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Does the new JB update bring unlocked 3G GSM?

I've read that the update will bring new global roaming capability, so has anyone tried to stick a GSM SIM into the phone yet? Does the new JB update bring unlocked 3G GSM?

No, it does not. I updated to 4.1.1 bone stock and got it to register on T-Mobile's network, but there is no way to change APN's, so data and text/mm do not work.
Now, before the update you could root and get a program to add in the APN of whichever network you wanted... folks (including myself) have had it on AT&T and T-Mobile's GSM networks, albeit without WCDMA ("3g"). Check out http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1895684 for progress on getting WCDMA working on the 1900 band. The phone works on the 2100 band out of the box, but no US carrier uses that for WCDMA.
Okay, that said, post-update, I am sure the same APN tricks that worked pre-update, will work now, but sadly one has to be rooted to do that. Attached are two screenshots from while I was farking about with it.

Why not root, then? No disadvantages that I can see
Sent from my SCH-I535 using Tapatalk 2

I like how they're legally supposed to have it unlocked but still, here we are a half a year later.

ac21365 said:
No, it does not. I updated to 4.1.1 bone stock and got it to register on T-Mobile's network, but there is no way to change APN's, so data and text/mm do not work.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
To be honest, I'm amazed that VZW is allowing you to use another carrier's GSM SIM at all without some sort of unlock code (since this is the case with most phones sold in this country).
I assumed that their "Global Roaming" capability meant that you can take your SGS3 with the VZW SIM to countries (e.g. everywhere other than the USA) that only have GSM (WCDMA/HSDPA) and pay Verizon's extortion (roaming) fees. Maybe the lack of unlock is due to the fact that the phone's primary radios are LTE and CDMA?
If someone can confirm that rooting the phone will allow you to change the APNs it would be greatly appreciated. My family is vacationing in Costa Rica this winter. I've already acquired a couple of unlocked AT&T phones that we plan to use with local prepaid SIM cards, but it'd be nice to be able to have the option of using my I535 there as well.
Thanks!

gm2racer said:
If someone can confirm that rooting the phone will allow you to change the APNs it would be greatly appreciated. My family is vacationing in Costa Rica this winter. I've already acquired a couple of unlocked AT&T phones that we plan to use with local prepaid SIM cards, but it'd be nice to be able to have the option of using my I535 there as well.
Thanks!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1809314
Yep, had it on T-Mobile and AT&T (GSM only) here in the states, and worked great on O2 (with HSPA+ YAY) in Germany. Page 6 for my screenshots of Domestic carriers, page 9 for screenshot of me on O2.

Please post questions in Q&A
Thread moved
Thanks
FNM

Imatoasta said:
I like how they're legally supposed to have it unlocked but still, here we are a half a year later.
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Click to collapse
Its not as cut and dry as that. If you have to root the phone to move carriers technically you are in the wrong. If that is what you mean by unlocked.

Dagger_Prime said:
Its not as cut and dry as that. If you have to root the phone to move carriers technically you are in the wrong. If that is what you mean by unlocked.
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Click to collapse
Actually you are wrong. He is referring to the FCC ruling. And we should not need to root to be unlocked. I think that is the point he was trying to make.

Does the inability to change APN affect only the domestic US carriers or is it true for any country's Sim card you put in for gsm use. (Verizon global phones have in the past operated where domestic sims don't work but international ones do)

systemf said:
Does the inability to change APN affect only the domestic US carriers or is it true for any country's Sim card you put in for gsm use. (Verizon global phones have in the past operated where domestic sims don't work but international ones do)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I recently updated to the leaked K3 while traveling on business in the Philippines. While voice and text work, there is no way to add any new APN settings in both GSM/UMTS and Global modes. When clicking on Menu in the APN settings, the only option is to restore to default.
Note that while voice and text do work, there is a notification i the notification menu stating "Non-Verizon SIM: Sorry, this SIM card is not supported. Please..."
I believe that the frequency the carrier runs on is GSM900. Hope that helps clarify things. I spent way too much time trying to get 3G to work over here to no success.

