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[Resolved] [Q] Friend on Verizon needs already hackable phone ASAP

A friend who lives in Houston is going on a trip this Friday to Washington, DC. She wants to have tethering for her PowerBook and wireless-only iPad. She needs a small phone to take with her when she runs (she currently has such a phone). She is considering the "Verizon Wireless 4G LTE Mobile Hotspot MiFi™ 4510L". For family reasons she needs to stick with Verizon. Her husband has a Droid X, but she is slight so something smaller would be better but not required.
I told her an Android phone with Cyanogenmod 7 should let her tether and she shouldn't have to pay $20/month if she didn't abuse it. I'm on T-Mobile and get free tethering (came with phone).
As far as the small phone, since she can't just swap SIM cards, I suggested either a separate, very minimal plan for her small phone, or a pre-paid plan with either her current phone or some other small phone.
I looked at the CM7 site, Googled, searched this forum, and now I ask you (yes, you):
What would be your 2 top choices for a smart phone for her that meets her needs?
What kind of plan or arrangement would let her have a small, rarely used phone, preferably her current one?
How is Verizon about tethering? T-Mobile is generally fine if you don't abuse it.
[Edit: Friend got a T-Mobile 4G hotspot that allows ad hoc daily use.
I knew I wouldn't get answers unless I slightly personalized this for particular phones and posted it in the General forum for each of those phones, but I didn't feel like cheating ]

[Q] Using a tablet as a phone? Help with these options

So, my Galaxy S3 was stolen and I'm on Sprint. They agreed to freeze my account but as a college student, I'm having a lot of trouble dealing with their $80/month+tax plan, not to mention they don't have LTE in my city and won't until the middle of 2013. I'm tired of CDMA 3G and I'm tired of being broke. So I'm thinking of being clever.
The following two purchases are decided:
1) T-Mobile activation kit from T-Mobile for use with pre-paid plans - $0.99
2) Wal-Mart Exclusive month-to-month 100 minute, unlimited text/4G data plan - $30/month
3) Huawei E220 3G dongle - $24.00
The question now remains, what device? Now, I also want a 7" tablet for books but why have two devices when you could have one? I could easily handle having a 7" device as a phone and I already have the two prerequisites: Sipgate phone number and Google Voice. Now the question remains, which tablet that will work with the dongle. I don't want to spend more than $100-130 or so. I know that limits things a lot, but like I said, I'm a poor college student. Save me the "tether your phone" response, as I said, my phone was stolen and I'm trying to minimize the devices I use.
Galaxy Tab 2 7.0 - I found a guy selling one near my school for $100. But can it use 3G dongles? I've heard mixed responses regarding it.
Ainol Novo 7 Tornados - Low resolution, but dual core processor with good GPU. Will be brand new but will cost around $120 shipped.
Ramos W17 Pro - Higher resolution, better processor, less after market rom support.
If the Galaxy Tab supported 3G dongles, this would be an easy choice but I'm not sure it does. Any thoughts on this?

Sir, your assistance can be given here>>>http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1846277
Thank You & Closed

Where To Buy 4G Note 10.1 In US?

I've looked everywhere for a Note 10.1 and can only find it on Amazon for $600+. Is this the only place to buy it? Why isn't this available in Best Buy, Wal Mart, ATT Stores etc?
I'd really like to pick one up by the end of the year.....

LuckyStrike88 said:
I've looked everywhere for a Note 10.1 and can only find it on Amazon for $600+. Is this the only place to buy it? Why isn't this available in Best Buy, Wal Mart, ATT Stores etc?
I'd really like to pick one up by the end of the year.....
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
There's no LTE version of the galaxy note 10.1, just 3g (the 8020--an LTE version doesn't seem to be shipping to retailers anywhere). You can buy the 3g galaxy note 10.1 from other vendors, including Sams Stores; however, most are higher than Amazon's price--expect to pay $625-$629 USD. (Right now, Negri Electronics has the unlocked 3g version available for $595 USD, I'm not sure how long that price will be valid, Negri is usually higher. http://negrielectronics.com/samsung...l?gclid=CI_s68298rMCFQmCQgodYWoAkw#.ULZxSqL-u ) If you really want LTE, look at the galaxy note 2, but expect to pay about the same price for the off contract version from US carriers (going unlocked international right now limits you to 3g). I'm seriously considering upgrading my existing Android tablet with the WIFI only version of the note 10.1. I'm not doing a lot of traveling right now and LTE isn't available in my area. Should I do more traveling next year to LTE areas, I'll get a prepaid MIFI to get LTE to supplement Internet access when WIF hotspots aren't available. I use VOIP on both my tablet and smartphone via WIFI and am happy with it, but then I've used VOIP at home exclusively for the past 8 years.

