[Q] Samsung Focus i917 straight talk MMS - Windows Phone 7 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting

Hello, new guy here. Little bit about myself: I'm smartphone stupid. Used an old Samsung flip phone until last November. Heck, I didn't even text until early 2013.... I know, I'm a disgrace to generation Y.
Anyway, I finally decided it was time to get a smartphone, so I bought a Samsung Focus i917 reconditioned off ebay last November. Really like the phone. Called AT&T, and made it clear that I didn't want to upgrade to a data plan - wanted to just keep my talk/text plan as it was, and only use wifi to access the internet on the smartphone. No problem, until recently, when I've started needing more out of network minutes. As such, it made more sense to update to Straight Talk.
So, I got the $45 BYOP starter kit from Walmart, and got the talk and text set up in an hour. Easy peasy. Getting my data working required a call to 'Madeleine' in India, but after a bit, we did get it figured out, so that is more or less working. Now, while I'm on a kick of getting somewhat up to date with the world, I'd like to do whatever unlock is required to allow media messages.
So, I found this link, and it seams easy enough. Also found the instructional video on the Windows Hacker website.
HTML:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1614107
Unfortunately, it seems the windows hacker link is broken, so all I get is a 404 error code.
Question is, does anyone know an updated link to the windowbreak page, or if not, can anyone advise another method of allowing this phone to send media messages on straight talk? I found some other links on this site mentioning something about XML files, but I really don't understand what I'm reading, so I'm stuck on where to start....
I appreciate any help! Thank You!

Related

For everyone pissed at Olipro & cmonex...Hard-SPL

Any one who has received the following error:
"Hard-SPL is for non-commercial purposes only, we have detected that you appear to already have unlocked another device, if you wish you unlock commercially, please e-mail [email protected] or [email protected] to discuss solutions; However if this is your first device, then please ensure that the radio is turned ON and retry"
I wanted to share my experience. I've read countless pages from the xda and ppcg forums, trying to decide whether or not to make a payment of £4.00 GBP to regain the ability to unlock my seemingly blacklisted device.
I wanted to know if making payment would work specifically for my situation which was:
New Sprint Touch Pro2 with an original SPL of 0.72 and running Windows 7.
I found a reference of a Sprint user paying and immediately being able to unlock and after getting a response from razorloves. Today I decided to make payment, not being interested in waiting a month for my open ticket to be answered.
Here were my exact steps:
1. Connected TP2 to computer.
2. Opened RhodiumW-HardSPL_V1_10R3.exe
3. Selected Flash Hard-SPL (Automatic flash)
4. Received error message about non-commercial use.
5. Selected Yes (would like to make donation)
6. Was taken to http://rhodiumw.htc-unlocks.com/hardspl.php and selected Donate With PayPal
7. Logged into PayPal and made payment.
8. Repeated steps 1, 2, 3.
9. Continued unlock process, completed successfully.
The reason I started this thread is because I spent so much time looking for the specific answers. I agree, the developers have not been helpful to the community as of late. They should update all their posts and indicate that after the first free unlock, you are likely going to be required to make payment if you'd like a speedy unlock if your device is blacklisted.
I thought the developers deserved a little retribution.
My other posts on the topic:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showpost.php?p=8872805&postcount=313
http://forum.ppcgeeks.com/htc-touch-pro-2/134299-hspl-unlock-cdma-have-you-recently-unlocked-8.html#post1983203
Same here.. paid money for spl and sim unlocker .
but didn't work nether. and thats my second touch pro two first one was unlocked no issues and replacment no luck even after paying money.
opened ticket waiting waiting waiting
while not having working phone .
gratitude
should just be glad that they make the first one free and not complain because you didn't want to wait for them to work it out for free
I did tell her that she really needs to make it very clear in the application what the deal is, since she's sort of returned now I'll see if I can get her to turn out a new version that makes it clearer, I did try to alleviate it a bit by adding the info into an autoreply on the ticket system, but in any case, the Hard-SPL stuff is dealt with by her, not me.
a word to the wise: if the purchase page presents you with an IMEI box to fill in, if you don't fill it in with your actual IMEI and instead you just pay using the 12345678901234 IMEI - IT WILL NOT WORK, the point of not filling it in is for people who successfully unlocked and simply want to donate... so the lesson here is don't be a dumbass, although equally, if it doesn't display your IMEI that means it had an issue with the device, in which case stick a SIM in it and put it on GSM/UMTS only mode, tends to work wonders.
