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With AT&T you can simply throw a sim card in and away you go with any phone you want. What do you do on AT&T namely if you have an iPhone and TBolt?
You wont be able to do it without going through Verizon to have your TB Sim card reset everytime you want to use your TB after using your iPhone.
Normally you just have to do a simple ESN swap (can do online). Unfortunately with the Thunderbolt and it's LTE SIM, things might be more complicated. I'd check with a Verizon rep to see what would be involved.
Sadly its a complete pain in the butt. One of the guys I work with had to deactivate it and reactivate it a couple of days later. The guy in the store couldn't figure out how to do it, and it took him about 3 hours on the phone with various techs to finally get it working. They ended up having to swap out the SIM card in the store.
Not sure if its the process that is tough, or if they just don't know what they are doing. Either way, I wouldn't recommend it if you can avoid it. If you really need to do it, it is possible, but its not as simple as just swapping out a SIM card like on AT&T.
Once there are more phones utilizing LTE wouldn't you just be able to swap out your sim card and put it in any LTE phone?
dirtyfingers said:
Once there are more phones utilizing LTE wouldn't you just be able to swap out your sim card and put it in any LTE phone?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes, this is correct. I can go buy the Droid Charge, and put in the SIM from my Thunderbolt, and I'll be good to go.
Thats pretty sweet, I wish I had the cash to drop on some more LTE phones when they come out.
WilliamStern said:
Yes, this is correct. I can go buy the Droid Charge, and put in the SIM from my Thunderbolt, and I'll be good to go.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Are you sure about that? I thought we were still using CDMA for calls and there is no voice over 4G/LTE on VZW just yet.
WilliamStern said:
Yes, this is correct. I can go buy the Droid Charge, and put in the SIM from my Thunderbolt, and I'll be good to go.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Pretty sure this is wrong.
When setting up my phone the rep had to set up the sim card and phone separately.
Razorz is right, we still utilize cdma for voice, so it may be possible to get data on a new phone but no voice?
A rep told me you could, never tried I don't have another Verizon phone to swap it out with. Also ATT charges activation when you swap sims "if the sim is in a different phone for a lengthy time". Also ATT will add a data plan to your account if the phone you put it in requires one.
the id number for the sim card and the ESN for the phone both must be in the verizon system associated with your phone number or the device will not work.
stuckhere4ever said:
Sadly its a complete pain in the butt. One of the guys I work with had to deactivate it and reactivate it a couple of days later. The guy in the store couldn't figure out how to do it, and it took him about 3 hours on the phone with various techs to finally get it working. They ended up having to swap out the SIM card in the store.
Not sure if its the process that is tough, or if they just don't know what they are doing. Either way, I wouldn't recommend it if you can avoid it. If you really need to do it, it is possible, but its not as simple as just swapping out a SIM card like on AT&T.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
they didn't know what they were doing.
When I had data problems with my TB, I switched to my INC via the activate phone link on the "my account" web page. An hour later when I tried to return to the TB, I got a prompt for the phone's IMEI, then prompted for the SIM card's number.. It error-ed. After calling CS, the rep couldn't help, got TS on the line, they manually entered the SIM number to make it work...
So it appears switching away from the TB deactivated the SIM, to switch back, VZW's TS had to re-add or re-activate the SIM.
And as thetwiztidfreak said, they did need BOTH the IMEI and SIM numbers to re-activate the TB.
thetwiztidfreak said:
the id number for the sim card and the ESN for the phone both must be in the verizon system associated with your phone number or the device will not work.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Correct but when you put the registered SIM in another LTE device it registers that handsets IMEI with your account. You can infact do a SIM swap with LTE, since your phone number is tied to the SIM putting the sim in another device effectively activates the phone on your account.
