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Hi,
Guys, I wanna buy an at&t phone that requires a new contract, However I dont have SSN... i know i cant do that online but can i buy one from a store ( att store, fry's, bestbuy,...) and tell the store keeper that i'm gonna activate online to avoid him asking for my SSN, can i do that??
also, I read somewhere on the web that if i entered the ssn as all 9's the credit check will fail and att will propose to convert the contract account into prepaid, is that true..
thanks,
Engineer
they will check your credit upon purchase, not activation.
If you sign up for a 2year contract to get the discounted phone and don't have a ssn, this means you don't work in the US or have permanent residence. To give a fake one constitutes fraud, theft, etc.
Your best bet is to find yourself a phone on eBay or other sales source and see if you can get it activated without doing anything you shouldn't do.
engineer05 said:
Hi,
Guys, I wanna buy an at&t phone that requires a new contract, However I dont have SSN... i know i cant do that online but can i buy one from a store ( att store, fry's, bestbuy,...) and tell the store keeper that i'm gonna activate online to avoid him asking for my SSN, can i do that??
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I don't want to pry into why you are in the US and don't have an SSN, but you generally need one to obtain any sort of credit in the US.
If you have a legitimate reason for not having an SSN (for example, I used to have a restricted K visa that did not allow work) then you can apply to the SSA for a non-work SSN.
When you receive the card it will be endorsed to say that you cannot work but it should be sufficient to register for credit.
I forget the exact details of the process, but you can get a form from their website, http://www.ssa.gov
Failing that, your only option would be to buy a handset online for cash.
MrHorus,
He could be an international student. International students are not allowed to obtain SSNs from the Social Security Department unless if they have a legitimate employment offer somewhere, which will most likely be an on-campus employment.
And TC, don't bother going around the system, it's been around much longer and whatever loopholes you think you can exploit will be more than likely met with brick walls the size of Texas.
Go and get employed wherever you are and then apply for a SSN (and stop thinking you even have a chance of going around the system, cause if you even had a chance of going around it, you wouldn't have asked XDA for help on the matter).
I don't mean to be harsh, just want to make sure I get my point across.
Good day.
MrHorus said:
I don't want to pry into why you are in the US and don't have an SSN, but you generally need one to obtain any sort of credit in the US.
If you have a legitimate reason for not having an SSN (for example, I used to have a restricted K visa that did not allow work) then you can apply to the SSA for a non-work SSN.
When you receive the card it will be endorsed to say that you cannot work but it should be sufficient to register for credit.
I forget the exact details of the process, but you can get a form from their website, http://www.ssa.gov
Failing that, your only option would be to buy a handset online for cash.
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Unless of course you want to use it on different networks, ie international.
Carrier phone comes with those fat discounts, so i don't know why anyone would ever PREFER to pay full retail?
Yet people say they prefer to do it.
Dillsnik said:
Unless of course you want to use it on different networks, ie international.
Carrier phone comes with those fat discounts, so i don't know why anyone would ever PREFER to pay full retail?
Yet people say they prefer to do it.
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Click to collapse
The unlocked international versions are often available before the US carriers release their modified versions. They also often have higher resale values for people who like to switch phones a lot.
ok, i was assuming both versions are available. but higher resale makes some sense, although that alone doesn't add up to not wanting carrier brand.
Maybe less bloatware, faster updates, etc?
Less bloatware is a big part of it, I think, but there are also contractual benefits. It's sometimes easier to cancel a plan without paying a hefty termination fee if you paid for the phone outright. Additionally, certain plans (e.g. T-Mobile's "best plan ever") do not provide subsidies for good phones (e.g. HTC Sensation). Basically, it's a damned if you do, damned if you don't situation. You can buy the phone outright and then get a cheaper plan or buy a subsidized phone with a more expensive plan. If you plan on keeping your phone more than 2 years and/or switching carriers, it's a good investment to get the cheaper plan.
I don't even think they have less bloatware, or get faster updates. They can't update their phone until a carrier somewhere releases a build for that phone. Unless they are going off an ASOP build which still requires that devices drivers to be released. I've never had an unlocked phone myself. I assume it would also make it easier to travel internationally, but if the carrier had already released their version of the phone I wouldn't go and buy an unlocked version.
