Now this may be a stupid question but i just want to know why my photon has a sprint sim card in it? If i remove it the phone functions fine while the sim card is out..
Sent from my rooted mofo running on sprints 4g network
Thought some one said it was 4G wimax ???
Sent from my MB855 using xda premium
I always assumed that it was used if you went abroad and were roaming on GSM/UMTS (which requires SIM cards) -- so that those roaming charges would be charged to your Sprint account.
The phone is an international model with GSM capabilities. The SIM card is only used when roaming internationally.
goaliemn said:
The phone is an international model with GSM capabilities. The SIM card is only used when roaming internationally.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
...and can be swapped out for a local SIM card (which will get you a local number and cheaper rates) from whatever country you are in.
AGiLiT said:
...and can be swapped out for a local SIM card (which will get you a local number and cheaper rates) from whatever country you are in.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I thought I heard that you needed to get Sprint to unlock it or root your phone in order to be able to use your own simcard, though.
menehune said:
I thought I heard that you needed to get Sprint to unlock it or root your phone in order to be able to use your own simcard, though.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Nope; from what I've seen on numerous other forums, people have reported no problem in using pre-paid SIM cards overseas and it doesn't require any intervention by Sprint. The only issue is that it works for voice only; not data.
From the notes of the Feb. Sprint Advocacy Call:
What is Sprints policy of using pre-paid SIM card for international phones. (certain international phones such as the Photon does not save APN settings that do not use Sprint's MCC/MNC 310 and 120. This stops any attempt to use a pre-paid SIM for data in the Photon for example). Sprint claims it’s a Motorola issue and Motorola claims its a Sprint issue). The use of data for a business traveler or the occasional international traveler is important.
1. I actually brought this up to Art when I got my Photon, and the response he got from the product team was "Sprint does not lock phones". I've heard from several people who have traveled overseas that, yes, you can use a foreign SIM card for voice (you use the Sprint card if you want people to reach you on you normal Sprint phone #), but data does not work because of the reasons stated. The problem is that Sprint blames Motorola and Motorola, of course, blames Sprint. Data is important, so some resolution (or a better explanation) is needed.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I believe that you need to contact Sprint to activate their sim card.
Sent from my Epic Touch running Blazer Rom via xda premium
deedscreen said:
I believe that you need to contact Sprint to activate their sim card.
Sent from my Epic Touch running Blazer Rom via xda premium
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes; if you're using your Sprint number, you will have to call Sprint to activate international roaming. The question though was about using a SIM card from an oversees carrier in the Photon.
AGiLiT said:
Yes; if you're using your Sprint number, you will have to call Sprint to activate international roaming. The question though was about using a SIM card from an oversees carrier in the Photon.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes, the card if for calling internationally. The phone comes unlocked and you can put any international Sim in it. I can also confirm that it is quad band. I am currently using the phone in turkey with a local sim and didn't require unlocking
Sent from my Photon
I am using mine in Sweden on prepayed sim and voice and data works great
Sent from my MB855 using XDA App
I am completely stock:::: International sim cards work by simply"putting into the slot; nice and easy " thats what she said!! ..i used a telcel sim in Mexico with no issues for voice or text issues ( of course this depends on what type of service they offer with their sims. I was not able to use outgoing calls until i called their customer service and activated it) Also i was not there long enough to activate data ( nor did i find out if i could) but i was informed that you would need an apn app that can be found in the market such as APN global
Sent from the crapper
Because it's a world/international phone when you leave the us you don't have to buy a new phone!
Photon
Last fall I went on a vacation to Turkey and Bulgaria, I bought local sim cards and had no problems at all. However, photon sucks at auto detecting the apn which is used for 3g data. For that just find the apn codes by downloading the app "tweakker apn internet mms" or google what it is. Usually its easier finding it yourself because when I was in Turkey it wasn't that easy for me to find a tech guy at the cell phone store, especially one that read english.
it works fine in India (Voice and 3G Data) and I love this phone
As noted, the SIM card in the Photon is for international roaming use only.
It is not used to provision CDMA service. The two large US CDMA carriers (Verizon, Sprint) have made a decision not to use SIM cards to provision wireless service for their subscribers. Instead they essentially use the phone's serial number and associate it with an account and phone number.
up up.
china telecom's Uim card is Modified before they can be used for Photon 4g.
odd question, but can i activate the Sprint sim card and use it inside the US instead of internationally? then put said sim card in another gsm phone? and use current sprint plan, not international plans
eyeb said:
odd question, but can i activate the Sprint sim card and use it inside the US instead of internationally? then put said sim card in another gsm phone? and use current sprint plan, not international plans
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I don't think the Sprint SIM card will work inside the US.
