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Hi All.
I visited my local Carphone Warehouse shop in Dorchester yesterday where I was looking to buy the Samsung Galaxy Ace mobile phone. On all networks it was £199.99 except for ThreeUK which was only £120.00.
Having previously unlocked, rooted and custom ROM'd the Ace (thanks to XDA dev's) I thought I'd buy it on ThreeUK and put it on Vodafone when I got to the computer.
I asked the cocky know-it-all chump for the phone and got out my cash and he started ranting something about was I upgrading a PAYG mobile or did I need to transfer my number to the new SIM card.
I told him I did not need the SIM card as I had my own already but he informed me that the SIM the phone was sold with would be the only SIM that would work in it and using another SIM would IMEI block the phone.
Now I have never heard of this before and I regulary read stuff on XDA and I have seen any mention of it here either.
I thought he was just making sure he couldn't blag another 80 quid out of me so I decided to be the know-it-all chump and told him I didn't care as I was unlocking it and installing a different ROM anyway.
He told me that the PAYG SIM was tied to the IMEI number and I qoute, "as the networks are loosing too much money with unlocked phones".
I decided not to buy the phone as £120 was alot of money to lose if he was right and I could hardly go back with it blocked after this conversation.
Personally while a good idea, at least in principle from the networks point of view I can see too many negative issues arising from doing this.
Can anyone clarify any of this?
Can't believe that a different sim card could block the phone after it has been rooted?
Complete Bull. Impossible to do this as the network do not know if the handset you are using is unlocked or not. Also if you had your voda sim in the handset only voda would be able to nlock your phone as only they would see the IMEI being used. 3 would not know you are using another phone. Also the network only owns your sim not your phone. As a consumer it is up to you what you do with the phone. Hope this helps.
Not sure about those carriers but ATT has been locking phones to one sim card when activated. Only on prepaid at the moment but it shows it can be and is being done.
Utter bull****. As mentioned above if you are buying a sim free phone then you are buying a a free phone and you can do whatever you want with the lgone
Sent from my HTC EVO 3D X515m using XDA App
thre3aces said:
Utter bull****. As mentioned above if you are buying a sim free phone then you are buying a a free phone and you can do whatever you want with the lgone
Sent from my HTC EVO 3D X515m using XDA App
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Click to collapse
Think what you will. Try it for yourself and see. The carriers here have been trying to think of a way to only allow phones they say to work on the network. Take verzion and sprint. They can refuse to activate any phone that is not in their system. ATT is working on a way to do this also.
thre3aces said:
Utter bull****. As mentioned above if you are buying a sim free phone then you are buying a a free phone and you can do whatever you want with the lgone
Sent from my HTC EVO 3D X515m using XDA App
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
He was talking of a phone on a uk network subsidised by the operator called three, unless I misunderstood.
In uk phones subsidised by some networks are locked so they will only work with specific networks sims and some have been imei locked by using msin method where only one card will work in the phone.
However if you can root the device and flash non branded firmware I think that overwrites the lock and enables non three sims.
Dave
Sent from my LG P920 using Tapatalk
he informed me that the SIM the phone was sold with would be the only SIM that would work in it and using another SIM would IMEI block the phone.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
His wording is misappropriated: what he probably meant was that the phone was locked to the carrier so you wouldn't get network access. IMEI blocking only happens when reported lost/stolen.
mistermentality said:
However if you can root the device and flash non branded firmware I think that overwrites the lock and enables non three sims.
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Click to collapse
Well I hope your right Dave. I think 'thre3aces' is pretty much on the money with what was said to me at CW. I'm hoping the way of countering this will be as you said, by rooting / debranding and/or flashing the ROM and not by simular more complicated methods (in most cases) of unlocking the networks.
I don't think though that there is too much to worry about. It has never been a long wait for us modders to hack our phones after some fantastic new security device is wrecked by the likes of George Hotz (blackra1n) and the MadTeam's of the world etc.
And this whole thing stinks of Apple!
The staff at phone shops (cpw/p4u) are full of bimbos whom have little or no knowledge of what they are talking about.
sparkyuiop said:
Well I hope your right Dave. I think 'thre3aces' is pretty much on the money with what was said to me at CW. I'm hoping the way of countering this will be as you said, by rooting / debranding and/or flashing the ROM and not by simular more complicated methods (in most cases) of unlocking the networks.
