I am considering purchasing one of these and I need some advice I am only considering the Consumer Cellular version because I have a lot of gift cards and points from Sears.. Is this version pretty close to the full unlocked version? My main interest in this phone is the fact that it has band 12 & band 17 LTE (does Consumer Cellular disable that?). I had heard that this version is eligible for bootloader unlocking and that it is pretty easy to unlock so my question is if it is worth the headache..
I might be able to convert my gift card to amazon so i am just asking before I go about trying it.
Related
Hello Everyone, I'm new here to the forums, and I have a quick question that I haven't seen directly answered in the forums since the release of the Galaxy S3.
My mom is ending our 5-line plan with Verizon next month, and I believe 3 of the 5 lines will be switching to Straight Talk with prepaid monthly plans.
I was looking into getting an unlocked S3 with a plan like this, say T-Mobile, AT&T, or Straight Talk.
How should I go about doing this?
My options, I believe, would be :
Buy S3 International Version (Unlocked) and then get a SIM card with StraightTalk or similar. How will my DATA coverage be? I don't really need speeds that fast.
Buy S3 US Carrier Version for full price, pay to have it unlocked, and then get a SIM card from AT&T/T-Mobile. If I get the AT&T version and get it unlocked, will 4G LTE work, but again that's not my main priority.
I just want the cheapest and best way to get the best version of the phone to work decently with a prepaid monthly plan like Straight Talk/T-Mobile or similar.
Thanks a million!
Cheapest way would to be getting one from AT&T for 549.99 or 599.99 compared to the 650+ of the int SGS3. If you get Straight Talk (ST), you don't need to get the AT&T unlocked since they have SIMs for either TMO or AT&T.
The reason I suggested ATT is because I don't know what TMO plans to charge.
I don't believe ST supports LTE but I could be wrong but you should be able to get 3G if using the ATT w/ ST. People with ST probably can answer better than I could.
I realize your main interest is the cheapest price, but a few things to keep in mind:
-Buying from a North American carrier will mean you're getting a dual-core, as opposed to the international quad-core
-Software updates and third-party ROM options are almost always worse with the carrier version
leppo said:
I realize your main interest is the cheapest price, but a few things to keep in mind:
-Buying from a North American carrier will mean you're getting a dual-core, as opposed to the international quad-core
-Software updates and third-party ROM optionsare almost always worse with the carrier version
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Click to collapse
I agree with your first comment but disagree with your 3rd Party ROMs almost always worst comment. While there might be not as many as Int version in the beginning but "almost always worst" isn't true. Both Int & carrier version have quality ROMs & you just have to be more patient with carrier versions.
RMXO said:
I agree with your first comment but disagree with your 3rd Party ROMs almost always worst comment. While there might be not as many as Int version in the beginning but "almost always worst" isn't true. Both Int & carrier version have quality ROMs & you just have to be more patient with carrier versions.
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Click to collapse
By "options" I meant "breadth of selection" -- not the quality of individual roms. Hinting at speed of official updates as well. I definitely see how my initial posting was lacking.
melemed said:
Hello Everyone, I'm new here to the forums, and I have a quick question that I haven't seen directly answered in the forums since the release of the Galaxy S3.
My mom is ending our 5-line plan with Verizon next month, and I believe 3 of the 5 lines will be switching to Straight Talk with prepaid monthly plans.
I was looking into getting an unlocked S3 with a plan like this, say T-Mobile, AT&T, or Straight Talk.
How should I go about doing this?
My options, I believe, would be :
Buy S3 International Version (Unlocked) and then get a SIM card with StraightTalk or similar. How will my DATA coverage be? I don't really need speeds that fast.
Buy S3 US Carrier Version for full price, pay to have it unlocked, and then get a SIM card from AT&T/T-Mobile. If I get the AT&T version and get it unlocked, will 4G LTE work, but again that's not my main priority.
I just want the cheapest and best way to get the best version of the phone to work decently with a prepaid monthly plan like Straight Talk/T-Mobile or similar.
Thanks a million!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thus is somewhat a duplicate thread. You really need to check out the post in my signature. That will help you make a decision.
Edit: This is the post actually
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1696025
Sent from Rooted debloated stock Galaxy S3 OG I9300
I will be in the US for vacation in about six weeks and planning to buy The One.
