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I talk to us cellular a few weeks ago and they said I could activate a HTC touch Pro without the data package. Well, I bought one on ebay and went to activate the phone and then they said I had to have a data package. Is there anyway to activate the htc touch pro as a phone only? I would still like to use the wifi, gps and and sync my calendar to my computer. I tried to find info on the web but have found nothing that really helped me.
I think US Cellular is a CDMA network, which means, unlike GSM where you just swap the SIM card from an existing phone, US Cellular actually has to activate your phone for you for your account to be active. So this isn't really a phone issue, its really a matter of whether US Cellular will permit you to use a smartphone w/o a data plan.
Call back a few times asking the same thing, sometimes different customer service reps will give you different answers/service.
Yes, us cellular reps seems to give different answers and it is a CDMA. Is it possible to activate the phone without them knowing it is a smart phone and just activate the phone option. I would need to know how to activate the phone before hand and know what option I need to fill out. I would give them the dec number and than ask for the number I need to make the phone work.
Not sure if this rings true for CDMA, but the IMEI number for GSM phones identify each phone uniquely (manufacturer, model, plus unique code for each phone). So if you need to give them a similiar number for a CDMA phone (its called the ESN number I think), they'll know right away if its a smartphone (if they cared to look it up).
Best bet is probably keep calling until you get a nice rep that won't ask too many questions.
Not sure if this rings true for CDMA, but the IMEI number for GSM phones identify each phone uniquely (manufacturer, model, plus unique code for each phone). So if you need to give them a similiar number for a CDMA phone (its called the ESN number I think), they'll know right away if its a smartphone (if they cared to look it up).
Best bet is probably keep calling until you get a nice rep that won't ask too many questions.
I haven't lived w/ a Samsung phone for any length of time since, IDK, the A900? So this is likely a super n00bish question:
When my wife calls me from the phone at her office, it shows as "restricted" on my Note 5. However, it does not show the number calling. Coming from a One M8, this is a change. The number always displayed on the M8 and even my Lumia 928 before that.
Is this a setting somewhere I'm not seeing and/or is there a way to enable display of the calling number?
basilray said:
I haven't lived w/ a Samsung phone for any length of time since, IDK, the A900? So this is likely a super n00bish question:
When my wife calls me from the phone at her office, it shows as "restricted" on my Note 5. However, it does not show the number calling. Coming from a One M8, this is a change. The number always displayed on the M8 and even my Lumia 928 before that.
Is this a setting somewhere I'm not seeing and/or is there a way to enable display of the calling number?
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You sure your wife is calling you from the same phone?
Yup! Same phone. She called me on my desk phone, and it shows the same number.
Sent from my SM-N920V using Tapatalk
I have a plan with T-Mobile but would an AT&T version of the Gear S2 3g on an AT&T plan work with my T-Mobile smartphone?
To further clarify, I would not be moving the AT&T Gear S2 to T-Mobile. Just forward the calls through the company or the app.
Your Phone and the Gear S2 do not have to be on the same network. My work phone is provided by Verizon. My family is on T-Mobile. I purchased the original Gear S and now upgraded to the Gear S2 on T-Mobile.
When you are BT connected to your phone the watch is like any other BT device. When you are using your Gear S2 in the standalone (no BT connection to phone) then your phone merely call forwards your calls and text to whatever number you tell it to. In this case you forward items to your Gear S2 number.
So it sounds like your phone is on T-Mobile. Your Gear S2 would be on AT&T. When you are BT connected to your phone, Verizon is your carrier and the phone does all the work and BT transfers your notifications and calls over to the Gear. When you are separated from your phone and a call or text comes to your phone it is forwarded to your T-Mobile number on the watch.
I have used my Verizon phone with my Gear s and now S2 for the past year + very successfully.
