Develop Bugs

[Q] what's meant by unlocking the phone ??

what's meant by unlocking and do i have to unlock my phone if i get it from another country just to use the GSM network of my country
and if so, then how can i unlock my phone ?????

mosta_9741 said:
what's meant by unlocking and do i have to unlock my phone if i get it from another country just to use the GSM network of my country
and if so, then how can i unlock my phone ?????
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Unlocking it will allow you to use different networks. Eg. If you got a phone off at&t but want to use verizon network then unlock the phone and you can use verizon and at&t
Sent From The Phone Of Gamers

gmaster1 said:
Unlocking it will allow you to use different networks.
unlock the phone and you can use verizon and at&t
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
so how shall i unlock it?????

There are apps on the market and also guides on you tube just look a little and you can fond anything between YouTube and Google
Sent from my LG-P999 using XDA

mosta_9741 said:
so how shall i unlock it?????
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Click to collapse
First you need a sim from another network provider. Once you have it put it in then enter the pin you got given. Its now unlocked. Lastly some networks do work with others so to check if you have an unlocked network already go into call settings and network service (may be called something different on your phone depending on current network) unlocked networks appear with a home sign/any sign that isnt a red cross (again depending on network) or go to a place that unlocks phones. Simplez.
Sent From The Phone Of Gamers

The process seems simple enough, but from where would I obtain the PIN? I know there are various websites and whatnot, but is there one that people have used in the past with success? I just want to be sure, because I'm looking at buying a used Galaxy W, but don't want to be stuck with it locked on Bell..

Tyfighter said:
The process seems simple enough, but from where would I obtain the PIN? I know there are various websites and whatnot, but is there one that people have used in the past with success? I just want to be sure, because I'm looking at buying a used Galaxy W, but don't want to be stuck with it locked on Bell..
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The pin will come on the paper the sim comes with. If you buy it off a contract it will be unlocked for you as long as you only use the network providers sim that you got the contract off.
Sent From The Phone Of Gamers

Alright, I got my Rogers SIM card last year, but I don't know where any of the packaging currently resides. But if I call rogers, they should be able to provide me with this information?
Sorry, it just seems counter intuitive that information with my sim card would unlock a newer, off carrier phone.

Tyfighter said:
Alright, I got my Rogers SIM card last year, but I don't know where any of the packaging currently resides. But if I call rogers, they should be able to provide me with this information?
Sorry, it just seems counter intuitive that information with my sim card would unlock a newer, off carrier phone.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You might (only might) get the pin off them. There should be a default pin set for every sim at the start. All sims coming from the same mobile network provider have one pin.
Sent From The Phone Of Gamers

[Q] Roger / Bell Canada unlocked SGS3 phone work with AT&T Network?

From this Wikipedia list...
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Samsung_Galaxy_S_III
...it appears that both Rogers and Bell in Canada are offering a SGH-I747 Samsung GS3 which is listed as the same variant as AT&T. However, they are offering internal 32GB models and AT&T is not, and that's what I want. I'm current using an iPhone 4S 64GB and I want to be able to swap sim cards back and forth between phones. Yes, I know I can get a 64GB microSD card but I want 96Gb on the phone (I don't want to argue this point).
So I have a few questions:
1) If I get a Rogers or Bell phone without contract and manage to unlock it, will it be fully compatable with the AT&T network just by swapping sims cards with the iPhone?
2) Will it work with AT&T LTE as well as 3G / Edge, both cell and data?
3) Does unlocking companies like cellunlocker.net actually WORK? Is this legal?
Thanks in advance for any info anyone can provide.
Tony
(Sorry for the double post. I put this in the wrong section initially)

Tones2 said:
From this Wikipedia list...
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Samsung_Galaxy_S_III
...it appears that both Rogers and Bell in Canada are offering a SGH-I747 Samsung GS3 which is listed as the same variant as AT&T. However, they are offering internal 32GB models and AT&T is not, and that's what I want. I'm current using an iPhone 4S 64GB and I want to be able to swap sim cards back and forth between phones. Yes, I know I can get a 64GB microSD card but I want 96Gb on the phone (I don't want to argue this point).
So I have a few questions:
1) If I get a Rogers or Bell phone without contract and manage to unlock it, will it be fully compatable with the AT&T network just by swapping sims cards with the iPhone?
2) Will it work with AT&T LTE as well as 3G / Edge, both cell and data?
3) Does unlocking companies like cellunlocker.net actually WORK? Is this legal?
Thanks in advance for any info anyone can provide.
Tony
(Sorry for the double post. I put this in the wrong section initially)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
1 yes as long as the Sim is the newer smaller type.
2 yes
3 yes and legal. No warranty void
Lost of post like this please take the time to read the forum post.
Sent from my SGH-I747M using Tapatalk 2

