I have a G925i on an AT&T pre-paid sim (gophone). Today I got the 5.1.1 update but no Samsung Pay. I asked Samsung support and they said this:
"As of now only the carrier locked devices are compatible with Samsung Pay. The unlocked devices are not supported by Samsung Pay."
This is a deal breaker for me.
If it is true bye bye Sammy, because this was a killer feature to me
Yeah I can confirmed this as well, I called and asked and they told me they had no plans at this time to support unlocked version. Essentially, to Samsung, unlocked phones are the same as rooted phones.
Well u can always use Google's android pay app.
TrueYears said:
Yeah I can confirmed this as well, I called and asked and they told me they had no plans at this time to support unlocked version. Essentially, to Samsung, unlocked phones are the same as rooted phones.
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So should be cheaper as well.
Related
With news that AT&T will be bringing the S3 to the states this month, it prompts this question.
I currently have an international i9100 and love it. If I were to get the S3 via AT&T (at the subsidized price) would I be able to root, flash, and do anything "good" with it? Or would I be an indentured servant to AT&T?
AT&T locked the bootloader of HTC One X so I'm not really sure if they'll let you use it freely.
But then people found a way to unlock the bootloader so I think even if AT&T locked it, people would find a way around it.
And you'd also get 4G LTE, 2GB RAM but a Snapdragon S4 processor.
The S4 seems promising but it's only dual core.
AT&T has yet to make it so you cant root a samsung device. The locked bootloader is common with HTC devices so I wouldnt go off of that but I have had the S1 the S2 and the Note and all has been unlocked with little to no issues.
I spoke with a customer care rep in the executive's office today and was told the bootloader is going to be locked.
mfratella said:
I spoke with a customer care rep in the executive's office today and was told the bootloader is going to be locked.
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Of course they will say that, whether or not it's true is another story, and like mentioned it won't really matter if it is or isn't
Thanks. Once I get it I'll be back in here to get some direction with it. I'm fine with dealing with the international unlocked versions, but never tried anything with a carrier branded device.
mfratella said:
I spoke with a customer care rep in the executive's office today and was told the bootloader is going to be locked.
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We will just have to wait and see... I don't believe much customer care says.. Hell
l the one i talked to didn't even know about the pre order starting yesterday.
Sent from my GT-N7000 using xda premium
mfratella said:
With news that AT&T will be bringing the S3 to the states this month, it prompts this question.
I currently have an international i9100 and love it. If I were to get the S3 via AT&T (at the subsidized price) would I be able to root, flash, and do anything "good" with it? Or would I be an indentured servant to AT&T?
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Never actually heard of any samsung phone from at&t shipped with locked bootloader. Mostly is HTC phones, and they are known to do that even on unsubsidized phone till a while ago after getting bash from the android community.
and imo, the only real advantage to get a branded phone is you get easy warranty. if you bricked your phone for good during a flash or there is some problem with display, you can just walk in and get a replacement in seconds. LTE or not, or the 2GB ram, I dont think it's going to matter that much in daily use unless u use ur phone as a hot spot or something.
As far as development goes... usually international version is always better, may not be so obvious back in the galaxy S days since most of the US variant are still using the same backbone with minor variation. But ever since the S2 that need snapdragon to support LTE.... development pace kinda forked from there.
Today I sold my galaxy it was my worst purchase that I ever make. The phone was totally the best of all but I never understand why in us you must buy a phone with carrier and the unlocked phones are difficult to find.
adrikos23 said:
Today I sold my galaxy it was my worst purchase that I ever make. The phone was totally the best of all but I never understand why in us you must buy a phone with carrier and the unlocked phones are difficult to find.
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I believe Verizon sells all of their phones unlocked (as long as you ask for an unlocked phone). If Verizon doesn't, I'm pretty sure AT&T does. Now if you are talking about the bootloader being unlocked, T-Mobile's S6 Edge + is bootloader unlocked.
Sent from my Samsung Galaxy S6 Edge+ using Tapatalk
Yes but only in Verizon I can use other sim from other country. If I will buy T-Mobile I will have unlocked bootloader but I will have problem with other sim
adrikos23 said:
Today I sold my galaxy it was my worst purchase that I ever make. The phone was totally the best of all but I never understand why in us you must buy a phone with carrier and the unlocked phones are difficult to find.