I should know, it's my job ;-)
It works the same way as GSM, but going from an LTE phone to a CDMA phone is a bit different, the SIM gets decactivated and becomes useless and if you want to switch back you need to go the a Verizon store for them to sell you out a new SIM for $0(some times old SIMs can be reactivated however there may b e issues with this). It's a PITA so I don't reccomend switching back and forth between CDMA and LTE devices unless you absolutely HAVE to.
chaoscentral said:
Correct but when you put the registered SIM in another LTE device it registers that handsets IMEI with your account. You can infact do a SIM swap with LTE, since your phone number is tied to the SIM putting the sim in another device effectively activates the phone on your account.
I should know, it's my job ;-)
It works the same way as GSM, but going from an LTE phone to a CDMA phone is a bit different, the SIM gets decactivated and becomes useless and if you want to switch back you need to go the a Verizon store for them to sell you out a new SIM for $0(some times old SIMs can be reactivated however there may b e issues with this). It's a PITA so I don't reccomend switching back and forth between CDMA and LTE devices unless you absolutely HAVE to.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I can confirm that it is a royal pain in the ass to go to the vzw store to get a new sim...
I just got a replacement for my tbolt. I had 5 days to return the "defective" one. I bounced the SIM card back and forth between the two phones a dozen times trying to see which one got better 3G/4G reception. The rep told me to decide which one works better and send the other phone back. It didn't matter.
This hasn't been mentioned anywhere, so I am starting to think I am the first person to do this.
Anyway, the lack of keyboard on the 'bolt has been driving me nuts to the point that I jumped on the Startosphere last Thursday. (Great phone btw, may not be fastest on the block, but the keyboard is awesome and it is smooth out of the box)
When we activated the phone, I had to get a new SIM card... a MicroSIM in fact. All 4G verizon phones are going to use it from now on instead of the bigger ones that our phones came with.
Since the Stratosphere is locked down still and my 'bolt is full of Cyanogen goodness, I wanted to figure out a way to use both without needing new SIM cards for each swap. So, I found out that there are MicroSIM to SIM adapters on the interwebs, like this one:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/160660811119
Some sites said that these MicroSIM cards are not compatible with the full-size SIM card phones. I wanted to come here and say that those sites are full of crap. Using the adapter linked above, I put that MicroSIM card in my 'bolt and it comes back to life. Everything works like it should, too.
Since every 4G LTE phone is going to this, if anyone upgrades and wants to go back to messin' with their 'bolt, they can using this adapter.
Hope someone else finds this useful.
How exactly did you get it to work? If you have the Stratosphere activated on your VZW account, how do you switch to the Thunderbolt?
mackie99 said:
How exactly did you get it to work? If you have the Stratosphere activated on your VZW account, how do you switch to the Thunderbolt?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
i am wondering the same to, as when you switch phones it requires the whole 'activate / deactivate' b.s.
No it doesn't. Swap sim, and its done.
hmm.. figured it would be programmed specifically to that device... although i haven't gone from one 4g-lte based phone to another(not directly anyway). i suppose i will give it a try when i get a new phone.
welcome to the joys of SIM cards...however I do wonder about the PRL updating, before you could just dial *228 to get it, now will it be just OTAed to us?
228 doesn't work on 4G devices. PRL gets pushed.
Swap sim from one Thunderbolt to another:
"Your phone is not registered"
I am by far no where near the caliber of technology that lie within this web site, however, I am simply trying to get some direction regarding my S3.
I purchased it from Verizon-2 yrs ago, contract expired 7/8/13; did not renew. I went with Consumer Cellular (more fitting for the older generation) but my S3 WON'T WORK ON THEIR NETWORK!
I have spent the last 3 weeks doing research on this phone to see if it can be 'unlocked' to work with a another carrier. The phone is like brand new and I don't want to get rid of it, I'd prefer to use it with the new carrier.
Is there anyone who can give me some direction to this issue? Can the phone infact be "unlocked' to work with Consumer, it has the Verizon SIM card in it, I was able to root it, successfully, now if I can just get it unlocked. Had to purchase another phone so that I would not be without phone service while I work on trying to get this one unlocked.
I've been told it can't because Verizon is a CDMA carrier and Consumer is a GSM..if this in fact true than I've no options but to sell the phone.