Those wondering about the state of play with reply time, I heartily recommend you go read my post in the SIM/CID/Sec thread
im pissed too
i bought the sim unlocker for $18 us dollars & no matter what i do it doesnt work.
lovray21 said:
i bought the sim unlocker for $18 us dollars & no matter what i do it doesnt work.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
please be specific...thanks!
cmonex has been answering tickets and posts again lately. If you have a ticket, update it, and she will answer it.
cmonex is a woman .
mr8820 said:
cmonex is a woman .
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
lol. Oops. Post edited. Thanks.
what pisses me off they call this donationware.. it's not and do they even donate any proceeds to xda?
I know comonex a little from "old times" of hpc, and I remember that she always were helpful. She did a lot to community , for free.
Is it that bad that she would like some money for her work?
I'm pretty sure that if there was some slowness in responding to mail, she had a good reason.
Nobody is forced to donate, they can still use phones with branded roms. Or sell them and buy one that doesn't need to be "unlocked".
I paid about $20 - It didn't work. I understand why though. I dont have the phone activated (and I dont have sprint) so no internet; which I've since read the process needs OTA internet (because wifi disconnects when plugged into the PC). I'm sure the real process to unlock the security doesn't need the access to the web but they gotta make sure you paid. $-) I've had a ticket open for weeks, updated twice - no response. If your going to run a business (donationware ???) customer service is a must, otherwise you have unhappy customers like me - who do not recommend your product. SAVE YOUR MONEY - ITS A STINKY TURD - Maybe once (if) my issue gets resolved I'll retract my above statements.
Just trying to figure this out.
I would be considered a commercial customer. I want the ability to put new roms on our companies phones when it is needed. If that costs money the. So be it.
Really what I care about is the quality of the rom. I do not have all day to play with this stuff. We have phones that are annoying our users.. Htc and Verizon loaded these phones up with a pile of junk that the users never use.
I need a rom that is easy to flash like the Verizon / htc roms.
They need battery life.
They need to be able to answer the phone. This is actually some the users have trouble doing with the stock roms.
They need the phone to sync with exchange and use email in push mode.
Navigation would be nice...
Bluetooth is needed.
Web browser and Microsoft store/market is last.
I would pay anyone for a working Rom and the ability to update phones. (phones break, a lot) I don't want to keep track of imei numbers or anything like that.
We are behind a class c ip address so as far as I am concerned that's good enough for me to validate who we are. Otherwise give me a user account.
So whats so wrong with these folks?
I just wanted to thank Olipro & cmonex for their hard work for hard SPL, SIM unlocker, and hacked radios. However I do have one complaint, I bought the SIM unlocker and tried to apply on phone when I got a message to check e-mail. E-mail message stated I needed to wait 48 hours because my location didn't match with my billing address. I dont have a problem with some sort of fraud protection built it, but it obviously doesn't work properly seeing that my location was exactly the same as my billing address. Hope it works in the next 48 hours, or I'll be really pissed.
Try to contact them by mail, maybe something went wrong (e-mail wasn't delivered ?).
Ive flashed to phones both tp2 cdma using olipro and cmonex website with no issues
I paid for both unlocks each time and BAM instant unlock both times I even donated a little more for extra support which I never used but I did email olipro before I paid again when I got the second phone and the email was answered that same day within a few hours because I forgot the process and he gave me great advice, I dont know much about phones being on the blacklist, bad imei I guess, I was at the sprint store picking up some accessories and there was this dumba$$ showing off his phone that he flashed over to a new rom to the sales rep and the rep politely asked for his phone number and name and cancelled his total equipment replacement warranty plan for modifying the phone and he can never get it back, that dude was pissed, but it was his own fault for being a dumbass,
I had to do a return once and wasnt able to relock my phone so I ran it over with my car a few times til it no longer powered on turned it in and presto got a new tp2 Ive got no complaints about the htc unlocks crew on my next phone Im going to go with the commercial unlock option, thanks olipro and cmonex I have found out the only issue is that when ppl try to get the unlocker for free, they complain and complain but think about would Bill Gates send you a free copy of windows 7 just because you bought a laptop with XP I dont think so, or another way to look at it is would you to to work for free? I dont think so either. quit being cheap and pay the 8 euros.
if your offended at what I am saying you must be among the many who want something for nothing, this is america GET REAL!

[Q] Flash/Convert to Straight Talk?

Noob here.
