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hey everyone, i'm about to buy AT&T Galaxy Note through Craigslist.
seller states that it is unlocked, but not rooted. is there anyway for me to verify it is unlocked?
is it simply inserting my T-Mobile SIM card and making sure it doesn't say phone is locked, enter network lock control key, etc...?
tuffCookie said:
hey everyone, i'm about to buy AT&T Galaxy Note through Craigslist.
seller states that it is unlocked, but not rooted. is there anyway for me to verify it is unlocked?
is it simply inserting my T-Mobile SIM card and making sure it doesn't say phone is locked, enter PIN, etc...?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes all you have to do is insert your sim and it will either connect, or you will get a prompt to enter the PIN. If you want to use 3G/4Gish though, you will have to root and flash the t-mo radio that's in dev section.
P.S. With most Samsung phones, you can check for the unlock by dialing *#7465625# and it will tell you directly if there's a network lock on it, but Samsung disabled this on the skyrocket IIRC and kept it disabled on the note
zoso28 said:
Yes all you have to do is insert your sim and it will either connect, or you will get a prompt to enter the PIN. If you want to use 3G/4Gish though, you will have to root and flash the t-mo radio that's in dev section.
P.S. With most Samsung phones, you can check for the unlock by dialing *#7465625# and it will tell you directly if there's a network lock on it, but Samsung disabled this on the skyrocket IIRC and kept it disabled on the note
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
perfect. thanks for the quick response!
When I inserted a tmo sim into mine nothing happened except for it would show the sim phone number under the Settings app. No signal bars either. This is on a stock unlocked phone.
CreekDirt said:
When I inserted a tmo sim into mine nothing happened except for it would show the sim phone number under the Settings app. No signal bars either. This is on a stock unlocked phone.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You might have to wait a few minutes for it to acquire the signal.. Is the sim active? Sometimes inactive Sims don't connect, but I put my old t-mo sim in & it had a signal in 20-30 seconds.
Easiest way to tell is to reboot the phone after you put a non-at$t sim in. If it's locked it will ask for network control key .
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I727 using xda premium
zoso28 said:
You might have to wait a few minutes for it to acquire the signal.. Is the sim active? Sometimes inactive Sims don't connect, but I put my old t-mo sim in & it had a signal in 20-30 seconds.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yeah it was an active sim. Ten minutes later with no results. It wouldn't work without the APN at all and the Tmo rep didn't want to go through all of that (it was his sim).
tuffCookie said:
hey everyone, i'm about to buy AT&T Galaxy Note through Craigslist.
seller states that it is unlocked, but not rooted. is there anyway for me to verify it is unlocked?
is it simply inserting my T-Mobile SIM card and making sure it doesn't say phone is locked, enter network lock control key, etc...?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It is that "simple"..
If you insert your non-AT&T (including it's MVNOs which are considered AT&T also), and it's LOCKED, it will ask you for the unlock code. If it doesn't, it has been unlocked permanently.
If after doing this, it does show your number under about, but you don't get a signal. This might be an indication of how well the phone gets a signal or how good/bad the signal is, on your carrier in the area you are testing in.
An after thought is to check the versions in the about and research. You may have acquired a hacker/tinkerer's phone that may have played further with the phone's settings and or flashed a different modem. It may also be indicative of why s/he is selling it, possibly faulty.. YMMV
You have to flash T-Mo compatible modem http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1573568
thanks everyone. i bought a note from someone an hour after my initial post and it was unlocked.
i'm enjoying this phone/tablet/phablet/whatever u wanna call it on tmobile. still getting used to the size, but the display is beautiful.
Hi everyone,
I see that the Droid Incredible 4g does support sim cards, I was wondering is it microSIM like the IPHONE or regular SIM. Also, since Verizon doesn't give out unlock codes, is there anyway to get my phone unlocked myself so I can use a prepaid sim when i travel abroad? Thanks, any hlep would be appreciated!
morbius14 said:
Hi everyone,
I see that the Droid Incredible 4g does support sim cards, I was wondering is it microSIM like the IPHONE or regular SIM. Also, since Verizon doesn't give out unlock codes, is there anyway to get my phone unlocked myself so I can use a prepaid sim when i travel abroad? Thanks, any hlep would be appreciated!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It's microSIM. Don't know about unlocking it.
I've heard mixed news on the unlocking process. I've heard if you pressure them for the unlock code they will give it to you. (tell them you are going out of country etc). I've also heard that they don't give them out. (which I don't believe because people have received them before). Other than that, there are companies that charge you $15 and they'll send you the unlock code.
*Madmoose* said:
I've heard mixed news on the unlocking process. I've heard if you pressure them for the unlock code they will give it to you. (tell them you are going out of country etc). I've also heard that they don't give them out. (which I don't believe because people have received them before). Other than that, there are companies that charge you $15 and they'll send you the unlock code.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I got off the phone with Verizon Global Support and apparently the DI4G is not locked and you are free to use a 3rd party sim card. Same is true for Droid RAZR and MAXX.. can someone confirm this? I do not actually have the handset.
I read the same thing but with the question posted here I figured it wasn't true.
