Unlocked my GS3, but can I join AT&T's network? - T-Mobile, Samsung Galaxy SIII

Ok so I understand that by unlocking my phone (I used the SIMlock Remote Client for $20 from sammobile.com) I can now use an AT&T SIM card if I choose, but my question is this: Is it even remotely possible to make my current T-Mobile SIM card work on AT&T's network? Just so I can pick up better 4G speeds in my area because quite frankly, the 4 - 5 Mbps I'm getting with T-Mobile isn't cutting it, especially when I hear of people getting 25+ Mbps. Thanks in advance.

No... same SIM as carrier is a must...plus u might need to change apn's?
Plus if u go to *prepaid att* u won't get 4g speed only 3g......u must be on a plan to get 4G off att^^^
Sent from my SGH-T999 using xda premium

ATT customers can get 4G on a unlocked Tmobile S3. Tmobile customers can only get 2G on ATT's network with a Tmobile unlocked S3.

spodie said:
No... same SIM as carrier is a must...plus u might need to change apn's?
Plus if u go to *prepaid att* u won't get 4g speed only 3g......u must be on a plan to get 4G off att^^^
Sent from my SGH-T999 using xda premium
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Click to collapse
Lakeshow423 said:
ATT customers can get 4G on a unlocked Tmobile S3. Tmobile customers can only get 2G on ATT's network with a Tmobile unlocked S3.
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Click to collapse
Well ain't that a kick in the stones... Eh well, Thanks a lot for the responses. Greatly appreciated

Lakeshow423 said:
ATT customers can get 4G on a unlocked Tmobile S3. Tmobile customers can only get 2G on ATT's network with a Tmobile unlocked S3.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Umm, not exactly.
A T-Mobile S3 can get 3G on AT&T's network, but not LTE (4G).
An AT&T S3 can get only 2G on T-Mobile's network.

Ok so I understand that by unlocking my phone (I used the SIMlock Remote Client for $20 from sammobile.com) I can now use an AT&T SIM card if I choose, but my question is this: Is it even remotely possible to make my current T-Mobile SIM card work on AT&T's network? Just so I can pick up better 4G speeds in my area because quite frankly, the 4 - 5 Mbps I'm getting with T-Mobile isn't cutting it, especially when I hear of people getting 25+ Mbps. Thanks in advance.[/QUOTE]
4-5MBPS is probably normal for your area and most of the US. People that are reporting 25mbps+ are in the few HSPA+42 areas that T-Mobile has. There's nothing wrong with your area other than T-Mobile doesn't offer those speeds there.
Sent from my SGH-T999

Lakeshow423 said:
ATT customers can get 4G on a unlocked Tmobile S3. Tmobile customers can only get 2G on ATT's network with a Tmobile unlocked S3.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I think you were confuzzled. ATT unlocked phones will only get 2G on tmobile (Due to lack of frequency) but unlocked Tmo will get everything EXCEPT LTE on ATT network.

elesbb said:
I think you were confuzzled. ATT unlocked phones will only get 2G on tmobile (Due to lack of frequency) but unlocked Tmo will get everything EXCEPT LTE on ATT network.
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Click to collapse
Whoops can't read tonight.
Sent from my SGH-T999

joshnichols189 said:
Ok so I understand that by unlocking my phone (I used the SIMlock Remote Client for $20 from sammobile.com) I can now use an AT&T SIM card if I choose, but my question is this: Is it even remotely possible to make my current T-Mobile SIM card work on AT&T's network? Just so I can pick up better 4G speeds in my area because quite frankly, the 4 - 5 Mbps I'm getting with T-Mobile isn't cutting it, especially when I hear of people getting 25+ Mbps. Thanks in advance.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Correct, unlocking allows you to use any SIM you want.
AFAIK, there is no way you can use the AT&T network with a T-Mobile SIM.

Related

Where can I buy a phone with ATT's LTE radio but without ATT Branding?

