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Having suffered through Verizon's strange attitude towards GPS, Bluetooth, etc, etc, over the years, I have to say: I take it all back!
Well, at least most of it.
For those who don't know, the SIM card on the TP2 is locked to only function out of the U.S. However, if you want to travel overseas and use a foreign purchased SIM card, the phone will not work unless unlocked. So what do you do?
You call Verizon and tell them of your plans to travel overseas and use a third-party SIM card. They will issue an unlock code and voila! The SIM slot is now unlocked for overseas cards (and apparently U.S. cards too.) I'm sure this is old news to everyone, but I went ahead and had it done tonight and there were no questions asked.
Though, I do wonder, do you actually have to register the Verizon SIM card for each country you visit? The global support person wanted to reg my SIM for the UK (where I may visit) but I thought it would work without having to do anything before hand.
With GPS that locks in seconds and a $100 price tag for the phone after rebate, I really have to take it all back about Verizon. And it could be a lot worse: I could be in the Bay Area with an AT&T-based iPhone!
Heh, from my experience with verizon you will call their tech support at one location and they will tell you it can be done, but then they'll take forever and your call will get dropped. Then you will spend 2-3 hours calling tech support until you don't get a thumbhead on the other line. The first few will tell you that verizon doesn't use a sim card, then another will say that you have to do that on the website. Eventually you will luck into getting connected to a good call center where they will fix you up in 5 minutes.
Thanks for the info though! I will definitely do this when I'm drunk enough to handle tech support. =)
gliscameria said:
Heh, from my experience with verizon you will call their tech support at one location and they will tell you it can be done, but then they'll take forever and your call will get dropped. Then you will spend 2-3 hours calling tech support until you don't get a thumbhead on the other line. The first few will tell you that verizon doesn't use a sim card, then another will say that you have to do that on the website. Eventually you will luck into getting connected to a good call center where they will fix you up in 5 minutes.
Thanks for the info though! I will definitely do this when I'm drunk enough to handle tech support. =)
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Click to collapse
Based on your comment, you're not asking Tech. Support to connect you to Global Support, which are the only ones who can issue you the unlock code for phones that are GSM-enabled.
Anyone who has used Tech. Support to unlock their GSM-enabled phone has waited on hold for so long because the tech. contacted Global Support for the unlock code.. next time, bypass the wait and ask to be connected directly to Global Support
I've never had to wait or jump through a hoop to get my unlock codes. I always say (word for word) "I want to SIM unlock my phone". They then ask me if I'm traveling overseas and I say "Sure", I'm then given the code and instructions on how to SIM unlock it, after they've emailed me the TOS for this service.
-mak
VZW general tech support doesn't deal with sim cards at all. VZW hasn't had many Quad band global phones and definitely has not had them for much time. Go to global support for accurate information and knowledgable reps (for GSM/Global related info), otherwise it will be a crapshoot if the person you gets has any idea of what you are talking about, 99% of what they normally deal with has no sim card at all.
Hey everyone,
I hope someone can help me out with this problem. Today I moved from our old company carrier AT&T to Verizon and had to replace my GSM unlocked iP 4S. I don't like what Apple is doing at the moment so I went back to Android after couple of years (I had a HTC Desire and a GS2 back in Germany).
I read here on xda that Verizon promised an update to make the S3 global ready but we are still waiting for them to finally release it. First thing I did was putting my German Vodafone SIM in the phone but the lock wouldn't let me use it. I called Verizon Enterprise Support, explained the whole situation and asked them for an unlock code but they claimed the phone won't work in Europe and that's why I wont need a unlock code in the first place. Well I guess I wanted to try the "official" way and now I'm open for more creative approaches to solve this problem - I'm going back to Germany in 10 days and I really want to use this phone.
Is there a way to get an unlock code from Verizon or should I use a 3rd Party website? Is there something I should say or a different number to call? I tried to pull the "Hey we are a big customer and I'm the IT Ops Manager" card but it didn't help. I found a couple of websites that unlock the S3 for 10-20 bucks or so but I don't like the idea of giving someone my IMEI without checking here on xda first.
What happens if I get an unlock code and decide to root the phone and flash CM? Will I keep my unlock or do I have to do the whole process again? I really don't like TouchWiz, the S Apps and all this Verizon Bloat.Hope that someone can help me. Thanks guys.
BB
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1809314 might be helpful.
Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using Tapatalk 2
Just spoke with Verizon Global Services Rep, who was actually really helpful. First off, any 4G phone is "sim-unlocked" by default. I have yet to prove this out, but will tonight, I have a WCDMA pre-paid sim that is still active.
