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not sure about sprint, but Verizon when I use to hack motorlas, had the hardest registery to hack, and graphical interface witout flashing a complete new Rom, and I couldn't stand not beinging able to swap out phones with just a SIM card change, Verizon and Sprint, are tooo controlling, and I would avoid them, sure clarity and service are good on the CDMA network, but, I can't stand feeling like I'm being controlled, and the slight degrade in service doesn't offest the negatives
Dalamak said:
not sure about sprint, but Verizon when I use to hack motorlas, had the hardest registery to hack, and graphical interface witout flashing a complete new Rom, and I couldn't stand not beinging able to swap out phones with just a SIM card change, Verizon and Sprint, are tooo controlling, and I would avoid them, sure clarity and service are good on the CDMA network, but, I can't stand feeling like I'm being controlled, and the slight degrade in service doesn't offest the negatives
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Couple things
1 - CDMA Touch Pro 2 also has SIM slot and should work on GSM networks (I haven't seen it myself so 'should' but the SIM slot is there in the spec) - You can swap whatever SIM car you want in the CDMA TP2.
2 - T-Mob reception at my house sucks
3 - I got 28% monthly service discount for Sprint vs 15% for T-Mob from my employee
Conclusion: What is bad for you isn't bad for everyone...
Actually, the GSM is locked so it only works outside the US. (I think it is hardware locked too so it would be very hard to crack.)
Dalamak said:
not sure about sprint, but Verizon when I use to hack motorlas, had the hardest registery to hack, and graphical interface witout flashing a complete new Rom, and I couldn't stand not beinging able to swap out phones with just a SIM card change, Verizon and Sprint, are tooo controlling, and I would avoid them, sure clarity and service are good on the CDMA network, but, I can't stand feeling like I'm being controlled, and the slight degrade in service doesn't offest the negatives
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I don't like feeling controlled either, but I like staring at a $500 phone with 0 signal bars even less.
Where I live and drive, any phone running on anything else besides Verizon is as good as a brick.
Sorry man, The Network > All
And honestly, I don't see changing phones as an issue at all. With Verizon you can swap out phones in 10 seconds online via ESN swap. And as for selection, aside from a very few devices like the iPhone or Hero, there are CDMA version of most major US based GSM phones. The only area that CDMA really lacks is that you can't activate overseas phones like some of the rarer Nokia's, but those phones usually don't have US 3G anyway so wtf is the point?
dgourd said:
Actually, the GSM is locked so it only works outside the US. (I think it is hardware locked too so it would be very hard to crack.)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Quadband GSM capabilities are available on both Verizon and Sprint's Rhodiums.
According to the sheet from Verizon...
{
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"lightbox_start_slideshow": "Start slideshow",
"lightbox_stop_slideshow": "Stop slideshow",
"lightbox_full_screen": "Full screen",
"lightbox_thumbnails": "Thumbnails",
"lightbox_download": "Download",
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Verizon Wireless said:
EV-DO, 1X RTT capable (Rev. A capable); GSM Quad Band (GSM/GPRS/EDGE); UMTS / WCDMA / HSDPA / HSUPA
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That $489 off-contract price point and the un-crippled RAM really makes me think... should I go to Verizon off-contract at $489 or pay $450 on contract at Sprint before rebates?
computerpro3 said:
I don't like feeling controlled either, but I like staring at a $500 phone with 0 signal bars even less.
And as for selection, aside from a very few devices like the iPhone or Hero, there are CDMA version of most major US based GSM phones.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Actually, Sprint is coming out with their version of the Hero.
@labsONE
They do have GSM capabilities. The GSM only works oustside the US though. Read the FCC filings. They said they locked the GSM through hardware and firmware so it only works outside US. Inside US, you have CDMA.
dgourd said:
Actually, Sprint is coming out with their version of the Hero.
@labsONE
They do have GSM capabilities. The GSM only works oustside the US though. Read the FCC filings. They said they locked the GSM through hardware and firmware so it only works outside US. Inside US, you have CDMA.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I unlocked my Telus version which says the same thing on the box and it works on Rogers in Canada and should work on any network and with any sim. Even tried it with an orange sim from france.
so it only works outside US. Inside US, you have CDMA.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
it works on Rogers in Canada
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Um...that would be outside the US. Sorry, felt like being a ****.
I personally like the phone and all of it could be capibilities...
There's a SIM slot and I have a AT&T PAYG card sitting in it - it works fine (this is a Canadian Telus TP2.) Unfortunately I can't get the 3G working yet but I am sure HSPA will be able to be leveraged sooner or later with some tweaks.
CDMA reception is very good and data speeds on EVDO are fast.
Actually both Sprint & Verizon allow you to swap between the phones you are using online.
Verizon allows you to switch even easier, by just grabbing the phone(Verizon) you want to use, and dialing *228, you can activate it via an automated system.
computerjunkie said:
Um...that would be outside the US. Sorry, felt like being a ****.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Canadian version from Telus are obviously locked for Canadian other GSM provider... Like your US version it is unlockable.
jessiethe3rd said:
There's a SIM slot and I have a AT&T PAYG card sitting in it - it works fine (this is a Canadian Telus TP2.) Unfortunately I can't get the 3G working yet but I am sure HSPA will be able to be leveraged sooner or later with some tweaks.
CDMA reception is very good and data speeds on EVDO are fast.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Enabling 3g with AT&T will be a hardware hack! I dont think its possible that easily!
MightyROM
I have the CDMA U.S. Cellular Version.
I used MightyROM.
It apparently first used a CID Unlock to be able to install itself.
MightyROM is completely Windows from the Ground up as is advertised (freeware) and acts more like an upgrade to windows mobile 6.5 so gives a definite windows feel to it with extended capabilities over the original WM6.5. It allows for Provisioning/Preparing of Data Services to any of the other CDMA carriers but it wouldn't register on Boost Mobile's site after provisioning to Sprint (Sprint owns Boost Mobile) when I tried to activate online and said it was invalid MEID so I'm guessing you have to spoof the MEID # to be able to get it to work on that carrier because it should have worked if it was truly CDMA unlocked and Provisioned to Sprint (I have activated Sprint Phones on Boost Mobile in the Past without much trouble) but I don't know of any way to do that(?) but the CID unlock is essentially a spoof also right so should be able to somehow right? I havn't had a chance to check and see if any of the other carriers would accept the current MEID but I did try a bluetooth PAN connection to a blackberry running on boost (that is actually also a Sprint branded phone lol) but was unsuccessful although it looked like it was about to work for a moment, might need some minor tweaking?
