[Q] My LG Optimus G E971 was Region Locked?? - LG Optimus G (International)

This is really wierd. Hope someone can help.
I bought an unlocked LG Optimus G E971 phone in Toronto, Canada this May. Inserting a Rogers and Fido SIM card was perfectly fine and working while I was in Toronto, Canada. No SIM network unlock PIN required.
In October, I travelled on vacation to Hong Kong with the same phone that I thought was unlocked. As always, I would buy a local SIM for my unlocked phone. To my surprised, it prompted for a SIM network unlock PIN. I went to a total of 3 carriers, including 3 Telecom, China Mobile and one other (cannot remember the name). All asked for a SIM unlock PIN.
Not believing what had happened, I went back to the shop in Toronto, Canada after returning home. Tried inserting Rogers, Fido, Bell and AT & T SIM card, all worked perfectly.
My question is, could this be a region lock? Like the Samsung Galaxy Note 3?
Anyone has similar experience to share?

It's a SIM/network lock, nothing more. You can purchase an unlock code for under $10 online. That's what I did.
Sent from my LG Optimus G using Tapatalk

phoenix_rizzen said:
It's a SIM/network lock, nothing more. You can purchase an unlock code for under $10 online. That's what I did.
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I'd think that, too, but then all these Canadian SIM cards he listed wouldn't work... I know for a fact that Bell, Fido and Rogers phones (at least every single one I tried, and that's quite a few of them), when locked, don't let you use each other's cards. If each of those cards work without problem, I doubt the phone is simlocked... But anyway, it may be worth trying unlocking it - the code for any LG model (with few exceptions) is only $4 from freemyblackberry.com, so there's not much to lose. It's a fast and reliable service, I used it several times myself.

On some smartphones, you can use them with its sub carrier. So Rogers E971 may work with Fido SIM even though it's locked. Buy an unlock code and you'll be fine.

Its not the $4 unlocking fee that I am avoiding. How do I proof my phone has been unlocked successfully? As someone had said, Bell and Fido are different carriers in Canada. It won't allow using each others SIM cards, but I can use both right now. So do I need to wait and travel again to Asia before I can proof that my LG has been unlocked sucessfully? Frustrating.

chopstks said:
Its not the $4 unlocking fee that I am avoiding. How do I proof my phone has been unlocked successfully? As someone had said, Bell and Fido are different carriers in Canada. It won't allow using each others SIM cards, but I can use both right now. So do I need to wait and travel again to Asia before I can proof that my LG has been unlocked sucessfully? Frustrating.
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I am sure E971 accept Rogers and Fido SIM card. I did not try Bell. But I unlocked my E971 by using Wind mobile SIM card. You could try Wind mobile.

One person told me that the North American version unlocked phone would not work in Asia (Hong Kong in my case). I verified my LG box and it's labelled LG Canada. That defeat the whole purpose of an unlocked phone for worldwide use. When you spend the extra effort to get a manufacture unlocked phone, you expected it to be unlocked worldwide. Got to write to LG Canada to see if that is their marketing strategy or it's a system bug.
All Asia and Europe cell phones are legitimately manufacture unlocked. Just not a believer in locked phones and their ripped off plans in North America.

chopstks said:
One person told me that the North American version unlocked phone would not work in Asia
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Would this be only about LGs, or any phone? Can't comment on Asia, as I never had to travel there, but my Canadian Galaxy S2 (originally locked to Bell) worked perfectly in several European countries after unlocking. My LGOG works with North American and European SIM cards, but it's a Korean F180S, so that doesn't prove anything...
All Asia and Europe cell phones are legitimately manufacture unlocked. Just not a believer in locked phones and their ripped off plans in North America.
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Amen to that! Side by side comparison of European and American (especially Canadian) cell phone service prices is nothing short of a shock to either party. It is as ridiculously cheap in Europe as it is outrageously expensive on this side of the pond.

