I've been doing some research and I haven't found any success stories for radio s=off on the Thunderbolt or anyone buying an unlock code. Most companies selling codes are shaky and typically don't end up providing a code.
I've unlocked a Mytouch 4G (for my dad) manually and got a code to unlock a HD2 (for my brother) from T-Mobile. Both phones are activated on AT&T and work but cannot get 3G. I tried swapping sims with the HD2 and Thunderbolt and neither phone would make calls. Apparently our sims wont work on a sim unlocked GSM phone so if the Thunderbolt was sim unlocked, would it work on a GSM network?
Sent from my 4G Thunderbolt.
well the thunderbolt is not a world phone... 2nd the sim card supplied by verizon is for
using the 4g LTE network only...
case in point you couldnt use any other sim card to use on other carriers...
but then again you might be able to unlock it but you would be giving up
4g LTE over 3g i dont see the logic in that...
I'm really just curious.
Sent from my 4G Thunderbolt.
It will never work, end of story.
I doubt there's a provider lock on the Thunderbolt. It's sort of non-standard, using CDMA for voice and LTE for data.
ATT/T-Mob are UMTS (GSM), Verizon is CDMA-2000/LTE. A phone from one side not working on the other has nothing to do with SIMs or SIM locking.
Even when ATT gets around to doing their LTE upgrade, a Thunderbolt would be unlikely to work at all on their network - the best hope might be for data only.
Also, to be clear, the Verizon card isn't really a SIM (although even Verizon calls it that), it's a UICC, with both USIM (for LTE) and CSIM (for CDMA) applications. It's unlikely to have a SIM application, since Verizon doesn't support GSM.
I've seen threads where modems are used to get the phone on different networks given the right apn. Does this side step a carrier lock or is it assumed these phones are already unlocked?
You can flash a carrier locked phone with any modem you please. You can also change the APN settings on a locked phone. What you can't do is use another carrier's sim card.
So no, this doesn't side step that. You will need to unlock.
International Note N7000 is factory unlocked.
All carrier versions SGH-i717# are all factory locked.
It costs from $7.00 to $25.00 to carrier unlock.
Ok makes sense. What happens if you start using a tmobile modem and apn with att sim? Would att just charge you roaming or something?
Your sim would connect your phone to the t-mobile network using the frequenies of at&t. You would have EDGE data speed (2g), voice, mms.
hi, Could some one explain me what does LTE unlocked sim free phone mean. Is it something like an unlocked phone? Can i use a Gsm sim in this?
Yes, you can use a GSM SIM in it. It's unlcocked.
Read it this way:
LTE, unlocked, sim free phone ...
LTE -- capable of using the fastest wireless data network, and it also supports the slower networks (like GSM)
unlocked -- it is not forces to use a particular carrier, like Rogers or AT&T
sim free -- the phone does not come with a sim card (that is for a particular carrier) and you have to purchase one to use the phone, the AT&T phones come with an AT&T sim
I bought a Samsung SCH I545 S4. It was purchased under the assumption that they all come sim unlocked. When I insert my working AT&T SIM card into the phone, I get no service. It shows " SIM card is not from Verizon". When I try to make a call it show "Out of Service Area" and "Mobile Network not available". When I search available networks it shows Verizon wireless, Metro PCS, and T-mobile, No AT&T. I've tried factory reset, hard reset with no change. How can I get this phone functioning again. I am currently on baseband version I545VRUGOC1, Android version 5.0.1. Build number LRX22C.I545VRUGOC1
The SCH-I545 is the Verizon version of the S4. The AT&T has the model number SGH-I337. That is why your sim from AT&T won't work. You either need a SIM card from Verizon, or an AT&T based S4. Sorry.
First, thanks for your response. Verizon LTE phones are required to be sim unlocked by FCC. So essentially all thier phones are factory unlocked out of the box ever since the iPhone 5. Which is why I purchase this model. I have had plenty of Verizon phones and when I insert my att SIM card it works perfectly except for this one. I have a Tmobile SIM that has no service. When I put it in, it says Tmobile but can't make test call since it has no service. Would it be an issue with the motherboard or software?
Godiswithin said:
First, thanks for your response. Verizon LTE phones are required to be sim unlocked by FCC. So essentially all thier phones are factory unlocked out of the box ever since the iPhone 5. Which is why I purchase this model. I have had plenty of Verizon phones and when I insert my att SIM card it works perfectly except for this one. I have a Tmobile SIM that has no service. When I put it in, it says Tmobile but can't make test call since it has no service. Would it be an issue with the motherboard or software?
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Click to collapse
I have the same phone and the same build and ATT sim is working for me.
Sim card might have gone bad. Have you tried it in a different phone?
Sent from my SCH-I545 using Xparent Cyan Tapatalk 2
jaxon01 said:
Sim card might have gone bad. Have you tried it in a different phone?