I also popped a couple SIM cards in. The phone seemed to at least partially acknowledge them but the program seemed to be acting buggy so I'm guessing that has to do with another security mechanism blocking it in the extended Flash ROM.
I'm guessing it goes in levels and the next security mechanism is what Olipro call's the security unlock. Still haven't figured out or found any information on what this is or does but apparently it's part of the extended ROM. The might ROM seems to unlock the CDMA and allows to change to Global and GSM modes after install (Before I couldn't change it, it was locked into CDMA only) so I am extremely curious about the extended ROM and what it's programmed to be doing as far as closing/preventing available connections that should be there but aren't. The hardware is definitely there, it's just not being used because it's blocked by the programming. Seem's like it's in the HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE/System/StorageManager/AutoLoad/Ext_FlashDRV when you have ROOT Superuser access in a Regedit application (I'm using Rescoe Registry app) but I don't know what values to change or try and implement and I don't want to mess anything up so will have to keep searching unless someone knows something?
I've heard that one of the files in the extended *flash ROM is nearly essential to have a working touch screen so I don't want to try to delete it all at least for that reason. Although, If I could correctly identify and locate the essential files needed for the smooth operation like the touch driver then It seems like I could just move them into the main flash ROM and then delete the extended flash ROM Carrier Junk. That would certainly take care of a lot of issues it seems and free up the space/memory?
Anyone know where I can find the Key Values and their associated meanings for the registry?
I also tried flashing a Radio. Even though I am CID unlocked the flash failed so this definitely makes me think there is something to the security lock that Olipro talks about, but as I said, I can't find any info. on it. Help plz?
derekstaroba said:
I have the CDMA U.S. Cellular Version.
I used MightyROM.
It apparently first used a CID Unlock to be able to install itself.
MightyROM is completely Windows from the Ground up as is advertised (freeware) and acts more like an upgrade to windows mobile 6.5 so gives a definite windows feel to it with extended capabilities over the original WM6.5. It allows for Provisioning/Preparing of Data Services to any of the other CDMA carriers but it wouldn't register on Boost Mobile's site after provisioning to Sprint (Sprint owns Boost Mobile) when I tried to activate online and said it was invalid MEID so I'm guessing you have to spoof the MEID # to be able to get it to work on that carrier because it should have worked if it was truly CDMA unlocked and Provisioned to Sprint (I have activated Sprint Phones on Boost Mobile in the Past without much trouble) but I don't know of any way to do that(?) but the CID unlock is essentially a spoof also right so should be able to somehow right? I havn't had a chance to check and see if any of the other carriers would accept the current MEID but I did try a bluetooth PAN connection to a blackberry running on boost (that is actually also a Sprint branded phone lol) but was unsuccessful although it looked like it was about to work for a moment, might need some minor tweaking?
I also popped a couple SIM cards in. The phone seemed to at least partially acknowledge them but the program seemed to be acting buggy so I'm guessing that has to do with another security mechanism blocking it in the extended Flash ROM.
I'm guessing it goes in levels and the next security mechanism is what Olipro call's the security unlock. Still haven't figured out or found any information on what this is or does but apparently it's part of the extended ROM. The might ROM seems to unlock the CDMA and allows to change to Global and GSM modes after install (Before I couldn't change it, it was locked into CDMA only) so I am extremely curious about the extended ROM and what it's programmed to be doing as far as closing/preventing available connections that should be there but aren't. The hardware is definitely there, it's just not being used because it's blocked by the programming. Seem's like it's in the HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE/System/StorageManager/AutoLoad/Ext_FlashDRV when you have ROOT Superuser access in a Regedit application (I'm using Rescoe Registry app) but I don't know what values to change or try and implement and I don't want to mess anything up so will have to keep searching unless someone knows something?
I've heard that one of the files in the extended *flash ROM is nearly essential to have a working touch screen so I don't want to try to delete it all at least for that reason. Although, If I could correctly identify and locate the essential files needed for the smooth operation like the touch driver then It seems like I could just move them into the main flash ROM and then delete the extended flash ROM Carrier Junk. That would certainly take care of a lot of issues it seems and free up the space/memory?
Anyone know where I can find the Key Values and their associated meanings for the registry?
I also tried flashing a Radio. Even though I am CID unlocked the flash failed so this definitely makes me think there is something to the security lock that Olipro talks about, but as I said, I can't find any info. on it. Help plz?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
there is no extended rom partition anymore, that was a feature for older htc phones..
don't worry, you can't just delete the touch screen driver accidentally because it's in rom. you would only be able to remove it if cooking a rom
the US GSM networks are blocked in the radio firmware itself.
which radio did you try to flash? before flashing, be sure it's declared as compatible with your device model.
the security unlocker is here: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=578642
cmonex said:
there is no extended rom partition anymore, that was a feature for older htc phones..
don't worry, you can't just delete the touch screen driver accidentally because it's in rom. you would only be able to remove it if cooking a rom
the US GSM networks are blocked in the radio firmware itself.
which radio did you try to flash? before flashing, be sure it's declared as compatible with your device model.
the security unlocker is here: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=578642
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I tried to flash the two sprint radios so far. First I tried the recommended one then I tried the other. I figured I should go with the sprint ones especially since my device is the US. cellular version and that is the RHodium400 or whatever its called that is pretty much identical to the sprint version, aside from some software, as I understand.
I am able to flash any ROM but the security/SIM unlocker is not working. I sent the ticket out just a little while ago. I got it yesterday but I thought since i was using windows 7 that i was going to have to install xp so I was working on getting a partition in my disk drive on computer and got side tracked (Never done before) into learning that but eventually it got so complex (mounted an iso and am supposed to install via grub menu in dos/linux) that I just gave up and figured I would just try and see if I could get installed on windows 7 first. I did, and it ran the first step fine, but won't do the sim unlock. Keeps saying device is in flight mode or IMEI is invalid. So sent the ticket and made another thread.
I was using MightyROM but I reverted back to the stock ROM and tried again. That didn't work.
Trying a few other things now. Gonna try and install Sprint ROM and see if that does anything. I'm guessing I need to change the radio/baseband but every thing I have tried to far fails. I figured the Security unlocker has to do with the radio but I havn't been able to find out a whole lot about it or what it does or what the encryption/restriction on the radio might even be for the U.S. Cell version.
Thanks so much for your reply. It is greatly appreciated
Discovered something interesting?
