Develop Bugs

Galaxy Tab Voice Activation - Carrier Guide

Some awesome folks have posted tutorials for replacing the ROM on the tab to enable voice calling. Carrier info on actually using this "new" feature is a little sketchy, though. Will it work on CDMA? Can you still get the discounted price? All sorts of non-technical questions related to carrier are posted but generally buried so deep in threads that the info is hard to find and often there's conflicting info on carriers in different threads. So I am starting this thread in an attempt to collect data on carrier-specific info related to voice calling on the Tab enabled by custom ROMs found here on XDA. Here are two threads to choose from for updating the ROM:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=929479
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=847273
So please don't talk about ROMs here - this is about carriers, calling plans, etc. At first this post will have lots of questions, but as they are answered in the thread I will update the original post with the info. Don't follow the data here until the thread has had some responses! So here goes...
Disclaimer: I haven't done this yet and haven't verified any of this info.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Currently the "upgrade" does not work with CDMA because it requires tricking the carrier into not knowing you have a voice-enabled Tab by using a SIM card from another phone. No carrier will sell you a voice plan for the Tab. So the process goes like this:
1. Purchase a Tab, but do NOT activate it! The activation would be data-only and that's no good. The SIM card it comes with will be useless.
2. Activate an old phone or used phone you bought on ebay on a GSM carrier. Currently AT&T seems to produce the best results, but please post carrier details in the thread and I'll compile them here. Activate the phone with the voice and data plans of your choice.
3. Follow instructions from one of the links above to upgrade your ROM.
4. Install different modem software (also instructions in above links).
5. Take the SIM card out of the activated phone and put it in the Tab.
6. That's it! Now you can make calls on your Tab! (is that really it or is there more to it?)
PROS:
Voice on the Tab!
By activating an old/used phone you aren't stuck in a contract.
Cons:
You don't get the discount that comes with activation since activating the data plan without voice does you no good.
At some point the carrier could get wise and cut us off, but this hasn't happened yet.
QUESTIONS:
1. What have I missed (likely a lot)?
2. What is WRONG and needs to be corrected?
3. What carrier-specific details are different (like AT&T vs T-Mobile)?
4. Will CDMA always be out in the cold due to no SIM card or is that being worked on?
5. Which GSM carrier has the best plan for the voice Tab (that it thinks is a smartphone)?

CDMA phones do not use SIM cards, so it's not possible to do the same kind of swapping you can do with them. CDMA phones are provisioned by the ESN/MEID linked to an entry in the carrier's database. So unless you hack their corporate data or have a employee contact who will change something in the database, the entry is already linked to the device type. For example, if you have a feature phone and buy an Android phone on eBay, when you go to activate it, it knows it's an Android phone and will prompt you to call a service representative to change your plan, because that phone requires a data plan. It's also why you can't just take a VZW phone over to Sprint. I've actually heard of people getting clear ESN phones added to the other carrier, but it was always by having a friend who could do it from the inside. I'm not saying there aren't alternatives programs or ways to make voice calls on the CDMA Tabs, but it'll never be possible to do anything remotely like the SIM switching solution.

This is only for the GSM Tabs (at&t Tmobile) usa and yes u need a modem switch to hav 3G and voice but they will not work together u hav to switch from 3g to voice please becareful and read everything, the only person who will be responsable for ur tablet being bricked is you

So far I havent seen anyone that has voice and data with a normal phone sim card on T-Mobile Tab due to the fact that they have the IMEI block set up but if your going to do it you have to but one from AT&T will work with a T-Mobile sim and vice versa due to the system not really caring what the device is for the most part (at least on T-Mobile). Removing the IMEI block is illegal so your best bet is if you go with the opposite carrier from what your already using to avoid contract extentions or if you have a friend with other carrier get them to buy it at a discount while you do the same at your carrier. Then switch the two and use the modem switcher andyou should be able to do all you want.

countkakula said:
So far I havent seen anyone that has voice and data with a normal phone sim card on T-Mobile Tab due to the fact that they have the IMEI block set up but if your going to do it you have to but one from AT&T will work with a T-Mobile sim and vice versa due to the system not really caring what the device is for the most part (at least on T-Mobile). Removing the IMEI block is illegal so your best bet is if you go with the opposite carrier from what your already using to avoid contract extentions or if you have a friend with other carrier get them to buy it at a discount while you do the same at your carrier. Then switch the two and use the modem switcher andyou should be able to do all you want.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
idk , i have tmobile and i had to use my tab as a phone , waiting for a replacement vibrant, all i did was stick my vibrant sim, modem switcher. and poof i have tabphone

Are you saying you changed out the modem software without having to flash the ROM and it worked?

b0ricuaguerrero said:
idk , i have tmobile and i had to use my tab as a phone , waiting for a replacement vibrant, all i did was stick my vibrant sim, modem switcher. and poof i have tabphone
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
So you have internet and phone without using wifi cause i get wifi easy but get redirected when i use 2G or modem switch to 3G

Unlocked AT&T Galaxy S (I) on T-Mobile US Dials Customer Service Only.