Can you please help me with some questions:
1. Assuming that by then stock would be plenty and they don't refuse off contract sales. My question is: will A&TT or T-Mobile sell me the phone without me getting any phone service. I have my SIM with international roaming and do not need any kind of US phone service. I just need the Hardware. Is it possible?
2. Because I would be paying the phone without any contract or subsidy (full price). Can you confirm it will be unlocked to use with a SIM from any operator? Is it something automatically or I have to request it in the store?
3. I'm ok if they can only be unlocked. But have to ask if The One bough from operators can also be customized with other ROMS.
3. Which carrier is prefered to do this (if can be done) AT&T or T-Mobile.
Thanks you!
Antiflash said:
I will be in the US for vacation in about six weeks and planning to buy The One.
Can you please help me with some questions:
1. Assuming that by then stock would be plenty and they don't refuse off contract sales. My question is: will A&TT or T-Mobile sell me the phone without me getting any phone service. I have my SIM with international roaming and do not need any kind of US phone service. I just need the Hardware. Is it possible?
2. Because I would be paying the phone without any contract or subsidy (full price). Can you confirm it will be unlocked to use with a SIM from any operator? Is it something automatically or I have to request it in the store?
3. I'm ok if they can only be unlocked. But have to ask if The One bough from operators can also be customized with other ROMS.
3. Which carrier is prefered to do this (if can be done) AT&T or T-Mobile.
Thanks you!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You probably want to buy the unlocked version. It is cheaper, unlocked, and will be able to use custom roms after unlocking the bootloader http://shopamerica.htc.com/brands/HTC-mobile/homebrands/index.htm
If not to answer those questions
1. Yes you can buy off contract
2. It will not be unlocked. You probably can unlock it easily with something like cellular unlocker service
3. Right now the bootloader is unlockable. We do not know if they will lock in the future
3(again). AT&T has earlier release but it doesnt really matter
joshuadjohnson22 said:
You probably want to buy the unlocked version. It is cheaper, unlocked, and will be able to use custom roms after unlocking the bootloader http://shopamerica.htc.com/brands/HTC-mobile/homebrands/index.htm
If not to answer those questions
1. Yes you can buy off contract
2. It will not be unlocked. You probably can unlock it easily with something like cellular unlocker service
3. Right now the bootloader is unlockable. We do not know if they will lock in the future
3(again). AT&T has earlier release but it doesnt really matter
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks for the prompt response. I would like to buy it from HTC directly but what I planning is a road trip and won't be staying more than a couple of days in any place. It is difficult to time processing and delivery times from HTC and I don't know how strict they are with billing address differing from shipping address.
Bummer they would not unlocked it even after paying it in full. What "unlocker" services do you recommend. I have never used one.
Antiflash said:
Thanks for the prompt response. I would like to buy it from HTC directly but what I planning is a road trip and won't be staying more than a couple of days in any place. It is difficult to time processing and delivery times from HTC and I don't know how strict they are with billing address differing from shipping address.
Bummer they would not unlocked it even after paying it in full. What "unlocker" services do you recommend. I have never used one.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
There are a lot out there like http://www.cellunlocker.net/ they will just send you a code that you can enter after putting a none AT&T sim in it. Now a disclaimer from me. I have heard of a lot of phones being unlocked by them but the HTC One has not been unlocked on AT&T yet as far as I know.
I just bought one from a employee on craigslist and trying to get it unlocked
Sent from my HTC One
If any carrier sells you a phone for off contract pricing you're eligible/entitled to have it unlocked when you walk out the door. Just call them.
Ok so we all know why we got our gear s from at&t (100$) cheaper than sprint.so now after i unlock the phone is there a way to connect it so srint.if yes than how if no than state details why not and whats the best choice for unlocked at&t gear s device ....
Sprint version is CDMA. I think that is why it also cost more. ATT version is gsm version with a sim card. I dont think they will work.
In order to use any phone on a CDMA carrier, it must meet two conditions:
1. It must support CDMA. The AT&T and T-Mobile versions are GSM only, no CDMA support.
2. It must has ESN (each CDMA device has one) already in the carrier's database. There is no known (official) way to put foreign device ESN into the database other than carrier itself. That means you are pretty much limited to devices sold by Sprint only. Even though Verizon is CDMA as well, you can't use any Verizon devices.
Yeah. That's a tall order. Atleast to use all functionality of services. Pairing is fine and using the features of the marriage between your device and GS. But standalone, I'm pretty sure that's not going to happen.