From the GSM thread in this section:
Brooose said:
I was curious because I heard that the Droid Incredible 4G has a GSM radio in it so I did an experiment. I used a T-mobile micro SIM. I used the 4GLTE switch app for the Thunderbolt to access the hidden menu and I changed the radio mode to one that included GSM/W-CDMA. I popped in my T-mobile SIM and, presto, I got a T-mobile signal. I tested and I was able to make and receive calls and text messages. I had to manually set the APN for data to epc.tmobile.com and now I have EDGE data. I am sure an AT&T Sim will get HSPA+. The GSM appears unlocked now but hard to access. I am afraid, however, that once Verizon releases the update to make GSM roaming available, that it will be locked. Anyway, for now, you can pop in a GSM SIM and use your phone native.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
yes you can
VZW has unlocked the majority of there 4gLTE smart phones. It is a new thing they just started doing to get a bigger hold on the global market that att has had for the longest time. So if you have a VZW 4g LTE phone and you are planning on going out of country all you have to do is call customer care, and ask them about the support and they will set you up with either a global SIM or you could use a prepaid SIM purchased in the country you are traveling to. I am a customer service rep at a local call center in Utah, we just had training on this subject last month.
morbius14 said:
I got off the phone with Verizon Global Support and apparently the DI4G is not locked and you are free to use a 3rd party sim card. Same is true for Droid RAZR and MAXX.. can someone confirm this? I do not actually have the handset.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
this also applies for the HTC Rezound
They're not locked, but they're not "officially" globally capable either. I imagine in their global updates they will be locked to Verizon's official roaming carriers and you'll have to request an unlock code
As I am not a Verizon customer. I need someone to help me out. I have 2 iPhone 4s, both clean ESN. I need them unlocked for international use by Verizon. Until then, can't use them in my part of the world. Can anyone help me...please.
Thanks.
mwuahjaan said:
As I am not a Verizon customer. I need someone to help me out. I have 2 iPhone 4s, both clean ESN. I need them unlocked for international use by Verizon. Until then, can't use them in my part of the world. Can anyone help me...please.
Thanks.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Not sure how anyone can help you here. If you're not a Verizon customer then Verizon can't unlock them for you. Not sure what their policy is on unlocking 3g phones either.
Update: Pulled this from the web.
Verizon has confirmed (here and here) they WILL unlock the SIM on the iPhone 4S, allowing for use of local SIM cards while traveling abroad (no word yet on whether this will allow for use on AT&T and T-Mobile.) This is different than the jailbreak unlocking method; SIM unlocking through Verizon is permanent and will not affect your warranty in any way.
1. Meet the following requirements:
* Must be a Verizon Wireless customer.
* The iPhone 4S being unlocked must be active on a Verizon Wireless line of service.
* The line of service must be active at least 60 days.
* The line of service must be in good standing for the past 60 days.
* Only one SIM Unlock per line every 10 months.
If you don't meet one or more of the above requirements, call anyway. You may still get lucky.
2. Insert a foreign SIM into the SIM card slot on the side of your phone (only required to confirm that the unlock is successful.)
3. Call 1-800-711-8300 (Verizon Global Support) and ask the representative for a SIM unlock. Occassionally a representative may not know exactly what you are referring to; make sure you are not transferred to a different department. You are in the right place. Explain that they should have a walkthrough on how to do this, and that it allows for the use of local, non-Verizon SIM cards while traveling abroad.
4. Get confirmation from the rep that the unlock has been applied to your account, then check your phone to make sure it recognizes your SIM and can connect (if successful it will roam on AT&T, assuming you are calling from the USA.) You will NOT see an unlock confirmation in iTunes as that is for a factory-applied unlock only.
5. Enjoy your new unlocked iPhone 4S!
*Madmoose* said:
Not sure how anyone can help you here. If you're not a Verizon customer then Verizon can't unlock them for you. Not sure what their policy is on unlocking 3g phones either. CDMA isn't available anywhere but north america. So unlocking for use "abroad" isn't really in the cards anyways.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The iPhone 4s I have got clean ESN. Someone has to put it on his line and call up Verizon to unlock the device for international use. Need to tell them that he wants to use it with a local sim card of the country where he is travelling to. All the time, the device is resting here, powered off. So that there are no charges incurred to the person who is doing this favour to me.
*Madmoose* said:
1. Meet the following requirements:
* Must be a Verizon Wireless customer.
* The iPhone 4S being unlocked must be active on a Verizon Wireless line of service.
* The line of service must be active at least 60 days.
* The line of service must be in good standing for the past 60 days.
* Only one SIM Unlock per line every 10 months.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
mwuahjaan said:
The iPhone 4s I have got clean ESN. Someone has to put it on his line and call up Verizon to unlock the device for international use. Need to tell them that he wants to use it with a local sim card of the country where he is travelling to. All the time, the device is resting here, powered off. So that there are no charges incurred to the person who is doing this favour to me.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Would be really hit and miss for someone here to do that. The 4S is a 3g phone, activating it on our lines would require someone to go in store and get a sim swap. And even then, with the rules posted above, they probably still wouldn't do it.
*Madmoose* said:
Would be really hit and miss for someone here to do that. The 4S is a 3g phone, activating it on our lines would require someone to go in store and get a sim swap. And even then, with the rules posted above, they probably still wouldn't do it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Nope you don't need a sim swap. Just need to put the MEID of my device on your line. Once you do that my device gets 'active' on your line and then a call need to be made to VZW international dept or a live chat can be done, telling them to unlock the device for international use.
