So I did some minor research and confused about the preordered version of the S8. Mine is a G950U on Sprint network. I'm assuming that this is the North American variant the is supposedly unlocked. However, I assume once you put your son card in it is carrier sum locked.....?
Anyhow, after reading what differences there is between the SM-G950U and SM-G950P I don't quite understand the differences in bands. Seems like there is a slight difference according to the link below. Is this hardware or software based? Or is this litterally the identical Phone? I apologize in advance if this is a rhetorical question I just can't seem to find a definitive answer on this matter.
http://www.phonemore.com/compare/phones/samsung-galaxy-s8-sm-g950p-vs-samsung-galaxy-s8-sm-g950u/5341532
Tried today with an active Vzw sim before activating with the Sprint sim and it was a no go, said invalid sim. Pulled the device fresh out of the box and tried from an unactivated state. Also the device is the s8+ (SM-G955U)
Related
Previously on the S4 I came to the conclusion I could use the international variant of it on Verizon as it had the proper CDMA bands for the job, is this the same case with the S6? Could I buy the international one that is unlocked and use it on VZW network without problems and if I have them what would they be? Going to do my own homework of course but I always want XDA's opinion on things like this.
S1L3nTShaDoWz said:
Previously on the S4 I came to the conclusion I could use the international variant of it on Verizon as it had the proper CDMA bands for the job, is this the same case with the S6? Could I buy the international one that is unlocked and use it on VZW network without problems and if I have them what would they be? Going to do my own homework of course but I always want XDA's opinion on things like this.
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I was actually in the process of typing up this thread myself! I am also interested in the answer to this one. And can the international version be rooted? I need me some Greenify!
Edit: After speaking to a Verizon rep online, I was told "In theory, it should work; but we cannot guarantee device usability and stability from non-verizon devices".
Any other XDA thoughts?
Basketballhero75 said:
I was actually in the process of typing up this thread myself! I am also interested in the answer to this one. And can the international version be rooted? I need me some Greenify!
Edit: After speaking to a Verizon rep online, I was told "In theory, it should work; but we cannot guarantee device usability and stability from non-verizon devices".
Any other XDA thoughts?
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Click to collapse
The International one is fully bootloader unlockable and rootable from the start, hence why I want it over this locked down one. Though someone suggested to me in a PM to post this in the international forum so I will try that and update here with whatever results I get.
S1L3nTShaDoWz said:
The International one is fully bootloader unlockable and rootable from the start, hence why I want it over this locked down one. Though someone suggested to me in a PM to post this in the international forum so I will try that and update here with whatever results I get.
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From what I could find it won't work because it's GSM and won't work with CDMA carriers. Here is a link to the info I found.
I remember reading that the Verizon and Sprint variants have a separate Qualcom modem in them to connect to their CDMA and LTE bands.
I have the US Verizon Galaxy S6 as well as my wife now. Currently in Cancun using a popped in TelCel SIM card seeing crazy 4G speeds on the hotel strip area.
So yea. The S6 from Verizon is killer with foreign SIMs.
Lil
lilsalmon said:
I have the US Verizon Galaxy S6 as well as my wife now. Currently in Cancun using a popped in TelCel SIM card seeing crazy 4G speeds on the hotel strip area.
So yea. The S6 from Verizon is killer with foreign SIMs.
Lil
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Can i ask what this has to do with OPs question?
Sorry I just reread the post and thought it was referencing using the vzw version abroad.
You can delete my post if it offends you that much. Was just trying to help because I just went through the process of using it in Mexico for the first time.
It's not that big of a deal, I just thought I was missing something
No worries here ...
Any answers yet? Thanks.
Just want to let you all know the international version will not work on Verizon.
I have one was going to sell on craigslist and we met at verizon and it will not recognize the mobile network.
Im still trying to sale this thing lol
So like the title says I have a brand new never started/updated t-mobile s7 and I'm looking to use the phone on the Verizon network where I currently have a plan.
I've never unlocked SIMs before so I figured I'd check here first, I don't want to brick the phone obviously..
So my question is how do I go about doing this? I see t-mobile has an app that unblocks the SIM for customers, however I'm not a customer and do not plan on using t-mobile network.
I found some dodgy websites that claim to be able to do it but I'm not sure how I feel about handling over my information to them especially without at least some third party confirmation that the service actually works and is not a scam.
Does anyone have some input on what to do?
Flash the 930U firmware to it. This should allow it to be SIM unlocked.
