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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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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
Just got my at&t mega. I have a Ptel sim going in my iphone, and a lyca paygo in my Note. Was thinking of maybe activating the phone on one of these, but just went thru instead of accepting the contract on the phone and activating with the new att sim. BOY, that was the right thing to do!!!! I'll tell you why. I'm not sure if the Mega is affected, but better safe than sorry.
Just went onto cellunlocker to see how much to unlock with their generated code. They now have a new disclaimer. The following is taken from cellunlocker's site.
PLEASE READ THIS DISCLAIMER: If you have a Samsung Galaxy S3, S4, Note 2, Note 3 or your Android version is Android 4.4 (KITKAT)
All SAMSUNG devices manufactured after the date of JULY 2013 and Samsung devices running on Android version is Android 4.4 (KITKAT) are subject to REGION LOCKING
If your phone has been used previously with the original carrier, this will not apply to you. However, if your device is BRAND NEW, your must activate it with the original carrier.
If your Samsung device becomes Region locked, you will not be able to fully factory Unlock your Samsung devices so it can be used internationally. Even the correct code will not work anymore.
In order for your Samsung device NOT to be region locked, you MUST activate (FIRST USE) your S3, S4, NOTE 2, NOTE 3 with your ORIGINAL carrier at least ONCE to take your region lock OFF. After your Region lock is off, you can Sim Unlock your device via Unlock Code.
*All Canadian Carriers are NOT subject to Region Locking
*All USA and European Carriers ARE subject to Region Locking
So, activate on your carrier first. Then unlock and use a prepaid sim!!!
It was a quote of $30 to unlock the Mega
I read that.
Hi Sashusmom.........how u doin?
Welcome aboard the mothership.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I527 using xda app-developers app
Welcome to Mega, Sashusmom! Happy your daughter is doing so well!
I have sim unlocked two phones with AT&T. I just called and got the codes from AT&T.....took like 10 minutes, including wait time.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I527 using xda app-developers app
captemo said:
I read that.
Hi Sashusmom.........how u doin?
Welcome aboard the mothership.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I527 using xda app-developers app
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Thanks capt! Doing great, but I hear the first step is admission that you have a problem............So.....Here goes...... I am a phone collector:laugh:
dparrothead1 said:
Welcome to Mega, Sashusmom! Happy your daughter is doing so well!
I have sim unlocked two phones with AT&T. I just called and got the codes from AT&T.....took like 10 minutes, including wait time.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I527 using xda app-developers app
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Thanks dParrothead! The best part is she got her driving privileges back since she can now hold the wheel!! She is a much happier camper
Nice to know I might be able to save that $30 for unlocking. I haven't been in a contract for nearly 3 years. Depending on how ambitious my husband is and how patient, we might be going to tmo to get rid of all the contracts and see how everyone likes tmobile. It will save over $100 every month for the 4 phones. After my marathon att calls yesterday to get this mega up and running, I asked customer care if there was anyway to cut my bill. Guess we don't spend enough and I was told we could move to the share value plan. Even with the family share plan, it will still cost more money than what we pay now. So, we might be going on a vacation to test tmo waters If there are complaints then we can go back to att contract free.
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Well, we ended up staying with ATT. When we were ready to jump ship att brought new family share plans that brought our bill down to t-mobile's bottom line. Sweet!
Just applied for an unlock code for $21. Will post back if successful.
successful unlock
I went with my iphone for my main att sim. It's just more pocketable. So back to getting an unlock for my Mega. On one of these threads someone recommended unlockcode247dotcom. In all of my research the average unlocks were $30. I found a remote unlock for $25, but the cheapest was unlockcode247 at $21. Worth it to me, considering I got the mega as a free promo from att.
Here is the procedure. 1. apply with the imei#. 2. use Samsung all(nothing specific for the mega). 3. Pay your $21, and wait 1-2 days.
I waited less than 24 hours, Sunday nite into Monday evening. My unlock code was mailed to me. I went onto youtube to see the procedure done-
1. Power off your phone. 2. put in a non-att sim. 3. Power up and you will get the screen to input your unlock code, hit unlock, and hopefully you will get a toast message of a successful unlock!
I put in my new ptel apn, deleted the tmobile one, and I am up and running. My ptel was changed to paygo and I have 3 months to use up the $50 balance. A good way to continue to use my Mega. I also like mighty text which allows me to text from my computer- not available for the iphone.
I bought the Remote message app from cydia, but can't seem to get it working.
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So I had an interesting discovery. When I first got my Mega, I had a hard time getting data to flow- on Att. The tech help eventually had to have me put in the wap apn just to get 4g and data to flow. Since I wasn't use to having lte speeds, I didn't know any different. My speeds with the wap apn were 6 mbps down and 2-3 mbps up. A little slower than tmobile's and their mvno's. I was happy with that. A couple days later I tried the original apn "phone". At that point, I started getting data on that apn. up to 33mbps down and 6-8 mbps up. I was stunned.
