I just purchased an S3 (AT&T version) and want to use it on StraightTalk but it needs to be unlocked inorder to use the StraightTalk SIM, I have seen the websites where I have to pay $XX.XX and they will unlock it with the IMEI #, but there MUST be a way to do this on my own, right??
If I root the phone, and install a custom ROM will that have any effect on the ability to unlock the SIM? or whats the process to do this on my own?? (Is it possible?)
thanks in advance
Search. There is a free method to unlock. Also, if you have an at&t straight talk sim, you don't need to unlock it.
pre4speed said:
Also, if you have an at&t straight talk sim, you don't need to unlock it.
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Use your own compatible or unlocked GSM phone on America's best nationwide networks. Select a SIM or SIM bundle to get Unlimited* Data, Talk & Text. It's that easy.
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from http://www.shopstraighttalk.com/bpd...&locale=en&market=GSM4&productFamily=simcards
I guess I will wait for my SIM to come on monday before I try to unlock it, incase you are right
ksaul said:
from http://www.shopstraighttalk.com/bpd...&locale=en&market=GSM4&productFamily=simcards
I guess I will wait for my SIM to come on monday before I try to unlock it, incase you are right
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He is right... Should work right out of the box. Just need to set your APN.
Related
Is there a way to unlock the phone when running a custom ROM such as CM10? Is it permanent whether or not I flash other or upgraded ROMs in the future?
I am asking all of this knowing my unlock code. I got it from my carrier but when I use the secret GSIII codes along with my unlock code I get an error. I assume its because I am on CM10. Is there a way to do this without putting another SIM in my phone.
I am asking this because I want to verify my unlock before traveling and getting a foreign SIM inserted.
Thank you.
I've had this issue myself. You must unlock on stock rom or else it won't work.
sweetsimplistic said:
I've had this issue myself. You must unlock on stock rom or else it won't work.
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Even if you're on the stock ROM, the code that you type in to get to the unlock prompt won't work. The only way to do it is to insert another carrier's SIM &turn on the phone. It will then prompt you for the unlock code. Type it in and voila.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I747 using Tapatalk 2
Oops the previous poster added info I forgot to add! Stock rom + another carrier's SIM card and you're good to go! The other carrier's SIM doesn't even have to be active or if you don't have another SIM, you can easily pick up a prepaid SIM for about $5-$10.
sweetsimplistic said:
Oops the previous poster added info I forgot to add! Stock rom + another carrier's SIM card and you're good to go! The other carrier's SIM doesn't even have to be active or if you don't have another SIM, you can easily pick up a prepaid SIM for about $5-$10.
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Thanks for adding that.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I747 using Tapatalk 2
Thanks for the info.
So after unlock flashing ROMs will still have it unlocked right?
Also for my reference, for those in the US, will a T-mobile micro SIM prepaid card that I can buy can be used to verify my unlock on my AT&T Samsung GS3?
Thanks.
magistrateee said:
Thanks for the info.
So after unlock flashing ROMs will still have it unlocked right?
Also for my reference, for those in the US, will a T-mobile micro SIM prepaid card that I can buy can be used to verify my unlock on my AT&T Samsung GS3?
Thanks.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yeah. Any SIM will verify it. And yes, when it's unlocked, it's unlocked. No matter what ROM you flash, it will be unlocked.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I747 using Tapatalk 2
third time is a charm! After two tries it finally worked for me. this time I made sure that I called at a time that it would be hard for me to get a US rep(2:00 AM EST).
This time I got a mexican rep, she was so nice and fast. no questions asked, just the IMEI and 3 minutes later she gave me the code. Also, I am on CM10.0.0 stable and it worked by just putting a alien SIM card and entering the code.
Unlocking ROM'd Captivate?!
So, with your note below you are saying that even with another ROM you can unlock a phone, say the Captivate(i897), by just getting a friendly non-US based AT&T help desk person!?
DJBBOX said:
third time is a charm! After two tries it finally worked for me. this time I made sure that I called at a time that it would be hard for me to get a US rep(2:00 AM EST).
This time I got a mexican rep, she was so nice and fast. no questions asked, just the IMEI and 3 minutes later she gave me the code. Also, I am on CM10.0.0 stable and it worked by just putting a alien SIM card and entering the code.
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Hello all,
I have a Samsung Galaxy S III from AT&T.