LuckyStrike88 said:
I've looked everywhere for a Note 10.1 and can only find it on Amazon for $600+. Is this the only place to buy it? Why isn't this available in Best Buy, Wal Mart, ATT Stores etc?
I'd really like to pick one up by the end of the year.....
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
There will never be an N8000 sold in the U.S.; Samsung doesn't sell (or allow to be sold) any unlocked devices. So anywhere you get it it's going to be imported. An LTE Note passed the FCC a while ago with AT&T's bands so I'd expect them to offer it shortly; maybe in the beginning of the year. And any Note you will import is going to be HSPA+ 21MB which is 3G, not 4G. And if you find a N8020 it's highly unlikely it's LTE bands will be compatible with the U.S. carriers.

verizon gnote 10.1 with LTE is coming soon (allegedly). Google "sch-i925"
I'm not sure if this is bogus news....but anyone hear anything else about this mythical device?

There is LTE version of Note it has been launched in South Korea recently with JB as default and it also supports voice calling. It should launch in US soon as that will be the key market for the LTE version. The only reason Samsung delays its products in US is because of Apple Patent law suits

biswasd said:
verizon gnote 10.1 with LTE is coming soon (allegedly). Google "sch-i925"
I'm not sure if this is bogus news....but anyone hear anything else about this mythical device?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I made a parenthetical reference to it in my post above. It's the 8020. It's been trotted out for press views but I couldn't find any references to it being stocked anywhere yet, even Korea. Given the non-uniform LTE standards stateside, you'll probably only be able to get this via a carrier. I would expect the off contract price to be slightly higher than the off contract price for the Note 2. I wouldn't expect to see the 8020 showing up at any US carriers until late in the 1st quarter of 2013 or possibly not even until the 2nd quarter.

I might get the att version if it ever comes out. 600 + for this tablet and 3g is just crazy .
Sent from my GT-N7000 using Tapatalk 2

Sorry, I forgot my audience, I mean 3g not LTE which of course is true 4g. (I'm used to talking with people who don't understand)
Kind of depressing though, I can go to any electronics store and buy and iPad, yet a 3g Note 10.1 is next to impossible. And they wonder why android hasn't shaken up the tablet market? I don't want to buy this device if in 3 months I can get it through ATT by that point it there will be something newer...... I don't understand this business model.
So my next question would be is are there any high end android tablets I can get through ATT? Locally it is just the Galaxy Tab 2 which isn't really what I'm looking for. Also I would like to be able to make calls from the device if possible, but this is not mandatory.
Thanks.

LuckyStrike88 said:
Sorry, I forgot my audience, I mean 3g not LTE which of course is true 4g. (I'm used to talking with people who don't understand)
Kind of depressing though, I can go to any electronics store and buy and iPad, yet a 3g Note 10.1 is next to impossible. And they wonder why android hasn't shaken up the tablet market? I don't want to buy this device if in 3 months I can get it through ATT by that point it there will be something newer...... I don't understand this business model.
So my next question would be is are there any high end android tablets I can get through ATT? Locally it is just the Galaxy Tab 2 which isn't really what I'm looking for. Also I would like to be able to make calls from the device if possible, but this is not mandatory.
Thanks.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I don't see a new LTE tablet coming out at the same time as the inevitable upgrade to the Note 10.1. There will probably be several months delay again in getting LTE tablets out because Samsung will need to work with individual carriers on LTE versions (same will be true of Europe as it rolls out LTE to more regions). If you live in an area with a Sams Store and have a membership or know someone who has a membership, check them out. They carry unlocked GSM phones and tablets. They have the Samsung P7320 (Galaxy Tab 8.9 4G LTE) as well as the 3G Note 10.1. I can't say how many stores have all items in stock. The problem with LTE in the US, as usual, is fragmented standards. This means that most LTE devices are only available through a carrier unless you're diligent and shop around online (NegriElectronics and Ebay are sources that occasionally have unlocked LTE devices that run on specific US carriers' LTE networks). You pay through the nose buying an on contract device locked to a fairly expensive monthly data plan that is added on top of a minimum of minutes for voice calls and texting. When you add up the cost of monthly fees over a 2-year minimum period plus the subsidized cost of a device, it's generally much, much more expensive than buying an unlocked, off contract device and then buying a prepaid service like Straight Talk (you can get an AT&T SIM or T-Mobile SIM, depending on which service is best in your area) https://www.straighttalk.com/secure/ServicePlans. There are also MVNOs for CDMA carriers Verizon and Sprint that have better prepaid monthly plans. Just take your time and do some research. If you're willing to carry a table rather than a phlablet, another option is getting a prepaid LTE MIFI device, which will be pretty small. Heck, if you have an LTE cellphone, check to see if you can use it as a hotspot.