I'm having to make a financial decision and when my contract ends with Verizon in April, I'm going to switch to Straight Talk. I would love to afford the biggest and best, but I cant, so I'm having to go with something a bit less. My question is, has anyone been able to flash or convert their standard Verizon phone to work with Straight Talk? I'm wondering whether it be a regular phone, windows mobile/smartphone, or android, if anyone has been able to pull this off, and if so, how? I enjoy getting my phone and other devices to do more than allowed at original purchase and think this would be fun to do when I make the switch. Please let me know if anyone has done this and how. Thanks!
anyone with any info on this subject?
An issue like this requires a bit more than rooting, or 'unlocking' the phone. What your looking at doing is essentially jailbreaking the phone. This CAN be a complicated process.
I don't know for sure that whether or not there is an area in XDA committed to doing this. My suggestion at this point would be to google jailbreak (your phones name).
depending on the phone, this isnt always possible. On top of this, there are potentially features that your phone has that will not be supported once jailbroken.
Good luck.
EDIT: I should mention that, depending on the phone, you may not be able to do this. Certain phones REQUIRE that you have not only a talk plan, but a data plan as well. These are usually newer smart phones.
StraightTalk Now Had Android Phone
With straight talk now offering an android phone, will this help in converting my OG Droid to straight talk?
HELP i did succeed in flashing phone,everything works great. but the problem is i started gettin text messages from 31778 and 55330, and it only gives a series of numbers. can you help me with this issue? thanks
Mind sharing or pm'ing me on how you got it to work? I got a donor st phone and 2 fascinates from verizon. I successfully got the esn changed, *22890 to work. I can browse the net and receive texts. sending text says fail but still go through. The calls won't go out, get a autho error. If I am outside my market it will send/receive calls fine but soon as I cross back into it quits working. Occasionally it will even recieve a call and work but then it goes back to autho failure. Any idea where I went wrong?
Verizion or sprint android phone to straight talk on verizon towers
Still looking for anyone who is working on this project. I have found several people selling this service. Anyone have more information to share.
Thanks
Do you guys not search? this thread was orig posted back in Dec asking about flashing VZW to ST, but this guide had been posted already for months, was posted back in August... pretty much has everything you need to do for VZW to ST flashing:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1210240&highlight=+straight+talk+
justan00b said:
Do you guys not search? this thread was orig posted back in Dec asking about flashing VZW to ST, but this guide had been posted already for months, was posted back in August... pretty much has everything you need to do for VZW to ST flashing:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1210240&highlight=+straight+talk+
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
ha thats the same thing i was going to post so i can do that method on DROID 1?
But that thread is more specifically aimed at the Fascinate, and it's ilk, than the X or X2's. If anyone has more detailed procedures pertaining to the MB870 please don't hesitate to PM me.
Thread lightly cleaned of ESN discussion. Keep that out of here... Time to reset and get on topic. Final warning.
^^ .... So like I was saying... I'd Just your contract run out, give em a call and tell em that if they want to keep your business switch your phone over to Straight talk. They want your money no matter what but until you push them they won't do squat for you...

My sincerest apologies for not doing a search...

Ello HTC folks,
I am coming in my sisters behalf because she is having some probs with her Inspire.
For some reason whenever she sends or receives a pic it delivers as a teenie weenie thumbnail view. She has skimmed over several posts on various programs that I believe are market based but has had no results for the fix.
I myself am part of the Samsung Vibrant community and am rooted and running a custom rom (will never run stock again)
My ultimate question is this...
Would it just be a whole lot simpler to root and flash a custom rom for her? will that cure her problem? or is the mms issue more complex than that?
My initial advice was for her to just take the phone back for a warranty exchange but unfortunately that is not an option.
She is using a prepaid plan through T mobile and got the Inspire at one of those "we sell all phones" places.
Whenever she calls T mobile they say "the Inspire is an ATT phone....call them"
Whenever she calls ATT they say "your using T mobile...call them"
Now being as though she isn't very tecnical savvy when it comes to this sort of thing I will be the one that undergo's the whole rooting process for her, I have already skimmed over several processes for the rooting/flashing and it looks simple enough, but i'm still left to question if it will cure the problem or not.
Thanx in advance for all of your input and advice
Most likely this thread will be closed soon as others on the same topic were. But I will answer your question and you should search for the topics next time.
The phone is an ATT phone. T-mobile's network is the issue. If the phone is non T-mobile, the network will only send small pics. Yes you will need to root it and make the phone appear to the T-mobile network as a T-mobile branded phone.