kt-Froggy said:
Would this be only about LGs, or any phone? Can't comment on Asia, as I never had to travel there, but my Canadian Galaxy S2 (originally locked to Bell) worked perfectly in several European countries after unlocking. My LGOG works with North American and European SIM cards, but it's a Korean F180S, so that doesn't prove anything...
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Click to collapse
I like this LG Optimus G E971, reasonably priced with all the great features. I owned Samsung Omina II (I8000) Windows 6.5, Motorola Ming A1200 and Motorola V300 before. All except V300, was manufacture unlocked and bought in Canada. All worked perfectly in North America and Asia with local SIMs. That is why this came as a surprise. If I had known this will be the NA unlocked version, I would plan differently. Such as get a $0 to 299 carrier locked phone and spend $4 to unlock it worldwide.

sim card
sky007 said:
I am sure E971 accept Rogers and Fido SIM card. I did not try Bell. But I unlocked my E971 by using Wind mobile SIM card. You could try Wind mobile.
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Click to collapse
so you can confirm that the e971 will work with wind mobile sim card ??

Related

XDA1, model no. PW10A1

hi
I'm from the states cingular is my carrier I recently purchased Xda model number above from ebay the phone is unlocked. but from what i"ve read without doing my home work first it's a uk rom. so my question will the phone work here in the states? cingular is 1900 band carrier which they own at&t now. or will have to resell the phone. i haven't recieved yet it's like new shape perfect condition the thought didn't cross my mind with difference pw10a1 the states is pw10b1 from what i read. after having uk base a920 motorola i decided to change up i hope i didn't goof can some help me.
dave cruz

Will this work with 3 Mobile in Australia?

I can stand Telstra and as they are only available in Australia via Telstra, i want to purchase one outright. I want to know if anyone knows if this phone will work well on the 3 network.
The unlocked HTC desire will work on any network in Australia (not as good on telstra). I'm getting mine from clove on the 7th . Plussss, it's ALOT cheaper getting it imported from the UK, all up it comes to like $550 if i can remember right. It will be around $800 outright from Telstra.
P.S i forgot to mention that you can't get it from t-mobile, you'll have to wait for the unlocked version.
brandon1108 said:
P.S i forgot to mention that you can't get it from t-mobile, you'll have to wait for the unlocked version.
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I'm pretty sure all of the T-Mobile ones are unlocked . Check with others on the forums. T-mobile is probably not an option anyway unless you have a UK address- I dont think they sell them outright??
Will definitely work on 3mobile Australia. I'm also getting one from clove. I'm checking about every hour to see if they have brought the shipping date forward
T-Mobile ones are LOCKED.
Both versions will work on Three, but the International version will not work on Telstra
http://whirlpool.net.au/wiki/?tag=Desire_models
by International I mean the sim-free/unlocked ones from Handtec/Clove etc
m0nr said:
Both versions will work on Three, but the International version will not work on Telstra
http://whirlpool.net.au/wiki/?tag=Desire_models
by International I mean the sim-free/unlocked ones from Handtec/Clove etc
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Ive asked for clarification of that from wiki mod. I don't see why you couldn't use NextG. Unless the APac model is different from the AU model, they all support the same bands.
Do you know any reason why NextG differs from other 850 networks? Not that I care - Id rather cut my arm off with a rusty saw than go on a telstra plan. Just curious, thats all.

Taking Desire to USA on T-Mobile

Hi there
I live in the UK and have an HTC Desire which has been baked and it's just the way I like it. It was bought on a T-Mobile contract and is locked to T-Mobile.
I am travelling to the USA and want to put a USA T-mobile sim card in it.
The last time I was in the USA I took my Nokia N95 over which was locked to T-Mobile UK but it wouldn't work over there with a USA T-Mobile sim card.
What will I have to do to get it working over in America? Is it just getting the phone unlocked in my local market in the UK?
I don't want to be empty handed in the USA. I love my Desore too much to leave it in the suitcase!!!!
Any advise is grateful
Adrian
The phone is locked to simcards from t mobile UK, hence why you couldn't use a t mobile US simcard.
You can unlock the desire for about £10 with a code from ebay, no cables or mods required, simply put in the code when you first try to use the other sim card. You may find you only get 2g coverage in the US as I think the euro Desire only works with 2g networks in the US.
Sent from my HTC Desire using Tapatalk

What umts frequency does the Docomo xperia arc SO-01C use for 3G?

