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Hey Guys,
Back Story (don't really have to read if you want to skip)
I was at the bar with some coworkers and a new guy I work with was talking about how he had bought a Samsung Fascinate from a friend of his that had gotten his account frozen (it was on Verizon Wireless). The coworker wanted to transfer it over to Cricket Wireless (it is a crappy carrier in my area if you haven't heard of it) but they told him that they could do it but that he wouldn't get MMS. He ended up just buying a new one from Cricket and offered to sell me the one he could use for 50 bucks (it is like new in a box with everything) and told me if I couldn't do anything with it he would buy it back. This was kinda a win/win no brainer for me so of course I took him up on the offer.
He also did say that he could not get Verizon to activate it because there was a hold on the account that the phone currently belonged to.
The phone obviously will not work for me because I am on Sprint but from what I understand is that it is pretty much the same phone as the Captivate on AT&T. My dad uses AT&T for his carrier and has an iPhone but hates it and wants to go to an Android phone.
The questions:
1. Can I get the Samsung Fascinate from Verizon Wireless to work with AT&T?
2. Can I somehow remove whatever information that has linked this phone to being locked on Verizon so that I could sell it or activate it on another Verizon account if I want to sell it or give it to someone who does have Verizon?
3. Are there any other good options that I can do with this if neither of these will work?
I have no issues with rooting/flashing/messing with whatever is on this phone. I am a flashaholic on my Evo 4g and know that Samsung is a bit different then HTC when it comes to this type of thing but should have no issues figuring out the difference as far as rooting and such from other posts on this site. I just did not see anywhere that this question was already asked and know this is the absolute best place to come to get the correct answers for questions like these.
Thank you for any help you can give!!!
Does anyone have any ideas? Sorry for the bump but its been 2 days now and I am trying to figure out what to do. Thanks!
ive come here because this is the most knowledgable place about android phones and need some advice from the experts
i recently broke my atrix and could not afford a new phone from at&t. i knew it wasnt a good idea but bought a galaxy s2 off craigslist for 200$. tested it with my sim card and all worked so i paid the guy. next day no data working, called at&t and gave them the imei # and they registered it and all was good for about two days. then went to make a call after 2 days of use and get a recording the device is blocked by at&t. call them and they tell me the phone was reported lost or stolen. after explaining all of this to them they gave me contact email for the owner to return it to him and a discount on a new phone. this was over a week ago and the person has not responded. is this phone garbage at this point? what can i do with this phone? i have done some unlocking, rooting and custom roms with my atrix and evo and i would like to know my options to get the phone usable .....
Won't work until you contact owner
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I727 using Tapatalk 2
Illnevertell said:
Won't work until you contact owner
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I727 using Tapatalk 2
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
so basically i can save it for spare parts if this guy never contacts me, excluding the mainboard...
resetting the imei to a generic wont help either?
Did you try telling at&t you can't contact the owner? Or maybe tell them you contacted him and he told you that there must have been a mistake and it wasn't stolen just sold.
Im missing something? Why would at&t ask for/why give them the imei number? Unlike cdma, imei is not used by gsm in authentication/connection to network. But since youve given it to them i can only assume they checked it, found it dtolen and blocked it.
Im assuming as soon as u put the sim in another phone it works?
I know the imei is held within the efs, and that it can be changed on the original galaxy s2, u may want to look into that
kishke said:
Did you try telling at&t you can't contact the owner? Or maybe tell them you contacted him and he told you that there must have been a mistake and it wasn't stolen just sold.
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Click to collapse
i did, in my initial conversation with a supervisor explain that i had bought this skyrocket legitimately (or what i thought was a legitimate buy) and being that i was willing to return the phone i still feel possesion was 9/10ths of the law. she explained to me that these devices are shut down via imei# via fcc database and only the owner could in fact, turn the device back on. good side to this is they actually are sending me the exact phone brand new. also what i found odd was that his contact email is a hotmail, i would have expected a gmail account. im taking a guess that maybe he was in on this 200$ scam and him and the guy i bought it from split the money. i called the seller back and he asked me "which phone was this", telling me hes sold more then one phone. at&t is making me whole at the end of the day but the skyrocket i got in this scam is brand new and would hate to just throw it out
icenight89 said:
Im missing something? Why would at&t ask for/why give them the imei number? Unlike cdma, imei is not used by gsm in authentication/connection to network. But since youve given it to them i can only assume they checked it, found it dtolen and blocked it.
Im assuming as soon as u put the sim in another phone it works?
