "Device Connection" menu and a "Call" menu, but they're separate menus not nested in one another. And I can't find any menu or option that says "UK EE".
So, it sounds like no one can find any Wifi calling toggle in any settings menu, correct?
nnotis said:
So, it sounds like no one can find any Wifi calling toggle in any settings menu, correct?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
A couple people have mentioned seeing it...someplace. One person said he saw it under the pencil looking icon in the drop down shade, but I've never been able to locate it up there no matter what firmware I've flashed too. It appears to be pretty elusive.
Adrift98 said:
A couple people have mentioned seeing it...someplace. One person said he saw it under the pencil looking icon in the drop down shade, but I've never been able to locate it up there no matter what firmware I've flashed too. It appears to be pretty elusive.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It's probably checking for some condition to show the menu.
If you extract the EE firmware you would probable be able to do a text search for T-Mobile and find the apps that have that then decompile the one that sounds like the most likely to have the functionality (probably one with the word customization in the name) and check the logic which enables the functionality and even change and re-compile it. You would also be able to see if it connects to a specific gateway for the wifi calling and if so try to change that too..
Theoretically a company won't spend the money to develop different Wifi calling mechanisms for different countries and thus it should work but then again...
weasal said:
It's probably checking for some condition to show the menu.
If you extract the EE firmware you would probable be able to do a text search for T-Mobile and find the apps that have that then decompile the one that sounds like the most likely to have the functionality (probably one with the word customization in the name) and check the logic which enables the functionality and even change and re-compile it. You would also be able to see if it connects to a specific gateway for the wifi calling and if so try to change that too..
Theoretically a company won't spend the money to develop different Wifi calling mechanisms for different countries and thus it should work but then again...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I wouldn't know how to begin to do all of that.
Adrift98 said:
I wouldn't know how to begin to do all of that.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You can follow this to extract the system partition (system.sln) and get it's contents to your hard drive: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1723284
Then you can use your file explorer (on Windows or whatever your OS is) to search for a text string (make sure you tell it to look only inside *.apk to avoid getting too many results). Once you find the apk files that could be what you need you can then use this: http://www.decompileandroid.com/ to decompile the apps so you get source code.
From then on it's a bit trickier, you'll need to make your way trough the configuration and maybe even the code to figure out where they store the connection info or what exactly do they connect to (it looks like the app uses your sim card to authenticate so that shouldn't require any tweaking).
Or you can just wait and hope this is true: https://support.t-mobile.com/thread/81359 or maybe it's already in M : http://www.phone-probe.com/android-m-features-native-wifi-calling/
Oh is that all? Simple.
It might be easier to just locate the apps needed for US T-Mobile wifi calling from another phone and install them on a z5c with EE firmware since the core OS code needed would be provided by the EE firmware and the US specific stuff will come from the apps.
This has a list that might actually be complete: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2302313 and you can ignore any jar files that are listed since that should come with the EE firmware.
The fact that there is a z5c firmware that supports Wifi calling is what's important here - you have all the proprietary and OS stuff baked in, you just need the US specific bits/configuration.
I'm sorry if this wasn't in the right area, I googled up this same question and this board has it the most it seems. If its in the wrong area, please move the topic to the right area so I know where to ask next tome (or link and I'll delete this ((if possible)) and recreate).
I've been using PDANet USB Tethering for the last 3 years or so with Boost Mobile, Samsung Galaxy S3. My phone is showing severe signs of age and issues, and I'm having tons of PDANet related issues. I have unlimited 4G LTE data, but I can't use my wireless tether because the phone company detects it and stops it at 8GB where as USB tethering I've gotten 100+ GB in a single month no issues.
I'm looking for a new phone I can get, that I can somehow mask everything I do on it so that the phone company is unable to see what I'm doing on it, and won't be able to determine if I'm using my phone's wireless tethering features. I prefer a smartphone, obviously, cause I do take it with me where I go and like to have access to my apps. I'm inexperienced with installing ROMs or rooting, never figured out how with my S3 because all the topics are outdated and inaccurate and I only ended up damaging the phone trying. I've got about a week or two to find a new phone that will work with Boost Mobile. My current phone's network mode is CDMA/LTE/EVDO, just to give you an idea of what network I'd need to use for Boost (CDMA I guess?). I need 4G as well, it seems that 3G doesn't work at all at my location and I only get 1 bar of 4G LTE when I'm at home in a specific 3 inch by 3 inch space in my room that I have to tape my phone down to, but at least it works.
There's no other internet options available to me where I live, so my phone is my internet. Just to clarify before people suggest getting an internet service.
Just to be sure, I don't want anything made by Apple, but that should be obvious, posting in the Android forum.
I have found that Boost Mobile won't let me use anything but like 6 specific phones only. Two of the choices being the S7 and the S8.
I've done a search on Amazon looking for unlocked S8 phones, however the comments and reports all claim these unlocked devices are a lie and don't actually work with services they claim to, or have conflicting reports and such. I'm unable to find an Unlocked S8 for use with Boost Mobile.
I've found that I can edit the APN to add 'dun' to my type list, to bypass the data limit of Mobile Hotspot, however I am hoping that it doesn't also cause the company to start charging me hundreds of dollars a month. I want to make sure they can't actually see the traffic either, I don't want my ISP knowing what I'm doing online, because they will just turn around and sell every website I visit to third parties which is now a thing in the USA.
I'd rather Boost not know whats installed on my phone or what websites I visit.
Thread closed as per OP request.