Although. Maybe using Boost or Virgin Mobile may work? I believe they use sim cards. I could totally be wrong though. But i thought they did.
Sent from my SM-N910P
Boost and Virgin Mobile all run off of sprint network. The best thing would be to return the watch to att and just pick up a sprint version. Price wise it only 80 bucks more but then you know you can use it on your network.
billybkny said:
Ok so we all know why we got our gear s from at&t (100$) cheaper than sprint.so now after i unlock the phone is there a way to connect it so srint.if yes than how if no than state details why not and whats the best choice for unlocked at&t gear s device ....
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
As the other posters have said CDMA = UICC CARD (SPRINT SOME VERIZON) GSM (T-MOBILE &AT&T
SPRINT & VERIZON
NO SIM CARD FOR YOU
T-MOBILE & AT&T
SIM CARD YES UNLOCK MAYBE BUT YOU CAN ONLY GO TO THESE CARRIERS
MOST ARE LOCKED (yOU CAN USE MVNO TO YOUR CARRIER WHILE LOCKED (IE H2O/CRICKET/STRAIGHTTALK ECT=AT&T
WHATEVER VERIZON IS .
You can use separately I for instance have Note 4 Sprint Gear S T-mobile
Ok as i come from sprint im really a noob about sim cards and the prepaid ones.can somebody please give me in details with sim cards will work unlocked fear s at&t .i want to put sim card with phone and text dont care about data ill use wifi mostly but dont want monthly subscibtion to any service.simple sim card that gonna let me talk and text till i finish my minutes...
the thing is that the price for a prepaid sim card is not worth the cost of the service. Most will be 30 a month. I think you may be better just trying to get service from att.
billybkny said:
Ok as i come from sprint im really a noob about sim cards and the prepaid ones.can somebody please give me in details with sim cards will work unlocked fear s at&t .i want to put sim card with phone and text dont care about data ill use wifi mostly but dont want monthly subscibtion to any service.simple sim card that gonna let me talk and text till i finish my minutes...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
H20/cricket/Net10/Red Pocket/Straight Talk/ ect locked AT&T :good:
T-mobile (you unlock sim it will work with these bootleg company's for t-mo)
Metropcs/Simple mobile/GoSmart/walmart plan/Red Pocket/Straight talk /net 10
theres more but these are ones people know
That wasn't confusing at all ...
Haha.
Sprint and Verizon sim cards are for LTE. This watch definitely does not support LTE.
There are definitely two versions that were tested by the FCC, those were the GSM and the CDMA models. I thought at first that it might have a universal radio (CDMA/GSM hybrid) because the Snapdragon 400 in the device supports that. But the FCC didn't license it that way, so #sadface ...
The ONLY benefit to buying on on your same carrier is to get a discount on the device (if you can call Verizon's $349 a discount), and to have a discounted plan ($5-10/mo) to use its independent phone and data ... but you'd be under contract for two years ... that's a long time and quite the commitment.
Most of us just paid AT&T 299 outright and walked out with the device. Some have had to contact AT&T to request unlock, I, for some reason have NOT ... my T-Mobile sim also works in it and did out of the box ... I believe I had a VERY knowledgeable customer service rep where I bought it, and she knew what was up!!!!!! (AT&T in Henderson Nevada by the Sunset Station Mall, I will never go anywhere else! they can have all the monies :good
sbrownla said:
Haha.
Sprint and Verizon sim cards are for LTE. This watch definitely does not support LTE.
There are definitely two versions that were tested by the FCC, those were the GSM and the CDMA models. I thought at first that it might have a universal radio (CDMA/GSM hybrid) because the Snapdragon 400 in the device supports that. But the FCC didn't license it that way, so #sadface ...
The ONLY benefit to buying on on your same carrier is to get a discount on the device (if you can call Verizon's $349 a discount), and to have a discounted plan ($5-10/mo) to use its independent phone and data ... but you'd be under contract for two years ... that's a long time and quite the commitment.
Most of us just paid AT&T 299 outright and walked out with the device. Some have had to contact AT&T to request unlock, I, for some reason have NOT ... my T-Mobile sim also works in it and did out of the box ... I believe I had a VERY knowledgeable customer service rep where I bought it, and she knew what was up!!!!!! (AT&T in Henderson Nevada by the Sunset Station Mall, I will never go anywhere else! they can have all the monies :good
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That was a good look.