I just discovered something interesting. I installed the sprint stock ROM and it managed to change the radio/baseband version, but the network still defaults to U.S. Cellular. That is very strange. I would really really like to know what is the security mechanism that is making the phone do this
I'm guessing the radio/SIM is in fact unlocked like the phone says when I go into the SIM Manager thingy but somehow there is some programming from the U.S. Cellular carrier to always default to U.S. Cellular no matter what?!
Yes> This is very Strange. Not at all like an iphone :s
Here is what I have in device information on software:
Radio Version - 1.96.00 WF (Original -I believe- Sprint Stock Radio, Was 2.18.... Before I installed the Sprint Stock ROM/Radio Combo After HardSPL Unlocking -1.0 Olinex )
ROM - Mighty ROM
OS Version - 5.2.2....
Manilla Version 2.5.2012....
etc.... (Not that any of this -other than the radio and the fact that U.S. Cell Default - Seems to matter?)
I am super Confused!
Even mighty ROM Provision To sprint doesn't seem to completely Register. It will Provision and Provision all day long and install cab files all day long but always reverts back to U.S. Cell as the carrier and won't Detect any other networks in Comm. Manager/Phone Settings. I tried GSM and Global modes, and tried just about everything else from manually inputting the baseband frequencies and networks etc...
But like I said, there is an extended Flash Drv in the Registry Edit. You said it's not partitioned? I know flash drives are slightly different and that has something to do with the way it reads,stores, and writes information. But I don't know too much else. I think its supposed to have strong electromagnetic properties and is resistant to static electricity and drops or damage. I am wondering if partitioning a phone is also different from that of partitioning a computer?
Here are the few things I notice in the Registry that seem interesting to me/probable places for me to look:
H_Key Local Machine ... Security/PUshRouter/Security
Subkeys: (Default)
Provider10 - SecProviders.SyncMLSecProvider
Provider20- SecProviders.WAPXMLSecProvider
Provider90- SecProviders.UnauthSecProvider
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE/Drivers/BlockDevice/FlashDRV
There is also something Called BtC that is mentioned a lot. There are quite a few drivers and files associated with it.
And of Course : HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE/Drivers/BuiltIn/Ext_FlashDRV is there. There is also FLASHDRV just below it along with numerous other files listed.
First Subkey of the extended FlashDRV is Defualt followed by:
Dll - OEM_FlashDRV.DLL (OEM is original Equipment Manufacturer? Maybe this is in reference to the carrier, U.S. Cellular?? or just HTC?) Lots of other keys besides that I have no way to identify what they mean.
I really am just trying to learn as I go along though. Don't have much other choice really want to use my phone how I want to use it not how some bs network wants me to use. I have hardware on this device that is completely inactive. I bought the whole phone I didn't buy part of it grrrrr this is like buying a car but not being able to use the back seat wtf lol
Pardon my noobness, I will explain this to the best of my abilities
AT&T told me that my current phone Samsung S8+ will not work on their network (international dual sim unlocked version). They said that it is because "the 3G will shut off" but this phone is clearly a 4G phone. To be more specific, my device is a SM-G955FD. They sent me a replacement phone which is less than crappy and said my current sim will be deactivated soon.
I have already rooted (and ROM'ed) my phone - and I know you can change device identity/fingerprint using build props. I want to mask my phone as a SM-G955FU which is the USA unlocked version. At this point, I'd like to know if this could make a difference and make my phone not be deactivated by fooling their system, or if there are other things to try.
List of permitted phones
https://www.att.com/idpassets/images/support/wireless/Service-Capabilities-Unlocked-Devices-ATT-Network.pdf
Help appreciated,
I don't think they query device's brand / model property as stored in Android's build.prop file because these characteristics at any time can get changed by user.
The speed of data access relies on two things: your phone and your service provider. Every phone has a radio module that is responsible for talking to the network. It is this piece of hardware that either can or can not use latest communication technologies: if the phone does not support 4G, you will not get that speed whatever you try.
jwoegerbauer said:
I don't think they query device's brand / model property as stored in Android's build.prop file because these characteristics at any time can get changed by user.
The speed of data access relies on two things: your phone and your service provider. Every phone has a radio module that is responsible for talking to the network. It is this piece of hardware that either can or can not use latest communication technologies: if the phone does not support 4G, you will not get that speed whatever you try.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks, what is odd is that it should support it on several bands
Will Samsung Galaxy S8+ work in USA?
In this page we are going to show you the compatibility of Samsung Galaxy S8+ with the mobile networks of USA and with the telephony operators that provide service in USA.
www.kimovil.com
The same thing happened to me today, woke up to a sim not registered message and no cell service (voice, sms or data).
I went to the store and they said my unlocked Moto G7 Power (XT1955-2) is not supported/compatible on ATT's network. I re-checked the phone's specs and it supports 4G LTE on bands 12 and 17 on 1900 Mhz which overlaps the data I found for ATT's network. I'm not well versed in this stuff tho. Perhaps it's a local towers thing and I am in an area where their towers are operating on the other ATT frequencies (1700, 700)? The guy at the store did something (I forget the exact details) and I do have voice back, but that is it, no data or SMS. He also mentioned that ATT is like cracking down on what kind of devices can connect. If ATT is blocking my device tho I'm curious, how is it possible? I guess they can lookup my device via the IMEI and then see if it's on their approve list of devices?
I don't understand their problem. Your phone model is listed as supported as long as you update your software to enable WiFi calling (VoLTE). Come 2/2022, you phone must either be 5G or VoLTE calling enabled to be supported. My Xiaomi Mi Mix 2s shows that it can do VoLTE under the sim card details in Settings and supports 13 LTE bands, including AT&T's bands. It should continue to work on their network after 2/2022.
Yet AT&T repeatedly disabled my phone. I had to tell them to re-activate my phone multiple times. I have tried some new phones. Turned out everytime I pulled the sim out to try a new phone and stick it back in my old phone, AT&T would check the phone's IMEI again and would disable the phone. On the 5th call with them, they put in a code/note in their system to mark my IMEI (be ware each sim tray has its own IMEI) not to be disabled until Fed 2022. I have since tried Surface Duo which on this list and decided not to keep it. Stuck the sim card back in my old phone specific sim tray and it continues to work.
Call them to re-activate/keep your phone active until Fed 2022. They have no rights to disable your phone before then.
