[Q] Samsung Galaxy S3 3G bought in Korea, unlocking issues - Galaxy S III Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting

Hello!
I just recently returned to Canada from South Korea. While there I bought a Samsung galaxy s3 3g. When I left I broke my contract and was told the phone was unlocked and I could use it in Canada. However, when I tried using a Canadian sim card it didn't work. When I start the phone the SK telecom logo still pops up. I tried phoning SK and asking them to unlock it, but they say all their phones are unlocked.
Any suggestions on how to get the phone to work in Canada would be great, thanks!

You need to give more information if you want an answer. What does the phone do? What rom are you on? etc

Sorry! I'm not on any rom. The phone works fine using wifi but when I tried to go sign up for a phone plan after returning from Korea I was told my phone is locked to SK still, even though SK says it isn't. I really dont know much about phones, so I'm not sure what other information is needed.
I was just wondering how to get my phone unlocked, or to get it sk that I can use it with a Canadian sim card.
Sorry of this wasn't the place to ask a question like that.

Repeat what model phone is it please look under the battery .
This is I9300 forum .

There isn't a Korean GS3 section. Anyway, have you tried using a different SIM? It might just be the SIM's problem.
Sent from my GT-I9300 using xda premium

Related

Issues getting SGH-I747m (Rogers) unlocked

tried Cellunlock.net and they were unable to get the unlock code saying it was not in the Rogers Database, Called Rogers and even they said the IMEI was not in their system.
Phone is from Rogers, want to unlock it to use on Virgin Mobile Canada, but unable to do it.
any ideas on where I can go from here to get this phone to work on my Carrier.
anything I can do via Root?
hmm the phone is not in their database? that sounds super odd, are you sure the phone is rogers? like sure? does it have the rogers crappy bloatware installed? I suppose you dont really know if the phone is rogers unless you actually bought it from them. (ie someone could have just installed rogers rom on it if you bought it off someone)
Ive unlocked s iii's from like every major carrier (telus, bell , rogers) never had a problem. You might want to try getting the code off someone on ebay too.
edit- also as far as my knowledge there is no root free unlock like there was on the s i and sii phones. so you are stuck with the code (for now anyway)
good luck
It was for sure a rogers phone. Ended up going to a different site and they unlocked the phone for me.
thanks for your help