I buy unlocked usually because I like to get the hottest devices first and they are usually released overseas before coming to US; Galaxy S2 for example. I am also not on a contract.
Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using xda premium
If you're talking about new phones, the difference is the 2 yr contract. If you're talking about used phones, the difference is probably about ten bucks (or whatever the cost is to get an unlock code).
Unbranded phone=$10 unlimited data on at&t.
Dillsnik said:
Unless of course you want to use it on different networks, ie international.
Carrier phone comes with those fat discounts, so i don't know why anyone would ever PREFER to pay full retail?
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Sometimes (subsidized price + contract cost over 2 years) actually costs more, or negligibly less than (unlocked price + equivalent prepaid cost over 2 years). That was the case with me, and it depends mostly on what plans the carrier offers, as well as what promotions happen to be on at the time. When that happens, a contract is just plain not worth it.
Even if it is slightly or somewhat worth it (which is the most it's going to get), that's still 2 years of vendor lockin you have to consider.
And, of course, even the option of using your phone internationally is worth something, even if you have no actual plans of going yet.
The reason people get unlocked phones vary, but most can be classified under these:
- Phones that are not available in a given market
- Update without a two year commitment to a given carrier
- Cheaper to get a used phone on ebay/amazon than a new one from the carrier if you are not due for an upgrade
- Unlocked bootloader, rooted, or bloatware free. -- As most carriers nowdays want their phones locked.
- Possible higher resell value
allows you to use other carrier sim cards. Good if you travel and use different country sim cards on other networks.
The first step is understanding that you don't get a "fat discount" when buying a carrier branded phone. You end up paying more than the full price of the phone in most cases.
They get updates first look at the international phones and compare them to ours. The SG got the update over seas to gingerbread and here in the states it took forever.
sent from my Virtuous Unity
•Unlocked to use anywhere
•More resale value
•No bloatware from carriers
•Faster / more direct updates without needing carrier approval
•Usually more dev support since carriers variants isolate models from one another
•Availability much before carrier versions (mostly, depends on exclusivity)
There was a time when carriers would impose restrictions on features which were stock from the manufacturers and threaten them with not buying handsets if they did not implement these restrictions. For example, features like a music player would be locked out in favor of the carrier's music service and music player to help support their store. The phones would be heavily branded and often hardware locked out of even flashing to a different firmware/rom.
If you do a present value of all the payments you will pay to the carrier for the life of the contract + the cost of the "discounted" handset you have to pay today, you will find in many cases the cost ending up greater than buying the unlocked phone outright. I suppose time-value of money plays into it... (but not really with this economy)
its not too hard to unlock your own phone, also quite a few phones are global phones, the carrier branded ones just don't say that you can use them overseas
And they don't put crap in them to kill things. When you are not locked in for 2 years they tend to be more helpful. Unlike the droping 4g LTE big red. I am starting to think most of the AT&T hater's had a 2g iphone and got a droid and now think there is no better than the big red, becuase TV SAID SO 1000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000 times. There ads are starting to make me sick, becuase they lie.
End of post.
After reading things like this I'll never buy a phone from a carrier again. I just don't want to be help to some absurd plan when much cheaper ones are available.
no choice
I live in Venezuela, and if I want to get a decently priced smartphone, my only choice is to buy an unlocked one over amazon or ebay if I cant get some dollars and a courrier service.
For example, you cant get an USED LG Optimus 2X here in my country at 4.500bsF, that's like 500$.
Nowadays, the smartphone market is growing a lot here, taking apart the fact that we have the greatest blackberry users per capita in South America.
Something like that happens in Brasil, Argentina etc.
Dillsnik said:
Unless of course you want to use it on different networks, ie international.
Carrier phone comes with those fat discounts, so i don't know why anyone would ever PREFER to pay full retail?
Yet people say they prefer to do it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Because those "fat discounts" are short term - the discounts are usually lost over the course of the contract you have to sign. You save a few hundred initially but end up paying a few hundred more by the end. I say 'usually' because it's not especially common in the U.S.
