Change out sim card for international travel? - Galaxy S6 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting

Having been a Sprint customer for years, I'm not that familiar with SIM cards, but I know that the S6 has one. For international travel, if I want to use local cell service, is it truly as simple as buying the right kind of SIM card and swapping it in?

flu13 said:
Having been a Sprint customer for years, I'm not that familiar with SIM cards, but I know that the S6 has one. For international travel, if I want to use local cell service, is it truly as simple as buying the right kind of SIM card and swapping it in?
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If Sprint sells the S6 'sim unlocked', yes, it's exactly that simple.

Thanks. I'm not positive that it is, but I contacted them and they said they were setting my phone up to work in Europe while I'm there. I think that means it's unlocked? So I might try a prepaid card in it and see what happens.

Make sure you've made at least 5 min of calls before putting a Euro sim in it or you'll have to worry about the region lock too.

Related

Verizon

So are all verizon Rhodium phones CDMA with GSM only when out of country?
Which meaning at the moment have no HARD-spl and are able to flash?
I've added some custom apps to my phone which is from verizon and is not flashed. So i was just curious.
Thanks,
Alfredo
SlashX1896 said:
So are all verizon Rhodium phones CDMA with GSM only when out of country?
Which meaning at the moment have no HARD-spl and are able to flash?
I've added some custom apps to my phone which is from verizon and is not flashed. So i was just curious.
Thanks,
Alfredo
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If you call Verizon (and have their service for awhile, in good standing) they will guide you to unlocking the SIM slot 'for use outside of the country'. Once unlocked, it will work with TMobile, AT&T and any other GSM provider in the US that doesn't do IMEI checking, or that allow the TP2 on their network, in which IMEI checking wouldn't be a problem.
Anyways, get the unlock code for your device (specific to your device) from Verizon, scroll to SETTINGS on the homescreen, click ALL SETTINGS, click PERSONAL, click SECURITY and enter the unlock code they gave you and your phone will SIM unlock itself.
As for Hard-SPL, I haven't seen anything about it yet.. but I haven't been searching, since the phone already does what I'd like it to with simple cab installs.
I hope this helps!
-mak
Yeah ive had verizon for a good amount of years now. So i might give that a try. and yeah. I agree about hard SPL.
Are there any other advantages to unlocking the sim card other then being able to change services?
I am still new with all this, and unaware the advantages of unlocking the SIM card.
Curious for In Country and Out of country.
Like what are benefits of it while still in the states?
and what are the benefits if i go to canada? does this mean i don't have to pay extra for the plan while in canada to make phonecalls/texts/data?
.mak said:
Anyways, get the unlock code for your device (specific to your device) from Verizon, scroll to SETTINGS on the homescreen, click ALL SETTINGS, click PERSONAL, click SECURITY and enter the unlock code they gave you and your phone will SIM unlock itself.
-mak
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I believe you may be incorrect on that, check this out, I have yet to verify this my self but from what I have read here and other places the GSM will be unlocked for use overseas. This way you can use another country's SIM card instead of Verizon's SIM (expensive rates) while overseas for an extended period of time.
There are now several threads in several forums about this.
What people often leave out when they talk about what their phone can do is what carrier they have it on.
With Verizon, when you SIM Unlock the phone you can toss in any SIM and it'll work. I personally have a UK SIM and works fine in the US on my Verizon TP2 unlocked. Others have reported using TMobile (US) or AT&T (US) SIM's just fine in their Verizon TP2's after unlocking.
Sprint TP2's come unlocked but will NOT register at all on US carriers (even with a foreign SIM).
--Chris
Oh so i have to somehow get a hold of another sim card?
nowwww i get it.
so unless i plan on actually going out of country there really is no point in unlocking my phone.
SlashX1896 said:
Oh so i have to somehow get a hold of another sim card?
nowwww i get it.
so unless i plan on actually going out of country there really is no point in unlocking my phone.
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I unlocked mine, just in case I ever decide to leave Verizon to go to Tmobile or AT&T (yeah, right lol).. or for when I upgrade, it makes it more universal when it comes time to sell it.
It costs you nothing if you're a Verizon customer in good standing, I'd unlock it just in case
-mak
Yeah good point. I was more curious on flashing purposes, but TBH i have no use to flash it. Though once the markeplace comes out, im assuming its going to be like the iphones appstore? and hoping in time we find ways to "jailbreak" or something to get them free, thats always fun lol.
Now i do travel to canada a lot. But unlocking it has no use unless i actually pay for the plan and a sim card? I know verizon offers a plan for it, but i dont got that much to where il pay extra for the plan was just curious.
SlashX1896 said:
Now i do travel to canada a lot. But unlocking it has no use unless i actually pay for the plan and a sim card? I know verizon offers a plan for it, but i dont got that much to where il pay extra for the plan was just curious.
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some folks over at PPCGeeks pointed out that in some situations, it might be cheaper to just buy a prepaid sim card when traveling abroad, as the prepaid cards could prove to be a cheaper alternative to verizon's international roaming rates through verizon's sim card, included with the Rhodium.
Alright, thanks i'll look into that.
the problem with going to canada is the sim card has nothing to do with their network. it is still CDMA in canada and while you may have an unlocked phone and different sim card, verizons network will still pick up your phone and charge you accordingly.
gt3dan said:
the problem with going to canada is the sim card has nothing to do with their network. it is still CDMA in canada and while you may have an unlocked phone and different sim card, verizons network will still pick up your phone and charge you accordingly.
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If you have an unlocked phone and a different SIM card in, if you set it to GSM mode Verizon won't/can't charge you for using it in Canada.
Hope thatyour right iamrobk, elsewise im confused.