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totally agree.
How much you sold it for?
phiftyopz said:
I believe Verizon sells all of their phones unlocked (as long as you ask for an unlocked phone). If Verizon doesn't, I'm pretty sure AT&T does. Now if you are talking about the bootloader being unlocked, T-Mobile's S6 Edge + is bootloader unlocked.
Sent from my Samsung Galaxy S6 Edge+ using Tapatalk
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They only come unlocked for gsm use for voice and then you would have to set the right apn. For CDMA sim cards you still need to unlock the phone like most others. The fcc requires verizon to sell their phones unlocked but it's only for GSM. Anything else you have to unlock specifically.
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.
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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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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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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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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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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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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.
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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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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?
Are any of these versions free of carrier branding or bloatware ? I remember a while back purchasing a unlocked samsung phone at bestbuy and they sold me a verizon version stating it was the unlocked version.
Wondering if the bestbuy version or microsoft store version both of which are suppose to be unlocked variants have any carrier branding or bloatware.
As always thank you in advance.
I bought my unlocked one from Bestbuy and I can confirm there is no carrier apps on it whatsoever so you should be okay!!
thank you!
I just got one of these from Best Buy as well. There are some things that I am finding that are missing from the unlocked versus the carrier branded version such as no support for AT&T wifi calling, HD Voice, & Visual voicemail. The only thing I would like to get is native support for visual voicemail and I did find a workaround by side loading the AT&T Visual Voicemail APK since the official version from the play store says it is not compatible with my phone.
I think Samsung has a visual voice mail app included with the phone. I also believe att uses this app but they require the phone be provisioned with them. Basically on their system they need the imei and they make it a smartphone plan, unlike an iphone where they make it an iphone provision for facetime etc. Worth a shot to give them a call. I had to do this when switching from my iphone to my old N8. I wonder if enhanced msging works the same.
r0ck09 said:
I think Samsung has a visual voice mail app included with the phone. I also believe att uses this app but they require the phone be provisioned with them. .
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I would hope, but I've already talked with with AT&T Tech support regarding this. Currently this option is not available on factory unlocked S9/S9+ but is being looked into for a possible future firmware update. Not sure exactly when this will happen but they say it's up to Samsung to update. So how long it will be or even if it will be done is anybody's guess. Perhaps there might be a way to load the Carrier (SM-G965U) firmware to the unlocked (SM-G965U1) model. I've seen it's possible to go the other way but I'm not of the reverse.
http://www.desinerd.co.in/how-to-install-galaxy-s9-plus-twrp-recoverysnapdragon-only/
No
Kulinick said:
http://www.desinerd.co.in/how-to-install-galaxy-s9-plus-twrp-recoverysnapdragon-only/
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Bofahad said:
No
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Yes, it is real. And those are also sold in Latin America.
https://forum.xda-developers.com/galaxy-s9-plus/how-to/qualcomm-sm-g9650-hong-kong-china-t3764542
Kulinick said:
http://www.desinerd.co.in/how-to-install-galaxy-s9-plus-twrp-recoverysnapdragon-only/
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As noted by other peeps, not for our phone, its for the SM-G9650 sold in South American countries and possibly China.
Also, there are rooting tools out there that claim they can root the device however they cant. They wanted to charge $40.00, connected there app to my device and confirmed it would root. So before I forked over $40.00 I contacted the chat support. They confirmed the device could not be rooted.
Scott said:
As noted by other peeps, not for our phone, its for the SM-G9650 sold in South American countries and possibly China.
Also, there are rooting tools out there that claim they can root the device however they cant. They wanted to charge $40.00, connected there app to my device and confirmed it would root. So before I forked over $40.00 I contacted the chat support. They confirmed the device could not be rooted.
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You are exactly right. I don't think T-Mobile S9+ will ever get root at this pace until a couple Devs move to this phone .
All the devs in the world wont help, the phone is simply not rootable. Samsung has finally gotten their act together and closed the remaining holes in device architecture. Plenty of devs have already put significant effort into confirming this to be the case.
I've said this before but its worth repeating so that as many as are interested in this stuff will see it: We have seen the last of root on the USA snapdragon samsung devices. If you want a rooted Samsung phone, either purchase an exynos or the international Snapdragon version (like the SM-G9650 mentioned here) which fully support OEM unlock.