Ok, this is a question I have concerning my "unlocked" & rooted Galaxy S3 phone. I bought it used & it was already unlocked & rooted & running CM10. (now 10.2.1) and has no carrier name imprinted on it. I have been using it on Straight Talk using T-Mobile Sim. I want to switch to Verizon & use their bring your on device program so I can get better service.
I entered the IMEI # on the website & it says the phone is not compatible with their network. I called the local Verizon store & the sales person said that the phone is not unlocked & will not work as their network is CDMA not GSM like T-Mobile & others. I thought CDMA was analog & all smartphone were digital & run on the GSM network. Guess I was wrong. He said that I would have to get the company to unlock it. I told him I bought it used & there is no logo on the phone so I don't know who to contact.
So, how can an unlocked phone not be unlocked? Is there a way to search the IMEI to find what carrier the phone was orginally made for? Or is there a way to really unlocked it so it can be used on Verizon CDMA networks?
I was going to buy a used S4 from a friend, but her's is locked to CSpire & they may not unlock it. She hasn't checked yet. Also didn't they pass a law where all carriers have to unlock phones if customer request it?
If I can't unlock this phone or get the S4 unlocked then I guess I will have to buy a used "Verizon branded unlocked" phone or sign up for a 2 yr. contract & move up to the S5 or an LG G3. I really don't want a contract. Any other options.
I live in South Mississippi if this helps.
If I left out any info. you need to help me with this please ask.
Thanks in advance.
Related
I was just pre-ordering my Galaxy S3 on VZW and decided to skim the contract. I noticed in one paragraph that they have in writing what code the S3 is defaulted to for SIM unlock and use on another carrier. Now, I am wondering if AT&T was just as kind and put it in our One X contracts? If anyone has theirs handy, or a digital version, check it out. The paragraph in VZW contract said it was defaulted to either "000000" or "123456". I tried generic codes on my One X to no avail, and obviously don't have my SGS3 to test if they were telling the truth! Let me know if you guys find anything!
First of all, you will likely have to call Verizon to get the network unlock code in order for roaming. Unlock code usually is tied to the IMEI number of your phone for GSM phones. Secondly, even if you unlocked your Verizon global phone, you will still not be able to use on AT&T or T-Mobile. You can only use it abroad.
Now, it is possible for newer global phones from Verizon be unlocked use a default code but you will still not be able to use them on other US GSM carriers.
On AT&T, not only you have to ask for the unlock code specfic to your phone, but also AT&T won't give it to you until the new phone is on the martket for 10-month, the so called 'exclusive' period.
foxbat121 said:
First of all, you will likely have to call Verizon to get the network unlock code in order for roaming. Unlock code usually is tied to the IMEI number of your phone for GSM phones. Secondly, even if you unlocked your Verizon global phone, you will still not be able to use on AT&T or T-Mobile. You can only use it abroad.
Now, it is possible for newer global phones from Verizon be unlocked use a default code but you will still not be able to use them on other US GSM carriers.
On AT&T, not only you have to ask for the unlock code specfic to your phone, but also AT&T won't give it to you until the new phone is on the martket for 10-month, the so called 'exclusive' period.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
First of all, you are absolutely WRONG because I have a Rezound that works perfectly fine on AT&T without any unlock code, secondly I asked if anyone had seen this on their contract, so you can take your irrelevant post and shove it up your a$$.
Reported
Well this thread went nowhere fast. Most people wont know your answer. You're either going to have to call AT&T or just wait to see if its unlocked already.
Hello all,
I purchased a Samsung galaxy s2 GT-i9100m off someone on craigstlist a few years back (original owner /w box clean imei).
I am currently on Virgin Mobile which is bell mobility network - Apparently when I purchased it he already unlocked/rooted the phone but I believe I removed that by installing the official jellybean on my phone (it still works with my virgin sim).
Now I am planning to purchase a new smartphone and give my mom this one.. She is on the rogers network.
I have no idea if this phone is virgin or bell locked (does it actually matter between the two while selecting it on a unlock code site?)
If it does matter how do I find out the orginal locked carrier? The phone has no logos besides the type GT-i9100m.
Oh and what is the cheapest unlock site?
Thank you.
Meowthx said:
Hello all,
I purchased a Samsung galaxy s2 GT-i9100m off someone on craigstlist a few years back (original owner /w box clean imei).
I am currently on Virgin Mobile which is bell mobility network - Apparently when I purchased it he already unlocked/rooted the phone but I believe I removed that by installing the official jellybean on my phone (it still works with my virgin sim).