I'd like them not to be able to know that this is a Galaxy 3. Who else sells the I747 with ATT's LTE and 3G bands?
The att logo is on the battery cover you could easily buy an international back cover from ebay with no logo search the accessories forums there's a thread about it!
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I747!
Buy it from att. Then buy a different battery cover from eBay/amazon.
Do a search. They sell ones without gs3/att branding on it
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I747 using xda premium
Or scratch off the att logo with a coin.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I747 using xda premium
synpax said:
I'd like them not to be able to know that this is a Galaxy 3. Who else sells the I747 with ATT's LTE and 3G bands?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Maybe a rogers phone from Canada could work, but not sure if it is enough to stop them from detecting your phone.
And for the other two replies I believe he doesn't want att to detect the phone on the network not cosmetic changes.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I747 using Tapatalk 2
Just to clarify, he wants AT&T's database to not recognize the phone as an S3.
I don't believe buying a new battery cover would accomplish that...
gpgorbosjr said:
Just to clarify, he wants AT&T's database to not recognize the phone as an S3.
I don't believe buying a new battery cover would accomplish that...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Probably not! I'm not even sure if that's possible - Unless the Korean or Japanese version had the AT&T LTE radio bands on-board already you'd have to do some serious hardware modifications to you phone.
I don't think anyone else uses AT&T LTE bands which are 700mhz and 2100mhz I believe.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I747 using xda premium
you won't be able to use lte without att's lte Sim, and they don't let you use the cheap non smartphone data plan on lte.
Sent from my Galaxy S III
dLo GSR said:
you won't be able to use lte without att's lte Sim, and they don't let you use the cheap non smartphone data plan on lte.
Sent from my Galaxy S III
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I have an ATT LTE microsim. I think. Or, yesterday, I got a microSIM from ATT. It should be 4G enabled... right?
Nonetheless, I am not getting LTE... which I guess is okay. I really fail to see the point of using LTE on a mobile phone when you burn through your total monthly allotment in under 8 hours.
synpax said:
I have an ATT LTE microsim. I think. Or, yesterday, I got a microSIM from ATT. It should be 4G enabled... right?
Nonetheless, I am not getting LTE... which I guess is okay. I really fail to see the point of using LTE on a mobile phone when you burn through your total monthly allotment in under 8 hours.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If you received an AT&T micro SIM with your SGS3 then it is a 4G LTE enabled one. And it is a matter of personal preference as to whether LTE is worth it or not to you. For some folks, HSPA+ is perfectly fine and you could put a 3G micro SIM into your phone and have it work without LTE.
synpax said:
I have an ATT LTE microsim. I think. Or, yesterday, I got a microSIM from ATT. It should be 4G enabled... right?
Nonetheless, I am not getting LTE... which I guess is okay. I really fail to see the point of using LTE on a mobile phone when you burn through your total monthly allotment in under 8 hours.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
WA_Bob said:
If you received an AT&T micro SIM with your SGS3 then it is a 4G LTE enabled one. And it is a matter of personal preference as to whether LTE is worth it or not to you. For some folks, HSPA+ is perfectly fine and you could put a 3G micro SIM into your phone and have it work without LTE.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The sim card does not determine the service. ATT will not give you any HSPA+ or LTE if you don't have that plan added to your phone. They can differentiate between the plans and devices. If you pay for the non smartphone data they will stick you on 3g only.
WA_Bob said:
If you received an AT&T micro SIM with your SGS3 then it is a 4G LTE enabled one. And it is a matter of personal preference as to whether LTE is worth it or not to you. For some folks, HSPA+ is perfectly fine and you could put a 3G micro SIM into your phone and have it work without LTE.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I got the microSIM in person, not with the phone. Do you think it's LTE capable?
If you call att and have lte data activated on your account, it will.