I know the imei is held within the efs, and that it can be changed on the original galaxy s2, u may want to look into that
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
yea i was reading this efs folder holds that. is there a procedure that you know of for this specific phone in a post you can point me to? thanks..
You could just put it on Craigslist and sell it again.. pass along the good karma.
aycockonxion said:
You could just put it on Craigslist and sell it again.. pass along the good karma.
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Click to collapse
no i wont do that. stuff like this at the wrong time could end badly for the seller and i wouldnt want to outright rob anyone
icenight89 said:
Im missing something? Why would at&t ask for/why give them the imei number? Unlike cdma, imei is not used by gsm in authentication/connection to network. But since youve given it to them i can only assume they checked it, found it dtolen and blocked it.
Im assuming as soon as u put the sim in another phone it works?
I know the imei is held within the efs, and that it can be changed on the original galaxy s2, u may want to look into that
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I could be wrong, but wasn't legislation passed that forces them to do this now?
Sent from my EVO using xda app-developers app
00mred00 said:
I could be wrong, but wasn't legislation passed that forces them to do this now?
Sent from my EVO using xda app-developers app
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Click to collapse
yes i read that sometime earlier this year or ending 2011 they are required by law to do this now. which if i had known i would have never took a 200$ chance. im still left with a 200$ paperweight. ill take all suggestions at this point and thanks for all the responses...
You could sell it to someone looking to go to straight talk, different sim so it should work.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I727 using xda premium
Its a long shot but try flashing my efs fix, it may change ur imei:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1611796
I should also note that its been found several times that people have accidentally wiped there imei's with the skyrocket, so i know that it can be done.
Have hope, ur phone is NOT yet reclused to a paperweight
Like someone said before the block should be only on at&t, you could probably sell it to someone who uses another carrier and clarify that in will probably won't work for at&t.
kishke said:
Like someone said before the block should be only on at&t, you could probably sell it to someone who uses another carrier and clarify that in will probably won't work for at&t.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Just go to a mobile store and ask them to force another IMEI number
ok thanks everyone, i will look into which option i decide to go with and post here my results...thank you all for the great input:cyclops:
Hello all! Although I have been a forum follower daily, this is my first post.
I am offering up a bounty of $1000 USD to help me finally resolve the global capabilities of the Verizon I535.
Recently, I purchased this phone, replacing an iPhone, from Verizon in the US. I returned home here to the Dominican Republic and learned that this phone is not capable of connecting to our local networks other than Edge technology.
I started trying all the advanced settings through various ROM's and actually came VERY close to enabling 3G. The signal came on for about 30 seconds and then reverted back to Edge. CM10's ROM was the closest that gave me this option.
So! Who wants to join in this Bounty???? OR, would someone be interested in swapping my I535 for an ATT model??
Thanks everyone and looking forward to the follow up posts!!
dkintzel said:
Hello all! Although I have been a forum follower daily, this is my first post.
I am offering up a bounty of $1000 USD to help me finally resolve the global capabilities of the Verizon I535.
Recently, I purchased this phone, replacing an iPhone, from Verizon in the US. I returned home here to the Dominican Republic and learned that this phone is not capable of connecting to our local networks other than Edge technology.
I started trying all the advanced settings through various ROM's and actually came VERY close to enabling 3G. The signal came on for about 30 seconds and then reverted back to Edge. CM10's ROM was the closest that gave me this option.
So! Who wants to join in this Bounty???? OR, would someone be interested in swapping my I535 for an ATT model??
Thanks everyone and looking forward to the follow up posts!!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
There is a thread in the development forum regarding this...I would suggest going over to that thread and see if what they have will work for you
trafalger888 said:
There is a thread in the development forum regarding this...I would suggest going over to that thread and see if what they have will work for you
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks for the reply. Yes, I did try everything that has been on that forum link.
I found another that I believe is on the right track to what may be missing in enabling true 3G.
This was the quote that caught my attention:
"If it is anything like the Rezound, it comes SIM unlocked from the factory, but the stock TW framekwork may not support the full GSM capabilities yet. CM10 doesn't sim unlock it, it just adds the missing code. "
Again, thanks for any info!
dkintzel said:
Thanks for the reply. Yes, I did try everything that has been on that forum link.
I found another that I believe is on the right track to what may be missing in enabling true 3G.
This was the quote that caught my attention:
"If it is anything like the Rezound, it comes SIM unlocked from the factory, but the stock TW framekwork may not support the full GSM capabilities yet. CM10 doesn't sim unlock it, it just adds the missing code. "
Again, thanks for any info!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If there possibly is not a fix for this issue, is someone willing to trade a working Global phone for my S3?? Today I looked at a friend who has a Droid Razor that just received an update from Verizon and it works flawlessly. Also, the same friend has a Rezound working too.