Question about using prepaid sims on my tp2...

If I unlock a verizon htc touch pro 2 (Rhodium) will I be able to use prepaid sim card based unlimited plans on it? The kind you can get from walmart and stuff? I don't want to buy a new phone because I still love my touch pro 2 but having a verizon account isn't possible anymore so I would like to get some sort of prepaid plan for it. Thanks.
em0rox said:
If I unlock a verizon htc touch pro 2 (Rhodium) will I be able to use prepaid sim card based unlimited plans on it? The kind you can get from walmart and stuff? I don't want to buy a new phone because I still love my touch pro 2 but having a verizon account isn't possible anymore so I would like to get some sort of prepaid plan for it. Thanks.
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Yes, if you do the SIM unlock and get a prepaid provider that uses (regular) SIM cards.
Note this is different from the hSPL process.
I already unlocked the spl a long time ago, using mighty rom on it. Would all providers work? I'm wanting to get one of those unlimited text things from like t-mobile or even verizon. Is there any free way to unlock the phone? If not do you know the best way to go about doing it?
What do you mean by "regular" sim cards? I've never used anything but Verizon cdma on someone else's actual account so I'm not sure about sim cards. I've had lots of phones but they have all been on verizon and cdma.
em0rox said:
I already unlocked the spl a long time ago, using mighty rom on it. Would all providers work? I'm wanting to get one of those unlimited text things from like t-mobile or even verizon. Is there any free way to unlock the phone? If not do you know the best way to go about doing it?
What do you mean by "regular" sim cards? I've never used anything but Verizon cdma on someone else's actual account so I'm not sure about sim cards. I've had lots of phones but they have all been on verizon and cdma.
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Not all sim cards are the same size/shape. There are some adapters out there for sale, but I don't suggest going that route. If it is a major carrier, and the sim card fits your phone, and your phone is sim unlocked it should work.
em0rox said:
I already unlocked the spl a long time ago, using mighty rom on it. Would all providers work? I'm wanting to get one of those unlimited text things from like t-mobile or even verizon. Is there any free way to unlock the phone? If not do you know the best way to go about doing it?
What do you mean by "regular" sim cards? I've never used anything but Verizon cdma on someone else's actual account so I'm not sure about sim cards. I've had lots of phones but they have all been on verizon and cdma.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Verizon = CDMA.
You need a GSM provider that uses standard size SIM cards. Some providers use different sized cards (as noted previously), but most use standard size cards.
I know verizon is cdma but the touch pro 2 has a sim slot as well because it was sold as a "world phone". So as long as I unlock it and the sim card I get fits it should work? I've only seen one type of sim card before but from a bunch of different phones and they were all the same size as the touch pro 2 takes.
As for the second part of my question I'm still a bit confused about. Is there any free way to unlock the phone? If not do you know the best way to go about doing it? Should I take it to a provider with a local store, use a site that does it, etc?
em0rox said:
I know verizon is cdma but the touch pro 2 has a sim slot as well because it was sold as a "world phone". So as long as I unlock it and the sim card I get fits it should work? I've only seen one type of sim card before but from a bunch of different phones and they were all the same size as the touch pro 2 takes.
As for the second part of my question I'm still a bit confused about. Is there any free way to unlock the phone? If not do you know the best way to go about doing it? Should I take it to a provider with a local store, use a site that does it, etc?
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First question has been answered several times. Yes.
There is not a free way to unlock the phone.
However, if you had looked at the stickies... In this very section... You might've noticed this thread. I hope...
No reason to be rude man... I just didn't want to spend $20 on unlocking it then another $40 on the card just to find out it won't work. Not all of us are "well off", can't just throw away money like that... I could eat for weeks off that money lol...
Also I didn't look for anything on how to unlock it because, like I said, I wanted to know if the prepaid things would work on it in the first place. Thanks for all the answers though guys it has helped a lot. My phone was on my ex wife's mother's plan and the 2 year contract just ran out so she closed the account. I can't afford a new phone to go with a prepaid plan. Just trying to find a way to have a phone again so I can talk to my children and want to make sure I don't spend money I don't have on something that won't work.
em0rox said:
No reason to be rude man... I just didn't want to spend $20 on unlocking it then another $40 on the card just to find out it won't work. Not all of us are "well off", can't just throw away money like that... I could eat for weeks off that money lol...
Also I didn't look for anything on how to unlock it because, like I said, I wanted to know if the prepaid things would work on it in the first place. Thanks for all the answers though guys it has helped a lot. My phone was on my ex wife's mother's plan and the 2 year contract just ran out so she closed the account. I can't afford a new phone to go with a prepaid plan. Just trying to find a way to have a phone again so I can talk to my children and want to make sure I don't spend money I don't have on something that won't work.
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Click to collapse
Just take your time and read as much as you can.
Wish there was a 'free way' to unlock the phone, but Olinex is still allowed to charge for that privilege... Sorry.
Mind explaining the whole unlock thing? It seems to me there are "official" sites, random people, companies, local stores, pretty much anyone can do it... Do they have to have a license to register the code on some global database or what? I've softmodded and hardmodded just about everything I've ever owned since my sms (yea that's kinda funny talking about phones but I meant sega master system...) flashcart but I don't really get this... From what I've read you get a code from someone (which can be anyone who can do it I guess) and that unlocks your device. So does that unlock your device 100% or only on networks that person/company has license to unlock on?
em0rox said:
Mind explaining the whole unlock thing? It seems to me there are "official" sites, random people, companies, local stores, pretty much anyone can do it... Do they have to have a license to register the code on some global database or what? I've softmodded and hardmodded just about everything I've ever owned since my sms (yea that's kinda funny talking about phones but I meant sega master system...) flashcart but I don't really get this... From what I've read you get a code from someone (which can be anyone who can do it I guess) and that unlocks your device. So does that unlock your device 100% or only on networks that person/company has license to unlock on?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I don't really understand how the SIM unlocking process works unfortunately... I know Oli's works for our devices, so if you're going to pay for one that's the one to go with.