Thanks.
Sorry, I DID do a search but I could not find anything specifically related to the Canada variants of the Samsung SGS3 running on the AT&T network
Just as a follow-up if I may - How would I then get O/S updates? Will I be able to install updates (like Jelly Bean 4.1 when it comes) from AT&T?
Tony

good question, you will probably get updates through kies regardless, probably end up getting the canadian version (only speaking from experience with the skyrocket) They usually ad an extra letter to the model number to signify carrier, and it will prevent you from flashing an OTA from someone else.
With that said, when an update gets release, it will end up here as well, and you can then choose to flash the AT&T version that way. But thats way down the line.

y2whisper said:
good question, you will probably get updates through kies regardless, probably end up getting the canadian version (only speaking from experience with the skyrocket) They usually ad an extra letter to the model number to signify carrier, and it will prevent you from flashing an OTA from someone else.
With that said, when an update gets release, it will end up here as well, and you can then choose to flash the AT&T version that way. But thats way down the line.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks. But I'm not quite sure I follow.
What is "kies" and "the skyrocket"? And per your last paragraph, is it possible to flash an AT&T version of the O/S on a Bell / Rogers phone?
BTW - Do you work for Bell Canada? If so, is there any issues with unlocking the phone with a 3rd party unlocker? I don't want to to anything illegal - I just want a 32GB phone that works on an AT&T LTE network.
Thanks,
Tony

From what I've seen and heard, I am confident that the big 3's version is fully compatible with AT&T network.
The model is all the same as I747M. Spec are all the same, so.... I am not worried.
In fact, Rogers uses the exact same network technology to AT&T. All the phone works on Rogers will works perfectly on AT&T as well! As long as it's unlocked.
Prior to my purchase of Rogers' SGS3, I was tempted to buy the AT&T version as it's cheaper.....

The point is probably moot since I cannot get either Rogers or Bell to sell me a phone at full price without a plan and ship it to the USA. They won't do this.
So I probably have to wait until one of these phone is offered from a Canadian customer via another source, like eBay. Any suggestions from anyone on how to get a Rogers or Bell phone shipped to the USA?
Jeez...If only AT&T offered a friggin' 32GB phone!! I wonder when those 128GB microSD cards are coming out.
Tony

You can buy the phone outright directly from rogers but yes, you will need a friend's address in Canada to ship it to. Then have that friend ship it to you in the US. Your other option is to come up - many dealers will sell it to you outright.
If you look around xda, the current methods of rooting and unlocking the phone are not so simple or pretty. In addition to that, the risks you'll have to take and extra costs likely isn't worth the extra 16GB.

m77m7 said:
You can buy the phone outright directly from rogers but yes, you will need a friend's address in Canada to ship it to. Then have that friend ship it to you in the US. Your other option is to come up - many dealers will sell it to you outright.
If you look around xda, the current methods of rooting and unlocking the phone are not so simple or pretty. In addition to that, the risks you'll have to take and extra costs likely isn't worth the extra 16GB.
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Click to collapse
So the simple method of unlocking as described on cellunlocker.net with just the input of a code doesn't work?

Tones2 said:
So the simple method of unlocking as described on cellunlocker.net with just the input of a code doesn't work?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No that works for sim unlocking. (unlocking to use on another network
Tones2 said:
Thanks. But I'm not quite sure I follow.
What is "kies" and "the skyrocket"? And per your last paragraph, is it possible to flash an AT&T version of the O/S on a Bell / Rogers phone?
BTW - Do you work for Bell Canada? If so, is there any issues with unlocking the phone with a 3rd party unlocker? I don't want to to anything illegal - I just want a 32GB phone that works on an AT&T LTE network.
Thanks,
Tony
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Kies is the desktop software that samsung uses to backup your device as well as deliver updates
Now can you use this method to flash an AT&T rom on a rogers device. is unknown. in the past with the skyrocket (otherwise known as the Samsung Galaxy S2 LTE) the only difference is the hardcoded model number was I727R while at&t was I727 so flashing which would prevent that.
At the same time, this is xda there are fantastic people that would make a method for you to do that. The key, if you are game to do so is to do a lot of reading, and do nothing without feeling confident in what you are doing.
No I don't work for bell, but if they're here and in need of someone in the Marketing Dept..... However no issues with unlocking on a legal front