Try calling tm you just never know they may just give you the unlock codes. I had a phone lock to att once, gave them a ring and they gave me the codes, just be nice.
I used the tmobile unlock app on device. The app checks if you qualify same as a rep would.
Sent from my SM-G930T using XDA-Developers mobile app
So I got the phone unlocked but only to find out the T-Mobile s7 is GSM, Verizon runs on CDMA which is not compatible.
Now that I have it unlocked, would it be possible to flash the Verizon s7 software and have it connect?
I assume I'll need to root the phone in order to do that but will the hardware interact properly with the Verizon software?
2003WRB said:
So I got the phone unlocked but only to find out the T-Mobile s7 is GSM, Verizon runs on CDMA which is not compatible.
Now that I have it unlocked, would it be possible to flash the Verizon s7 software and have it connect?
I assume I'll need to root the phone in order to do that but will the hardware interact properly with the Verizon software?
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CDMA and GSM are two different frequency bands, and use separate hardware. Meaning, they are physically not compatible.
2003WRB said:
So I got the phone unlocked but only to find out the T-Mobile s7 is GSM, Verizon runs on CDMA which is not compatible.
Now that I have it unlocked, would it be possible to flash the Verizon s7 software and have it connect?
I assume I'll need to root the phone in order to do that but will the hardware interact properly with the Verizon software?
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Click to collapse
The good news for you is that the S7 sold in the United States all contain the same hardware, the same actual components, so they all physically are capable of handling both GSM and CDMA networks. Also good for you is that now that the phone is unlocked, you can either flash the Verizon firmware or flash the "U" firmware on your device. Normally speaking, this would be really bad advice for any other device, but for the S7 it is possible.
I have the T-Mo S7 flat, and I am running the latest U firmware on AT&T, though I have flashed many and sold them for Verizon.
Don't fret, be happy, and Merry Christmas!
will this allow lte+,in order words can I make a call and still browse the internet on verizon?
So i currently have as sprint s4 that unlocked thanks to xda. i actually have att sim in right now and working fine although only getting HSPA+. haven't got time to try to do the upgrade to LTE for gsm also yet
But thinking of getting a replacement. Is there some sort of unlocked S7 ver that would allow for use on all 4 US networks as well as international? can i purchase that somewhere or i can only get a network sold ver and try to unlock? Thanks.
You can grey import or buy official unlocked S7 int. model (G930F or G930FD) with ease. I don't think I've actually seen a locked international version, at least not on the sites I look at.
Just be careful you don't end up buying a fake (avoid ebay). I got mine from eGlobal. Many locked US variants like the G930V get reflashed to G930F firmware and have the text on the back changed so you can't tell unless you go into download mode.
From what I've seen around here, they work in the US just fine and being the international model work in the rest of the world. You might just need to flash the appropriate CSC/modem for whatever carrier you're using at the time.
I thought international models would only have gsm support?
I bought an S8+ 955FD which seems to be genuine but when I contacted AT&T to get assistance with slow LTE speeds (I contacted them 2 months ago for the same reason when I was using an AT&T branded phone). Of course they ask for the IMEI to verify whether it's an LTE phone and is supported. When I gave them the IMEI they said it wasn't even coming up as a Samsung phone let alone LTE. It's listed as an unknown phone with 2G capabilities. I checked the IMEI on http://www.imei.info/ and it shows that it's a S8+ and everything checks out on that site as it does on my Samsung box.
My sister has an S8 too 955F and when AT&T checks hers, it comes up as a Samsung S8+.
I don't know if my having rooted the phone has anything to do with it (I'm guessing not because rooting doesn't change the IMEI) but could this be a fake? Should I return it?
icydius said:
I bought an S8+ 955FD which seems to be genuine but when I contacted AT&T to get assistance with slow LTE speeds (I contacted them 2 months ago for the same reason when I was using an AT&T branded phone). Of course they ask for the IMEI to verify whether it's an LTE phone and is supported. When I gave them the IMEI they said it wasn't even coming up as a Samsung phone let alone LTE. It's listed as an unknown phone with 2G capabilities. I checked the IMEI on http://www.imei.info/ and it shows that it's a S8+ and everything checks out on that site as it does on my Samsung box.
My sister has an S8 too 955F and when AT&T checks hers, it comes up as a Samsung S8+.
I don't know if my having rooted the phone has anything to do with it (I'm guessing not because rooting doesn't change the IMEI) but could this be a fake? Should I return it?
