[Q] [Does Sprint lock bootloaders? - General Questions and Answers

I've had my phone long enough that I am no longer on contract with Verizon.
I have been checking coverage maps and talking to lots of people who use the phones and it seems my only viable options in my area if I want good coverage are: AT&T, Verizon, and Sprint. I know AT&T and Verizon lock down the bootloaders. I know nothing about Sprint's policies. Coverage map looks good in my area and the areas I travel to and from. I would gladly switch to Sprint to avoid locked bootloaders.
Any input?

draexo said:
I've had my phone long enough that I am no longer on contract with Verizon.
I have been checking coverage maps and talking to lots of people who use the phones and it seems my only viable options in my area if I want good coverage are: AT&T, Verizon, and Sprint. I know AT&T and Verizon lock down the bootloaders. I know nothing about Sprint's policies. Coverage map looks good in my area and the areas I travel to and from. I would gladly switch to Sprint to avoid locked bootloaders.
Any input?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Tell me the phone model and installed bootloader / firmware version

LS.xD said:
Tell me the phone model and installed bootloader / firmware version
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Galaxy S5 for Sprint. Or even the Nexus 5
Sent from my Beanified S3

draexo said:
Galaxy S5 for Sprint. Or even the Nexus 5
Sent from my Beanified S3
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Could you be a little more specific? The phone model (e.g SG-i9505) and the installed firmware was a relly usefull info

model number SM-G900P
Sent from my SM-G900V using XDA Free mobile app

Related

Can a captivate be unlocked and used with t-mobile?

Can you unlock a captivate and use it with t-mobile? If so how do you unlock it?
yes it can. if it is an att gsm phone.
Captivate carrier unlock possible?
I don't think the at&t samsung galaxy S captivate can be carrier unlocked at this time. Let me know how, if it can be.
Thanks
My cousin bought one last week, but he's traveling outside the states for some time, and asked AT&T for a an unlock, but they said this is a new device, there will be no unlock for about 10 months, plus there is no online service at the moment that unlock the captivate, so he ended up returning the phone, and got T-mobile Vibrant instead... they give you the unlock after a month or so, and you can also unlock it online
all devices can be carrier unlocked. call att again and get a different rep.
Hey if you give me your O'Neil number I can get the unlock code from art for out I have some people on the inside
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I897 using XDA App
I mean I need the imei number auto spell correction error
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I897 using XDA App
Keep in mind however that if you use the Captivate on T-Mobile, you won't be able to get tmobile 3g. Only 2g Edge.
hacker01 said:
Keep in mind however that if you use the Captivate on T-Mobile, you won't be able to get tmobile 3g. Only 2g Edge.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Absolutely true, could you trade the captivate for a vibrant somehow? they are basically the same phone.