I do have "Preferred Network Mode' and it gives me the following options, Global, LTE/CDMA & GSM/UMTS.
Any help, directions or information would be greatly appreciated. With my thanks to all those who have taken the time to read this post.
Southern66 said:
I am by far no where near the caliber of technology that lie within this web site, however, I am simply trying to get some direction regarding my S3.
I purchased it from Verizon-2 yrs ago, contract expired 7/8/13; did not renew. I went with Consumer Cellular (more fitting for the older generation) but my S3 WON'T WORK ON THEIR NETWORK!
I have spent the last 3 weeks doing research on this phone to see if it can be 'unlocked' to work with a another carrier. The phone is like brand new and I don't want to get rid of it, I'd prefer to use it with the new carrier.
Is there anyone who can give me some direction to this issue? Can the phone infact be "unlocked' to work with Consumer, it has the Verizon SIM card in it, I was able to root it, successfully, now if I can just get it unlocked. Had to purchase another phone so that I would not be without phone service while I work on trying to get this one unlocked.
I've been told it can't because Verizon is a CDMA carrier and Consumer is a GSM..if this in fact true than I've no options but to sell the phone.
I do have "Preferred Network Mode' and it gives me the following options, Global, LTE/CDMA & GSM/UMTS.
Any help, directions or information would be greatly appreciated. With my thanks to all those who have taken the time to read this post.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
How did you get this phone 2 years ago? It barely came out a little more than a year ago.
Next, you can unlock it, but only if you pay for the full retail for the phone and then contact Verizon about what you want to do and then get an unlock code. After that, you're going to need a SIM card from Consumer Cellular.
There shouldn't be a problem with radio frequencies since the Verizon GS3 is a global phone. So the SIM card should work after you get it set up.
If I'm wrong in some aspect, someone feel free to correct me.
sent from my Infected Bonestock GS3
david_hume said:
How did you get this phone 2 years ago? It barely came out a little more than a year ago.
Next, you can unlock it, but only if you pay for the full retail for the phone and then contact Verizon about what you want to do and then get an unlock code. After that, you're going to need a SIM card from Consumer Cellular.
There shouldn't be a problem with radio frequencies since the Verizon GS3 is a global phone. So the SIM card should work after you get it set up.
If I'm wrong in some aspect, someone feel free to correct me.
sent from my Infected Bonestock GS3
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
In regards to Unlocking the phone, the phone is unlocked out of the box, you just pop in your sim and select GSM mode! you have to set the APN for DATA yourself tho!
Galaxy s3 sCH-I535
david_hume said:
How did you get this phone 2 years ago? It barely came out a little more than a year ago.
Next, you can unlock it, but only if you pay for the full retail for the phone and then contact Verizon about what you want to do and then get an unlock code. After that, you're going to need a SIM card from Consumer Cellular.
There shouldn't be a problem with radio frequencies since the Verizon GS3 is a global phone. So the SIM card should work after you get it set up.
If I'm wrong in some aspect, someone feel free to correct me.
sent from my Infected Bonestock GS3
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hi:
I do not recall the date of purchase but know that when I purchased it I had to sign for a 2 yr contract with Verizon..that contract was up July 8,2013.
That is not important, what is important is to find out if in fact the phone can be unlocked, VERIZON swears it is unlocked so they are not going to be of any use to me to get their help. It is up to me to find someone who can unlock this phone via a cable. The code places I have contacted can't come up with a code, they have instructed me that it needs to be done with a cable.
As I stated, I am simply trying to get the phone unlocked to use on Consumer Celluar, of which I am already a memeber and have the SIM card activated on another SAMSUNG phone of which I had to buy.
I do not have to buy the phone outright, as the phone is paid for, thus the 2 yr contract. the phone is mine, but as long as it is in the state it is now, I can only use it on VERIZON.
The I535 has a sim card in it from Verizon, when I take out the Verizon SIM card and put in the Consumer SIM card I get the message, "this is a non verizon SIM card.
