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[Q] Why does my bootloader say "AT&T" with no SIM?

I bought an ATT frequency compatible NS (from negri) before it was available on ATT. Everything works as expected on ATT. However, the other day I removed my SIM, did a factory wipe, and then rebooted back into the bootloader and noticed that it reported "ATT" as my network even without the SIM installed. Does this mean my phone is somehow locked to ATT now? I don't care for my personal use but when I end up selling this thing later my expectation was that the next owner could use whichever frequency compatible carrier they choose. I don't have a way to test this with a different SIM. What's the deal here?

If you bought it from AT&T then it can only use AT&T's data networks. T-Mo and AT&T both use SIM so you can switch them out, but only shfor 2g/edge and voice.

That's just carrier info, if it wasn't a Google Nexus phone it would have influence on the phone. There's no downside of having a ATT in the bootloader carrier info.
Some ppl spread rumors that only "free", eg EUR (for Europe), phones get updates via Google, but it has yet to be proofed.

ellesshoo said:
I bought an ATT frequency compatible NS (from negri) before it was available on ATT. Everything works as expected on ATT. However, the other day I removed my SIM, did a factory wipe, and then rebooted back into the bootloader and noticed that it reported "ATT" as my network even without the SIM installed. Does this mean my phone is somehow locked to ATT now? I don't care for my personal use but when I end up selling this thing later my expectation was that the next owner could use whichever frequency compatible carrier they choose. I don't have a way to test this with a different SIM. What's the deal here?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No nexus phone is sold sim locked, even the carrier subsidized versions.
Sent from my Nexus S using XDA Premium App

andythefan said:
If you bought it from AT&T then it can only use AT&T's data networks. T-Mo and AT&T both use SIM so you can switch them out, but only shfor 2g/edge and voice.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I said where I bought it (negri electronics) before it was even available from ATT.
The 9020a is frequency compatible with ATT, Canadian carriers, some others elsewhere in the Americas, and will do 2G/gprs in nearly every region.
My question was about the phone reporting ATT as the carrier info in the bootloader w/out a sim. Phone has zero relation to att other than it happens to support UMTS on the same bands.

krohnjw said:
No nexus phone is sold sim locked, even the carrier subsidized versions.
Sent from my Nexus S using XDA Premium App
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I realize this from reading it everywhere. I just find it odd for att to show even with no SIM. Maybe it just reports whatever the last installed sim was?

ellesshoo said:
I realize this from reading it everywhere. I just find it odd for att to show even with no SIM. Maybe it just reports whatever the last installed sim was?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The carrier info is independant from your last SIM card. Atm there's no hint to what the carrier info in bootloader is used for. For the European version (VDF, O2, EUR) you can change them around as you please via Odin w/o any effect on your phone.

krohnjw said:
No nexus phone is sold sim locked, even the carrier subsidized versions.
Sent from my Nexus S using XDA Premium App
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If I understand that correctly: Any Nexus S, in its AT&T version bought at any Best Buy store in the USA is 100% SIM unlocked, correct?
But, what about the Operating system itself, Android: Does a Nexus S AT&T version bought at a Best Buy store has the pristine original version of Android as Google intended, with all its features (and describes on www (dot) google (dot) com/nexus/#/tech-specs ) ?
I have read of cases that, for instance, Nexus S AT&T phones from Best Buy had its tethering feature disabled ? If so, is this a tinkering of the OS by the carrier or store no matter the SIM (i.e. if I put in a SIM from my country's carrier, it'd still have tethering blocked)? or this presumed "disablement" of tethering is SIM/carrier dependent (i.e., not an Android alteration per se)?
Any comments on this are well appreciated. I plan on buying soon a Nexus S on Best Buy during a next trip to the USA. The phone will be used in Mexico where my carrier uses the same frequencies as AT&T or 3g.
Thanks in advance.

(Q)Bell or Virgin N5 locked?

I found a good deal for a new n5 on craigslist but the guy thats selling it says they told him its locked to his carrier. I went online and almost everyone says you cant lock a nexus phone to a carrier.
As far as i recall sprint had the nexus locked. He got his directly from bell canada. Does anyone know anything about this?
Thanks!
Sent from SGH-T889v Canadian Wind Mobile

All Nexus 5 phones are factory unlocked some one at Bell probably gave him wrong info as they normally only sell fully locked phones from the other manufactures.