[Q] Unlock Nexus 5 Sprint

Hi all, I would like to know if it is possible to unlock the phone that is locked to Sprint. Would flashing the stock firmware do the trick?
Thanks.
It won't be locked on Sprint. It's the exact same phone that's being sold in the Play Store.
Jocelyn said:
It won't be locked on Sprint. It's the exact same phone that's being sold in the Play Store.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
BestBuy is selling the Sprint Nexus 5 off contract, but Sprint is CDMA right? I am an international user and here we only have GSM, so that phone would not be an option for me?
edumetz16 said:
BestBuy is selling the Sprint Nexus 5 off contract, but Sprint is CDMA right? I am an international user and here we only have GSM, so that phone would not be an option for me?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You are correct about the international part, but the flavor Sprint is selling is CDMA & GSM and works on AT&T, T-Mobile (both GSM carriers) as well as Sprint and other mnvos.
Jocelyn said:
You are correct about the international part, but the flavor Sprint is selling is CDMA & GSM and works on AT&T, T-Mobile (both GSM carriers) as well as Sprint and other mnvos.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hi, thank you verry much for your reply. So this phone should work with any GSM carrier or only US GSM carriers? And it should not need unlocking? I'm tinking about buying one but I'd like to be 100% sure that it will work here.
Thanks.
edumetz16 said:
Hi, thank you verry much for your reply. So this phone should work with any GSM carrier or only US GSM carriers? And it should not need unlocking? I'm tinking about buying one but I'd like to be 100% sure that it will work here.
Thanks.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No unlocking, but only us GSM carriers as far as I'm aware. Maybe Canada, but not sure.
Jocelyn said:
No unlocking, but only us GSM carriers as far as I'm aware. Maybe Canada, but not sure.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If I understand correctly, according to this table it should work correctly, I am from Argentina, and both carriers listed seem to have Voice, Text and 3G.
w w w.sprint.com/popups/pop-gprsCarriers.html
I use spaces because links are not allowed for me
edumetz16 said:
If I understand correctly, according to this table it should work correctly, I am from Argentina, and both carriers listed seem to have Voice, Text and 3G.
w w w.sprint.com/popups/pop-gprsCarriers.html
I use spaces because links are not allowed for me
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I have no idea. North America gets D820, while the rest of the world gets D821. Go compare their bands somewhere like gsmarena.
The Nexus 5 will work on any GSM carrier for voice and 3G, no issues there. Only issue will be LTE (4G). U.S version (D820) has different LTE radio versus Euro (rest of the world version (D821). If you don't care about LTE, then you're fine and good to go with any GSM carrier in your native Argentina.
I have been told that the Nexus 5 sold in BestBuy is CDMA only. What is it, I'm not sure if the guy from BestBuy I talked to was correct about this information. Thanks
edumetz16 said:
I have been told that the Nexus 5 sold in BestBuy is CDMA only. What is it, I'm not sure if the guy from BestBuy I talked to was correct about this information. Thanks
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
They were incorrect.
Here - http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?p=46287885
edumetz16 said:
I have been told that the Nexus 5 sold in BestBuy is CDMA only. What is it, I'm not sure if the guy from BestBuy I talked to was correct about this information. Thanks
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Pretty sure this was answered above.
Beware - Sprint has never sold a phone which was totally SIM-unlocked. Until there is confirmation that someone bought the Sprint sold/marketed phone and put in a US SIM card that worked, I would not take the chance that the phone is unlocked.
ronwi2 said:
Beware - Sprint has never sold a phone which was totally SIM-unlocked. Until there is confirmation that someone bought the Sprint sold/marketed phone and put in a US SIM card that worked, I would not take the chance that the phone is unlocked.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I called 3 local best buys, checking on getting a Nex5 in hand as opposed to waiting on one from google. I asked each wireless-dept worker if I can buy the Nexus 5 for the full off-contract price and then go use it at t-mobile, I further then let them know I want to buy the Nexus 5 "unlocked" so I could use it on whatever carrier I choose.
All 3 people say no-go, must use on sprint.
Sooo - uneducated sales people? or is sprint locking the Nex5 before they send it to best buy? I took no chance and bought from play store.
Tomeygun said:
I called 3 local best buys, checking on getting a Nex5 in hand as opposed to waiting on one from google. I asked each wireless-dept worker if I can buy the Nexus 5 for the full off-contract price and then go use it at t-mobile, I further then let them know I want to buy the Nexus 5 "unlocked" so I could use it on whatever carrier I choose.
All 3 people say no-go, must use on sprint.
Sooo - uneducated sales people? or is sprint locking the Nex5 before they send it to best buy? I took no chance and bought from play store.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You cannot believe anything the Droids at BestBuy tell you. They want you to activate the phone on Sprint so BB can collect the commission. Why would you buy the N5 at BB anyway? You like paying an extra $150 vs the Play Store?
illek46 said:
You cannot believe anything the Droids at BestBuy tell you. They want you to activate the phone on Sprint so BB can collect the commission. Why would you buy the N5 at BB anyway? You like paying an extra $150 vs the Play Store?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
its actually only $100... and deduct off $15 for shipping from google... and that I had $50 in best buy rewards from buying a dishwasher... I figured $35 to have it in my hand on the 8th would be cool. But in the end just ordered from play store and will have to wait 2-3 weeks.
edumetz16 said:
If I understand correctly, according to this table it should work correctly, I am from Argentina, and both carriers listed seem to have Voice, Text and 3G.
w w w.sprint.com/popups/pop-gprsCarriers.html
I use spaces because links are not allowed for me
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
ok heres the kicker the Spectrum is the real issue here. LTE bands are split on the 2 versions of Nexus 5's (NA (north America) and RoW (rest of World))
http://productforums.google.com/forum/#!topic/nexus/Q4A1X1oAOSs
compare those lte bands to this link to see what lte bands your service uses.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_LTE_networks
Thank If I helped