I don't think though that there is too much to worry about. It has never been a long wait for us modders to hack our phones after some fantastic new security device is wrecked by the likes of George Hotz (blackra1n) and the MadTeam's of the world etc.
And this whole thing stinks of Apple!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thre3aces was on about sim free phones but if you were on about a carrier subsidised payg one then yes carriers tend to lock them though only 3 and I think vodafone have been known to imei lock to one sim card and even then not very often.
I would assume the lock is firmware related though that is an assumption but if it were hardware locked then users would need a new phone if sims got damaged and that would cost more money hence the reason a firmware lock is more probable as they could more easily alter that.
If you had problems though maybe you could get a friend on 3 to ring them and say they bought a 3 phone and tried to input their sim but it failed...as an existing customer maybe three would unlock it for them?
Dave
Sent from my LG P920 using Tapatalk
Hi i'm travelling to the US next month and i want to buy a nexus 5. as i need to use it with my country carrier i need it unlocked.
now as far as i understand, i can't buy it from the play store as i dont have an US credit card (correct me if i'm wrong)
both the t-mobile and best buy support told me that their version of the nexus 5 ($450) are not really unlocked, but i've read a lot that in fact you can use that phones with whatever carrier you want. is that true? has anyone bought the t-mobile / bestbuy(sprint) versions and tried using another carrier SIM?
Thanks guys
serianox said:
Hi i'm travelling to the US next month and i want to buy a nexus 5. as i need to use it with my country carrier i need it unlocked.
now as far as i understand, i can't buy it from the play store as i dont have an US credit card (correct me if i'm wrong)
both the t-mobile and best buy support told me that their version of the nexus 5 ($450) are not really unlocked, but i've read a lot that in fact you can use that phones with whatever carrier you want. is that true? has anyone bought the t-mobile / bestbuy(sprint) versions and tried using another carrier SIM?
Thanks guys
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I don't believe there are any carrier-locked N5s being sold in the US. You've checked that the US version of the phone supports the bands that are used in your country? BB will charge $100 more for the phone and likely try to sell you service, but you should be able to get it.
STi_Fanatic said:
I don't believe there are any carrier-locked N5s being sold in the US. You've checked that the US version of the phone supports the bands that are used in your country? BB will charge $100 more for the phone and likely try to sell you service, but you should be able to get it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
yes i checked and the 850/1900 bands are supported. both bestbuy and tmobile support told me that the phone is sold locked to the respective carriers, but i've read that that's actually not true and you can just swap with whatever SIM you have. Also i hope they dont try to force me to sign some plans if i buy the device
I am interested in this info also. I have a Nexus 5 showing up from Sprint and wondering if it will work with my T-Mobile SIM later if I decide to use it.
Sent from my SPH-L710 using xda app-developers app
No Nexus 5 devices are sold locked. They are all unlocked and if anything you can test it right there in the store/parking lot to be sure.
The only problem however is LTE if you'll ever need that.
shotta35 said:
No Nexus 5 devices are sold locked. They are all unlocked and if anything you can test it right there in the store/parking lot to be sure.
The only problem however is LTE if you'll ever need that.
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Click to collapse
i hope this is true!
they just answered me this:
Hi , If you purchase the device from T-Mobile, it is locked and will only work with a T-Mobile SIM card. Once you've met the requirements, we can help you unlock the device. If you need one unlocked already, we recommend purchasing directly through Google. - Jess
The Sprint and T-Mobile Nexus 5's are unlocked. I have a Sprint one that I purchased at Best Buy and it works just fine with my T-Mobile sim card....2G, 3G, 4G, and LTE...
lowandbehold said:
The Sprint and T-Mobile Nexus 5's are unlocked. I have a Sprint one that I purchased at Best Buy and it works just fine with my T-Mobile sim card....2G, 3G, 4G, and LTE...
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Thanks for your reply! i'm really glad this is true. can i ask you if they forced to buy some plan or sim, or you just paid the $450?
Thanks again
serianox said:
Thanks for your reply! i'm really glad this is true. can i ask you if they forced to buy some plan or sim, or you just paid the $450?