Tones2 said:
So the simple method of unlocking as described on cellunlocker.net with just the input of a code doesn't work?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I assumed you wanted the free unlocking method. Of course if you're willing to pay for the unlock codes, I stand corrected.

Oh there's a free method? Knew there was for the s1 and s2 but didn't have it for the lte version of the s2.
I would look for the free method usually doesn't involve too many steps.
Sent from my SGH-I747M using xda premium

[ASHB] OTA Firmware + September security patch download available

Enjoy

hayabusa1300cc said:
Enjoy
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It's not available for my us unlocked version yet

Sent from my SM-N975U using Tapatalk

my370z said:
It's not available for my us unlocked version yet
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Unlocked typically gets the update after all the carriers push out their update. It's the downside of buying the unlocked version.

I kinda don't understand this. How are these updates linked to carriers? I thought these updates are made available over the internet, so if I am on wifi internet, with no sim inside my phone, what any carrier has to do with this update? What am I missing here? These updates are not available on samsung servers?
I recently bought a Nokia 8110 4g phone. Tried to update its firmware with no success over wifi (KaiOS). As soon as I took out the SIM, it found the update and updated with no problem.
Why my Note 10+ would be linked to any carrier? I did not bought it through a carrier and it is not unlocked. It is bought from Singapore and it is SM-N975F/DS (Global) version, while I am being in Europe.
Can someone shed some light into this?

Samsung holds on the Unlocked firmware update until the carrier's start pushing. At least in the USA.

Yeah, but it is unclear to my what is "carrier pushing" and why it is needed. Over the internet, Samsung servers could do this w/o any form of carrier involvement or knowledge. Why "carrier" is in in this chain?!? It is like my Windows would be updated only when my internet service provider wants it.

big_ipaq said:
Yeah, but it is unclear to my what is "carrier pushing" and why it is needed. Over the internet, Samsung servers could do this w/o any form of carrier involvement or knowledge. Why "carrier" is in in this chain?!? It is like my Windows would be updated only when my internet service provider wants it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Exactly, Google and handset manufacturers need to step in! Imagine if Apple let carriers modify iOS! That would never happen! That was a good analogy by the way! :good:

big_ipaq said:
I kinda don't understand this. How are these updates linked to carriers? I thought these updates are made available over the internet, so if I am on wifi internet, with no sim inside my phone, what any carrier has to do with this update? What am I missing here? These updates are not available on samsung servers?
I recently bought a Nokia 8110 4g phone. Tried to update its firmware with no success over wifi (KaiOS). As soon as I took out the SIM, it found the update and updated with no problem.
Why my Note 10+ would be linked to any carrier? I did not bought it through a carrier and it is not unlocked. It is bought from Singapore and it is SM-N975F/DS (Global) version, while I am being in Europe.
Can someone shed some light into this?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Same thought. I stay here in Singapore & I bought it directly from Samsung, until now no OTA update. In Singapore, network providers never lock any smartphone, but 3 major networks here have different CSC (SIN/STH/MM1), mine was the non-network Singapore CSC which is XSP, still to no avail. I am forced to update via odin because of this.

big_ipaq said:
Yeah, but it is unclear to my what is "carrier pushing" and why it is needed. Over the internet, Samsung servers could do this w/o any form of carrier involvement or knowledge. Why "carrier" is in in this chain?!? It is like my Windows would be updated only when my internet service provider wants it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
This is because the carriers can customise the firmwares for their network. (add in extra apps; turn options on or off etc.) so therefore the carriers have to approve each and every new firmware that's developed by Samsung.
Samsung will do the actual "pushing" of the carrier-cusomised firmware, but only once the carrier gives them permission to do so.

stuclark said:
This is because the carriers can customise the firmwares for their network. (add in extra apps; turn options on or off etc.) so therefore the carriers have to approve each and every new firmware that's developed by Samsung.
[...]
.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
This is most probably stupid and needs to stop.

big_ipaq said:
This is most probably stupid and needs to stop.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That's highly unlikely to happen.
Carrier customisations are fundamental to how the industry is currently working

Can you give me a sample of this "carrier customization"? Fundamental to carriers or to us the customers?