I am researching this everyday to find out if IT CAN BE UNLOCKED, AND #2 WHO CAN I GET TO UNLOCK IT? Verizon went so far as to tell me that all the person needs is a USB cable and PC...how true this is, I don't know.
Thank You
Southern66 said:
Hi:
I do not recall the date of purchase but know that when I purchased it I had to sign for a 2 yr contract with Verizon..that contract was up July 8,2013.
That is not important, what is important is to find out if in fact the phone can be unlocked, VERIZON swears it is unlocked so they are not going to be of any use to me to get their help. It is up to me to find someone who can unlock this phone via a cable. The code places I have contacted can't come up with a code, they have instructed me that it needs to be done with a cable.
As I stated, I am simply trying to get the phone unlocked to use on Consumer Celluar, of which I am already a memeber and have the SIM card activated on another SAMSUNG phone of which I had to buy.
I do not have to buy the phone outright, as the phone is paid for, thus the 2 yr contract. the phone is mine, but as long as it is in the state it is now, I can only use it on VERIZON.
The I535 has a sim card in it from Verizon, when I take out the Verizon SIM card and put in the Consumer SIM card I get the message, "this is a non verizon SIM card.
I am researching this everyday to find out if IT CAN BE UNLOCKED, AND #2 WHO CAN I GET TO UNLOCK IT? Verizon went so far as to tell me that all the person needs is a USB cable and PC...how true this is, I don't know.
Thank You
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Verizon is right by saying its unlocked, and thats the most anyone can help you, if you are going to try unlocking the phone by cable, you might as well throw money down the drain! and 2 you need to update to the MF1 software! as MB1 and MD3 would tell you its non verizon sim card, but even on that update if you put the phone in GSM mode in Network settings the phone should work fine for calling and texting!
having the same issue, if you find out anything will you please let me know how to do this too. i would greatly appriciate it
SIM
Did you get the free Consumer Cellular SIM yet? Your post said you have rooted and have the Verizon SIM, and you can't get on CC network without their SIM card.
The phone is already "unlocked" for global/GSM use with the JB update, so you should be able to just pop in a SIM card from CC and change settings (they should provide you with this info).
A lot of ppl are saying the Verizon GS3 is already unlocked, but when i pop in my metro pcs sim card and switch network to cdma, nothing happens. What would I have to do to make it work with this metro carrier?
No Data, No Voice, No SMS
Hi. Im also having the same issue. I have a Verizon GS3 that was originally running 4.0.4, VRALHE. I rooted, updated the baseband to MF1, and installed RLS16 of Hyperdrive, so I now am on 4.1.2. I have the option to go GSM or Global, but when I put in my MetroPCS sim, I get nothing. It prompts me for Global, but I cant make calls or send sms. I also put in the APN and no data as well. Anyone know whatbI should do next? I have an IMEI, it doesnt appear to be lost, and I have tried the phone info app, as well as trying to go through the secret menu, the network lock menu is blank.
Hey, I got the same problem, and considering how it's been a while since the last post I wonder if there is any new news on this front. Thanx!
P.s: It came preinstalled with 4.3 stock, not rooted yet. I have the option to instal 4.4.2 via Kies {PDA:NE1 / PHONE:NE1 / CSC:NE1 (VZW)}.
Update here:
I digged into some settings and found that switching it into either Global or GSM seems to make the phone capable of voice calls.
Idk about 3G, I did manually type in the APN settings, but I never use anything other than wifi because internet here is expensive unless you go with one of their plans.
So if you haven't tried it, on 4.3 go to settings, under wireless and networks select 'More Settings', Mobile Networks, Network Mode.
Worked for me, although I still get "Non-Verizon SIM" in the notifications bar and it looks like my signal is a bit weaker than before. But still works.
guys you are wrong
guys there is no way metropcs, Boost mobile or sprint networks Work cause these are CDMA carriers and verizon and the other CDMA Carriers has a different activation way on Verizon smartphones the GSM module(gsm networks as well) come unlocked for foreigner carriers even the GSM US carriers(AT&T or TMOBILE) sometimes doesnt work hope that info help
IF YOU HAVE ACCESS TO LTE ON AN AT&T PHONE, YOU DONT HAVE TO DO ANYTHING!!!!!!!!