Now I am planning to purchase a new smartphone and give my mom this one.. She is on the rogers network.
I have no idea if this phone is virgin or bell locked (does it actually matter between the two while selecting it on a unlock code site?)
If it does matter how do I find out the orginal locked carrier? The phone has no logos besides the type GT-i9100m.
Oh and what is the cheapest unlock site?
Thank you.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It depends on the unlocking method, some just unlock using a standard code whilst others contact the network it is locked to for a specific code. I would advise checking just to be sure so the unlock works. However after research that phone is seen most common on Virgin so I would select them and if that option isn't available go Bell (After all most services offer a refund/retry, all that I've used anyway)
Unfortunatley, I do not know a cheap and reliable service but some say you can do it yourself but I'm sure after some search on Google/eBay you can get a good, RELIABLE service (Reliability is more important than cost)
Hope I could help and good luck with your unlock
Meowthx said:
Hello all,
I purchased a Samsung galaxy s2 GT-i9100m off someone on craigstlist a few years back (original owner /w box clean imei).
I am currently on Virgin Mobile which is bell mobility network - Apparently when I purchased it he already unlocked/rooted the phone but I believe I removed that by installing the official jellybean on my phone (it still works with my virgin sim).
Now I am planning to purchase a new smartphone and give my mom this one.. She is on the rogers network.
I have no idea if this phone is virgin or bell locked (does it actually matter between the two while selecting it on a unlock code site?)
If it does matter how do I find out the orginal locked carrier? The phone has no logos besides the type GT-i9100m.
Oh and what is the cheapest unlock site?
Thank you.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
sorry, i cant help you with your question.
i just wanted to point out to be very cautious when choosing an unlock site. i see posts frequently of users getting ripped off. when choosing a site, i would do some google searches on them, to see if it results in any scam reports.
i have never used one of these sites, so i dont know ant to suggest.
I asked this question a few days ago & no one answered, so I will try a different way.
Verizon tells me that my phone that is "unlocked & rooted" with CyanogenMod 10.2.1 is not truly unlocked.
So how do you completely "unlock" a phone so that it will work on Verizon's CDMA network?
Is there a different way to unlock for CDMA?
Thanks.
Rebel60 said:
I asked this question a few days ago & no one answered, so I will try a different way.
Verizon tells me that my phone that is "unlocked & rooted" with CyanogenMod 10.2.1 is not truly unlocked.
So how do you completely "unlock" a phone so that it will work on Verizon's CDMA network?
Is there a different way to unlock for CDMA?
Thanks.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If your running cyanogen mod your bootloader is unlocked. There's two different kinds of unlocked, one is sim unlocked which means it can run on almost any carrier and bootloader unlocked meaning you can flash custom roms
As far as CDMA not that I'm aware of
From my S3 on Wicked 4.3
ShapesBlue said:
If your running cyanogen mod your bootloader is unlocked. There's two different kinds of unlocked, one is sim unlocked which means it can run on almost any carrier and bootloader unlocked meaning you can flash custom roms
As far as CDMA not that I'm aware of
From my S3 on Wicked 4.3
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks. I couldn't understand how a phone can be unlocked & rooted & still not be unlocked. The salesman at Verizon told me on the phone that whatever company originally sold the phone would have to unlock it. I forgot that this was a T-Mobile phone. I use T-mobile sim via Straight Talk. If this sim is removed then would the phone be able to work on Verizon network? Verzion is telling me this is a GSM phone & not CDMA & won't work unless unlocked by carrier. Which makes no sense if it isn't a cdma to begin with. I assume that all Verizon version of phones are made for them as CDMA only?
If this is so, then Verizon should not be advertising "bring your own device" as it won't work. It should be "bring your own Verizon phone".
Rebel60 said:
Thanks. I couldn't understand how a phone can be unlocked & rooted & still not be unlocked. The salesman at Verizon told me on the phone that whatever company originally sold the phone would have to unlock it. I forgot that this was a T-Mobile phone. I use T-mobile sim via Straight Talk. If this sim is removed then would the phone be able to work on Verizon network? Verzion is telling me this is a GSM phone & not CDMA & won't work unless unlocked by carrier. Which makes no sense if it isn't a cdma to begin with. I assume that all Verizon version of phones are made for them as CDMA only?
If this is so, then Verizon should not be advertising "bring your own device" as it won't work. It should be "bring your own Verizon phone".
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Verizons idea of bring your own device really isn't what it should be. It should work on the vzw network but all phones should be sim unlocked by the carrier as a law was passed to do so, however verizon won't a lot of times sim unlock it like it should be until the contract is fulfilled.