I'm using a SIM card in Peru, voice and 3g data work without a problem. You just have to goggle search the APN settings of the operator that you are gonna use.
Related
Hey so does anybody know if there is a way to unlock the sim card or what ever is keeping the phone from using ATT bands for data roaming here in the states. Can unlocking the sim slot be used for this purpose or will a root or custom rom and or kernel be needed to acquire this?
Pretty sure you're gonna have to flash a custom radio for this.
The sim is unlocked, the GSM radio software forces the phone to ignore US based towers.
I'm willing to bet even if you use a custom radio that you'll end up paying roaming charges if you go onto AT&T. If they wont give their own customers unlimited data, they sure as hell won't give it us. I'm far more interested in forcing my phone to roam on verizon's towers.
sub2k1 said:
I'm willing to bet even if you use a custom radio that you'll end up paying roaming charges if you go onto AT&T. If they wont give their own customers unlimited data, they sure as hell won't give it us. I'm far more interested in forcing my phone to roam on verizon's towers.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Even if the phone is SIM unlocked for North American carriers, I don't think it will be possible to roam on AT&T without an AT&T SIM. In other words, the SIM that came with the Photon won't work here in the US because AFAIK Sprint does not have any GSM roaming agreements in place. Sprint roams off of CDMA carriers like Verizon, Alltel, US Cellular etc.... If you can get rooted, maybe you can get Mr Greg's Roam Control app to work. That would allow you to force roaming on Verizon and you would not need to worry about SIM unlocking because that type of roaming doesn't use the SIM
Someone in another thread said that they roamed on GSM in the states. I think the thread is in the general section.
reddragon72 said:
Someone in another thread said that they roamed on GSM in the states. I think the thread is in the general section.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
They lied...
I'm not worried about roaming charges I work at sprint and get my plan free but if I were to put a ATT sim card in the photon and could use ATT I would have to have a ATT plan correct. Sorry this might seam silly questions but I really have no idea how sim cards work. Also has any one gotten the roam control app to work it worked great on my old epic to roam on verizon?
abrcrmdl23 said:
I'm not worried about roaming charges I work at sprint and get my plan free but if I were to put a ATT sim card in the photon and could use ATT I would have to have a ATT plan correct. Sorry this might seam silly questions but I really have no idea how sim cards work. Also has any one gotten the roam control app to work it worked great on my old epic to roam on verizon?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes if you put a Att sim in the phone that is attached to an active account it will need a $15 200mb smart phone data plan or higher to work for the internet if you disable data and use the sim without a data plan and you'll avoid the pay per use data charges if you have a messaging phone attached to the sim before hand with unlimited data and put it in the phone internet wont work, if it dose I'd check the plan attached to the sim card. You can do this by pressing *3282# or *data#
I just purchased a used Photon 4G. The phone works great but it did not come with the sim card. I would like to be able to use it overseas so I need the sim card. I went to my Sprint store and they told me they do not sell the sim cards.... I talked to Motorola and they told me to talk to Sprint... There are sim cards on the Internet, but I have no idea if they will work with the Photon. So.... Where can I buy the OE sim card for my Photon?
It's an unlocked sim port, so any provider sim will work, but keep in mind that at&t & t-mobile frequencies are blocked from being seen by the radio. Hopefully a dev will be able to rewrite the radio to pick them up.
So this one will work?
blakkheartt12 said:
It's an unlocked sim port, so any provider sim will work, but keep in mind that at&t & t-mobile frequencies are blocked from being seen by the radio. Hopefully a dev will be able to rewrite the radio to pick them up.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Sprint-GLOB...140599083921?pt=SIM_Cards&hash=item20bc5bc391
So would this card work if, (when), I take my phone out of the country?
What are you trying to do? If you want to use the phone out of the USA for voice/data or mixed for inexpensive..Then purchase a pay as you go number and Sim in the country. If you want to use your USA number for very expensive then use that card.
Very simple.
DetroitFlyer said:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Sprint-GLOB...140599083921?pt=SIM_Cards&hash=item20bc5bc391
So would this card work if, (when), I take my phone out of the country?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That would def work but imo you are better off getting a prepaid sim from the country your going to. Costs would be A LOT lower
Sent from my MB855 using Tapatalk
Got a lot of conflicting info on this.
1.Are different sims given for smart vs dumbphones? 3G vs 4G? Etc
Ie: will a smartphone not access 4g on a GoPhone sim?
