Database Info

Crippled GSM Radio in US CDMA TP2's

Something is breaking the GSM Radio in US CDMA TP2's from being used with US GSM operators. Trying both a ATT and TMo SIM in a Sprint TP2 fails - network search shows no networks available.
Closer inspection shows that while the devices are SIM unlocked, they Ignore/Reject any networks with US MCC's.
Attempting to show networks with MCC 310 and 311 failed, while 334 and 666 showed up just fine.
Running the fieldTest utility (not to be confused with fieldTrial) shows the GSM radio a-flutter with activity, finding and listing UMTS and GSM networks stateside.
I've poured over the registry and nothing sticks out as the culprit for this behavior; I fear that certain MCC's are locked out of the baseband - but I'm not sure how one would go about examining such configurations and removing such limitations.
Thoughts?

Forgive my naivety, but will this benefit people like me who are VZW subscribers? Is there GSM speeds that CDMA can't reach in certain areas, which unlocking the other radios would allow us to automatically latch onto?
I'm just wondering if this discussion is geared more towards those trying to unlock to move to ATT, or if it can benefit us all equally.

fronc said:
Forgive my naivety, but will this benefit people like me who are VZW subscribers? Is there GSM speeds that CDMA can't reach in certain areas, which unlocking the other radios would allow us to automatically latch onto?
I'm just wondering if this discussion is geared more towards those trying to unlock to move to ATT, or if it can benefit us all equally.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I have accounts with Sprint, Verizon, and ATT. If I can pop in my ATT SIM in my Sprint TP2, and switch service at will (depending on coverage or preference), it would be most excellent.

Maybe I don't get it, but isn't this known? I thought the GSM radios were locked out in the U.S.? It has something to do with FCC compliance?

I believe US GSM frequencies are locked out via software and hardware, either by request of the CDMA carriers and/or the FCC's requirements.

jasonjoo said:
I believe US GSM frequencies are locked out via software and hardware, either by request of the CDMA carriers and/or the FCC's requirements.
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Click to collapse
It's an FCC thing, they have not authorized the GSM radio in it for use in the United States, even though it can do 850/1900 GSM. I'm afraid the GSM in these things is strictly for traveling outside the USA. It will show the GSM networks here, as you have found out, but the networks here will not allow it to use them, so no amount of hacks will make it work.

californiarailroader said:
It's an FCC thing, they have not authorized the GSM radio in it for use in the United States, even though it can do 850/1900 GSM. I'm afraid the GSM in these things is strictly for traveling outside the USA. It will show the GSM networks here, as you have found out, but the networks here will not allow it to use them, so no amount of hacks will make it work.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Are you sure about it being an "FCC thing"?
There have been a few reports of people getting an unlock code, and getting their hybrid TP2 to work domestically...sans 3G connectivity, apparently.
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=555067
The cheapest I've found for an unlock code for the TP2 is $20 from here:
http://www.uniquephones.com/
but I don't know what their success rate is like; some companies charge as much as $35 for one.

That's a Canadian version though, I'm sure the models sold there are not subject to US FCC Laws.
Edit-I found this- http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2009/05/20/htc-passes-cdma-gsm-hybrid-touch-pro2-through-the-fcc/

californiarailroader said:
That's a Canadian version though, I'm sure the models sold there are not subject to US FCC Laws.
Edit-I found this- http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2009/05/20/htc-passes-cdma-gsm-hybrid-touch-pro2-through-the-fcc/
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Click to collapse
Hmm... SIM lock and firmware lock--both "modifiable". I have hope.

I give it a month max till there is a workaround.

californiarailroader said:
That's a Canadian version though, I'm sure the models sold there are not subject to US FCC Laws.
Edit-I found this- http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2009/05/20/htc-passes-cdma-gsm-hybrid-touch-pro2-through-the-fcc/
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The Verizon version if you get the unlock code, it will work in the US GSM.

Gsm not enabled
Hi does anyone know if there is a work around for this it sounds like a firmware thing and not a hardware limitation also I have installed 6.5 on my GSM TP2 is there an SPL for the cdma version yet sorry to post here on this however im trying to get to the bottom of this
Thanks in advance for any help

I got my Verizon TP2 unlocked (just emailed support and they mailed back the unlock code). Popped in my Orange (UK) SIM, told the phone to use GSM only and was able to TXT/call from it and receive calls/TXT just fine via my UK number. (I'm physically in the US).
So it's not a lock so much on registering with US networks... but it may be a lock on US GSM SIM cards so you can't go toss in your TMobile (US) SIM and dump VZ service.
--Chris

christr said:
I got my Verizon TP2 unlocked (just emailed support and they mailed back the unlock code). Popped in my Orange (UK) SIM, told the phone to use GSM only and was able to TXT/call from it and receive calls/TXT just fine via my UK number. (I'm physically in the US).
So it's not a lock so much on registering with US networks... but it may be a lock on US GSM SIM cards so you can't go toss in your TMobile (US) SIM and dump VZ service.
--Chris
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Click to collapse
This is great news! I like to unlock any GSM enabled phone I get for Verizon, just in case I ever decide to leave - so I can take my phone with me
I'll be unlocking mine tomorrow when I get it, if they'll allow it. I've been a customer for over a year, and they allowed it on the Storm and Tour, so this shouldn't be a problem.

