Even though you buy an unlocked Samsung device, and you pay for it around 600 to 700 $ it seems that Samsung has decided out of the blue, that your device will still be locked to a specific region. So let’s say I buy my device from Europe and I travel to the States, my cell phone will not be able to work over there! This blatant lock down will affect the note series and the s Series produced from the end of July 2013.
This was the final straw for me, I’m anxiously waiting for the nexus 5 to arrive. Please share your thoughts .
It seems that is not exactly that ..
http://www.sammobile.com/2013/09/26...t-regarding-galaxy-note-3s-regional-sim-lock/
I just reread the link that you have provided , let me quote :
The Galaxy Note 3 might look like a great device on paper, but it was a disappointing revelation yesterday that Samsung’s latest phablet won’t work with SIM cards from operators outside the continent it was purchased in (for example, a Note 3 bought in Europe won’t work with SIM cards in the USA, or anywhere else for that matter). We’ve been wondering whether this is by hardware design or simply a software lock, and unfortunately, Samsung’s official statement doesn’t exactly clear things up.
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I think that this article from samMobile clarifies the issue better :
http://www.sammobile.com/2013/09/27/samsungs-regional-sim-lock-the-stupidest-thing-ever/
Basically they are locking down an unlocked purchased phone to a specific region .
Definitely NOT buying another Samsung phone if they lock it. I travel and usually use local prepaid SIM cards. This is more restrictive than Apple and Samsung are turning into extreme a$$holes...
Holy Smoke Batman......Sammie have lost the plot!
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2457964
Nokia and Crackberry were both untouchable once, till they started believing their own PR releases.
Sent from Galaxy i9502
What a coincidence...
just immediately after this announcement, my wallet got locked.
Sad but true, as I travel a lot and as I do not want to waste my time to visit the Sammy's Service Center after each purchase, my wallet got a sticker on it:
this wallet is incompatible with the payment for any locked Samsung devices.:laugh:
Note for Samsung's management and decisions makers:
Such behavior like locking the unlocked phone with open OS on it has a name, it is called SCHIZOPHRENIA, and can be treated by qualified psychiatric personnel. Considering that you are the classic example, if you'd agree that the medicine students would learn on your case - you can be given the treatment free of charge
Hold on,I bought the sim free uk btu handset currently using three.co.uk network. Are you saying that I can't use it when I go on holiday to Canada in December?
Probably my S4 is my last Samsung Phone.
:laugh:
Edit:
This is good to hear, good purpose...
“In order to provide customers with the optimal mobile experience in each region including customer care services, Samsung has incorporated the ‘regional SIM lock’ feature into Galaxy Note 3 devices. The product is only compatible with a SIM-card issued from a mobile operator within the region identified on the sticker of the product package. When the device is activated with a SIM card issued from the other region, the device may be automatically locked until it is released at the dedicated service centre.
Once a device is activated normally, the regional SIM lock is automatically released. Users can enjoy the roaming service as usual and can use other region’s SIM card when travelling. The regional SIM lock has been applied to the Galaxy Note II and Galaxy S4 devices through a software update in selective markets. The regional SIM lock does NOT affect the device’s features and performance. Users can continue to enjoy all the advanced features of our products.”
Not sure which S4 handset you are referring to. I bought an unlocked sim-free S4 in Australia and have used it across several countries and different sim cards with no problems.
S4 is defiantly my last Samsung phone
Read the updated articles and statement from samsung guys.
Somehow it has a good purpose and it also somehow prevents samsung phones from depreciating faster because of the imported and not locally released phones
I hope this is not as bad as it sounds right now, cause if it is then Samsung is banned from my money, i already put up with a lot of samsung's "good" decisions, but locking down a 700$ phone so i cant use anywhere but here is just ****ing crazy
And they better don't dare recommend paying carrier Roaming
Sent from my GT-I9500 using Tapatalk 4
Ok After reading through various threads on xda , and through various sites I think I can resume this matter .
It all started with the following statement by Samsung source:
Some current Samsung products are now provided with a local SIM card lock. This means that devices purchased in the European Union, with SIM cards of mobile operators from Germany and from the European Union and the European Economic Area (the “European region”) work as usual.
Users of these Samsung devices can continue to use these together with their SIM card of a mobile operator from the European region via roaming service to appropriate roaming charges to their wireless service provider around the world. If purchased in the European Union and not yet been put into use to be activated for the first time abroad, users can unlock their device for the region free from local Samsung service partners.
The regional SIM card lock only affects the following Samsung models that are produced from the end of July 2013, and provided with a corresponding sticker:
Samsung GALAXY S III, II, GALAXY Note, GALAXY S4, S4 GALAXY mini and the GALAXY Note 3
Devices that have been delivered by Samsung and are in camps or even at retail are not affected.