Second, much like previous (major) android releases (GB - ICS last year), the Samsung JB update, should enable global phone capabilities on the Verizon SIII. We should then see the functionality enabled via the various new ROM's (built off OTA release) enabling said functionality.
Third point, which actually makes a lot of sense. He pointed out that many countries now have WCDMA networks as well as GSM, China being the obvious one. Assuming the native unlocked mode is correct, one should be able to purchase as WCDMA pre-paid sim, install and activate on the phone. Verizon Global Services will then set up a call forwarding service that directs all incoming calls to the PP sim number.
He noted that the only global services plans (discounted rates) offered by Verizon at this time are for GSM networks, meaning that even when we get the SW upgrade, roaming and call charges are going to be astronomical. A PP sim is still going to be the best option.
Anyone have any data to counter this??? Will try the sim card tonight and respond back.
Going to buy my friends T Mobile N5 and would like to use it on Sprint network.
Ive researched this a little and I have seen people run into trouble, saying that Sprint wont activated it because it wasn't purchased from google or sprint.
All Nexus's from North America are the same from what I understand and should be able to be used on any carrier.
Anyone have any suggestions on whether this can be done?
Thanks
Yes, all you need is a Sprint sim card
sent from my HAMMERHEAD
More accurately, if your current LTE phone has a nano SIM, then you can simply pop it out, put it in your friend's Nexus 5 and it should work. The problem comes if you need a new SIM, or if your current SIM doesn't have LTE service assigned to it. In either of those cases, you'll need to contact Sprint either for a new SIM, or to activate LTE service. At that time, they may fight you, stating that the phone isn't supported. However, if you don't back down, ask for a supervisor, or try another store, eventually you will get a reasonable person.
Worst case, call the customer service line, and say that you got a Nexus 5 from Google, and need them to send you a new SIM card. They don't have to know you didn't actually buy it from Google. Again, it may take talking to a supervisor or even multiple calls, but eventually, you'll succeed.
iammrhappy123 said:
Going to buy my friends T Mobile N5 and would like to use it on Sprint network.
Ive researched this a little and I have seen people run into trouble, saying that Sprint wont activated it because it wasn't purchased from google or sprint.
All Nexus's from North America are the same from what I understand and should be able to be used on any carrier.
Anyone have any suggestions on whether this can be done?
Thanks
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
1) the NA nexus 5 cannot be used on any carrier. it cannot be used on verizon. the other 3 major carriers are fine (tmobile, sprint, and att)
2) sprint has to add the IMEI to their databases to allow the CDMA portion to connect to their network. This is how the auth the phone to make phone calls, etc. They have added the IMEI from google play devices, and obviously the ones they sell. They do not have a list of the IMEIs tmobile sells.
jt3 said:
More accurately, if your current LTE phone has a nano SIM, then you can simply pop it out, put it in your friend's Nexus 5 and it should work.
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Click to collapse
The Nexus 5 needs a Micro SIM. If you use a nano SIM, you will need an adapter
Zepius said:
2) sprint has to add the IMEI to their databases to allow the CDMA portion to connect to their network. This is how the auth the phone to make phone calls, etc. They have added the IMEI from google play devices, and obviously the ones they sell. They do not have a list of the IMEIs tmobile sells.
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Click to collapse
That was the case till recently. Last week, I saw a Sprint store employee call customer care for a potential customer and supposedly get the IMEI added into the Sprint database for a N5 bought from T-mo. The customer had to provide invoice etc to show that he owned the device, but I think they were able to get it sorted out.
YMMV of course.
jj14 said:
The Nexus 5 needs a Micro SIM. If you use a nano SIM, you will need an adapter
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Click to collapse
Duh. I knew that. I don't know why I said Nano. I came from a Galaxy S4 Active, and remember being happy that it still had a Micro SIM, the same as the N5. Thanks for the correction.
As for the IMEI issue, I guess when the OP said T-Mo Nexus 5, I thought Play Store N5 used on T-Mo. I didn't realize T-Mo was selling them directly, and thought only Sprint was doing that. (Play Store IMEIs are in Sprint's system.) My mistake. Still, I know that they can add IMEIs to their network, but it usually requires quite a battle. This is one of the key reasons I'm not on Sprint.
jt3 said:
Duh. I knew that. I don't know why I said Nano. I came from a Galaxy S4 Active, and remember being happy that it still had a Micro SIM, the same as the N5. Thanks for the correction.
As for the IMEI issue, I guess when the OP said T-Mo Nexus 5, I thought Play Store N5 used on T-Mo. I didn't realize T-Mo was selling them directly, and thought only Sprint was doing that. (Play Store IMEIs are in Sprint's system.) My mistake. Still, I know that they can add IMEIs to their network, but it usually requires quite a battle. This is one of the key reasons I'm not on Sprint.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I hear ya, and totally agree - it is a pain to get them to do something that is not their normal process! I'm still with them, just because they have better coverage outside of cities than T-Mo. But I'm getting tired of their terrible data speeds, and eCFSB issues - ugh
Hey All!
