[Q] Flash to t-mobile is it possible? - T-Mobile, Samsung Galaxy SIII

Hi guys,
this may not be the proper forum for this if it is not i apologize.
I have have the cricket galaxy S3 which I payed retail for a few months ago, I am moving to a area where they do not cover, I would like to bring my s3 over to tmobile but im running into a strange issue.
The phone is set to cdma mode in the the engineering menus i can switch it over to gsm and it has the frequencies that tmobile uses but i can not get it to see anyone else's sim card other then crickets, its not an unlock problem, it just says please insert sim with anyone else's, they do something weird they are cdma but have a sim card and the phone will not work without it. I tried installing a rom with the tmobile baseband as an experiment thinking well it may be that, but it didn't work.
I am having a hard time believing there is not a way to get this done so I am turning to the most informed android community I know of for advice, Dose anyone have any thoughts on how to accomplish this?
Please not I am not scared to brick this phone because if I cant get it switched over its a $500.00 paperweight to me anyway it has a cracked glass so I wouldn't be able to sell it anyway.

What model is it? I think cricket is closely related to sprint or verizon. And as far as I know no ones been able to use those models on the tmob or att networks with any success. Just because the option is in the engineering menus does not mean the phone is capable. It was just easier than creating separate apps for every model s3.
Now that T-Mobile has lte in some areas this may have changed a little, but in the past I know cdma phones were not compatible with T-Mobiles gsm network. So there may be a way IF lte is in your market, but I still wouldnt get my hopes up much.
Sent from my SGH-T999 using xda premium

DocHoliday77 said:
What model is it? I think cricket is closely related to sprint or verizon. And as far as I know no ones been able to use those models on the tmob or att networks with any success. Just because the option is in the engineering menus does not mean the phone is capable. It was just easier than creating separate apps for every model s3.
Now that T-Mobile has lte in some areas this may have changed a little, but in the past I know cdma phones were not compatible with T-Mobiles gsm network. So there may be a way IF lte is in your market, but I still wouldnt get my hopes up much.
Sent from my SGH-T999 using xda premium
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
it is identical to the verizon one, model is like 530 I think and the verizon is 535 (dont have in in front of me), but ive seen on youtube someone get the verizon s3 to work on gsm but hitting a couple settings, hence my frustration.

neocrypter said:
it is identical to the verizon one, model is like 530 I think and the verizon is 535 (dont have in in front of me), but ive seen on youtube someone get the verizon s3 to work on gsm but hitting a couple settings, hence my frustration.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It will not work I believe ..But here is some info Here
Maybe this here I think the closes ROM is MetroPCS

Qverse said:
It will not work I believe ..But here is some info Here
Maybe this here I think the closes ROM is MetroPCS
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
See I looked at that but I couldnt get it to work with my phone, the part that is hanging me up is it refuses to see the gsm sim card, though outwardly they look identical to the lte card that is in my phone im thinking it has to do with the encoding on them.

i have been trying to Odin flash the stock vzw firmware to it, since the hardware is identical, but i cant get past the qualcomm secure boot check

neocrypter said:
See I looked at that but I couldnt get it to work with my phone, the part that is hanging me up is it refuses to see the gsm sim card, though outwardly they look identical to the lte card that is in my phone im thinking it has to do with the encoding on them.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
So what happens went you put the sim in to your UNLOCKED phone?

neocrypter said:
i have been trying to Odin flash the stock vzw firmware to it, since the hardware is identical, but i cant get past the qualcomm secure boot check
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I wouldn't try that again. Way too risky. Odin won't flash an official firmware to a different model device. But if you get it to it would be more likely to brick your phone than not. I know they're practically identical, but any difference in bootloaders could cause it.
Sent from my SGH-T999 using xda premium
---------- Post added at 10:20 PM ---------- Previous post was at 10:16 PM ----------
And I know you said you're not worried about bricking it, but even with cracked glass you can still sell it, probably for a good bit more than you think.
And you did imply you are unlocked. Are you though, for sure?
Sent from my SGH-T999 using xda premium

DocHoliday77 said:
I wouldn't try that again. Way too risky. Odin won't flash an official firmware to a different model device. But if you get it to it would be more likely to brick your phone than not. I know they're practically identical, but any difference in bootloaders could cause it.
Sent from my SGH-T999 using xda premium
---------- Post added at 10:20 PM ---------- Previous post was at 10:16 PM ----------
And I know you said you're not worried about bricking it, but even with cracked glass you can still sell it, probably for a good bit more than you think.
And you did imply you are unlocked. Are you though, for sure?
Sent from my SGH-T999 using xda premium
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Click to collapse
well here is the thing, about the unlocked bit I am not sure, but it dose not prompt me for an unlock code, it simply just dose not see any other sim thats put in it, it just says No Sim. I gave up on flashing it with odin, I remembered the rom I was running had options for all major us carriers in it and cricket so i played around with that re-flashing the rom to it try a few things and well that didn't work either.