IF YOU ALREADY HAVE A SIM CARD THAT WILL FIT IN THE N5, YOUR SIM IS LTE CAPABLE AND ALL YOU HAVE TO DO IS GET THE RIGHT DATA PROVISION. YOU DO NOT NEED TO GET A NEW SIM!!!!!!!
This happened when the N4 came out and I came to the rescue far too many times to count...and I've already started to read threads about it so here we go!
You just bought an N5 and are either worried about getting LTE or can't get LTE connectivity on your N5. It's a really big issue with a really simple solution. You need to make sure of a few things.
1. You have a SIM that can receive LTE frequency
2. Your data plan is a LTE provisioned plan
3. Your APNs include an LTE ANP
1 & 2 can be solved at the same time and 3 should solve itself in most cases.
Here's the big issue: AT&T doesn't have a data provision for the N5 (or the N4). Your customer service rep will take the IMEI number from your phone when you ask for a new SIM and it will come back with their basic GSM plan by default. This caused awful data speeds on the N4 and will disallow LTE on the N5 so you need to inform them that this will happen before they go through the process. A nice rep will understand. An unknowledgeable rep will claim there is nothing they can do. Ask to speak to the manager. If none of them can help, take your new LTE capable SIM and walk away.
Now after you leave the store call up customer service and tell them you just got a new *insert LTE capable AT&T device here* and you can't find the IMEI number. Tell them you tried to go into the store and they were unhelpful so you're calling. The person will immediately become helpful and generate an IMEI number. They will provision your data using said serial number and you'll be good to go.
BEFORE inserting your SIM, start up your N5. Go through the setup process that you have to go through and then turn it back off. Plug in your SIM and reboot.
Go to Settings > Wireless & Networks > more > Mobile Networks > Access point Names. In there you should see an AT&T LTE APN and it should be already selected. If not, select it. This should be all you need to do. It really is that simple.
NOTES:
- All SIMs that fit in the N4 and N5 are LTE capable
- Here is what your AT&T APN should look like
- If you have any issues, post and I'll do my best to help
As always, Thanks are appreciated.
So even if the rep in store "can't help" I'll still walk out with the SIM card I need? Also, If I don't have my N5/IMEI in hand when I go in can I still setup a plan and get a SIM card? Thanks for the post!
EDIT: Going in with no phone I don't know rather to tell them I have a N5 coming or try to find a friends that will give me their IMEI that I can give them...
You'll get a SIM card no matter what because those are free...it just won't be provisioned properly unless you get a knowledgeable rep.
Having an IMEI in hand makes life easier; having your N5 will make it way easier. The SIM needs to be activated in the store and they will need an IMEI to activate. Just wait till you get your N5 to go through all this. It won't do anything to help you until you get it.
The IMEI will be on the SIM tray!
spitefulcheerio said:
You'll get a SIM card no matter what because those are free...it just won't be provisioned properly unless you get a knowledgeable rep.
Having an IMEI in hand makes life easier; having your N5 will make it way easier. The SIM needs to be activated in the store and they will need an IMEI to activate. Just wait till you get your N5 to go through all this. It won't do anything to help you until you get it.
The IMEI will be on the SIM tray!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Ok, I will wait until Wednesday to go in then...one last thing, if it gets to the point I have to call ATT, when I say I can't find the IMEI won't they just tell me to flip the phone over or look in the settings, etc.. instead of generating one?
No.
They will ask you if there is a barcode / serial thing on the back of your device. You say no. Boom, done.
edit: don't forget to hit the thanks button!
So just going in and asking to exchange your sim for a micro sim isn't enough?
I have a note 3 right now with 4g. I was going to use the same Sim card in the note and put in the N5. Should it work out of the box or do I still have to take it in the store? How will I know that I have a an imei card?