Most A&T reps understand less than us on the reason to disable our phone. They jsut keep saying 3G phones will be disabled but our phoens are clearly LTE. VoLTE is one real reason of the problem but them our phones support VoLTE anyway. I am tired of arguing with them and am looking at a Note 10 now. But your situation got me concerned. Sounds like they may not honor the supported list which is updated frequently. I downloaded the June version of the list which is largely the same as yours and asked them how long they would support the phones on the list. They couldn't/wouldn't commit. Even on the phones they sell at their website, they would only give a vague promise to support them for "quite a while".
AT&T has always advertized BYOP. We spent big money on nice phones that are compatible with their network. And now the want to shut us out.
If a VoLTE capable phone has the mbn files updated to use those of an AT&T white listed phone what would need to happen to get the phone active on AT&T's network?
healerdan said:
If a VoLTE capable phone has the mbn files updated to use those of an AT&T white listed phone what would need to happen to get the phone active on AT&T's network?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The same as any other device, SIM/carrier unlock the device then activate the device on AT&T using an AT&T SIM.
I know what white list means but I don't understand what that has to do with what you are asking.
Also, just because the device is VoLTE capable, that does not necessarily mean you will be able to use the VoLTE feature on the AT&T network, even if you successfully activate the device on AT&T. VoLTE is controlled and regulated by the carrier, you will not be able to use VoLTE unless AT&T offers VoLTE support for your specific device, if they do not offer VoLTE support for your specific model number, you will not be able to use VoLTE on the AT&T network.
OP, it would help to know which model of phone.
My unlocked N10+ has no issues on AT&T.
Works identically to my AT&T N10+ variant.
Try talking to AT&T advanced technical support.
Droidriven said:
The same as any other device, SIM/carrier unlock the device then activate the device on AT&T using an AT&T SIM.
I know what white list means but I don't understand what that has to do with what you are asking.
Also, just because the device is VoLTE capable, that does not necessarily mean you will be able to use the VoLTE feature on the AT&T network, even if you successfully activate the device on AT&T. VoLTE is controlled and regulated by the carrier, you will not be able to use VoLTE unless AT&T offers VoLTE support for your specific device, if they do not offer VoLTE support for your specific model number, you will not be able to use VoLTE on the AT&T network.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Right. So VoLTE is a software program which must be present in the firmware of the phone. When AT&T developed their whitelist, they charged manufacturers to "certify" their VoLTE software on the AT&T network. The manufacturer of my phone (ASUS) along with many other manufacturers chose not to pay AT&T for the privilege of AT&T's customers continuing to use their (sometimes) relatively new devices (mine is barely two years old now, and I purchased it outright with the intention of using it for 5-6 years.)
So the software which runs VoLTE from my phone can be altered to work like one of AT&T's 'whitelisted' phones. This is discussed in this guide (as well as others) in which the final few steps has us replace the VoLTE programming with that of a phone from a different manufacturer.
My question is, supposing I can comfortably flash the .mbn file from a phone on AT&T's whitelist AND it works, what other information does AT&T have on my phone which might prevent my phone from connecting to their network? I believe that when I spoke to them and activated my IMEI they asked what phone I had. I think that based on the model information which I told them, it has been disabled*. If I were to tell them "oh, yeah, it's actually a Pixel 4" would there be any other checks which I'd have to spoof/bypass to continue using my phone?
*Also, I'm sure that my phone tried to make a 3g call which their system could have flagged. I'm working to reprogram my phone to only operate with VoLTE, so when I reactivate my phone that flag wouldn't reappear.
blackhawk said:
OP, it would help to know which model of phone.
My unlocked N10+ has no issues on AT&T.
Works identically to my AT&T N10+ variant.
Try talking to AT&T advanced technical support.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I didn't feel that my specific model was relevant and figured there's plenty of others wondering a similar thing as AT&T's actions are causing many perfectly good phones to go to disuse. I wanted this thread to generally discuss VoLTE programming and what, if any, recourse a power user might have to program their own non-whitelisted phone to conform with AT&T's network demands.
As you asked, and I would certainly appreciate any personalized assistance, I am using an ASUS ROG ii. The phone is VoLTE capable, and is functional on T-mobile's network, but ASUS apparently didn't want to pay AT&T to "certify" the phone on AT&T's network. I know no stock firmware coming from ASUS will allow me to connect to AT&T's network, but a procedure described in this guide ends with us flashing the .mbn file of a different phone onto ours to utilize "known working" VoLTE software.
I'm sure finding an .mbn that matches both the ROG ii's hardware AND is compatible with AT&T's network isn't going to be a breeze, but assuming that's possible - what other hurdles might I face with AT&T? If I call them to have my phone activated and tell them it's a pixel 4 what happens if I've programmed my phone to communicate on their network as though it were a pixel 4?
I don't think AT&T really cares that much as they're making a killing on the service.
The worst they will do unless it's illegal or specified in writing is to not support the device as far as troubleshooting it. Oddly some techs there will go out of their way sometimes to help you find out of box solutions.
Once you update it you may have to ask them to do a network reset on their end.
I always try to verify a device I'm getting is 100% compatible with their network, if not I return it.
That's one of the first shake down tests I do with a new phone.
This is why
healerdan said:
I didn't feel that my specific model was relevant and figured there's plenty of others wondering a similar thing as AT&T's actions are causing many perfectly good phones to go to disuse. I wanted this thread to generally discuss VoLTE programming and what, if any, recourse a power user might have to program their own non-whitelisted phone to conform with AT&T's network demands.
As you asked, and I would certainly appreciate any personalized assistance, I am using an ASUS ROG ii. The phone is VoLTE capable, and is functional on T-mobile's network, but ASUS apparently didn't want to pay AT&T to "certify" the phone on AT&T's network. I know no stock firmware coming from ASUS will allow me to connect to AT&T's network, but a procedure described in this guide ends with us flashing the .mbn file of a different phone onto ours to utilize "known working" VoLTE software.
I'm sure finding an .mbn that matches both the ROG ii's hardware AND is compatible with AT&T's network isn't going to be a breeze, but assuming that's possible - what other hurdles might I face with AT&T? If I call them to have my phone activated and tell them it's a pixel 4 what happens if I've programmed my phone to communicate on their network as though it were a pixel 4?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No, telling them you have a different phone isn't going to work. Your phone actually identifies itself to the network based upon a combination of hardware and software information that the network detects or receives from the device remotely, their job on the other end is to set their network up to provide service to the identified device and to identify the device and the service as yours. If you tell them that you have a Pixel 4 and they configure the network on their end to make VoLTE work with Pixel 4 then VoLTE more than likely will not work on your device because the system thinks you have Pixel 4 hardware and software when you actually don't. That is like asking a car parts store for a starter for a Ford engine when you actually need a starter for a Nissan engine, they'll give you what you ask for but it doesn't mean the Ford starter will actually work on the Nissan engine.
