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[Q] Nexus S SIM unlock?

Hey NSers.
I bought a Nexus S just about the week it came out from Best Buy, but I've decided to move on to another phone. I had thought that purchasing it from Best Buy meant that it shipped unlocked, with no specific carrier, but I just tried an AT&T SIM card in the phone, and it gets no service.
I called T-Mobile, but the woman I spoke to informed me that they couldn't request an unlock code because it's not a phone they actually support.
So I'm wondering how I can unlock it.
Right now, its bootloader is unlocked and it's rooted, if that makes any difference (I'm hoping there will be something easy I can do that doesn't involve contacting either Google or Samsung).
Thanks in advance for any guidance.

your nexus s IS unlocked as of google phones.
the problem is that the nexus s does not support (hardware) AT&T cellular bands.
there is a specific model of the nexus s (I9020A if i'm not wrong) that support those AT&T bands.. sorry.

Gonizahavy said:
your nexus s IS unlocked as of google phones.
the problem is that the nexus s does not support (hardware) AT&T cellular bands.
there is a specific model of the nexus s (I9020A if i'm not wrong) that support those AT&T bands.. sorry.
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Oh, really? I thought it supported AT&T GSM bands, but not the 3G bands.
And no worries. It's an i9020T, so maybe it's unlocked but still works only with TMo. Darn.

willentrekin said:
Oh, really? I thought it supported AT&T GSM bands, but not the 3G bands.
And no worries. It's an i9020T, so maybe it's unlocked but still works only with TMo. Darn.
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I think he meant to say it does not support at&t 3g bands. It should work on any GSM carrier, but may not work on 3g.
Sent from my Nexus S using XDA Premium App

OuncE718 said:
I think he meant to say it does not support at&t 3g bands. It should work on any GSM carrier, but may not work on 3g.
Sent from my Nexus S using XDA Premium App
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Right. But if I put in an AT&T SIM, it should work with AT&T's GSM frequencies, right? I'm really not looking forward to calling Samsung tomorrow.

I should go to best buy and ask if you can swap it for a i9020A.

avili said:
I should go to best buy and ask if you can swap it for a i9020A.
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I9029A isn't sold in best buy. I'd go to AT&T and get a new sim card. Your phone should work just fine on AT&T, u just won't have 3G.

I've had a similar experience with the Canadian carriers, however if the carrier supports GSM bands it will work (like previously said) it's when the carrier only supports HSDPA (like Koodo in Canada does) then you need the specific Nexus S (i9020A in your case).
You could also try adding the APN to see if that will allow you to connect (Settings -> Wireless & Networks -> Mobile Networks -> Access Point Names (APN)) - the details can be found on the forums / your carriers website.

Works for me.
willentrekin said:
Right. But if I put in an AT&T SIM, it should work with AT&T's GSM frequencies, right?
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Works for me. I live in NYC, and I picked up a Nexus S at Best Buy over the Easter break as a quick temp phone till I got my Captivate fixed.
No 3g, but it certainly works on Edge. Makes calls, data works, syncs with google apps, etc.
Maybe you're just in a poor reception spot for ATT...

Thanks for the advice. Will retry. I'd wanted to confirm AT&T would work before I put it on eBay.

[Q] Accidently bought Nexus S i9020A but got T-Mobile

I just bought the i9020A model Nexus S, and after research I found out that its meant to be used for ATT. I have T-Mobile and I am not getting 3G Network because the bands are different. Now people are telling me that if I unlock/root it, I might be able to get T-Mobile bands. Is this true?

st3laras said:
I just bought the i9020A model Nexus S, and after research I found out that its meant to be used for ATT. I have T-Mobile and I am not getting 3G Network because the bands are different. Now people are telling me that if I unlock/root it, I might be able to get T-Mobile bands. Is this true?
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Nope - it does not have the hardware to support the AWS HSPA frequencies. It has quad band GSM (So you'll get Edge service fine), but not HSPA.

krohnjw said:
Nope - it does not have the hardware to support the AWS HSPA frequencies. It has quad band GSM (So you'll get Edge service fine), but not HSPA.
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=[ ok so I shouldn't waste the time rooting/unlocking my phone then. I am getting Edge just fine but no 3G at all. I'm just going to but the T-Mobile version then and send this back.. Thanks for the reply