This has been covered many times. A search would have told you that ATT phones on Tmobiles network has mms issues. A search will lead you to the fixes you are after if there is one

Transfer Phone From Sprint to Virgin Mobile

I did do a search, but the threads I found that appeared to be relating to this question were either incomplete or locked.
I simply can't afford to maintain my Sprint service any longer, and after doing some research, I found a plan that will work for me and that I can afford through Virgin Mobile.
I'm no phone hacking expert, but if given some clear instructions, I'm good at following along and getting the job done. I have rooted my phone a long time ago, set it up just how I like it, and it's working great on CyanogenMod.
Since I've already paid for my Evo Shift, and it would be a huge waste of money and more to buy another phone when I have a perfectly good one, I'd like to know, is there is a way to make it work with full functionality and capability on my new Virgin Mobile account?
Sentinel One said:
I did do a search, but the threads I found that appeared to be relating to this question were either incomplete or locked.
I simply can't afford to maintain my Sprint service any longer, and after doing some research, I found a plan that will work for me and that I can afford through Virgin Mobile.
I'm no phone hacking expert, but if given some clear instructions, I'm good at following along and getting the job done. I have rooted my phone a long time ago, set it up just how I like it, and it's working great on CyanogenMod.
Since I've already paid for my Evo Shift, and it would be a huge waste of money and more to buy another phone when I have a perfectly good one, I'd like to know, is there is a way to make it work with full functionality and capability on my new Virgin Mobile account?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1620377
It works 99.9% the same way as the OG Evo. As that thread says though, no one can help you with the C word.

[Q] (not) Unique Situation - Have 2 Galaxy S3 Verizon and Need Guidance

Hi:
I started writing a thread the other day but stopped as it was full of drama and detail not important. This is what happened (when there is drama I will insert [D] with no detail so the context is maintained a bit.
I was minding my own business when one day last week my Samsung Galaxy G3 (I535) suddenly lost the ability to make/receive calls. I was on 4.1.2 and rooted, bootloader unlocked via ODIN. I thought I had loaded software that caused the problem. Couldn't resolve. Called Verizon [D] [D] to level 2, no problem, let me check a few things, OK, cool, do you have 2nd SIM? Yes! OK, it must be the phone, let's get you a replacement.. (Saturday, Phone arrives Tues).
New phone, powers up, no updates, authentication nightmare. Will not auth. Call Verizon...just wait a while?...OK.
Some hours later, authenticated. Very odd problems: charge isn't indicated on several chargers, then it is, then it isn't, charger independent? Keyboard exhibits over 1000 ms delay on press; unusable. Several other odd problems. Confused, I look online: Verizon Galaxy G3 4.4.2 update slow. First two hits happen to be Verizon's own "self-support" boards. All my symptoms and more. Lot's of Verizon's taking customers through the swamp looking for snipe. Reboot, Sim pull/insert, Factory Reset. Called Verizon back, hold times 4x previous call. Getting to Level 2 very difficult, CS rep actually states: "I know most of our phones and I haven't heard this set of problems". I refered him to Verizon's web site, grudingly sends me to Level 2. Extremely long hold time, and upon answer that group is not busy at all but relaxing talking together. Guy is grumpy, "Let me check something", back without hold in about 10 mins. "What ROM did you flash on the phone!?" first thing he said to me.
I've never flashed a ROM on any phone, for the record. I told him I knew what was and didn't do that. He insisted that he "couldn't read the software on the phone" [D] [D]!
I maintained polite, and focused on a solution, but he would not hear of that. I also offered to do a Factory Reset at least twice. "The Custom ROM will still be there after Factory Reset!" Perhaps, but then that would prove what I did and didn't do, maybe? Finally, I told him that I was very tired, and we weren't solving anything. Could I have an problem ticket number or incident number for reference. "We don't use those anymore". "You can have my employee ID and my phone number." Sorry if this is not PC, but it felt like a rapist giving his victim his contact information, should victim want to be in touch. I said, no, I'll just call back.
Immediately upon termination the new phone (replacement) displayed "Safe Mode" no apps, and the inabilty to unselect "screen mirroring" a new feature to me, but now turned on. I pull the SIM and factory reset, even though I had loaded many apps back (Inclulding Towelroot, which I had found and implemented). Although no idication of root before, the phone showed rooted and customer or modified, I don't remember the fields. Next day called back, long holds, CS OK, everyone had read Level 2 notes. Sent me up to Level 2. Long hold time, over 30 minutes. Cold response. I asked why the replacement of a non-functioning device had branched into, after receiving said device, two separate issues, to me it was one, getting my service back. Cold, "what do you want us to do?" Not knowing, I said, "I don't know, I just want the phone to work". Finally he went to talk to the boss, came back at 0 deg. Kelvin, through clenched teeth: You can take your phone to Best Buy, they will flash it back (I presumed to 4.1.2), after factory reboot and confirm no....[D] Thanks, I terminated.