So now unlocked with a tmo mvno provider- ptel- here's what I got. 6-6.5 mbps down, and 2-3 up. On 4g, tmobile carrier....With a phone with no tmo support. Same speeds as the wap apn on att. So I must be in a strong refarmed area. My Orig Note did not do this. Some of you know it was like pulling teeth to get the att note to work on tmobile. Took over a year for reliable modem, and I never did get a good lte one to work. But 4g on the OG Note on tmobile gave faster speed (10-13 mbps down, and 2-3 up) than on att in my area. Those speeds were what I am now getting on the ptel sim on the att phone.
A pleasant surprise to see how a newer att phone works on tmobile's network. It doesn't get lte, but the 4g speeds are pretty good. I know there is a thread here on how to get the hspa bands(1700 and 2100) for tmo working on this att Mega. I can't quite get how to do it, but I see no need. These speeds are good enough for me.
see above post!:good:
Hello my sis recently purchased an sprint iPhone 5s about a week ago from eBay it arrived with no Sim and I didn't think that was a problem as sprint is CDMA well trying to activate it was a different story talked to sprint after self activating wouldn't work and found out it did require a Sim so got transferred to sprint international and got to order a free Sim from them it arrived and activation didn't work talked to support and guy said I was sent an android varrarent of the Sim after he checked the numbers and I would have to reorder an iPhone compatible one they gave me free overnight ship and it came and activated fine my question is tho
Would it be possible to activate cheap Chinese phones like the goophone or there new s5Clones/generic android sim phones on sprint. I ask this question because the only Google results I could find were from like 2008 and older So not to relevant today and BTW I still don't like iPhone over priced fads that do half as much as a android
Anyone this is messing with me not knowing
cochran069 said:
Anyone this is messing with me not knowing
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i would of thought this thread/topic would of had a lot more traffic who wouldn't want a cheap replacement Chinese phone as a backup in-case of accidents or theft and loss on the sprint network.
i basically just wanted to know if possible because last time i knew of sprint was cdma only still but i don't understand why they would have android sim card
You will have to check pretty carefully to make sure that the Chinese phone has the correct frequencies for use on what ever Carrier you go with. There is an article here discussing the pros and cons of getting a Chinese branded phone.
One thing to note is that the Moto G pretty much takes every Chinese phone to school and for not really that much more $$$.
justmpm said:
You will have to check pretty carefully to make sure that the Chinese phone has the correct frequencies for use on what ever Carrier you go with. There is an article here discussing the pros and cons of getting a Chinese branded phone.
One thing to note is that the Moto G pretty much takes every Chinese phone to school and for not really that much more $$$.
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yea there are only a few company's i found the supports hspa+ net10 / with an at&t sim i figure at&t too but i believe every usa gsm network if i recall correctly supports voice and text bandwidths
my dad purchased a n9776 about a year ago and his data speeds on net10 with an at&t sim was around 15-18mpbs down before they rolled out the new plans for net10. now hes thinking of switching carriers the apns keep switching and loosing connection every other day causing his mms and data to stop working until we reenter the settings. but i'd like to know if sprint would be a viable option in the future (much better customer support). recently his charging port on his phone broke so he looking for a new phone. ill show him that moto g
So I've been out of the loop for about a year now and looking to grab the Honor 5X US version on at&t or T-Mobile. My last phone I kept for 2 years almost ZTE Boost Max(Iconic)
and basically all I did was play with it. Meaning root, PhilZ, Link2sd, Viper4android, and most importantly Xposed.
My questions. Is it a easy plug n play going to a new carrier at&t or T-Mobile in the US with this phone. No issues at all right.
Is all development pretty good. Plenty of options. With the ZTE phone is 1 option for everything and nothing else. I did end up with a custom rom/kernel and a overclocked cpu. Do we have those options.
Thanks in advance I've limited the phone choices to just a couple. $250 budget and want development options and ease of carrier use
AT&T won't be a problem. T-Mob is missing support for LTE Band 12. I've read in these boards that support is coming soon (maybe in the MM update?). I'm not sure about WiFi calling. Normally you need carrier firmware for that type of functionality though.
Dev support seems healthy enough. I'd recommend looking in the development section and judging for yourself
It should be noted that while band 12 support is missing, you can still use the phone on T-Mobile, and you can still get 4G LTE (if it's available in your area).
I don't have WiFi calling here, and you probably do need carrier firmware for that.
Wifi calling wasn't really something I need. I've never experienced good wifi calling reception in the past. I just remember a year or so ago when the new wave of unlocked phones hit like One Plus, and so on there were always issues with not having LTE or something. Good to know at&t is fully supported. I'm a buy and hook up myself online person. Can't stand dealing with customer service on the phone.
