Note 2 on Three @ £499 - unlocked? Heavily-branded? - Galaxy Note II Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting

I just wondered if anyone in the UK has purchased a Note 2 from Three (instore) and if they can check if it is unlocked. Sometimes early batches from networks come with no branding and no network lock.
The price is much better than anyone else is offering instore from what I can tell, but I'm not keen to spend so much whilst instantly wiping my warranty by having to debrand and unlock the thing. I hate network branded splash screens etc.
Would appreciate some info from anyone who has bitten the bullet and bought one instore.

leoni1980 said:
I just wondered if anyone in the UK has purchased a Note 2 from Three (instore) and if they can check if it is unlocked. Sometimes early batches from networks come with no branding and no network lock.
The price is much better than anyone else is offering instore from what I can tell, but I'm not keen to spend so much whilst instantly wiping my warranty by having to debrand and unlock the thing. I hate network branded splash screens etc.
Would appreciate some info from anyone who has bitten the bullet and bought one instore.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hi, don't know how much this will help you but I had a play with an Note 2 in a Three store 2 days ago and I haven't noticed any Three branding or bloatware on it.

When I got my note 2 a few days ago I shopped around and I was considering buying it sim free I asked the guy in the 3 shop for a price at the time also if it was unlocked? He told me it would be locked to the 3 network so double check before you dive in.
Sent from my GT-N7100 using xda app-developers app
---------- Post added at 03:57 PM ---------- Previous post was at 03:52 PM ----------
Just to add he said third party retailers like phones for u and carphonewarehouse etc sell unbranded/unlocked phones.
Sent from my GT-N7100 using xda app-developers app

I have a Note 2 from Three on contract, it came in a totally unbranded box with Unbranded UK firmware pre-installed.
Not been able to test if its sim locked.

just an update on the Note 2 on Three UK.
got mine 12/11/12 and my note2 was heavily branded with the Three apps already included. i don't know about the sim lock tho as my whole family uses Three UK

All three phone are locked. Buyed £549 for mine sim free on 1/10/12
Sent from my GT-N7100 using xda app-developers app

Related

Are they locked/branded

So I'm getting a Galaxy Nexus from Vodafone on a contract, for various reasons. But I'd like it unlocked. I read in a few places that Nexus phones are unlocked by default, does anyone know if it would be unlocked. If not, how would I get it unlocked as it's a new phone so I'm guessing it's difficult.
Also are the phones branded, so would there be a vodafone boot logo or any voda apps?
if you are getting it from UK, then yes, chances are it is going to be locked.
funny though, cuz I tried getting one from vodafone but they didn't even have a schedule for it (only yesterday) so I had mine at phones 4U which is only retailer who seem to have one in my area :S
...this one (as usual along with CPW) was unlocked
I got mine from three (on payngo) yesterday, and it is sim unlocked I have used it with my T-Mobile sim. (I am pretty sure that they are all sim unlocked, as has been the case with past nexus phones).
edit: Also no branding, apps from the carrier at all, again like previous nexus phones.
loudestsilence said:
if you are getting it from UK, then yes, chances are it is going to be locked.
funny though, cuz I tried getting one from vodafone but they didn't even have a schedule for it (only yesterday) so I had mine at phones 4U which is only retailer who seem to have one in my area :S
...this one (as usual along with CPW) was unlocked
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Sorry but your incorrect, galaxy nexus is sold unlocked weather you purchase it direct from your network, a third part phone store, on contract or pay as you go.
jms.flynn said:
Sorry but your incorrect, galaxy nexus is sold unlocked weather you purchase it direct from your network, a third part phone store, on contract or pay as you go.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
apparantly o2 ones are locked, read on here someone who got one from o2 is asking for a code when he puts in another sim.
Question about sim lock
Question here. Suppose the phone is sim locked, will it be unlocked by root or fastboot unlock? Or are they different things? Thanks.
luffyp said:
Question here. Suppose the phone is sim locked, will it be unlocked by root or fastboot unlock? Or are they different things? Thanks.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Totally different. SIM-lock has nothing to do with bootloader lock. To my knowledge the only way to SIM-unlock any phone is with an unlock code (or some nasty hardware hacking). Unlock codes can usually be purchased online and many carriers will do it for a fee. I once bought an unlock code online for $5 for my old Nokia N95.
Since you're in the UK, see this thread for more info and a link to a legit ebay seller offering unlock codes.
i can confirm that the handsets bought from O2 are SIM locked to O2.
I can confirm Vodafone UK from p4u are sim unlocked.
Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using xda premium
All phones from Phones4U are unlocked.
I bought my GN from the 3 Store in the UK 2 days ago - They said it was locked but I put my Giffgaff sim in and it worked no problem.
oscillik said:
i can confirm that the handsets bought from O2 are SIM locked to O2.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
o2 simlock their phones, if you are on contract with them they will unlock it for free with a 1 week lead time. PAYG you need to spend some money (£10 if memory serves correct) to unlock the device.
Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using xda premium
lexarjump said:
I bought my GN from the 3 Store in the UK 2 days ago - They said it was locked but I put my Giffgaff sim in and it worked no problem.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
+1
Got my GN on three contract yesterday, popped my t-mobile sim in whilst waiting for a number port.