Specifically, there is a functionality of the devices with SIM cards of mobile operators from the following countries:
Countries of the European Economic Area (EEA):
Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands , Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, UK, Switzerland, Croatia
- Non-EU/EEA:
Albania, Andorra, Belarus, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Macedonia, Moldova, Monaco, Montenegro, San Marino, Serbia, Vatican City
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Usually there is a sticker on the affected device specifying that it's locked
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After this vague statement about region lock there was a statement by Samsung Switzerland stating that you only need to activate the device by regional sim card and after that you can use it with any sim card what so ever. Later they backtracked this statement and a vague answer was given . Meanwhile Samsung Germany issued a statement that you can unlock this device at a qualified Samsung partner . source
The current state is that there was an official announcement by Samsung stating that as long as you insert a regional sim card in your phone first you will be able to use it with any carrier later on . source source
Once a device is unlocked it's going to stay unlocked whatever you do with it . If you insert a sim card from another region first the device may be automatically locked until it is released at the dedicated service center . There are some reports that people using regional sim cards first were still unable to unlock their device . source
So you have to first use the phone in the region you bought it.
Not that much of an issue, but it's a slippery slope that started with the knox/locked bootloader update. If they will lock the bootloader of a phone you already bought what's to stop them applying a sim lock by an update as well?
S4 is definitely going to be my last Samsung phone if Samsung do not get their act together. I paid enough to these bastards.
Samsung is saying, don't worry, we care about you and that's why we put this regional lock in your phone. You need to use a local SIM to get your phone unlocked and then you can use your phone abroad. And if your phone is still not unlock by itself, then you can go to Samsung support and get it unlocked for FREE.
Wow, what a relief. So I will have to go to Samsung support center to fix this issue which should never have been on my unlocked phone in first place. And what if Samsung support decline for some unknown reason. They usually try to blame customers to phone problems. Oh you are rooted and your binary counter is not official, too bad, now we cannot help you. And then I will have a $700 brick on my desk or better, a $700 small sized tablet for my kids so they can play angry birds.
I love you Samsung to make this easy for me. I will most probably get next Nexus.
marc_ecko28 said:
Read the updated articles and statement from samsung guys.
Somehow it has a good purpose and it also somehow prevents samsung phones from depreciating faster because of the imported and not locally released phones
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I fully agree with your statement, but you missed some words... below is corrected version
Somehow it has a good purpose for Samsung and it also somehow prevents samsung phones from depreciating faster because of the imported and not locally released phones, what Samsung hopes to provide them higher benefits, better market control and is restricting the users freedom of choice on the world market..
The benefits for the users: ....eeee..... eeeee.....eeeee none, I think?
spamtrash said:
I fully agree with your statement, but you missed some words... below is corrected version
Somehow it has a good purpose for Samsung and it also somehow prevents samsung phones from depreciating faster because of the imported and not locally released phones, what Samsung hopes to provide them higher benefits, better market control and is restricting the users freedom of choice on the world market..
The benefits for the users: ....eeee..... eeeee.....eeeee none, I think?
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I think the resale value will be beneficial to us users...
Just my cents, I hope it plays that way.
Sent from my GT-I9500 using xda app-developers app
marc_ecko28 said:
I think the resale value will be beneficial to us users...
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in what aspect? That the users would be unable to buy cheaper item elsewhere? simplest example:
I live in UK, but I'm frequent traveler to Russia. My friend there asked me to bring him the Unit, which will be available in Russia later.
I cannot deliver him brand new item, as I have to unpack it, insert UK sim card, activate using my Google account etc.
GREAT benefit, really.
I think that Samsung could improve their "benefits for the users" even more, for example: linking the phone with the single Google account, to prevent the sale/purchase of used phones. how do you think? Using your way of thinking, it will be absolute user benefit, wouldn't it be?
While its not that bad based on Samsung's statement but from the note3 thread, putting in a local sim in a unlocked note 3 does not cancel the regional lock.
So someone screwed up somewhere.
And I prefer uk phones as the local Canadian units come with carrier branded crap ware.
This is still a slippery slope.
Where does some company come off telling me where I can use a product I bought. They might as well have put the 240/110 volt charger in the box depending on where you live so no-one should steal your phone if the voltage isn't compatable.
This is simply a cash grab by Samsung to be able to set the price in different countries.
Next will come different pricing for apps in the samsung store and you will need to buy only from there as any apps on the google play store, not being supported on the Samsung store, will not actually run on your Samsung device...
Way to piss off your customers....
Might as well change your name to Apple II now instead of trying to pull the wool over our eyes....
I want to buy the OPO but my throwback is the country I live in, Bangladesh. As you know, 16 countries are officially available to the supply of OPO and Bangladesh is not listed on it. Surprisingly one of the dealers in Bangladesh is selling OPO at a rate of $488.75 (US Dollar) for the Chinese Version.
So my query is that is there any difference between the Chinese version and the international version or are they both identical. And why is the Chinese version so widely available where as the International version is as bad as extinct?