I'm not entirely sure that all Nexus 5's come unlocked - - A lot of folks said that about all previous Nexus devices, i.e., they all come unlocked, but there were one's that came locked (although none of them were from Canada). That said, every Nexus device prior to the Nexus 5 sold by Canadian carriers has come unlocked, if that is any indication.
Sent from my Nexus 5 using Tapatalk 2

sometimes the carrier locks their own phones. I'm not sure if this was the case though

The carrier probably lied. My dad had a nexus 4 and the fido CSR told him it was locked too.
Sent from my Nexus 5 using Tapatalk

Well I decided to pass. Not because it might be locked which i really doubt it would be. But because
I would only save about $50 but if something was to go wrong when i get it home or a week down the line
I would be SOL as google wouldnt cover the warranty. It seems that they match the IMEI with the account it
was purchased under to do any returns or fixes. Save 50 bucks or risk 350 ..go figure

Tmobile nexus 5 vs Playstore edition?

are they the same phone same bands? im planning to buy the tmobile version and unlock it to use it with att? would i still get lte with att?

HRodMusic said:
are they the same phone same bands? im planning to buy the tmobile version and unlock it to use it with att? would i still get lte with att?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
its the same device, exactly. only at the play store you can by the 32gb version as well. yea, you can get tmo, sprint, and att lte on it.

simms22 said:
its the same device, exactly. only at the play store you can by the 32gb version as well. yea, you can get tmo, sprint, and att lte on it.
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thats fantastic, is it possible to unlock? or does it come unlocked already?

I bought mine from T-Mobile it is only 16gb but I'm getting a meenovo SD card reader I would just get one from the play store in the end you are paying less
Sent from my Nexus 5 using Tapatalk

spinninbsod said:
I bought mine from T-Mobile it is only 16gb but I'm getting a meenovo SD card reader I would just get one from the play store in the end you are paying less
Sent from my Nexus 5 using Tapatalk
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Click to collapse
i would get it from the playstore but im getting an exceptional deal on this tmobile version.
just gotta make sure all nexus 5 are factory unlocked.

HRodMusic said:
thats fantastic, is it possible to unlock? or does it come unlocked already?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
all nexus devices are always unlocked. and the bootloader is very easy to unlock as well, since google made it as easy as a 3 word code to do(fastboot oem unlock).

simms22 said:
all nexus devices are always unlocked. and the bootloader is very easy to unlock as well, since google made it as easy as a 3 word code to do(fastboot oem unlock).
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
perfect! ive played around with a nexus 5 before great phone! just wanted to make sure it was unlocked before i pulled the trigger on it!

I bought the playstore version and am using it with Tmobile. I have issues with connecting to tmobiles LTE. It takes 5-10 minutes to connect and is always switching from lte to h+ to 3g. Tmobile told me it is because it is the playstore version. They also told me Samsung does a better job than LG with their WiFi modem.

HRodMusic said:
are they the same phone same bands? im planning to buy the tmobile version and unlock it to use it with att? would i still get lte with att?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
All phones are the same unless you are outside USA

jgarozzo said:
I bought the playstore version and am using it with Tmobile. I have issues with connecting to tmobiles LTE. It takes 5-10 minutes to connect and is always switching from lte to h+ to 3g. Tmobile told me it is because it is the playstore version. They also told me Samsung does a better job than LG with their WiFi modem.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Your LTE issue might be a defective, settings or regional issue. I have been a electronics seller and I left the job because I hate telling lies to customers. Whenever I hear of a representative misleading a customer, it reminds me that freasking job
There's a huge chance also that the Representative doesn't know anything about what he is selling/supporting or the tech involved with it. Even on google customer service...
There are only 2 different N5 (D820/ D821) US models are D820. A hardware difference implies a variation on the model # and yours is D820.

i bought the phone and LTE is working like a charm! success!

There is like 15 threads about this. This community has search. Next time use it
Sent from my Nexus 5 using xda app-developers app

Tmo LTE has been flawless on my 32gig
Sent from my Nexus 5 using Tapatalk

T-Mobile Nexus 5 won't work on Sprint

So I sold a Nexus 5 to someone my dad knows and for some reason it won't connect to sprint! They already paid me for the device.
I thought this device can work on all three major carriers and are all one model? Tried going to the store and they still couldn't activate it.
It does however detect the network but it just doesn't want to to connect at all. My T-mo card works on it and it has been factory reseted.
It's 16GB unlocked boot loader and not rooted with a stock recovery. Any ideas?
Edit: please don't tell me to tell them to switch carriers. It's their choice to be with sprint. I've read other threads with people jumping straight to that. :/
Sent from my Ñ£×Ú$ 5