[Q] GT-I9300 S3 use in USA

Hello, I recently visited the USA (Las Vegas) and discovered that my UK bought (UNLOCKED) Samsung Galaxy S3 could not make nor receive calls in the USA. Roaming WAS enabled and I had an R symbol over the signal strength indicator. I have a Vodafone pay as you go sim card which I have used (as my main sim) over numerous years now. I have used it in other phones previously (HTC, Samsung, LG, etc.) over the years and they have all made and received calls in the USA (roaming) no problem. I did get a text message (eventually) when I was in the USA saying welcome to USA and calls cost £1.50, etc, etc. Yet when I tried making a call, I had an automated voice message asking me to contact my operator for some reason (can't remember the specifics). I've never had a problem using my Vodafone sim roaming in the USA and with previous phones, always made and received calls without any hassle (i.e. found a network automatically, e.g. AT&T, T-Mobile, etc.). Also, I visited Las Vegas last year with the same sim card but a different phone (HTC Desire HD) and was able to make and receive calls. I recall my brother saying that he had read something on the internet about the UK spec. S3 having hardware differences with the rest of the world versions, including not being able to work in the USA for calls. However, he could not find the site again. Has anybody else had this problem or know about it?
Yee1 said:
Hello, I recently visited the USA (Las Vegas) and discovered that my UK bought (UNLOCKED) Samsung Galaxy S3 could not make nor receive calls in the USA. Roaming WAS enabled and I had an R symbol over the signal strength indicator. I have a Vodafone pay as you go sim card which I have used (as my main sim) over numerous years now. I have used it in other phones previously (HTC, Samsung, LG, etc.) over the years and they have all made and received calls in the USA (roaming) no problem. I did get a text message (eventually) when I was in the USA saying welcome to USA and calls cost £1.50, etc, etc. Yet when I tried making a call, I had an automated voice message asking me to contact my operator for some reason (can't remember the specifics). I've never had a problem using my Vodafone sim roaming in the USA and with previous phones, always made and received calls without any hassle (i.e. found a network automatically, e.g. AT&T, T-Mobile, etc.). Also, I visited Las Vegas last year with the same sim card but a different phone (HTC Desire HD) and was able to make and receive calls. I recall my brother saying that he had read something on the internet about the UK spec. S3 having hardware differences with the rest of the world versions, including not being able to work in the USA for calls. However, he could not find the site again. Has anybody else had this problem or know about it?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I have no idea about roaming in the USA...
However, I do know that the phone works on AT&Ts network, because I live in the USA & use the I9300 on AT&Ts network. The I9300 will not work on T-Mobile's data network, but should work on T-Mo's voice network.
That probably wasn't much help to you. I just wanted to confirm for you that the phone does work on AT&Ts network here.
brkshr said:
I have no idea about roaming in the USA...
However, I do know that the phone works on AT&Ts network, because I live in the USA & use the I9300 on AT&Ts network. The I9300 will not work on T-Mobile's data network, but should work on T-Mo's voice network.
That probably wasn't much help to you. I just wanted to confirm for you that the phone does work on AT&Ts network here.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks brkshr, that was helpful. Good to know that a GT-I9300 does work in the USA.
I thought the USA had different models (SGH-T999 and SGH-I747). What made you decide to get a GT-I9300?
I may try again (next time I go back to USA) and if still the same, will try an AT&T sim. I must admit, I don't know anything about the different networks in the USA. Can I get a pay as you go sim for free? In England, you can get sim cards for different networks free and then obviously pay to top up.
Yee1 said:
Thanks brkshr, that was helpful. Good to know that a GT-I9300 does work in the USA.
I thought the USA had different models (SGH-T999 and SGH-I747). What made you decide to get a GT-I9300?
I may try again (next time I go back to USA) and if still the same, will try an AT&T sim. I must admit, I don't know anything about the different networks in the USA. Can I get a pay as you go sim for free? In England, you can get sim cards for different networks free and then obviously pay to top up.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You are correct. The U.S. does have it's own variations. I decided to buy the I9300 for the quad-core & I was hoping that Samsung would be more likely to release sources for it & update it faster. They do update the I9300 faster, but I prefer AOSP (Google's stock Android) over Samsungs TouchWiz & that's where sources come in to play. So now I wish I would have gone with a U.S. variant, because sources for the US variant are released. Oh well! (Sorry for the rant)
Unfortunately, we don't get free SIM cards here. The best thing to do is buy an AT&T SIM card online ahead of time. Then activate it on a prepaid plan when you get here. You need a Micro SIM card. They should cost anywhere from $5 to $15. Otherwise, you have to go into an AT&T store & buy their 'SIM Starter Kit' for $25... Complete BS.
http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=search-alias=aps&field-keywords=at&t+sim+card
Thanks again, the link (to Amazon) is very useful. I think I will get an AT&T pre-paid sim card as suggested. At least that way I can use mobile data (when wi-fi is not available) and not have to pay extortionate data roaming charges. Especially useful for mobile data assisted GPS.
One last question though. In the UK, you can keep your number even if you don't top up for ages. In the US, can you buy a pre-paid sim card, use it once, not top up for say a year and still be able to use the sim again, i.e. it won't be deactivated will it? That way I can have it as a holiday sim (I visit the US every year).
Yee1 said:
Thanks again, the link (to Amazon) is very useful. I think I will get an AT&T pre-paid sim card as suggested. At least that way I can use mobile data (when wi-fi is not available) and not have to pay extortionate data roaming charges. Especially useful for mobile data assisted GPS.
One last question though. In the UK, you can keep your number even if you don't top up for ages. In the US, can you buy a pre-paid sim card, use it once, not top up for say a year and still be able to use the sim again, i.e. it won't be deactivated will it? That way I can have it as a holiday sim (I visit the US every year).
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I don't know the answer to that question. Sorry.
Sent from my GT-I9300 using Tapatalk 2
Question!!
I bought an unlocked i9300 the quad core international galaxy s3.. i'm using Simple Mobile micro simcard.. i wanted to use AT&T prepaid simcard the one amazon sell.. i 'm asking if anyone used the AT&T with this phone and make it work.. i went to AT&T store and they told me the simcard will never work on my phone so don't buy it..i live in Texas USA.
PS: i'm sorry if this question been asked before and thank you all for your time and help
Have you seen this thread?
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1696025
Sent from my Nexus 7 using XDA Premium HD app

[Q] Phone has locked itself to network?