I think the only difference will be when carriers have their Number Sync functionality, where both watch and phone ring/vibrate simultaneously. With two different carriers the watch rings/vibrates after the phone does. I only have the Bluetooth version so obviously haven't tried this, but curious to know what the caller's experience is like - namely how many times does their call to you ring on their end. Reason I ask is cause many callers have gotten used to hanging up before they know your vm will pick up. Thinking if someone calls you and lets it ring 4 times and hangs up, you'd never know it from your watch, if you didn't also have your phone with you. Sorry for the digression, but I like to think these things through for real life situations.
FitzAusTex said:
I think the only difference will be when carriers have their Number Sync functionality, where both watch and phone ring/vibrate simultaneously. With two different carriers the watch rings/vibrates after the phone does. I only have the Bluetooth version so obviously haven't tried this, but curious to know what the caller's experience is like - namely how many times does their call to you ring on their end. Reason I ask is cause many callers have gotten used to hanging up before they know your vm will pick up. Thinking if someone calls you and lets it ring 4 times and hangs up, you'd never know it from your watch, if you didn't also have your phone with you. Sorry for the digression, but I like to think these things through for real life situations.
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Number sync will definitely change the way the watch and phone operate. AT&T is supposed to be the first carrier to go to number sync, but as I understand as of right now if you have a Gear S2 with them you have a separate number for your watch.
When I am BT connect to the watch, the watch rings/vibrates immediately with when a call comes in.
When I leave my phone on but I am away from it (BT Connection lost) the phone will ring 5 times before forwarding to the watch. this is where you may lose someone that only allows the phone to ring 3-4 times (that is what I do when I call people, after 4 rings I hang up unless I want to leave a voicemail).
When my phone is off (powered down) the call immediately goes to my watch on the first ring.
You can call the watch number directly at any time and it will ring if it is powered on.
Bladder61 said:
Number sync will definitely change the way the watch and phone operate. AT&T is supposed to be the first carrier to go to number sync, but as I understand as of right now if you have a Gear S2 with them you have a separate number for your watch.
When I am BT connect to the watch, the watch rings/vibrates immediately with when a call comes in.
When I leave my phone on but I am away from it (BT Connection lost) the phone will ring 5 times before forwarding to the watch. this is where you may lose someone that only allows the phone to ring 3-4 times (that is what I do when I call people, after 4 rings I hang up unless I want to leave a voicemail).
When my phone is off (powered down) the call immediately goes to my watch on the first ring.
You can call the watch number directly at any time and it will ring if it is powered on.
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This is where I hesitate. I don't get many calls often, mostly messages. If someone calls me, unless they are a spam call, they always have the intention of leaving me a message one way or another. However, I'd rather they not endure a long ring time to get to me if I AM available.
I was mostly curious about using this for calling out, because T-Mobile has some weak areas where I live but offers a better package for my needs but At&t's signal is stronger. I was hoping to bypass having semi-bad service.
I plan on going into At&t to see if they'll let me try out your theories. Worst case is I pay their restocking fee for a trial run. I'll let you know my results.
Good Luck, hope it works well for you. I think you will really enjoy the watch.
Yeah, my biggest concern is calls where people hang up after 3 or 4 rings. Having to wait for up to 10 rings is a problem. Thankfully most peoples text these days, and the ones who don't might just wait out 10 rings.
Bumping this thread instead of creating a new one.
I just purchased the S2 Classic on AT&T but my phone is on T-Mobile. Will I be able to use 3G or am I stuck with bluetooth?
yugendreams said:
Bumping this thread instead of creating a new one.
I just purchased the S2 Classic on AT&T but my phone is on T-Mobile. Will I be able to use 3G or am I stuck with bluetooth?
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Bluetooth connecting will definitely work. You would need a device plan with AT&T to get the cell radio to work on the watch. You can talk to T-Mobile to see if they can accept the watch onto their service as getting a plan with AT&T for a watch only will probably be expensive.
I don't know how carriers are treating the new devices that are cell talk/data capable. You can use a device from one carrier on another carrier (GMS/CDMA sometimes is an issue). Will T-Mobile accept the AT&T Gear S-2 and program it for you (it has an e-sim). One of the benefits of e-sim is supposed to be that you can program a device for any carrier.