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Very well could be. Where did you buy it? Take a look at this thread.
https://forum.xda-developers.com/galaxy-s8+/help/s8-software-installation-problems-t3639259
If it has a mediatek processor and not a snapdragon or exynos it's definitely a fake.
AT&T does not have anything in their databases about international phones like the F model. When you call them and give them an IMEI of an S8 F model, they will not know anything about it, and their systems won't know what features it is capable of supporting. Ton get Volte working, you will have to flash the ATT CSC https://forum.xda-developers.com/galaxy-s8/samsung-galaxy-s8--s8-cross-device-development/utility-flashable-csc-selection-v1-1-0-t3636739 and keep calling them until you get a 2nd level tech support guy that is willing to go into the guts of their systems and place an IMEI of another ATT phone that has similar features. If you have another similar phone on your ATT account, they can use that IEMI to have their system figure out what features it supports. I believe they used a S7 that I used to have and that got Volte working - for a while anyway.
I have an unlocked S8+ phone Model G955U1 and was with AT&T. In the process of trying to get wifi calling (BTW, they don't provide this feature for unlocked phones, so I dumped them and went with T-Mobile), I asked them to verify the IMEI, they could not find it. Their IMEI data base lists only the phones they sell but not the factory unlocked ones or phones you buy somewhere else. I wouldn't count on AT&T and as ggrant3876 mentioned above, check your processor's make.
Flame Red said:
AT&T does not have anything in their databases about international phones like the F model. When you call them and give them an IMEI of an S8 F model, they will not know anything about it, and their systems won't know what features it is capable of supporting. Ton get Volte working, you will have to flash the ATT CSC https://forum.xda-developers.com/galaxy-s8/samsung-galaxy-s8--s8-cross-device-development/utility-flashable-csc-selection-v1-1-0-t3636739 and keep calling them until you get a 2nd level tech support guy that is willing to go into the guts of their systems and place an IMEI of another ATT phone that has similar features. If you have another similar phone on your ATT account, they can use that IEMI to have their system figure out what features it supports. I believe they used a S7 that I used to have and that got Volte working - for a while anyway.
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Thanks for replying. Funny, I never got notifications that anyone had replied.
Actually someone did add an IMEI for another similar AT&T phone.
Nothing about the phone seems fake, but when I gave them my sister's IMEI for a 955F they said it immediately came up in their system while my 955FD did not.
I'll review that thread to see if my phone would be negatively affected by the ATT CSC.
BTW, what happened to your voLTE that made it stop working?
Gratitudes!!
ggrant3876 said:
Very well could be. Where did you buy it? Take a look at this thread.
https://forum.xda-developers.com/galaxy-s8+/help/s8-software-installation-problems-t3639259
If it has a mediatek processor and not a snapdragon or exynos it's definitely a fake.
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Click to collapse
None of these are applicable *whew*
The seed of doubt was planted when an AT&T rep told me it may be a fake even though I had not previously considered it.
Thanks for the link!!
TheBoozer said:
I have an unlocked S8+ phone Model G955U1 and was with AT&T. In the process of trying to get wifi calling (BTW, they don't provide this feature for unlocked phones, so I dumped them and went with T-Mobile), I asked them to verify the IMEI, they could not find it. Their IMEI data base lists only the phones they sell but not the factory unlocked ones or phones you buy somewhere else. I wouldn't count on AT&T and as ggrant3876 mentioned above, check your processor's make.
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I feel better now, thanks! It shows Exynos 8895 and everything else seemed legit as well. I don't know why I listen to AT&T reps....
I never really liked the Wi-fi calling on my AT&T V20 and even without it, the voice clarity is wonderful.
one way to check is root , real us versions cant be rooted as its a snapdragon , so far our friends in china cant fake an s8 , just by looking at the screen will give it away , but before the years out iam sure they will have a better clone that could fool anyone.international models are always better also faster than the us versions as nd no crap ware from the carriers .
That lack of band 30 could be the issue regarding the slow LTE speeds
icydius said:
I bought an S8+ 955FD which seems to be genuine but when I contacted AT&T to get assistance with slow LTE speeds (I contacted them 2 months ago for the same reason when I was using an AT&T branded phone). Of course they ask for the IMEI to verify whether it's an LTE phone and is supported. When I gave them the IMEI they said it wasn't even coming up as a Samsung phone let alone LTE. It's listed as an unknown phone with 2G capabilities. I checked the IMEI on http://www.imei.info/ and it shows that it's a S8+ and everything checks out on that site as it does on my Samsung box.
