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unlock Galaxy S

if i buy a samsung galaxy s which is locked to sprint or tmobile, can i unlock it and use with at&t? can at&t network recognize it as a smart phone? because i'm currently using samsung focus. Once i plug at&t sim card into it. It was automatically detected from at&t system and it also automatically add the the data plan to my plan which is trouble for me. Because i don't wanna pay for the data plan which i don't use much. Any idea?

Yes you can unlock it and use it with AT&T if you buy T-Mobile's GS4G. I'm not sure if AT&T's network would automatically discover what phone you have. When I switched to my Treo 650 a long time ago AT&T had no idea I had a smartphone. After the Treo 650 I upgraded to the G1 and they still thought I was using my old non-smartphone.
I doubt their system could detect the type of phone you have.

Hello, if you searched you would have found the two threads below.
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=980157
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1028588
please search and read before starting a new thread. Thanks

thanks but will it be detected by at&t system

xuanphucn said:
thanks but will it be detected by at&t system
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Spoke to my friend at T-mo, he said yes. is there a reason why you dont want to be detected? its not like AT&T will charge you more for using an unlocked phone. the only issue is network speeds.

xuanphucn said:
thanks but will it be detected by at&t system
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I unlocked a SGS4G and a vibrant for some friends, they use them on AT&T. Yep I imagine they can see the phone, but like fknfocused said you're only going to pay the cost of a plan if you don't already have one.
If you're trying to avoid paying those costs, it's not really possible.
However, my friend with the vibrant didn't have a data plan or smartphone prior to using it on AT&T. It got 3G speeds, doesn't mean at some point they don't look at it and go "hey wait" you need a data plan. Just saying it worked.

xuanphucn said:
if i buy a samsung galaxy s which is locked to sprint or tmobile, can i unlock it and use with at&t? can at&t network recognize it as a smart phone? because i'm currently using samsung focus. Once i plug at&t sim card into it. It was automatically detected from at&t system and it also automatically add the the data plan to my plan which is trouble for me. Because i don't wanna pay for the data plan which i don't use much. Any idea?
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Click to collapse
AT&T won't automatically detect it. Tell AT&T Customer Support your old device information and chances are that you'll be good (no dataplan). I unlocked the Galaxy S 4G/added it to AT&T and I didn't have the device automatically added- I had to call so that they could set it up. They still had me down as an old Razr (the phone i was temporarily using).

i used to have a samsung focus. as soon as i insert the sim card to it. it will trigger adding a data plan to my account. I hate to pay for that because i don't use it much

[Q] No Internet sharing on unlocked ATT devices???

I'm hoping this will be figured out since it's a major feature that will never get to be used.
I for one am using the ATT Titan unlocked and on a different carrier (Telus) and yet when switching it on it still asks me to contact ATT or dial 611 to use tethering.
I highly doubt calling ATT from Canada will allow me to use this feature. I also doubt Telus (who doesn't support non Telus phones) will be able to help me either. I also doubt HTC can do anything.
There has to be a workaround for this.

I have got the same problem using an AT&T Samsung Focus S on Rogers. there seem to be no way to remove this unless you get it dev unlocked and play with the settings.
but even that is impossible now since Chevron Unlock has been down for a while now.
its actually a feature i used almost everyday. im gonna give it a few days, if there is still no solution, im going back to my galaxy s2. as much as i hate android, at least when you pay 500$ for a phone, you can what u want with it.

I would think that for HTC devices, that you could use the HTC Connection Setup app to configure your device for your carrier and that should point it in the right direction.
Most other manufacturer's provide a similar tool for their phones and I would assume using those tools would also configure your device to work specifically on other carriers.
Otherwise, it would be something that you'd have to contact HTC/Samsung/LG to see if they can provide a tool or fix to configure your device properly.

I doubt they would help since they sell devices to carriers, they will tell you to contact carriers. I downloaded the Samsung Wireless manager but even though i use Rogers APN, it seems stuck on AT&T APN for the Internet connection sharing.
aside from this issue i really liked the phone, too bad !