So ultimately hows the phone in terms of everything. Signal? Options? Dependability?
So we still don't have MM available on the phones? This is concerning as I wanted the newest OS. The one thing I never liked about android vs Apple. When an update hit, everyone within a 2 year old phone got that update that day. MM came out around XMas so I was hoping for it.
Thanks for the replies and I'm late replying as I'm just a very patient shopper. Any new phone I buy I keep 1-2 years depending
If y'all want latest updates to android. Then there's no doubt about it as we all know this on XDA.........buy a nexus devices
Sent from my Nexus 5X using XDA-Developers mobile app
Hello guys,
I did see 5hat the Galaxy s9 plus is cheaper through Samsung or through Best Buy Friday. The phone that is cheaper is the unlocked version that works with any carrier including Verizon which I get. My question is will the unlocked version work with, or have a way to download Verizon Visual Voicemail, and will it work? Appreciate the feedback.
mdonnelly1127 said:
Hello guys,
I did see 5hat the Galaxy s9 plus is cheaper through Samsung or through Best Buy Friday. The phone that is cheaper is the unlocked version that works with any carrier including Verizon which I get. My question is will the unlocked version work with, or have a way to download Verizon Visual Voicemail, and will it work? Appreciate the feedback.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
To piggy back off of this question (since I am in similar boat with AT&T) - Is it possible to flash the phone with the carrier version after purchasing unlocked version? Unfortunately, WiFi calling is a must where I live.
Thanks
I'm also in the same situation with Verizon. I want to get the unlocked version, but will everything work just like the verizon branded device? Also does anyone know if the Samsung trade in offer will work with a Verizon phone that's on payment plan?
Also wondering if sideloading the app will work for this purpose.
LgG2-Ttrain said:
I'm also in the same situation with Verizon. I want to get the unlocked version, but will everything work just like the verizon branded device? Also does anyone know if the Samsung trade in offer will work with a Verizon phone that's on payment plan?
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Click to collapse
I don't see why they shouldn't take it. I've sold phones on Verizon payment plan and haven't had any problems. The carriers only care that you continue to make payments and fire that they bill you monthly.
Bxrider117 said:
I don't see why they shouldn't take it. I've sold phones on Verizon payment plan and haven't had any problems. The carriers only care that you continue to make payments and fire that they bill you monthly.
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Yes I just finished reading the fine print in Samsung's trade in offer. So the only phones they will not accept as trade ins are leased phones.
Just went through this at Best Buy on Friday, also.
Was strongly considering the unlocked S9+ and porting it to the VZW network. I inquired with the blue-shirt if there would be any loss of functionality should I make such a choice. The answer was "no".
The Samsung representative was in attendance, so I put the question to him as well. After glazing over while he went into an analogy of how your IMEI and SIM card are like licensing a car - and how they all can drive on the same road - I directed him back to the issue at hand, and his response was "no difference".
Then I called VZW, waited for the obligatory 15 minutes on hold, and asked the representative the same question. The answer was "No. None. Exactly the same."
Did a few searches on the feature I was specifically concerned about - that being Wi-Fi calling - and it appeared, from an historical perspective, there would be the potential for that functionality to be absent unless one purchased the branded device.
The VZW store was across the street, so I brought my question to them. In an experience that is as unique as it was surprising, I was lucky enough to get a salesperson who genuinely seemed to want to know the definitive answer as much as I did. He researched his on-line documentation for a few minutes before calling what he claimed to be their "network engineer".
The answer came back that VoLTE would work but Wi-Fi calling would not, on an unlocked S9+ ROM in the VZW network.
I've subsequently read contradicting indications but, considering the self-assigned importance of that capability, I decided not to chance it and find out the hard way that it would not work - should that be the case.
While this does not address your Visual Voice Mail concern, it does demonstrate exactly how many differing answers one can get from supposedly knowledgeable resources.
So, my solution was to lease the branded device with the understanding that I will need to deal with all of the pre-loaded stuff that I (or for that matter, just about anyone) do not need, want or use.
I have seen this questions asked hundreds of times, and I have seen both answers regarding WiFi calling. I know I have purchased unlocked phones right from Google in the past and never had an issue with any feature on VZW. I guess I will find out soon if anything has changed, as I ordered the 9+ unlocked from Samsung (they offered $100 more in a trade and a cheaper base price = no brainer). Will the confusion ever end?
Having had a unlocked s8+ and a Note 8 with VZ I can say VVM does not work. I've tried various applications and am not a fan of using google voice so I reached out and had standard messaging applied to my account and basic VVM removed. I'll get a notification but have to call in to check my voicemail which is no biggie. Never tried wifi calling but HD Voice does work ok. I preordered an unlocked S9+ so I'm sure it'll be the same boat
Verizon had the demo for the s9 plus in their store today, and the model of the phone is IDENTICAL to the unlocked US model. Also kinda wishing I'd stuck to the purple one I'd ordered by accident and cancelled, as it looks amazing in person.