As the title would suggest, I going give my opinion on buying S9+. Again this is my experience and my opinions. I understand most of the community here is smart and don't need financial advice about how to spend their cash. I'll try to break it down into parts so people understand my opinion. So let's start:
So as many as you know S9 and S9+ was release 3/16/2018. There is 2 version of this phone you can get bloat or no bloatware. What do I mean? In San Diego where I live, my carrier is AT&T. They sell the S9+ at $789.99 if you do one of their payments plans. However if you want buy the device out right then the price is $940.99 this is the att version. I believe the same for Verizon and Tmoblie. But Tmoblie sell it at $839.99. If you are willing g to buy the unlocked version without carrier then it $839.99 however you have to buy it from a retailer like bestbuy or amazon.
My suggestion is to buy the phone out right and unlocked. The main reason is there is no bloatware. If you buy carrier version of the device out right from they add $100 more just to have bloatware. There is no difference hardware specs on the device. So why pay more just to have the carrier bloatware?
Now if that is not an option and you want to make payments, still buy the unlocked version and do payments with credit card. If you cant do that and you have to go thru your carrier then understand the payment plan and I advise against it. Right now all of the major carriers have deal where you can trade in your old Samsung up to $350 towards the S9 & + and its good. The catch is that credit goes towards your bill and not the device. That is crazy. Plus they give you an $150 Visa gift card. So in reality they are only giving $150 for the phone. I'm talking about AT&T. I'm pretty sure it's the same for the other carriers as well. Now my advice is to sell your device yourself and use that money towards the phone or come with at least half when you upgrade setup the payments wait a bill cycle and payoff the other half.
Honesty, buying this phone unlocked is the way to go. There is no reason to buy the carrier version since they just add bloatware and slow down performance. Plus you have the option of leaving your current carrier if they **** up your bill or there is a better deal out there.
I bought the ATT carrier locked version. The only "bloat" I see is a couple of games which I was able to uninstall. Not just deactivate, but actually uninstall. The ATT apps themselves I either uninstalled or use. Again, not disable but uninstall.
If you have the money to buy unlocked, good for you. However, the payment plans are 0% interest. Buying a 800-900 dollar phone on credit, your now paying more than what your claiming to save by buying it unlocked. Again, all the "bloat" I've noticed is uninstallable. On my last phone you could only disable them.
In my case I was able to sell my old device and only pay the difference. I considered just going through the carrier. Honestly I don't want to be held to a two year contract of paying off the device. Your right, buying a device on credit compaired to the carrier is cheaper with 0% interest. That not always going to be the case in the future. Again I'm just suggesting there options out there.
Certain cards, like best buys, offer 0% over 12 months. I upgrade every year with that and sell past generations phone and it covers about ⅔ the cost of the new phone
Sent from my SM-G955U1 using Tapatalk
Though this doesn't apply to everyone, I agree with OP on going the unlocked route to ensure faster official updates directly from Samsung. I am actually going a step further and getting international unlocked model (with unlocked bootloader) as I can't imagine buying a phone that has manufacturer/carrier enforced locked boot loader.
Not really followed the Galaxy Series as of late but I'm thinking of importing the SD 845 variant (for emulation) and wondering how long until bootoader can be unlocked? Would love project treble ROMs on it.
And does the Google camera work on the SD 845 variant?
There are ups and downs to each way of doing it. Though you mention the upside of doing unlocked, there is a downside if you want to use some functions too.
One upside you didn't mention on the unlocked versions is you get the Caller ID function stock! Most carriers will charge $3 a month for their "supreme" service.
Downside of doing unlocked is you might miss out on additional carrier features as well.
- HD Calling (hit and miss on this odd one at least with Verizon on past phones)
- Wifi / VoLTE Calling
- Hotspot (there can be work around to this)
Long story short, I want to send my OnePlus 7 Pro in for repair (yeah it's older, but OnePlus went downhill after that phone).
I need something to get me by while I wait for it. I don't want to bring it to one of those sketchy repair shops and tbh, I don't have the tools to repair the newer phones myself like I used to back in the early 2010's.
More importantly I need something to get me by in the meantime. OnePlus's wonderful (sarcasm) support offered to send me a loaner device after much deliberation. When it finally became available and they shipped it out, the phone got lost in the mail -__-
So I'm thinking I'll just grab a cheap prepaid phone from Family Dollar or Walmart (you know, the $20 Blu phones) and use that. I need a spare phone anyway going forward; something I can install those quirky Fintech apps, Instagram, dating apps, and other apps I don't want on my main driver (which I use for work too). Really just a junk phone.
