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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The closest thing I've found to a solution is here, but it's a bit out of date as the method isn't for 4.1.1.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 Just keep in mind some videos are outdated and that you have a Verizon cdma galaxy S3 running 4.1.1.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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Click to collapse
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?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
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.
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.
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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
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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
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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
Hello whats up everyone, I'm in a need of help this evening!
After doing much heavy research i still have not been found a 100% concrete wat to unlock my verizon SGS3 so that i can use it with other sim cards such as MetroPCS or T-Mobile
I currently have it running EZ-Unlocked and rooted with CleanRom 4.1.2 when i put in a non verizon sim such as a non-activated T-Mobile card, it doesn't say "sorry, this SIM is not supported. please....." but says simply no service. Is my phone already SIM unlocked?
I also saw this handy method:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-cmiEZcw1z8
but when the NETWORK LOCK option came up..it just said NETWORK LOCK and no 3 options I could choose..hmmm
EDIT: heard that 4.1.1 HAS the option to get rid of the NETWORK LOCK option and this feature was apparently removed on purpose with 4.1.2? But i'm running CleanROM?
BTW: i've tried "galaxsim unlock" but it's not compatible with the US Variant yet.
MetroPCS will get my phone working on their network and do all the trickery...I just need to know if my phone is SIM unlocked.
BUMP: Look Guys, I've seen quite a few people view this with nothing to say...It's URGENT. i can't afford a new handset and verizon is cutting us off for good because my girlfriends cousin who was also on the plan that her mom was on the name for...went over on data twice. Her Cousin doesn't live with us but was on the plan...he was suppose to be grounded for going over the FIRST time but fooled his mom into giving her the MicroSD card and lied and said that was the SIM card. so he went over another month probably downloading porn and ****.
verizon said there is no rush to pay the overages....as we will not be turning back on service. We use our cell phones as the priority communication tool..no home phone....right now we have no provider. I need an answer please
stanleyopar2000 said:
BUMP: Look Guys, I've seen quite a few people view this with nothing to say...It's URGENT. i can't afford a new handset and verizon is cutting us off for good because my girlfriends cousin who was also on the plan that her mom was on the name for...went over on data twice. Her Cousin doesn't live with us but was on the plan...he was suppose to be grounded for going over the FIRST time but fooled his mom into giving her the MicroSD card and lied and said that was the SIM card. so he went over another month probably downloading porn and ****.
verizon said there is no rush to pay the overages....as we will not be turning back on service. We use our cell phones as the priority communication tool..no home phone....right now we have no provider. I need an answer please
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Drag...
Question about Selectel Flash. Selectel Sims etc. I apologize up front if this is the wrong section for this thread. I posted as a reply in the General Section Thread about MVNO's but I believe that thread is dead or closed. If this breaks any rules of XDA please let me know and delete this thread. If is is forbidden I apologize up front. And I know this is a TLDR post, but please if you know anything about these matters, please read this post if you might be able to help. And if you just need some info about someone's experience trying to get cheap android phone service keep reading. Maybe you'll learn something from me.
I let a local selectel "dealer" flash my phone to Selectel a while back in Jan sometime. About a month or so later he had to re-flash the phone. Because I couldn't make calls at all. He said this was because the guy working for him did the flash incorrectly and so he fixed it. After reading up on Flashing a bit but still not knowing enough about it, I decided to start using a partition backup tool from the store to backup a slew of partitions including EFS, and all the Modem* partitions. I backed up a bunch of others as well, just not data, system, or cache. He left the VZW sim in.
Now since then, I've flashed a number of roms. And sometimes I'd have an issue where my number and other info in status would be gone. At this point I restore EFS, usually just this one partition and everything would be back to normal. Selectel Number and everything else would work. Now I'm having this issue again but my info is in there. This time, I can't make or receive calls or texts in my home "roaming on a regional tower" area. This always worked fine before. Now at home it says Voice out of service / Data in service. This is at home. When I drive 20 minutes up the road to some different but still not verizon towers I believe, I can make and receive calls just fine. Also in the guys shop using his extender, I can make and receive calls fine. He gave me a T-mobile sim, for what I don't know, but this didn't fix anything. Now he's expecting to receive his selectel SIMS and says that might fix my issue. If not I'll have to do another flash. I can't afford to pay for another flash, being laid off work and unemployed I can barely afford the 15 dollar plan for selectel.
Anyway, I'm wondering if anyone else has came across this issue, and if so do I need to reflash? Is there a way I can fix it myself? I have downloaded a bunch of tools for windows mostly (I use linux mainly, but dual boot into windows for AutoCAD and other things that just don't work well in Linux). I've seen a ton of flashing tools online as well many of which seem to do the job automagically almost. Any suggestions? I was thinking PRL.. Of course, but after reading the first few posts of this thread, i saw the don't try to OTA program information. One guy at the store actually recommended doing that but I didn't. he said *22891 to update roaming which I think is the PRL.
Any Help will be appreciated as always. If anyone here can fix it remotely cheap, let me know. Also, he's blaming my Kitkat rom. I've used this KitKat and others in the past with no Issue at all. But for ****s and giggles, I restored a TW 4.3, the latest Alliance Rom, to no avail. it does the exact same thing. I can use the phone in town or near an extender but not anywhere that I might roam.