Trying to trick them into enabling VoLTE probably won't work, if their system does not offer VoLTE support for your hardware itself, you will not be able to use VoLTE.
It basically boils down to this, control of whether VoLTE will work for you or not is completely in their hands, not yours, it is all done from their end, there isn't really anything you can do from your end.
If you want to use VoLTE on their network, then you need to get a device that is compatible with their VoLTE service and is actually supported by their network.
Even if you find a shortcut to make VoLTE work, somehow, someway, you will not be satisfied with the end result.
Droidriven said:
If you tell them that you have a Pixel 4 and they configure the network on their end to make VoLTE work with Pixel 4 then VoLTE more than likely will not work on your device because the system thinks you have Pixel 4 hardware and software when you actually don't.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I think you are missing the part where I am using (in this example) programming and hardware from a pixel 4. this is only partly a hardware problem, but there's not as wide an array of different hardware types as you seem to think. a cursory search shows my device utilizes a snapdragon 855, and an X50 modem. The Oneplus 6T, which is permitted on AT&T's network utilizes the exact same hardware. The difference between the two phones is that Oneplus was ready to pay AT&T to check their software engineer's work.
Droidriven said:
That is like asking a car parts store for a starter for a Ford engine when you actually need a starter for a Nissan engine, they'll give you what you ask for but it doesn't mean the Ford starter will actually work on the Nissan engine.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If you want a car analogy it would be more like... I purchased an after market starter which has the same bolt& spindle pattern, and electrical configuration BUT when I connected everything ford's on-board diagnostics refused to start using a non-ford component. In this scenario, I have already done the starter installation and software patch, and know that these two things are operating as they should. I am now reaching out to the modder's forum to see if anyone knows of any other checks the OBD does to verify the starter which I should take into account while designing my patch before I turn on my car.
Droidriven said:
Trying to trick them into enabling VoLTE probably won't work, if their system does not offer VoLTE support for your hardware itself, you will not be able to use VoLTE.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
See first response - the communications hardware is the same between my phone and other phones on their whitelist.
Droidriven said:
It basically boils down to this, control of whether VoLTE will work for you or not is completely in their hands, not yours, it is all done from their end, there isn't really anything you can do from your end.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
VoLTE is just like any other communications protocol, it requires both devices to be able to communicate, and is a matter of both software and hardware. The thing that is lacking in my case is software, not hardware. and as the guide which I linked previously shows the software can be altered.
Droidriven said:
Your phone actually identifies itself to the network based upon a combination of hardware and software information that the network detects or receives from the device remotely, their job on the other end is to set their network up to provide service to the identified device and to identify the device and the service as yours.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
This seems to be getting at what I'm actually asking. I'm trying to see what other items are involved in the "handshake" between my device and the network which might cause a flag. do you know what the "combination of hardware and software information" which the carrier's network uses to identify my phone would be, specifically?
healerdan said:
I think you are missing the part where I am using (in this example) programming and hardware from a pixel 4. this is only partly a hardware problem, but there's not as wide an array of different hardware types as you seem to think. a cursory search shows my device utilizes a snapdragon 855, and an X50 modem. The Oneplus 6T, which is permitted on AT&T's network utilizes the exact same hardware. The difference between the two phones is that Oneplus was ready to pay AT&T to check their software engineer's work.
If you want a car analogy it would be more like... I purchased an after market starter which has the same bolt& spindle pattern, and electrical configuration BUT when I connected everything ford's on-board diagnostics refused to start using a non-ford component. In this scenario, I have already done the starter installation and software patch, and know that these two things are operating as they should. I am now reaching out to the modder's forum to see if anyone knows of any other checks the OBD does to verify the starter which I should take into account while designing my patch before I turn on my car.
See first response - the communications hardware is the same between my phone and other phones on their whitelist.
VoLTE is just like any other communications protocol, it requires both devices to be able to communicate, and is a matter of both software and hardware. The thing that is lacking in my case is software, not hardware. and as the guide which I linked previously shows the software can be altered.
This seems to be getting at what I'm actually asking. I'm trying to see what other items are involved in the "handshake" between my device and the network which might cause a flag. do you know what the "combination of hardware and software information" which the carrier's network uses to identify my phone would be, specifically?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Actually, my car analogy was accurate, I don't think I explained why as well as I could have. The hardware/software differences that I'm referring to equate to the differing parts having the same purpose and same function but having differening bolt patterns the same as a Ford/Nissan starter sharing the same purpose and function but have differing bolt patterns.
Yes, another device might share the same hardware components and be approved but that doesn't necessarily mean that there is cross compatibility because the two devices have other differences that come into play.
When I say "if they support your hardware", I am not referring to ONLY the radio hardware, I mean the whole device being different hardware, which means differences in kernel also because kernel and hardware are very closely related which comes into play because these components also play a part in identifying the device remotely. Using a kernel from another device won't work either because the "other" hardware differences between the devices would cause the kernel from another device to brick your device.
You can modify software and you can emulate software but emulation at the hardware level isn't really feasible for android.
Some of the "handshakes" that identify your device come from things that if you modify them to make the network see your device as a different device, it may cause your device to lose functionality, other parts are illegal in certain places so they can't be discussed here.
It is such a rabbit hole that it is just all around more sensible to just use a device that is compatible without modifying. If you want to use VoLTE on AT&T, you'll have more success by playing their game because they hold the cards.
Why AT&T are shutting down all not AT&T phones on their Network | AT&T Community Forums
Why AT&T are shutting down all not AT&T phones on their Network?. Even if phones are working perfectly on AT&T network now and are 4G with VoLTE, Video Calling and WiFi calling capabil...
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List of supported unlocked phones and services available:
Hi,
I bought the phone about a year ago, secondhand from the local ecommerce. The phone still had android 10 so I updated it to 11. It was fine, until a few months later when it started to lose cell service. It could be solved by turning airplane mode on-off or restarting the device back then, but now I can't get service at all.
Pixels isn't officially sold in Indonesia, and it was most likely bought in Japan. I can see the "osaifu keitai" app but also a load of Verizon-related apps/activities. I'm not sure if this is a locked phone, not only because I've unlocked the bootloader easily (like a regular phone), but I also only have "Sim 1 not allowed" or "Phone not allowed for voice" notifications instead of "Contact Verizon" or something like that.