CLOSED - HTC One X Unlocking to all networks

MOD EDIT: Its is not allowed to promote your paid services on XDA....
Well, do let us know if it works
And how out works for that matter.
Curious to know if you'll het full s-off..
Keep us posted
Sent from my HTC One X using XDA
p50kombi said:
Well, do let us know if it works
And how out works for that matter.
Curious to know if you'll het full s-off..
Keep us posted
Sent from my HTC One X using XDA
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
This is SIM unlocking buddy, so you won't get S-OFF
I've purchased the item, will send my IMEI tomorrow evening as my phone is being replaced. Wil let you know tomorrow if it works!
p50kombi said:
Curious to know if you'll het full s-off..
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Nope. You're unlocking to allow other networks. It won't do anything to the bootloader at all so you'll stay S-ON.
Worked perfect. Now my One X is carrier unlocked for less than 2€.
I confirm that the phone is still S-ON.
Arkaknio said:
Worked perfect. Now my One X is carrier unlocked for less than 2€.
I confirm that the phone is still S-ON.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
brilliant! Thanks for sharing buddy.
I'll get mine done as well tonight
I wish I'd seen this thread earlier yesterday!
It Works
Ordered last night, arrived a couple of hours ago.
I filled in the details in the middle of the page instead of hitting the 'buy it now' at the top and it didn't go through ebay checkout but straight to paypal.
Email from them was literally:
UNLOCK=xxxxxxxx
--
-------------
Incase of any problem, please contact online support for quick help Thank You www.simpleunlock.co.uk
Phone from T-Mo, locked, attached shows unlocked on GiffGaff
vfrvulcan said:
Ordered last night, arrived a couple of hours ago.
I filled in the details in the middle of the page instead of hitting the 'buy it now' at the top and it didn't go through ebay checkout but straight to paypal.
Email from them was literally:
UNLOCK=xxxxxxxx
--
-------------
Incase of any problem, please contact online support for quick help Thank You www.simpleunlock.co.uk
Phone from T-Mo, locked, attached shows unlocked on GiffGaff
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
so you got a free unlock? lol
I've just purchase through buy it now. But as of yet haven't receieved my code. It's been 2 hours
Sent from my HTC One X using XDA
Got my code for free from freeunlocks by completing an offer with trialpay. (also bought one of that eBay link but haven't received it yet) I chose 30 day netflix trial and got my code in 15 mins and now I'm on T-Mobile UK on my 3 branded HOX
Sent from my HTC One X using Tapatalk 2 Beta-6
Tried that. Didn't work for me.
Sent from my HTC One X using XDA
Even after waiting 2 weeks for three to sort their act out and unlock me, I'm a bit wary of this. It looks like I'm expected to enter my paypal password on a page controlled by simpleunlock.co.uk. How is this safe?
winwiz said:
so you got a free unlock? lol
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No, I still paid £1.44 but I didn't go via ebay checkout, straight to Paypal as I said.
---------- Post added at 10:35 PM ---------- Previous post was at 10:31 PM ----------
ammurad said:
I've just purchase through buy it now. But as of yet haven't receieved my code. It's been 2 hours
Sent from my HTC One X using XDA
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I ordered mine at 2333 last night and arrived at 1310 so you may have to wait a while
works perfect had my code back in 30 seconds ,i did loose £1.44 because i used the iIMEI code from the package,but it was different from the phone,but £2 88 to unlock very cheap yes 10 out of ten
Glad I saw this. Even if there is a free way sorted soon - £1.44 to get it done now is cheap. I'd gladly pay more (3 said they would do it for £15)
Once the phone is unlocked will it then be able to get the 1.28 OTA?
i thought unbranded came unlocked and if you were branded, then you tell your carrier to unlock your phone and they are going to do it for free to keep your business. the only thing that would cost money is data roaming. i might be wrong.
brent8577 said:
i thought unbranded came unlocked and if you were branded, then you tell your carrier to unlock your phone and they are going to do it for free to keep your business. the only thing that would cost money is data roaming. i might be wrong.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm not sure about other carriers but Three def told me £15 to unlock. I can't see them doing it free as they are still doing you a service and unlocking your phone doesn't guarentee you are going to stay with them.
TremF said:
I'm not sure about other carriers but Three def told me £15 to unlock. I can't see them doing it free as they are still doing you a service and unlocking your phone doesn't guarentee you are going to stay with them.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
if ATT sim doesn't work in my phone and they don't unlock it for free, then i will gladly call that a breach of contract and order a Red Pocket sim and a cutter. when ATT bills me an ETF, then i'll dispute it and talk to a lawyer if i need to. that's how i do things. ;p
Just ordered one, need an alternative micro SIM to go in the phone now to unlock it when code arrives!!