At this point I had no working phone for several days, and I felt very upset about the entire situation, especially how I'd been treated by the last two guys. The first after the replacement was so out of line he should have been sanctioned, and an appology directed at me by manager, unless....
This is what they intended to happen. Because the OTA updates hadn't taken, perhaps, they disabled the G3 connection on the device (and it was unprovisioned on their server), knew this would lead to the likely steps above, and were so intent on getting me under their control with 4.4.2 (which I knew nothing about, in terms of root, etc), they had manipulated me to 4.4.2? I am a long time customer with unlimited data, a withdrawn discount, and paying over $200 for two lines with shared limited minutes and txt. No contract.
Whatever the case I still have my 4.1.2 G3 (no voice) and the 4.4.2 replacement. Obviously, I cannot consider staying at Verizon (likely what they want, apparently). Which do I keep? How do I prep the other for return to them? Know any good class action attorney? Obviously, Verizon is too big to care about me and, like so many huge corporations, no one dares attempt to regulate them.
Thanks for any advice. For infomormation on any technical steps to support the above paragraph, please simply refer me to the thread or post and I'll take it from there. I am not super technical, and had to re-do the original ODIN process about 3 times before it took, so any existing process instructions targeted at the Stupid User level would be appropriate and very much appreciated.
Sorry this is so long, I honestly left out a few calls because it just dawned on me, after I called V back today to figure out next steps, the guy listened (read the notes), said I was very poorly handled, I deserved better, would go talk to manager, be right back, 20 minutes later, manager still busy, can he call me back? Sure, gave info. Not a single call or attempt. That was the "It's not us, it's you response" but made to sound the other way round. Apparently they want me to walk away with a useless device, and since it's old and I'm not under contract, but love the phone, I can't understand why they would destroy my property and tell me to f-off, other than they feel like it.
If this sounds like paranoia, you might be surprised what big companies will do to you if they can. And so far, I'm the only one harmed, since they probably expected me to stop days ago. In any event, I have to send back a phone to them and hopefully keep one that works somewhere else. Please help me with the steps I need to take.
If you like history, or want to see how the big guys got a stranglehold on the US after the Civil War, then were forced back into decency by Teddy Roosevelt, W. Wilson, and FDR check out the Roosevelt 7 part documentrary recently appearing on PBS. I'm up to Episode 4, and already knew much of the story, but the detailed focus on their private and public lives and how they matured and developed is moving, enlightening, and awe-inspiring.
Thank You in Advance,
Mark
I really should say I'm surprised but in reality I'm not. Your right when you say they don't care because I've experienced it for myself and with my gf over the phone and my mom for that matter. The sad part is they are getting way too big for even themselves and like most companies don't have very good customer service. I'm unlocked as well and have never had issues with voice calls on this phone, only my first phone with a weird rom. It's not there business to ask you if you've installed a custom rom or not. I wouldn't even of answered the question myself.
Personally i would dump verizon if they treated me like that. I was in the store yesterday with my gf and she is a looooong time VZW customer. I'm taking 14 plus years and she went to best buy to get a phone because VZW doesn't know how to take care of customers at all.
It's a sad trend but the bigger the company the worse the customer service is
From my Wicked S3 on SOKP
mrbonine said:
Hi:
I started writing a thread the other day but stopped as it was full of drama and detail not important. This is what happened (when there is drama I will insert [D] with no detail so the context is maintained a bit.
I was minding my own business when one day last week my Samsung Galaxy G3 (I535) suddenly lost the ability to make/receive calls. I was on 4.1.2 and rooted, bootloader unlocked via ODIN. I thought I had loaded software that caused the problem. Couldn't resolve. Called Verizon [D] [D] to level 2, no problem, let me check a few things, OK, cool, do you have 2nd SIM? Yes! OK, it must be the phone, let's get you a replacement.. (Saturday, Phone arrives Tues).
New phone, powers up, no updates, authentication nightmare. Will not auth. Call Verizon...just wait a while?...OK.