I've been with them for several years and as far as I know as long as you're current on your bill they'll give you the unlock code. I had mine for 2 whole days and they gave it to me.
--chris

.mak said:
This is great news! I like to unlock any GSM enabled phone I get for Verizon, just in case I ever decide to leave - so I can take my phone with me
I'll be unlocking mine tomorrow when I get it, if they'll allow it. I've been a customer for over a year, and they allowed it on the Storm and Tour, so this shouldn't be a problem.
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Click to collapse
Well thats good news I will see if Sprint allows me to do the same as I have accounts with AT&T and TMO also I would really like to use this on my ATT plan but it appears from reading the previous posts that perhaps US based sims are locked out I will attempt to unlock it tommorow nonetheless and see what happens on the other hand my VZW Storm worked like a charm after getting it unlocked ........... for some reason this seems different though if the FCC notice is read at face value Anyone having any experience with this giving feedback would be much appreciated

christr said:
I've been with them for several years and as far as I know as long as you're current on your bill they'll give you the unlock code. I had mine for 2 whole days and they gave it to me.
--chris
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Click to collapse
Are you with VZW OR Sprint

dooglesmail said:
Are you with VZW OR Sprint
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes are we talking VZW or Sprint?
I have had my phone two days on VZW. The CSR first said I have to wait 60 days, then checked with T2 and came back and said it is not available. I am sure he doesn't know what I was talking about. I will call again and then a third and if that doesn't work I will just email support as mentioned above. I need an unlock code before November as I will be on the road again overseas and I don't want to pay crazy International VZW rates!

californiarailroader said:
It's an FCC thing, they have not authorized the GSM radio in it for use in the United States, even though it can do 850/1900 GSM. I'm afraid the GSM in these things is strictly for traveling outside the USA. It will show the GSM networks here, as you have found out, but the networks here will not allow it to use them, so no amount of hacks will make it work.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
mmmmmmmm. do i have a fellow railroader on this site besides me??????

unorthodoxx said:
Yes are we talking VZW or Sprint?
I have had my phone two days on VZW. The CSR first said I have to wait 60 days, then checked with T2 and came back and said it is not available. I am sure he doesn't know what I was talking about. I will call again and then a third and if that doesn't work I will just email support as mentioned above. I need an unlock code before November as I will be on the road again overseas and I don't want to pay crazy International VZW rates!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hmmm VZW Global support was not given the instructions to SIM unlock this TP2 from HTC. Sounds strange to me, has anyone had any luck getting it unlocked in order to use and overseas SIM while overseas instead of the VZW SIM with access to high rates?
I will contact HTC.

[Q] Newbie here; hoping someone can help.

I have a HTC Pro Touch phone that was my company phone for about two months before Verison took over Alltel in my area. My company switched to ATT iphones at that time. I have recently decided that maybe I could use this nice phone with ATT. Much to my disappointment I found through a little research that Alltel and ATT networks are not compatible and the phone and can't be unlocked for use with ATT.
Its seems that my only option now is to find someone with a nice phone that would like to trade hoping that they might be in the same situation in reverse. Have I missed something that can still make this phone work somehow? If not does anyone have a good idea, of how I could make a fair trade?
Thank you and I hope this post is ok for this section.

racing5k said:
I have a HTC Pro Touch phone that was my company phone for about two months before Verison took over Alltel in my area. My company switched to ATT iphones at that time. I have recently decided that maybe I could use this nice phone with ATT. Much to my disappointment I found through a little research that Alltel and ATT networks are not compatible and the phone and can't be unlocked for use with ATT.
Its seems that my only option now is to find someone with a nice phone that would like to trade hoping that they might be in the same situation in reverse. Have I missed something that can still make this phone work somehow? If not does anyone have a good idea, of how I could make a fair trade?
Thank you and I hope this post is ok for this section.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You could SIM unlock it, but it's not very cheap. There are some nice links in the Raph Wiki that points to SIM unlocking services.