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-N900A using Tapatalk
GldRush98 said:
So just going in and asking to exchange your sim for a micro sim isn't enough?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No. The SIM must be activated and an IMEI is required to activate.
marcusva79 said:
I have a note 3 right now with 4g. I was going to use the same Sim card in the note and put in the N5. Should it work out of the box or do I still have to take it in the store? How will I know that I have a an imei card?
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-N900A using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'll make this even easier!
Do you have a SIM that will fit in the N5? If not, follow my steps. If so, skip ahead to calling AT&T customer support because ALL MICRO SIMS ARE LTE CAPABLE.
What do you mean by an IMEI card? All phones come with an IMEI.
great. AT&T why are you so terrible.
Im sim is in the note 3 rught now. Sending it back to att. Getting the n5 tomorrow. New to the Sim card thing. Coming from sprint. Just had to ask.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-N900A using Tapatalk
Hey guys I'm going to switching to straight talk att am I ordered the lte micro sim from them and plan to activate tomorrow should I expect to jump through hoops to get lte or expect the same issues as att users...not sure this is my first try at prepaid
same things will happen. You'll need to get an LTE data provision but will be unable to using your N5 IMEI
marcusva79 said:
I have a note 3 right now with 4g. I was going to use the same Sim card in the note and put in the N5. Should it work out of the box or do I still have to take it in the store? How will I know that I have a an imei card?
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-N900A using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If you have 4g on your note 3 it means you already have a LTE data plan. All you need to do is take the sim out of your note 3 and pop it into your n5, no need to call anyone or make an unnecessary trip to the store.
4g =/= LTE in AT&Ts case. 4g can mean HSPA+ 4g!
If you have access to LTE currently YOU DO NOT NEED TO DO ANYTHING.
spitefulcheerio said:
Now after you leave the store call up customer service and tell them you just got a new *insert LTE capable AT&T device here* and you can't find the IMEI number.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If you have a device and you can't find the IMEI, just go to the settings and about device to view it.. Wouldn't they ask you to do that?
Look, I know you want to dumb down stuff and give advise but some of it is just incorrect, not dumbed down.
Dial *#06# on any Android smartphone and it'll display the IMEI.
spitefulcheerio said:
Here's the big issue: AT&T doesn't have a data provision for the N5 (or the N4). Your customer service rep will take the IMEI number from your phone when you ask for a new SIM and it will come back with their basic GSM plan by default. This caused awful data speeds on the N4 and will disallow LTE on the N5 so you need to inform them that this will happen before they go through the process. A nice rep will understand. An unknowledgeable rep will claim there is nothing they can do. Ask to speak to the manager. If none of them can help, take your new LTE capable SIM and walk away.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It's possible that the reps @ the AT&T Stores in different areas aren't properly keying the IMEI in properly. If at all possible have them SCAN the IMEI barcode on the back of the phone.
I went down to the AT&T store here locally (Bay Area, CA) and the only problem I had in the process was a 30 minute wait to see one of the reps.
I was previously on an unlimited data plan that I've had setup since I got my original iPhone 3G - 5 years ago. NOT an LTE plan by any stretch.
He went in the back and grabbed the sim and started the process of adding it to the account.
He scanned the sim and then scanned my phone -- It CORRECTLY recognized the device as a D820 **AND** automatically updated my data plan to the LTE Unlimited.
The only thing the rep had to do was press confirm a number of times. Not once did he have to manually adjust anything.
We waited about 5 minutes for the sim to activate, slipped it into my N5 and powered it up - Instant LTE service.
So AT&T *does* have the IMEI Registered for the N5 with a corresponding LTE Plan. If someone is trying to key it in and getting an error.. they're likely not typing something correctly.
I'm already using a note 3 on at&t with LTE already enabled on my plan. Also,my note 3 already uses a micro-SIM. I should be good to just swap my SIM into the n5 right? I have written down the default AT&T APN just in case it gets list on the n5.
Sent from my SM-N900T using xda app-developers app
misfit0r said:
It's possible that the reps @ the AT&T Stores in different areas aren't properly keying the IMEI in properly. If at all possible have them SCAN the IMEI barcode on the back of the phone.