Some hours later, authenticated. Very odd problems: charge isn't indicated on several chargers, then it is, then it isn't, charger independent? Keyboard exhibits over 1000 ms delay on press; unusable. Several other odd problems. Confused, I look online: Verizon Galaxy G3 4.4.2 update slow. First two hits happen to be Verizon's own "self-support" boards. All my symptoms and more. Lot's of Verizon's taking customers through the swamp looking for snipe. Reboot, Sim pull/insert, Factory Reset. Called Verizon back, hold times 4x previous call. Getting to Level 2 very difficult, CS rep actually states: "I know most of our phones and I haven't heard this set of problems". I refered him to Verizon's web site, grudingly sends me to Level 2. Extremely long hold time, and upon answer that group is not busy at all but relaxing talking together. Guy is grumpy, "Let me check something", back without hold in about 10 mins. "What ROM did you flash on the phone!?" first thing he said to me.
I've never flashed a ROM on any phone, for the record. I told him I knew what was and didn't do that. He insisted that he "couldn't read the software on the phone" [D] [D]!
I maintained polite, and focused on a solution, but he would not hear of that. I also offered to do a Factory Reset at least twice. "The Custom ROM will still be there after Factory Reset!" Perhaps, but then that would prove what I did and didn't do, maybe? Finally, I told him that I was very tired, and we weren't solving anything. Could I have an problem ticket number or incident number for reference. "We don't use those anymore". "You can have my employee ID and my phone number." Sorry if this is not PC, but it felt like a rapist giving his victim his contact information, should victim want to be in touch. I said, no, I'll just call back.
Immediately upon termination the new phone (replacement) displayed "Safe Mode" no apps, and the inabilty to unselect "screen mirroring" a new feature to me, but now turned on. I pull the SIM and factory reset, even though I had loaded many apps back (Inclulding Towelroot, which I had found and implemented). Although no idication of root before, the phone showed rooted and customer or modified, I don't remember the fields. Next day called back, long holds, CS OK, everyone had read Level 2 notes. Sent me up to Level 2. Long hold time, over 30 minutes. Cold response. I asked why the replacement of a non-functioning device had branched into, after receiving said device, two separate issues, to me it was one, getting my service back. Cold, "what do you want us to do?" Not knowing, I said, "I don't know, I just want the phone to work". Finally he went to talk to the boss, came back at 0 deg. Kelvin, through clenched teeth: You can take your phone to Best Buy, they will flash it back (I presumed to 4.1.2), after factory reboot and confirm no....[D] Thanks, I terminated.
At this point I had no working phone for several days, and I felt very upset about the entire situation, especially how I'd been treated by the last two guys. The first after the replacement was so out of line he should have been sanctioned, and an appology directed at me by manager, unless....
This is what they intended to happen. Because the OTA updates hadn't taken, perhaps, they disabled the G3 connection on the device (and it was unprovisioned on their server), knew this would lead to the likely steps above, and were so intent on getting me under their control with 4.4.2 (which I knew nothing about, in terms of root, etc), they had manipulated me to 4.4.2? I am a long time customer with unlimited data, a withdrawn discount, and paying over $200 for two lines with shared limited minutes and txt. No contract.
Whatever the case I still have my 4.1.2 G3 (no voice) and the 4.4.2 replacement. Obviously, I cannot consider staying at Verizon (likely what they want, apparently). Which do I keep? How do I prep the other for return to them? Know any good class action attorney? Obviously, Verizon is too big to care about me and, like so many huge corporations, no one dares attempt to regulate them.
Thanks for any advice. For infomormation on any technical steps to support the above paragraph, please simply refer me to the thread or post and I'll take it from there. I am not super technical, and had to re-do the original ODIN process about 3 times before it took, so any existing process instructions targeted at the Stupid User level would be appropriate and very much appreciated.
Sorry this is so long, I honestly left out a few calls because it just dawned on me, after I called V back today to figure out next steps, the guy listened (read the notes), said I was very poorly handled, I deserved better, would go talk to manager, be right back, 20 minutes later, manager still busy, can he call me back? Sure, gave info. Not a single call or attempt. That was the "It's not us, it's you response" but made to sound the other way round. Apparently they want me to walk away with a useless device, and since it's old and I'm not under contract, but love the phone, I can't understand why they would destroy my property and tell me to f-off, other than they feel like it.
If this sounds like paranoia, you might be surprised what big companies will do to you if they can. And so far, I'm the only one harmed, since they probably expected me to stop days ago. In any event, I have to send back a phone to them and hopefully keep one that works somewhere else. Please help me with the steps I need to take.
