I am considering buying (outright) a Samsung Galaxy SIII either unlocked (with a warranty) or with the intention of unlocking naturally if purchased from a carrier.
Would I have the ability, if the phone was purchased from a carrier and after unlocking, to COMPLETELY remove all carrier bloat apps, and run it as vanilla? Therefore having my choice of any carrier?
Or would you recommend buying an unlocked (international?) version to start with?
I am rather tech-savvy, and could complete a successful unlock. (I think, haven't honestly looked into the topic in depth.) Is the developers version Samsung sells something I should look into? The price "seems" reasonable, though I wouldn't BE developing? Or if cheaper, buy a carrier version and unlock / wipe.
What are the differences between the international version, and unlocked version, and the developer version?
THANKS - I know that's a lot for my first post. I have been doing some research, but get more confused the more I read.
Related
Alright, I'm a total noob on this matter, and am planning for the P500 to be my first android phone. However, due to the fact that Koodo in taking forever to release the phone, I'm tempted to buy it from Telus, and just unlock the device.
Question is, is it possible to unlock this phone without the carrier provided SIM? Does it come with some kind of generic sim in the box? I've never owned a GSM phone before, so I genuinely do not know.
I'm getting pretty anxious, so if I can't get the phone from my carrier by the weekend, I'll grab the Telus version, if it's possible to unlock without paying for their service at all.
Well,
Sort of a noob question, but since I dont know how easy or hard could it be.
If I buy a SGS-II with a service plan in UK (Orange, Voda etc), then can it be unlocked to be used in other countries or other operators.
I know maybe it has got something to do with the gaining the root access to the handset or even a root access achieve the desired.
Thanks for suggestions.
HyperEscape said:
Well,
Sort of a noob question, but since I dont know how easy or hard could it be.
If I buy a SGS-II with a service plan in UK (Orange, Voda etc), then can it be unlocked to be used in other countries or other operators.
I know maybe it has got something to do with the gaining the root access to the handset or even a root access achieve the desired.
Thanks for suggestions.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It's got nothing to do with root and everything to do with the carrier, some will deliver locked phones, some unlocked.. most usually contract phones are unlocked and PAYG phones are locked
I'm on O2 contract and the phones I've had have always been unlocked, but I've heard Orange do network lock their phone
Orange do always lock their phones but if you get it from an independent seller like the Carphone Warehouse or Phones4u the chances are it'll be unlocked.
Most networks will unlock your phone for a small fee (I think I paid £25 on Orange) but it's only a matter of time before sellers on eBay popup that will sell you an unlock code based on your IMEI.
You're right that you could unlock handsets with root access but that involved flashing another radio. Since no locked SGS2's have been released yet you're safe buying now and the phone hasn't been rooted so you may be waiting a while for that option if you get a locked handset in the future.
You could always use a Rebel SimCard. Its not the perfect solution but it works.
So we just have to wait basically. O2 are offering it for 399£ apparently on payg. It would be awesome to get it for that price and then unlock it.
bcam117 said:
So we just have to wait basically. O2 are offering it for 399£ apparently on payg. It would be awesome to get it for that price and then unlock it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Last year, o2 were selling the SGS1 on PAYG. I think the handsets were supposed to be locked but they weren't. If you're in luck then maybe same is true for SGS2. I've pulled the trigger on the SGS2 with contract from o2 as total cost works out cheaper that any PAYG or sim free offer currently available.
Sent from my GT-I9000 using XDA App
Does orange still exist over there?
Three took over Orange over here in Australia years ago
On three if you call them up they give you the unlock code for free
I asked a popular online unlocking firm what the likelihood of the SGS2 being unlocked was and this was his reply:
Hi Aaron,
This should be no problem at all. That's because there's one main database for all European Samsung Android handsets. We have unlocked the Samsung Galaxy S from all 6 main UK networks.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Are you going to use them to unlock? When can they do it? & who are they?
AaronUK said:
I asked a popular online unlocking firm what the likelihood of the SGS2 being unlocked was and this was his reply:
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I will ask them to unlock if my SGS2 arrives locked. I found them doing a quick google search. I am not sure I am allowed to post links so mods please remove if that is the case. http://www.mobileunlocked.co.uk/
There are many more if you do a google search.
If I were to get: wireless.amazon.com/dp/B00894K248 and choose the "Phone only" option what would that be?