I went down to the AT&T store here locally (Bay Area, CA) and the only problem I had in the process was a 30 minute wait to see one of the reps.
I was previously on an unlimited data plan that I've had setup since I got my original iPhone 3G - 5 years ago. NOT an LTE plan by any stretch.
He went in the back and grabbed the sim and started the process of adding it to the account.
He scanned the sim and then scanned my phone -- It CORRECTLY recognized the device as a D820 **AND** automatically updated my data plan to the LTE Unlimited.
The only thing the rep had to do was press confirm a number of times. Not once did he have to manually adjust anything.
We waited about 5 minutes for the sim to activate, slipped it into my N5 and powered it up - Instant LTE service.
So AT&T *does* have the IMEI Registered for the N5 with a corresponding LTE Plan. If someone is trying to key it in and getting an error.. they're likely not typing something correctly.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
This is good to know, I am going to do this today as my nexus 5 should be arriving sometime today. So have the rep scan and should be good to go, at least I have a game plan if I run into some problems.
Thanks
Great thread. Could you please take a look at my issue with LTE being slower than 3G here? http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2513844
I've tried adding a new APN but the phone keeps deleting it!
Sent from my Nexus 5 using Tapatalk
So I am looking to buy a new phone. I am looking on ebay and there are TONS of bad imei phones for at&t! I want to buy one since they are cheaper. Only issue is that I want to be sure that they will work on straight talk, since that is my current carrier. I have read lots of people's pinions about if they will work or not because of blacklists, and I don't know if there is any one steady answer. I am hoping to get someone with some real knowledge to shed some light on this because I am stumped on if I should take the risk and buy one.
I did call straight talk today and ask if I can bring a phone with a bad IMEI number over and the response I got was strange... They said that all I have to do is buy a BYOP package and give them my sim card number and it will work. I said I know that it will work because i am on a BYOP already, but I wanted to know if my sim would get kicked off for using a blacklisted phone on the at&t network even though it was through straight talk. She said, that they only need the digits from the straight talk sim and it would work. So I tried one more time and explained everything fully... I again received the same response that they needed the sim card numbers only. So I said, does that mean that the IMEI doesn't matter for your service at all and I can have a blacklisted phone on it? and again the response was, (besically) yes, you just need a straight talk sim.
So all in all I understand that to mean that AT&T has nothing to do with straight talk when it comes to blacklisting phones! That's a wonderful thing since there are so many blacklist phones out there right now, but I was hoping someone else could drop a little knowledge on me if they knew something about it, or if they knew that straight talk was lying, so I don't waste my time/money on this phone.
I haven't looked into this since last year, but the FCC was advising on a shared blacklist to be implemented in the future back then.
Also beware that the phone might be stolen, which could lead to more problems in the future.
I've never used Straight Talk, but if they use AT&T towers maybe call AT&T. Honestly, it might be hard to get a real answer from them because most of the reps (true for all companies) don't have a clue how their own blacklists even work - heck, some don't even seem to know they *exist*.
They might not be "lying", it just might not be part of their training is information base.
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w4rped said:
So I am looking to buy a new phone. I am looking on ebay and there are TONS of bad imei phones for at&t! I want to buy one since they are cheaper. Only issue is that I want to be sure that they will work on straight talk, since that is my current carrier. I have read lots of people's pinions about if they will work or not because of blacklists, and I don't know if there is any one steady answer. I am hoping to get someone with some real knowledge to shed some light on this because I am stumped on if I should take the risk and buy one.
I did call straight talk today and ask if I can bring a phone with a bad IMEI number over and the response I got was strange... They said that all I have to do is buy a BYOP package and give them my sim card number and it will work. I said I know that it will work because i am on a BYOP already, but I wanted to know if my sim would get kicked off for using a blacklisted phone on the at&t network even though it was through straight talk. She said, that they only need the digits from the straight talk sim and it would work. So I tried one more time and explained everything fully... I again received the same response that they needed the sim card numbers only. So I said, does that mean that the IMEI doesn't matter for your service at all and I can have a blacklisted phone on it? and again the response was, (besically) yes, you just need a straight talk sim.