Thanks again
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I got them to price match Google the day it came out, so I got it for $350. They may have smartened up to that by now though. The SIM came in the phone. I did not have to pay for the SIM or an activation fee. I didn't let them open the box at all.
lowandbehold said:
I got them to price match Google the day it came out, so I got it for $350. They may have smartened up to that by now though. The SIM came in the phone. I did not have to pay for the SIM or an activation fee. I didn't let them open the box at all.
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i'm wondering if i can do this. it says in the BB website:
"If you find a lower price on a qualifying product at a local retail competitor's store or shipped from and sold by a designated major online retailer, we will match the price. At the time of purchase, we will match the current pre-tax price for new, identical, immediately available products from a local retail competitor's store or shipped from and sold by a designated major online retailers: Amazon.com, Apple.com, Bhphotovideo.com, Crutchfield.com, Dell.com, Frys.com, hhgregg.com, HP.com, HomeDepot.com, Lowes.com, Newegg.com, OfficeDepot.com, OfficeMax.com, Rakuten.com Shopping, Sears.com, Staples.com, Target.com, TigerDirect.com and Walmart.com."
it doesn't list google play as an allowed website.
i hope i get a cool seller lol
Thanks again!
Nexus 5's are not locked to any specific carrier. You just need to make sure that the bands are compatible with your carriers' frequency.
I bought my N5 off contract from BestBuy. It is unlocked. I am running mine on Simple Mobile. I only had to put my SIM in and program the APN for data access.
Sent from my Nexus 5 using xda app-developers app
asiandrg0n said:
I bought my N5 off contract from BestBuy. It is unlocked. I am running mine on Simple Mobile. I only had to put my SIM in and program the APN for data access.
Sent from my Nexus 5 using xda app-developers app
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Click to collapse
Thanks for the replies, i'm sure this will help a lot of people.
i'm trying to see if i can get Best buy to match the play store price
Do we know, or have we heard if the Sprint variant will have a locked bootloader?
tenorband said:
Do we know, or have we heard if the Sprint variant will have a locked bootloader?
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That's the million dollar question right now. :fingers-crossed:
FYI ... Questions belong in the (Questions & Answers) section.
Good question. My guess is yes. Only because it is Samsung
My guess is yuuuuup even Samsung decided to switch from an exynos to a snapdragon processor for Canadian users.
According to Samsung Customer Support...
bootloader will be locked if ordered directly through/from Sprint
bootloader will be UNlocked if purchased from online store or brick and mortar store (Samsung Customer Support Agent specifically mentioned Best Buy)
lennykravitz2004 said:
According to Samsung Customer Support...
bootloader will be locked if ordered directly through/from Sprint
bootloader will be UNlocked if purchased from online store or brick and mortar store (Samsung Customer Support Agent specifically mentioned Best Buy)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If that is true i will be taking mine back and getting one from best buy.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G920A using XDA-Developers mobile app
brownchm said:
If that is true i will be taking mine back and getting one from best buy.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G920A using XDA-Developers mobile app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Screenshot of chat with Samsung CS yesterday
ETA: me too. and it looks like the only way to cancel an order with Sprint is to simply not sign for it when delivered, although I'm going to call later this morning and see if that gets me anywhere.
Called to cancel order through Sprint, and basically got nowhere. Have to wait for it to show up from UPS, then take to my local Sprint store for return/refund. Going to Best Buy and purchase there with new 2 year agreement. $500 difference in price. Freebie of the sd card or Fit watch isn't as important now since price would be substantially less. If available still, I'll stick with getting the Fit like I planned.
If you're thinking about doing the same thing, Sprint rep told me to NOT OPEN THE BOX when delivered from UPS as that will require a $35 restocking fee. Just sign for it, then take it to the Sprint store by my house and the store will be able to do refund right then and there. We'll see...
International variants appear to have root capability (i.e. unlocked bootloader) already, just looking around on the web. Hopefully Sprint retail versions will be just as easy.
lennykravitz2004 said:
According to Samsung Customer Support...
bootloader will be locked if ordered directly through/from Sprint
bootloader will be UNlocked if purchased from online store or brick and mortar store (Samsung Customer Support Agent specifically mentioned Best Buy)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I find this a little hard to believe (I usually take what reps say with a grain of salt)
Regardless of who's selling it, don't all Sprint phones originate from the same place? So they can get all their bloatware (and locked bootloader, if it is?) on there? Do the Sprint phones from Best Buy not have all of the bloatware?
