I am new to the whole cellphone scene. I have much more experience in the PC world.
I purchased an Verizon Galaxy S4 (I545) on e-bay, primarily for use as a media device. I have decided to get pre-paid service on T-Mobile. (My wife has a T-Mobile G2 and when I put her sim card in, I was able to make calls.)
I have the T-Mobile sim installed and will be initiating service tomorrow.
After reading many of the threads here, I see a lot of talk about flashing different ROMS onto the hardware. Since I am not a Verizon customer, I really have no need for "Verizon's" version of Android, other than if it is required for the hardware to work properly. I like to have my options for customization and installing various apk's, etc.... I like to control my hardware and not be limited to what one company or another says I should do. I do travel internationally, which is one reason why my wife has the T-Mobile account, since it has great coverage in Europe, etc....
So, I ask this:
Should I flash a different ROM on this beast?
What would be the benefits?
What would be the drawbacks?
Which ROM would be recommended and why?
Thanks in advance for your insights! :angel:
p.s. Before knowing any better, I updated my S4 using Verizon's Software Upgrade Assistant on my PC, meaning I currently am running Build LRX22C.I545VRUGOC1 w/ Kernel 3.4.0 [email protected] #1.
Related
So I looked around the threads on both Verizon, and Sprints side of the fences for an answer to this question and couldn't find any thing.
I have a Verizon Galaxy S3, and my contract with Verizon recently came to a close. I want to switch to sprint due to pricing and other options, but I don't have the money to drop on a new phone at the time, so I have been looking into unlocking the phone to work with Sprint, however I haven't much of luck...
That's when I came to XDA. While I was looking around the forum, I got to thinking.
Is there any possible way that I could take the Sprint version of the Samsung Galaxy S3's ROM, and load it onto my Verizon Galaxy? And has anyone tried this yet?
It's essentially the same hardware, right? To the best of my understanding, the only difference in the phones would be software related according to the carrier.
I am really struggling with this one, and I have witnessed the vast knowledge and great work by this forum before, so I am hoping I'll be able to find the help I need.
-Mortem Obrie
Verizon and Sprint do use the same cdma networks but will not activate each others devices on their network so the answer is no I do not think this is going to be possible for you.
alekurkudi said:
Verizon and Sprint do use the same cdma networks but will not activate each others devices on their network so the answer is no I do not think this is going to be possible for you.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well I did talk to Sprint, and Sprint said they would be willing to activate an unlocked Galaxy. It's just the unlocking process that I am unsure of.
The wife just upgraded to an VZW S4 and so far loves it. Thank the gods as she was coming from a problematic Incredible 2. We do some internation travel and the question is How friendly are custom ROMs when it comes to travelling in other countries? We took a trip to Belize with the DInc2 running Virtuous Affinity and then another to Norway and neither trip did the phone work correctly, but I'm not sure if this was a ROM issue or something else.
I've tried to Google this question, but hadn't found an answer. Perhaps I'm wording it wrong.
Should we just stick with the stock ROM since international service is a must? Rooting isn't a must, but the deciding factor is the ability to tether which can be done rooted or unrooted so sticking with stock shouldn't be an issue.
Im here for the same question. Any one else have an idea if custom roms still work with international travel and Verizon international plans?
I am currently running CleanRom 1.6.5 and just got back from Italy. I used a sim card from over there, popped it in, and an hour later was up and running, data included. I used the data the entire time, and made a couple calls. It was only $26 for the sim and the service, and may be a better/cheaper option for you. I can't say about the VZW International service, but if that worked, I don't see why it wouldn't. Hope this helps.
After 10 years with Verizon, I had enough (long story)... Switched over to T-Mobile recently with my Verizon Galaxy S5 Phone, however I have a few questions.
When I was on VZW I was able to root with towlroot, installed xPosed, and removed the Verizon bloatware. I then inserted the SIM from T-Mobile and made adjustments to the APN. It all seems to be working fine. I understand I will not get the full bandwidth, and I am OK because it was not worth $600 to purchase a new phone (Actually 3 new phones).
My questions are:
1) Should/Can I install SafeStrap and use one of the T-Mobile ROM, Kernals, etc... to be a "true" T-Mobile mobile phone?
2) Are there any T-Mobile specific APK's I should have?
3) I assume I can not get the wireless calling which T-Mobile uses?
4) Any other tips and trick from people that did the same thing?
So far happy with T-Mobile. Thanks in advance for the help.
..
Thank questions answered. I will search around.