Verizon S GS3 on Straight Talk

Hi all,
With Verizon releasing officially, the update making its SGS3 Global ready atleast for voice as of now, a lot of discussion is happening right now about the Global capabilities.
FYI. I'm a good reader and explorer on hofo,androidforums and xda. So any guidance is highly appreciated
So here is my question.
I have a Verizon S GS3. It is brand new.
1. Can I use it with Straight Talk T-Mobile SIM ( T-Mobile has good coverage near my house ) after doing the rooting, unlocking, etc. etc all the technical stuff
2. If I unlock the phone, will it be truly global capable, I mean, can I use my S GS3 on any GSM Network in the World, even in the USA, with 3G Speeds? Did anyone use it in any Country with 4G LTE Speeds?
3. I know this is really a very very strange question. But after unlocking the S GS3, will it be working on the AT&T LTE Netowrk in the USA? My thinking is, if it working in the LTE Network in the USA, then it will work in other countries as well, where LTE Network is going to be available in the future. Sorry, I know this is a bit weird.
If You can please refer and threads or links, it is fine with me. I'm also looking and not depending only on the answers that I get from this thread. But looking for replies/guidance/links though.
Thank You.

hope this is the answers you are looking for
qzmpal said:
Hi all,
With Verizon releasing officially, the update making its SGS3 Global ready atleast for voice as of now, a lot of discussion is happening right now about the Global capabilities.
FYI. I'm a good reader and explorer on hofo,androidforums and xda. So any guidance is highly appreciated
So here is my question.
I have a Verizon S GS3. It is brand new.
1. Can I use it with Straight Talk T-Mobile SIM ( T-Mobile has good coverage near my house ) after doing the rooting, unlocking, etc. etc all the technical stuff
2. If I unlock the phone, will it be truly global capable, I mean, can I use my S GS3 on any GSM Network in the World, even in the USA, with 3G Speeds? Did anyone use it in any Country with 4G LTE Speeds?
3. I know this is really a very very strange question. But after unlocking the S GS3, will it be working on the AT&T LTE Netowrk in the USA? My thinking is, if it working in the LTE Network in the USA, then it will work in other countries as well, where LTE Network is going to be available in the future. Sorry, I know this is a bit weird.
If You can please refer and threads or links, it is fine with me. I'm also looking and not depending only on the answers that I get from this thread. But looking for replies/guidance/links though.
Thank You.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
for Q1:yes you well be able to use any network... install any mod now most of them are already rooted and unlocked
for Q2:yes you can... all you need to ddo is to download a program called hiapn.. wipe the existing apn settings.. then auto detect and you are good to go 3g and hspa
Q3: yes it works thanks to the magic of hiapn software... but not many countrys use LTE .. usa canada japan and maybe few others

Verizon SGS3 on any GSM Carrier
Hi experts,
I have a small doubt here.
If the Verizon SGS3 can be used with any GSM Carrier around the world, then that means, the Verizon SGS3 can be used with AT&T or T-Mobile as well along with Verizon Network.
But the T-Mobile or AT&T Versions cannot be used on the Verizon's Network. Is that true?
I'm have got a traveling assignment coming up to Europe this Summer and I need to know what is the best possible solution out there before I leave.
Thank You.

Verizon's GS3 uses CDMA technology for the phone calling and data, as far as I know the SIM in the verizon version is only used for LTE.
From what I have read in forum posts, (this one in particular http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2013647) if you pop in a SIM card, calling and texting should work. If you want data to work then you need to change some APNs around. Stock touchwiz does not allow this so you would need an app to do that. AOSP ROMs should have a way for you to edit APNs.
On the topic of getting 4G on any other network besides Verizon, that is fairly unlikely as they all use different technologies/ bands. Verizon has LTE, T-Mobile has HSPA+, not entirely sure what AT&T has but I think its also LTE.

This phone will take any SIM card cut to micro-size.
3G+ speeds depends on the frequency the carrier uses. The VZW GS3 uses the following radio frequencies after the JB update: GPRS/EDGE/GSM (850/900/1800/1900); HSPA/UMTS (2100) [I had to search high and low to find this for my trip to China]
Each LTE carrier uses different radio frequencies, and global countries also use LTE frequencies different than the US ones. 4G is a very varied standard at the moment.
If you want fast internet on a non VZW carrier, it better have HSPA+, otherwise you are on 3G at best.
Right now, the only truely global phone is the iPhone5 on VZW, which supports 5 different LTE frequencies. Sad but true.
The US based SG3's dont even have the FM radio that the international versions have