It's most likely contractual.

So essentially, Samsung waits for the carriers to modify their firmware, release that first then release their UNCHANGED firmware/security patch to the unlocked devices...
That is such a crap model. Common sense would say to release what you can first... This would also push the carriers to release these updates in a much timelier manner as there is no benefit to be on carrier software if the patches are months behind the unlocked devices...

ultramag69 said:
So essentially, Samsung waits for the carriers to modify their firmware, release that first then release their UNCHANGED firmware/security patch to the unlocked devices...
That is such a crap model. Common sense would say to release what you can first... This would also push the carriers to release these updates in a much timelier manner as there is no benefit to be on carrier software if the patches are months behind the unlocked devices...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
LOL, you must be new to Samsung devices!
I kid, I kid. But seriously. It sucks, but it's reality. Benn that way since at least the S8.

I don't show any updates available for my Korean 10+ 5g yet either

Mr. Orange 645 said:
LOL, you must be new to Samsung devices!
I kid, I kid. But seriously. It sucks, but it's reality. Benn that way since at least the S8.
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Click to collapse
This has been the case since the Galaxy S2, if not earlier.
I suspect (but don't know) that Samsung have some form of contractual obligation to the networks to not release any new features etc. until the network devices (don't forget some networks may have paid a lot to Samsung to have an "exclusive" on the handset when it was released) have had a chance to get said feature.

stuclark said:
This has been the case since the Galaxy S2, if not earlier.
I suspect (but don't know) that Samsung have some form of contractual obligation to the networks to not release any new features etc. until the network devices (don't forget some networks may have paid a lot to Samsung to have an "exclusive" on the handset when it was released) have had a chance to get said feature.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Didn't even realize they had unlocked models going back that far. I has an S3 and a Note 2, but back then I was on Verizon so there was no thought of carrier unlocked models. It was a V model or nothing, LOL. My next Galaxy after those was an S7Edge, but they were all still carrier exclusive models. I had T-Mobile by them, so I had a G935T. They eventually came out with a G935U, I think, but I never had one.
It wasn't until the S8/+ they had the universal hardware for all carriers, and that's also when I really got back into the Samsung devices and started flashing U1 and U firmware. That was my first experience with unlocked vs carrier model updates. I didn't realize the update situation had been that way since nlthr S2, other than Samsung has always been slow with updates.
Yeah, I said earlier it was likely contractual. Like you I don't know that for sure, but that's the only thing I can think of.

big_ipaq said:
Yeah, but it is unclear to my what is "carrier pushing" and why it is needed. Over the internet, Samsung servers could do this w/o any form of carrier involvement or knowledge. Why "carrier" is in in this chain?!? It is like my Windows would be updated only when my internet service provider wants it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
because some carriers like to test the updates and ensure their services andbloatware are working before pushing an update.. last i checked tho sprint and tmobile use Samsung fota servers.. vzw of course just has to use their own servers.. att does as well..
even if u sign up to use samsungs efota advanced it clearly indicates will not work with vzw or att devices...
as far as the rest of the world i have no idea lol

DONT BY THIS FROM TMOBILE!!

I've had my t-mobile tab s7 for a rew days. What I've noticed is that tmo/Samsung has looked the app down so you can't make calls. The Phone.apk is present just not the ability to make calls. Move on to something. Also the oem unlock is missing from developer systems. And to add one last thing. Im unable to send text messages without rebooting the tablet. My model is the T878U. I hope there will be some changes but not holding my breath

Dvalin21 said:
I've had my t-mobile tab s7 for a rew days. What I've noticed is that tmo/Samsung has looked the app down so you can't make calls. The Phone.apk is present just not the ability to make calls. Move on to something. Also the oem unlock is missing from developer systems. And to add one last thing. Im unable to send text messages without rebooting the tablet. My model is the T878U. I hope there will be some changes but not holding my breath
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Same here I purchased one yesterday moving from a wifi version thinking I'm going to be able to sync messages and phone. The apps are there but the setting to sync is not. Very disappointed. I ended up using T-Mobile Digits. It's got to be possible to re-enable calls and text syncing... Maybe root required?