Can I use international S6 on Verizon

Previously on the S4 I came to the conclusion I could use the international variant of it on Verizon as it had the proper CDMA bands for the job, is this the same case with the S6? Could I buy the international one that is unlocked and use it on VZW network without problems and if I have them what would they be? Going to do my own homework of course but I always want XDA's opinion on things like this.
S1L3nTShaDoWz said:
Previously on the S4 I came to the conclusion I could use the international variant of it on Verizon as it had the proper CDMA bands for the job, is this the same case with the S6? Could I buy the international one that is unlocked and use it on VZW network without problems and if I have them what would they be? Going to do my own homework of course but I always want XDA's opinion on things like this.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I was actually in the process of typing up this thread myself! I am also interested in the answer to this one. And can the international version be rooted? I need me some Greenify!
Edit: After speaking to a Verizon rep online, I was told "In theory, it should work; but we cannot guarantee device usability and stability from non-verizon devices".
Any other XDA thoughts?
Basketballhero75 said:
I was actually in the process of typing up this thread myself! I am also interested in the answer to this one. And can the international version be rooted? I need me some Greenify!
Edit: After speaking to a Verizon rep online, I was told "In theory, it should work; but we cannot guarantee device usability and stability from non-verizon devices".
Any other XDA thoughts?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The International one is fully bootloader unlockable and rootable from the start, hence why I want it over this locked down one. Though someone suggested to me in a PM to post this in the international forum so I will try that and update here with whatever results I get.
S1L3nTShaDoWz said:
The International one is fully bootloader unlockable and rootable from the start, hence why I want it over this locked down one. Though someone suggested to me in a PM to post this in the international forum so I will try that and update here with whatever results I get.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
From what I could find it won't work because it's GSM and won't work with CDMA carriers. Here is a link to the info I found.
I remember reading that the Verizon and Sprint variants have a separate Qualcom modem in them to connect to their CDMA and LTE bands.
I have the US Verizon Galaxy S6 as well as my wife now. Currently in Cancun using a popped in TelCel SIM card seeing crazy 4G speeds on the hotel strip area.
So yea. The S6 from Verizon is killer with foreign SIMs.
Lil
lilsalmon said:
I have the US Verizon Galaxy S6 as well as my wife now. Currently in Cancun using a popped in TelCel SIM card seeing crazy 4G speeds on the hotel strip area.
So yea. The S6 from Verizon is killer with foreign SIMs.
Lil
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Can i ask what this has to do with OPs question?
Sorry I just reread the post and thought it was referencing using the vzw version abroad.
You can delete my post if it offends you that much. Was just trying to help because I just went through the process of using it in Mexico for the first time.
It's not that big of a deal, I just thought I was missing something
No worries here ...
Any answers yet? Thanks.
Just want to let you all know the international version will not work on Verizon.
I have one was going to sell on craigslist and we met at verizon and it will not recognize the mobile network.
Im still trying to sale this thing lol

At&t moving to TMobile

Good afternoon all. I am thinking of switching my phone from AT&T over to TMobile. When I do this, will I then be able to install custom roms on the phone? Thanks in advance for your help.
If it is the AT&T model, then no. Only the carrier will change but the bootloader will still be locked and be unable to be unlocked at the present time. Sorry!
TheBobMiller said:
If it is the AT&T model, then no. Only the carrier will change but the bootloader will still be locked and be unable to be unlocked at the present time. Sorry!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks so much for answering this. I was about to switch over. Now I know it wouldn't do me any good.
Only good that would come of it is Tmo would pay your AT&T phone off and you can get a tmo v10 and unlock it. Tmo has binge on for youtube I use a lot . But if traveling AT&T has far superior coverage period .
Sent from my LG-H901 using XDA-Developers mobile app
MCFADONNA said:
Only good that would come of it is Tmo would pay your AT&T phone off and you can get a tmo v10 and unlock it. Tmo has binge on for youtube I use a lot . But if traveling AT&T has far superior coverage period .
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I think I'll hold off on switching for awhile. I ended up getting the Note 7 on Tmo for business, so I'll definitely take advantage of Binge On. Thanks for the info.
I actually switched from ATT to T-Mobile last year. My best friend is a VP at T-Mobile. I have to say the phone was bootloader un-locked 10 minutes after leaving the store. Literally just a debug option. I live in North Texas, and where T-Mobile works they can't be beat. I was getting crazy speeds, 50+mbps. But there were lots of spots where it did not work. To the point I couldn't place or receive a call. Places that ATT and Verizon work. I also told them at the time of switching to them I needed two Cell Spots. I knew their service would not work at my home or at our lake home. They agreed, and for the next 5-6 months I played this game where they would only allow one to be activated at a time. So after about six months of it I bought out my contracts and came back to ATT. Yes I have a T-Mobile V10 unlocked, rooted, custom rom working on ATT. I get decent speeds but not what I get on the ATT Variant of the phone. I wish t-mobile was more complete on their coverage, while they may have coverage in more cities I don't think it's as complete coverage as ATT or Verizon. I also did not find that their plan was all that much cheaper than the ATT plan. Sorry for the long rant, just my two cents.
Is it possible to flash H960 international version .kdz file on H900 at&t version? If anyone does it, what are the issues caused? I was planning to do the same but I am new to LG.
Let me know if its possible and what are it's implications.