mke1973 said:
I don't see a new LTE tablet coming out at the same time as the inevitable upgrade to the Note 10.1. There will probably be several months delay again in getting LTE tablets out because Samsung will need to work with individual carriers on LTE versions (same will be true of Europe as it rolls out LTE to more regions). If you live in an area with a Sams Store and have a membership or know someone who has a membership, check them out. They carry unlocked GSM phones and tablets. They have the Samsung P7320 (Galaxy Tab 8.9 4G LTE) as well as the 3G Note 10.1. I can't say how many stores have all items in stock. The problem with LTE in the US, as usual, is fragmented standards. This means that most LTE devices are only available through a carrier unless you're diligent and shop around online (NegriElectronics and Ebay are sources that occasionally have unlocked LTE devices that run on specific US carriers' LTE networks). You pay through the nose buying an on contract device locked to a fairly expensive monthly data plan that is added on top of a minimum of minutes for voice calls and texting. When you add up the cost of monthly fees over a 2-year minimum period plus the subsidized cost of a device, it's generally much, much more expensive than buying an unlocked, off contract device and then buying a prepaid service like Straight Talk (you can get an AT&T SIM or T-Mobile SIM, depending on which service is best in your area) https://www.straighttalk.com/secure/ServicePlans. There are also MVNOs for CDMA carriers Verizon and Sprint that have better prepaid monthly plans. Just take your time and do some research. If you're willing to carry a table rather than a phlablet, another option is getting a prepaid LTE MIFI device, which will be pretty small. Heck, if you have an LTE cellphone, check to see if you can use it as a hotspot.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I can tether with my Note, but I'm planning on using this as a headunit in my car so I'd like to have Google navigation without having to be tethered constantly, plus according to the guy I know at ATT he says it will be $10 per month for a tablet because at work I'm on a family share plan of 10 lines and we only have 7 now.
I will call a few Sams Clubs I am a member but online they just have the wifi note 10.1 so I wasn't sure.

[Q]I need some advice from someone who knows Verizon well (related to upgrades)

Hello,
I hope this is in the right place, I've only made a few posts on here, but I read this site daily. Thanks to everyone who contributes!
I have a quick question I googled around about and couldn't really find an answer too.
I am currently using a T-mobile galaxy S 3 on ST w/ an att sim, but I also have a line on my parents plan w/ an old kin two m feature phone that will be due for an upgrade in the spring. My parents firmly believe that smartphones and data plans are the devil...So we have a talk and text family plan w/ 4 feature phones on it. I am curious if there is any way that when the upgrade is available, I could use it to buy a smartphone(capable of unlock/gsm capabilities), and then continue to use my kin two on the plan.
Does upgrading to a smartphone, from a feature phone, require adding a dataplan to purchase the phone? If so can I add the data plan to a single line for a month, then remove it and switch back to the feature phone?
Sorry if my post doesn't really make sense, any help would be greatly appreciated! Thanks for your time!