@racing5k
You can try putting it up for sale onbay.com or amazon.com. If you want to avoid registering a selller account on any of those two site (which is free to do), you put a free listing on craigslist.com, always deal local and accept payments in cash and in person. Amazon and ebay will charge you seller/listing fees, there are no fees to list and sell on craigslist. You have a CDMA version of this phone. What you need is the GSM version, which for ATT was branded the HTC Fuze. I have the Fuze but am having a issue with it (battery indicator says it is fully charged at 34%) which I have yer to resolve.
@ZoneBlaze
sim unlock will not work, Alltel uses CDMA technology and ATT uses GSM. racing5k has a CDMA version of the phone, the two technologies are not compatible with each other.

Verizon phone on Sprint?

These guys in my area selling phones from Sprint and claiming they can put them on Verizon and vice versa. They are also selling phones like the Droid 2 and Pro, claiming to put them on T-Mobile. I know those are world phones with GSM capabilities but I did not think for the U.S. I always thought this was not possible. Can someone tell me if I am wrong?

i'd be very careful about dealing with them.
you can take a sprint phone and put it on verizon. you'll have to edit the esn on the phone which is illegal, but it can be done.
as far as putting a verizon phone on t-mobile, thats impossible afaik. unless these devices have north american gsm frequencies, it won't work. however if they do support NA frequencies, it would be possible.

Is this what they do when they talk about spoofing esns or something like that. I think I have an idea of what your talking about. I do not deal with them because I know they are less than reputable. But is that spoofing or whatever?

rllong1 said:
These guys in my area selling phones from Sprint and claiming they can put them on Verizon and vice versa. They are also selling phones like the Droid 2 and Pro, claiming to put them on T-Mobile. I know those are world phones with GSM capabilities but I did not think for the U.S. I always thought this was not possible. Can someone tell me if I am wrong?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The Droid 2 Global and Droid Pro DO have GSM capabilities, however as far as I know and from video reviews, if you put the phone in GSM ("Global" mode)with an domestic (American) SIM card, it'll shut of the GSM radio. Stupid, I know. But they know people will just take the phone to T-Mobile and AT&T. This is even after they give you the unlock code. It's part of the software itself.
Now in regards to Sprint, they are SUPPOSED to put other carriers' phones on their networks, however you will not find any employee who will do it for you. Unless you edit the ESN number, which, as someone stated, is illegal, they won't activate it. Other carriers, such as MetroPCS will flash any CDMA phone to their network (although data might not work, usually). Local Boost Mobile stores MIGHT be nice enough to activate a Sprint phone for you. Virgin Mobile, although they run on Sprint, won't.

Yes they would be spoofing the esn from another device so the carrier will see it as a compatible for their system.
Sent from my LS670 using Tapatalk

I thought it was funny business but like I said, I just wanted to make sure. Thanks guys

[Q] Can Malaysian use Sprint, Verizon, T-Mobile, at&t smartphones?

Hello, I'm from Malaysia. Sorry if this question is so noob, i really don't know. I would like to buy a smartphones from here. It seems that a lot of them come from US sellers, and the smartphones like Samsung, HTC, Motorola and others comes by Sprint, Verizon, T-Mobile and at&t. So, i am wondering can i use this types of phones in Malaysia?
Any explanation will be appreciated!
Not sure if i can ask this in the marketplace. Sorry.

You can only use AT&T or T-Mobile because they are GSM, but the phones have to be unlocked. Unlocked codes can be purchased online for like $20. Sprint and verizon use CDMA which is not supported overseas.

Thanks for the answer. So, it means that there are no other ways for me to get the Sprint or Verizon version unlocked? Is it only T-mobile and at&t or there are more? And, is it hard or too complicated for sellers from US to ship the phone that i will buy to Malaysia?
Thank you.

Ammo90 said:
Thanks for the answer. So, it means that there are no other ways for me to get the Sprint or Verizon version unlocked? Is it only T-mobile and at&t or there are more? And, is it hard or too complicated for sellers from US to ship the phone that i will buy to Malaysia?
Thank you.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Verizon and Sprint do not use SIM cards...that is the issue.

Ammo90 said:
Hello, I'm from Malaysia. Sorry if this question is so noob, i really don't know. I would like to buy a smartphones from here. It seems that a lot of them come from US sellers, and the smartphones like Samsung, HTC, Motorola and others comes by Sprint, Verizon, T-Mobile and at&t. So, i am wondering can i use this types of phones in Malaysia?
Any explanation will be appreciated!
Not sure if i can ask this in the marketplace. Sorry.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Ammo90, the answer is yes and no. If u into modding ur smartphone, u can flash those phone with custom GSM roms. but if u just wanna buy and use it, the chances is slim. Malaysia don't have CDMA coverage yet. and also, Sprint, Verizon, T-Mobile, AT&T use their own branded rom for each phone.
what phone and budget do u expect?

lowandbehold said:
Verizon and Sprint do not use SIM cards...that is the issue.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thank you, now i understand.
loco00 said:
what phone and budget do u expect?
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Click to collapse
The phone will not be the issue because I'm open to what are available but most of them comes from US as you can see in the marketplace, so i just want to know if we can use them.