Sent from my XT1650 using Tapatalk
With the S7, you could flash the any of the carrier or unlocked firmware on the phone. This would give you access to verizon VVM, WiFI calling, etc if you flashed that firmware. I heard the S8 was the same since the hardware in them are the same between carriers. Here's to hoping that the S9 is the same.
MaddnessX said:
To piggy back off of this question (since I am in similar boat with AT&T) - Is it possible to flash the phone with the carrier version after purchasing unlocked version? Unfortunately, WiFi calling is a must where I live.
Thanks
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Click to collapse
If you want WiFi Calling on Att - you MUST buy an ATT phone. ATT WiFi calling will only work with Branded ATT Phones - NOT unlocked ones. Sorry.
Geekser said:
If you want WiFi Calling on Att - you MUST buy an ATT phone. ATT WiFi calling will only work with Branded ATT Phones - NOT unlocked ones. Sorry.
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This is true. If you want wifi calling (which I do), you need an AT&T phone. You can't flash anything on the phone to make it work. A few extra AT&T apps is not a big deal on a phone like this to get the features they provide. If you pay for their service you should get all the benefits but that's not how it is for now.
dmb219 said:
This is true. If you want wifi calling (which I do), you need an AT&T phone. You can't flash anything on the phone to make it work. A few extra AT&T apps is not a big deal on a phone like this to get the features they provide. If you pay for their service you should get all the benefits but that's not how it is for now.
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Click to collapse
And that is very unfortunate. I am hoping that one day they will open up WiFi Calling to non carrier phones - but I doubt it will happen any time soon if at all.
Is it the same for tmobile?
Just got off the phone with a Tier 2 Tech Coach with VZW and they said that they can only "guarantee the VZW branded phones will work with their features." I specifically asked about VVM and WiFi calling. They suggested I stick to the VZW branded model. I explained that their model was virtually $100 more than the unlocked version from Samsung and I wasn't sure why that was on "basically the same phone." She was kind and courteous, but certainly it's another way for Big Red to make more money.
tcabrino said:
Is it the same for tmobile?
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GS8 Unlocked worked with both VoLTE and Wifi Calling on TMO so there is no reason for the GS9+ unlocked not to support these features.
---------- Post added at 01:11 PM ---------- Previous post was at 01:08 PM ----------
tcabrino said:
Is it the same for tmobile?
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raejr78 said:
Just got off the phone with a Tier 2 Tech Coach with VZW and they said that they can only "guarantee the VZW branded phones will work with their features." I specifically asked about VVM and WiFi calling. They suggested I stick to the VZW branded model. I explained that their model was virtually $100 more than the unlocked version from Samsung and I wasn't sure why that was on "basically the same phone." She was kind and courteous, but certainly it's another way for Big Red to make more money.
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Click to collapse
Problem with VZW is support for integrated video calling thru the phone app which is different from the Samsung default. On VZW the unlocked USA version will support VoLTE but not WIfi Calling, VVM, Video Calling.
my 2 cents.
raejr78 said:
Just got off the phone with a Tier 2 Tech Coach with VZW and they said that they can only "guarantee the VZW branded phones will work with their features." I specifically asked about VVM and WiFi calling. They suggested I stick to the VZW branded model. I explained that their model was virtually $100 more than the unlocked version from Samsung and I wasn't sure why that was on "basically the same phone." She was kind and courteous, but certainly it's another way for Big Red to make more money.
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Click to collapse
They're wrong. I tested a Verizon model in stores, and it's literally the exact same model number as the unlocked one I've got on order from Samsung. But of course they want you to buy the Verizon one, the mark up in the price is pure profit for them, and they probably get a commission for selling it to you.
Sent from my XT1650 using Tapatalk
raejr78 said:
Just got off the phone with a Tier 2 Tech Coach with VZW and they said that they can only "guarantee the VZW branded phones will work with their features." I specifically asked about VVM and WiFi calling. They suggested I stick to the VZW branded model. I explained that their model was virtually $100 more than the unlocked version from Samsung and I wasn't sure why that was on "basically the same phone." She was kind and courteous, but certainly it's another way for Big Red to make more money.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Don't forget their useless $30+ "activation fee" they charge when you buy a device through them. I shouldn't have to pay $30 to take the SIM out of my old phone and put it in my new phone. I'm going with the unlocked version because I'm considering switching to T-Mobile due to all this type of crap Verizon pulls.
LgG2-Ttrain said:
Yes I just finished reading the fine print in Samsung's trade in offer. So the only phones they will not accept as trade ins are leased phones.
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Click to collapse
So I'm curious what happens if you have a leased phone. Do they just not accept it and then charge your card for what you weren't charged at time of checkout?