So here is my dilemma...
I purchased the GT-I9300 only to find out that it is not in line with T-Mobile's 4G network which means I can't reap the full benefits of 4G for my new phone. I was contemplating relocking the phone to be in tune with T-Mobile's network when two things occured to me:
1) Is such a thing even possible. I've heard of people unlocking their phones but never a relock. Can it even be done with an international phone?
2) Is there another option for me being state-side? I would rather not go through the hassle of having the phone relocked (if possible) if there was another way for me to boost my speed (currently running on 2G).
Thanks in advance for the help.
You mean locking as in network-locking?
That has nothing to do with network connection, the T-Mobile network simply does (afaik) not work with the i9300 only the US-version.
You can relock it if you know what you're doing or have a backup of your efs folder.
Related
[Q] Does the Casual Unlock actually "Unlock" the phone for International Usage?
Hello All,
I rooted my phone and unlocked it as soon as those options because available by Adam Outler. To date, I haven't experienced any major issues, but I do have a question:
I'm about to travel internationally and I'm interested in using other SIMs in order to save a lot of money on Data & Voice usage. Does anyone know if Adam's "Casual Unlocker" truly unlocks the phone for international usage (i.e. other SIM cards) ? I know that it "unlocked the bootloader", however I'm unsure if that unlocks the device for international usage.
I greatly appreciate your help!!!
-Taxmaster
The bootloader unlock doesn't impact global usage. The Verizon variant is sim unlocked out of the box so if you slap a local SIM in you should have voice and text wherever you travel. If you want data though, you need to do a little more work as Verizon removed other carrier's APN information because they want you to use their international roaming plans. Details on that mod are below (or you can flash a rom that has it built in).
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2044449
So my ultimate goal is to buy a used HTC One for use on AT&T network. And for some weird reason, all the used HTC One's in my area are T-Mobile and AT&T ones are hard to come by. For me to use a T-Mobile HTC One on AT&T's network, I understand that I need to gain S-OFF and change the CID (correct me if I'm wrong). So I was wondering unlike T-Mobile HTC One M8's (where only some phones can be S-OFFed), is it possible to obtain S-OFF on all T-Mobile M7 phones using Rumrunner method (or any other method) ?
Another question I have is looking at the network specs, I think I should be able to use T-Mobile's variant on AT&T network with full capabilities (4G LTE, 3G, 2G, etc, etc). Please let me know if that is indeed possible.
EDIT: Ignore my last question about whether AT&T network will work on T-Mobile's HTC One. I found the answer to that, by doing some searching in the forums
Appreciate all your thoughts and suggestions. Thanks!!
abhishekk89 said:
So my ultimate goal is to buy a used HTC One for use on AT&T network. And for some weird reason, all the used HTC One's in my area are T-Mobile and AT&T ones are hard to come by. For me to use a T-Mobile HTC One on AT&T's network, I understand that I need to gain S-OFF and change the CID (correct me if I'm wrong). So I was wondering unlike T-Mobile HTC One M8's (where only some phones can be S-OFFed), is it possible to obtain S-OFF on all T-Mobile M7 phones using Rumrunner method (or any other method) ?
Another question I have is looking at the network specs, I think I should be able to use T-Mobile's variant on AT&T network with full capabilities (4G LTE, 3G, 2G, etc, etc). Please let me know if that is indeed possible.
EDIT: Ignore my last question about whether AT&T network will work on T-Mobile's HTC One. I found the answer to that, by doing some searching in the forums
Appreciate all your thoughts and suggestions. Thanks!!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It has nothing to do with being S-OFF To use a T-Mobile HTC One on AT&T, you need to have the phone SIM Unlocked. This is completely different from being bootloader unlocked or S-OFF. You can try to get T-Mobile to give you the SIM Unlock code, or you can purchase a code from different resources online. When you get that code, you put in the AT&T SIM, the phone will pop up with a dialog where you enter the unlock code, and you're done. The phone will now work on AT&T. You'd just need to enter the AT&T APN information in the settings.