Has anyone just tried using Verizon's Global Data Plan ($25 for 100 MB)? Is the S3 somehow not compatible with that plan?
I'm looking at getting the VZW S3 but I've heard all kinds of things about getting the Verizon S3 to work globally pre/post JB update. I know the local sim rates are much cheaper, but for an occasional traveler this is supposed to be the easy solution.

[Q] Verizon GS3 on NET10?

OK, so I am not an expert here but I know enough to give information that should help answer my question.
I have a Verizon (CDMA) Samsung Galaxy S3 (SCH-I535). I'd like to use this phone with a NET10 BYOD SIM card, but I'm not sure it will work. By all indications, my phone is a world phone that includes a GSM band. I say that because I can scan and attempt to connect to both AT&T and a local cell company that are both GSM services. In other words, I can select GSM/UMTS as a network option and it appears to work.
Trouble is, I don't have access to a GSM SIM, so there isn't any way for me to test this without spending money on the SIM card. SO in a round about way, I want to know if this will work. Can I buy a NET10 BYOD SIM, select GSM/UMTS under "Mobile Networks" in teh settings, and expect phone, text, and data to work?
I'm especially hoping to hear from people with the SCH-I535 Verizon GS3 if you've ever done this.
If this is not possible, is there any other BYOD SIM program that will allow for phone, text, and data in a CDMA Verizon phone? If so, what is it?
Thanks everyone.

If Verizon has not unlocked the phone off their carrier, then it will not work. (If you have the Jelly Bean Update, then its unlocked) If it is unlocked, then your in luck.
Mind you that I dont have this phone. But your phone is capable of ATT networks. Just avoid T-Mobile networks unless you want to be on EDGE.

Clarification
StatusQuo209 said:
If Verizon has not unlocked the phone off their carrier, then it will not work. (If you have the Jelly Bean Update, then its unlocked) If it is unlocked, then your in luck.
Mind you that I dont have this phone. But your phone is capable of ATT networks. Just avoid T-Mobile networks unless you want to be on EDGE.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Just to make sure I understand, if my phone is Android 4.1.2, then my phone is automatically unlocked and capable of use with an AT&T compatible SIM? And I suppose that includes the NET10 BYOD SIM, or the Straight Talk BYOD SIM for that matter?

How i Just do it con net 10 And is working but just edge .any suggestions settings to enable 4g ???
Sent from my XT910 using Tapatalk 4 Beta

bump
Hi - I am trying to do the same thing, did you have any success? If so, can I get the details of how you did it?
Thanks!!
amusso18 said:
Just to make sure I understand, if my phone is Android 4.1.2, then my phone is automatically unlocked and capable of use with an AT&T compatible SIM? And I suppose that includes the NET10 BYOD SIM, or the Straight Talk BYOD SIM for that matter?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse

Trying to do the same can anyone help me out?

Datdurtyboi said:
Trying to do the same can anyone help me out?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Did you check your song settings? Make sure you have your phone on global mode as well.

Is There a CDMA On/Off Setting?

With GSM it's easy - you take out your SIM card, and you are off that SIM's network.
Presumably the Nexus 5 will work for voice and 3G without the SIM card. Is there some way to turn off CDMA (yes, I know that if there is no SIM I can just turn off all cellular data. But that's not my question.)

If you mean temporarily, you can always do the old standby of airplane mode. Enable airplane mode, then enable whatever wireless services you want (Wifi, Bluetooth). The airplane mode will keep the cellular modem completely off.

ronwi2 said:
With GSM it's easy - you take out your SIM card, and you are off that SIM's network.
Presumably the Nexus 5 will work for voice and 3G without the SIM card. Is there some way to turn off CDMA (yes, I know that if there is no SIM I can just turn off all cellular data. But that's not my question.)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
There should be options under networks to select cdma or gsm. Will find out tomorrow

lafester said:
There should be options under networks to select cdma or gsm. Will find out tomorrow
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Now that the phone has been out in the wild for a while does anyone know the answer to this question?