Sent from my SCH-I545 using Xparent Cyan Tapatalk 2
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Click to collapse
I use that AT&T SIM everyday in my Z10
Based on what I read so far, only unlocked version of AT&T will work only with GSM provider. Would like confirmation of this. Thanks!
jklny said:
Based on what I read so far, only unlocked version of AT&T will work only with GSM provider. Would like confirmation of this. Thanks!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No, unfortunately.
Sent from my SM-G935U using Tapatalk
Uh... If it's an unlocked phone there is no reason it wont.
http://www.droid-life.com/2017/03/08/unlocked-galaxy-s8-plus-s8-fcc-smg950-smg955/
Optimumind... can you provide any explanation for your answer?
Unless something has changed, Sprint is CDMA, not GSM.
eatmeimadanish said:
Uh... If it's an unlocked phone there is no reason it wont.
http://www.droid-life.com/2017/03/08/unlocked-galaxy-s8-plus-s8-fcc-smg950-smg955/
Optimumind... can you provide any explanation for your answer?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
An unlocked AT&T GS8 will work on other GSM networks but not on Sprint b/c Sprint won't add the AT&T GS8 IMEI to their system.
Sent from my SM-G935U using Tapatalk
The hardware on all the s8's are the same so technically it will work but the imei isn't white listed so you won't be able to activate it on sprint but the sprint version can be activated on att or any other gsm provider.
Sprint galaxy s8 works with tmobile and verizon
The hardware on all the s8's are the same so technically it will work but the imei isn't white listed so you won't be able to activate it on sprint but the sprint version can be activated on att or any other gsm provider.
Hey there. I have an S7 Edge unlock from t-mobile running the unlock firmware from G935U. Sprint SIM cards are lock, I have a friend who works for sprint. I have 3 Sprint S8 and S8+, 2 unlock and running on T-Mobile network. I took 1 of the SIM card and put in my Unlock S7 Edge, the phone just keep trying to connect to network and repeating the same process. Didn't work at all, but the Sprint S8's works excellent on T-Mobile network after flashing the UNLOCK firmware.
---------- Post added at 03:01 AM ---------- Previous post was at 02:53 AM ----------
I got 111.71 mbps download, 20 mbps upload speed from my Unlock Sprint S8+ running G955U1 unlock firmware on T-Mobile network. Couldn't ask for anything more than that.
I will provide my non Sprint S8 variant experience.....for any US S8, they all have the same hardware. I have noticed that ATT and TMO models have CDMA hardware, but are turned off in the carriers version of the firmware . Flashing the stock unlocked S8 firmware or the Sprint/VZW FW will enable the phones for use with CDMA and all LTE bands. I had an ATT version sim unlocked and attempted this on Verizon FW with a VZW sim and it worked perfect....but there is a major roadblock with Sprint. Sprint is the only carrier that I have tried that requires an update of the IMEI to the account (ie you cant just pop a sim in and the device works). VZW for example shows Unknown device on the account instead of an S8, but all the services still work. Sprint shows 3G for about 5 minutes, then you get a message that the sim is locked and to reboot or call support (not the same as the phones sim slot being locked, but more that the system cant register the sim/device combo). Sprint stores have the capability of adding IMEI's to the Sprint database, as long as the IMEI does not come back as ineligible. Well, I took the S8 to several stores and none of them could add it to the system. Several employees advised me that the IMEI's from other carrier's are blacklisted so that it can not be added and the only ones that the system would allow to add are IMEI's that were sold as unlocked or Sprint branded. If the IMEI can be white listed, then I am certain it would work.
mellojosh said:
I will provide my non Sprint S8 variant experience.....for any US S8, they all have the same hardware. I have noticed that ATT and TMO models have CDMA hardware, but are turned off in the carriers version of the firmware . Flashing the stock unlocked S8 firmware or the Sprint/VZW FW will enable the phones for use with CDMA and all LTE bands. I had an ATT version sim unlocked and attempted this on Verizon FW with a VZW sim and it worked perfect....but there is a major roadblock with Sprint. Sprint is the only carrier that I have tried that requires an update of the IMEI to the account (ie you cant just pop a sim in and the device works). VZW for example shows Unknown device on the account instead of an S8, but all the services still work. Sprint shows 3G for about 5 minutes, then you get a message that the sim is locked and to reboot or call support (not the same as the phones sim slot being locked, but more that the system cant register the sim/device combo). Sprint stores have the capability of adding IMEI's to the Sprint database, as long as the IMEI does not come back as ineligible. Well, I took the S8 to several stores and none of them could add it to the system. Several employees advised me that the IMEI's from other carrier's are blacklisted so that it can not be added and the only ones that the system would allow to add are IMEI's that were sold as unlocked or Sprint branded. If the IMEI can be white listed, then I am certain it would work.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yup, Sprint sucks very well in this regard.