What umts frequency does the Docomo xperia arc SO-01C use for 3G?
Does it have a sim card slot?
i have been told that it has an sim slot and unlocked by Docomo
can any one approve?
Docomo uses an 800 band, not an 850 band, so it'll most likely not work.
NTT Docomo might operate on the same band, but mobile networks in Japan work in a completely different way. The NTT Docomo SO-01C will not work on any network out of Japan in any way.
the reason i wanted Docomo is because my GF wanted the pink color and is only available in Japan. I have found a Japanese seller that is willing to ship it to me to the U.S. Docomo started offerring free unlocking after April 1st . the phone has a sim slot and i think it will work on any GSM world wide if it was unlocked. but, the thing i wasnt sure about was the 3G issue.
it uses 850/900/1800/1900
not sure yet about umts/hsdpa
i have purchased the phone today and i am waiting for it to arrive. when i get it i will update you guys.
for me i am waiting on the xperia arc LT15a Version , but if the japanese version works i will get it from there also
the device at Docomo store is approximately $600 or 620 usd range without contract.
alsaqr said:
the reason i wanted Docomo is because my GF wanted the pink color and is only available in Japan. I have found a Japanese seller that is willing to ship it to me to the U.S. Docomo started offerring free unlocking after April 1st . the phone has a sim slot and i think it will work on any GSM world wide if it was unlocked. but, the thing i wasnt sure about was the 3G issue.
it uses 850/900/1800/1900
not sure yet about umts/hsdpa
i have purchased the phone today and i am waiting for it to arrive. when i get it i will update you guys.
for me i am waiting on the xperia arc LT15a Version , but if the japanese version works i will get it from there also
the device at Docomo store is approximately $600 or 620 usd range without contract.
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What is the site you bought it from?
batman_112 said:
What is the site you bought it from?
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I can't find it. I am in San Diego and 850 should work just fine. With all the issues in Japan I am not sure if the Xperia would get even to Canada/>/
it is from an seller in Japan that happened to have an ebay account, he doesnt sell xperia usually but i managed to get his help
i ordered today and i am waiting for the tracking number
im happy cause ebay has buyer protection.
i just need to make sure everything is perfect before i release his info
About NTT DoCoMo:
It provides 2G
(mova) PDC cellular services on the 800 MHz
band, and 3G FOMA W-CDMA services on the
2 GHz (UMTS2100) and 800 MHz(UMTS800(Band
VI)) and 1700 MHz(UMTS1700(Band IX)) bands.
They use MOVA for 2G and FOMA for 3G, and neither of those techniques are used anywhere out of Japan. If you can, cancel the order, because the Japanese Arc will not work in the US.
Docomo in Japan uses 2100mhz and 800mhz.
The retail box for the SO-01C lists UMTS 1/2/5/6 compatability (2100, 1900, 850, 800). Some websites suggest the SO-01C has UMTS 1/2/5/6/8 compatability. On the other hand, Sony Ericsson Japan simply lists "3G 850mhz/2Ghz" for international roaming.
For what it's worth, the SO-01C device label does not use either LT15i or LT15a codes (which are UMTS 1/8, and UMTS 1/2/5, respectively), but instead "SO-01C".
The only problem I see is that since the SO-01C is identified as "SO-01C" instead of LT15i/LT15a, there is a possibility that you may have difficulty in receiving OTA updates, and that any manual firmware updates for LT15i/LT15a may not work properly.
Edit: Yes, Docomo is FOMA, but FOMA is basically UMTS with a few additional Japan-only features. Historically, FOMA handsets used proprietary software (in addition to carrier lock) which made them difficult to use internationally. But stock Android is built for GSM/CDMA/UMTS (and now 4G/LTE), and not limited only to FOMA. In order to support Japan-only FOMA features on Android, Docomo just uses additional apps (such as SP Mode for messaging). Other FOMA features such as osaifu don't work anyway, because the Arc does not have an NFC chip, or an ISDB-T antenna for 1seg, etc.
Otherwise, basic UMTS voice and packet access should work fine just as long as the phone supports the correct UMTS band, the phone is indeed unlocked, and you have the necessary APN and MMS settings for your carrier.