Thanks a bunch.
griz
Update since my original post:
I've talked to both selectel and the local selectel dealer, the dealer said his selectel sims are in but won't be ready for a few more days. I'm guessing but don't know for sure, that this could fix my isssues. I doubt it.
I restored a nandroid of a stock based rom (alliance), to try to update the PRL over the air a while back while I was in an area where I knew there would be Verizon towers. It wouldn't update because I didn't have a sim inserted. The dealer took my Verizon SIM and gave me a t-mo sim which didn't help anything at all. I stopped by there Sat 05-23-15 and he gave me a verizon sim to see if it would update using his network extender. I do know he does activation over the extender because I've been there when he's done this. He activated a dumb phone in this manner. I'm very frustrated at this because I need a permanent number to use for job contacts and my home based business doing freelance IT work. I'm not 100& sure the PRL is the issue but it seems that way because I can make calls and receive texts as soon as I get near a VZW tower or extender. At home however where there's only a regional carrier called Appalachian Wireless, it just roams, and says Voice out of service / Data in Service. And as soon as I get away from a Verizon Tower the phone will say this in About Phone / Status.
All my original data should be there because everything show's up correctly in About Phone, My IMEI, MEID, MIN, and Number are correct. He did have to flash the phone to get it to have 3g, so the MEID that shows up isn't for an S3. My IMEI is the one that came with the phone. I asked him and selectel about the legality of flashing the phone and having a donar MEID number or whatever and both said that's fine. They acted like it was completely legal, I'm not so sure. But again, both Selectel and the Dealer told me it was Okay to do that.
I've found some software on here that I can use to update my PRL with a downloaded one but I didn't know what SPC to put in for Selectel I know that with VZW it's all zeros's. Selectel customer service couldn't tell me this and told me to ask the dealer, I did and he said I could use all zero's as well.
I'm wondering if anyone has any suggestions at all, and if you think that once I get a Selectel SIM if it will work. The local dealer told me after I asked, that it would contain all my information, like those numbers I mentioned before and that it could fix it, but of course he says I've messed it up by flashing my phone. The thing is. I have lost all my info after flashing a rom in the past. However, I use a partition tool to backup EFS and other partitions and when I restore the EFS, (from when it was working and roaming), everything worked fine. Also, I know that I've used the rom he questioned in the past with success. I've tried Nameless, Slimroms, Liquid, and a few Lollipop roms with success as long as I restore the aforementioned data when necessary. Doing nvrestore (I had already done nvbackup long ago), doesn't help,. in fact it wipes everything out and I have to manually restore the EFS partition.
I understand that the PRL isn't the answer to everything but it's the only thing I can think of that would affect roaming. I have read that you shouldn't do any kind of OTA activation using *22890 *228 and so on but that I can use *22891 according to both Selectel and the dealer. The dealer wants to reflash the phone for 35 dollars which I can't afford at the moment. I can barely scrape up the 15 dollars for the cheap selectel plan.
On antoher note: I tried using an X2 with tracfone which worked great but wouldn't roam either. Kinda like what i'm experiencing right now. After calling Tracfone, I was told that none of the BYOP Android phones would roam. And one of their reps said their android phones like the Moto E wouldn't roam on non vzw towers either, because before I had my sgs3 flashed to seletel, I was going to get a Moto E Tracfone from Ebay with 2000 minutes and a year of service for 89.99 when they first came out. I didn't want to spend the money on it if it wouldn't roam. Does anyone know if this is in fact true, I can't see tracfone selling android's that won't roam. But I suppose they do. I was then told when I got a partial refund from Tracfone that only their Dumb phones would roam on non-vzw towers but again, this doesn't make good business sense nor does it make asnse at all. I've found a decent Net10 android at a dollar store (Moto E) I believe, for 79 on sale, but again, if it won't roam then it's worthless to me. Any Experience with this? I've searched and searched the internet for information on this subject to no avail. Especially the "Voice out of Service / Data in Service" message in Status.
Again, if I'm not in the correct section please let me know. Finally, I'm very sorry I'm so long winded. but those that know me know I'm long winded in every post I put up here. Sorry about that. I know I know TLDR, but I hope someone reads this and knows a thing or two about this.
Thanks once more.
griz
Hi all, new noob member here with hopefully a simple question. I bought an unlocked S20 with tmobile firmware about a month ago. I'm using a verizon SIM card and everything worked fine until yesterday when Tmobile sent out an update. At first I had no mobile data but could still send texts. After searching, i saw under my SIM card status it said IMS not registered. Not knowing much about this stuff I was thinking that maybe I needed to flash verizon firmware onto my phone and that would fix it ( I have not done that yet). I went to the verizon store and got a new sim... same issue. I also found a website listing access point details, I plugged in all the information and now I have 4G but i am still unable to send texts. I'm wondering if anyone has any ideas as to what my problem might be. I'm trying to avoid flashing new firmware onto my phone because I don't have a great understanding of how to do it, and i really dont want to brick my phone. Any suggestions would be appreciated.