Tmobile service on unlocked att gs3

Does anyone know if i can use an unlocked at&t gs3 on tmobile service??? I heard it will only get edge data.
Sent from my SGH-T679 using xda premium
Edge only
Sent from my SGH-T999 using xda premium
It doesn't have the required AWS frequency bands.
joshnichols189 said:
It doesn't have the required AWS frequency bands.
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Click to collapse
Looks like Edge only. I just unlocked a GS3 for my dad and he's on Tmobile. Is there a fix to try and get 3G?
I have a T999 unlocked and I'm getting 3g and some times 4g like right now. Called at&t to check they said no lte but yes to hspa.
Sent from my SGH-T999 using xda app-developers app
Zameus said:
Looks like Edge only. I just unlocked a GS3 for my dad and he's on Tmobile. Is there a fix to try and get 3G?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Were you able to find where to get free unlock codes?
critofur said:
Were you able to find where to get free unlock codes?
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Click to collapse
Unfortunatley no. I had to pay $19.99.
About two days ago me and my friend bought a cheap tmobile phone, cut the sim to fit his att gs3 called att and got them to unlock the phone, popped in the new sim and he was able to get 3g and hspa+ on tmobile's network with his att galaxy s3. we were both pretty surprised that it worked. he's running cm10 if that matters.
elroyknight said:
About two days ago me and my friend bought a cheap tmobile phone, cut the sim to fit his att gs3 called att and got them to unlock the phone, popped in the new sim and he was able to get 3g and hspa+ on tmobile's network with his att galaxy s3. we were both pretty surprised that it worked. he's running cm10 if that matters.
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Click to collapse
That is because tmobile is rolling out there hspa+ data service on the 1900mhz frequency slowly but surely and the att gs3 supports the 1900mhz bands.. The BEST gs3 to buy is the tmobile gs3 if i am not mistaken it suports all of tmobiles aws bands and all of att hspa+ bands. Unlock that one and you can use either network to its fullest minus the LTE.
BTW.. tmobiles aws coverage is pretty damn good in the north east and there data speeds are almost as good as LTE.
jerseykat1 said:
That is because tmobile is rolling out there hspa+ data service on the 1900mhz frequency slowly but surely and the att gs3 supports the 1900mhz bands.. The BEST gs3 to buy is the tmobile gs3 if i am not mistaken it suports all of tmobiles aws bands and all of att hspa+ bands. Unlock that one and you can use either network to its fullest minus the LTE.
BTW.. tmobiles aws coverage is pretty damn good in the north east and there data speeds are almost as good as LTE.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I just called ATT today and told them I would be travelling overseas and they gave me the unlock code for my GS3 and GS2. Gonna go get a sim today for the S3 and try out a unlimited monthly no contract plan.
I'm in Warren county and travel throughout northern and central Jersey for work but I know no one with their service. So you think I should be good signalwise? Like I said I know no one with the service but am willing to try it out for a month since they are 20 dollars cheaper than ATT atm
Vondis said:
I just called ATT today and told them I would be travelling overseas and they gave me the unlock code for my GS3 and GS2. Gonna go get a sim today for the S3 and try out a unlimited monthly no contract plan.
I'm in Warren county and travel throughout northern and central Jersey for work but I know no one with their service. So you think I should be good signalwise? Like I said I know no one with the service but am willing to try it out for a month since they are 20 dollars cheaper than ATT atm
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No it will suck because like I said tmobile is rolling out service on 1900 but it's still spotty. Unless you have a tmobile gs3 you will be disappointed . However if you can get a gs3 for tmobile or another phone that supports tmobile aws bands you will be very happy. The tmobile gs3 works fine on att after u unlock it.. But no LTE.
Zameus said:
Unfortunatley no. I had to pay $19.99.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
There is free unlocking way on general section
Vondis said:
I just called ATT today and told them I would be travelling overseas and they gave me the unlock code for my GS3 and GS2. Gonna go get a sim today for the S3 and try out a unlimited monthly no contract plan.
I'm in Warren county and travel throughout northern and central Jersey for work but I know no one with their service. So you think I should be good signalwise? Like I said I know no one with the service but am willing to try it out for a month since they are 20 dollars cheaper than ATT atm
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I am in Middlesex County and my coverage is great so maybe it will be for you
Sent from my SGH-T999 using xda premium

Buy a new Note 2 or unlock my current one?

I'm currently on att with a note 2 and i've switched to t-mobile and will be recieving a new phone in the mail soon. Should i return it and just flash a t-mobile rom onto my current phone? or should i just sell my att one on craigslist and keep the new t-mobile phone? Any possible loss of features or functionality by sticking with the phone i have?
Keep the tmo one.
It dosent have lte yet, so hang on to att one too I suggest but tmo has added aws band.
Sent from my SGH-T889
prepaidguy9081 said:
Keep the tmo one.
It dosent have lte yet, so hang on to att one too I suggest but tmo has added aws band.
Sent from my SGH-T889
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I don't understand your answer to the OP.
I'm in the exact same situation as the OP. I'm with AT&T but they just took my unlimited data plan away so I'm probably going to switch to T-Mobile.
Are there any bands that the T-Mobile Note 2 has that can't be unlocked on the AT&T model? According to Wikipedia both AT&T and T-Mobile version of the Note 2 have AWS. I heard that you can enable the high speed bands on AT&T's model to work with T-Mobile. Is taht not true?
rogerbacon50 said:
I don't understand your answer to the OP.
I'm in the exact same situation as the OP. I'm with AT&T but they just took my unlimited data plan away so I'm probably going to switch to T-Mobile.
Are there any bands that the T-Mobile Note 2 has that can't be unlocked on the AT&T model? According to Wikipedia both AT&T and T-Mobile version of the Note 2 have AWS. I heard that you can enable the high speed bands on AT&T's model to work with T-Mobile. Is taht not true?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Tmo hasnt released the update to let tmo gnotes2 work on their lte network, because its not up and running most places... Possibly only update customers who are in Kansas City.
Not too clear if att gnotes2 with att specific firmware would work on tmo's network. Theoretically it should work, but their might be some radio issues that give u shoddy service. Unlocking phones is illegal now, so idk if u could sim unlock ur phone through att to work for tmo anyways. Might have to go through ebay or something to do so.
Sent from my SGH-T889 using XDA Premium HD app