Here's the thing though, I can't get service with almost all major carriers here (Telkomsel, Indosat, XL), but I can with Smartfren, even surf the internet with LTE, but still can't make a call or dial USSD codes. I have done this guide, also manually select a network from settings, 4636, even locked freq band with Network Signal Guru, still no luck and I'm out of ideas now. Whether it's the official build from Google or rooted LineageOS (what I use now), it's always the same.
Please help. Thanks in advance.
Hope I'm not too late to reply.
Hi, I'm currently using Pixel 3a XL that i bought around 4 months ago, "blackmarket" phone is banned in Indonesia so this tend to happen. Government blocks the "blackmarket" phone's IMEI because the IMEI in our phone is made by "injection" or sort (yeah, your provider is connected to your IMEI code, i don't know how it works) and that is illegal because we don't pay tax for the phone. In my experience of buying "blackmarket" phone, i had to send my IMEI image to the seller as for "warranty" purpose, if that didn't happen to you when you were buying the phone, it's better to use third party store to restore/inject new IMEI, don't forget to move/backup your data before doing it.
cliffflip said:
Hi,
I bought the phone about a year ago, secondhand from the local ecommerce. The phone still had android 10 so I updated it to 11. It was fine, until a few months later when it started to lose cell service. It could be solved by turning airplane mode on-off or restarting the device back then, but now I can't get service at all.
Pixels isn't officially sold in Indonesia, and it was most likely bought in Japan. I can see the "osaifu keitai" app but also a load of Verizon-related apps/activities. I'm not sure if this is a locked phone, not only because I've unlocked the bootloader easily (like a regular phone), but I also only have "Sim 1 not allowed" or "Phone not allowed for voice" notifications instead of "Contact Verizon" or something like that.
Here's the thing though, I can't get service with almost all major carriers here (Telkomsel, Indosat, XL), but I can with Smartfren, even surf the internet with LTE, but still can't make a call or dial USSD codes. I have done this guide, also manually select a network from settings, 4636, even locked freq band with Network Signal Guru, still no luck and I'm out of ideas now. Whether it's the official build from Google or rooted LineageOS (what I use now), it's always the same.
Please help. Thanks in advance.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
cliffflip said:
Hi,
I bought the phone about a year ago, secondhand from the local ecommerce. The phone still had android 10 so I updated it to 11. It was fine, until a few months later when it started to lose cell service. It could be solved by turning airplane mode on-off or restarting the device back then, but now I can't get service at all.
Pixels isn't officially sold in Indonesia, and it was most likely bought in Japan. I can see the "osaifu keitai" app but also a load of Verizon-related apps/activities. I'm not sure if this is a locked phone, not only because I've unlocked the bootloader easily (like a regular phone), but I also only have "Sim 1 not allowed" or "Phone not allowed for voice" notifications instead of "Contact Verizon" or something like that.
Here's the thing though, I can't get service with almost all major carriers here (Telkomsel, Indosat, XL), but I can with Smartfren, even surf the internet with LTE, but still can't make a call or dial USSD codes. I have done this guide, also manually select a network from settings, 4636, even locked freq band with Network Signal Guru, still no luck and I'm out of ideas now. Whether it's the official build from Google or rooted LineageOS (what I use now), it's always the same.
Please help. Thanks in advance.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hope I'm not too late to reply.
Hi, I'm currently using Pixel 3a XL that i bought around 4 months ago, "blackmarket" phone is banned in Indonesia so this tend to happen. Government blocks the "blackmarket" phone's IMEI because the IMEI in our phone is made by "injection" or sort (yeah, your provider is connected to your IMEI code, i don't know how it works) and that is illegal because we don't pay tax for the phone. In my experience of buying "blackmarket" phone, i had to send my IMEI image to the seller as for "warranty" purpose, if that didn't happen to you when you were buying the phone, it's better to use third party store to restore/inject new IMEI, don't forget to move/backup your data before doing it.
I got a Metro by T-Mobile phone unlocked on eBay and while the phone no longer rejects MVNO sims, it won't connect to any network either. It still connects when I put the Metro sim back in but it won't connect with sims from Lyca, Tello or Hello Mobile, all T-Mobile MVNOs. The phone is a TCL 30 XE 5G (T767W) and I bought two of them new and they both have the same problem. I'm new to the T-Mobile network and I don't know if I'm missing something. I've never had this kind of trouble on Verizon or AT&T. Has anyone else run into a problem like this? I appreciate any help anyone can offer.
Thanks!
Look inside here:
How to Check If Android Phone is Unlocked or Locked
Before buying a new Android Phone, it is best to check if Android Phone is Unlocked or Locked. Here are 2 ways to check the Simlock status of your Android phone.
www.unlockboot.com
xXx yYy said:
Look inside here:
How to Check If Android Phone is Unlocked or Locked
Before buying a new Android Phone, it is best to check if Android Phone is Unlocked or Locked. Here are 2 ways to check the Simlock status of your Android phone.
www.unlockboot.com
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
According to that site my phone is unlocked but it still won't connect to any network unless the original Metro sim is installed.
WhatsWrongWithThisPhone said:
According to that site my phone is unlocked but it still won't connect to any network unless the original Metro sim is installed.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Maybe you need to enter service menu and change your radio settings or maybe you need to flash a different modem for your specific model number.
I know you said you bought them new but can you confirm that their IMEI is intact?
Droidriven said:
Maybe you need to enter service menu and change your radio settings or maybe you need to flash a different modem for your specific model number.
I know you said you bought them new but can you confirm that their IMEI is intact?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thank you for your reply! Both phones were shipped to me from Metro by T-Mobile. The phones were able to connect with an MVNO sim when I set the radio to 2G only mode but that option disappeared when the phones updated to Android 12 and now they can't connect at all. Even before the update, the phones would frequently disconnect and I had to set them back to 2G only mode to get service back so there was always something wrong. I'm pretty good with computers but I've never flashed a phone before and I've been suspecting that I would have to do that with these phones. I'll be happy to check their IMEI numbers if you could let me know what I'm looking for. I'd also like to learn more about flashing a new modem as you mentioned above that sounds like it might address the problem. And if you wouldn't mind letting me know where I could find the service menu?
Thanks in advance!!