Any takers? I'm starting to really HATE this S3 with this issue. It is like being on Dial Up internet service on an old Commodore 64 PC!
Frustrated....
You could buy an unlocked phone for the $1000 bounty.
Sent from my GT-P3113 using Tapatalk 2
skennelly said:
You could buy an unlocked phone for the $1000 bounty.
Sent from my GT-P3113 using Tapatalk 2
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes, I could, but I was trying to keep my i535. I cant find an ATT model S3 here locally in the DR for anywhere near $1000.
My carrier is Claro and the cost to buy one from them is approx $1485 USD. So, the Bounty is still less.
Good phones here in the DR are better than having gold in your pocket. Literally! People kill each other over technology here, sad but true.
If you want it bad enough - prepare to pay heavily.
You have a phone you would like to sell me then??
Holy cow, that's crazy. No I don't have one to sell you.
Sent from my SCH-I535
dkintzel said:
Yes, I could, but I was trying to keep my i535. I cant find an ATT model S3 here locally in the DR for anywhere near $1000.
My carrier is Claro and the cost to buy one from them is approx $1485 USD. So, the Bounty is still less.
Good phones here in the DR are better than having gold in your pocket. Literally! People kill each other over technology here, sad but true.
If you want it bad enough - prepare to pay heavily.
You have a phone you would like to sell me then??
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If you're looking for an AT&T model why don't you post in the AT&T forum?
You could go to the market and buy what you want/ need for less money......
Sent from my SCH-I535 using xda premium
I am switching from AT&T to Sprint and I just purchased the Unlocked Nexus 5 on Google Play. What exactly do I have to do in order to activate my phone on the Sprint Network? I am used to just popping my SIM card into the new phone and it works but I know Sprint is a CDMA network and does not use SIM cards.
1. How do I get the phone activated on Sprint
2. Will it run just as good on Sprint as it would on AT&T? It will still work with LTE right?
jedinegotiator said:
I am switching from AT&T to Sprint and I just purchased the Unlocked Nexus 5 on Google Play. What exactly do I have to do in order to activate my phone on the Sprint Network? I am used to just popping my SIM card into the new phone and it works but I know Sprint is a CDMA network and does not use SIM cards.
1. How do I get the phone activated on Sprint
2. Will it run just as good on Sprint as it would on AT&T? It will still work with LTE right?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Sprint does not have a byod line as far as I know unless you are going prepaid. Nobody knows yet if any of the mvnos will activate the nexus 5. You could always get an Iphone or something on your new line and sell it to cover your nexus cost and then some.
For a new line it would be much easier just to buy from sprint for $49.
Coverage/LTE will depend on your area but yes it will work.
lafester said:
Sprint does not have a byod line as far as I know unless you are going prepaid. Nobody knows yet if any of the mvnos will activate the nexus 5. You could always get an Iphone or something on your new line and sell it to cover your nexus cost and then some.
For a new line it would be much easier just to buy from sprint for $49.
Coverage/LTE will depend on your area but yes it will work.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
According to this page the Unlocked version will work on Sprint:
http://www.ibtimes.com/nexus-5-release-date-unlocked-model-will-run-sprint-network-1452872
I probably will get an iPhone or something just to sell it since I will be able to get a new phone on contract pricing but I still need to know how to actually activate my Nexus when I get it. I was thinking about getting the $50 Nexus through Sprint but I am afraid if I do that I it will not be the exact same model. I don't want any Sprint bloatware on my phone and I don't want to get updates later than the rest. I also want to make sure the phone I get is heavily supported by developers. There is just too many unknowns on the Sprint model that I am scared to get it.
So anyway, do I just call Sprint to activate my device?
jedinegotiator said:
According to this page the Unlocked version will work on Sprint:
http://www.ibtimes.com/nexus-5-release-date-unlocked-model-will-run-sprint-network-1452872
I probably will get an iPhone or something just to sell it since I will be able to get a new phone on contract pricing but I still need to know how to actually activate my Nexus when I get it. I was thinking about getting the $50 Nexus through Sprint but I am afraid if I do that I it will not be the exact same model. I don't want any Sprint bloatware on my phone and I don't want to get updates later than the rest. I also want to make sure the phone I get is heavily supported by developers. There is just too many unknowns on the Sprint model that I am scared to get it.