My sister has an S8 too 955F and when AT&T checks hers, it comes up as a Samsung S8+.
I don't know if my having rooted the phone has anything to do with it (I'm guessing not because rooting doesn't change the IMEI) but could this be a fake? Should I return it?
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not a fake dont worry and no rooting will have nothing to do with it, also you would easily be able to tell if you compared it to your sisters s8! the current s8+ fakes are the same size as the S8 theres nothing + about them haha, they may fool someone who has never handled an s8 or seen one irl but you would 100 percent be able to tell its a fake having handled a real one regardless if its the plus or not
Very easier to know is real or not, if Odin can't detect then it is fake. Fake one impossible can install Samsung own firmware.
I know my s8+ is a fake. I just need to know how to change imei number so I can use my phone. It came from China. He said it's supported by TMobile and at&t. I want to go with TMobile if possible. He sent me the pattern to call and change it,but I don't know what numbers to replace it with.
Cecejohns said:
I know my s8+ is a fake. I just need to know how to change imei number so I can use my phone. It came from China. He said it's supported by TMobile and at&t. I want to go with TMobile if possible. He sent me the pattern to call and change it,but I don't know what numbers to replace it with.
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Changing imei numbers is illeagal in most contries. and You will find no help on XDA for such tasks
either way orig user solved his problem thread closed
I was looking to buy the Galaxy Note 8, and is it worth buying the Unlocked version over the ATT version? I know I will save a little money, and also have less bloatware. I could not find much info on the basebands of these phones, there would not really be any basebands the unlocked version wouldnt have that the ATT version has? I assume that it would just be smarter to get the unlocked version?
Someone correct me if I am wrong
Sorry this is somewhat unrelated to the S8+
Thanks
Somebody mentioned the carrier specific ones may get updates more frequently. Regardless, the only unlock that really matters to me is bootloader unlock. US Snapdragon S8/S8+ are not bootloader unlocked--regardless whether the model is carrier unlocked or not. Only the Chinese and Hong Kong Snapdragon S8/S8+ bootloaders can be unlocked so far. My recommendation is to pre-order the Note 8 as you were interested in that phone, but that if you were planning on sticking with the same carrier and wanted updates more frequently, getting a carrier specific Note 8 might be best.
I'm in the same situation. I currently with att prepaid, they have LTE+ (LTE advanced). I did speed test twice, getting 127mb down, 30mb up, 115mb down, 28mb up. I'm not sure if unlocked version note8 has all the LTE bands. I thinking of just getting att version and if I want to switch carrier in the future, I just pay for those unlock service.
netnerd said:
I thinking of just getting att version and if I want to switch carrier in the future, I just pay for those unlock service.
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Be careful about those assumptions, make sure the AT&T variant has all the bands needed for full rate.
Recently switched from ATT to Verizon, and ended up getting a new phone (not *really* complaining since it's the GS8+) because my 1 yr old GS7edge AT&T model didn't have support for the correct LTE bands to work properly with the Verizon network.
I'm planning on staying with the same carrier, I just figure I'd get update faster, have less bloat ware, and have more lte bands (with the unlocked version)
Isn't that all accurate?
ALL the US versions have the same exact hardware and support the same exact bands. The ONLY difference is the carrier specific firmware. And you can change that by flashing whichever firmware you want through ODIN.
brendan4t said:
I was looking to buy the Galaxy Note 8, and is it worth buying the Unlocked version over the ATT version? I know I will save a little money, and also have less bloatware. I could not find much info on the basebands of these phones, there would not really be any basebands the unlocked version wouldnt have that the ATT version has? I assume that it would just be smarter to get the unlocked version?
Someone correct me if I am wrong
Sorry this is somewhat unrelated to the S8+
Thanks
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Click to collapse
I have both S8 T-mobile and S8 unlocked. They have identical LTE bands. Moreover, when inserting SIM cards from different providers the CSC is changed to that provider and some specific options are enabled. I put in T-mobile SIM card and used it without any issues. Put in Vodaphone Europe SIM card and CSC changed from TMB to XAA (unlocked) and phone still had all LTE bands available and worked. I'm sure it's the same for ATT. Also, from previous experience if you get ATT version and change providers you'll not get updates anymore unless you go to Samsung to have your phone updated, as all OTA's go through ATT servers.
Go for unlocked.