I have the same thing on my HTC titan from at&t - amazing phone but the tethering is a bummer --> starting to think I should have got the HTC ultimate from Brazil - it has the same bands as the at&t one but doesn't have any of the carrier branding on it.
I'm going to give it some time - once interop unlock is available im sure someone will find a way around the at&t lockout - or at the very least we should be able to flash the Brazil rom onto our phones

My Surround didn't even get 7740...

[Q] How do I add APNs on Verizon Galaxy S3 running 4.1.1?

I have a Verizon Galaxy S3 (SCH-I535) running Android 4.1.1. I was told by Verizon prior to moving to England that, with this version of Android which unlocked the "world phone" capabilities (GSM), that I would be able to use my phone abroad with a new sim on a local network.
Fast forward a few weeks, and I am in England with an Orange sim in my phone. I have no problems with voice, but I cannot access any data services (I have no trouble receiving texts, but cannot send them - I think this is a problem with the sim though). After searching around the internet for a while, it seems that the solution to my problem would be to add the Orange APN settings to my phone.
HOWEVER, Verizon's version of 4.1.1 does not allow you to edit APN settings! When you go to the APN menu, there is nothing displayed and the only settings option is to Reset to Default.
The closest thing I've found to a solution is here, but it's a bit out of date as the method isn't for 4.1.1. I'm a bit wary of rooting my phone and installing a rom, as I've never done anything like that before.
Does anyone have any experience with this sort of thing that might be able to offer a solution? I would be willing to root my phone if necessary, but I'd need to be directed to a pretty explicit noob guide for doing that :silly:
Thanks!

Getting root is easy with the toolkit linked. Should you have any questions you can read the thread or search galaxy s3 toolkit on YouTube. Just keep in mind some videos are outdated and that you have a Verizon cdma galaxy S3 running 4.1.1.
forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2092244
Sent from my SCH-I535 using xda premium

Search this same thread and the APN fixes are here. There is also an APN fix in Note 2 forum that should work. Once you change APN should be good to go with Orange. Say hi to my Uncle in Birmingham. He on Orange also. Cheers. :laugh:

What ended up being your solution?
I'm going to Italy tomorrow with a Verizon S3 and APN settings are locked. The phone is rooted and I would love to be able to use a local SIM on data!
Thanks in advance.

sundayradio said:
What ended up being your solution?
I'm going to Italy tomorrow with a Verizon S3 and APN settings are locked. The phone is rooted and I would love to be able to use a local SIM on data!
Thanks in advance.
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Click to collapse
No solution yet. I'm going to look at the link above when I can get some time to sit down and focus on it. Hopefully it fixes it.
BTW, although it's billed as a CDMA phone, it is able to operate on GSM as well. That's the whole "world phone" thing that Verizon has been talking about.

expatabroad said:
BTW, although it's billed as a CDMA phone, it is able to operate on GSM as well. That's the whole "world phone" thing that Verizon has been talking about.
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I understand it's a world phone, but I wanted to drop that in because I wasn't sure if the Toolkit states "CDMA" under the device selection screen. I know the Galaxy Nexus or Razr Toolkit specifically stated CDMA. I just didn't want you to accidentally pick the wrong one. After looking at screen shots of the Toolkit you shouldn't have a problem it doesn't mention CDMA only Verizon is stated.

Unable to add APN.
prdog1 said:
Search this same thread and the APN fixes are here. There is also an APN fix in Note 2 forum that should work. Once you change APN should be good to go with Orange. Say hi to my Uncle in Birmingham. He on Orange also. Cheers. :laugh:
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Hey there,
Sorry for going there, but I have not been able to find a fix for adding in the APN on a Verizon Samsung Galaxy S III. I have it on Cincinnati Bell at the moment, and have it rooted. I have voice and text, but not data. I have used the APN Manager Pro to see the APN that I need to use, but for some reason it will not use it or be able to edit it? Any thoughts?

deca2499 said:
Hey there,
Sorry for going there, but I have not been able to find a fix for adding in the APN on a Verizon Samsung Galaxy S III. I have it on Cincinnati Bell at the moment, and have it rooted. I have voice and text, but not data. I have used the APN Manager Pro to see the APN that I need to use, but for some reason it will not use it or be able to edit it? Any thoughts?
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Yes.
Get titanium backup pro and make apn mgr pro a system app.
You should be good after that.
This is confirmed working on Vodafone Italy and ill post results from China and hk in about a month

And please spread the word on this.
Spiting Verizon is my new favorite hobby.