2.Can a Rep on the phone identify your phone by the imei?
Thank you for any enlightening!
I may be wrong but I think the gophone sim works differently than a regular sim, there are att sims that say 3g but they work just the same as the new sim cards att is using, as far as the rep being able to tell ur phone make and model by the imei that's a yes for sure, they can detect what phone you have without you giving them that info and slap the $25 2gb data plan on your account.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I777 using XDA App
To put it simply- if the network system knows that X phone has X IMEI or even model code it shows when it connects (I777 vs say I9100) and its endorsed by them, then they'll know what it is.
Do you want to know this to avoid paying ridiculous data fees? If so, get an international unlocked/unbranded phone that your carrier never had/in their system. I've been milking dumbell data rates on my Nokia E series phones for years now and not because I use the balls out of the data, but to have that unlimited/cheap peace of mind.
When I upgraded from my Captivate to the SGS2, the AT&T clerk said I needed the 4G sim card and installed one.
retnuh said:
When I upgraded from my Captivate to the SGS2, the AT&T clerk said I needed the 4G sim card and installed one.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I received the same treatment. With my last five phones, I've only been able to swap out the SIM cards twice — once because I bought a phone on Craigslist.
Really? I'm still on my, what is it, 4-5 year old 3G sim and no problems whatsoever.
Skv012a said:
Really? I'm still on my, what is it, 4-5 year old 3G sim and no problems whatsoever.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I was on my old 3g Sim card as well but when i got the sgsii it wouldn't connect to the "phone" APN, i had to use the old "wap.cingular" APN. The old 3g Sims aren't provisioned on AT&T's network to access hspa.
Before getting a new Sim card, i would never get over 3Mbps down. Now i average 5 and on good days it'll peak to 7-10.
to answer the question about different Sim cards for smart phones or dumb phones; pretty sure they use the same card because when i went the other day to get a new Sim, the rep just grabbed one from a stack and activated it, there was only one stack. Also it would cost more and bee more confusing for them as company to do that.
And at&t can identify a phone over the network only if that phone is familiar to them. So if you bought an AT&T sgsii off craigslist/ebay/friend and plug in your Sim card, they'll be able to tell.
If you buy a phone that isn't sold/recognized by AT&T, most of the time they can't tell what the device.
A good check is after you put the Sim in your phone, wait a couple hours then log onto your account online and if it shows a picture of the phone your using, they can detect it.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I777 using xda premium
I have this as a gophone. They gave me a normal sim card not the go phone sim card. It has hspa + also.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I777 using XDA App
Well sim doesn't really determine what your plan allows you to do, so sims are dime a dozen. I may consider upgrading my sim if they'll be able to put my current number on a newer sim, else I'm not really concerned too much. (and, for your laughs, I'm still only using Edge to avoid having gutter battery).
bbubel said:
as far as the rep being able to tell ur phone make and model by the imei that's a yes for sure, they can detect what phone you have without you giving them that info and slap the $25 2gb data plan on your account.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I777 using XDA App
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
this is only partly true. IF you have a att phone they can detect what type of phone you have by your IMEI #. that number is cataloged in their systems however if you have a European phone or a unlocked phone from another carrier then no they cannot tell what phone you have.
as for sims there are 2 different types of sims (go phones I dont know) there is the regular sized sims and the micro sims. Micro's for att are used for iphone 4 and up and I believe they are the only phone for att that uses the micro sim. As for functionality of the sims no the old sims (3G) work with thier HSPA+ just the same.....
retnuh said:
When I upgraded from my Captivate to the SGS2, the AT&T clerk said I needed the 4G sim card and installed one.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Same thing when I upgraded. But my sim was a few years old and pretty scratched up from being put in different phones so I figured even if it would work it was time to be replaced anyway.
When I bought the sgs2 the clerk was surprised I still had my Cingular Sim card and suggested I get the new one. I got to keep my Cingular relic.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I777 using XDA App
The only problem I've run into is my mms stopped working a few days after using the phone and I'm on a gophone account. My inspire works fine. Not sure if they ran an imei sweep and the sgii doesnt play nice with gophone accounts. They still had my imei as an old nokia flip phone. You don't have to have data on a gophone, but if you want internet you'll need to buy a gophone data package.
You mean you need an unlimited $50 type GoPhone account right? No one needs a data account above and beyond that.