Hi, I am looking for some help/advice about a Samsung Galaxy s2 (GT-i9100).
I purchased this phone new and unlocked in the UK back in October 2011 and have been using it fine over the last few months. Recently I gave this phone to a friend who was going traveling in India.
She bought an AirTel sim and used it in the phone for the past several weeks, however, last week she woke up and the phone was asking her to enter a “Network Access Lock Control Key”, and she can no longer use the phone or data (wifi still works).
I’ve done some research and it appears that the phone has somehow locked itself to a network. So I am now trying to figure out how to help her restore connectivity.
I know you can buy unlock codes online, however, we don’t know what provider the phone has locked itself to and all the unlock websites I’ve been on need you to specify the network provider. Is there any way of finding this out?
I also know you can get apps from the app store to unlock, however, you need to be rooted to do this, and this isn’t an option due to where she is at the moment.
So, does anyone have any advice or suggestions?
She has been to AirTel and they don’t know what is going on, she also took it to an official Samsung store who did a full firmware re-install but the phone still appears to be locked. Would this code be available from Samsung?
Any advice or suggestions is appreciated.
Thanks.
engdmorr said:
Hi, I am looking for some help/advice about a Samsung Galaxy s2 (GT-i9100).
I purchased this phone new and unlocked in the UK back in October 2011 and have been using it fine over the last few months. Recently I gave this phone to a friend who was going traveling in India.
She bought an AirTel sim and used it in the phone for the past several weeks, however, last week she woke up and the phone was asking her to enter a “Network Access Lock Control Key”, and she can no longer use the phone or data (wifi still works).
I’ve done some research and it appears that the phone has somehow locked itself to a network. So I am now trying to figure out how to help her restore connectivity.
I know you can buy unlock codes online, however, we don’t know what provider the phone has locked itself to and all the unlock websites I’ve been on need you to specify the network provider. Is there any way of finding this out?
I also know you can get apps from the app store to unlock, however, you need to be rooted to do this, and this isn’t an option due to where she is at the moment.
So, does anyone have any advice or suggestions?
She has been to AirTel and they don’t know what is going on, she also took it to an official Samsung store who did a full firmware re-install but the phone still appears to be locked. Would this code be available from Samsung?
Any advice or suggestions is appreciated.
Thanks.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Tell ur friend to do the below and see if it resolves the issue
1)Turn off the phone and then remove 'Simcard'
2)Turn ON the phone without 'Simcard' and let it boot completely.
3)Turn Off the phone again and this time put the 'simcard' back.
4)Turn ON the phone with 'Simcard' and let her have 'Finger's Crossed' and pray god not to give the same issue until she leaves INDIA
GalaxSim unlock from market
Sent from my GT-I9100 using xda premium
vanisleryan said:
GalaxSim unlock from market
Sent from my GT-I9100 using xda premium
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I think you need to be rooted: he says thats not an option.
Sorted out now
Thanks for the suggestions but we managed to sort it out now.
After much research we rooted the phone using cwm-touch (ver 6.0.1.2-i9100) and the SU-Busybox installer zip.
We then used the GalaxySim unlock app from the app store to unlock the phone, all seems to be working now!

In need of some assistance:I9300GSMH

Hello, First post here on Xda, Nice to meet you all.
I'm looking for some serious help with my new samsung galaxy S3GSMH International version.
Long story short, My girlfriend lives in germany, While on holiday there I purchased a samsung galaxy s3i9300 and was told it will work in any region any network due to being factory unlocked.
In germany I was using a sim card from VIVA mobile or something of the like and it worked fine.
After I returned home, I switched in my UK Vodafone sim card, A message then popped up saying, Please select sim service:vodafone UK/Vodafone UK prepaid.
So I chose Vodafone UK and clicked on OK, I thought everything was fine untill i tried to make a call and got, Not registered on network.
Now I have searched for days in all types of threads to get this fixed, I have tried flashing stock firmware with odin/emergency recovery Via Kies/Flashing modems/flashing patched modems/patched kernals/Ariza patch/Ariza patch Jb.
My Imei is fine and matches under the battery, The S/N also matches under the battery.
So I just don't understand it, If it asked me to choose which sim service surely that means it has some type of connection with the network? I have full signal bars too.
Is there anything else i need to do to get this working? Because I am at a loss, And I obviously can't take it back due to the shop being in germany
Any help or input is extremely appreciated!

Bought Galaxy s3, turns out its blacklisted

Hey I bought a galaxy s3 off someone at university, it has the optus logo when booting up and I was told it was a optus phone, I got a new optus sim put it in and its saying the handset has been locked by optus, so its been stolen i guess and I guess the seller wont give me my money back... So am i able to unlock the phone or is it screwed or can i unlock the phone from the optus network and use another phone provider?
Contact the network and ask them if they will unlock it for you. Blacklisted IMEI is something entirely different from sim lock, nothing you can do in that case (or even ask about).
Sent from my GT-I9300 using Tapatalk

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