Edge
Mix3d said:
This phone will take any SIM card cut to micro-size.
3G+ speeds depends on the frequency the carrier uses. The VZW GS3 uses the following radio frequencies after the JB update: GPRS/EDGE/GSM (850/900/1800/1900); HSPA/UMTS (2100) [I had to search high and low to find this for my trip to China]
Each LTE carrier uses different radio frequencies, and global countries also use LTE frequencies different than the US ones. 4G is a very varied standard at the moment.
If you want fast internet on a non VZW carrier, it better have HSPA+, otherwise you are on 3G at best.
Right now, the only truely global phone is the iPhone5 on VZW, which supports 5 different LTE frequencies. Sad but true.
The US based SG3's dont even have the FM radio that the international versions have
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Yeah, my girlfriend has a verizon s3 and with straight talk she is only on edge it never changes. It makes the phone nearly useless. Ive tried to talk her into letting me flash and unlock it but she isnt real interested in it. I dont even know forsure if unlocking the bootloader downgrading to 4.1.1 and using the att sim unlock method would work but I would assume that flashing it would allow you to at least get 3-4g. not?

can not get 4g(at&t) on verizon galaxy s3!!!

ok, i got some problem with the verizon galaxy s3. I use at&t simcard on this phone and it seems working just fine. Here's a thing, after set apn setting on the phone i just only get edge speed(2g), i need someone helps me to figure out how to get the 3g/4g speed on this phone or give me a right apn setting for this. i really appreciated. thanks very much!

The bands for AT&T 3G/4G are locked on the handset, you are going to have stick on edge sadly!!

djteotancolis said:
The bands for AT&T 3G/4G are locked on the handset, you are going to have stick on edge sadly!!
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really? so there's no way to unlock these bands? I might consider to resell this phone again. Anyways, thanks for your reply!

hunbemylover said:
really? so there's no way to unlock these bands? I might consider to resell this phone again. Anyways, thanks for your reply!
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Till now no one figured out how to unlock the bands! so your outta luck..would suggest trading it in for a AT&T phone!

djteotancolis said:
Till now no one figured out how to unlock the bands! so your outta luck..would suggest trading it in for a AT&T phone!
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It's not a worst thing though. I got this one for only 100$ off craiglist and it works just fine. It just does not work right with a data, remind me of few years back when 2g was a fastest data service lol. Thanks again for let me know this issue.

AT&T runs on GSM band while Verizon runs on a CDMA network. I'm surprised your SIM even works. What other said is correct though, you are restricted to the slow 2G Edge speeds.

DarkMenace said:
AT&T runs on GSM band while Verizon runs on a CDMA network. I'm surprised your SIM even works. What other said is correct though, you are restricted to the slow 2G Edge speeds.
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Well the S3 is a World phone, hence it comes with GSM bands too! if you hit Europe or Asia you will get 3G

djteotancolis said:
Well the S3 is a World phone, hence it comes with GSM bands too! if you hit Europe or Asia you will get 3G
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Right it does. But they use different bands in other countries. Our phone isn't capable of using any and all bands. Only certain ones. If somehow these bands were unlocked, then you could get 3g here.
Sent from my SCH-I535 using Tapatalk 4 Beta

No LTE?

I am using the phone on a T-Mobile network. For the APN I have the IPv6 setting, for some reason the icon next to the signal bars is only H+ not LTE. Was wondering if that was just me? If is just me is there a way to get LTE? I know that this phone support LTE.
Thanks.

which model is it? (D68xx..) might not support the LTE bands that T-mobile has
which area are you located in? perhaps your area doesn't have/weak LTE signal

paperWastage said:
which model is it? (D68xx..) might not support the LTE bands that T-mobile has
which area are you located in? perhaps your area doesn't have/weak LTE signal
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oh... damn just checked and tmo lte band is 1700 my phone supports 1800/2100.
Well that will be something I remember the next time I buy an unlocked device.

b1969 said:
oh... damn just checked and tmo lte band is 1700 my phone supports 1800/2100.
Well that will be something I remember the next time I buy an unlocked device.
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Indeed. Also of note, Tmo LTE only works on a more recent SIM. I tried a cut down 5 year old SIM and no LTE.

Thanks for the info!

I'll admit that I didn't do proper research prior to buying the unlocked device. After reading more into T-Mobile bands, they said that by the end of this year they will be releasing band 2 which is the 700mhz. Since this model supports that I'm guessing I can get lte?
Please clarify this for me. Thanks.