I bought a cheap GoPhone $50 plan today...using that sim in my Note AI get tomorrow.
gadget069 said:
The only problem I've run into is my mms stopped working a few days after using the phone and I'm on a gophone account. My inspire works fine. Not sure if they ran an imei sweep and the sgii doesnt play nice with gophone accounts. They still had my imei as an old nokia flip phone. You don't have to have data on a gophone, but if you want internet you'll need to buy a gophone data package.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I contacted Bell (a cellphone company in Canada) there saying it won't work on there network cause it's HSPA phone but I checked the specs & this is indeed a CDMA phone. There saying if it was a CDMA phone it would not have a sim card slot. I did notice they were calling it the "Vigor" instead of the new name. Can anyone explain if this is right? I don't want to go out buying a card & waisting money if what they said is true.
SmithO77 said:
I contacted Bell (a cellphone company in Canada) there saying it won't work on there network cause it's HSPA phone but I checked the specs & this is indeed a CDMA phone. There saying if it was a CDMA phone it would not have a sim card slot. I did notice they were calling it the "Vigor" instead of the new name. Can anyone explain if this is right? I don't want to go out buying a card & waisting money if what they said is true.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It is an LTE/CDMA/GSM/WCDMA device. It does have a sim card slot. And it isn't called the Vigor any more. The same way the EVO 4G is no longer called the Supersonic.
Sent from my ADR6425LVW using Tapatalk
This is indeed a CDMA phone. It has a SIM slot because its also a GSM/LTE/WCDMA phone as well and will work on those networks too.
I was able to activate it on a GSM network but I'm not getting any data. Is there a way to fix this?
There is a thread for it in general, should check there.
Sent from my ADR6425LVW using Tapatalk
SmithO77 said:
I was able to activate it on a GSM network but I'm not getting any data. Is there a way to fix this?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
There is a whole thread about it
I just killed my Nexus and I'm not eligible for a discount with Verizon until 8/22. I'm looking at the S4, full price in my case, I guess (sigh!) Does anyone know if the Verizon Samsung Galaxy S4 comes with GSM unlocked? (I remember reading that the Verizon iPhone 5 does and can be used abroad by simply swapping a local SIM card.)
During my trial purchase on the Verizon website, it asked me if I wanted to keep the current SIM number (yes), and later if I wanted the phone implemented for worldwide GSM (do you think they mean through their own services, hence locked GSM, or open to any carrier abroad)?
Thanks for the input.
italiano1964 said:
I just killed my Nexus and I'm not eligible for a discount with Verizon until 8/22. I'm looking at the S4, full price in my case, I guess (sigh!) Does anyone know if the Verizon Samsung Galaxy S4 comes with GSM unlocked? (I remember reading that the Verizon iPhone 5 does and can be used abroad by simply swapping a local SIM card.)
During my trial purchase on the Verizon website, it asked me if I wanted to keep the current SIM number (yes), and later if I wanted the phone implemented for worldwide GSM (do you think they mean through their own services, hence locked GSM, or open to any carrier abroad)?
Thanks for the input.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
All you have to do is give them a call and let em know you will be traveling abroad, they will adjust your plan accordingly. I dunno if the S4 is global capable though, hardware wise.... Make sure you call them before using it abroad, failure to do so will most likely result in a massive roaming bill....
If you look on the hardware specs, it says its a Global Ready phone on Verizon's website. It has GSM also. I think it is possbile to put in a att SIM and go. Don't hold me to it though
Sent from my EVO using Tapatalk 2
i do believe all verizon 4G LTE phones must come GSM unlocked out of box now, if im not mistaken.
yyhd said:
i do believe all verizon 4G LTE phones must come GSM unlocked out of box now, if im not mistaken.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yeah, I believe it's FCC required because of auction rules for the 700mhz band Verizon LTE is using.
That said, you may still need root to enable new APNs.
s44 said:
Yeah, I believe it's FCC required because of auction rules for the 700mhz band Verizon LTE is using.
That said, you may still need root to enable new APNs.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You needn't root，
it can support，GSM and wcdma carriers！！
i test a SIM card of China Unicom
it can edit APNS
nforce4 said:
You needn't root，
it can support，GSM and wcdma carriers！！
i test a SIM card of China Unicom
it can edit APNS
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I appreciate if you show screenshot of APN setting. if possible also network screenshot.
For now all I know is you can get WorldWide plan from verizon and you basically will be paying to verizon but you will use that other carrier as an atena... Cool, but it's VERY EXPENSIVE. Calls internet everything. Is there a way to somewhat hack sgs 4 verizon to use it internationally without needing that stupid expensive plan.
The SiMs are very cheap and the phone plans are very cheap in Europe, sometimes it's even more profitable to buy an unlocked phone just to travel.