While you do the device swap on your line they may ask you to put the data plan on iPhone 4s which is mandatory to have. Ofcourse, I'll be more than happy to pay any expense.
mwuahjaan said:
Nope you don't need a sim swap. Just need to put the MEID of my device on your line. Once you do that my device gets 'active' on your line and then a call need to be made to VZW international dept or a live chat can be done, telling them to unlock the device for international use.
While you do the device swap on your line they may ask you to put the data plan on iPhone 4s which is mandatory to have. Ofcourse, I'll be more than happy to pay any expense.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thats understood. But putting a 3g device on your line, deactivates the 4g LTE card. They cannot be reactivated, you have to go in store to get a new LTE card.
are you sure....
AshtonTS said:
this also applies for the HTC Rezound
They're not locked, but they're not "officially" globally capable either. I imagine in their global updates they will be locked to Verizon's official roaming carriers and you'll have to request an unlock code
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I have an HTC Rezound, and I'd heard it was unlocked.
I'm abroad in the UK (Scotland) but when I put in an international sim card it says the sim card is unrecognized, and I can't get any signal but I can turn on mobile network I just can't access it (no signal). I messed with the APNs (using my network in the UKs suggested settings) but I can't seem to get it to function.
I know that the phone itself says it only offers CDMA and LTE but I was wondering if there was a sneaky way to get to the GSM capabilities of the phone that aren't in the menu.
I tried
*#*#4636*#*#
and when I hit the final hash tag the phone just acts like I just opened the dialer app
HELP
vonny3492 said:
I have an HTC Rezound, and I'd heard it was unlocked.
I'm abroad in the UK (Scotland) but when I put in an international sim card it says the sim card is unrecognized, and I can't get any signal but I can turn on mobile network I just can't access it (no signal). I messed with the APNs (using my network in the UKs suggested settings) but I can't seem to get it to function.
I know that the phone itself says it only offers CDMA and LTE but I was wondering if there was a sneaky way to get to the GSM capabilities of the phone that aren't in the menu.
I tried
*#*#4636*#*#
and when I hit the final hash tag the phone just acts like I just opened the dialer app
HELP
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I don't know about the Rezound, but on our phone, since the latest update, you could change the setting under Settings -> Call -> Preferred Network to Global. There's also an option for GSM/UMTS.
vonny3492 said:
I tried
*#*#4636*#*#
and when I hit the final hash tag the phone just acts like I just opened the dialer app
HELP
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Try something like SWITCHIT - 4G LTE TOGGLE -- it fires a different intent that gets you to the magic phone info page that *#*#4636*#*# is supposed to send you to.
On my Inc 4G, this lets me use AT&T's network in the US (with an appropriate sim). I haven't tried it abroad.
I tried it abroad. No restrictions. 2.17.605.2.710RD is needed
Is it possible to unlock the Verizon version of the S4? I'm deploying in 4 weeks and would like to use my phone with international carriers. I have an SCH-I545 build and I'm still running on stock. Thanks
I think ATT has begun to unlock phones internationally when asked.
Verizon? Not sure... one think to check is if the Verizon GS4 supports a carrier in the country you travel to.
Take a look at Leo Laporte's Tech Guy show... he has callers ask this quetion on average every other week... I think he has show notes on his site now days... techguylabs.com
Sent from my SCH-I545 using xda app-developers app
PetrichorXFi said:
I think ATT has begun to unlock phones internationally when asked.
Verizon? Not sure... one think to check is if the Verizon GS4 supports a carrier in the country you travel to.
Take a look at Leo Laporte's Tech Guy show... he has callers ask this quetion on average every other week... I think he has show notes on his site now days... techguylabs.com
Sent from my SCH-I545 using xda app-developers app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Verizon phones are unlocked out of the box, but you have to make sure that the country you are going to has a GSM network.
After a lot of searching, I decided to ask this here:
I have a Verizon S4, but I was wondering if it was actually unlocked out-of-box or if there is something I have to do in order to use it with, for instance, Cricket, or U.S. Cellular. I have done lots of rooting/developing for Android, but have never tried to use an Android phone with a differing carrier. Can anyone help or point me to a thread that helps? (Again, did lots of Googling and XDA-searching)
furballbeethoven said:
After a lot of searching, I decided to ask this here:
I have a Verizon S4, but I was wondering if it was actually unlocked out-of-box or if there is something I have to do in order to use it with, for instance, Cricket, or U.S. Cellular. I have done lots of rooting/developing for Android, but have never tried to use an Android phone with a differing carrier. Can anyone help or point me to a thread that helps? (Again, did lots of Googling and XDA-searching)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The phone is GSM-unlocked. This means that you buy a SIM, plug it in, then add the proper APN to enable data. (Settings, Connections, More networks, Mobile networks, Access Point Names). The "+" (Add APN) button is disabled if you have a VZ SIM installed but will be enabled if you insert a non-VZ SIM.
Whoever you get the SIM from will tell you what to enter for the APN.
Whether or not it'll work and how fast a network you'll get depends on the bands that the local carrier uses.
k1mu said:
The phone is GSM-unlocked. This means that you buy a SIM, plug it in, then add the proper APN to enable data. (Settings, Connections, More networks, Mobile networks, Access Point Names). The "+" (Add APN) button is disabled if you have a VZ SIM installed but will be enabled if you insert a non-VZ SIM.
Whoever you get the SIM from will tell you what to enter for the APN.