Note 2 LTE in uk?

Anyone can advise as to where its possible yet to pick up a Note 2 LTE with a UK waranty? and if it isnt possible any clues as to how long before its available?
Been looking for someone selling a tmob or orange unwanted upgrade but had no luck :0(
Cheers
More of a question really this.. but there is 2 on evil bay right now
Sent from my GT-N7100 using Tapatalk 2
orange have the white note 2 LTE instock for 499 on pay as you go
Ooooh.. Do orange Sim free phones come unlocked? Or are they full of orange bloatware and locked to orange (and maybe tmobile?)
Chivalryyyy said:
Ooooh.. Do orange Sim free phones come unlocked? Or are they full of orange bloatware and locked to orange (and maybe tmobile?)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
They are absolutely rammed full of pesky bloatware and Orange branding and are ALWAYS locked (or every Orange phone I have ever bought has been locked anyway).......nothing that root and a stock/custom ROM can't fix though
Well just got off the phone to my local orange shop who quoted me £450 for the phone plus a £10 top up.....
I'm soon tempted!
Chivalryyyy said:
Well just got off the phone to my local orange shop who quoted me £450 for the phone plus a £10 top up.....
I'm soon tempted!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That must be the S3...
---------- Post added at 02:20 PM ---------- Previous post was at 02:20 PM ----------
Paradaz said:
They are absolutely rammed full of pesky bloatware and Orange branding and are ALWAYS locked (or every Orange phone I have ever bought has been locked anyway).......nothing that root and a stock/custom ROM can't fix though
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Phone are locked but no Orange branding of any sort
Just phoned back to confirm... Thru said the same... £450 for the note 2...
50quid saving is good. Snap that up. (As long as its the n7105 which it should be)
£12 to unlock it via a third party.
Sent from my GT-N7105 using xda app-developers app
Can verify that EE (orange and T mobile) sell pay as you go for 450, specifically the LTE model. Phones 4 U also do the 3G model for the same price.
Sent from my HTC One X+ using xda app-developers app
RokkaMan said:
Can verify that EE (orange and T mobile) sell pay as you go for 450, specifically the LTE model. Phones 4 U also do the 3G model for the same price.
Sent from my HTC One X+ using xda app-developers app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Still not convinced as the Note 2 LTE is £499 + £10 top-up and the S3 LTE is 449 + £10 top-up.
olisun39 said:
Still not convinced as the Note 2 LTE is £499 + £10 top-up and the S3 LTE is 449 + £10 top-up.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
What further proof do you need?
You think a couple independent members here posted that price just to fib you?
I am returning my note 2 3G to get the 4G version just to be more future proof. My googling skill is crap... I can't even find the phone on Tmobile's website as a Pay As You Go. Anyone know of anywhere else to buy the LTE version please... link would be very much appreciated.
its not on tmobile.. only orange...
I can only assume the stores are doing it slightly cheaper than online,,,,, although if you do go for one online remember theres £30 cashback from quidco / topcashback .. bringing it down to £469
just sold my s3, get the note 2 lte on Tuesday can't wait
just been into EE shop ( used to be orange) the non LTE note 2 is £450+ £10 top up, the LTE Note is £499 + £10 top up.
is there a similar sim unlock method to the S3 on XDA? as I still think this is a good price for future proof note 2
I'll just put my 3 sim in it
jimsey said:
just been into EE shop ( used to be orange) the non LTE note 2 is £450+ £10 top up, the LTE Note is £499 + £10 top up.
is there a similar sim unlock method to the S3 on XDA? as I still think this is a good price for future proof note 2
I'll just put my 3 sim in it
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You would be better ordering online using Quidco or whatever for cashback. I went into an EE store (orange) today and was quoted £469 + £10 top up for the LTE version. Sadly they didn't actually have it in stock and I'm struggling to find anywhere that does...
---------- Post added at 02:19 PM ---------- Previous post was at 01:49 PM ----------