If you like history, or want to see how the big guys got a stranglehold on the US after the Civil War, then were forced back into decency by Teddy Roosevelt, W. Wilson, and FDR check out the Roosevelt 7 part documentrary recently appearing on PBS. I'm up to Episode 4, and already knew much of the story, but the detailed focus on their private and public lives and how they matured and developed is moving, enlightening, and awe-inspiring.
Thank You in Advance,
Mark
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I don't really have any info to help you, so I apologize for that.
But out of curiosity, do you have the MyVerizon app (or whatever the name is) installed?
At one point the app requested root permission, which is EXTREMELY sketchy in my opinion. I wonder if you grant it, or even deny it (if they can detect the denial) if they ASSUMED that you installed a custom ROM, because a lot of those that root also install custom ROMs.
Maybe just try at a different time of day to maybe get a call center in a different state or country?
That is extremely unprofessional on their part though...
Sent from my SCH-I535 using XDA Free mobile app
XdrummerXboy said:
I don't really have any info to help you, so I apologize for that.
But out of curiosity, do you have the MyVerizon app (or whatever the name is) installed?
At one point the app requested root permission, which is EXTREMELY sketchy in my opinion. I wonder if you grant it, or even deny it (if they can detect the denial) if they ASSUMED that you installed a custom ROM, because a lot of those that root also install custom ROMs.
Maybe just try at a different time of day to maybe get a call center in a different state or country?
That is extremely unprofessional on their part though...
Sent from my SCH-I535 using XDA Free mobile app
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Click to collapse
Speaking of verizon and apps. My gf when she was on the phone was told by a rep that she had updated an app the previous day through Google play. Talk about sketchy! Yea I remember when the verizon app requested root permissions on my phone, that was it for verizon apps for me
From my Wicked S3 on SOKP
ShapesBlue said:
Speaking of verizon and apps. My gf when she was on the phone was told by a rep that she had updated an app the previous day through Google play. Talk about sketchy! Yea I remember when the verizon app requested root permissions on my phone, that was it for verizon apps for me
From my Wicked S3 on SOKP
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Wow, that takes things to a whole new level....
Sent from my SCH-I535 using XDA Free mobile app
XdrummerXboy said:
Wow, that takes things to a whole new level....
Sent from my SCH-I535 using XDA Free mobile app
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Your telling me. She's not rooted or unlocked though but that's still messed up. She got her shiny new S5 yesterday, looks nice
From my Wicked S3 on SOKP
ShapesBlue said:
Your telling me. She's not rooted or unlocked though but that's still messed up. She got her shiny new S5 yesterday, looks nice
From my Wicked S3 on SOKP
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Hmm.. I wonder how they knew that then
Nice! I wanted the S5 or Note4, but I'll be hanging onto the S3 for another year. I can't justify buying one when I have a baby on the way
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XdrummerXboy said:
Hmm.. I wonder how they knew that then
Nice! I wanted the S5 or Note4, but I'll be hanging onto the S3 for another year. I can't justify buying one when I have a baby on the way
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I hear that. I have mine until June next year. Not quite sure what I'm doing just yet. The Super power saving mode is quite a nice feature. It basically disables all apps but the essential ones. The battery life then goes way over a day plus on the S5
From my Wicked S3 on SOKP
Et tu Verizon
Thanks for the info. I did have the MyVerizon app installed, I believe. I don't remember it requesting root, but I sometimes click through those things without paying too much attention (since I'm fairly careful about what goes on the phone); the reason I install software requiring root is to access it (circular, I know) so, they are doing what they must to run. I appreciate the suggestions about other call centers, etc. I do have the contact information from the single most helpful and polite (funny how that goes together) person I talked to through this debacle. I'll drop him a quick note, but really, since they never even bothered to call back, it's clear to me that they want me to leave. Paying over $200 per month to be treated like crap is not something I could ever do. They are big, very profitable, and don't care about anything but extracting cash from people under contract, or too complacent to leave (I'm in the 2nd category until now). Being in a codependent relationship with Verizon is not only self-defeating, but irrational. Until we have some politicians owned by the people instead of corporations we have no chance of reigning these folks in. Sure, they employ lot's of people, but an army of good people working against the best interest of everyone is not good, it's an uncontrollable menace: just look at the banks that gambled with people's homes, lost their bets, then collateralized them when the bottom fell out of their own septic tank of greed. The entire world economy hit an air pocket, but we're still letting the same greed intoxicated pilots fly. My only regret is believing their lies as long as I did. I deserve better, and it's won't be particularly hard to find it. Since the 