wxcarne89 said:
Hello,
I hope this is in the right place, I've only made a few posts on here, but I read this site daily. Thanks to everyone who contributes!
I have a quick question I googled around about and couldn't really find an answer too.
I am currently using a T-mobile galaxy S 3 on ST w/ an att sim, but I also have a line on my parents plan w/ an old kin two m feature phone that will be due for an upgrade in the spring. My parents firmly believe that smartphones and data plans are the devil...So we have a talk and text family plan w/ 4 feature phones on it. I am curious if there is any way that when the upgrade is available, I could use it to buy a smartphone(capable of unlock/gsm capabilities), and then continue to use my kin two on the plan.
Does upgrading to a smartphone, from a feature phone, require adding a dataplan to purchase the phone? If so can I add the data plan to a single line for a month, then remove it and switch back to the feature phone?
Sorry if my post doesn't really make sense, any help would be greatly appreciated! Thanks for your time!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You would add data and could take the phone off back to Kin 2. The problem is you would need to get a phone from VZW that is gsm capable. Their global offerings are lacking and in most cases are locked from using USA gsm signals. Checking newer phones' radios first would be a must.
Sent from my SGH-I747 using xda premium

Thanks!
Hey, thanks for the input, it's appreciated.
Since I just got this S3 in early Oct I will probably hold onto the upgrade till next fall when hopefully a new note or something else cool is released, (saying that it could be unlocked for GSM). If i am lucky there will be more Verizon 4g LTE phones out that can be unlocked for GSM in a year from now. I never really expected that you would be able to unlock Verizon CDMA phones for GSM, but a guy in my CompTIA A+ cert. class said that his Verizon S3 could be unlocked for gsm and it got me thinking.
It's kinda a long story, but what got me asking about this I originally wanted a note/ note 2.
In September another forum member and I found two galaxy notes for $300 on CL, and the one I picked had motherboard problems of course(Avoid CL phones/tabs please!) I was luckily able to sell the phone for parts on ebay for $150 easily, but I still lost a little money on the unlock code, zagg, and a new S-pen. After that I really just needed a dependable phone fast, and couldn't really gamble on something used, or wait on the US Note 2 release, so I settled on the S3, so here next fall after i've had the phone for about a year hopefully i'll be able to upgrade to something new. I have grown to really like my S3 though.

Old guy buying technology needs help finding phone.

I know this is will more than likely be wide open to opinion but I am gonna give it a try. I have rooted and messed around with several phones in the past so I am kinda hip on things but it has been a long time and seems as though now I am light years behind the times so here I am seeking opinions on my possible next phone.
What I was "rocking" a Motarola M XT907 fully rooted w/custom rom. Seems like I had my old friend since I was a lad but now it has given up the ghost and put to pasture. So now I have a temp XT907 NON rooted, fully updated, all stock and has a cracked camera lens. I searched and found it might still be able to be rooted but may involve spending money (not sure on all this). So if I am going to spend any $$ on a phone I thought I would go for a different one unless I can get this thing to my needs. So here are my needs 1.) Must be usable with Verizon, 2) able to have free (non subscription) wireless tethering capabilities.
That's pretty much it for necessities. If this one can still be made to do that great, if not or not feasible to do so what would be the best phone to get to be able to do this. Also I don't want a HUGE phone but a little bigger would be fine. Also buying outright so not to give up any data plan so cheapest way to go would be a huge +.
Thanks all and remember to be kind