Ammo90 said:
Thank you, now i understand.
The phone will not be the issue because I'm open to what are available but most of them comes from US as you can see in the marketplace, so i just want to know if we can use them.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
hm... most likely u need to use custom ROMs in order to use Sprint, Verizon, T-Mobile, AT&T smartphones. that's it, I think... try avoid those that didn't use SIM card. look like a hassle to me.

what about S2 GT- I9100 Movistar (i think spain using this branded) and live in malaysia, it is not ok to flash using odin 3.04 this 4.1.2 Jelly Bean XXLSJ like the VioTutorial post in Ytube.. most of the comment say can do this without root it.. what is the option if it get network lock? please.. i m stuck with this firmware

I live in us iwant to send my friend a cell phone with a plan that lives In Malaysia what cell phone can i purchase that will work over there?

Can someone share their experience... if i buy an unlocked AT & T iPhone X, from USA under GSM network, model is A1901 (which is the same model that will be launch in Malaysia), will the iPhone X work in Malaysia under the major provider like Maxis, Digi, or Celcom?

I sent a friend of mine a Boost Mobile Phone , for her wedding gift she lives in Malaysia, where can she unlock the cell phone in Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur, and how much will it coast her?

Importing Photon Q to UK.

I'm looking at this phone over the Droid 4 (not available in UK either but has been made to work).
So, am I correct in saying that to make it work on a UK network, is to just put a UK sim into the roaming slot and It shall work?
I want to be 100% on this before I go ahead and get one.
If there's anything else, please could someone shed some light on this?
Many thanks

no friends said:
I'm looking at this phone over the Droid 4 (not available in UK either but has been made to work).
So, am I correct in saying that to make it work on a UK network, is to just put a UK sim into the roaming slot and It shall work?
I want to be 100% on this before I go ahead and get one.
If there's anything else, please could someone shed some light on this?
Many thanks
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Unfortunately there is no slot to put the sim into, the sim card is fused to the board &, as of now, you would be stuck w sprints international network.
Saint sent this from his Q using xda premium

Indeed.
Supposedly there is a GSM version of the phone coming to AT&T. Look for the XT898

arrrghhh said:
Indeed.
Supposedly there is a GSM version of the phone coming to AT&T. Look for the XT898
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Ok, thanks both of you.
I was under the impression that there was an extra sim slot for using roaming sim cards abroad.
Sooo, this XT898 - are there any clues to when it'll be released yet?

no friends said:
Ok, thanks both of you.
I was under the impression that there was an extra sim slot for using roaming sim cards abroad.
Sooo, this XT898 - are there any clues to when it'll be released yet?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
There is a SIM slot, but there's no way to access it. Sprint has embedded their own SIM, and is it encased/soldered to the board literally. Impossible for the user to access without some potentially dangerous hardware hacks.
No clue when the XT898 is going to be released... I get a pretty good deal with Sprint, so I've never really cared about looking at phones on any other carriers... no offense.
Good luck!

How come GSMArena claim that it has a Sim Slot then and that it is GSM capable? :s I too have been looking at importing one of these into the UK to use on the now EE network (Orange UK and T-Mobile UK) Can somebody please confirm that this is deffinately not the case and that it will deffo not work in the UK for us GSM People?
http://www.gsmarena.com/motorola_photon_q_4g_lte-4885.php
We don't get many good phones these days here in Europe...
Thanks, Adam

API182 said:
How come GSMArena claim that it has a Sim Slot then and that it is GSM capable? :s I too have been looking at importing one of these into the UK to use on the now EE network (Orange UK and T-Mobile UK) Can somebody please confirm that this is deffinately not the case and that it will deffo not work in the UK for us GSM People?
http://www.gsmarena.com/motorola_photon_q_4g_lte-4885.php
We don't get many good phones these days here in Europe...
Thanks, Adam
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
See my post DIRECTLY above yours... Oy ve.

I already want to import 2 devices to Germany, but actually I can't find anyone who would send me the devices.:crying:

In the UK (like the rest of Europe) we have little or no choices when it comes to QWERTY phones, so I would be interested to know if its possible to get a UK (or gsm) one over here.

leona said:
In the UK (like the rest of Europe) we have little or no choices when it comes to QWERTY phones, so I would be interested to know if its possible to get a UK (or gsm) one over here.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
As of right... now, the only option in Europe for this phone is to find an international seller on eBay and mod it as posted here: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1929143. There is scuttlebutt about a GSM variety coming soon (898?), but nothing official as of yet. Good luck, hope you find something soon.
-Saint