The N5 does not allow voice or 3g without a sim for some reason. Perhaps someone will figure out a way to bypass this check at some point.
You can also pick and choose between gsm only, cdma only, lte only etc no problem.

lafester said:
The N5 does not allow voice or 3g without a sim for some reason. Perhaps someone will figure out a way to bypass this check at some point.
You can also pick and choose between gsm only, cdma only, lte only etc no problem.
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Click to collapse
So if you take out the SIM, and you are on Sprint, you can't make phone calls or use 3G data?
I know the Sprint LTE Iphones will work if the SIM is removed, just without LTE.
Maybe that's just a way of keeping things clear to the user - your phone has the identity of whatever SIM you have in at any given time.

lafester said:
The N5 does not allow voice or 3g without a sim for some reason. Perhaps someone will figure out a way to bypass this check at some point.
You can also pick and choose between gsm only, cdma only, lte only etc no problem.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That's kinda crappy. What if you want to use another CDMA only provider?

pclov3r said:
That's kinda crappy. What if you want to use another CDMA only provider?
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Click to collapse
I don't think it is compatible with any other CDMA only provider - certainly not with Verizon. Who else is there? Metro is going GSM/LTE.
Or perhaps the SIM is necessary to pick the CDMA provider - most CDMA phones are carreir specific, and they just default to the carrier associated with the phone. In other words, if you turn on an unactivated Sprint or Verizon phone, it automatically goes to the correct carrier. If the Nexus 5 has access to more than one CDMA carrier, perhaps the SIM is the method of selecting the carrier.
I

ronwi2 said:
I don't think it is compatible with any other CDMA only provider - certainly not with Verizon. Who else is there? Metro is going GSM/LTE.
Or perhaps the SIM is necessary to pick the CDMA provider - most CDMA phones are carreir specific, and they just default to the carrier associated with the phone. In other words, if you turn on an unactivated Sprint or Verizon phone, it automatically goes to the correct carrier. If the Nexus 5 has access to more than one CDMA carrier, perhaps the SIM is the method of selecting the carrier.
I
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PagePlus is one who runs on Verizon and allows any phone. No LTE tho with them.
Also, The carrier on most CDMA phone is determined by the PRL file. This tells the phone which towers to communicate with and it can be changed.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Preferred_Roaming_List

pclov3r said:
PagePlus is one who runs on Verizon and allows any phone. No LTE tho with them.
Also, The carrier on most CDMA phone is determined by the PRL file. This tells the phone which towers to communicate with and it can be changed.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Preferred_Roaming_List
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Presumably then the PRL is preloaded on the Nexus 5 - hence it knows to look for Sprint.
I believe Page Plus as a Verizon MVNO and will only activate Verizon phones, or their own (Page Plus) phones.

ronwi2 said:
I believe Page Plus as a Verizon MVNO and will only activate Verizon phones, or their own (Page Plus) phones.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
They will activate any CDM phone for a except few exceptions such as if the phone is ESN banned on Verizon, PrePaid Verizon phones, Verizon iphones and Verizon blackberry devices. It's a well known unofficial policy.
To add backing of this you can see my signature
Due to hearing that problem I might look at a S4 or something. I generally like the build quality of Samsung much better than LG.

ronwi2 said:
So if you take out the SIM, and you are on Sprint, you can't make phone calls or use 3G data?
I know the Sprint LTE Iphones will work if the SIM is removed, just without LTE.
Maybe that's just a way of keeping things clear to the user - your phone has the identity of whatever SIM you have in at any given time.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Just checked again... you CAN make calls however data is unavailable.

lafester said:
Just checked again... you CAN make calls however data is unavailable.
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Click to collapse
Interesting, but doesn't really make sense that 3G data is unavailable. If you put a GSM LTE SIM in and select CDMA only, will it make calls on Sprint? (Don't mean to tell you what to do, but I think it would be an interesting thing to find out if you were so inclined.)