Dragn4rce said:
So I sold a Nexus 5 to someone my dad knows and for some reason it won't connect to sprint! They already paid me for the device.
I thought this device can work on all three major carriers and are all one model? Tried going to the store and they still couldn't activate it.
It does however detect the network but it just doesn't want to to connect at all. My T-mo card works on it and it has been factory reseted.
It's 16GB unlocked boot loader and not rooted with a stock recovery. Any ideas?
Edit: please don't tell me to tell them to switch carriers. It's their choice to be with sprint. I've read other threads with people jumping straight to that. :/
Sent from my Ñ£×Ú$ 5
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Click to collapse
I think it is carrier locked when bought from a carrier. Only unlocked is from Google, but I am not 100% on this.

RIPng said:
I think it is carrier locked when bought from a carrier. Only unlocked is from Google, but I am not 100% on this.
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Click to collapse
All Nexus 5s are unlocked!

vin4yak said:
All Nexus 5s are unlocked!
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Click to collapse
Factory unlocked and carrier unlocked are two different things.
Sent from my Nexus 5 using Tapatalk

RIPng said:
Factory unlocked and carrier unlocked are two different things.
Sent from my Nexus 5 using Tapatalk
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Click to collapse
Okay. I'll make myself clear.. All Nexus 5s are Factory and Carrier unlocked!

RIPng said:
Factory unlocked and carrier unlocked are two different things.
Sent from my Nexus 5 using Tapatalk
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Click to collapse
No all nexus 5's are carrier unlocked. My device wouldn't work on Sprint period and that one is FROM Google themselves. The one I sold actually detects their networks.
Sent from my Ñ£×Ú$ 5

vin4yak said:
Okay. I'll make myself clear.. All Nexus 5s are Factory and Carrier unlocked!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Until the carrier locks it down because it's subsidized.
Dragn4rce said:
No all nexus 5's are carrier unlocked. My device wouldn't work on Sprint period and that one is FROM Google themselves. The one I sold actually detects their networks.
Sent from my Ñ£×Ú$ 5
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That is like what Apple says about iPhones until the carrier locks them. You have a device issue then.
Have you tried with other carriers or than the two mentioned?

All nexus devices have never been carrier locked and would never be locked. That's why it's called a Nexus device. Carriers don't lock/alter the phone in any way after it's been already made clear that it will be Unlocked at the time of release.
@Dragn4rce: have you tried using a different Sprint Card on that device? Does it work? I've seen many issues with Nexus users who are on Sprint all over xda

Dragn4rce said:
No all nexus 5's are carrier unlocked. My device wouldn't work on Sprint period and that one is FROM Google themselves. The one I sold actually detects their networks.
Sent from my Ñ£×Ú$ 5
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it works on sprint fine if you buy it from google play. my friend's wife has one on sprint fine.
you need to put the sprint sim LTE sim in, factory reset and go through the setup process again.

Zepius said:
it works on sprint fine if you buy it from google play. my friend's wife has one on sprint fine.
you need to put the sprint sim LTE sim in, factory reset and go through the setup process again.
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Click to collapse
same here. on sprint, got my n5 from google play

RIPng said:
Until the carrier locks it down because it's subsidized.
That is like what Apple says about iPhones until the carrier locks them. You have a device issue then.
Have you tried with other carriers or than the two mentioned?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Att works too.
vin4yak said:
All nexus devices have never been carrier locked and would never be locked. That's why it's called a Nexus device. Carriers don't lock/alter the phone in any way after it's been already made clear that it will be Unlocked at the time of release.
@Dragn4rce: have you tried using a different Sprint Card on that device? Does it work? I've seen many issues with Nexus users who are on Sprint all over xda
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
We used the old and they got a new. Still doesn't work they say.
Zepius said:
it works on sprint fine if you buy it from google play. my friend's wife has one on sprint fine.
you need to put the sprint sim LTE sim in, factory reset and go through the setup process again.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
We'll try a factory reset. Hoping that does it. My device is Google play and won't even work on our detect sprint So far.
The Tmo does detects it at least a d actually did say please wait for connection to be completed or somthing along those lines.
Sent from my Ñ£×Ú$ 5

Dragn4rce said:
We'll try a factory reset. Hoping that does it. My device is Google play and won't even work on our detect sprint So far.
The Tmo does detects it at least a d actually did say please wait for connection to be completed or somthing along those lines.
Sent from my Ñ£×Ú$ 5
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Click to collapse
you cant swap between them without the reset. there's something that gets stored for the CDMA network to be a priority, just dont remember what it is.
make sure the sprint LTE SIM is in the phone, and factory reset/flash factory images.