[Q] Will my TMO Note 2 be fully functional on AT&T's network?

I want to switch to Straight Talk on AT&T's network, once I activate the AT&T SIM card ST will give me, will my phone be able to take full advantage of AT&T's LTE despite being the TMO GNote 2?
MrJazzbo said:
I want to switch to Straight Talk on AT&T's network, once I activate the AT&T SIM card ST will give me, will my phone be able to take full advantage of AT&T's LTE despite being the TMO GNote 2?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
All you have to do is have it unlocked... everything will work fine, LTE included. Pings will be higher, giving it a little slower feeling than T-Mobile. I usually get 30-60ms with T-Mobile, vs 150-170 with ST.
Yeah I've been using it in straight talk att and all is well
Sent from my GT-N7105 using Tapatalk

[Q] Moving S4 from Verizon to iwireless/t-mobile

Hi,
I am thinking about moving my Galaxy S4 and moto RAZR from Verizon wireless to iwireless (a t-mobile affiliate). I understand that I need to unlock my phone but I am unable to find out if I move it to iwireless if I will still have 4G data. The iwireless sales rep said that I will still have voice and 2.5G service but couldn't tell me if I would still have 4G.
I was looking at this table I found on a site explaining how to unlock the phone but I don't know enough about the subject to make an informed decision.
Samsung Galaxy S4
Can someone confirm whether or not my Verizon S4 or RAZR can be unlocked to work with the iwireless/t-mobile 4G network?
sgibbers17 said:
Hi,
I am thinking about moving my Galaxy S4 and moto RAZR from Verizon wireless to iwireless (a t-mobile affiliate). I understand that I need to unlock my phone but I am unable to find out if I move it to iwireless if I will still have 4G data. The iwireless sales rep said that I will still have voice and 2.5G service but couldn't tell me if I would still have 4G.
I was looking at this table I found on a site explaining how to unlock the phone but I don't know enough about the subject to make an informed decision.
Samsung Galaxy S4
Can someone confirm whether or not my Verizon S4 or RAZR can be unlocked to work with the iwireless/t-mobile 4G network?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It seems as though your grasp of the subject is strong enough to know that it might work as you'd like - and it might not. You need to call back and ask to speak to a CSR that actually knows what bands their service works on so they can give you accurate information. That's kind of their job...
Also -
Verizon LTE operates on Band 13 while T-Mob operates on Band 17, both of which carry completely different spectrums; this means no LTE on either of your unlocked phones.There's a slim possibility that you will get intermittent 3G but the most likely scenario is that you will get talk, text and 2G / 2.5G only.
Band 17? My Verizon branded S4 is getting T-Mobile LTE. I'm fairly sure its on band 4.
T-mobile is band 4 which is 1700/2100 mhz. The Verizon s4 is not capable of 1700mhz. But if you are getting 4G it may be because your area is using 2100 mhz. I am specifically moving to iwireless and I was told they use the 1700 mhz band.
Bsliv, how did you unlock you phone?
sgibbers17 said:
Bsliv, how did you unlock you phone?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Many Verizon phones are sim unlocked, so it's most likely unlocked as well
serio22 said:
Many Verizon phones are sim unlocked, so it's most likely unlocked as well
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes, I think all Verizon LTE capable phones are unlocked.
The I545 (Verizon S4) can receive LTE on band 4. T-Mobile serves LTE on band 4. The coincidence works well.
bsliv said:
Yes, I think all Verizon LTE capable phones are unlocked.
The I545 (Verizon S4) supports LTE on band 4. T-Mobile serves LTE on band 4. The coincidence works well.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
My RAZR MAXX HD definitely wasn't SIM unlocked... For the life of me I couldn't get it to work when I moved to ATT from Verizon... Not even GSM would work.
I just need to get some clarification from you guys. Are your VZW phones bought in the US and being in the US on t-mobile's or iwireless's 4g network. Because after I made the first post I went to the phone unlocking place in my local mall and talked to there techs, they said that the VZW S4 will not get 4g. I have also been doing extensive searches online and keep finding half saying it will work and half saying it won't. I have a feeling that the ones that work are working outside of the US as I found posts saying as such.
