I'm looking at a new phone and contract (currently on Verizon).
What are my choices for Android phones that can be used with a foreign SIM card (so not having to pay domestic carrier's foreign fees)?
I am not averse to playing around to unlock a phone - I just want to make sure that there is a method to do it for any new phone I get.
thanks!
Related
Hi guys,
Easy questions I hope:
I've never (yet) got into the area of unlocking phones and I would appreciate someone just answering a couple of questions to make sure I've got the general idea of unlocking.
1.
Am I right in thinking that you have to unlock a phone so that you can use a different provider's SIM card - instead of using one that is provided at purchase time?
e.g if I have an XDA supplied by O2, I could unlock the XDA and then use a SIM card from T Mobile?
2.
Do I need to unlock my phone EVERY time I put a SIM card from a different provider in it? Or once the phone is unlocked I do not need to do it again?
e.g. If I unlock my XDA, put in an O2 SIM card, and then go on a flight abroad, can I simply pull out the O2 card and pop in one from a local shop in a different country?
3.
Do I need to keep a record of anything before I unlock it?
e.g. Are any settings needed to be recorded BEFORE YOU START in order to unlock the phone ? Do I need to record information so that in the future I can put things back exactly as they originally were.
4.
Is there any differences between unlocking phones that have PAYG or CONTRACT cards? Are there any issues here?
Thanks for answers
Anne
In the USA a un-locked fone will bring more money used or new. and also has a wider seller/buyer market.
Once unlocked that's it. any sim anytime.
we have 5 fones between the two of us ( me and my better 1/2)
2 nokia's, a palm treo, a behold and a behold II (rooted 12/1/2009)
We have just our personal sim cards from T mobile (one each) we work weird, REALLY wierd hours. Some times our smart fones don't get charged or go dead while we are out. We just pop the sim cad into one that's got enough juice to get one of the "better" fones charged.
We both rely on our fones for our jobs.
A little know fact: in the USA it's a federal law. IF you bought your fone legitamatly. IE: not stolen. the carrier must provide you with the un-lock code in 24 hours.
The people that pay 15.00 or more to have a fone unlocked are either. Un-aware of that law. In a country where it's illegal to unlock a fone. Or knowingly have a stolen fone.
1: So yes you are right you need to un-lock the fone to use another provides fone with your sim.
2: You un-lock the fone once any sim card will work after that. AGAIN your right. (provided your in a country that has the same GSM 3g 4g network)
3: ALWAYS keep a written log of any "admin" #'s given to you for a fone.
the behold has a admin # that lets you turn on all kinds of things that are "off" out of the box. and you need that # everytime you make a adminastrative change. This maybe true with other fones as well.
4: I don't know about pay as you go. I would think once unlocked you would be able to use the fone pay as you go, so long as you had minutes on the sim installed.
I'm sure there are alot of people here that know alot more than me, and can help you further. I just got back into the cell fone game about a year ago and was out of it for about 10 years.
Things have really changed, then again they really haven't changed.
HTH
Later
Rich
One thing of note is that just because a GSM phone is unlocked, doesn't mean it'll work with every carrier, as carriers will sometimes use different baseband frequencies (there are four, 850, 900, 1800, 1900mHz I think) and some phones only support 2-3 our of 4.
I'm in Canada for example, where Rogers and Fido support GSM networks (phones that use SIM cards), Bell and Telus use CDMA (phones that have ESNs programmed into them). So if I buy a Sony Xperia X1 for example, I have to be sure to buy the American version, as Rogers only supports 850mHz, and the European version of the X1 will only support 900mHz. So even if I unlock the european version of the X1, I can't use it on Rogers in Canada.
I'm guessing you're from the UK, where the market is even more diversified. 3 Mobile for example, can only use phones that support 3G (or HSDPA). A good place to look for such specs, after finding out what frequencies your carrier supports, is GSM Arena.
I think unbrand means use factory firmware rather than carrier adapted firmware. And unlock means well, any carriers sim card will work in it.
So anyway, apart from that, assume I am a n00b, and you're all l33t.
Basically I want to get the Samsung Galaxy S2 next week and I don't know if I should buy it on contract or buy it sim free. Obviously contract will work out cheaper. So I just want to know in general, how easy is it once you have a phone on contract that you can flash the firmware yourself and get rid of carrier branding so you get faster and better updatees, then unlock the phone so I can use other sim cards when I travel overseas.
Thank you.
I have a completely stock Verizon S3 and am planning to travel to Europe this summer. Wondering what my options are?
When I was on ATT, it was simply a matter of unlocking the phone (called ATT to get unlock code) and inserting a local SIM card.
Can the same thing be done with Verizon? I know that they have international data plans, but they seem expensive, and I think I would prefer to just insert a local SIM card.
My needs will be mostly checking e-mails, possibly some web surfing.
I would prefer not to Root my phone if possible.
Thanks!
This article from February says you can swap the SIM for voice but Verizon blocked the ability to change the APN to allow data.
http://m.cnet.com/news/turns-out-verizons-galaxy-s3-isnt-global-ready-after-all/57569438?ds=1
There are instructions in the Development section (not the one with Original in the title) to make it fully international, but does require root.