If the device was purchased from Google Play or from Sprint, it should work fine on the 3 major carriers in the US (just not Verizon).
But if the device was purchased from T-Mo, there is a possibility that it won't work on Sprint.
This has nothing to do with the device not being carrier unlocked or anything like that. It is simply because Sprint may not have that IMEI in their databases, and Sprint will not permit such a device (for which they don't have the IMEI in their databases) on their network.
I see that op indicated that the device was from Google Play. Can you ask Sprint why it is not working? (ask to check if device is blacklisted, or if IMEI is missing, or something else)

jj14 said:
If the device was purchased from Google Play or from Sprint, it should work fine on the 3 major carriers in the US (just not Verizon).
But if the device was purchased from T-Mo, there is a possibility that it won't work on Sprint.
This has nothing to do with the device not being carrier unlocked or anything like that. It is simply because Sprint may not have that IMEI in their databases, and Sprint will not permit such a device (for which they don't have the IMEI in their databases) on their network.
I see that op indicated that the device was from Google Play. Can you ask Sprint why it is not working? (ask to check if device is blacklisted, or if IMEI is missing, or something else)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
There's two devices I'm talking about. Mine is GP the one I sold is TMO. and that's what I'm really worried about. It not being in the system.
PS. Tmo device detects sprint. Mine doesn't
Sent from my Ñ£×Ú$ 5

Dragn4rce said:
There's two devices I'm talking about. Mine is GP the one I sold is TMO. and that's what I'm really worried about. It not being in the system.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If the device causing the problem was purchased from T-Mo, then it is very likely that Sprint may not have the IMEI in their system, which is causing the activation issue. Ask the store rep to verify that. If they confirm that is the issue, ask if they can add it (I doubt they can). If they can't, try Sprint phone support (again, I don't know if they will).

jj14 said:
If the device causing the problem was purchased from T-Mo, then it is very likely that Sprint may not have the IMEI in their system, which is causing the activation issue. Ask the store rep to verify that. If they confirm that is the issue, ask if they can add it (I doubt they can). If they can't, try Sprint phone support (again, I don't know if they will).
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Why do Google play devices work then. Their IMEI didn't get added to sprint most likely.
Which BTW mine, the Google play version, didn't work with sprint at all. But the TMO version did actually detect sprint and offer an option to establish a connection (it failed after a few minutes).
Mine, the Google play, didn't offer monkey doodles about establishing a connection.
I hate CDMA carriers. Sooooo much. *sigh*
Sent from my Ñ£×Ú$ 5

Did the factory reset and that didn't work.
Sent from my Ñ£×Ú$ 5

Dragn4rce said:
Why do Google play devices work then. Their IMEI didn't get added to sprint most likely.
Which BTW mine, the Google play version, didn't work with sprint at all. But the TMO version did actually detect sprint and offer an option to establish a connection (it failed after a few minutes).
Mine, the Google play, didn't offer monkey doodles about establishing a connection.
I hate CDMA carriers. Sooooo much. *sigh*
Sent from my Ñ£×Ú$ 5
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Click to collapse
Actually, the ones purchased directly from Google Play do have their IMEI added to Sprint (funny thing - for the first few days after the Nexus 5 was made available from Google Play, the IMEI for the 32GB ones were not in Sprint's database, and those didn't get activated. Several escalations later, and about 1-2 days later, those got added, and users were finally able to get it activated on Sprint - read more here).
If your Google play one is not working with Sprint, you should get Google to look into it. That should not be an IMEI issue.

jj14 said:
Actually, the ones purchased directly from Google Play do have their IMEI added to Sprint (funny thing - for the first few days after the Nexus 5 was made available from Google Play, the IMEI for the 32GB ones were not in Sprint's database, and those didn't get activated. Several escalations later, and about 1-2 days later, those got added, and users were finally able to get it activated on Sprint - read more here).
If your Google play one is not working with Sprint, you should get Google to look into it. That should not be an IMEI issue.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I dont really care about mine, the fine
Google play version. I'm sticking to TMO no matter what.
But the one I sold, the TMO version, I need to get it to work. did the factory reset and still nothing.
But don't the TMO devices come from Google. I'm pretty sure they get added too once they're made sitting in Google's warehouse and then TMO orders them and ships it to the stores.
Sent from my Ñ£×Ú$ 5