Well if you don't get it unlocked its probably not going to work with any other carriers network.
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2023709
That thread may help. It's for gsm phones so I don't know if it'll do you any good, but it's worth a shot!
The Rom itself will have little to do with getting it working on another network. The main items that you probably need to worry about are unlocking and that SIM card.
The sim is tmob right? Does it work fine in other T-Mobile phones?
If you really do think.it's the Rom you may be able to flash a stock based Rom from the T999. Get verification first though as it's probably not like att where we can just flash theirs and it just works! You'd most likely need it ported.
Sent from my SGH-T999 using xda premium

Related

[Q] Question about Flash Counter and Warranty

I recently attempted to root my SGS2 but I mistakenly installed firmware from the i9100 instead of the version I had, the SPH-D710, also known as the Epic Touch 4g. ( I was unaware there were three versions of the SGS2).
Odin failed, and all my subsequent efforts to flash proper firmware got as far as the LAST file (hidden.img) and then failed, too. I'm guessing it was a driver issue or a cable issue or something.
In desperation I started looking around the forums for any way to salvage this, and ended up going down a few fruitless tangents, but I did find out about the jig method of resetting the flash counter.
I booted into download mode and realized that the flash counter is actually zero - it says that I have an official binary loaded.
With that said, will Samsung / Sprint honor my warranty under these conditions? I have heard that people have gotten replacement phones even when they successfully flash custom firmware to their phones via the jig reset, so I'm feeling pretty confident they will.
Thanks for your help!
sirdangolot5 said:
( I was unaware there were three versions of the SGS2).
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Worth noting its actually way beyond 3. i9100 international, then you have the Epic 4G Touch, AT&T has the Skyrocket and then they have another one that is just a GS2 but its not the international. Then you have T-Mobiles variant all of these so far are different phones. Canada has 3, Mexico has an LTE variant, The Caribbean and then I even heard Japan has one. Oh and dont let me forget about the 3 south korean ones. I thought it was just 4 at first.
Just do a warranty exchange at a sprint store say nothing and hope for the best.
So I'm in the clear? That's certainly a relief.
Sent from my SPH-M580 using XDA App
sirdangolot5 said:
So I'm in the clear? That's certainly a relief.
Sent from my SPH-M580 using XDA App
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I wouldnt say that. Assuming nothing else appears out of place the warranty exchange may work just fine. Doesnt mean it will. Most of us running root phones with custom roms have a download screen that says exactly the same thing. When the phone turns on it says a whole different story. If the phone wont boot and nothing else is out of place you will probably get away with it. From the sound of it you have had a bit more luck than others though in trying to get the phone to normal.
Just remember in the future any phone sprint carries if its available on any other carrier its not the same phone. Sprint is the only CDMA carrier that uses WiMax and until the LTE switch they have no chance of carrying anywhere near compatible 4G hardware with Verizon. International phones are usually GSM/HSPA and the sort and the hardware is different.
It is a YMMV, but you have a good chance of being ok with normal techs. You could always run into the one stickler though and all bets are off.
RainMotorsports said:
If the phone wont boot and nothing else is out of place you will probably get away with it. From the sound of it you have had a bit more luck than others though in trying to get the phone to normal.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes, this is my exact situation. My hopes are renewed.

US Cellular Version

If no one hasnt read, US Cellular is finally get a variant to this phone, except they are calling it just Galaxy S2. Really contemplating on getting this phone, I just wanted to ask anyone who is knoweldgeable if I get this phone, can I root it and load CWM and stuff on it from your ROMS? or would I have to wait until one comes out specifically for my phone even though they are both CDMA and the specs are the same from what i see.
IBMguy said:
If no one hasnt read, US Cellular is finally get a variant to this phone, except they are calling it just Galaxy S2. Really contemplating on getting this phone, I just wanted to ask anyone who is knoweldgeable if I get this phone, can I root it and load CWM and stuff on it from your ROMS? or would I have to wait until one comes out specifically for my phone even though they are both CDMA and the specs are the same from what i see.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You will probably have to wait for someone else does that ans then you can do it.
Sent from my SPH-D710 using XDA App
IBMguy said:
If no one hasnt read, US Cellular is finally get a variant to this phone, except they are calling it just Galaxy S2. Really contemplating on getting this phone, I just wanted to ask anyone who is knoweldgeable if I get this phone, can I root it and load CWM and stuff on it from your ROMS? or would I have to wait until one comes out specifically for my phone even though they are both CDMA and the specs are the same from what i see.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Its hard to say man without seeing the phone. There could be very minor differences that would not let a Rom be able to flash for that phone. It would be very easy for someone to port the Roms over especially since they are both CDMA
Sent from my Nexus S 4G using xda premium
IBMguy said:
If no one hasnt read, US Cellular is finally get a variant to this phone, except they are calling it just Galaxy S2. Really contemplating on getting this phone, I just wanted to ask anyone who is knoweldgeable if I get this phone, can I root it and load CWM and stuff on it from your ROMS? or would I have to wait until one comes out specifically for my phone even though they are both CDMA and the specs are the same from what i see.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I would like to know the answer to that too, I just picked mine up. Android ver: 2.3.6,baseband S:R760.01 K.FB14

What if I loaded a STOCK FIRMWARE from AT&T on my T-Mobile?