I'm trying to give my AT&T branded Galaxy S I to my girlfriend's son (he cracked the screen on his old phone and is not eligible for an upgrade for quite a while) he uses T-Mobile. I was successful in ulockning the Galaxy using his T-Mobile SIM card using SGS Unlock Pro, which I bought for $5.00 USD on the Android Market. I get the dial tone and the T-Mobile wording on the upper right corner of the "screen lock swipe to unlock screen". I did a factory hard reset, took out my old AT&T SIM card and swapped out his T-Mo SIM card from his old phone.
But no matter what number I input manually the Galaxy always, always, always cnnects me with T-Mobile automated account management customer service number. I was under the impression that one shouldn't have to contact customer service when a phone is unlocked.
Can anyone tell me how to get out of this nasty loop? This is my first post ever here at XDA, and I did a search and couldn't find anything.
Thank you in advance for any help you can give me.
Chuck B.

[Q] What IMEI to give AT&T when I activate Gnex?

Galaxy Nexus arrived yesterday. Currently using a One X, which I will likely be returning, so I'm on a micro sim card. Therefore, I have to go to AT&T store and get a new sim.
When I call AT&T to activate the new sim, they will ask me for my IMEI. What should I give them to make sure they are able to keep my unlimited data plan? I've read that if I give them the Galaxy Nexus actual IMEI, it will not show up in the system as a smartphone, and this will cause all sorts of problems.
Should I give them the IMEI of my wife's AT&T Galaxy S2? If I did this, would it kick her off of her data plan?
Or should I google around and see if I can find the IMEI for some other HSPA+ AT&T phone?
Advice appreciated!

So I was pretty much in your situation as well. Ordered a HOX and they sent a micro sim card and deactivated my old one. However I was planning to sell the HOX and continue to use the GN so I needed a standard sim card. I just went into the AT&T store and he setup a new sim card for me and tried scanning the IMEI number, but as you mentioned it didn't show up in the AT&T system. I'm not sure what he did, but I still have my unlimited data plan and my GN working. When I view my phone on att.com it doesn't show up as any device. I'd go into the store, they'll know what to do.

[Q] Galaxy Note 2 as a "Go Phone"?

I've seen many a thread on this but, none answer the question fully.
Here's the scenario: My brother uses a small AT&T android phone on the "Pay-As-You-Go" plan with AT&T. He just pays for texting and phone (no data plan). If he needs/wants internet, he uses WiFi.
If I bought him a Galaxy Note 2, could he just swap his SIM card into it and continue to use it as he does his current phone? (Calls, texts and no data)
Has anyone successfully done this?

....

APN Settings... That is all.

There's a chance that att will recognize the phone and drop a data plan in his contract.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I317 using Tapatalk 2

Difference in SIM card possibly. Most older phones have regular SIM so you would need to get a mini/micro SIM for the Note 2. Possible issues there as you would have to go to AT&T for that.

As an ATT employee, I can tell you that the only real issue is going to be the SIM card. Since it is a micro sim card, which are (as far as I know) not supported on the go phone network, there may be an issue getting the SIM activated on ATTs system in the first place. But it is always worth a shot taking the question to a store and testing if a micro-SIM can be put on the phone.
There may not be an issue, but since most newer , non-go-phone SIM cards are LTE compatable, and since micro-SIMs are different beasts all together, you must keep in mind there is the possibility of failure. Which is why I suggest bringing the question to a store, seeing FIRST if a micro can be put on his line, and if that works, swap the phones out.
Sorry for the long-winded response, but I hope that answers some questins you didn't know you had
EDIT: Most ATTs also have what is known as a SIM cutter, so that might also be a possibility.
I wouldn't worry about them putting a data plan on the line, as the phone technology is too great, and therefore, actually incompatible with the 3g go-phone network.

You can just go into a retailer & buy a microsim to put on your account via the reps or calling customer care. & you could have hspa data if you got their $65 plan with 1GB. All you have to do is add the WAP apn in network settings, which you can find all over the web. Or get the $50 unlimited plan & buy data features as needed.
Sent from my Note 2

Thanks for all of the helpful answers!
Going to try and hit the store this weekend and see what they have to say about it.

At&t Galaxy Note 2 SGH-I317 on gophone
okay i swapped out my front note for the note 2 sgh-i317, thought that my apn setting would be the same but there are not. Does anyone know the correct apn setting for picture messaging and data, for the AT&T Galaxy Note 2 SGH-I317 (gophone)?

Sprint to T-Mobile migration pain?

I have the SM-N975U1. I was using a Sprint SIM until today. My text message performance was terrible starting spring 2020 (texts not coming through, delayed, etc. Sometimes I could flush them out by sending a text to myself.) The techs at the store told me to switch to a TMO SIM card to access the TMO bands that had better coverage in my area. However for some reason the they were not able to do it at the store, claiming the phone might not be compatible. But they gave me a TMO SIM card anyway. So I worked with the phone tech support and got the phone working with the TMO SIM card.
The phone seems work fine now EXCEPT I now do not receive the PINs sprint tech support sends via text. That is also true for the PIN I need in order to access my online account. I don't now how broad an issue this is.
Any ideas what is wrong?
I also note tech support had me use the ##SCRTN# dialer code, but that does not work (USSD code running/unable to process request). That worked with Sprint. I assume this is a difference with TMO. I also note PRL and Profile update are missing from the update menu too.