pclov3r said:
They will activate any CDM phone for a except few exceptions such as if the phone is ESN banned on Verizon, PrePaid Verizon phones, Verizon iphones and Verizon blackberry devices. It's a well known unofficial policy.
To add backing of this you can see my signature
Due to hearing that problem I might look at a S4 or something. I generally like the build quality of Samsung much better than LG.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well, that might be an interesting back door into Verizon. I wonder if there is some way that the Nexus 5 can be flashed or otherwise work on Page Plus. I get there would be no LTE, however.

ronwi2 said:
Well, that might be an interesting back door into Verizon. I wonder if there is some way that the Nexus 5 can be flashed or otherwise work on Page Plus. I get there would be no LTE, however.
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Click to collapse
I hope so but i'm thinking it's going to require some software modification.

pclov3r said:
I hope so but i'm hearing it's going to require some software modification it appears.
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Click to collapse
I guess I really don't understand how CDMA works. With GSM, if the phone is unlocked, it works on any network. CDMA always seems to involve flashing. Although I believe there is so me sort of lock on CDMA phones as well (after all, MSL = Master Subsidy Lock.) I wonder if the CDMA side of the phone is locked to Sprint (we know from other posts there is an MSL code for these phones.)

ronwi2 said:
I guess I really don't understand how CDMA works. With GSM, if the phone is unlocked, it works on any network. CDMA always seems to involve flashing. Although I believe there is so me sort of lock on CDMA phones as well (after all, MSL = Master Subsidy Lock.) I wonder if the CDMA side of the phone is locked to Sprint (we know from other posts there is an MSL code for these phones.)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Sure, And you can obtain and change that.

pclov3r said:
Sure, And you can obtain and change that.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Is there a way to check the MSL settings without a Sprint SIM?
The #.#.3282#.#. dialer menu doesn't work with a T-Mobile sim...

satadru said:
Is there a way to check the MSL settings without a Sprint SIM?
The #.#.3282#.#. dialer menu doesn't work with a T-Mobile sim...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
In my experience, none of the *#*#xxxxx#*#* codes work without the SIM inserted. You might even need to be activated on Sprint at the time.

Just to clarify, CDMA in this thread includes WCDMA(3g) too?
So the phone will either go GSM or LTE only, which 3g or HSDPA/HSPA are not available by options?

[Q] Verizon Samsung Galaxy s3

I have a Verizon Samsung Galaxy s3, I have moved it to a straight talk plan, as most of u know there service runs off AT&T and T-moble, Verizon hates AT&T and blocks data use on there network everything but E, What i am trying to find out is can I root my phone and flash a AT&T rom over my Verizon branded phone so it will unlock my 4G? I already have the AT&T sim card in the phone.

JasonCallis said:
I have a Verizon Samsung Galaxy s3, I have moved it to a straight talk plan, as most of u know there service runs off AT&T and T-moble, Verizon hates AT&T and blocks data use on there network everything but E, What i am trying to find out is can I root my phone and flash a AT&T rom over my Verizon branded phone so it will unlock my 4G? I already have the AT&T sim card in the phone.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I don't think it's going to work. When you signed contract with VZ, they locked your phone to their network. After the contract expired, they will unlock your phone so you can use it on any carrier. If you're not under contract, you can check with Verizon to make sure your network is unlocked, from here on you can use your ATT sim card to register with ATT. Second method, you can search for how to unlock Verizon network and try it. (input a special dial code to access the network unlock hidden menu and unlock from here).Good luck and post back.

JasonCallis said:
I have a Verizon Samsung Galaxy s3, I have moved it to a straight talk plan, as most of u know there service runs off AT&T and T-moble, Verizon hates AT&T and blocks data use on there network everything but E, What i am trying to find out is can I root my phone and flash a AT&T rom over my Verizon branded phone so it will unlock my 4G? I already have the AT&T sim card in the phone.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The hardware does not support LTE for AT&T. I'd you want LTE on AT&T, buy A GSM phone (or AT&T S3) and live your life. Flashing another carrier rom is not advised by any means on the Verizon S3. Best you'll get with our S3 is edge or 3G. Verizon doesn't hate AT&T, they're incompatible networks because AT&T uses GSM bands and Verizon uses CDMA bands. A small number of phones work across multiple carriers as far as LTE but that's because they have every band included in the phone (for example the iPhone 5S). Other phones on Verizon will only get edge or 3G.
Sent from my SCH-I535 using Tapatalk 4