I was wondering since both the AT&T and Tmobile phones are the same I could possibly flash a stock firmware from AT&T on to my T-mobile SGS III and then use an AT&T sim? I'm trying to use an AT&T sim card. Thought this might be an alternative to unlocking the phone. thanks.
I doubt that it would work
Sent from my SGH-T999 using xda premium
JoJo2211 said:
I was wondering since both the AT&T and Tmobile phones are the same I could possibly flash a stock firmware from AT&T on to my T-mobile SGS III and then use an AT&T sim? I'm trying to use an AT&T sim card. Thought this might be an alternative to unlocking the phone. thanks.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
no
Can you guys elaborate please.
NOooooo
JoJo2211 said:
Can you guys elaborate please.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Just because you flash an att rom doesn't mean its gonna unlock the phone to use it on a different carrier. If you try that it will brick or crash. DON'T DO IT! Seriously, if you want to use it for another carrier you can request a subsidy unlock from Tmobile if you have an account in good standing every 90 days. If you bought it threw a third party try another method to get the device unlocked. Or if you bought it right out full price from Tmobile they can process the subsidy unlock request as well. Once you have your unlock code it should come with instructions or if not you can go to Tmobile.com support section for your phone the Samsung T999.
hucesar1017 said:
Just because you flash an att rom doesn't mean its gonna unlock the phone to use it on a different carrier. If you try that it will brick or crash. DON'T DO IT! Seriously, if you want to use it for another carrier you can request a subsidy unlock from Tmobile if you have an account in good standing every 90 days. If you bought it threw a third party try another method to get the device unlocked. Or if you bought it right out full price from Tmobile they can process the subsidy unlock request as well. Once you have your unlock code it should come with instructions or if not you can go to Tmobile.com support section for your phone the Samsung T999.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm just curious why would it brick the phone? Both of these phones are the SAME hardware wise. Even under the IMEI sticker of my tmobile s3 it says i747..
Radios are different, kernel I believe is slightly different. Just not a good idea unless a dev specifically says its safe.
It also wont help with the unlock. Thats not ROM dependent.
Also, the phones are NOT the same. I don't know why some seem to think they must be the same. What are they basing this on? They are very similar yes, and perhaps the ROM from AT&T will work. I don't know. However, sometimes very similar phones may have some very important differences, like a kernel, radio, or one or more partition/s that may be offset by one perhaps because of some aforementioned reason. Or any combination of those. Don't assume the phones are identical because the Internet says so. If you are confident that the phones are in fact identical, then by all means, flash away. Just let us know how it turns out. It may work.
Do a "getprop" in terminal and you may note some very important differences in there, besides the device name/model, etc. Has anyone seen the ril.modem.board or crypto values from an AT&T SGSIII?
If the mount points are different, which they probably are, you copuld end uup with a very expensive paper weight unless you know how to make the needed changes to the updater-script, which you would have to hack to even flash the rom in the forst place because the ro.device props will be different.
Unlocking a phone has nothing to do with the ROM, most phones give you 10 chances to enter a correct unlock code until the phone it carrier locked with whatever carrier the phone is for.
The unlocking of the phone is usually hard flashed and if you exhaust all attempts, you have to send it in to get reflashed from the carrier.
T-Mobile will generally offer you a free unlock code after 60-90 days of a phone purchase, but that does not mean you can flash ATT on T-Mobile and vice versa.
They are on different bands and have different setups, if they were the same they would just have one phone for both carriers.
OP should try it for the lulz. Phones are SAME! XD
Chances are a repartitions flash in Odin would fix it, but i'm jot sure about that. It's just a bad idea.
Sent from my SGH-T999 using xda premium

[Q] How do you flash a Verizon Galaxy S3 to SPRINT?