trhuseby said:
Same here I purchased one yesterday moving from a wifi version thinking I'm going to be able to sync messages and phone. The apps are there but the setting to sync is not. Very disappointed. I ended up using T-Mobile Digits. It's got to be possible to re-enable calls and text syncing... Maybe root required?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I think at this point unless we complain to samsung via the member app enough, it would only be through a custom rom. Its a shame really. Right now I would settle for just getting the text message function working right. It wont send out messages until after I reboot the tablet

Can you not download the Google Pone App? Works for me

So root isn't possible on the T-Mobile version?

coilbio said:
So root isn't possible on the T-Mobile version?
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Click to collapse
I haven't even tried it yet. I know ianmacd has several tools to manipulate the tablet but not confident enough to try them. Ive also seen where he has gts7l (s7 5g) twrp source on his github, but not sure if he is ready for that to be released or if he even still have the tablet. I know that he also has a 7+

fkofilee said:
Can you not download the Google Pone App? Works for me
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Click to collapse
Yes i can and it does work. But still I was hoping for them to make the tablet itself natively work this way. Just dont understand why they wouldnt. So now that would mean i have two lines that I can text from, but only one can make or take calls. Either way, I hope there is someone who has the tablet for tmo and can tell me that it still CAN be rooted and flashed with custom roms. Im so hoping. If not it will be the last time EVER i buy carrier ANYTHING!!

Dvalin21 said:
I haven't even tried it yet. I know ianmacd has several tools to manipulate the tablet but not confident enough to try them. Ive also seen where he has gts7l (s7 5g) twrp source on his github, but not sure if he is ready for that to be released or if he even still have the tablet. I know that he also has a 7+
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well if there's no unlock bootloader option then there's no way to get root as that's mandatory to patch the boot.
The only way might be to pay for an unofficial bootloader like you have to for the phones if the tab7 is even supported by the Chinese outfit that does this.

So i spoke to tmobile the other and from what i was told that their tablet devices come unlocked (ie no need for the toggle as its unlocked), but will not work unless you have the tab paid off or paid full price at purchase. Is there anyone watching that has the tab paid off that can confirm this?

Dvalin21 said:
So i spoke to tmobile the other and from what i was told that their tablet devices come unlocked (ie no need for the toggle as its unlocked), but will not work unless you have the tab paid off or paid full price at purchase. Is there anyone watching that has the tab paid off that can confirm this?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
They're uninformed. Went back to other T-Mobile tablet forums, they're all bootloader locked.
Even then, there's nothing they can push to unlock it. That's the way samsung sold it to them as a vendor.

coilbio said:
They're uninformed. Went back to other T-Mobile tablet forums, they're all bootloader locked.
Even then, there's nothing they can push to unlock it. That's the way samsung sold it to them as a vendor.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The problem is that so so many of the CSRs don't know the difference between network locked vs bootloader locked. Huge difference. As I understand it the TMobile network locking is in fact application based and unlocking can be turned off at Tmo server level. But bootloader locking is totally different

jcrompton said:
The problem is that so so many of the CSRs don't know the difference between network locked vs bootloader locked. Huge difference. As I understand it the TMobile network locking is in fact application based and unlocking can be turned off at Tmo server level. But bootloader locking is totally different
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Correct, with tmobile however when they do the network unlock it would also (usually) allow for the oem unlock feature to be available or at least thats how it worked with other devices. With this, it should clear any block from that is set by Tmobile, however we will still need to go through whatever process to unlock bootloader.

Dvalin21 said:
Correct, with tmobile however when they do the network unlock it would also (usually) allow for the oem unlock feature to be available or at least thats how it worked with other devices. With this, it should clear any block from that is set by Tmobile, however we will still need to go through whatever process to unlock bootloader.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Nope. Never has a US version samsung been able to be unlocked by any push update from a carrier.
The only phone was the sprint Note9 I believe, which was sold bootloader unlocked as it was a very different version.
But they have to be bootloader unlocked from samsung.
Everything else has to be unofficially unlocked using sampnwed.
Samsung is very different than oneplus in them allowing carriers to use tokens for unlocking.