Now, if you want to flash it with the AT&T stock ROM, then yes, you'd need to S-OFF and unlock the bootloader, but that is only necessary if you don't want to run the T-Mobile ROM (they're both the same save for the carrier-specific apps).
Fuzi0719 said:
It has nothing to do with being S-OFF To use a T-Mobile HTC One on AT&T, you need to have the phone SIM Unlocked. This is completely different from being bootloader unlocked or S-OFF. You can try to get T-Mobile to give you the SIM Unlock code, or you can purchase a code from different resources online. When you get that code, you put in the AT&T SIM, the phone will pop up with a dialog where you enter the unlock code, and you're done. The phone will now work on AT&T. You'd just need to enter the AT&T APN information in the settings.
Now, if you want to flash it with the AT&T stock ROM, then yes, you'd need to S-OFF and unlock the bootloader, but that is only necessary if you don't want to run the T-Mobile ROM (they're both the same save for the carrier-specific apps).
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Thanks Fuzi0719! Appreciate your reply. Now the reason I ask if S-OFF is possible or not is because, T-Mobile will unlock it only if you have their service for 40 odd days. Also, I really don't want to pay for any unlock services (guess being a college student makes me a cheapskate ). So my third option would then be S-OFFing right ? That's why I wanted to make sure all T-Mobile M7's can be S-OFFed (unlike the M8's where only some phones can be S-OFFed using Firewater method).
abhishekk89 said:
Thanks Fuzi0719! Appreciate your reply. Now the reason I ask if S-OFF is possible or not is because, T-Mobile will unlock it only if you have their service for 40 odd days. Also, I really don't want to pay for any unlock services (guess being a college student makes me a cheapskate ). So my third option would then be S-OFFing right ? That's why I wanted to make sure all T-Mobile M7's can be S-OFFed (unlike the M8's where only some phones can be S-OFFed using Firewater method).
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You're still not understanding the difference between S-OFF and SIM Unlock. Just because your phone gets S-OFF does NOT make it SIM Unlocked. You might be S-OFF but it will still be SIM locked to T-Mobile. SIM Unlocking and S-OFF are completely different things, one does not affect the other. If you want to use the T-Mobile phone on AT&T, it MUST BE SIM Unlocked, whether by T-Mobile or from getting the code from somewhere else. There is no way around that.
If you are not a customer of T-Mobile, but you purchased a T-Mobile phone, they will provide you the unlock code for free as long as the phone is not reported stolen or was sold while still owed money to T-Mobile. T-Mobile will look at the IMEI number and if it is "in the clear", they will give you the unlock code.
EDIT: Just to clarify, even if you S-OFF, change the CID to the AT&T model, and use the AT&T RUU to flash the firmware and system to the AT&T ROM, if you do not get the SIM Unlock code, the phone will still not work with the AT&T SIM. There is no way around that but to get the unlock code from either T-Mobile or another service. I got my unlock code from unlockcode247.com for the huge price of $3.70. If you can't afford to shell out less than $4 for the code, you can't afford a smartphone, especially at the prices AT&T charges for service.
I'm sorry if this has been asked before, and if so i haven't been able to find it. This may seem like a stupid question, but I'm still pretty new to unlocking and rooting, ect. Now my question is, since the Sprint Galaxy S5 already has gsm network capabilities, why wouldn't it be possible to just download a different radio, and install that to unlock it for domestic gsm networks? I am asking because i have a Sprint S5 that i would like to use with T-mobile.
It might be that way if such an universal radio existed. But it doesn't. So moot point.
Interestingly, the S5 hardware is almost certainly capable of operating on all GSM and LTE bands. But artificial firmware limitations restrict your handset to only the frequencies that Sprint uses, plus a bare minimum of the most popular roaming bands.
Moreover, the Sprint version of the S5 is arguably the most restrictive variant. It simply isn't going to work on most TMB bands. You might find a NV hack to add a single AWS band. But in practical terms it won't work well on TMB.