And yes there bring your own device is irrelevant because most gsm phones won't work like they should on this crappy network because they are the only CDMA only network left.
From my S3 on Wicked 4.3
ShapesBlue said:
Verizons idea of bring your own device really isn't what it should be. It should work on the vzw network but all phones should be sim unlocked by the carrier as a law was passed to do so, however verizon won't a lot of times sim unlock it like it should be until the contract is fulfilled.
And yes there bring your own device is irrelevant because most gsm phones won't work like they should on this crappy network because they are the only CDMA only network left.
From my S3 on Wicked 4.3
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks ShapesBlue. I assumed it was not really bring any device to play as they state. My phone came from T-Mobile from the original buyer, so I don't know if T-Mobile would till unlock it or not since it isn't stock any longer. I have a friends that use Verizon & they get good service in our area. Mine is limited on T-Mobile, lot of dead spots especially where I work & slow data. I had a non digital CDMA phone that I used through Straight Talk & it used Verizon network & I got good phone service in places way off the beaten trail, so that is why I wanted to try Verizon again.
Where can I find a copy of the "unlock law". I searched for it but didn't find anything. I would like to print it out & take with me for proof.
Thanks.
Rebel60 said:
Thanks ShapesBlue. I assumed it was not really bring any device to play as they state. My phone came from T-Mobile from the original buyer, so I don't know if T-Mobile would till unlock it or not since it isn't stock any longer. I have a friends that use Verizon & they get good service in our area. Mine is limited on T-Mobile, lot of dead spots especially where I work & slow data. I had a non digital CDMA phone that I used through Straight Talk & it used Verizon network & I got good phone service in places way off the beaten trail, so that is why I wanted to try Verizon again.
Where can I find a copy of the "unlock law". I searched for it but didn't find anything. I would like to print it out & take with me for proof.
Thanks.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Not sure if it has passed just yet but here is some info on it
http://www.cbsnews.com/news/obama-signs-bill-unlocking-cellphones/
From my S3 on Wicked 4.3
I Just found the law, it was signed into law by president on Aug. 1st. 2014. S.517, Public law 113-114
Thanks.
Hello,
I received a phone a few months ago for free from a woman I used to babysit her dogs for. The phone is a Samsung Galaxy S4 and it has the original SIM card in it, but under the about phone, it says Network Unavailable and No SIM card inserted. The lady does not remember where she got the phone from, and I don't know what to do to find out what provider it is locked to or if it even is locked. I live in Texas, and the phone came from Oklahoma. The lady used Pioneer Cellular then right before giving the phone to me, switched to US Cellular. She had the exact same type of phone from both companies. Both was contract as well. Anyone please help me. I want to use it for Straight Talk, cause where I live is a country road and the service is sucky.
If you can root the phone you might be able to unlock it, making the carrier useless. Or you could try to Google the IMEI and see if that yields any results.
Agriwulf - Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge
Agriwulf said:
If you can root the phone you might be able to unlock it, making the carrier useless. Or you could try to Google the IMEI and see if that yields any results.
Agriwulf - Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I went to a site called imeidata.net and these was the results:
IMEI: 990003512047644
IMEIData Database: Maintain
AT&T (USA): IMEI is not recognized in AT&T
Verizon (USA): Clean (GSM or Activated by other User)
T-Mobile (USA): Unknown
Sprint (USA): Unknown
Cricket (USA): Clean
Metro PCS (USA): Clean
Telus (Canada): Clean
Telenor (Sweden): Clean
Softbank (Japan): IMEI is not recognized in Softbank
AU KDDI (Japan):
I don't know what this means, can anyone help with it?
How unlock used Samsung Galaxy Book 2 (Verizon) so I can use T-Mobile SIM??
My friend bought a used Galaxy Book 2, put in his t-Mobile Sim and message came up that stated something to the effect that his device needs a Verizon Sim. Even with this message (as someone said it still worked) it did not get a signal.
He cannot return this as he bought it from some 3rd party he will never see again.
He has T-Mobile as a carrier for quite a few phones and has some sort of lifetime extra device -T-Mobile sim plan he can use so he does not want to move just this device to Verizon.
The question is can this be unlocked by Verizon store? And even if it is and APN settings are changed would it work with a T-Mobile Sim?
I know nothing about these LTE laptops and not sure at least for Samsung if the radio in it is somewhat universal or compatible with most US carriers.
Thank you for any advice.
I appreciate it.
Sincerely
Peter