Anyone Help? Thanks in advance xD
siam672 said:
I want to buy the OPO but my throwback is the country I live in, Bangladesh. As you know, 16 countries are officially available to the supply of OPO and Bangladesh is not listed on it. Surprisingly one of the dealers in Bangladesh is selling OPO at a rate of $488.75 (US Dollar) for the Chinese Version.
So my query is that is there any difference between the Chinese version and the international version or are they both identical. And why is the Chinese version so widely available where as the International version is as bad as extinct?
Anyone Help? Thanks in advance xD
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Google search
First result [good]
Forum
How to flash CM11
One India Thread - Bought Chinese Version(Awaiting Delivery)
OnePlus One 16GB in Stock for $399 at Oppomart?
Double check bandwidths in your country / network provider
mitchilin said:
Google search
First result [good]
Forum
How to flash CM11
One India Thread - Bought Chinese Version(Awaiting Delivery)
OnePlus One 16GB in Stock for $399 at Oppomart?
Double check bandwidths in your country / network provider
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks. Could you tell me if I'm going to be able to use LTE and 3g in USA or in countries in Europe? I'm a student and I'm going to change countries for better education in a year. So I need to know if LTE and 3G will work properly on major carriers in USA or in countries in Europe. Thanks for your help earlier though, really appreciate the time you taken to do the researches for my help. Thanks.
Hi all! Hope you're well and safe.
I'm moving to the UK soon and bought a S22 Ultra a couple of days ago. Did not find out about Samsung's inexplicable and baffling region locks on the phones and certain features (Samsung Pay, etc.) before I bought the phone. Consequently, I've been researching on all issues I think I could face once I move to the UK later this month. Had a few questions about the same, so thought I'd reach out for help here.
a) I understand that Samsung Pay will not be available in the UK on my Indian S22, due to the region lock. Is this correct? To clarify, I don't intend to change the CSC if I'll only be losing Samsung Pay, as I'm sure Google Pay will be sufficient.
b) I understand that UK S22s are Exynos-based and not Snapdragon-based. Therefore, am I correct in assuming that I will be unable to flash UK firmware on my device, due to the SoCs being different?
c) I'm using a Samsung Galaxy Watch 4. I tried installing Google Pay on my watch, but was unable to find the app on the Play Store. Further reading led me to Google Pay's website, which states that Google Pay for Wear OS is only available in select countries, including the UK, with India not being included. Would I be correct in assuming that once I change the country on my Google account, I will have access to the app on my watch? Also, would the watch automatically have access to apps in the UK once my Google account's country is changed?
d) I understand that the international version of the S22 Ultra (which I believe is the model I'm using) will have no problems connecting to 5G networks in the UK, since most networks in the UK use band 78. Can anyone who's travelled to the UK confirm if they've been able to successfully access 5G networks in the UK on their Indian S22s?
Thank you for taking the time to read this post. Grateful for any help I can get!
Cheers!
If your device is SM-S980E which I belive is the Indian & International model , then it will support 5G in UK for sure. Both the European devices & the International ddevices support the same 5G bands , they used to be the same version before.
Samsung pay should work But you won't get Uk exclusive offers
Google pay will work once you travel to UK
Hi OP. I am moving to UK too in a fortnight. Were you able to change the country code?
a b c yes
d likely because Indian (E model) and UK (B model) have same 4G/5G bands.
Hi folks.
Last year I've got robbed in California when I was traveling with my cousin, and decided to buy one S22 Ultra, once I like so much the Samsumg Wallet app and service.
The service is working alright, however, I can not access the "Rewards Program" from Brazil.
Since I got back home in Brazil, I restored the mobile to the factory details, nothing new.
After that, realized that in "country and region" tab the country "United States" was sticky, could not change manually to Brazil.
Thinking that changing the country might solve the trouble, I contacted Samsung US, did the whole procedure they asked me (including an explicit declaration) and changed the country to Brazil. Later, restored again my phone to factory details.
Now I see that nothing changes the Samsung Wallet Rewards Programs, it keeps appearing announcements of macys and other brands in US, nothing alike brazilian program, and I actually would like to use it, like I got used to use in my last galaxy (the phone robbed was a xiaomi, had to use google pay instead of samsumg pay), one thing that inarguably made me to get back to samsung.
SHOULD I CHANGE THE FIRMWARE? I completely depleted my support with samsung.com (Brazil and US), they can not help me, they say once my phone is bought in US, it's gonna be alwase US.
Got informations about following model versions of fw: "SC-52CSCG14", "SM-S9080", "SM-S908B", "SM-S908E", "SM-S908N", "SM-S908U", "SM-S908U1" and "SM-S908W".
My phone is "SM-S908U1", but I couldnt find any brazilian firmware of SM-S908U1.
I have found ONLY the SM-S908E in brazilian version, question: IS IT GONNA WORK ON MY PHONE?
Second question: IS IT GONNA SOLVE MY PROBLEM OF SAMSUNG WALLET (appearing our Brazilian Rewards Programs [instead of americans])?
Thank you very much.