I guess we'll know soon enough.
fgr said:
I find this a little hard to believe (I usually take what reps say with a grain of salt)
Regardless of who's selling it, don't all Sprint phones originate from the same place? So they can get all their bloatware (and locked bootloader, if it is?) on there? Do the Sprint phones from Best Buy not have all of the bloatware?
I guess we'll know soon enough.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
And after looking at the Best Buy page for the N7, the "unlocked" spec is labeled as "No". Maybe Samsung makes more money if sold from retailers as opposed to carriers??? I have no idea. Another reason why I'm cancelling my order, regardless at this point. Or maybe sit on it and see if anything develops once they start getting in dev's hands for a week. After waiting 4 years for an upgrade, what's another few weeks to wait and see what's really happening. Seems Samsung and/or Sprint is moving to locking down the phones for good now, or as much as possible.
lennykravitz2004 said:
After waiting 4 years for an upgrade, what's another few weeks to wait and see what's really happening.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
My guess is by Thursday or Friday night at the latest, we will know everything about what's locked and what's not.
Probably have the first reports of a brick from someone trying to root also... lol
I find it hard to believe that a best buy sprint n7 would be any different than one directly from sprint. I would imagine they are all shipped from the same place with the same setups.
Sent from my SM-N920P using Tapatalk
Do know why you posted this here this is not DEVELOPMENT. More than likely it will have a locked boot loader get over it
Sent from my SM-N920P using XDA-Developers mobile app
jbadboy2007 said:
Do know why you posted this here this is not DEVELOPMENT. More than likely it will have a locked boot loader get over it
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Respectful posts please. Also, finding out and working towards root methods and unlocking bootloaders are at the core of Development. Thank you, and appreciate your comments which add nothing to the discussion.
Honestly as long as we get a viable root and unroot method i will be happy. I can live without having custom roms.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G920A using XDA-Developers mobile app
I think that is bs. I don't see the difference from a best buy Sprint Note 7 and one that is directly bought from Sprint. I'm almost certain that either one will be locked.
Also the s7 edge got root but no working recovery. So at some point we might get the same.
On the other hand the exynos versions of the Note 7 have a wip root and recovery.
It will be locked. Don't get your hopes up. Not going to be any different than the s7.
Silly question I presume but does locked bootloader mean we could obtain root but no custom recovery?
Sent from my SM-N920P using XDA-Developers mobile app
anahataray said:
Silly question I presume but does locked bootloader mean we could obtain root but no custom recovery?
Sent from my SM-N920P using XDA-Developers mobile app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The way the s7 got root was from a leaked engineer firmware so if the bootloader is locked than well have to wait for someone to get their hands on the engineer bootloader or find another way to get root
Sent from my SM-G900P using XDA-Developers mobile app
Just like zune mentioned its going to be a wait for us to get something concrete as far as boot loaders but we might have root a little earlier at least you can use rooted apps IE titanium backup with a locked boot loader is a plus. although if your a flash junky like myself it would have been great to get an unlocked boot loader for recoveries backups and new roms but only time will tell there are some of the greatest Devs here on XDA so you never know...
OK, I lived thru the Note 7 fiasco. In the end it actually did some good things for me. I finally ditched ATT and my micro-cell completely and went with prepaid Straight Talk combined with Google Voice/Hangouts on my old Note 3 temporarily until the S8s arrive. I've found out it works well for me. Carrier IP calling is not required. I love calling from my other devices.
The question for me now is where do I buy/pre-order the S8 (more likely an S8+) when it does become available? I do not want to use ATT because of a number of reasons. I've grown to hate them over the years. I always pay cash for my phones.
One of the main reasons I don't look closer at some of the other flagship phones is I really like Samsung Pay. The popularity of Android Pay POS machines is just not there nor is it growing much. That also prevents me from rooting etc. something I've done a lot in the past, but if I don't have the bloatware it will be less painful.
Do I look at an international version? Where to buy?
Thoughts? Ideas? Comments?
Phredeee said:
OK, I lived thru the Note 7 fiasco. In the end it actually did some good things for me. I finally ditched ATT and my micro-cell completely and went with prepaid Straight Talk combined with Google Voice/Hangouts on my old Note 3 temporarily until the S8s arrive. I've found out it works well for me. Carrier IP calling is not required. I love calling from my other devices.