Dvalin21 said:
I've had my t-mobile tab s7 for a rew days. What I've noticed is that tmo/Samsung has looked the app down so you can't make calls. The Phone.apk is present just not the ability to make calls. Move on to something. Also the oem unlock is missing from developer systems. And to add one last thing. Im unable to send text messages without rebooting the tablet. My model is the T878U. I hope there will be some changes but not holding my breath
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
DO NOT BUY ONE OF THESE FROM VERIZON EITHER. Even though my galaxy tab s7 is unlocked, not only does Verizon do the same as Tmobile but Verizon also blocked T-Mobile 5G bands. I wanted to bring my Galaxy S7 to T-Mobile but T-Mobile 5g bands are blocked by Verizon firmware. Good business sense for Verizon since Verizon has almost zero 5G coverage and everyone who wants 5G is forced to Tmobile. And even though its not the blazing fast higher frequency 5G, its pretty damn damn fast compared to 4G and sadly especially fast compared to the only two competitors. And its almost everywhere LTE is now.

Question does this mean this was a ATT Pixel 6 Pro?

i am on cricket wireless and when i try to tun on hotpot it says you need a AT&T compatible plan for hotspot i am on cricket wireless with it, but it says AT&T

leo5111 said:
i am on cricket wireless and when i try to tun on hotpot it says you need a AT&T compatible plan for hotspot i am on cricket wireless with it, but it says AT&T
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Is the phone SIM unlocked &/or has the phone been fully paid off?

oem unlocking is greyed out so im not sure what it is

i bought it renewed off amazon

OEM Unlocking grayed out usually means this was a Verizon device. My P6P was advertised as being an AT&T model and I was able to unlock my bootloader. That means nothing however, so run the IMEI through a check website. That will tell you if the unit is AT&T or Verizon.
Cricket is owned by AT&T. The hotspot is only available to AT&T subscribers with the appropriate plan. Cricket, to the best of my knowledge, doesn't have any plans with hotspot, so you won't be able to use the feature.

not sure which imei site to try i tried like 3 of em and got conflicting results..um yes cricket does https://www.cricketwireless.com/support/plans-and-features/plans.html

leo5111 said:
um yes cricket does https://www.cricketwireless.com/support/plans-and-features/plans.html
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thus the qualifier, "to the best of my knowledge". Contact Cricket and ask why the hotspot isn't working.
As to the IMEI check, I usually use imeicheck.net. However, you can also look at the box and count the number of barcodes. If you have five barcodes on the side of the box you have a Verizon unit. Otherwise it is AT&T or T-Mobile.

imei check says its
Model Name:
G8V0U other than that nothing about Verizon/ATT/Tmobile

cricket gives some BS about we cant Guarantee comparability, if it isnt 1 of ours

leo5111 said:
imei check says its
Model Name:
G8V0U other than that nothing about Verizon/ATT/Tmobile
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Click to collapse
According to a quick Google search, yours is an AT&T model. So is mine, yet mine I could unlock while yours is locked. All I can think of here is that you put your SIM into the phone prior to first boot and AT&T locked down the phone.
As to Cricket blocking the hotspot, that is their right, unfair as it is.

so if its at&t how do i sim unlock it? well thats why want to root it to tether

For the record, I forgot that you purchased this device renewed. So it was the original purchaser and not you who dropped his SIM into the phone prior to first boot and booted the phone. I apologize for the accusation. Anyway, when he found out the device was locked down due to his booting the phone with the SIM in it, he returned the unit. It's either that or he did the shady thing and swapped his phone bought from AT&T with a new one purchased from Amazon that, based upon personal experience, can be unlocked.
Your problem isn't with the SIM but the bootloader. AT&T is just like Verizon in that they lock the bootloader. While you may have some luck contacting AT&T customer service, you would be better served returning the renewed phone to Amazon and purchasing a new one, one that you know hasn't been touched.

right now it says with cricket to tether need to get att plan if i switch to verizon with hotspot will that message still be there or is the carrier sending that with the sim card?

its not sim locked i dont think..its been on tmobile its now on cricket, so im saying if i go to visible wireless that allows hotspots as long as it will talk and text on verizon it will allow hotspotting or does sim lock allow to be on another network but hotspot does not work?

Carrier sends that with the SIM card, so if you switch SIM cards and your Verizon service includes hotspot the hotspot should be unlocked.