Sent from my SM-G955U1 using Tapatalk
This phones are listed among eligible phones for Sprint's BYOD 1 year free plan. Does it say something?
Samsung Galaxy S8 (Verizon, AT&T and T-Mobile)
Samsung Galaxy S8+ (Verizon, AT&T and T-Mobile)
Yes it will work, i put a freedom pop sim in, and it restarted with at&t logo
mellojosh said:
I will provide my non Sprint S8 variant experience.....for any US S8, they all have the same hardware. I have noticed that ATT and TMO models have CDMA hardware, but are turned off in the carriers version of the firmware . Flashing the stock unlocked S8 firmware or the Sprint/VZW FW will enable the phones for use with CDMA and all LTE bands. I had an ATT version sim unlocked and attempted this on Verizon FW with a VZW sim and it worked perfect....but there is a major roadblock with Sprint. Sprint is the only carrier that I have tried that requires an update of the IMEI to the account (ie you cant just pop a sim in and the device works). VZW for example shows Unknown device on the account instead of an S8, but all the services still work. Sprint shows 3G for about 5 minutes, then you get a message that the sim is locked and to reboot or call support (not the same as the phones sim slot being locked, but more that the system cant register the sim/device combo). Sprint stores have the capability of adding IMEI's to the Sprint database, as long as the IMEI does not come back as ineligible. Well, I took the S8 to several stores and none of them could add it to the system. Several employees advised me that the IMEI's from other carrier's are blacklisted so that it can not be added and the only ones that the system would allow to add are IMEI's that were sold as unlocked or Sprint branded. If the IMEI can be white listed, then I am certain it would work.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I had a similar experience with an Unlocked Galaxy S7 and Sprint. I actually had to get Samsung Tech support on a conference call with a Sprint Manager, because Sprint told my customer the the phone is incompatible with the Sprint network. After embarrassing the Sprint rep, he white listed the IMEI number on Sprint's network and the phone worked.
Also, MetroPCS has the same policy. You cannot just pop in a Metro Sim card. You have to call them and register the IMEI number. After about an hour tops, the phone will complete provisioning and be able to work on Metro's T-Mobile network.
T-Mobile is instant. You cab pop a T-Mobile Sim card into any sim unlocked variant and it will work. However you will need to go into settings and follow the T-Mobile instructions on how to set up the radio frequencies. The better way is to just flash the carrier's ROM version onto the phone. This way you will get the features and updates from the carrier. Carriers seem to get the Android updates faster than Samsung. A trade off for bloatware.
tempests said:
I had a similar experience with an Unlocked Galaxy S7 and Sprint. I actually had to get Samsung Tech support on a conference call with a Sprint Manager, because Sprint told my customer the the phone is incompatible with the Sprint network. After embarrassing the Sprint rep, he white listed the IMEI number on Sprint's network and the phone worked.
Also, MetroPCS has the same policy. You cannot just pop in a Metro Sim card. You have to call them and register the IMEI number. After about an hour tops, the phone will complete provisioning and be able to work on Metro's T-Mobile network.
T-Mobile is instant. You cab pop a T-Mobile Sim card into any sim unlocked variant and it will work. However you will need to go into settings and follow the T-Mobile instructions on how to set up the radio frequencies. The better way is to just flash the carrier's ROM version onto the phone. This way you will get the features and updates from the carrier. Carriers seem to get the Android updates faster than Samsung. A trade off for bloatware.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Maybe I should try this approach with my Galaxy S9+ (AT&T, unlocked).
Sprint is a PITA.
tempests said:
I had a similar experience with an Unlocked Galaxy S7 and Sprint. I actually had to get Samsung Tech support on a conference call with a Sprint Manager, because Sprint told my customer the the phone is incompatible with the Sprint network. After embarrassing the Sprint rep, he white listed the IMEI number on Sprint's network and the phone worked.
Also, MetroPCS has the same policy. You cannot just pop in a Metro Sim card. You have to call them and register the IMEI number. After about an hour tops, the phone will complete provisioning and be able to work on Metro's T-Mobile network.
T-Mobile is instant. You cab pop a T-Mobile Sim card into any sim unlocked variant and it will work. However you will need to go into settings and follow the T-Mobile instructions on how to set up the radio frequencies. The better way is to just flash the carrier's ROM version onto the phone. This way you will get the features and updates from the carrier. Carriers seem to get the Android updates faster than Samsung. A trade off for bloatware.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You may have been referring to me regarding the unlocked Galaxy S7 & Sprint. Many thanks for that one. I'm going through the same crap now with Universal unlocked IPhone 7. Sprint is a PITA!
I can confirm the SM-G955U from AT&T does work. I confirmed this via Sprint site. Just Google Sprint byod eligibility and you'll find the link.
My biggest roadblock was AT&T had a network lock on my phone so the sim Sprint sent couldn't be used. I then used the services provided by gsmzambia to network unlock the device. It's currently working on Sprint network.