WhatsWrongWithThisPhone said:
Thank you for your reply! Both phones were shipped to me from Metro by T-Mobile. The phones were able to connect with an MVNO sim when I set the radio to 2G only mode but that option disappeared when the phones updated to Android 12 and now they can't connect at all. Even before the update, the phones would frequently disconnect and I had to set them back to 2G only mode to get service back so there was always something wrong. I'm pretty good with computers but I've never flashed a phone before and I've been suspecting that I would have to do that with these phones. I'll be happy to check their IMEI numbers if you could let me know what I'm looking for. I'd also like to learn more about flashing a new modem as you mentioned above that sounds like it might address the problem. And if you wouldn't mind letting me know where I could find the service menu?
Thanks in advance!!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
After they updated, have you tried booting into recovery and wiping the cache partition(not factory reset)? Sometimes, after updates, wiping cache is necessary to remove conflicts between previously existing data and the new update.
If you are getting a connection of any kind then your IMEI is fine.
Flashing a modem is sometimes necessary but it can have risks if you flash the wrong thing.
I'm not familiar with TCL devices or how they are flashed. Typically, to flash a different modem requires downloading a firmware that has the modem that you want/need then extracting the modem from the firmware then flash the extracted modem onto the device.
Methods to access service/radio menu different from device to device, I don't know how it is done on TCL devices. Most of the time it is done by using your dialer and dialing a specific code, if there is a dialer code for your device, you should be able to find it with a Google search for:
"TCL 30 XE 5G dialer menu code"
Or
"TCL 30 XE 5G service menu"
Droidriven said:
After they updated, have you tried booting into recovery and wiping the cache partition(not factory reset)? Sometimes, after updates, wiping cache is necessary to remove conflicts between previously existing data and the new update.
If you are getting a connection of any kind then your IMEI is fine.
Flashing a modem is sometimes necessary but it can have risks if you flash the wrong thing.
I'm not familiar with TCL devices or how they are flashed. Typically, to flash a different modem requires downloading a firmware that has the modem that you want/need then extracting the modem from the firmware then flash the extracted modem onto the device.
Methods to access service/radio menu different from device to device, I don't know how it is done on TCL devices. Most of the time it is done by using your dialer and dialing a specific code, if there is a dialer code for your device, you should be able to find it with a Google search for:
"TCL 30 XE 5G dialer menu code"
Or
"TCL 30 XE 5G service menu"
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I was able to find my phone's service mode or engineering mode (hope they're the same thing) and get service back by setting the phone to 2G only mode again but that doesn't solve the problem of it losing service when LTE or 5G are turned on. Are there any other settings I could try changing?
WhatsWrongWithThisPhone said:
I was able to find my phone's service mode or engineering mode (hope they're the same thing) and get service back by setting the phone to 2G only mode again but that doesn't solve the problem of it losing service when LTE or 5G are turned on. Are there any other settings I could try changing?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Can you use the service menu to find out which bands/frequencies and network type the current modem/radio is using?
Can you find out which bands/frequencies and network type that your carrier network is using?
Compare them to see if they are compatible.
Or, try calling customer support for your carrier, there may be something they need to do in their system from their end to get your device to connect.
Droidriven said:
Can you use the service menu to find out which bands/frequencies and network type the current modem/radio is using?
Can you find out which bands/frequencies and network type that your carrier network is using?
Compare them to see if they are compatible.
Or, try calling customer support for your carrier, there may be something they need to do in their system from their end to get your device to connect.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
What do you mean by network type?
There are a lot of options to choose from, several of them list bands. Is there a specific menu I should look for?
The carrier I have the phone on is Tello which is a T-Mobile MVNO. I've also tried Lyca and Hello Mobile both are also Tmo MVNOs and all three had the same problem. The phones are from Metro by T-Mobile so everything should be compatible. Tello customer service has tried to help but they can't figure it out.
WhatsWrongWithThisPhone said:
What do you mean by network type?
There are a lot of options to choose from, several of them list bands. Is there a specific menu I should look for?
The carrier I have the phone on is Tello which is a T-Mobile MVNO. I've also tried Lyca and Hello Mobile both are also Tmo MVNOs and all three had the same problem. The phones are from Metro by T-Mobile so everything should be compatible. Tello customer service has tried to help but they can't figure it out.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
But, are the bands that are presently available on the device within the range of bands that your carrier uses? Do the network and the device use the same bands? If so, you shouldn't need to flash a different modem, if not, you may need a different modem.
Did you boot into recovery and wipe the cache partition to remove any potential conflicts caused by updating to android 12?
Are you certain that the SIM(s) you are trying to use is/are valid and active? If they have been previously deactivated, they won't work
Don't skip through my posts and only answer part of my questions. Let's cover the bases without skipping an answer to a question. Otherwise, it could lead to a wild goose chase that could have been avoided by answering everything I ask.
Droidriven said:
But, are the bands that are presently available on the device within the range of bands that your carrier uses? Do the network and the device use the same bands? If so, you shouldn't need to flash a different modem, if not, you may need a different modem.
Did you boot into recovery and wipe the cache partition to remove any potential conflicts caused by updating to android 12?
Are you certain that the SIM(s) you are trying to use is/are valid and active? If they have been previously deactivated, they won't work
Don't skip through my posts and only answer part of my questions. Let's cover the bases without skipping an answer to a question. Otherwise, it could lead to a wild goose chase that could have been avoided by answering everything I ask.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Sorry about the confusion. I did wipe the cache and in the past I've done a full factory reset from recovery mode it didn't help. And this problem already existed before the update to Android 12. It started the moment I changed sims. The phones only ever worked right with the original Metro sim and still do. That's why I wasn't sure if they were unlocked right but they don't reject other sims either.
The sims are active and have never been deactivated and now that I can force the phones back into 2G mode again, I can make and receive calls and use 2G data.
As for the bands I'm finding in the service menu, this is where it gets weird. They're all selected, there must be over a hundred bands turned on including bands I know this phone doesn't support.
I have confirmed the phone supports all the same bands that Tello uses. Tello uses the same bands as T-Mobile.
WhatsWrongWithThisPhone said:
Sorry about the confusion. I did wipe the cache and in the past I've done a full factory reset from recovery mode it didn't help. And this problem already existed before the update to Android 12. It started the moment I changed sims. The phones only ever worked right with the original Metro sim and still do. That's why I wasn't sure if they were unlocked right but they don't reject other sims either.
The sims are active and have never been deactivated and now that I can force the phones back into 2G mode again, I can make and receive calls and use 2G data.
As for the bands I'm finding in the service menu, this is where it gets weird. They're all selected, there must be over a hundred bands turned on including bands I know this phone doesn't support.