I plan on traveling so, I wanted to unlock it. I followed the steps on Android 4.1.1 I believe and it seemed to work (my menus looked identical to the tutorial I followed, but I don't have another SIM to test with). But, I have had the phone for a while and it is really sluggish, so I backed it up and decided to do a hard reset. The phone is running much smoother now, but I did do an AT&T software update which brought it to Android 4.3, and now when I look at the menu after typing *#197328640# and following the steps, when I get to Network Unlock, it looks different. Did the update relock my phone to the AT&T network. Is there a way to verify? Should I just hard reset again and stick with 4.1? Pleas let me know as soon as possible as I am traveling soon.
Thanks for all the help
If your phone was unlocked using any method, it should not relock. You can test it with a non att sim.
audit13 said:
If your phone was unlocked using any method, it should not relock. You can test it with a non att sim.
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How do I test if I don't have access to a non ATT sim, I have one Korean SIM card, but I don't know how to test with it because it is not currently being serviced.
Put in the non-ATT sim, power up the phone. If it does not ask you to enter an network or carrier unlock code, the phone is unlocked.
audit13 said:
Put in the non-ATT sim, power up the phone. If it does not ask you to enter an network or carrier unlock code, the phone is unlocked.
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Click to collapse
it shows no signal, but does not ask me for a network or a code. So it should be fine right?
I have a Canadian Bell S3 i747m which broke and I got some random guy to fix it for me. He frustratingly ended up installing a ROGERS circuit board(or so he says) without bothering to check the fact my phone was loaded with Bell bloatware or just asking me my carrier.
I now need to unlock the SIM in order to use it properly and I just want to be sure I have the correct information and I don't end up paying for an unlock code that will not work since I didn't provide the proper carrier.
My SIM card (not sure if that matters): BELL
My board/IMEI: ROGERS (Apparently)
I wanted to determine which carrier I was tied to but I see 0 bloatware in my phone which makes me think the guy is wrong/lying and it's not actually a Rogers board. Is there another way to determine which carrier my phone is tied to?
Cyclone112 said:
I have a Canadian Bell S3 i747m which broke and I got some random guy to fix it for me. He frustratingly ended up installing a ROGERS circuit board(or so he says) without bothering to check the fact my phone was loaded with Bell bloatware or just asking me my carrier.
I now need to unlock the SIM in order to use it properly and I just want to be sure I have the correct information and I don't end up paying for an unlock code that will not work since I didn't provide the proper carrier.
My SIM card (not sure if that matters): BELL
My board/IMEI: ROGERS (Apparently)
I wanted to determine which carrier I was tied to but I see 0 bloatware in my phone which makes me think the guy is wrong/lying and it's not actually a Rogers board. Is there another way to determine which carrier my phone is tied to?
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Click to collapse
The carrier doesn't matter. Once unlocked, it's unlocked for every carrier (unless it's unlocked by code).
You could go check the APN to see which carrier it's from.
BWolf56 said:
The carrier doesn't matter. Once unlocked, it's unlocked for every carrier (unless it's unlocked by code).
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Oh really? I was looking at the gsmliberty site for unlocking and it asks for a carrier. I can't post the link since I'm a new account but here it is split:
gsmliberty(dot)net/shop/samsung-galaxy-s3-unlock-codes-p-3528.html
I then went into their Terms of Service and it specifies that if I provide an incorrect carrier and the unlock code doesn't work then I won't get a refund. Does this mean this site is BS and I should avoid it and find another?
EDIT: Oh I see you added info about checking the APN. Don't know what that is but I'll Google it. Assuming I find it should I still avoid gsmliberty or should I give them a shot?
BWolf56 said:
The carrier doesn't matter. Once unlocked, it's unlocked for every carrier (unless it's unlocked by code).
You could go check the APN to see which carrier it's from.
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I went to Settings > Connections > More networks > Mobile Networks and it tells me this: Insert SIM card to access network services
EDIT: Ok I finally found the AP and CSC by dialing *#1234# and then comparing it to sammobiles firmware to find out which carrier it is tied to. Still worried about the fact I get the SIM error above but hopefully that will go away when I attempt to unlock it
Cyclone112 said:
I went to Settings > Connections > More networks > Mobile Networks and it tells me this: Insert SIM card to access network services
EDIT: Maybe I'm looking at the wrong spot. Here is my phone's about in case that helps:
View attachment 2807396
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Umm I though you'd have access to it w/o a sim card.
I'm not sure how else you could determine which carrier the motherboard is locked to.
BWolf56 said:
Umm I though you'd have access to it w/o a sim card.
I'm not sure how else you could determine which carrier the motherboard is locked to.
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I just ended up editing my last post a minute before you posted this. I did determine the carrier and it is in fact Rogers. I was planning on just getting an unlock code through a website. You mentioned that means it will only be unlocked for them which I'm fine with but I'm just concerned about the fact I have a Bell SIM. Will that cause any problems with the unlock process or future dealings with BELL?