Dragn4rce said:
I dont really care about mine, the fine
Google play version. I'm sticking to TMO no matter what.
But the one I sold, the TMO version, I need to get it to work. did the factory reset and still nothing.
But don't the TMO devices come from Google. I'm pretty sure they get added too once they're made sitting in Google's warehouse and then TMO orders them and ships it to the stores.
Sent from my Ñ£×Ú$ 5
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Click to collapse
T-mo devices likely do come from Google. That doesn't however mean that Sprint will have their IMEIs.
Do note that I neither work for Sprint, nor for Google (and not for T-Mo). I remember reading about this issue at s4gru and at some other sites. I don't know if that issue is still there, but you can check that by asking Sprint if the IMEI on your T-Mo nexus 5 is in their system or not.

[Q] Tmobile N5 on sprint

My brother recently got a tmobile nexus 5 on craigslist, and it turns out it can't be activated on tmobile. My question is could he use the nexus 5 on sprint or does he have to get it carrier unlocked. I've read around and some say that the phone is carrier locked and some say it isn't. Just wanted to get an answer from the reliable xda community.

jcruz767 said:
My brother recently got a tmobile nexus 5 on craigslist, and it turns out it can't be activated on tmobile. My question is could he use the nexus 5 on sprint or does he have to get it carrier unlocked. I've read around and some say that the phone is carrier locked and some say it isn't. Just wanted to get an answer from the reliable xda community.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
its not carrier locked, but you might have to get level 2 support for them to add the IMEI to their system.

he cant activate it on tmobile then it must be blacklisted. if its blacklisted, it goes on a national registry. i know att and vetizon are part of the registry, if sprints on it as well then you wont be able to use it on sprint.

simms22 said:
he cant activate it on tmobile then it must be blacklisted. if its blacklisted, it goes on a national registry. i know att and vetizon are part of the registry, if sprints on it as well then you wont be able to use it on sprint.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
This. Not to mention the fact that there is no such thing as a carrier locked Nexus 5. If you want to take a Nexus from one carrier to another, you simply add the IMEI to their system when you activate the new service. If you can't activate it, then the phone must be blacklisted which makes you SOL. All the more reason not to buy a phone off of Craigslist.

you can check if its been blacklisted, for free, here http://swappa.com/esn

Almost positive that the tmobile nexus 5 doesn't have CDMA in the phone. Try an att Sim in the phone. If att and t mobile don't work in there, then nothing will.
Sent from my Nexus 5 using XDA Free mobile app

iLikeTurtuls said:
Almost positive that the tmobile nexus 5 doesn't have CDMA in the phone. Try an att Sim in the phone. If att and t mobile don't work in there, then nothing will.
Sent from my Nexus 5 using XDA Free mobile app
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Click to collapse
uh, it does have a CDMA radio. its the same hardware as the play store version which has a CDMA radio.

Zepius said:
uh, it does have a CDMA radio. its the same hardware as the play store version which has a CDMA radio.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Have fun with that.
Sent from my Nexus 5

there is only 1 version of the nexus 5 and it does have both GSM and CDMA radios.. i did a quick search and it looks like sprint MAY activate your phone if you give them the imei minus the last digit (MEID).
https://community.sprint.com/baw/thread/150262?start=0&tstart=0

iLikeTurtuls said:
Have fun with that.
Sent from my Nexus 5
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
<----- This guy. T-mobile Nexus 5 w/ Sprint SIM.
Proof - tell me what you want to see because the 'About Phone' screen shows model Nexus 5 w/ Android Version L. Also, during the update to L previe, Google only proviedes one firmware update for Nexus 5 hammerhead on their preview dl page.

drwx said:
there is only 1 version of the nexus 5 and it does have both GSM and CDMA radios.. i did a quick search and it looks like sprint MAY activate your phone if you give them the imei minus the last digit (MEID).
https://community.sprint.com/baw/thread/150262?start=0&tstart=0
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes it can be done but there is a different situation here whereby the phone cannot be activated on tmob, presumably because it's blacklisted.
Sent from my Nexus 5 using Tapatalk

rootSU said:
Yes it can be done but there is a different situation here whereby the phone cannot be activated on tmob, presumably because it's blacklisted.
Sent from my Nexus 5 using Tapatalk
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Click to collapse
True... In that case he's screwed.
--
Stephen