Im sort of new with flashing a phone to a different carrier. ive done everything from rooting and custom roms but never this...
im considering buying a samsung galaxy s3 for verizon, but i need to know if its possible to flash it to sprint and if so, how to flash it.
ive seen different posts and different websites saying u can go to sprint and ask them to activate it... i doubt that will ever work. i just want to know the steps to flashing the phone from verizon to sprint (maybe like a software or a set of steps?) --- before i buy the phone...
if anyone can help id really appreciate it.
​​
diamondprincessxoo said:
Im sort of new with flashing a phone to a different carrier. ive done everything from rooting and custom roms but never this...
im considering buying a samsung galaxy s3 for verizon, but i need to know if its possible to flash it to sprint and if so, how to flash it.
ive seen different posts and different websites saying u can go to sprint and ask them to activate it... i doubt that will ever work. i just want to know the steps to flashing the phone from verizon to sprint (maybe like a software or a set of steps?) --- before i buy the phone...
if anyone can help id really appreciate it.
​​
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I haven't seen this done yet, may be easier to just but a Sprint one.
Your issue will be the radios Verizon goes off a different bandwidth. And unless you get the developer edition, you have to deal with the locked boot loader bs.
Sent from Pluto.
Speedin07si said:
I haven't seen this done yet, may be easier to just but a Sprint one.
Your issue will be the radios Verizon goes off a different bandwidth. And unless you get the developer edition, you have to deal with the locked boot loader bs.
Sent from Pluto.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
damn =/ that sucks
thanks anyways.
i know this may not be legal but what if i use the esn/imei from my old samsung galaxy s phone? do you think it still would have a chance to work?
diamondprincessxoo said:
i know this may not be legal but what if i use the esn/imei from my old samsung galaxy s phone? do you think it still would have a chance to work?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
no
its possible
i have flashed like 4 verizon s3's to boost same method as sprint.
3g works
mms works
diamondprincessxoo said:
Im sort of new with flashing a phone to a different carrier. ive done everything from rooting and custom roms but never this...
im considering buying a samsung galaxy s3 for verizon, but i need to know if its possible to flash it to sprint and if so, how to flash it.
ive seen different posts and different websites saying u can go to sprint and ask them to activate it... i doubt that will ever work. i just want to know the steps to flashing the phone from verizon to sprint (maybe like a software or a set of steps?) --- before i buy the phone...
if anyone can help id really appreciate it.
​​
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Can anyone help me figure out what i am doing wrong to get 3G and MMS working???????
Guys i cannot for the life of me figure out what i am doing wrong..
I have tried this so many different times and still getting the same results...
I have voice and text so i have done snnn repair already can make call from boost number send text ...
when i have the sim in sometimes i can get 1X but never 3G..
I have tried the following settings from here http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1727949&page=5
I know that i am pretty close but not quite there... can someone please help???
Speedin07si said:
I haven't seen this done yet, may be easier to just but a Sprint one.
Your issue will be the radios Verizon goes off a different bandwidth. And unless you get the developer edition, you have to deal with the locked boot loader bs.
Sent from Pluto.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yeah, why go through all the brain damage? Just buy a sprint gs3.
ervis1 said:
Guys i cannot for the life of me figure out what i am doing wrong..
I have tried this so many different times and still getting the same results...
I have voice and text so i have done snnn repair already can make call from boost number send text ...
when i have the sim in sometimes i can get 1X but never 3G..
I have tried the following settings from here http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1727949&page=5
I know that i am pretty close but not quite there... can someone please help???
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
How did you get voice and text? I have 3g but no voice or text which is really crazy
will never have lte service
correct me if i'm wrong but i've been reading that the LTE from at&t version and sprint aren't compatible so that would lead me to think that a verizon phone on sprint would never have LTE
iFLASHPHONES said:
i have flashed like 4 verizon s3's to boost same method as sprint.
3g works
mms works
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
How?!
blu422 said:
How?!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'd suggest PM is the way to go
I see Sprint to Verizon but not Verizon to Sprint but its got to work. Like he said he's done 4 already. Just the settings are missing for sprint.

[Q] Switched carriers, ROM questions

So I recently switched from tmobile to at&t and I am able to use my new sim in the phone but I was wondering, do i still use the ROMs specific to this device or use the at&t ones? I figured I continue to use the tmobile ones becasue the device itself obviously didnt change but I just want to make sure something hardware wise doesnt mess up.
thanks
You can run both types of roms. You always could:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2295557
Sent from my SGH-M919 using XDA Premium 4 mobile app
naandrade said:
So I recently switched from tmobile to at&t and I am able to use my new sim in the phone but I was wondering, do i still use the ROMs specific to this device or use the at&t ones? I figured I continue to use the tmobile ones becasue the device itself obviously didnt change but I just want to make sure something hardware wise doesnt mess up.
thanks
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It seems you understand what I'm gonna say, but it's still worth mentioning again. Remember that in the end, the device is still a T-Mobile M919. What I mean by that is that when it comes to kernels and most importantly - Odin-flashable firmwares and modems, you must use files specifically for the T-Mobile S4.

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