Of course those are carrier locked. I don't want any lectures on whether or not it's legal and whatnot. I see sketchy services online that offer to unlock the SIM if you hand them over the IMEI. Something doesn't sit well with me about that, especially when you're buying a used phone on eBay or something and trying to find one with a clean IMEI. I don't want to give my phone's "social security number" out to some sketchy "company".
Any ideas on what phones are easiest to carrier unlock and where I can find the resources for that? Thanks.
Bump
I'm currently on an S9+ through AT&T; I'm considering upgrading to a Pixel 7 Pro for my next phone
I have always relied heavily on hotspot data, and have never paid for a specific hotspot plan. This was the case on my LG G3, and on my S9+ – until a recent firmware update I installed pushed a carrier-check into the device when I'd try to enable it
So, a factor for me in choosing a new phone is whether I will be able to use it for unlimited hotspot data without having to get authorization from my carrier / without it counting against hotspot-data-allotments / etc.
Is this doable on a Pixel 7 Pro?
Does it require rooting the device? Does it require a custom ROM?
Are these things I can do on a phone I get through my carrier – AT&T in the US – or will I need a non-carrier-branded version?
Will doing so break other functionality – like Google Wallet / Google Pay?
Super down for rooting / custom roms / etc., but don't feel a huge need for it other than if it's what I need to do to get my unlimited hotspot data going
(Side-note: I know there are VPN Hotspot apps I could use, but I would prefer it to be able to create a hotspot & work in ways I can connect any wifi-device to without special configuration, like with the regular stock hotspot)
Instead of trying to break the law why not just get a plan that allows unlimited hotspot?
jaseman said:
Instead of trying to break the law why not just get a plan that allows unlimited hotspot?
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Click to collapse
This is definitely not breaking any laws, terms of service though, yes.
ATT phone plans are just not the greatest nowadays... Consider TMB when you switch.
My guess is that any ROM without the google carrier services app pre installed (i.e. LOS, probably.) Will do just fine with stock configuration. Will it count towards hotspot data Idk. Also it depends on if your carrier needs it for activation.
I'm on Google Fi unlimited and have (up to) 4 dedicated data SIM that shares my main plan data (speed cap at 50G) for free
yurishouse said:
ATT phone plans are just not the greatest nowadays... Consider TMB when you switch.
My guess is that any ROM without the google carrier services app pre installed (i.e. LOS, probably.) Will do just fine with stock configuration. Will it count towards hotspot data Idk. Also it depends on if your carrier needs it for activation.
I'm on Google Fi unlimited and have (up to) 4 dedicated data SIM that shares my main plan data (speed cap at 50G) for free
Click to expand...
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After doing more research, it seems as though if I bought a Pixel 7 Pro from AT&T, I would not be able to unlock the bootloader until the phone was fully paid off – and thus wouldn't be able to install a custom ROM
Is that correct?
phnord said:
After doing more research, it seems as though if I bought a Pixel 7 Pro from AT&T, I would not be able to unlock the bootloader until the phone was fully paid off – and thus wouldn't be able to install a custom ROM
Is that correct?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That is correct.
phnord said:
After doing more research, it seems as though if I bought a Pixel 7 Pro from AT&T, I would not be able to unlock the bootloader until the phone was fully paid off – and thus wouldn't be able to install a custom ROM
Is that correct?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If you purchased an unlocked global version (from Google Store, Amazon has been known to sell some, some brick and mortar stores had offered in the past [but that was when the phone was newly released so I'm unsure about now], def can find 2nd hand on Swappa), you can still use the device on AT&T's network (and your plan), but you wouldn't have to wait on AT&T to unlock the bootloader.
If you have good enough credit, you could possibly finance the phone on Google Store and pay it off monthly for 2 years (more or less what carriers do [although I just found out recently that Verizon is 3 years...])...
Just some additional information and some thoughts...
simplepinoi177 said:
[although I just found out recently that Verizon is 3 years...]
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So is AT&T. T-Mobile is the only one left with 24 months.
Tomadock said:
This is definitely not breaking any laws, terms of service though, yes.