[Q] AT&T Nexus S International Unlock Help?

Hi all, my parents are heading out of the country soon. They wanted to pick up a cheap android phone to take with them and to give to a relative there, and I was suggesting the Nexus S (it's around $100 on craigslist and ebay)
However, I'm curious if there is any sort of carrier-lock placed by AT&T on their phones that makes it so I can't slap in another SIM card from an international provider?
I've always heard nexuses don't have any carrier locks, but wanted to clarify. If it does have a carrier-lock, is there an easy guide to getting around it?
Thanks in advance!
There is no lock.
Sweet! So I can just pop in any SIM card and get service (don't need data really)?
Yes. As long as the carrier supports the bands the phone uses. Almost all do.

Boost Mobile S6 on AT&T ?

I was misled by a sales person and I now own a gently used Galaxy S6 from Boost. I was told all S6's were the exact same, and all are unlocked, and I could use it on any carrier. Without a nano sim to test, I took his word for it and purchased it. After getting a nano sim, I just get "Invalid SIM card" error now. I have rooted the phone and tried to open everything up by following: http://forum.xda-developers.com/spr...cess-sim-unlock-sprint-samsung-t3130294/page3
I desperately need to figure out how to get the S6 working on AT&T ... or at least know if I was duped and I need to sell the phone.
NOTE: no, this isn't my 1st rodeo, and yes, I know I am stupid for buying without successful test ... I trusted the guy ...
Thanks !
Return the S6 from where you bought it. Call the police if they will not accept a refund or exchange.
It looks like your SIM is still Locked. But being that Boost Mobile is CDMA off of Sprint, I don't know how many GSM and LTE bands it supports.
roydok said:
Call the police if they will not accept a refund or exchange.
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Huh?
Why would the police care, unless things are very different over there you want consumer affairs

Anyway to unlock the phone for international use?

Need to go overseas for a few weeks and need to unlock an S8 plus so I can use the phone over there. I'm still under installment plan for another year so they refused to unlock my phones.
I don't want to root the phone since I use samsung pay a lot. Any other way to unlock the phone but keeping it as stock as possible?
Global roaming works well and is free! It is in many countries. Free 2G data as well as .20 per call. Log into your account and see if it's enabled, if not enable it and profit.
https://www.sprint.com/en/shop/services/global-roaming.html
Dave
Talk with Sprint directly and tell them what you need. They should be able to understand that you need your phone unlocked to use it with a local SIM card.
Moreover, I recommend you also check if you can use other (foreign) GSM SIM card with your phone that is from Sprint (CDMA). These are two different technologies, but your new Samsung should be able to accept both GSM and CDMA.
RossTeagan said:
Talk with Sprint directly and tell them what you need. They should be able to understand that you need your phone unlocked to use it with a local SIM card.
Moreover, I recommend you also check if you can use other (foreign) GSM SIM card with your phone that is from Sprint (CDMA). These are two different technologies, but your new Samsung should be able to accept both GSM and CDMA.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You would think it's that easy right? Spoke to 3 reps and a manager and all shot me down. Said they changed their policy a few months ago and can no longer do so.
The S8 is a CDMA/GSM phone....
dannieboiz said:
You would think it's that easy right? Spoke to 3 reps and a manager and all shot me down. Said they changed their policy a few months ago and can no longer do so.
The S8 is a CDMA/GSM phone....
Click to expand...
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I wasn't aware of this policy shift.
I suggest you insert a GSM SIM card in your phone and check if it's asking/prompting for something, anything and if recognizes the SIM card.
If uou still need help msg me

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