Your Criteria of Size does tend to reduce the options. But I guess you know that already.
First Criteria, being able to work with VZW. That's pretty easy, especially considering you are going to buy it outright. What you are looking at is a phone that is marketed as for Verizon network. Or is "Unlocked". Just so we get the terms right, a unlocked phone represents a device that was originally meant for a different carrier but can now be under on Any Carrier. Some phones are Factory Unlocked by the Manufacturer. That means the same thing. Phones sold for Verizon Network are "Locked" to that Carrier and will only work with that Carrier's active account. Now Verizon has some attractive offers, you might want to consider those too.
As to your Other criteria of Tether, depending on which phone you are getting, the phone will have Out of Box tether capability. Now, I personally do not have experience on Verizon Network, but with other Carriers, you do get Tether enabled out out box. Only thing is, it costs extra per month. However If you are willing to Root, whatever phone you choose, you can add Tether Capability without monthly charges.
So that brings us to main question, which phone ? Your current Droid Razr is 4.82 x 2.40 x 0.33 in. The phones relatively similar sized and come to mind in no particular order are
Nexus 5 - All time favorite phone with several people, especially since its a Nexus. It comes factory unlocked and is pretty versatile. Released in 2013, its not the latest either but is only slightly bigger.
HTC One M9 - Released in April 2015, this is pretty newish phone. I am not that familiar with it, to say for a fact if it offers Tether. You might want to ask that question here if you wish. It too has people who swear by it.
Samsung Galaxy S4 - Its a 2012 phone, not the very latest but extremely rugged and decent jump from your Razr. The Galaxy s4 or s5 are better options but are larger sized. Also there's potential trouble of not being able to Root later versions of Samsung Phones. So trade carefully. If in doubt ask.
There are several other phones that come to my mind. however, they don't fit into either criteria so Skipping them for now.
You might be able to browse these phones either in BestBuy or elsewhere. All of phones mentioned above can be obtained on ebay or amazon. Should you choose to go with a preowned one, you can consider our sister site swappa.com
As you said, each person has a different opinion and you will get a plethora of opinions. the above is my 2 cents.

Perseus said:
Your Criteria of Size does tend to reduce the options. But I guess you know that already.
First Criteria, being able to work with VZW. That's pretty easy, especially considering you are going to buy it outright. What you are looking at is a phone that is marketed as for Verizon network. Or is "Unlocked". Just so we get the terms right, a unlocked phone represents a device that was originally meant for a different carrier but can now be under on Any Carrier. Some phones are Factory Unlocked by the Manufacturer. That means the same thing. Phones sold for Verizon Network are "Locked" to that Carrier and will only work with that Carrier's active account. Now Verizon has some attractive offers, you might want to consider those too.
As to your Other criteria of Tether, depending on which phone you are getting, the phone will have Out of Box tether capability. Now, I personally do not have experience on Verizon Network, but with other Carriers, you do get Tether enabled out out box. Only thing is, it costs extra per month. However If you are willing to Root, whatever phone you choose, you can add Tether Capability without monthly charges.
So that brings us to main question, which phone ? Your current Droid Razr is 4.82 x 2.40 x 0.33 in. The phones relatively similar sized and come to mind in no particular order are
Nexus 5 - All time favorite phone with several people, especially since its a Nexus. It comes factory unlocked and is pretty versatile. Released in 2013, its not the latest either but is only slightly bigger.
HTC One M9 - Released in April 2015, this is pretty newish phone. I am not that familiar with it, to say for a fact if it offers Tether. You might want to ask that question here if you wish. It too has people who swear by it.
Samsung Galaxy S4 - Its a 2012 phone, not the very latest but extremely rugged and decent jump from your Razr. The Galaxy s4 or s5 are better options but are larger sized. Also there's potential trouble of not being able to Root later versions of Samsung Phones. So trade carefully. If in doubt ask.
There are several other phones that come to my mind. however, they don't fit into either criteria so Skipping them for now.
You might be able to browse these phones either in BestBuy or elsewhere. All of phones mentioned above can be obtained on ebay or amazon. Should you choose to go with a preowned one, you can consider our sister site swappa.com
As you said, each person has a different opinion and you will get a plethora of opinions. the above is my 2 cents.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Appreciate the reply, Used is not a problem. I'm not afraid to root and I guess that's why I came here some phones have a lot more options, (rom's , tether work arounds) or in general more dev interest than others. About the only two things I do on a phone these days are use it for home internet service (unlimited data with no tethering service plan) and talking to my friend google. Looks like the M9 may be a fit. Thanks again.

malloneem said:
Appreciate the reply, Used is not a problem. I'm not afraid to root and I guess that's why I came here some phones have a lot more options, (rom's , tether work arounds) or in general more dev interest than others. About the only two things I do on a phone these days are use it for home internet service (unlimited data with no tethering service plan) and talking to my friend google. Looks like the M9 may be a fit. Thanks again.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If you are talking about Developer interest and Rom choices, I think any of the Nexus would be your better bet. As to the M9, there are 8 LP Roms and 6 MM roms that I see over here. Seems like Decent Choice to me. Wish you well.