I have a work phone on Verizon that I pair with my Gear S2. My Gear is from T-Mobile (my family is on T-Mobile so I just added the Gear for $5 per month to the account). When I use the Gear in standalone it is on T-Mobile and my work phone just forwards my info to the watch.
Good Luck and let us know how it works out.
Bladder61 said:
Bluetooth connecting will definitely work. You would need a device plan with AT&T to get the cell radio to work on the watch. You can talk to T-Mobile to see if they can accept the watch onto their service as getting a plan with AT&T for a watch only will probably be expensive.
I don't know how carriers are treating the new devices that are cell talk/data capable. You can use a device from one carrier on another carrier (GMS/CDMA sometimes is an issue). Will T-Mobile accept the AT&T Gear S-2 and program it for you (it has an e-sim). One of the benefits of e-sim is supposed to be that you can program a device for any carrier.
I have a work phone on Verizon that I pair with my Gear S2. My Gear is from T-Mobile (my family is on T-Mobile so I just added the Gear for $5 per month to the account). When I use the Gear in standalone it is on T-Mobile and my work phone just forwards my info to the watch.
Good Luck and let us know how it works out.
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Thanks for all the information!
I just came from the Urbane and I'm curious what people's thoughts are on this vs. something like the Huawei Watch.
Also, how bad is the voice recognition? That's my main fear right now.
After reading more about the eSIM in this thing, has anyone with the 3G version submitted an unlock request?
Bladder61 said:
Bluetooth connecting will definitely work. You would need a device plan with AT&T to get the cell radio to work on the watch. You can talk to T-Mobile to see if they can accept the watch onto their service as getting a plan with AT&T for a watch only will probably be expensive.
I don't know how carriers are treating the new devices that are cell talk/data capable. You can use a device from one carrier on another carrier (GMS/CDMA sometimes is an issue). Will T-Mobile accept the AT&T Gear S-2 and program it for you (it has an e-sim). One of the benefits of e-sim is supposed to be that you can program a device for any carrier.
I have a work phone on Verizon that I pair with my Gear S2. My Gear is from T-Mobile (my family is on T-Mobile so I just added the Gear for $5 per month to the account). When I use the Gear in standalone it is on T-Mobile and my work phone just forwards my info to the watch.
Good Luck and let us know how it works out.
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So I've been wanting a Gear S since before the first one came out (late '2014) to replace to replace a work phone. You mentioned that a when you watch is on stand-alone mode it acts as your t-mobile line. The question is, what happens if someone tries to contact you on your T-mobile line when it is BT connected to your Verizon phone? Does the watch forward the call (T-Mobile) to your handset (Verizon)?
I have the exact opposite scenario as you. I have a Verizon work phone that I use occasionally and hate carrying, and a personal T-Mobile phone. I want to switch my Verizon work number to the Gear S2 and and use my T-Mobile (personal) most of the time. Since it will be BT-connected most of the time, will I still be able to receive calls/texts from the Verizon number?
I have the S2 Classic SM-R735AZKAATT (for AT&T obviously) but I'd like to have it set up with T-Mobile.
Can I take this into T-Mobile and set up service? If so, anyone know how much?
eSim is a lie ....
The eSim was supposed to have carrier switching. Was just on the phone with Samsung and they just blow sunshine up my *____* about it all. There really is no carrier switching, and in fact appears to be harder to do with these devices than with a phone (at least you can root a phone).
- So the whole carrier switching appears to have been a marketing ploy (a lie) to excite people into buying the more expensive version, but then once you have it there really is no "switching" at all, and Samsung simply wont re-flash them to a generic S2/3g program no matter what. In fact Samsung wont help you at all, you cant even pay them to help once off warranty - if you don't have warranty, Samsung simply doesn't care, "to bad, you suck - haha" - (was pretty much what I got from them). Also note that "YOU" do not really own the watch. The carrier has a leash on the product even after unlock, even after warranty, even you own it outright and left the carrier, and Samsung will not help cut that leash or enable the full potential of the eSim capabilities in the watch "because carrier [email protected] [email protected] [email protected]". They got their money from the multi-Billion corporate, so don't expect em to give a rats ass about "US". So, physically the eSim can do it, but they have destroyed the watches potential capabilities by proprietary programming and no access to the watches hardware abilities, and unwilling to work with or help people who outright own the product. The carries own em like a B___, thus, you don't really own it - they do. - needless to say, it was a serious pi$$-0ff to find out the eSim thing was a total sham by Samsung.