Whether or not it'll work and how fast a network you'll get depends on the bands that the local carrier uses.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
HI k1mu,
So do you mean to say if I purchase this device with full price from VZW ~$400 (month to month plan),
the next thing I can do is take off VZW SIM and would it work on my AT&T GSM SIM in US?
malhotra.aakash said:
HI k1mu,
So do you mean to say if I purchase this device with full price from VZW ~$400 (month to month plan),
the next thing I can do is take off VZW SIM and would it work on my AT&T GSM SIM in US?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Maybe. While the VZW version is GSM-unlocked for international use, it is unclear how well it works with US GSM carriers. Some people say they can get it to work, some say they can't. Theoretically, it should only take you putting in an AT&T SIM then plugging in the APN data for it to work, but some people still say it won't.
So, you should be able to, but going by the accounts of XDA members, it doesn't always work, which may or may not come down to user error.
joshm.1219 said:
Maybe. While the VZW version is GSM-unlocked for international use, it is unclear how well it works with US GSM carriers. Some people say they can get it to work, some say they can't. Theoretically, it should only take you putting in an AT&T SIM then plugging in the APN data for it to work, but some people still say it won't.
So, you should be able to, but going by the accounts of XDA members, it doesn't always work, which may or may not come down to user error.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks joshm.1219,
It still leaves me in a dilemma.. I do really want to get a "S4 mini" model but don't want to stuck up with CDMA providers to be true. Might want to use with ATT or Tmobile or H2O.. I visited the VZW store and the model has option under networks as
1. Global
2. LTE/CDMA
3. GSM/UTMS
Now the Qs are,
1. If this model does have a SIM card slot, how at the first point VZW has lock on it
2. When i asked the VZW associate, he was not sure whether they ever do unlock the device or not
3. If I am ready to pay off complete price of the device which is ~400, what else I would need from them to really 'UNLOCK' it?
4. Is there any means by root/flashing to make such model work for US GSM carriers like H2O or even T-mobile.
Sorry to be so annoying but m new to all these things and quite confused :crying:
many Thx in advance..
malhotra.aakash said:
Thanks joshm.1219,
It still leaves me in a dilemma.. I do really want to get a "S4 mini" model but don't want to stuck up with CDMA providers to be true. Might want to use with ATT or Tmobile or H2O.. I visited the VZW store and the model has option under networks as
1. Global
2. LTE/CDMA
3. GSM/UTMS
Now the Qs are,
1. If this model does have a SIM card slot, how at the first point VZW has lock on it
2. When i asked the VZW associate, he was not sure whether they ever do unlock the device or not
3. If I am ready to pay off complete price of the device which is ~400, what else I would need from them to really 'UNLOCK' it?
4. Is there any means by root/flashing to make such model work for US GSM carriers like H2O or even T-mobile.
Sorry to be so annoying but m new to all these things and quite confused :crying:
many Thx in advance..
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Sorry I can't be of more help, I've been on Verizon for 10 years now, but it is by all intents & purposes, fully SIM-unlocked. It's simply unclear as to why some people report problems of using Verizon phones on US GSM carriers. If you really don't want to worry about it & are willing to pay full price, purchase a device through the carrier you want to use it on.
here is the code to choose network
you might need to change the network frequency to gsm if you wanna use it on att or tmobile and when you wanna switch back to verizon choose wcdma try dialing *#*#4636#*#*:good:
joshm.1219 said:
Sorry I can't be of more help, I've been on Verizon for 10 years now, but it is by all intents & purposes, fully SIM-unlocked. It's simply unclear as to why some people report problems of using Verizon phones on US GSM carriers. If you really don't want to worry about it & are willing to pay full price, purchase a device through the carrier you want to use it on.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I've had people argue with me over this, but the fact is that NO Verizon LTE phone is SIM-locked. None. Nada.
People who claim differently are simply misinformed. (My I545 comes up on AT&T when I plug in my UK SIM and switch to GSM.)
Not to say that all VZ phones are unlocked - my Inc2 had to be unlocked before it would work with that same SIM. If I remember right, it wouldn't connect in the US, either, even after being unlocked. Not so for the GS4.
I appreciate the posts here from people who know. As for me, I am switching to tmobile and will attempt to use this there. If it doesnt work out, I will sell it on swappa and get a nexus 5!
Hi,
Verizon S4 with 4.3 is international unlocked by default.
You just need to select network mode 'GLOBAL'. Then add the right APN.
I am using Indian GSM SIM with the GLOBAL mode selected. All is well for me.
I can provide screenshots if anybody wanna see.
Verizon phones are unlocked out of the box and they DO work fine on US carriers I'm running my Verizon S4 right now on AT&T and I also ran it on tmobile for short time,
even works with Walmart straight talk and Net10 as those are just subsidies of T Mobile and AT&T anyway.
so don't sweat it if you have a verizon phone that uses a sim card, you can run it on any network that uses a SIM card US or international.
baseband issue
Doesn't the MK2 baseband with jb 4.3 block US Sim cards?
Or do I just have a weird s4?
kendonsh said:
Doesn't the MK2 baseband with jb 4.3 block US Sim cards?
Or do I just have a weird s4?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Mine dont? Im on mk2,
soon as I got my verizon s4 replacement from a damaged model that I turned in,
I threw a net10/att sim card in it.
completely stock phone not even rooted nothin, and it works fine, I did get a popup that said non Verizon SIM card but it works fine
calls in and out MMS works fine
---------- Post added at 01:57 PM ---------- Previous post was at 01:53 PM ----------
CafeAdrutico said:
The S4 is supposed to work globally right out of the box, as long as you've called Verizon to enable International roaming on your account. But, used that way, you'll be paying Verizon for International roaming and it's bloody expensive.