I have a very similar problem. I have a Samsung S3, not rooted, but unlocked from Verizon. I have been in Kandahar for a month or so. My SGS3 with a local provider will make and receive calls great when coverage is there. My problem is, I can only seem to text local here not back to the US, or get email and no Google Talk. I went to the shop where I got my card here, they told me that Verizon needed to unlock my phone. I know it is unlocked but I made the call home, Verizon told me what I already knew. I went back into the store, once again, next they said Verizon needed to unlock my APN? I called again, finally I got a response from Verizon saying that Samsung needs to release the patch so Verizon can unlock it. If anyone knows of such a APN patch I would greatly appreciate it. My lap top screen got cracked during a patrol so doing all of this and email is quite the B!tch! I have always had success with this forum and hope it will continue. Once I send my lap top back home to be warrantied, I will not have any way of getting the usual business done for at least a month. I'm trying to hold off on the lap top until I can get my phone fully functional. I do not have internet connection on my phone, just my computer, I guess that is the APN, that is still locked. I could do all of this if I had WiFi, but it is not allowed here by the company that provides internet. They do have WiFi in some areas, but it is always bogged down with everyone else trying to use it. Also, I am not too sure if I want to attempt to do a root, the internet service here is very slow. Thanks for your help. Please remember, I am atleast 8 1/2 hours ahead of you, so response time will be delayed.
A very helpful member of GalaxyS3forums sent me here.

[Q] Unable to use data (4G?) on Telcel provider

Hello!
I don't post much, normally a lurker. Recently, my father in law bought a Sprint Galaxy S5, which came unlocked... but he's unable to use 4G data on the cellphone. Any data network, for that matter. The phone is rooted and I've added multiple times the APN same as I have it on my S5 active AT&T and no luck. For the record, we're using Telcel, a Mexico (awful) provider.
Anyone has had any luck on this? Tried the proxy removal thing, didn't work... Any pointers at all so I could try would be great. I think we would be able to re-sell the phone and get an AT&T active one, but... I kind of got into the challenge on trying to get this one to work.
Thanks for reading

DarkShadowMX said:
Hello!
I don't post much, normally a lurker. Recently, my father in law bought a Sprint Galaxy S5, which came unlocked... but he's unable to use 4G data on the cellphone. Any data network, for that matter. The phone is rooted and I've added multiple times the APN same as I have it on my S5 active AT&T and no luck. For the record, we're using Telcel, a Mexico (awful) provider.
Anyone has had any luck on this? Tried the proxy removal thing, didn't work... Any pointers at all so I could try would be great. I think we would be able to re-sell the phone and get an AT&T active one, but... I kind of got into the challenge on trying to get this one to work.
Thanks for reading
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any upgrade?.

Free hotspot on s6?

Okay so my husband bought a used Verizon Samsung Galaxy s6 from someone and said it was unlocked. After using it, I discovered the Wi-Fi hot-spot feature worked for free (using cricket service).
Well dropped my phone in the toilet and now it's broken. Instead of trying to get it fixed, I'd rather buy a new one, since I did have some network issues at times (I'm supposing since it was Verizon?)
Anyway, my question is.... I want to get either at&t or T-Mobile since I believe both are 100% compatible with Cricket. If I get a factory or network unlocked s6, will the hot-spot feature be enabled for free again? Or do I have to modify the phone somehow? Thanks in advance.

Merkayluh said:
Okay so my husband bought a used Verizon Samsung Galaxy s6 from someone and said it was unlocked. After using it, I discovered the Wi-Fi hot-spot feature worked for free (using cricket service).
Well dropped my phone in the toilet and now it's broken. Instead of trying to get it fixed, I'd rather buy a new one, since I did have some network issues at times (I'm supposing since it was Verizon?)
Anyway, my question is.... I want to get either at&t or T-Mobile since I believe both are 100% compatible with Cricket. If I get a factory or network unlocked s6, will the hot-spot feature be enabled for free again? Or do I have to modify the phone somehow? Thanks in advance.
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Maybe should ask in T-Mobile or AT&T forum.
Sent from my SM-G925F