I have confirmed the phone supports all the same bands that Tello uses. Tello uses the same bands as T-Mobile.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Ok, thanks for confirming.
It is weird, everything seems to be in place. Have you made sure your APNs(Access Point Names) are set correctly for the network?
I can't be certain that you have all of your network and radio settings set correctly because I have no idea what settings you have, what the options are or if there are any tucked away somewhere that isn't obvious.
If everything is right on your end, it may be something on their end that they need to get right.
Droidriven said:
Ok, thanks for confirming.
It is weird, everything seems to be in place. Have you made sure your APNs(Access Point Names) are set correctly for the network?
I can't be certain that you have all of your network and radio settings set correctly because I have no idea what settings you have, what the options are or if there are any tucked away somewhere that isn't obvious.
If everything is right on your end, it may be something on their end that they need to get right.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yeah, the APN was the first thing I checked and Tello confirmed it too.
I can send you screenshots of the service menus if that would help.
Tello is now saying the phone might not be "fully unlocked" I don't know what that means. Is there more than one way to lock a phone? Did T-Mobile come up with another way of locking their phones? A screen in the settings menu does warn the phone is still locked and it isn't yet eligible to be unlocked but it accepts the sim and connects to 2G at least. Could Tello be on to something here?
WhatsWrongWithThisPhone said:
Yeah, the APN was the first thing I checked and Tello confirmed it too.
I can send you screenshots of the service menus if that would help.
Tello is now saying the phone might not be "fully unlocked" I don't know what that means. Is there more than one way to lock a phone? Did T-Mobile come up with another way of locking their phones? A screen in the settings menu does warn the phone is still locked and it isn't yet eligible to be unlocked but it accepts the sim and connects to 2G at least. Could Tello be on to something here?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
There are couple of different kinds of "unlocked"
There is SIM/carrier unlock and there is bootloader unlock. They two completely different things and have nothing to do with each other.
Have you tried going through the carrier unlock process yourself to confirm it has been done correctly?
Droidriven said:
Have you tried going through the carrier unlock process yourself to confirm it has been done correctly?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I don't know how to do that.
WhatsWrongWithThisPhone said:
I don't know how to do that.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Generally, there is a website that you go to to get an unlock code.
Google search:
"TCL 30 XE 5G (T767W) SIM unlock"
Droidriven said:
Generally, there is a website that you go to to get an unlock code.
Google search:
"TCL 30 XE 5G (T767W) SIM unlock"
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
My understanding is that Metro phones can't be unlocked with a code. Instead, they're unlocked by a preinstalled carrier app when the phone becomes eligible for an unlock, which my phone isn't. In my case, I bought an unlocking service from eBay which had me hook up my phone to my PC via USB for the unlock. Is there another way to check?
WhatsWrongWithThisPhone said:
My understanding is that Metro phones can't be unlocked with a code. Instead, they're unlocked by a preinstalled carrier app when the phone becomes eligible for an unlock, which my phone isn't. In my case, I bought an unlocking service from eBay which had me hook up my phone to my PC via USB for the unlock. Is there another way to check?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You got scammed, whether they did it on purpose or not is another question. They probably didn't rob you on purpose, it is just a matter of there never being any kind of guarantee that a 3rd party unlocking service works on every device. You took that chance when you chose to go that route.
If there is an app that is supposed to be used, why is your device not eligible to unlock via the app? You will have to use the official unlock method if/when it is eligible, hopefully the 3rd party unlock service hasn't done anything that conflicts with the official method.
I suggest that, in the future, don't make gambles or look for shortcuts when buying devices without being 100% certain that you are buying from a reputable source that guarantees their products and services. It is best to buy directly from the carrier/manufacturer or from Swappa. I wouldn't buy from eBay unless I could confirm that there was a legitimately proven unlock method for the specific model number that I'm considering purchasing before I actually purchase the device.
If you can return the device and get your money back, I suggest you do it or report it to eBay to see if they will protect your purchase since what you got is not what you agreed to purchase.
Droidriven said:
You got scammed, whether they did it on purpose or not is another question. They probably didn't rob you on purpose, it is just a matter of there never being any kind of guarantee that a 3rd party unlocking service works on every device. You took that chance when you chose to go that route.
If there is an app that is supposed to be used, why is your device not eligible to unlock via the app? You will have to use the official unlock method if/when it is eligible, hopefully the 3rd party unlock service hasn't done anything that conflicts with the official method.
I suggest that, in the future, don't make gambles or look for shortcuts when buying devices without being 100% certain that you are buying from a reputable source that guarantees their products and services. It is best to buy directly from the carrier/manufacturer or from Swappa. I wouldn't buy from eBay unless I could confirm that there was a legitimately proven unlock method for the specific model number that I'm considering purchasing before I actually purchase the device.
If you can return the device and get your money back, I suggest you do it or report it to eBay to see if they will protect your purchase since what you got is not what you agreed to purchase.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I got the phones new from Metro not eBay. The only thing I got from eBay was the unlocking service which cost me $8. And I didn't pay anything for the phones either as they were free with the purchase of one month of Metro service. So there's really no point in returning the phones and I'm not gonna bother opening a case with eBay over $8.
Metro won't unlock the phones until I've paid for six months of their service.
A quick search on eBay comes up with multiple sellers offering unlocks for my specific phone model locked to Metro. I've been thinking about just trying to get the phones unlocked again by another seller but everything and everyone seems to be telling me the phones are already unlocked so I don't know what I should try next. Is there a way to check if the phones are really unlocked?
WhatsWrongWithThisPhone said:
I got the phones new from Metro not eBay. The only thing I got from eBay was the unlocking service which cost me $8. And I didn't pay anything for the phones either as they were free with the purchase of one month of Metro service. So there's really no point in returning the phones and I'm not gonna bother opening a case with eBay over $8.
Metro won't unlock the phones until I've paid for six months of their service.
A quick search on eBay comes up with multiple sellers offering unlocks for my specific phone model locked to Metro. I've been thinking about just trying to get the phones unlocked again by another seller but everything and everyone seems to be telling me the phones are already unlocked so I don't know what I should try next. Is there a way to check if the phones are really unlocked?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You've already used methods to check if it is unlocked. Obviously, the service you paid for didn't work, you can't get your money back for that, those services don't come with any guarantee. As I said, you can take another chance and try another 3rd party service that also is not guaranteed or you can wait and do it the official way. I'm betting the unlock service is a waste of time and money and you'll have to wait and do it the right way. That is the cost of blindly taking a shortcut.