I read some where that the razr you had to flash the radio FW to get GSM to work properly.
Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk
I got my vzw S4 off craigslist but 99% sure it was purchased in the USA. I'm on T-Mobile's $50/mo plan.
Verizon's LTE phones are sim unlocked due to an agreement with the FCC when vzw purchased some bandwidth.
I think there was an update around 03/2014 that enabled band 4 on the I545. Then had to make some apn changes and tell the modem to use gsm/lte on band 4.
The one quirk I have is it will say "no service" after a reboot and until I make or receive a voice call. Then I get the "T-Mobile" instead of "no service" and things work as they should.
bsliv said:
I got my vzw S4 off craigslist but 99% sure it was purchased in the USA. I'm on T-Mobile's $50/mo plan.
Verizon's LTE phones are sim unlocked due to an agreement with the FCC when vzw purchased some bandwidth.
I think there was an update around 03/2014 that enabled band 4 on the I545. Then had to make some apn changes and tell the modem to use gsm/lte on band 4.
The one quirk I have is it will say "no service" after a reboot and until I make or receive a voice call. Then I get the "T-Mobile" instead of "no service" and things work as they should.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'll have to go to iwireless and have one of the tech put a SIM card in my s4 and razr to give it a try.
The only options I have for the network mode on my s4 is
Global, LTE/CDMA, and GSM/UMTS. Can you post you settings?
Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk
I was just at iwireless today and tested my phone with their network and was unable to get it to work. iwireless is a t-mobile affiliate but they do not use 4G LTE in my area. Their system runs on a 3.8G 1700MHz which the VZW S4 does not have. I am told that they will be starting to switch all the 2G radios in the area to 4G LTE later this year, which should work with my VZW S4. So I am just going to have to wait till the end of the year and go back and test it again.
Frankenscript said:
My RAZR MAXX HD definitely wasn't SIM unlocked... For the life of me I couldn't get it to work when I moved to ATT from Verizon... Not even GSM would work.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That phone was before VZW bought the band 4 spectrum and cut the deal with the FCC. All VZW LTE phones are SIM unlocked. Any AWS capable VZW phone is SIM unlocked and can use LTE on band 4. The S4 got it with an update last year.
I am probably going to do the $30 plan soon and plan to use my VZW S4. I am not going to port my number right away in case the service in my area sucks (doubtful, live in DFW in dense surburbia).
I went out off town this weekend and went to a t-mobile store and was able to get 4g service after adding the correct APN. But it is too bad that iwireless that is in my area does not use that band yet, they are staring to upgrade to that band later this year. Until then my s4 will only get edge service.
Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk
I was able to get H+ on my s4 from Verizon to tmobile by changing the network mode to global and the App to fast.T-mobile.com
Sent from my SM-G900T using XDA Free mobile app
With the announcement of the T Mobile $100 2 line unlimited everything, I'm also interested in bringing my Verizon S4 MDK boot loader phone to T Mobile, but want to do my research first-- is it as simple as signing up for T Mobile and getting one of their SIMs and then-- would I be able to flash any of the ROMs in the S4 T Mobile Dev forum or is the T Mobile S4 a completely different device? Any caveats? Would I have to LokiDoki after the flash? Would I need to flash a T Mobile specific radio too (currently on i545vrufnk1)? Or is that all just overcomplicating things? Would i be able to just adjust the APNs on my current ROM after inserting a T Mobile SIM?
Sent from my SCH-I545 using Tapatalk
Quick reply to my post and for anyone else interested-- there's a post here that talks about using a 4.4.2 T-Mobile ROM by Fenny on the a Verizon S4: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?p=57453019 I've tried it and LTE works great, MMS works properly, phone calls work as well. I'm on the Verizon i545vruamdk bootloader and Verizon i545vrufnk1 radio. The ROM is a T-Mobile m919uvufnb4 by Fenny.
Sent from my SGH-M919 using Tapatalk

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