I'm pretty sure you have to take the phone to a Docomo shop for it to be unlocked.
yes the seller has unlocked it for me at the docomo store.
im not cancelling anything ,this an sony android device and is a bit different from other docomo devices. i will see what happens when i recieve it and let you guys know.
alsaqr said:
yes the seller has unlocked it for me at the docomo store.
im not cancelling anything ,this an sony android device and is a bit different from other docomo devices. i will see what happens when i recieve it and let you guys know.
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Click to collapse
I bet its going to work. Most carrier make their phones to work internationally (at least for the gsm part) if this is unlocked then it should work! Did he pay that $32 to unlock? It said that you need to have an account?
When are you receiving it?
yes i have paid the seller the unlocking fee , but im not sure if he got it for free or paid for it and i dint care since the fee is not that expensive. i paid on Friday and today he said he will ship via EMS. since it is weekend im not sure if they work in japan on sat/sun , i will inform you when i will get it once he gives me a tracking number.
hey guys
this is a japanese online store that proves what i have been saying about the 3G japanese version and that it should work in the usa if it is unlocked.
http://en.item.rakuten.com/riso-sya/243/
check the network section
note: i have not ordered from this site i have ordered from a private seller on ebay
this site has high quality cases and accessories if you are interested
$1156 :O
Sim Free :O
I want one but for half of the price
Well Nimche, sorry buddy but I finally gave in. Just ordered 2 Midnight Blue LT15i's from Handtec. (One for me, one for GF)
Edit: posted in wrong topic.
A few notes here:
1. The phone may be stuck in the Japanese Android Marketplace which means you won't be able to access the same applications in overseas markets. Even when a Japanese Android phone is set to English, the marketplace is still that of Japan, however it may depend on the carrier SIM card.
2. OTA updates take far longer to come out in Japan than in other countries due to the language issue. For example whereas the HTC Desire was updated to Android 2.2 overseas last July (August?) in Japan it wasn't updated until October. In the future, you may have a problem if you try a manual update in light of the Japanese modified OS (whereas OS updates released in other regions are compatible with those languages/builds).
3. Depending on if this seller is trustworthy or not, the phone may have an ESN problem. Unless he paid in full at the time of purchase then he may be locked into a 2 year contract. You can not buy a phone without service in Japan, you must sign a contract even if you cancel it the next day. This may or may not be a problem in your being overseas (probably not).
4. Customer service for the phone must be handled in Japan, thus if there is anything wrong with it you are going to have a problem. In Japan, the buyer must inspect the phone prior to purchase to verify there are no scratches or problems and once the contract is finalized the phone can NOT be returned under any condition. This is quite different from America where you can apparently return the product days or even weeks later simply because you don't like it.
Also, if the seller has terminated the contract then there is no free repair or exchange possible, even in Japan.
5. Packet transmission charges may be calculated at a different rate because you are not using a phone provided by your carrier. In Japan, for example, Docomo has locked smartphone handsets at a maximum charge of around 6,000 yen per month, however if an unlocked phone is used it is treated as a mobile terminal and thus billed at a higher rate of 9,980 yen per month.
TokyoGuy said:
A few notes here:
1. The phone may be stuck in the Japanese Android Marketplace which means you won't be able to access the same applications in overseas markets. Even when a Japanese Android phone is set to English, the marketplace is still that of Japan, however it may depend on the carrier SIM card.
2. OTA updates take far longer to come out in Japan than in other countries due to the language issue. For example whereas the HTC Desire was updated to Android 2.2 overseas last July (August?) in Japan it wasn't updated until October. In the future, you may have a problem if you try a manual update in light of the Japanese modified OS (whereas OS updates released in other regions are compatible with those languages/builds).
