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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.
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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
I have heard of people using a evo on verizon i been eyeing the droid razr so if possible i wanna flash it to sprint. I called a store they said no but they prolly just want me to spend money on a new phone. So is it possible?
Sent from my SPH-D710 using xda premium
AFAIK, this is impossible because Sprint will not activate a phone from outside their network.
I believe the CDMA frequencies are incompatible, but don't quote me on that.
Are you sure the Evos are in Verizon? I've heard of them on Cricket and other smaller carriers that use the Sprint network, but not Verizon.
I do not believe this is possible due to Sprint being a jerk. You COULD buy the Droid Razr unlocked and plead with a Sprint rep, but I would say you have next to no chance of getting them to activate it for you. Sprint will only activate a phone that has an ESN number that is in their database, they COULD activate it, but that is against their TOS and no rep even has the power to do it for you, you would have to practically get Dan Hesse on the phone to do it
My advice would be to wait a little bit (unless your current phone is on the fritz and you need a new one now, and in that case, go with the Epic 4G Touch, I love mine!!) and see what is out there, the Galaxy Nexus MAY or MAY NOT come to Sprint, but I would expect at least 2 or 3 top of the line Android devices by the end of Q1 2012...... Ultimately the choice is up to you... Best of luck!!
It is being done you have to unlock the phone so the freg can be changed to work on a different carrier. You do not tell what type of phone u just give the ESN number after you hack the hardware info. You would be surprised how often this is being done. Most of your local cell phone providers have the software to make this happen and when i mean your local cell phone provider. I am talking about the ones that offer service cheap or have the phone in the store that you can buy. the mom and pops.
I have to "lol" at some of the replies. Sprint and Verizon use the same cdma frequencies, 800mhz/1900mhz. Why do you think Sprint phones can voice and data roam on VZW?
Anyway, what the OP wants to do is achievable via *wink* *wink* methods, and it's not easily done anyway but possible.
Google is your friend.
Sent from my Nexus S 4G
I thought there was a law against them not allowing this?
When I was with T Mobile (GSM) they were required by federal to give you the subsidy unlock code and could not deny the usage of any other GSM phone on their network so long as the IMEI wasn't blacklisted for being stolen/lost. I could call AT&T to unlock one of their phones to use on T Mobile - obviously data was a nogo because of the AWS band.
So there's nothing like that for CDMA carriers?
Like what newalker91, none Sprint ESN will not work. But any Verizon phone will work on Sprint. You will have to do the same thing as they are doing to the EVO's.
Look for a broken or older Android phone with a good ESN.
huh? Google it!
newalker91 said:
For one, the 3G frequencies on Sprint are locked out to phones not registered in the ESN database and the phone will NOT work on Sprint's network. Calling Sprint a jerk for this is ridiculous and shows how little research has been done by the complainant.
For two, this has nothing to do with the Epic 4G Touch, therefore this thread is being reported as spam/incorrect section.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If that's the case, how can we load certain PRL's and roam on Verizon's network using 3G? Or is roaming a different story? It would seem we're not exactly "lock out" due to the ESN not being registered, maybe mildly restricted?
There seems to be some major gaps in what you said but I could be wrong, care to elaborate?
As far as reporting this thread, that's a douchey move. The OP has a legitimate question, it just seems people have heard different *facts* about the topic so there's a few different answers. That's no reason to report the thread and try to have it deleted - obviously there's an information issue on this subject that needs to be resolved. Even more of a reason to keep this thread open.
CDMA phones are essentially unlocked. You can get your SPC/MSL, for my Vogue and Mogul, I called sprint ant they gave the MSL even though at the time I was under contract. Now I just use CDMAWS. Everyone knows Verizon's MSL code, 000000. With your msl you can change configurations to your hearts content, provided you have the software.