The question is, can you remove the SIM and put in a SIM for a local carrier in the foreign country where you are and use the phone on that carrier? That is what being unlocked would allow you to do. Past Verizon phones have not been unlocked to allow this. But, if you called Tech Support and told them you were going to, for example, Europe and wanted to use a local SIM, they would walk you through unlocking (at no charge).
I read a report that the S4 is not locked and that you can use a SIM for a local carrier in Europe, as it comes out of the box. But, I would not trust that. I would call VZW Tech Support and tell them exactly what you want to do - i.e. don't say "can I use my phone in Europe?" The answer to that is yes, you can, at about $1/minute. What you should ask them is, "can I travel to Europe and purchase a SIM from a local carrier and use that in my phone?" If not, they should be able to walk you through unlocking the phone, so you can do that.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
to answer your question simply yes.
let's say I take my phone to Spain are somewhere in the UK, I'll go to store buy a SIM card for local network and BAM local phone number in Europe making phone calls, you can even get Data to work if you have that local carrier's APN settings
no unlocking is required because it is not locked.
other companies AT&T, Sprint, t-mobile, yes you have to get The phone sim unlocked.
k1mu said:
I've had people argue with me over this, but the fact is that NO Verizon LTE phone is SIM-locked. None. Nada.
People who claim differently are simply misinformed. (My I545 comes up on AT&T when I plug in my UK SIM and switch to GSM.)
Not to say that all VZ phones are unlocked - my Inc2 had to be unlocked before it would work with that same SIM. If I remember right, it wouldn't connect in the US, either, even after being unlocked. Not so for the GS4.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
This is 100% correct. NO LTE phones on verizon are sim locked. They are REQUIRED to keep them unlocked because of their agreement with the FCC for their use of the spectrum they lease. NO OTHER CARRIER must abide by these rules. Only VZW. Sprint I've heard will unlock ANY phone that is capable if you ask them too, and AT&T will NOT unlock any of their phones unless it 2 years old and out of contract (which makes no sense if you have to pay them while under contract anyway). There was a big deal about the Iphone 5 when it came out with LTE for verizon. If you bought a Verizon Iphone, you could put an ATT sim in it and it works, but not an ATT on VZW because ATT keeps them locked.
The Dinc 2 above was NOT an LTE device. Therefore no sim card....and it wouldn't work on most overseas networks anyway as it was a CDMA only phone. I believe VZW tested the limits of the "unlocked" SIM with their first few LTE phones. My Rezound worked with a GSM network sim....but voice and SMS only. It took some unlocking of the bootloader and rooting to run a special Rom to get Data to work on it.
I am heading to the Caribbean in a few weeks, and I will be using a rented SIM card to be able to message back and forth with my wife (with a data based messenger service as data rates are far cheaper than SMS rate there)
318sugarhill said:
This is 100% correct. NO LTE phones on verizon are sim locked. They are REQUIRED to keep them unlocked because of their agreement with the FCC for their use of the spectrum they lease. NO OTHER CARRIER must abide by these rules. Only VZW. Sprint I've heard will unlock ANY phone that is capable if you ask them too, and AT&T will NOT unlock any of their phones unless it 2 years old and out of contract (which makes no sense if you have to pay them while under contract anyway). There was a big deal about the Iphone 5 when it came out with LTE for verizon. If you bought a Verizon Iphone, you could put an ATT sim in it and it works, but not an ATT on VZW because ATT keeps them locked.
The Dinc 2 above was NOT an LTE device. Therefore no sim card....and it wouldn't work on most overseas networks anyway as it was a CDMA only phone. I believe VZW tested the limits of the "unlocked" SIM with their first few LTE phones. My Rezound worked with a GSM network sim....but voice and SMS only. It took some unlocking of the bootloader and rooting to run a special Rom to get Data to work on it.
I am heading to the Caribbean in a few weeks, and I will be using a rented SIM card to be able to message back and forth with my wife (with a data based messenger service as data rates are far cheaper than SMS rate there)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I just spent a week in the UK with an ekit.com SIM in my Verizon GS4 - no problem with getting service, no Verizon charge (even though I was on the Vodaphone network for at least some times.)
And the dinc 2, while not LTE, was CDMA/GSM - not just CDMA (yes, the dinc was CDMA-only), so it did accept a SIM card. I'm using that in the GS4 now that it's cut down to micro SIM.
That phone WAS SIM-locked, but VZ happily unlocked it. For the GS4, I didn't have to do anything with VZ to use it off their network.
bickin said:
Is it possible to unlock the Verizon version of the S4? I'm deploying in 4 weeks and would like to use my phone with international carriers. I have an SCH-I545 build and I'm still running on stock. Thanks
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
DOES ANYONE KNOW HOW TO
UNLFOK s4 UK VERSION sorry I'm new to the website
furballbeethoven said:
After a lot of searching, I decided to ask this here:
I have a Verizon S4, but I was wondering if it was actually unlocked out-of-box or if there is something I have to do in order to use it with, for instance, Cricket, or U.S. Cellular. I have done lots of rooting/developing for Android, but have never tried to use an Android phone with a differing carrier. Can anyone help or point me to a thread that helps? (Again, did lots of Googling and XDA-searching)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The phone is already unlocked for SIM and other carriers, all you need is the correct APN for the carrier. I currently have T-Mobile on my i545 and everything works on it.