Thanks for the replies! You all are very helpful. I wasn't expecting any replies haha.
I'm currently on Sprint iPhone 5 which uses a Micro Sim.
First time ever going to android, so I"m excited.
I just hope that when I call Sprint to activate the N5, they wont give me crap. And hopefully they add my IMEI to their network.
Or hopefully, when I just switch the SIM, it'll work off the bat lol.
Ill just keep being persistent at getting them to activate it if not.
Hello,
I owned a Verizon Galaxy Note 20 Ultra that I bought shortly after release. I got bored with it, as often happens, so I paid it off in full and sold it, to someone who uses T-Mobile. They cannot activate the phone, when they put their T-Mobile SIM in it, it gives the message "SIM card is not from Verizon Wireless". The facts:
I owned and used the phone for well over the 60 day automatic unlock period.
It was active on my Verizon account for the entire time until a week before I sold it.
It was paid off IN FULL, and my account said the line was paid in full and ready for an upgrade.
My Verizon account is never behind or not paid on time (Auto-Pay)
Is there something I needed to do to the phone besides factory reset it? Is there anything that can be done? Should I call Verizon customer service? To further complicate matters, the person I sold it to lives in another state. I may need to have them send me the phone back and refund them their money if I can't figure this out.
Thank you so much for any help that can be provided.
Are you sure you used the device for 60 days?
Rtiberius said:
Hello,
I owned a Verizon Galaxy Note 20 Ultra that I bought shortly after release. I got bored with it, as often happens, so I paid it off in full and sold it, to someone who uses T-Mobile. They cannot activate the phone, when they put their T-Mobile SIM in it, it gives the message "SIM card is not from Verizon Wireless". The facts:
I owned and used the phone for well over the 60 day automatic unlock period.
It was active on my Verizon account for the entire time until a week before I sold it.
It was paid off IN FULL, and my account said the line was paid in full and ready for an upgrade.
My Verizon account is never behind or not paid on time (Auto-Pay)
Is there something I needed to do to the phone besides factory reset it? Is there anything that can be done? Should I call Verizon customer service? To further complicate matters, the person I sold it to lives in another state. I may need to have them send me the phone back and refund them their money if I can't figure this out.
Thank you so much for any help that can be provided.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Are you sure you used the device for 60 days? Did you check with another carrier sim before you sold the device?
SIM card is not from Verizon Wireless is a common message for all Verizon branded phones. May be buyer is confused with this message.
dadmi said:
Are you sure you used the device for 60 days?
Are you sure you used the device for 60 days? Did you check with another carrier sim before you sold the device?
SIM card is not from Verizon Wireless is a common message for all Verizon branded phones. May be buyer is confused with this message.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks for your reply.
Yes, it was activated in late August 2020 and was active up until the end of December 2020. No, I didn't realize I should try a different carrier's SIM first.
I asked them if they are able to call or text despite the SIM card message and they said no.
You need(ed) to request VZW to carrier (SIM) unlock the device prior to selling it.
cam30era said:
You need(ed) to request VZW to carrier (SIM) unlock the device prior to selling it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm so confused, Verizon says devices are automatically unlocked in their policies listed here: https://www.verizon.com/support/device-unlocking-policy/
I'm going to call Verizon, and see if there's anything they can do.
Update: Called Verizon tech support, and the agent confirmed that the device IS unlocked. He said I should have the buyer contact T-Mobile customer service and add the device to their database. Hopefully that works.
Rtiberius said:
Update: Called Verizon tech support, and the agent confirmed that the device IS unlocked. He said I should have the buyer contact T-Mobile customer service and add the device to their database. Hopefully that works.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Adding to database is a Verizon thing, Tmobile is gsm. There is no way to sim unlock it if you don't do it on your phone line and request the unlock as if you're using the phone yourself.
Verizon will not unlock it unless it's currently on the line and met the other criteria you already have. For some reason verizon can't read if its really unlocked unless it's on their network, I went through it with an iphone earlier this year. They're a mess.
damn, i thought me getting a new phone annually is bad. you get a new phone every quarter? lol, actually i was thinking about trading mine for a fold 2 but no s-pen, no exp storage and a step down camera array, i decided to keep my note and see if they fix the fold 2's shortcomings.
what's in your pocket now?
It is quite possible that the buyer was not using an existing active sim. He was probably trying to activate a new sim which failed. I had the same issue with AT&T when activating a new sim. AT&T was not recognizing Unlocked model imei and I had to use a very old phone imei for activating sim after which I was able to use the same sim with with AT&T.