Samsung and carriers structure it this way deliberately to discourge you from changing carriers. And to make it more likely that you need to buy a new phone if you do.
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Ok, I was really mainly just curious, like I said I am new to this kind of thing, thanks for your response. I guess I will just wait to see if someone manages to domestically unlock it and post it, and then Ill give it a shot and see how well it works. I mainly use wifi at home for anything with the internet and downloads, I just need to get it to work for calls and texts.
kyleliamharris said:
I'm sorry if this has been asked before, and if so i haven't been able to find it. This may seem like a stupid question, but I'm still pretty new to unlocking and rooting, ect. Now my question is, since the Sprint Galaxy S5 already has gsm network capabilities, why wouldn't it be possible to just download a different radio, and install that to unlock it for domestic gsm networks? I am asking because i have a Sprint S5 that i would like to use with T-mobile.
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Click to collapse
It used to be that easy. Things have become quite more difficult with secured bootloaders and verification checks. I think a lot of the international unlock voodoo lies in the NV items for Sprint devices. Unlocking it domestically can be done almost the exact same way as the L720 HOWEVER you will ONLY be domestically unlocked AFTER you internationally unlock it. If you domestic unlock first you'll have wasted your time.
Sent from my SPH-L720 using XDA Free mobile app
Hey all, I'm new to all this 'phone personalization'. I was recently given this phone, but don't live in a Verizon network. I've set it to Global, and LTE, and it has a hard time staying connected to any one network. It also uses a lot of battery constantly searching.
So, I've rooted the phone, (got rid of some bloatwear) and would like to be able to set it to a specific network. Are there apps for this? Do I need to have a special rom?
Any help would be great, Thanks!
Um, Verizon phones only work on Verizon networks or similar CDMA networks. Sometimes you can unlock for GSM, but I don't think you can. I don't know for sure though. And custom Roms are out, because you have a locked bootloader (unless you have one of the original bootloaders from way back). Since you are rooted, you can try some network settings apps, but these wont help if the phone does not natively support the network you are trying to connect to.
Sent from my Nexus 6 using XDA-Developers mobile app
So I have an issue with my current tablet that is locked to T-Mobile not getting any data using a normal phone sim. I'm not about to risk buying a different T-Mobile locked tablet or even one with T-Mobile Firmware as I have a feeling I will run into the same issue, and I can't get any clear answers about it.
Does it make sense for me to buy an ATT Unlocked S7 and use a T-Mobile Phone SIM in it then? Surely an unlocked Tablet from another carrier wouldn't get caught in the data-only SIM mess right? Or are there other ways around this issue? Ironically all I really need is data, but I need to be able to use a normal phone sim from my T-Mobile plan.
Usually t-mobile doesn't care if you use tablet plan sim cards inside phones but it does limit the usage of phone plan sim cards inside tablets.
So with tablet from popular/well known brands, no matter if it's from another carrier or a factory unlocked version, you are almost certain to be detected by t-mobile and it will either block the tablet or limit the speed to 3g speed, especially with those free phone lines with unlimited data.
You would better go with an imported tablet not dedicated for US market.
armyofbear136 said:
So I have an issue with my current tablet that is locked to T-Mobile not getting any data using a normal phone sim. I'm not about to risk buying a different T-Mobile locked tablet or even one with T-Mobile Firmware as I have a feeling I will run into the same issue, and I can't get any clear answers about it.
Does it make sense for me to buy an ATT Unlocked S7 and use a T-Mobile Phone SIM in it then? Surely an unlocked Tablet from another carrier wouldn't get caught in the data-only SIM mess right? Or are there other ways around this issue? Ironically all I really need is data, but I need to be able to use a normal phone sim from my T-Mobile plan.
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I bought unlocked att samsung tab s7 5g. Problem is that you get to use lte but not 5g
Last update is from June 2021. I'm still on Android 11