If u use BT only can u still use message people and received notification? If your phone is samsung galazy edge sprint carrier would be work from samsung gear s2 at&t providet??? Thanks
hi guys i bought a gear s2 and didint know that my model doesnt have a sim card, can i get an external using the gear s2 bluetooth?
nikodem0405 said:
hi guys i bought a gear s2 and didint know that my model doesnt have a sim card, can i get an external using the gear s2 bluetooth?
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these from my understanding are all built in called eSim there is not option to add external sim card
The device will still function as normal on bluetooth
Virtual Sims
Hi What Samsung has done is create an e but sim or virtual sim. this allows your carrier to connect to your phone similar to the way a GSM service works at 4G speeds and much more adaptability . The first and most impressive is you can tie your watch to t-mobiles digits system. This is how phones work world wide except in the US until now. The FCC has until now made it illegal to have multiple numbers received or sent from a single device. with Digits app you can have multiple phone numbers both making and receiving calls using their app on almost any device. with high end Samsung devices you can use what is called multi-line services allowing all the advantages without having to add software. The only small bummer is the gear S2 only allows one of your Digits numbers to be used at a time. However that same number can ring to all your devices as well as your other Digits numbers. I am terminally ill so for me this means I am ALWAYS connected to all my medical staff with their own number I only give them and a few family members. This number ignores do not disturb settings and also allows my specialist to know this is me calling on the emergency line often causing them to handle in minutes what used to take an hour. All in all this is one of the best features and according to tmobile it all started trying to give watches virtual sim cards. I have heard other companies are using this same work around of the FCC laws to introduce similar services on more service providers.
Im thinking of grabbing one of these up but have a couple of questions. Im on tmobile by the way
1. can you use one number because it can be a task giving out two numbers?
2. If you are using one number, if your phone is off will it show the watch number or the watch number?
3. If your phone is dead/off can you receive text/mms/calls if someone is calling your phone and if you reply will it show your phone number or watch number
wow..no input on this? I have googled but cant seem to get a concrete handle on it
I think it depends on the carrier. I'm on Verizon and the other day my phone died and calls rang through to my number on my phone on the watch. I haven't done a test yet to see if I call from the watch when the phone is off what happens. I'll see if I can do that for you and let you know.
dbregman said:
I think it depends on the carrier. I'm on Verizon and the other day my phone died and calls rang through to my number on my phone on the watch. I haven't done a test yet to see if I call from the watch when the phone is off what happens. I'll see if I can do that for you and let you know.
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i would def appreciate that...i think that is the biggest blind spot dealing with these lte watches how they work
So I did a test. With the phone in airplane mode and wifi on the watch turned off, I could make and receive calls on the watch as if it were my phone. Texts though came from the watch number.
In looking at the number share FAQ on Verizon, it states that to send texts you need to have the phone connected to a network. I know if my phone is on and I am connected via LTE on the watch texts show as if coming from the phone.
Not sure on other carriers how this works. Hope this helps.
My experience withGear S3 LTE and ATT
I have an Essential that I purchased at Best Buy and brought to ATT to sync with my stand alone Gear s3 LTE. My gear has it's own number, and I wanted it to sync with my phone as advertised, so I can have one number for both devices. The rep told me that it is not possible because I used an unlocked non-ATT phone. They claim that for it to work, the phone must have at t software on it. So now I have two phone numbers. Oddly enough, when I use the Bluetooth connection option, I get no notifications. When I use standalone, I actually receive notifications from my phone, but when I respond, it is from my watche's number. It's a mess. I still think it's possible, but finding a rep that can fix it is the difficult part. Every time I deal with at t, I get different answers from different reps about most everything.