The question for me now is where do I buy/pre-order the S8 (more likely an S8+) when it does become available? I do not want to use ATT because of a number of reasons. I've grown to hate them over the years. I always pay cash for my phones.
One of the main reasons I don't look closer at some of the other flagship phones is I really like Samsung Pay. The popularity of Android Pay POS machines is just not there nor is it growing much. That also prevents me from rooting etc. something I've done a lot in the past, but if I don't have the bloatware it will be less painful.
Do I look at an international version? Where to buy?
Thoughts? Ideas? Comments?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Any S8 that comes with an unlocked bootloader or a bootloader that can be unlocked. International variants are typically unlocked or can be unlocked.
Sent from my SM-S903VL using Tapatalk
Droidriven said:
Any S8 that comes with an unlocked bootloader or a bootloader that can be unlocked. International variants are typically unlocked or can be unlocked.
Sent from my SM-S903VL using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Exactly the idea. But where?
Phredeee said:
Exactly the idea. But where?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
What do you mean where? It's not hard to find where they are/would be available. Try ordering from Samsung directly, the price will be cheaper.
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Droidriven said:
What do you mean where? It's not hard to find where they are/would be available. Try ordering from Samsung directly, the price will be cheaper.
Sent from my SM-S903VL using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Samsung does not sell unbranded phones directly. Best Buy was supposed to be selling factory unlocked phones but has pulled their pre-order ad. Name one place, besides EBAY, that someone can pre-order or purchase
(when available, May9) a fully unlocked S8.
Phredeee said:
Samsung does not sell unbranded phones directly. Best Buy was supposed to be selling factory unlocked phones but has pulled their pre-order ad. Name one place, besides EBAY, that someone can pre-order or purchase
(when available, May9) a fully unlocked S8.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
So the people I've helped that bought their devices straight from Samsung to avoid all the carrier branded bloatware were just my imagination, right?
Yes, they do, in fact, offer non branded phones directly, or at least they did.
They may not offer factory unlocked devices, but they offer unbranded international models that can easily be unlocked.
I DO NOT PROVIDE HELP IN PERSONAL MESSAGE, I DO NOT TAKE REQUESTS IN PERSONAL MESSAGE, YOU WILL BE IGNORED. KEEP IT IN THE THREADS WHERE EVERYONE CAN SHARE
Droidriven said:
So the people I've helped that bought their devices straight from Samsung to avoid all the carrier branded bloatware were just my imagination, right?
Yes, they do, in fact, offer non branded phones directly, or at least they did.
They may not offer factory unlocked devices, but they offer unbranded international models that can easily be unlocked.
I DO NOT PROVIDE HELP IN PERSONAL MESSAGE, I DO NOT TAKE REQUESTS IN PERSONAL MESSAGE, YOU WILL BE IGNORED. KEEP IT IN THE THREADS WHERE EVERYONE CAN SHARE
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Maybe I'm just not finding it. I have searched their website high and low. Everything appears to be tied to a carrier. I would sure like to find it.
Phredeee said:
Maybe I'm just not finding it. I have searched their website high and low. Everything appears to be tied to a carrier. I would sure like to find it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Samsung itself might not be offering it yet but I did find these with a simple google search for unlocked international phones direct.
http://www.theverge.com/circuitbrea...-unlocked-galaxy-s8-plus-pricing-release-date
https://www.amazon.com/Samsung-Galaxy-Factory-Unlocked-Smart/dp/B06XXRX8NW
I DO NOT PROVIDE HELP IN PERSONAL MESSAGE, I DO NOT TAKE REQUESTS IN PERSONAL MESSAGE, YOU WILL BE IGNORED. KEEP IT IN THE THREADS WHERE EVERYONE CAN SHARE
Hello,
I bought a T-Mobile Galaxy S7 on samsung.com and i haven't been able to SIM unlock it.
After many calls and chats, T-Mobile support told me this: "... because the device was purchased directly from the manufacturer our system doesn't recognize the device as being a T-Mobile device. Even though it is a T-Mobile model and has T-Mobile software, a T-Mobile device is considered to be one bought or sold by T-Mobile directly. We have a database of the IMEI's of the devices we carry and sell, and this lets us unlock eligible devices upon a customer's request."