Hey guys,
I am trying to send a S4 to friend of mine as a gift... but its Verizon, and there is no Verizon in Europe. I don't know what to do with it so it would be sim unlock and it will work with different networks because I don't know what operator she will be using. The S4 is already rooted and I am trying different rooms. I am out of ideas because even when I put AT&T card inside it seems like it cant connect to network...so it cant work with ours network how in heck will work with theirs. In the end off all of it like a mention my friends is she, but that kind of she that will break it without even knowing it.
If someone would help me out pick the best room for her that will maybe be pure s4 with out a lot of complicated stuff, that maybe would self-update for her and any network friendly?
Thanks
PS. all that crap that Verizon is saying that phone is unlock free its crap. when you out there phone cant either connect to network or have that notification that is not Verizon sim witch is ridicules
SaNNeK said:
Hey guys,
I am trying to send a S4 to friend of mine as a gift... but its Verizon, and there is no Verizon in Europe. I don't know what to do with it so it would be sim unlock and it will work with different networks because I don't know what operator she will be using. The S4 is already rooted and I am trying different rooms. I am out of ideas because even when I put AT&T card inside it seems like it cant connect to network...so it cant work with ours network how in heck will work with theirs. In the end off all of it like a mention my friends is she, but that kind of she that will break it without even knowing it.
If someone would help me out pick the best room for her that will maybe be pure s4 with out a lot of complicated stuff, that maybe would self-update for her and any network friendly?
Thanks
PS. all that crap that Verizon is saying that phone is unlock free its crap. when you out there phone cant either connect to network or have that notification that is not Verizon sim witch is ridicules
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The Verizon S4 is unlocked for international roaming. I have a friend who took his Verizon S4 to Europe, bought a pre-paid sim in Europe, popped it in, changed the mode to global, and it worked fine. I use Hyperdrive and have read in that thread about others using the Verzion S4 with European and other international sims. They may have to change the APN, but it should work.
psu90 said:
The Verizon S4 is unlocked for international roaming. I have a friend who took his Verizon S4 to Europe, bought a pre-paid sim in Europe, popped it in, changed the mode to global, and it worked fine. I use Hyperdrive and have read in that thread about others using the Verzion S4 with European and other international sims. They may have to change the APN, but it should work
My friend already had S4 from Verizon and when she put her card inside nothing was working... not even text messages... and she had that notification bar still... so idk... cant tell cuz I dint had Verizon phone out there jet.. its my first contract with them and my last I think.. ATT phone are so much easier to deal with..
but for know I need to think of something... for her I know hyper driver but I was using other rom I think google edition with original android? not Samsung edition and it look nice and smooth and easy, something for her but I cant find any room like that with option for international... or I think the main problem is to have option to have APN option so manually I can add network.. for not even ATT cant connect to it...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
short version
SaNNeK said:
Hey guys,
I am trying to send a S4 to friend of mine as a gift... but its Verizon, and there is no Verizon in Europe. I don't know what to do with it so it would be sim unlock and it will work with different networks because I don't know what operator she will be using. The S4 is already rooted and I am trying different rooms. I am out of ideas because even when I put AT&T card inside it seems like it cant connect to network...so it cant work with ours network how in heck will work with theirs. In the end off all of it like a mention my friends is she, but that kind of she that will break it without even knowing it.
If someone would help me out pick the best room for her that will maybe be pure s4 with out a lot of complicated stuff, that maybe would self-update for her and any network friendly?
Thanks
PS. all that crap that Verizon is saying that phone is unlock free its crap. when you out there phone cant either connect to network or have that notification that is not Verizon sim witch is ridicules
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
basically what I need to do to:
1. Make Verizon S4 working in Europe?
2. What rom will be the best for that (self updating, not complicated, could look like Samsung android but I would prefer Google edition for her cuz it might be just easier on long rom)?
3. Does it have to be multi-carrier rom or just the one with open APN option?
4. Any other information I have to consider, since its going to be a gift phone I will not have future ability to look at it at least for know so I need something that might have chance to run smooth for couple months.
Original S4 with nothing done to it, pure out of box. dint work that well, was not able to send messages and they count add new APN. In the end of the story the phone was stolen... so I know I have to make this one work here before I will send it there...
psu90 said:
The Verizon S4 is unlocked for international roaming. I have a friend who took his Verizon S4 to Europe, bought a pre-paid sim in Europe, popped it in, changed the mode to global, and it worked fine. I use Hyperdrive and have read in that thread about others using the Verzion S4 with European and other international sims. They may have to change the APN, but it should work.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I just put hyperdrive on s4 and I will try to see my friend with att car but option to add ne APN is blocked
SaNNeK said:
I just put hyperdrive on s4 and I will try to see my friend with att car but option to add ne APN is blocked
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Install a non-Verizon SIM and enable GSM mode. You'll then be allowed to enter an APN.
k1mu said:
Install a non-Verizon SIM and enable GSM mode. You'll then be allowed to enter an APN.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
well I am waiting for friend of mine cuz he has ATT micro sim, but when I send first S4 to her, she went to phone store and apparently they tried with her sim card and it dint work neither... I am not saying u are wrong, I will try like u said with ATT card first and that first S4 was pure stock , so maybe that's why... idk...
any other suggestions?
can I use any rom as long is APN accessible ?