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Click to collapse
Hmmmm...you signed your name to a LEGAL agreement/contract. When you break that agreement/contract you are ...wait for it...BREAKING THE LAW! SMH
Breaking a contract is not breaking the law.
jaseman said:
Hmmmm...you signed your name to a LEGAL agreement/contract. When you break that agreement/contract you are ...wait for it...BREAKING THE LAW! SMH
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Lol wat
jaseman said:
Hmmmm...you signed your name to a LEGAL agreement/contract. When you break that agreement/contract you are ...wait for it...BREAKING THE LAW! SMH
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If the contract holder - the cell service provider - wanted to take you to court because you broke the contract you signed who do you think the judge would side with?
ANY TIME you sign a contract there are LAWS governing how that contract if fulfilled by BOTH parties. You also have LEGAL rights under the contract. It is the LAW!
Why is this so hard for people to understand?
jaseman said:
If the contract holder - the cell service provider - wanted to take you to court because you broke the contract you signed who do you think the judge would side with?
ANY TIME you sign a contract there are LAWS governing how that contract if fulfilled by BOTH parties. You also have LEGAL rights under the contract. It is the LAW!
Why is this so hard for people to understand?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Sir, this is XDA. XDA was created by people looking to test the limits , unlock (or add) features, give new life to their devices. Whether that person breaks a law or not, its not like you are paying their legal bills
That said, I AM LOOKING TO ACHIEVE THE SAME AS OP!
simplepinoi177 said:
If you purchased an unlocked global version (from Google Store, Amazon has been known to sell some, some brick and mortar stores had offered in the past [but that was when the phone was newly released so I'm unsure about now], def can find 2nd hand on Swappa), you can still use the device on AT&T's network (and your plan), but you wouldn't have to wait on AT&T to unlock the bootloader.
If you have good enough credit, you could possibly finance the phone on Google Store and pay it off monthly for 2 years (more or less what carriers do [although I just found out recently that Verizon is 3 years...])...
Just some additional information and some thoughts...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I hear you on that. Main reason I want to go with AT&T is they currently have a trade-in special where my ancient, cracked-screen, S9+ will count as $800 against the price of the phone, which is very, very tempting...
jaseman said:
Hmmmm...you signed your name to a LEGAL agreement/contract. When you break that agreement/contract you are ...wait for it...BREAKING THE LAW! SMH
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
While it could easily be argued that it's theft of service, nobody ever gets prosecuted for it and the carriers hardly ever will even disconnect you for it unless you're moving terabytes of data so it's not that big of a deal.
Also, the carriers can sit and spin for all I care, they're massively ripping us off in the states.
EtherealRemnant said:
While it could easily be argued that it's theft of service, nobody ever gets prosecuted for it and the carriers hardly ever will even disconnect you for it unless you're moving terabytes of data so it's not that big of a deal.
Also, the carriers can sit and spin for all I care, they're massively ripping us off in the states.
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Click to collapse
I agree that the providers are or may be ripping us off, but that doesn't change the fact the when you sign a contract you are LEGALLY agreeing to abide by the terms of that contract.
I am not saying that the carriers are above contempt, but two wrongs do not make a right.
It is a breach of contract, a civil matter, and they could take you to court to try to recoup their losses. It would be dangerous though as they could be forced to actually admit how little a customer using a hotspot actually costs them. The main thing though, the time wasted pursuing one user would outweigh the benefit of getting their money.
jaseman said:
If the contract holder - the cell service provider - wanted to take you to court because you broke the contract you signed who do you think the judge would side with?
ANY TIME you sign a contract there are LAWS governing how that contract if fulfilled by BOTH parties. You also have LEGAL rights under the contract. It is the LAW!
Why is this so hard for supposedly educated people to understand?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It is not illegal to breach a contract. You will not be thrown in jail for breaching a contract. The government will not bring a case against you for breaching a contract. A contract just means the other party may be able to successfully take you to court and get a legally-enforceable judgment. But it's not illegal to breach a contract.
I have used a magisk module to activate the native hotspot without carrier protections. But to get the unlimited hotspot, you're going to need a VPN and VPN tether. I don't know any other way around that unless you pull a higher price for unlimited hotspot
NetShare, PDAnet, Easy Tether, VPN Tether, PairVPN... Lots of apps exist for this purpose. Just beware that your provider isn't dumb and knows you're doing it. Might be best to get a second SIM that you only use for data that way you don't risk your number.