I got mines at Sprint and just cashed out on it. Wasn't concerned about the price, nor the plan. Knew all about it prior to buying. I dont regret where/how I got it one bit. That $299 tag is a great deal though. Lol
Sent from my SM-T807P
So I'm thinking about getting a Pixel 6. I've had ZTE Axon 7 for years lol.
I love that phone but now it's time to get a new one. I'd love another Chinese cell but ZTE and other companies are 'blacklisted'? I was looking at OnePlus but it seems that you can't get their latest cells in US.
Anyhow, I think I want a pixel 6. I see the regular P6 battery seems to last longer than pro. I'm concerned about overheating issues.
Do I have to buy the 'unlocked' P6 from Verizon for it to work? Or, do those latest updates mean I can use the regular unlocked phone with a Verizon 5G sim? (Seems real stupid Verizon has their own version of unlocked phone. )
Isn't the point of an unlocked phone that it works with any carrier?
I don't know a lot of even understand all that info on mmwave, Bands etc. I just want to know, if I get a regular unlocked will 5G or 4GLTE work, will I get dropped calls?
I read that P6P has that mmwave feature but I don't want to get the pro can't justify spending extra on telephoto lense and higher refresh rate I don't really care about.
I am considering the Samsung s21 as well. Just want to have another option if P6 doesn't work out.
If there is a post with this info please share it with me. I can't seem to do a search for Verizon P6 I'm constantly being told 'someone broke the matrix call Neo for help'... something on those lines.
Skingy1 said:
Seems real stupid Verizon has their own version of unlocked phone.
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Click to collapse
Verizon's P6 uses mmwave while the unlocked P6 uses sub-6 5G. Thus why the phones are different. That and the fact the Verizon unit's bootloader cannot be unlocked.
You would be better served using a carrier other than Verizon if you need 5G now but want an unlocked device. LTE however is quite functional regardless of device and will remain so for some time to come.
i would not the Verizon model just because they lock the bootloader and i will not support that business model.
also LTE is plenty fast for anything i do mobile and will be for years to come.
i expect the pixel community will have security updates in 10 years, so that is what i plan for mostly. andi need a unlocked bootloader for that.
( that right google it would cost you nothing to keep 10 year old devices updated, but no one will but hobbyists )
Strephon Alkhalikoi said:
Verizon's P6 uses mmwave while the unlocked P6 uses sub-6 5G. Thus why the phones are different. That and the fact the Verizon unit's bootloader cannot be unlocked.
You would be better served using a carrier other than Verizon if you need 5G now but want an unlocked device. LTE however is quite functional regardless of device and will remain so for some time to come.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks I'm happy to just stick my SIM in and use a pixel phone I don't need 5G
LTE is fine for me now.
nutzfreelance said:
i would not the Verizon model just because they lock the bootloader and i will not support that business model.
also LTE is plenty fast for anything i do mobile and will be for years to come.
i expect the pixel community will have security updates in 10 years, so that is what i plan for mostly. andi need a unlocked bootloader for that.
( that right google it would cost you nothing to keep 10 year old devices updated, but no one will but hobbyists )
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I need unlocked so I can use phone in USA and UK when travelling.
Skingy1 said:
I need unlocked so I can use phone in USA and UK when travelling
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
double check, im sure the sim is unlocked but not the bootloader on the p6 verizon model. i could be wrong its been a while since i was looking at the best model to get.
I have T-Mobile version of N200 and I am complete network unlock newbie (owned unlocked phones for the past 8 years and prior to that - Verizon phones that were only compatible with Verizon bands).
I got N200 as a free upgrade from my 1st gen. Moto X (2014) that was on T-Mobile Prepaid Legacy Gold Rewards plan. So I did spend at least $100 in refills many years ago (or else I wouldn't be on this plan).
However, when I access Device Unlock screen on N200 it says:
Device must be active for 365 days or met refill of $100.
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Click to collapse
I did meet refill of $100.
Is there a way for me to Network Unlock it? Say by contacting T-Mobile support? How does this process go?
Hello JoeSchmoe007,
I would advise you to contact T-Force, as they are widely regarded as superior to T-mobile's "Team of Experts" (which consists primarily of overseas representatives who frequently do not know what to do in situations like yours).
T-Force should be able to provide you with the best solution to your problem, so give it a shot and let us know how it goes.