SlimSnoopOS said:
The hardware does not support LTE for AT&T. I'd you want LTE on AT&T, buy A GSM phone (or AT&T S3) and live your life. Flashing another carrier rom is not advised by any means on the Verizon S3. Best you'll get with our S3 is edge or 3G. Verizon doesn't hate AT&T, they're incompatible networks because AT&T uses GSM bands and Verizon uses CDMA bands. A small number of phones work across multiple carriers as far as LTE but that's because they have every band included in the phone (for example the iPhone 5S). Other phones on Verizon will only get edge or 3G.
Sent from my SCH-I535 using Tapatalk 4
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Click to collapse
Thats all I really wanted to know i guess, is if the hardware was the same in all samsung galaxy sIII, I am still a noob with smart phones, I thought the hardware was all the same just the firmware was branded to whatever comp. sells them, and with the GSM\CDMA the galaxy sIII runs both.

buhohitr said:
I don't think it's going to work. When you signed contract with VZ, they locked your phone to their network. After the contract expired, they will unlock your phone so you can use it on any carrier. If you're not under contract, you can check with Verizon to make sure your network is unlocked, from here on you can use your ATT sim card to register with ATT. Second method, you can search for how to unlock Verizon network and try it. (input a special dial code to access the network unlock hidden menu and unlock from here).Good luck and post back.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I am not under a contract anymore and the network is unlocked, I can make calls and get mms, also with the AT&T SIM card the phone says AT&T at the top of the screen all the time, just still boots as a Verizon.

s3
Im so glad the devs are still making these awesome roms for the s3...Now that kit kat is here there is so many out there!!!!!:laugh:

JasonCallis said:
I am not under a contract anymore and the network is unlocked, I can make calls and get mms, also with the AT&T SIM card the phone says AT&T at the top of the screen all the time, just still boots as a Verizon.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
OK, now I understand what you are looking for. It's not recommend to flash rom from one carrier to another, you could hurt your device. I thought you 're looking to move from VZ to ATT, but seems like you already done that (network unlocked), and now you just want to change the boot animation (Verizon logo during boot up). You should search for VERIZON modified rooted stock rom or custom rom with bootanimation kernel support. Once you installed custom rom/kernel you should able to pick and chose from many bootanimation liking to your taste..and change greeting, display etc...

Questions and Help issues go in Q&A and Help section
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Thanks
FNSM

This is very very Dangerous because you can destroy EFS-Partition (IMEI, etc) so you cannot call or surf anymore!!!
Don't do something like that!
Games are a part of Life but Life is not a part of a game!

LS996 Working With Non Sprint Carriers For Free

I got the sprint version to work with other carriers, even Verizon! I haven't figured out how to make MMS work on Verizon, but I do get LTE most places. I didn't have to activate on Sprint and didn't have to go to the store.
Here are my steps:
1. Activate device on free plan on Ringplus.net
2. Call Sprint at 1-888-211-4727. Go thgrough the prompts until you reach someone. Tell them that you have a Sprint phone that is not active on Sprint and you would like to sim unlock the phone, aka domestic SIM unlock.
3. Restart your phone and give it a few minutes to unlock. It will most likely reset itself.
4. Pop in a new SIM card and see if it works.

Quick question are you rooted?

Not rooted

simon21 said:
Not rooted
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Did you get at&t working

I am not sure if you have to activate it to Ringplus to get it unlocked from Sprint.

It should be GSM unlocked by Sprint directly, no need to activate it with RingPlus if you don't want to use it with Sprint network.

All carriers will SIM unlock devices that are not activated and paid for or out of contact.
Hardware may limit some 4G functionality with different carriers since each carrier uses different frequency ranges.
Sent from my LGLS991 using Tapatalk

The sprint unlock is through a signal they send to the phone. It will not work if it's not on an active line, unless you take it in to the store. That was my experience at least, and I've seem other posts saying the same.
I didn't have an AT&T sim to check