So anyway, do I just call Sprint to activate my device?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
There is no 'sprint' model they are the same device. So to activate you will need to get a sim card from sprint and then you can either chat, call, use the online activation or go to the store to get set up.
lafester said:
There is no 'sprint' model they are the same device. So to activate you will need to get a sim card from sprint and then you can either chat, call, use the online activation or go to the store to get set up.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
How do you get a sim without going to a store? I see no where online to order one.
jedinegotiator said:
According to this page the Unlocked version will work on Sprint:
http://www.ibtimes.com/nexus-5-release-date-unlocked-model-will-run-sprint-network-1452872
I probably will get an iPhone or something just to sell it since I will be able to get a new phone on contract pricing but I still need to know how to actually activate my Nexus when I get it. I was thinking about getting the $50 Nexus through Sprint but I am afraid if I do that I it will not be the exact same model. I don't want any Sprint bloatware on my phone and I don't want to get updates later than the rest. I also want to make sure the phone I get is heavily supported by developers. There is just too many unknowns on the Sprint model that I am scared to get it.
So anyway, do I just call Sprint to activate my device?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Solutions Etcetera said:
How do you get a sim without going to a store? I see no where online to order one.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
To get a SIM, either go into the Sprint store. Or go online to the chat (you'll need an existing Sprint acct for this).
To activate, just call the big S and give them the info that they ask for
There's a thread going about this already that has some good info:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2507893
Sent from my Evo LTE
lafester said:
There is no 'sprint' model they are the same device. So to activate you will need to get a sim card from sprint and then you can either chat, call, use the online activation or go to the store to get set up.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
So there is nothing different? No sprint bloatware? And is it unlocked?
jedinegotiator said:
So there is nothing different? No sprint bloatware? And is it unlocked?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Correct. There's one APK that all of the phones have though. Sprint Hidden Menu. I wouldn't consider it bloatware though.
Sent from my Nexus 7
Cheater912 said:
Correct. There's one APK that all of the phones have though. Sprint Hidden Menu. I wouldn't consider it bloatware though.
Sent from my Nexus 7
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Sorry but just to be clear, Sprint will sell an unlocked phone? Has that ever been done before? Do you have a source? Not to discredit you but it seems that I should just buy it from Sprint instead of Google Play if there is no real differences. I just want to be sure.
jedinegotiator said:
Sorry but just to be clear, Sprint will sell an unlocked phone? Has that ever been done before? Do you have a source? Not to discredit you but it seems that I should just buy it from Sprint instead of Google Play if there is no real differences. I just want to be sure.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I don't have a source atm, but that's all I've heard around the forums. You need to start a 2 year contract to get the phone at their low price though ($50 I think?). They're selling an off-contract one for $400 too. Same device all around.
Sent from my Nexus 7
Cheater912 said:
Correct. There's one APK that all of the phones have though. Sprint Hidden Menu. I wouldn't consider it bloatware though.
Sent from my Nexus 7
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
So is it the sim card that creatures this apk? Because if you order it from the play store it obviously will not come with that apk.
Sent from my SPH-L720 using Tapatalk
mjs2011 said:
So is it the sim card that creatures this apk? Because if you order it from the play store it obviously will not come with that apk.
Sent from my SPH-L720 using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm pretty certain it does come with it.
Sent from my Nexus 7
jedinegotiator said:
Sorry but just to be clear, Sprint will sell an unlocked phone? Has that ever been done before? Do you have a source? Not to discredit you but it seems that I should just buy it from Sprint instead of Google Play if there is no real differences. I just want to be sure.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
This is the first time they have ever done it. This also means that the phone will be updated directly by google, with no carrier approvals/delays- which is also unprecedented for CDMA.
I myself am very surprised more people are not talking about this.
I stopped at a Sprint store today and asked about activating a phone bought from Google directly and they said it couldn't be done? Is that the case? I have about 5 months remaining on my contract with Sprint before I go on to another carrier.
mumbles202 said:
I stopped at a Sprint store today and asked about activating a phone bought from Google directly and they said it couldn't be done? Is that the case? I have about 5 months remaining on my contract with Sprint before I go on to another carrier.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It's been confirmed that you can activate this phone on Sprint. The guys at the store didn't know what they were talking about.
Sent from my SPH-L720 using Tapatalk
robber said:
This is the first time they have ever done it. This also means that the phone will be updated directly by google, with no carrier approvals/delays- which is also unprecedented for CDMA.