3. Depending on if this seller is trustworthy or not, the phone may have an ESN problem. Unless he paid in full at the time of purchase then he may be locked into a 2 year contract. You can not buy a phone without service in Japan, you must sign a contract even if you cancel it the next day. This may or may not be a problem in your being overseas (probably not).
4. Customer service for the phone must be handled in Japan, thus if there is anything wrong with it you are going to have a problem. In Japan, the buyer must inspect the phone prior to purchase to verify there are no scratches or problems and once the contract is finalized the phone can NOT be returned under any condition. This is quite different from America where you can apparently return the product days or even weeks later simply because you don't like it.
Also, if the seller has terminated the contract then there is no free repair or exchange possible, even in Japan.
5. Packet transmission charges may be calculated at a different rate because you are not using a phone provided by your carrier. In Japan, for example, Docomo has locked smartphone handsets at a maximum charge of around 6,000 yen per month, however if an unlocked phone is used it is treated as a mobile terminal and thus billed at a higher rate of 9,980 yen per month.
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Click to collapse
thanks tokyo guy for the info
1- i think the market will work fine , if it doesnt i will flash the LT15i rom
2-for now im ok with 2.3 and if i flash with LT15i , i guess i will do fine
3-the seller has bought the phone full price without a contract
4-even if i bought from anywhere else, the warranty issue wont matter since i am buying from other countries. my x10 never had any issue where i needed a warranty and im hoping the arc will be the same
5-As i said the seller has paid full price and there is no contract and is unlocked for international roaming(policy has changed in docomo after april 1st)
note: i have told the seller that if it doesnt work properly , that i will return it
alsaqr said:
thanks tokyo guy for the info
1- i think the market will work fine , if it doesnt i will flash the LT15i rom
2-for now im ok with 2.3 and if i flash with LT15i , i guess i will do fine
3-the seller has bought the phone full price without a contract
4-even if i bought from anywhere else, the warranty issue wont matter since i am buying from other countries. my x10 never had any issue where i needed a warranty and im hoping the arc will be the same
5-As i said the seller has paid full price and there is no contract and is unlocked for international roaming(policy has changed in docomo after april 1st)
note: i have told the seller that if it doesnt work properly , that i will return it
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I had a talk with SE USA and they told me that if I buy a product from another country, they will still repair it for a fee.
Good info here.
Nimche said:
I had a talk with SE USA and they told me that if I buy a product from another country, they will still repair it for a fee.
Good info here.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
ya i fixed my sony laptop that i bought from a different country at sony usa and they accepted it

Where do you get the G710EM? Can you order it online?

I'm in the USA but I have a friend living in the UK who I can ship this to and have her forward it to me.
This model is the only version of the G7 ThinQ worth getting for travelers since it has 17 LTE bands. The other versions only have like ~9 not to mention a locked bootloader AFAIK.
So where can I buy this 6GB G710EM online and how do I get it SIM unlocked? Something about it needing to be used in the EU for at least 30 minutes or something?
There's no 6GB 710EM. European units have 4GB RAM only.
To disable the region lock, you have to use the phone with European SIM for at least 30min in European network.
Bought mine at tele2.se
Unlocked and about 400$
Montechristo said:
There's no 6GB 710EM. European units have 4GB RAM only.
To disable the region lock, you have to use the phone with European SIM for at least 30min in European network.
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Bahhhhh ok nevermind.
Guess I'm going for an S9+ then.

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