4.4.3 G3 (nor the 4.1.2 for that matter) are particularly compatible with the GSM carriers, and Samsung is the lookout for the felonious Verizon, I'll probably get a Nexus 5. I think the G5 is better for several reasons, but that's too bad. All of the tech and marketing in the world will not make me "grateful" to manufacturers or carriers that somehow feel controlling how you use the equipment you buy from them is somehow acceptable. The money Verizon cares about is the corporate contracts, since they can manage that process much better, the revenue is less volatile, and they don't have to take calls from subscribers, wasting the money that could be spent on acquisitions, and expanding their market oligarchy. Public utilities create natural monopolies. There are not 2 sets of power lines, or water lines, or sewers running into your home. And the idea that competition from fiber will for improvements from Comcast is false, prices may move, but service will not get better. Only when barriers of entry are low can new competitors help drive down the price of entrenched utilities. We could all create our own mobile system on meshes of unlicensed 5.0 Gig or other spectrum, but it would be very costly to do that and linking this metropolitan radio webs would be tricky. But probably, someone is already working on that. Ask a HAM radio enthusiast about how they handle phone calls over shortwave. They have licenses, yes, but the technology to connect 2-way voice wireless signals to PSTN phone calls has been around for many years. Big corporations exact huge profits and drag down anyone that needs the services, the trick is to find creative ways around them, most importantly by thinking outside of the feature/function cage they've placed around us. Soon, you'll be able to buy just the cable channels you want, perhaps. I have hundreds and I generally watch less than 10.
The accusation flung at me by the enraged employee is little more that hot air. It reflects a corporate culture of mendacity and blame. My fault was to allow him to take control of the conversation, for a millisecond. Whatever I've done to the software on the phone (which, as you noted, was not a ROM change) it's still my phone and not theirs. They don't even provide the "insurance" to replace the failed device, a third party does. I didn't stop my phone from working to get a new phone. Had the replacement worked as well or better as the one it replaced I would have been happy. Now, I'm going over a week with no phone and they will never get paid for that week. The longer it takes to resolve, the less on my final bill, which will be coming up soon. When folks have experiences like this it's best to communicate the problem to the FCC (as if they cared) and their state PUC. Not that they will do anything about it, but it's important to remember they have a duty to regulate whether this group of appointees cares or not. The only thing that affects Verizon is withdrawing my monthly gratuity and when that happens because of abuse, manipulation, and possible fraud, the regulators need to be informed, if only so they can't say they didn't know.
Thanks for the reminder that they have no business asking questions about rooted phones or ROMS. That lingering guilt that one may have done something Daddy Verizon doesn't approve of is there, for sure, but since what I was accused of I didn't do, it was easier to just say, no, I didn't do that.....when I offered to factory reset TWICE during the call and he pretended not to hear me I realized it was all just a manipulative game played by a bully. No, no lunch money for you today, dude. I think they actually hire volatile people and use them as scarecrows. If Verizon didn't want their customers to be exposed to abuse, they'd fire these guys. The second guy was so cold, trying to do the right thing, but hating it. If you've ever been to a time-share presentation and not purchased one, you are familiar with this game. It's not only wrong, but it reflects how truly manipulative and immoral the employers are, they are paying the guy to be insulting, intimidating, and thuggish. So many large companies act this way, it's amazing we let them get away with it. The only way to stop it is to stop paying them and tell them why. I worked in a small hardware store in a small town 30+ years ago. Even when customers were trying some trick, like returning something they didn't buy from us, or a more elaborate ruse (I'll bring the old stuff back tomorrow......), I just explained how it worked and enforced the process; I never shouted, "You are so busted...." These were customers, some making honest errors, some trying to take advantage, but there were none I didn't want to come back again, because it would be bad for business and likely make an enemy. After I leave Verizon I will never give them another dime ever, and I think they honestly don't believe that.
XdrummerXboy said:
I don't really have any info to help you, so I apologize for that.
But out of curiosity, do you have the MyVerizon app (or whatever the name is) installed?
At one point the app requested root permission, which is EXTREMELY sketchy in my opinion. I wonder if you grant it, or even deny it (if they can detect the denial) if they ASSUMED that you installed a custom ROM, because a lot of those that root also install custom ROMs.
Maybe just try at a different time of day to maybe get a call center in a different state or country?
That is extremely unprofessional on their part though...
Sent from my SCH-I535 using XDA Free mobile app
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Click to collapse

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