raxje said:
You would be better ordering online using Quidco or whatever for cashback. I went into an EE store (orange) today and was quoted £469 + £10 top up for the LTE version. Sadly they didn't actually have it in stock and I'm struggling to find anywhere that does...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Just went for the Quidco option myself: £35 cashback.
raxje said:
You would be better ordering online using Quidco or whatever for cashback. I went into an EE store (orange) today and was quoted £469 + £10 top up for the LTE version. Sadly they didn't actually have it in stock and I'm struggling to find anywhere that does...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Orange online store doesn't have LTE in stock in titanium, so gonna get the one at my local store.
looks like method 14 in here should unlock it?
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showpost.php?p=31801134&postcount=4
Can anyone confirm?
No, that method will not work to unlock the n7105.
The EFS folder does not contain nv_data which means the IMEI info is not in the folder and the simunlock methods do not work
AFAIK, the only thing that works at the moment is to purchase an unlock code. I paid around £12.50 for an IMEI unlock from fastgsm.com
Pyr0x64 said:
No, that method will not work to unlock the n7105.
The EFS folder does not contain nv_data which means the IMEI info is not in the folder and the simunlock methods do not work
AFAIK, the only thing that works at the moment is to purchase an unlock code. I paid around £12.50 for an IMEI unlock from fastgsm.com
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
This is what I'll be doing, thanks to your earlier post. Ordered the white one from Orange, it's the one I wanted anyway

[Q] Unlock Three UK network note II ?

Evening all,
I'm trying to get my O2 sim to working on my Three network Note 2. I start the phone up and it then asked for a unlock code (sim lock). I've had a good google but sadly everything I've found doesn't work.
I have tried flashing the international stock rom which gets rid of the Three start up screen but when I try the service secret menu I don't get the UTMS option
(tried 4.1.1 and 4.1.2, same results - no menu)
Has anyone got one and managed to get a different sim working in it?
thanks,
Steve
Well I'm still after a proper unlock method, but for now I've used galaxsim unlock from the play store. I'm not one for recommending paid apps but this worked very well. Cost me £2.50 and once I ran it and rebooted the phone I'm pleased to say my O2 sim works great.
I had to root my Note2 mined which took a little reading.. but thanks to some XDA posts got it sorted
I'm still interested if anyone managed to unlock it 'proper'.
thanks
Steve
You could try actually asking Three for an unlock code.
Is there some reason for the OP to think that flashing a ROM will sim unlock a phone?
Sent from my GT-N7100 using xda premium
Three charge £15 to unlock the phone ring customer services
Sent from my GT-N7100 using xda premium
OP, try this thread
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2014982
Got my Note 2 on the Three network on the "one plan" tariff but i got it via affordable mobiles uk on a cheaper tariff and 1400 mins more.
The handset was free and it came sim unlocked with no network branding. Three wanted £36 pm and £69.99 for the handset I got it for £32 pm.
If your in the UK and want a Note 2, try affordable mobiles first.
working unlock for N7105
artnada said:
OP, try this thread
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2014982
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I used the method linked in the quoted post. I have an UK EE N7105 and I had to flash 4.1.1 to enable the method. It doesn't appear to work on 4.1.2 .
I have tested it with a pay as you go sim from another network. Works fine.
ScottArten said:
Got my Note 2 on the Three network on the "one plan" tariff but i got it via affordable mobiles uk on a cheaper tariff and 1400 mins more.
The handset was free and it came sim unlocked with no network branding. Three wanted £36 pm and £69.99 for the handset I got it for £32 pm.
If your in the UK and want a Note 2, try affordable mobiles first.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Congratulations, you completely failed to actually read the OP. Well done.