So all in all I understand that to mean that AT&T has nothing to do with straight talk when it comes to blacklisting phones! That's a wonderful thing since there are so many blacklist phones out there right now, but I was hoping someone else could drop a little knowledge on me if they knew something about it, or if they knew that straight talk was lying, so I don't waste my time/money on this phone.
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StraightTalk SIM cards can either use AT&T or T-mobile (Tracfone {parent company for StraghtTalk} leases several carrier's networks). If you buy and AT&T phone with a bad ESN and put a StraghtTalk AT&T SIM into it, the likelihood of it working is low. The reason for this is the you would still be using AT&T's network, and the ESN has a high chance of being picked up by AT&T's black-list.
If I were you, I'd get a factory unlocked phone, or a newer Verizon 4G LTE phone that has a bad (or clean) ESN. The reason I say the later is that most Verizon 4G LTE phones are also world phones and work with GSM. Now, you'll have to remove the radio band block, but that's very easy, and I know XDA has several tutorials for this. I removed the block on my RAZR M and it works just fine with an AT&T SIM inserted.
Hikikomori-Otaku said:
StraightTalk SIM cards can either use AT&T or T-mobile (Tracfone {parent company for StraghtTalk} leases several carrier's networks). If you buy and AT&T phone with a bad ESN and put a StraghtTalk AT&T SIM into it, the likelihood of it working is low. The reason for this is the you would still be using AT&T's network, and the ESN has a high chance of being picked up by AT&T's black-list.
If I were you, I'd get a factory unlocked phone, or a newer Verizon 4G LTE phone that has a bad (or clean) ESN. The reason I say the later is that most Verizon 4G LTE phones are also world phones and work with GSM. Now, you'll have to remove the radio band block, but that's very easy, and I know XDA has several tutorials for this. I removed the block on my RAZR M and it works just fine with an AT&T SIM inserted.
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I think the reason i might believe them is because they dont even know my imei number for the phone i have right now! And if my number is not tied to my imei number then it would be impossible for them to find it out. Or at least i would think it is. Every other service that is tied to an esn or imei number, you have to tell them the number and let them register it. With straight talk you register the sim and can use that sim in any unlocked phone.
I am currently running a note 2 from verizon on straight talk. It is a world phone but i cant seem to get 4g on it. Is this because i have to unlock the bands? If so, how do i do that? I thought it was just because of the apn i was using. I tried a bunch but only got one to work on h+/h/3g (it flickers).
w4rped said:
I think the reason i might believe them is because they dont even know my imei number for the phone i have right now! And if my number is not tied to my imei number then it would be impossible for them to find it out. Or at least i would think it is. Every other service that is tied to an esn or imei number, you have to tell them the number and let them register it. With straight talk you register the sim and can use that sim in any unlocked phone.
I am currently running a note 2 from verizon on straight talk. It is a world phone but i cant seem to get 4g on it. Is this because i have to unlock the bands? If so, how do i do that? I thought it was just because of the apn i was using. I tried a bunch but only got one to work on h+/h/3g (it flickers).
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Click to collapse
You're half-right. You don't have to give StrraightTalk you ESN (MEID/IMEI). The problem comes when you connect to the network. When you connect, your device will be identified by it's ICCID (SIM #) and it's ESN (so it knows what type of device it is and what service it needs). Because it would be an old AT&T phone, reconnecting to AT&T, there's a high chance it will be matched on the black-list.
As for your Note II, if it's already working, the radio it has may not support the higher GSM 4G/LTE bands. You may be able to unlock them, but I wouldn't know how with a Samsung device. The APN may help, but I'd first check the radio.
Ok I have a question so I have a T-Mobile contract and iPhone 7 Plus for a little over a. Year now but I haven’t paid it off in full and my bill got out of hand so I can’t afford to pay the balance so is there anyway I can use this for any prepaid plans of any company