Have a nice trip.
I currently use a Motorola Atrix HD cell phone . The Android version is 4.1.1 and it will not update to a newer version. It is probably 4 years old at least. I want to get a newer phone but really was trying to avoid signing another 2 years contract with AT&T so wondered if I bought an unlocked phone that is AT&T compatible, can I just move the SIM card to the new phone and then use it as my new phone? I am older, 75, and need help with this decision. I don't need a phone with all the bells and whistles, just a basic smart phone to call, text, do email and other basic online functions. I did go to Best Buy and selected one of their unlocked phones but my SIM card would not fit the new phone so had to cancel that. Any help, comments or suggestions will be greatly appreciated.
JosephDamien said:
I currently use a Motorola Atrix HD cell phone . The Android version is 4.1.1 and it will not update to a newer version. It is probably 4 years old at least. I want to get a newer phone but really was trying to avoid signing another 2 years contract with AT&T so wondered if I bought an unlocked phone that is AT&T compatible, can I just move the SIM card to the new phone and then use it as my new phone? I am older, 75, and need help with this decision. I don't need a phone with all the bells and whistles, just a basic smart phone to call, text, do email and other basic online functions. I did go to Best Buy and selected one of their unlocked phones but my SIM card would not fit the new phone so had to cancel that. Any help, comments or suggestions will be greatly appreciated.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes. Switching your current AT&T SIM card to another unlocked phone will work. There are a few things to watch out for:
1. Don't forger to somehow transfer your contacts to your new phone. This can be done with Google account sync or (easier) you could export your contacts from your phone to your SIM card.
2. There are multiple SIM card sizes (as you notices). There is standard size sim, micro sim and nano sim. Make sure your SIM size is compatible with your phone. If it's too big or too small go to AT&T and ask for a different size SIM card. Just don't ever use SIM adapters. They can break the phone's SIM tray permanently.
JosephDamien said:
I currently use a Motorola Atrix HD cell phone . The Android version is 4.1.1 and it will not update to a newer version. It is probably 4 years old at least. I want to get a newer phone but really was trying to avoid signing another 2 years contract with AT&T so wondered if I bought an unlocked phone that is AT&T compatible, can I just move the SIM card to the new phone and then use it as my new phone? I am older, 75, and need help with this decision. I don't need a phone with all the bells and whistles, just a basic smart phone to call, text, do email and other basic online functions. I did go to Best Buy and selected one of their unlocked phones but my SIM card would not fit the new phone so had to cancel that. Any help, comments or suggestions will be greatly appreciated.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
see
What's your next smartphone / What should I buy by poseidon5213
and
**DEVICE SUGGESTION THREAD** -- Not sure what device to buy? Ask here! by KidCarter93
Sent from my XT1254 using XDA Labs
janekmuric said:
Yes. Switching your current AT&T SIM card to another unlocked phone will work. There are a few things to watch out for:
1. Don't forger to somehow transfer your contacts to your new phone. This can be done with Google account sync or (easier) you could export your contacts from your phone to your SIM card.
2. There are multiple SIM card sizes (as you notices). There is standard size sim, micro sim and nano sim. Make sure your SIM size is compatible with your phone. If it's too big or too small go to AT&T and ask for a different size SIM card. Just don't ever use SIM adapters. They can break the phone's SIM tray permanently.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks Janekmuric. I'll have to take out my SIM card and see what type it is. Also will try to see if there is a way on my phone to put my contacts on my SIM card. So moving my SIM card to a new phone (assuming it fits) will then enable me to begin to use that phone as my normal phone. I just can't believe it's that easy and that AT&T won't have their claws in there for some kind of fee or charge. I'll have to look for a phone then and want to try to get one that is at least version 6, I think that's Marshmallow. I've seen a number of these on Amazon that are unlocked and compatible with AT&T and not very expensive. I just need as I said earlier a basic smart phone to do calls, text, email and some basic internet. I do not do streaming or use my phone for music and all that.
JosephDamien said:
Thanks Janekmuric. I'll have to take out my SIM card and see what type it is. Also will try to see if there is a way on my phone to put my contacts on my SIM card. So moving my SIM card to a new phone (assuming it fits) will then enable me to begin to use that phone as my normal phone. I just can't believe it's that easy and that AT&T won't have their claws in there for some kind of fee or charge. I'll have to look for a phone then and want to try to get one that is at least version 6, I think that's Marshmallow. I've seen a number of these on Amazon that are unlocked and compatible with AT&T and not very expensive. I just need as I said earlier a basic smart phone to do calls, text, email and some basic internet. I do not do streaming or use my phone for music and all that.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Good luck with finding a new phone. You can use GSMArena Phone Finder to find a phone you need. You put in what you want from the phone, what android version you want, what battery capacity, price, size and so on, and it returns a list of phones that fall into that category.
Samsung Galaxy J7 is good for what you need. It's responsive, fast, stylish and costs 220 USD on Amazon.com
I am seeking to buy a phone and found a guy who sells a Simple Mobile locked phone. I am planning to use it with my TMO Sim card so the question: will it work? In my understanding MVNO-locked phones should work fine with the parent carrier, but I am not sure.
The phone is Samsung A03s if that matters