Samsung support is useless.
I tried a 3rd party unlock service two weeks ago and I'm still waiting. They asked me to please be patient because the T-Mobile server has been down.
T-Mobile unlock app did more damage than good.
I'm also still trying to return the cellphone but Samsung hasn't sent any prepaid labels yet, I've called 3 times on 3 different weeks and they said they're about to send it. , that I should wait a couple of days.
So, in the mean time, is there any other option to unlock this thing? like a brute force unlock.
Thanks.
Let me know if you find an answer. I have an s6 edge that till date after it being active on T-Mobile for over 8 months (Samsung purchase phone - T-Mobile variant) the application from T-Mobile tells me the device is not eligible". Samsung care says they don't unlock that my carrier does lol
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Would it be possible to flash the MetroPCS ROM and use a SIM unlock service for MetroPCS? Or do the same with AT&T?
yeah everyone i have tried for unlocking says the service is down...more like the inside person they use is not available...have asked a couple of sites and ebay sellers...same thing...they must all use the same person or exploit.
I was getting the runaround from Samsung to goto T-Mobile and vice versa.. luckily the T-Mobile tech support was helpful and agreed to be on conference with Samsung support and it was a battle with Samsung to get some responsible answer as they kept saying that they don't unlock phones. Then when we escalated to the manager, she repeated the same but at the end created a case to service the phone. Once it reached Samsung, they just said updated software and are sending back on same day.. Not sure if it got fixed, will let you know as soon as I get it..
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nktwister said:
I was getting the runaround from Samsung to goto T-Mobile and vice versa.. luckily the T-Mobile tech support was helpful and agreed to be on conference with Samsung support and it was a battle with Samsung to get some responsible answer as they kept saying that they don't unlock phones. Then when we escalated to the manager, she repeated the same but at the end created a case to service the phone. Once it reached Samsung, they just said updated software and are sending back on same day.. Not sure if it got fixed, will let you know as soon as I get it..
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I doubt if updating software can actually sim unlock it. But who knows, perhaps Samsung has a magical software update. Let us know please. If it works we could dump the OS a d reflash other locked units with Odin maybe? Lol
jazzdglass said:
I doubt if updating software can actually sim unlock it. But who knows, perhaps Samsung has a magical software update. Let us know please. If it works we could dump the OS a d reflash other locked units with Odin maybe? Lol
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That was a bummer.. the stupid Samsung technical support just reflashed the same software and sent back the phone in a generic box (did not get original box back) .. the same problem still exists.. the device unlock app doesn't work and T-Mobile doesn't have the unlock code for this imei..
I got T-Mobile to fix mine.
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Febby said:
I got T-Mobile to fix mine.
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Click to collapse
Can you please elaborate on what you asked and what was done by T-Mobile? Did you buy your phone from Samsung.com?
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nktwister said:
Can you please elaborate on what you asked and what was done by T-Mobile? Did you buy your phone from Samsung.com?
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Click to expand...
Click to collapse
What you want to state to them is for them to request a ticket for your Imei to be white listed for the device unlock application. Let them know it is the T-Mobile variant of the phone bought directly from Samsung.com
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Febby said:
What you want to state to them is for them to request a ticket for your Imei to be white listed for the device unlock application. Let them know it is the T-Mobile variant of the phone bought directly from Samsung.com
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Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I did the same and the T-Mobile rep said that it did not work and they are getting the same error that imei cannot be whitelisted for the mobile device unlock application.. they are clear that it was T-Mobile phone from Samsung.com.. were you on g930t rom? Did you buy yours from Samsung.com or from someone else?
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nktwister said:
I did the same and the T-Mobile rep said that it did not work and they are getting the same error that imei cannot be whitelisted for the mobile device unlock application.. they are clear that it was T-Mobile phone from Samsung.com.. were you on g930t rom? Did you buy yours from Samsung.com or from someone else?