SaNNeK said:
basically what I need to do to:
1. Make Verizon S4 working in Europe?
2. What rom will be the best for that (self updating, not complicated, could look like Samsung android but I would prefer Google edition for her cuz it might be just easier on long rom)?
3. Does it have to be multi-carrier rom or just the one with open APN option?
4. Any other information I have to consider, since its going to be a gift phone I will not have future ability to look at it at least for know so I need something that might have chance to run smooth for couple months.
Original S4 with nothing done to it, pure out of box. dint work that well, was not able to send messages and they count add new APN. In the end of the story the phone was stolen... so I know I have to make this one work here before I will send it there...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Can I install rom from different country on my Verizon s4?
SaNNeK said:
well I am waiting for friend of mine cuz he has ATT micro sim, but when I send first S4 to her, she went to phone store and apparently they tried with her sim card and it dint work neither... I am not saying u are wrong, I will try like u said with ATT card first and that first S4 was pure stock , so maybe that's why... idk...
any other suggestions?
can I use any rom as long is APN accessible ?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
"I am not saying u are wrong". Actually, yes, you are. However, whomever tried this gave you bad info, I was tempted to ignore this (ignorance is bliss), but in case someone actually believes you...
My phone is stock, rooted. Verizon Galaxy S4, running ME7.
Here's what I just did (I tried this again just to prove you wrong...)
I inserted my GoSIM (ekit, Jersey Telecom) SIM, GoSIM has pretty good European coverage, good prices.
The phone comes up with a "Non-Verizon SIM" (this SIM card is from an unknown source") warning. Ignore that.
Menu/Settings/More Networks/Mobile Networks.
Tap on Network mode. Select "GSM/UMTS". When it asks you "System select" choose Automatic.
You've got to disable Global mode since that will prefer CDMA, which is still working for you in the US in a VZ coverage area. GSM/UMTS disables CDMA.
Now, click on "Access Point Names". The VZ LTE one shows but is now greyed out.
Click on the Menu soft key, Click on "Add new access point". That's now enabled. (If you try this with a VZ SIM installed, that menu will be greyed out, which is quite reasonable.)
Fill in the APN, hit save. Now you can select that APN.
Mobile data is now enabled. It reads "AT&T UK" as the network for me, which is reasonable since I'm using a UK SIM.
As several people have said, this phone is unlocked out-of-the-box. It doesn't matter what ROM you run, you can use whatever GSM SIM you like as long as the network bands that the GS4 supports match what your provider uses.
I don't know if there's something in the stock ROM that blocks US domestic carriers (t-mobile, at&t); that's possible, as VZ has done stuff like that in the past. That's not what you asked, however. At least in my case, a non-US SIM works without anything special to do.
k1mu said:
"I am not saying u are wrong". Actually, yes, you are. However, whomever tried this gave you bad info, I was tempted to ignore this (ignorance is bliss), but in case someone actually believes you...
My phone is stock, rooted. Verizon Galaxy S4, running ME7.
Here's what I just did (I tried this again just to prove you wrong...)
I inserted my GoSIM (ekit, Jersey Telecom) SIM, GoSIM has pretty good European coverage, good prices.
The phone comes up with a "Non-Verizon SIM" (this SIM card is from an unknown source") warning. Ignore that.
Menu/Settings/More Networks/Mobile Networks.
Tap on Network mode. Select "GSM/UMTS". When it asks you "System select" choose Automatic.
You've got to disable Global mode since that will prefer CDMA, which is still working for you in the US in a VZ coverage area. GSM/UMTS disables CDMA.
Now, click on "Access Point Names". The VZ LTE one shows but is now greyed out.
Click on the Menu soft key, Click on "Add new access point". That's now enabled. (If you try this with a VZ SIM installed, that menu will be greyed out, which is quite reasonable.)
Fill in the APN, hit save. Now you can select that APN.
Mobile data is now enabled. It reads "AT&T UK" as the network for me, which is reasonable since I'm using a UK SIM.
As several people have said, this phone is unlocked out-of-the-box. It doesn't matter what ROM you run, you can use whatever GSM SIM you like as long as the network bands that the GS4 supports match what your provider uses.
I don't know if there's something in the stock ROM that blocks US domestic carriers (t-mobile, at&t); that's possible, as VZ has done stuff like that in the past. That's not what you asked, however. At least in my case, a non-US SIM works without anything special to do.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
How am I wrong? By saying "I am not saying u are wrong"? I dint tried it... I dint had that phone in Europe... and I dint plug in card... I said she put hers in and when to some kinds a store... they dint do it... not me... and even by saying that I was not trying to offend you... and that's why we have forums so we can learn and ask questions...
either way that notification "The phone comes up with a "Non-Verizon SIM" (this SIM card is from an unknown source") warning. Ignore that." can it be removed? that phone will not be use in US any time soon maybe in 6 moths.. so I am trying to make it look as normal as it can...
can I use any rom and will that method work? I am trying to get her something with 4.3, looks nice and its simpler that Samsung stock OS...
SaNNeK said:
either way that notification "The phone comes up with a "Non-Verizon SIM" (this SIM card is from an unknown source") warning. Ignore that." can it be removed? that phone will not be use in US any time soon maybe in 6 moths.. so I am trying to make it look as normal as it can...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That's something I can't answer, but it's very possible that custom ROMs won't display that noise. Unfortunately, that'll mean rooting it, installing SafeStrap, then experimenting.