I myself am very surprised more people are not talking about this.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yeah it seems like this would be big news. Its also the first sprint tri band phone to be released unless you count the few sprint g2s out in the wild.
mumbles202 said:
I stopped at a Sprint store today and asked about activating a phone bought from Google directly and they said it couldn't be done? Is that the case? I have about 5 months remaining on my contract with Sprint before I go on to another carrier.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Good deal. Will order a SIM tomorrow. So 1 device, all 3 carriers? Perfect.
Tried chat last night, and then calling in today but getting the run around. Was told I had to go corporate repair store; called store and was told that they don't normally stock SIM cards and that they won't have a N5 compatible one for a while until there shipment of phones comes in. I have sero account but this is the first time it has been an issue getting service.
Sent from my EVO using xda app-developers app
So I bought a Nexus 5 today and so far just playing around with it I love it. I have been trying to to figure out how to activate it on the Sprint network, and have come across many contradicting methods. Does anyone possibly have a definitive method on how to do it, if it is at all possible? Any help would be much appreciated!
I did one online on sprints website and one over the phone.. Both went smoothly.. Just have to enter the imei and the number on the Sim card. If you do it online it will give you the unlock code/msl ... Write it down and save it
Sent from my Nexus 5 using XDA Premium 4 mobile app
I attempted to do it online and it keeps saying that "this device doesn't match our records. Please try again." should I try and call in and do it? Like I said I've read so many different things like sprint has to send you a Sim card or that they just have to manually enter the meid into their system.
the ESN is not in their database. they will not activate it until it is.
calumthestrong said:
I attempted to do it online and it keeps saying that "this device doesn't match our records. Please try again." should I try and call in and do it? Like I said I've read so many different things like sprint has to send you a Sim card or that they just have to manually enter the meid into their system.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2668172
Did you drop the last number off the imei? That would end up being an meid that sprint could use. In theory. And you do need a sprint uicc (sim) card for LTE purposes. But judging from the above thread, you might be out of luck all together regardless.
Yes i did. I called into sprint this evening and the lady i talked to was very helpful. She told me that when she put in the imei with the last number off it just says unused device or something along those lines and to go into sprint and get a sim card. I got a sim card but they were unable to activate it in store. I guess ill try calling in again tomorrow.
calumthestrong said:
Yes i did. I called into sprint this evening and the lady i talked to was very helpful. She told me that when she put in the imei with the last number off it just says unused device or something along those lines and to go into sprint and get a sim card. I got a sim card but they were unable to activate it in store. I guess ill try calling in again tomorrow.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That's interesting. Keep us posted
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2668172
Might want to check out that thread, I don't think you can activate it on Sprint. Why didn't you buy from Sprint?
lowandbehold said:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2668172
Might want to check out that thread, I don't think you can activate it on Sprint. Why didn't you buy from Sprint?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Because everything I had read said it was factory unlocked. This would have been nice to read before I purchased it though! lol.
Ill try calling in to Sprint tomorrow. If I have no luck Ill just have to re-sell it. Live and learn i guess!
calumthestrong said:
Because everything I had read said it was factory unlocked. This would have been nice to read before I purchased it though! lol.
Ill try calling in to Sprint tomorrow. If I have no luck Ill just have to re-sell it. Live and learn i guess!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Only the Google Play and Sprint nexus 5 handsets are registered in their database the T-Mobile or any other carrier isn't
You can ask them to try register it; its most likely wont happen though.
The Nexus 5 is factory GSM unlocked not factory CDMA unlocked for sprint atleast unless its from google play and or sprint themselves
Ill definitely give it a shot, never hurts to try. Also depends on the rep you get on what they'll do to help I've noticed. lol.
Just an update for everyone who was curious. Called Sprint again and the Tech support rep I talked with said it would physically work but they cannot activate it because the DEC is not in Sprint's system. I asked how I would go about having it manually entered and he told me Google are the ones who do that? Not sure if that is true or not but something I'm going to look into. But at this point its not looking good. Nexus 5 for sale.. lol.
All nexus 5 USA are the same
you can activate any US nexus 5 on sprint tmo or att
kowkow19 said:
you can activate any US nexus 5 on sprint tmo or att
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If you could provide more information as to how to do it that would be awesome! I personally have had no luck.. Lol.
calumthestrong said:
If you could provide more information as to how to do it that would be awesome! I personally have had no luck.. Lol.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
if your phone is still under warranty (which it should be since the nexus 5 hasn't been out for a year yet) you can always contact google and find some excuse to have them send you a new one and you send your current one. I remember when i got mine i had issues with the GPS and they just sent me a new one and I sent the old one back. If you do get one, that new one will for sure be activated on Sprint because its their google play store stock. Also I hope you have the sprint sim card ready as well. Hope this helps YMMV.