AT&T or T-Mobile for unlocked S8+ ?

The backstory.... Preordered an ATT Note 7 and had many headaches with delivery / billing. I am now living with my old Note3 using Goggle Voice/Hangouts because of my weak signal (all carriers) at home. I'm using a pre-paid Straight Talk plan when away from home.
I've been waiting patiently for the S8+ and now need to decide between AT&T and T-Mobile for a GSM phone. I plan on paying full cash price and having it unlocked to use a 3rd part prepaid plan (Straight Talk or ?).
I considered a factory unlocked phone (Best Buy, May 9th??) but I am told that those will also have a locked bootloader. Up until the Note 7 I always ran rooted with custom ROMS. I became a big fan of Samsung Pay which I think also means a locked bootloader with no root is needed. Of coarse, bloatware sucks. I had good luck with Package Disabler Pro on my Note 7. I will be using my Google number, if only for forwarding to another number. WiFi calling is a must one way or another.
My Note 7 from ATT let me run Mobile Hotspot at the same time WiFi was enabled. This made it easy for giving my Android head unit in my car Internet access. The T-mobile version at the time needed to be turned on and off.
I'm leaning toward T-mobile only because of my bad blood with ATT. ATT coverage is marginally better in my area.
Thoughts, comments.
Either and flash the OS on it with ODIN. It is the same hardware so it doesnt matter.
mweinbach said:
Either and flash the OS on it with ODIN. It is the same hardware so it doesnt matter.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes and also if the T-Mobile version is going to have an unlocked bootloader, flashing T-Mobile firmware should allow you to unlock it through the OS.
But it's highly unlikely it will have an unlocked bootloader, although T-Mobile have supported it, I don't think it's happening.
No unlocked bootloaders on u.s.a. Carriers....
SBERG117 said:
No unlocked bootloaders on u.s.a. Carriers....
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I get that if you buy a carrier phone and then unlock it. But what about the factory unlocked phones sold in the US?
I've heard that the bootloader on those phones is also locked, but not from a real good source of info. I've also heard international versions do not have a locked bootloader and do not support Samsung Pay. They also do not support CDMA (which doesn't bother me at all).
Interceptor777 said:
Yes and also if the T-Mobile version is going to have an unlocked bootloader, flashing T-Mobile firmware should allow you to unlock it through the OS.
But it's highly unlikely it will have an unlocked bootloader, although T-Mobile have supported it, I don't think it's happening.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If I flash via ODIN does that kill Samsung Pay? What about Knox?
Phredeee said:
The backstory.... Preordered an ATT Note 7 and had many headaches with delivery / billing. I am now living with my old Note3 using Goggle Voice/Hangouts because of my weak signal (all carriers) at home. I'm using a pre-paid Straight Talk plan when away from home.
I've been waiting patiently for the S8+ and now need to decide between AT&T and T-Mobile for a GSM phone. I plan on paying full cash price and having it unlocked to use a 3rd part prepaid plan (Straight Talk or ?).
I considered a factory unlocked phone (Best Buy, May 9th??) but I am told that those will also have a locked bootloader. Up until the Note 7 I always ran rooted with custom ROMS. I became a big fan of Samsung Pay which I think also means a locked bootloader with no root is needed. Of coarse, bloatware sucks. I had good luck with Package Disabler Pro on my Note 7. I will be using my Google number, if only for forwarding to another number. WiFi calling is a must one way or another.
My Note 7 from ATT let me run Mobile Hotspot at the same time WiFi was enabled. This made it easy for giving my Android head unit in my car Internet access. The T-mobile version at the time needed to be turned on and off.
I'm leaning toward T-mobile only because of my bad blood with ATT. ATT coverage is marginally better in my area.
Thoughts, comments.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm in a similar situation and my first concern is what bands both phones support. Online it seems AT&T covers both GSM providers perfectly. The info on T-Mobile and its bands is extremely lacking. My second concern is the process of unlocking either fully paid off phone for use on the other. I think I can have TMobile unlock it for me but I'm not sure how it works with AT&T. The easiest solution is the unlocked version but thats not even got a release date set in writing anywhere.
Phredeee said:
If I flash via ODIN does that kill Samsung Pay? What about Knox?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
As long you are flashing official firmware from Samsung nothing will break. Knox will not be tripped and Samsung Pay will work.
954wrecker said:
I'm in a similar situation and my first concern is what bands both phones support. Online it seems AT&T covers both GSM providers perfectly. The info on T-Mobile and its bands is extremely lacking. My second concern is the process of unlocking either fully paid off phone for use on the other. I think I can have TMobile unlock it for me but I'm not sure how it works with AT&T. The easiest solution is the unlocked version but thats not even got a release date set in writing anywhere.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It is my understanding that all US (Snapdragon) phones cover all bands, including CDMA. That means you could even take an unlocked AT&T phone to Verizon. I'm not used to that! It even has LTE-U which TMo is supposed to be soon supporting.
I am an ex AT&T customer. They unlocked my Note 7, and again with the replacement, without issue. I seem to remember there was a wait period at first. 7 or 14 days?
The thing I'm considering is also the VR incentives for pre-ordering. I can tell you AT&T messed up my Note 7 pre-order. They shipped it on the release day by a slow method. I ended up going to a store and buying one outright and returning the unopened one once it arrived. That caused a billing nightmare that I had to call them every months until I finally turned it in and closed my account.
Phredeee said:
It is my understanding that all US (Snapdragon) phones cover all bands, including CDMA. That means you could even take an unlocked AT&T phone to Verizon. I'm not used to that! It even has LTE-U which TMo is supposed to be soon supporting.
I am an ex AT&T customer. They unlocked my Note 7, and again with the replacement, without issue. I seem to remember there was a wait period at first. 7 or 14 days?
The thing I'm considering is also the VR incentives for pre-ordering. I can tell you AT&T messed up my Note 7 pre-order. They shipped it on the release day by a slow method. I ended up going to a store and buying one outright and returning the unopened one once it arrived. That caused a billing nightmare that I had to call them every months until I finally turned it in and closed my account.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Can you recall where you read the carrier versions support all the bands just like the unlocked versions? All the info I found from the carriers shows different bands on each model.
Phredeee said:
I get that if you buy a carrier phone and then unlock it. But what about the factory unlocked phones sold in the US?
I've heard that the bootloader on those phones is also locked, but not from a real good source of info. I've also heard international versions do not have a locked bootloader and do not support Samsung Pay. They also do not support CDMA (which doesn't bother me at all).
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You're missing what I'm saying... There will be no unlocked bootloaders on any Samsung S8 phones for the USA. You cannot get one from carrier or factory.
I think you may be mixing up Bootloader unlock and Sim unlock....
954wrecker said:
Can you recall where you read the carrier versions support all the bands just like the unlocked versions? All the info I found from the carriers shows different bands on each model.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I do remember that it was a story about FCC approval of the factory unlocked (SIM) phone. Keep that in mind that it may be the unbranded, factory unlocked phone only, but the article did say they were all the same. The locked carrier phones may not be so flexible.
Other things I've found.. Best Buy SIM unlocked does not get the incentives. Best Buy, and their cheaper price, does not seem to offer a T-Mo phone.
The VR incentive is attractive to me, but is not a must have. At this moment, until I can find out for sure if Samsung Pay will work on an international version, I am leaning towards a T-Mo pre-order. But that is me and my preferences YMMV. I have a major dislike for AT&T.
Looking for where I read it. In the mean time this may be interesting to you.
Model numbers http://techbeasts.com/list-of-samsung-galaxy-s8-galaxy-s8plus-model-numbers/
Frequencies https://www.frequencycheck.com/models/OyqBp/samsung-sm-g955a-galaxy-s8-td-lte-samsung-dream
The link is for the AT&T model search for other models.
954wrecker said:
Can you recall where you read the carrier versions support all the bands just like the unlocked versions? All the info I found from the carriers shows different bands on each model.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It appears that going by this information the factory unlocked and the AT&T are NOT the same https://www.frequencycheck.com/compare-devices/6MQWs05y/samsung-sm-g950a-galaxy-s8-td-lte-samsung-dream/samsung-sm-g950f-galaxy-s8-td-lte-samsung-dream
You're correct that it seems T-mo info is evasive.
Hello,
I would like to know, if it posible to buy the Galaxy S8 from the samsung web page (att version), then unlock it and after that flash the unlocked rom flashing it with odin.
Can someone help me?
thanks.
Just ordered the 955F from Clove...
I'm hoping that missing bands won't hurt my AT&T usage much. Or any prepaid sims I may throw in there.
Will see if the 955U info comes out before my phone, and will decide if I want to cancel.
:good::angel:

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