SaNNeK said:
can I use any rom and will that method work? I am trying to get her something with 4.3, looks nice and its simpler that Samsung stock OS...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The phone is SIM unlocked, so any ROM will be able to work with whatever SIM you install. In other words, the hardware doesn't have any problem with it, so use whatever software you want. However, I don't know if there's any 4.3 ROMs yet that are SafeStrap compatible.
k1mu said:
"I am not saying u are wrong". Actually, yes, you are. However, whomever tried this gave you bad info, I was tempted to ignore this (ignorance is bliss), but in case someone actually believes you...
My phone is stock, rooted. Verizon Galaxy S4, running ME7.
Here's what I just did (I tried this again just to prove you wrong...)
I inserted my GoSIM (ekit, Jersey Telecom) SIM, GoSIM has pretty good European coverage, good prices.
The phone comes up with a "Non-Verizon SIM" (this SIM card is from an unknown source") warning. Ignore that.
Menu/Settings/More Networks/Mobile Networks.
Tap on Network mode. Select "GSM/UMTS". When it asks you "System select" choose Automatic.
You've got to disable Global mode since that will prefer CDMA, which is still working for you in the US in a VZ coverage area. GSM/UMTS disables CDMA.
Now, click on "Access Point Names". The VZ LTE one shows but is now greyed out.
Click on the Menu soft key, Click on "Add new access point". That's now enabled. (If you try this with a VZ SIM installed, that menu will be greyed out, which is quite reasonable.)
Fill in the APN, hit save. Now you can select that APN.
Mobile data is now enabled. It reads "AT&T UK" as the network for me, which is reasonable since I'm using a UK SIM.
As several people have said, this phone is unlocked out-of-the-box. It doesn't matter what ROM you run, you can use whatever GSM SIM you like as long as the network bands that the GS4 supports match what your provider uses.
I don't know if there's something in the stock ROM that blocks US domestic carriers (t-mobile, at&t); that's possible, as VZ has done stuff like that in the past. That's not what you asked, however. At least in my case, a non-US SIM works without anything special to do.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Wow... Pulling this old thread up to say thank you.
I had previously gotten my phone to work on EU carriers but for the life of me forgot how and have been struggling with this for a few days now.
Anyway, I did some searches in Google and kept running into walls and after a few days of [foolishly] not searching XDA I called Verizon and they told me I was **** out of luck.
Well, here I am, back on good ol' XDA and 10 minutes of searching I read your post which gets my memory clear and I remember to enable the GSM option. So simple.
Anyway, big thanks to you and big thanks to the community as always.
|mpulse said:
Wow... Pulling this old thread up to say thank you.
I had previously gotten my phone to work on EU carriers but for the life of me forgot how and have been struggling with this for a few days now.
Anyway, I did some searches in Google and kept running into walls and after a few days of [foolishly] not searching XDA I called Verizon and they told me I was **** out of luck.
Well, here I am, back on good ol' XDA and 10 minutes of searching I read your post which gets my memory clear and I remember to enable the GSM option. So simple.
Anyway, big thanks to you and big thanks to the community as always.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks.
Oh, and don't be "that guy" (i.e. ME.)
I was complaining about how poor coverage I was getting. Apparently, switching to "Global" mode versus "CDMA/LTE"
Gee, I betcha it'll work a lot better with that mode enabled here in VZ-land.
I bought this phone new but was told it was carrier locked, and so I bought the obligatory 2 months of Verizon prepaid so I could justify using it unlocked. After I cancelled my prepaid account, the agent wanted to give me the unlock code, but said there wasn't one, or she was having an issue trying to get one. I have the phone running on TracFone now (operating on the Verizon network through TracFone,) but I am persistently getting the SIM card warning "The SIM card is not from Verizon Wireless." When I hold down the notification, it says "SIM card. These notifications can't be modified."
Anyone know how to remove the SIM card check or block that notification? Everything else seems to be working fine.
Check out the stock restore thread in roms, kernels, and development. You can flash the retail firmware on the Verizon variant. That should remove all the Verizon bloat and the Verizon sim notification. Unfortunately being it is a Verizon variant, it cannot be bootloader unlocked or rooted to change built in functions of the phone
tha_mechanic said:
Check out the stock restore thread in roms, kernels, and development. You can flash the retail firmware on the Verizon variant. That should remove all the Verizon bloat and the Verizon sim notification. Unfortunately being it is a Verizon variant, it cannot be bootloader unlocked or rooted to change built in functions of the phone
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I appreciate that tip. I will say the only other thing I've noticed is that the phone no longer connects to the 5G network. It stays on LTE, whereas before it would switch back and forth. Must be provisioned that way since I'm with an MVNO.
Yes if you are not on Verizon you can't access their 5G, visual voicemail, or wifi calling. I had straight talk for years on the Verizon network. Works well but no Verizon features. What is rediculous in my opinion is I believe Verizon actually purchased straight talk not too long ago?
tha_mechanic said:
Yes if you are not on Verizon you can't access their 5G, visual voicemail, or wifi calling. I had straight talk for years on the Verizon network. Works well but no Verizon features. What is rediculous in my opinion is I believe Verizon actually purchased straight talk not too long ago?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Verizon was set to buy TracFone from American Movil, and I'm assuming that sale also includes the other MVNOs that American Movil runs in the US, including Straight Talk, Walmart Family Wireless, Safelink Wireless, etc.