Actually I have a better question. Can I just put Bell's firmware on my phone instead of Rogers using Odin and then get an unlock for Bell and theoretically I'll be back to where I was?
What bootloader is on the phone? If you have the 4.3 bootloader, you'll have to buy an unlock code. If you have the 4.1.1 bootloader and you are running a stock ROM (doesn't matter about the carrier), you can use the free method to unlock it. If you have the 4.1.2 bootloader, downgrade to the Rogers 4.1.1 ROM and unlock it using the free method.
audit13 said:
What bootloader is on the phone? If you have the 4.3 bootloader, you'll have to buy an unlock code. If you have the 4.1.1 bootloader and you are running a stock ROM (doesn't matter about the carrier), you can use the free method to unlock it. If you have the 4.1.2 bootloader, downgrade to the Rogers 4.1.1 ROM and unlock it using the free method.
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I'm running 4.3 so I know I need an unlock code unfortunately. I have a Bell SIM card but have Rogers firmware. The site I was looking to buy an unlock code from asks for my carrier so I presume I need to use Rogers. Will that be fine or am I able to just throw Bell firmware on my phone and buy an unlock code specifying Bell as my carrier?
I am not sure of you can load the stock Bell firmware and change the phone so it is locked to Bell. If this were the case, owners could switch carriers by flashing different firmware.
Cyclone112 said:
I just ended up editing my last post a minute before you posted this. I did determine the carrier and it is in fact Rogers. I was planning on just getting an unlock code through a website. You mentioned that means it will only be unlocked for them which I'm fine with but I'm just concerned about the fact I have a Bell SIM. Will that cause any problems with the unlock process or future dealings with BELL?
Actually I have a better question. Can I just put Bell's firmware on my phone instead of Rogers using Odin and then get an unlock for Bell and theoretically I'll be back to where I was?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Unlocking is permanent and unlocks to every carrier. Knowing which one you're locked to only matters to get a unlock code, after that, it's free for all.
BWolf56 said:
Unlocking is permanent and unlocks to every carrier. Knowing which one you're locked to only matters to get a unlock code, after that, it's free for all.
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Click to collapse
Gotcha, so there's no point in flashing Bell firmware at all. I just need the correct one for getting an unlock code in the first place. Thanks for helping a noob out.
I'm looking to switch from sprint to cricket and received the alleged unlock code from sprint.
When I insert a cricket Sim it doesn't ask for the code just says invalid Sim and call customer care.
Am I missing something or do I have to root and go that route to unlock the Sim?
Thanks for the help.
Jampge said:
Am I missing something or do I have to root and go that route to unlock the Sim?
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That won't help. There was a "hack" method to unlock the SIM with s-off. But it doesn't work on Lollipop, and never worked on Sprint.
Not sure if this is something locked out on the Sprint version. You might investigate online services that will unlock the SIM, which usually cost under $10. They usually will not charge, if they can't unlock your phone.
I have a "carrier-locked" ATT note 10 (SM-N975UZKEATT) that I would like to use on Tmobile.
1) Is the only thing required to get the phone working with Tmobile a carrier flash? Do you really no longer need to unlock the device (carrier unlock)?
2) any guides that show this process from att to tmobile?
Thanks
rogue1ne said:
I have a "carrier-locked" ATT note 10 (SM-N975UZKEATT) that I would like to use on Tmobile.
1) Is the only thing required to get the phone working with Tmobile a carrier flash? Do you really no longer need to unlock the device (carrier unlock)?
2) any guides that show this process from att to tmobile?
Thanks
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You still need to get your device carrier unlocked before it will work on another carrier.
BladeRunner said:
You still need to get your device carrier unlocked before it will work on another carrier.
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Click to collapse
Thanks for the clarification
rogue1ne said:
I have a "carrier-locked" ATT note 10 (SM-N975UZKEATT) that I would like to use on Tmobile.
1) Is the only thing required to get the phone working with Tmobile a carrier flash? Do you really no longer need to unlock the device (carrier unlock)?
2) any guides that show this process from att to tmobile?
Thanks
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Adding a little more to this:
1.) As an option (if preferred) you can most likely just keep the firmware installed on the phone and use it as it is. Tmobile is rather friendly with BYOD compared to AT&T. The phone will reconfigure some settings based on the settings that the Tmobile SIM card will have on it. Once unlocked just put the Tmobile sim card in and that should be all it takes. You may need to double check the APN settings though to make sure they are complete and accurate.
2.) Just look/search/research and you will find the multitude of discussions and tutorials on this. The process is the same as on the S9+. You won't have any problems finding out how to do this.