sim unlock

Can anyone help me sim unlock my S8+ G955U?
I bought from Samsung.com and shipped it via to Sri Lanka via a shipping company. In past, T-Mobile phones were unlocked.. Now it seems like they are locking.
I can't unlock. Tried an unlocking site and don't unlock via apps. They only send a code which is useless on T-mobile phones. Is anything possible on this phone.?
First of all, why did you buy an American carrier branded phone and then shipped it to another country.
Second of all, no. The phone has to be on a T-Mobile SIM for 40 days before T-Mobile can unlock it.
I think tmo phones were always simlocked, they used to have unlocked bootloaders..
Sent from my SM-G955U using Tapatalk
Try Unlockbase. They should have a section for unlock app. I unlocked 3 phones through them in the past.
Isn't the G955U the unlocked version? I bought mine from Samsung preorder and T-mobile device unlock app says permanently unlocked
Interceptor777 said:
First of all, why did you buy an American carrier branded phone and then shipped it to another country.
Second of all, no. The phone has to be on a T-Mobile SIM for 40 days before T-Mobile can unlock it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Not true about the 40 day wait. I paid in full for my phone. Got it on the 19th of April, I had it unlocked two days later. But Tmo and they will process it for you.
Sent from my SM-G955U using Tapatalk
---------- Post added at 03:44 AM ---------- Previous post was at 03:42 AM ----------
teflon79 said:
Not true about the 40 day wait. I paid in full for my phone. Got it on the 19th of April, I had it unlocked two days later. Bug Tmo and they will process it for you.
Sent from my SM-G955U using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Sent from my SM-G955U using Tapatalk
teflon79 said:
Not true about the 40 day wait. I paid in full for my phone. Got it on the 19th of April, I had it unlocked two days later. But Tmo and they will process it for you.
Sent from my SM-G955U using Tapatalk
---------- Post added at 03:44 AM ---------- Previous post was at 03:42 AM ----------
Sent from my SM-G955U using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes but it still has to be activated on the T-Mobile network.
Also there is a 40 day wait, sometimes you get lucky and the person you're talking to will look past it and unlock it. All the in-store guys told me 40 days and so did their customer support.
Either way you still need to be active on the T-Mobile network to get it unlocked.
Interceptor777 said:
Yes but it still has to be activated on the T-Mobile network.
Also there is a 40 day wait, sometimes you get lucky and the person you're talking to will look past it and unlock it. All the in-store guys told me 40 days and so did their customer support.
Either way you still need to be active on the T-Mobile network to get it unlocked.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The store reps are not always the sharpest blade. I have done it multiple times where they submit the request the following day and get a response with instructions within 24-48 hrs to use the unlock app. Maybe depends on the market, maybe?
Sent from my SM-G955U using Tapatalk
Why wouldn't you buy the unlocked model? The international model would be a far better choice...
U only have to wait 40 days if u are financing the phone. If u paid full retail tmobile should be able to email u the code with in a few days!
thanks for all the feedback guys. I got it unlocked. I spoke to T-Mobile after connecting one of my Friends T-Mobile account. They didnt talk about 40 day rule. They unlocked it.

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