Android newb... will I lose anything flashing my unlocked international phone on AT&T
Hi everyone, and thanks for all the great info here. Let's assume I have my "how to root" links bookmarked and ready to go, but like a good boyscout I want to understand the gotchas/subtleties before I cliff jump. I'm also within my 15 days to exchange my s6edge AT&T for an unlocked one at Best Buy, which I plan to do today... :highfive:
(I'm technically savy, but a real newb in the world of android versions, manufacturer changes, and carrier versions and conflicts...) :crying:
1) How do I do a full ROM-level backup before beginning my adventures in rooting? Titanium Backup is no good since I need root to use it. I'd like an iPhone-style backup that I can just restore should I brick my phone.
2) After I exchange my phone I'm going to immediately airplane-mode it to prevent autoupdates (my current phone already autoupdated to unrootable OF4)... once I root how do I effectively get-latest? I'd obviously like the latest security updates, and 5.1 if I can manage it, and to maintain root.
3) AT&T doesn't have 5.1.... but if I go unlocked then can I run 5.1 on AT&T? (I've been iPhone forever -- carriers messing with you is really foreign to me). On a related note, can AT&T send some update/profile-change OTA to my phone that will conflict with updates I'm doing locally? If so any tips to avoid this?
4) An unlocked phone will perform just as well on AT&T as an AT&t phone, right? (looks like the 925F has all the AT&T bands and more, whereas the 925I is missing 1 AT&T LTE band)
Thanks for any info, help, and/or pointing me to resources where I can find the info, in advance. I'm technically savy, but a real newb when it comes to the gotcha-ridden ground of android and carriers.
Thanks again.
- Jason
So can I upgrade a 925F to 5.1 and use it on AT&T? I'm trying to work out if AT&T has _all_ edges locked down or just the official AT&T versions.
JasonS6Edge said:
So can I upgrade a 925F to 5.1 and use it on AT&T? I'm trying to work out if AT&T has _all_ edges locked down or just the official AT&T versions.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
At&t does not have the power to lock down all variants; only the variant with its branding. Just make sure 925F is compatible with the network of you want to use that variant.
Snowby123 said:
At&t does not have the power to lock down all variants; only the variant with its branding. Just make sure 925F is compatible with the network of you want to use that variant.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks so much. Is there a reason I can't to seem to find any people running 5.1 or rooted phones on AT&T? Just that not many people are buying unlocked phones?
JasonS6Edge said:
Thanks so much. Is there a reason I can't to seem to find any people running 5.1 or rooted phones on AT&T? Just that not many people are buying unlocked phones?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The at&t variant is the only variant not to receive 5.1 yet. It has nothing to do with root and everything to do with at&t's corporate policies. Most people who use a smartphone in the USA buy it through their carrier. So those users on at&t likely bought there phone from them. This is why no 5.1 for them.
Hello everyone,
I've recently purchased a Samsung Stellar second hand from a family member. I intend to use this device for T-mobile(It's a Verizon device) and the device seems to be carrier locked. I've tried five different SIM cards and multiple factory restores for each and only the Verizon chips will work. Verizon customer support refuses to acknowledge both the problem and device, giving me the run-a-round and different and equally unhelpful answers each time. My question is, is there anyone who can help me? I'm looking for a method to either unlock this phone or a root/Cyanogenmod/ROM combination that will allow this device to be more than a glorified music player that also uses apps.
tmp8101 said:
Hello everyone,
I've recently purchased a Samsung Stellar second hand from a family member. I intend to use this device for T-mobile(It's a Verizon device) and the device seems to be carrier locked. I've tried five different SIM cards and multiple factory restores for each and only the Verizon chips will work. Verizon customer support refuses to acknowledge both the problem and device, giving me the run-a-round and different and equally unhelpful answers each time. My question is, is there anyone who can help me? I'm looking for a method to either unlock this phone or a root/Cyanogenmod/ROM combination that will allow this device to be more than a glorified music player that also uses apps.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
T-Mobile is a GSM network; the Stellar is CDMA - so you aren't taking it *there*. You can take it to a CDMA provider (such as Sprint) or a CDMA network (while not Verizon - since they don't support BYOD) but an MVNO that uses VZW's towers is still a possibility (such as Tracfone). I took my ex-VZW Galaxy Nexus to Tracfone without issues; unlike VZW itself, Tracfone could care less what firmware you use on your devices as long as the firmware itself supports the device. (I use *unified* (tuna) firmware for GNexi (by unified, I mean the firmware supports maguro, toro, AND toroplus devices - as such, it is at home on any Galaxy Nexus) - comes in really handy as the builder is Japanese, and has a maguro GNex, while I have a toro device, and I'm American - and I don't have "sushi" issues - or sashimi issues, either.)
I happen to have a Galaxy Stellar at my elbow, and I'm looking for a community ROM to support it so a friend of mine can pass it down when she retires it. (I'm thinking that it is of a similar age to the GNex; from the legend of the handset itself, it's of the same series as the Galaxy S, and may well be the in-between of the Nexus and S3, as it, like the Nexus, originally ran ICS. If I turn up anything, I'll post it in the thread.