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Click to collapse
It was bought directly via samsung.com as a t-mobile variant with t-mobile firmware. That's odd unless if your model was modified at some point? Perhaps lazy t-mobile rep? What I was told is that after 5 days even if bought from Samsung as a t-mobile variant it will lock itself once a sim card is left in it
Sent from my SM-G930T using Tapatalk
Febby said:
It was bought directly via samsung.com as a t-mobile variant with t-mobile firmware. That's odd unless if your model was modified at some point? Perhaps lazy t-mobile rep? What I was told is that after 5 days even if bought from Samsung as a t-mobile variant it will lock itself once a sim card is left in it
Sent from my SM-G930T using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Oh ok, the rep has not given up and she is still trying everyday for a solution.. my model was never modified, everything stock and used on T-Mobile for 1.5 months.. I wonder how you can be eligible for unlock if you've not used tmo sim for more than 5 days.. Maybe your rep involved some engineer to add the imei through backdoor process? Did you email them proof of purchase?
nktwister said:
Oh ok, the rep has not given up and she is still trying everyday for a solution.. my model was never modified, everything stock and used on T-Mobile for 1.5 months.. I wonder how you can be eligible for unlock if you've not used tmo sim for more than 5 days.. Maybe your rep involved some engineer to add the imei through backdoor process? Did you email them proof of purchase?
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I've had T-Mobile service for around 2 years almost and I did use the T-Mobile s6 edge for almost 11 months.
I believe what the rep that helped me meant is that when you buy a T-Mobile variant phone from Samsung or any oem that you should run the Device unlock app asap otherwise once you leave a SIM card inserted for 5 days or more it will lock the device to that carrier that the sim belongs to.
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I can clarify a bit on this, as I went through the same thing. Tech support even 3 way called Samsung with me, and they were arguing for over an hour until we got fed up.
Basically, the IMEI needs to be added to the T-Mobile database, but because it was never sold by them it errors out. I just got off the phone with Tech Support and sadly, their notes don't go back far enough to tell me exact process, but I was told that the Business Support department was the one that actually solved the issue for me (along with contacting their Samsung Rep). Maybe that will help you guys out, at least as a starting point.
Edit: T-Mobile support just confirmed. Speak to Business Support, they can fix it.
Thanks for the replies.. I wasn't able to check last solution as my rep agreed to replace it with T-Mobile sold device.. so got an s7 edge which is cheaper now than s7
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entropism said:
I can clarify a bit on this, as I went through the same thing. Tech support even 3 way called Samsung with me, and they were arguing for over an hour until we got fed up.
Basically, the IMEI needs to be added to the T-Mobile database, but because it was never sold by them it errors out. I just got off the phone with Tech Support and sadly, their notes don't go back far enough to tell me exact process, but I was told that the Business Support department was the one that actually solved the issue for me (along with contacting their Samsung Rep). Maybe that will help you guys out, at least as a starting point.
Edit: T-Mobile support just confirmed. Speak to Business Support, they can fix it.
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Click to collapse
I registered in this forum just to say thanks to you. I wasted more than two weeks speaking to tech support. Their attitude was great but they did nothing effective. I read your post and spoke to business support, the unlock issue got resolved quickly over the weekend.
This really saves my ass because I am going overseas soon. T-mobile really need to have better communication between different departments.
A small update for anyone who ends up here via google:
T-Mobile is now aware of the issue, and if you contact them on Twitter (@tmobilehelp), their specialised customer service division, T-Force, can get you unlocked and out the door almost immediately. The process takes a few days, but they know the steps to take to get the ball rolling.
Wow, I can't believe it took 3 months to solve this.
I don't know how much time I lost calling T-Mobile and Samsung. BTW, Samsung support is the worst ever.
Since I heard the about the unlock problem, I started trying to return my phone in parallel while trying to unlock it. Samsung people didn't want to provide prepaid shipping labels, first I never got them after I was told to wait a couple of days. I called many times and got the same response. Then the 30 days passed and they started saying it was to late to return, that I had to pay restocking fee. It took me another month explaining it was their fault the 30 days passed and that I needed prepaid shipping label and a full refund. I received the shipping labels the 2nd week on May and returned the phone. I still haven't received my refund. I called today, and the representative told me the refund was posted just today, and told me to wait 3 to 5 business days.
I'm happy some of you were able to unlock it. I got tired of waiting and talking with the support guys. And I don't even have a T-Mobile line. That's why I wanted to unlock it in the first place.
The easiest way to unlock this is changing the IMEI number, i recently paid $80 to get it changed but it now shows up as unlocked & clean on the T-MOBILE network. Sorry i didn't read this post before maybe this information could have helped.