Would it be "unlocked" so that I could easily switch to another CDMA carrier?
Would it have any "bloatware"?
Would the bootloader be any harder or easier to unlock or would it already be unlocked? Or is this simply not in question regarding any Samsung Galaxy S3 devices?
I'm just curious as to if there is any difference in buying the Sprint Galaxy S III with contract or without OTHER Than simple pricing differences (and the obvious contractual obligations and ETF associated with it).
Is there a way to buy a S3 that is .... how can I say it... compatible with Sprint (CDMA) yet unlocked and free of bloatware?
THANK YOU
dv8silencer said:
If I were to get: wireless.amazon.com/dp/B00894K248 and choose the "Phone only" option what would that be?
Would it be "unlocked" so that I could easily switch to another CDMA carrier?
Would it have any "bloatware"?
Would the bootloader be any harder or easier to unlock or would it already be unlocked? Or is this simply not in question regarding any Samsung Galaxy S3 devices?
I'm just curious as to if there is any difference in buying the Sprint Galaxy S III with contract or without OTHER Than simple pricing differences (and the obvious contractual obligations and ETF associated with it).
Is there a way to buy a S3 that is .... how can I say it... compatible with Sprint (CDMA) yet unlocked and free of bloatware?
THANK YOU
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
no..You can only use a sprint branded phone on sprint..
but. Sprint phones do not carry a lot of bloatware
Thanks
Just wondering if T-Mobile in the USA lock their phones as I'd buy the Blaze/Relay out of contract when it comes out. Thanks!
salemfox said:
Just wondering if T-Mobile in the USA lock their phones as I'd buy the Blaze/Relay out of contract when it comes out. Thanks!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
They lock it, but you can buy an unlocked version, or buy a locked version and unlock it with an unlock code
Sent from my LG-C800 using xda premium
Unlocked phones are the way to go
Almost all the major US carriers sell their phones locked. However, there is some kind of regulation that they must upon request provide the unlock code to the customer. I just google T-Mobile's unlock code docs, and here is a link to the cached document:
http://74.6.117.48/search/srpcache?ei=UTF-8&p=unlock+code&fr=moz35&u=http://cc.bingj.com/cache.aspx?q=unlock+code&d=4814057732507625&mkt=en-US&setlang=en-US&w=306b1278,f2206927&icp=1&.intl=us&sig=7aRKgNJGsEkbvHzQ_G2bLw--
I can't remember what the regulation is on this but it is most likely contingent or similar to what is in this T-Mobile doc which states in essence the release is contingent on where the phone was bought, number of days on contract/service and/or contract type with the caveat the code must be available from the manufacturer.
That all being said, you're better off buying an unlocked phone. My last two phones have been unlocked and were bought on eBay. This year I saved at least $20 by going straight to a Chinese vendor. I bet if you looked on eBay, you can find the unlocked phone you mention in your post.
currently i have samsung galaxy note 2 but it hassles me a lot hence i am considering to order htc one 64gb version from at&t carrier but the problem is as i am in india, i want to sim unlock it, is there anyway to unlock it straightaway or it will make me wait for 90 days to get unlock code from at&t? if it is so i will consider buying developer edition...
there are two ways.....if u have a contract with att and u have been a good customer, they will unlock it for you by calling customer service.... i have five lines and i signed the contract with att on Apr 28 2013 and i called on May 22 13 asked them about unlock codes. the customer service guy just gave me the five lines codes "i don't know if i was lucky or that was normal"....... otherwise you can buy the unlock code from ebay for $6 or so...... or buy the phone directly unlocked from HTC
First of all, by definition, you can't 'factory unlock' something that comes out of the factory as 'locked'. So the answer to your title is 'No'.
Now, I understand what you actually wanted to do (sim unlock a factory locked phone), so:
If you look one sub-forum up at AT&T HTC One General, there is a thread discussing the different ways to get the unlock code for an AT&T locked HTC One. This includes buying it on eBay, other places where you can pay for an unlock code, and also calling AT&T directly.
Having said that, why do you want the AT&T version of the One? Why don't you just go to HTC website and buy the phone directly? It's unlocked and unbranded and you don't have to bother dealing with AT&T. Furthermore, if you are in India and not an AT&T customer, do you realize how difficult it is to buy a phone without actually having an AT&T postpaid account? It's not impossible, but it's not easy. I know this because I experienced this myself.