It also possible the buyer is lying to you. Either way it looks like the deal is going tits up for you. Perhaps next time check with a T-Mobile SIM before selling it or sell it as verizon locked. Feel for you.
Hello, i know this is a old thread but did you find the solution? i bought a verizon note 20 ultra and it doesnt work on any carrier, just work for a minute and it stops.
You guys found a way to unlock this? I just got the same phone and its a very expensive paperweight atm
I'm new at cellphones.
I bought a Pixel 7 Pro. When I get it I'll take it to a T-Mobile store, sign up for service, and have them install a SIM. Any special SIM that I should ask for?
Skuddle said:
I'm new at cellphones.
I bought a Pixel 7 Pro. When I get it I'll take it to a T-Mobile store, sign up for service, and have them install a SIM. Any special SIM that I should ask for?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I wasn't aware of choices--but I'm not an expert. I told them what plan I wanted and they gave me a SIM to put in my phone. Others will likely have a more detailed answer.
Skuddle said:
I'm new at cellphones.
I bought a Pixel 7 Pro. When I get it I'll take it to a T-Mobile store, sign up for service, and have them install a SIM. Any special SIM that I should ask for?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
At one point you'd want to make sure you had an r15 sim but that's been a few years now and I'd suspect all their sims are the same revisions at this point. I will say, esim on my 7 pro had horrible reception and I'm not sure why but went back to a physical sim and alls good again. I wouldn't have thought there would be a difference but indeed there was/is, at least on my phone.
Skuddle said:
I'm new at cellphones.
I bought a Pixel 7 Pro. When I get it I'll take it to a T-Mobile store, sign up for service, and have them install a SIM. Any special SIM that I should ask for?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You don't need to go in a physical store. You can just call them up; tell them the service you want. Once you have that setup. Then tell them you want an e-sim added to your account.
They'll ask for your serial/IMEI. Setup phone with e-sim and your all set.
@djhotsauce
Thanks for your reply.
I called my local store and told them I had a flip phone that used their service (Boost) and that I wanted to move the flip phones SIM and its service to a new, unlocked phone. I was told to bring my flip phone in and in return I would get a new SIM and have my new phone "registered" (can't recall right now the correct word). I was also told that I could not transfer my flip phone's number to the new service and that the visit will cost $35.
I don't understand why I have to bring in my flip phone if I am getting another SIM or why "registration" has to be transferred to the new phone. All I wanted to do is put the current SIM in the new phone. Maybe there is something that I am not aware of??
Skuddle said:
@djhotsauce
Thanks for your reply.
I called my local store and told them I had a flip phone that used their service (Boost) and that I wanted to move the flip phones SIM and its service to a new, unlocked phone. I was told to bring my flip phone in and in return I would get a new SIM and have my new phone "registered" (can't recall right now the correct word). I was also told that I could not transfer my flip phone's number to the new service and that the visit will cost $35.
I don't understand why I have to bring in my flip phone if I am getting another SIM or why "registration" has to be transferred to the new phone. All I wanted to do is put the current SIM in the new phone. Maybe there is something that I am not aware of??
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I've never been on T-Mobile/Boost...
but it seems to me that, at the very least, you can't use a "flip phone" SIM on a smartphone -- no less the latest Google smartphone released. It does suck that you can't transfer your phone number -- i question how hard it actually is to transfer it -- but I guess going from "dumbphone" to "smartphone" would be the culprit; although thinking about it, maybe it's because you're going from Boost to T-Mobile on top of flip phone to smartphone SIM -- too much complication. Maybe if you speak with a more knowledgeable person higher up the customer support chain, they'd either be able to do as you seek or be able to explain better why it's not possible/too difficult.
simplepinoi177 said:
I've never been on T-Mobile/Boost...
but it seems to me that, at the very least, you can't use a "flip phone" SIM on a smartphone -- no less the latest Google smartphone released. It does suck that you can't transfer your phone number -- i question how hard it actually is to transfer it -- but I guess going from "dumbphone" to "smartphone" would be the culprit; although thinking about it, maybe it's because you're going from Boost to T-Mobile on top of flip phone to smartphone SIM -- too much complication. Maybe if you speak with a more knowledgeable person higher up the customer support chain, they'd either be able to do as you seek or be able to explain better why it's not possible/too difficult.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm thinking that I'll just use the camera part of the phone for now. The TCL flip phone works nicely for me. I use it to keep in touch with the wife when I take off for a couple of weeks 2 or 3 times a year. It still has around $150 of credit on it so that should last through October.
Thanks for your reply!