So, does anyone know yet how to hack it ? There was a way like that on SGS 3.
I upgraded on Verizon and then traveled to Europe on the same day. All was working well with Verizon in the US. I then put in a sim card I bought when I arrived, and it worked for calling as soon as it started (no changes required). The add apn setting was greyed out, but it worked anyway. I put in the appropriate apn settings and it now does mobile data, voice, and sms. I dont know about MMS, yet.
I did all this without root access, but I went ahead and did the root procedure this morning.
I have to go to another country in 2 weeks, and I may get a different sim. If so, I will update after that.
I do have a persistant warning in the status bar telling me I am using a non-Verizon sim, but no other ill effects.
Sent from my SCH-I545 using xda app-developers app
maxyoda said:
I upgraded on Verizon and then traveled to Europe on the same day. All was working well with Verizon in the US. I then put in a sim card I bought when I arrived, and it worked for calling as soon as it started (no changes required). The add apn setting was greyed out, but it worked anyway. I put in the appropriate apn settings and it now does mobile data, voice, and sms. I dont know about MMS, yet.
I did all this without root access, but I went ahead and did the root procedure this morning.
I have to go to another country in 2 weeks, and I may get a different sim. If so, I will update after that.
I do have a persistant warning in the status bar telling me I am using a non-Verizon sim, but no other ill effects.
Sent from my SCH-I545 using xda app-developers app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hey, thanks for info. Are you using Verizons World Data plan ? If not, when you come back to US is it possible that you will get a pretty large bill for using outside of US ? What type of internet are you recieving, 3g, HSPA or maybe Edge ? What countries have you tried this in yet ?
Also where did you get the phone, pre order or in store?
Thank you, I'm asking so many questions because I really wanted to get an upgrade but I will be flying to Europe for this whole summer and I thought it wouldnt worth it right now.
No, I am not using Verizon's plan (as far as I know). I have a local prepaid sim and phone number with prepaid data on a gsm network (T-Mobile) and so I do not receive calls on my US Verizon number - they go straight to Google voice answering service. I get a H+ symbol for data when I am in an area with good reception, and 3g elsewhere. So far, I have only tried it around Berlin.
I bought the phone in the store.
Tw1ser said:
Hey, thanks for info. Are you using Verizons World Data plan ? If not, when you come back to US is it possible that you will get a pretty large bill for using outside of US ? What type of internet are you recieving, 3g, HSPA or maybe Edge ? What countries have you tried this in yet ?
Also where did you get the phone, pre order or in store?
Thank you, I'm asking so many questions because I really wanted to get an upgrade but I will be flying to Europe for this whole summer and I thought it wouldnt worth it right now.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
maxyoda said:
No, I am not using Verizon's plan (as far as I know). I have a local prepaid sim and phone number with prepaid data on a gsm network (T-Mobile) and so I do not receive calls on my US Verizon number - they go straight to Google voice answering service. I get a H+ symbol for data when I am in an area with good reception, and 3g elsewhere. So far, I have only tried it around Berlin.
I bought the phone in the store.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Did you buy your phone on contract ?
Yes. Upgraded on contract.
Sent from my SCH-I545 using xda app-developers app
verizon galaxy s4 usage in europe
maxyoda said:
No, I am not using Verizon's plan (as far as I know). I have a local prepaid sim and phone number with prepaid data on a gsm network (T-Mobile) and so I do not receive calls on my US Verizon number - they go straight to Google voice answering service. I get a H+ symbol for data when I am in an area with good reception, and 3g elsewhere. So far, I have only tried it around Berlin.
I bought the phone in the store.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hello, I saw your posts which were very helpful about verizon galaxy s4 usage in europe. I have a few more questions if you have time. On which operators and countries were you able to get 3g speeds with verizon s4. Thank you.
---------- Post added at 06:32 AM ---------- Previous post was at 06:07 AM ----------
maxyoda said:
No, I am not using Verizon's plan (as far as I know). I have a local prepaid sim and phone number with prepaid data on a gsm network (T-Mobile) and so I do not receive calls on my US Verizon number - they go straight to Google voice answering service. I get a H+ symbol for data when I am in an area with good reception, and 3g elsewhere. So far, I have only tried it around Berlin.
I bought the phone in the store.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
sadettin said:
Hello, I saw your posts which were very helpful about verizon galaxy s4 usage in europe. I have a few more questions if you have time. On which operators and countries were you able to get 3g speeds with verizon s4. Thank you.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I am asking because i need to know if it will work on a country where the 3g frequency is 2100mhz.