The problem is that Verizon and Sprint will not activate a meid/esn that is not in their system. Yes they are both protecting their interests by making sure you live up to your agreement but I also think they do not want to take the to time trouble shoot every stinking phone that some yahoo wants to put on their network. Keep in mind every phone they release has been tested and configured to work on their network, they don't some strange phone coming from a Korean/Chinese CDMA network with who knows what settings configured on their network. There are a ton of configuration options that other carriers can use. Thankfully Verizon and Sprint keep the configs on the simple side.
Getting a E4GT on Verizon/MetroPC/Virgin/Boost is a piece of cake. Its one of the easiest phones to do. Many HTC phone are harder to do but can be done. LGs look simple but the Optimus seems to require using LGNPST to unlock some entries before you can get changes to stick. I was using a Droid Incrdible on my Sero plan for 6 months before I changed phones. Going in to details on how is discouraged and I have been warned against doing so by a mod.
rruss said:
I have heard of people using a evo on verizon i been eyeing the droid razr so if possible i wanna flash it to sprint. I called a store they said no but they prolly just want me to spend money on a new phone. So is it possible?
Sent from my SPH-D710 using xda premium
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes, it's possible. When I worked at Sprint I had a customer come in with an Evo on Verizon (he later came back to Sprint). You take a Verizon smartphone and swap ESN's with the phone you want to put on. It's not illegal if you swap them, and it's not like anyone's going to know, because on their system, it'll show up as the other phone, not what you're actually using. It's not a straight-forward process but if you can follow directions it's not too hard.
Product F(RED) said:
Yes, it's possible. When I worked at Sprint I had a customer come in with an Evo on Verizon (he later came back to Sprint). You take a Verizon smartphone and swap ESN's with the phone you want to put on. It's not illegal if you swap them, and it's not like anyone's going to know, because on their system, it'll show up as the other phone, not what you're actually using. It's not a straight-forward process but if you can follow directions it's not too hard.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
So If I were to call sprint and Had a droid razr that I want to use and I'm currently using a palm pre I Just give them my pre esn and they will use that to activate it? How is this possible because doesn't each phone have a specific ESN that allows that specific phone to be activated?
Applestoandroid-fandroid said:
So If I were to call sprint and Had a droid razr that I want to use and I'm currently using a palm pre I Just give them my pre esn and they will use that to activate it? How is this possible because doesn't each phone have a specific ESN that allows that specific phone to be activated?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It's not that simple. You have to use programs to swap the ESNs. As in take the ESN from the Pre and put it on the Droid Razr. And then you give them the Pre ESN (which is really the Droid Razr) and it'll work on Sprint. You'll still need to change some stuff like the APN/MMS settings, among other things, but out of the box, it should make calls/SMS texts.
A little bit of a downer...
Theres only one problem with that... Droid Razr uses a Sim card for network identification. I know its CDMA, but all LTE phones on Verizon require a sim card, also it has no ESN number. So, until Sprint gets LTE, then no Razr on Sprint, unless someone hacks the sim card to have an ESN number (which I have seen with the HTC ThunderBolt), but if Sprint does get LTE, then you have to change the IMEI number with a 4G LTE phone on Sprints Network, and even then, you still only get Sprint 3G, unless they plan to use the same bands as Verizon, but good luck trying to get it on Sprint!
ok here's the breakdown.. because 90% of the info in here isnt correct. few guys said some worthwhile stuff tho.. so everyone dont hate
the droid razr isnt getting on sprint... youre not editing the moto meid. not possible. there are some scripts out there that edit the moto meid on bootup but its buggy and does not work on all motos. unless youre super mobile hacker.. youre not touching this method.
other phones... samsungs/htc/lg... as gedster314 said... can all be easily edited. each individual phone may have its quirks but in general.. they all generally use the same methods to edit meid/3g profiles.
now... as for what Jayjaymac said above about it not being able to work without a sim card. generally this is correct.. when doing everything by the book. but you can remove the sim card and rewrite the serial built into the phone and rewrite it as the meid.. and then youre on cricket/metro/boost etc. now again... youre not editing the moto meid... but its because of how moto locks down their phones.. NOT because of the lte sim. the samsung charge has a weird chipset so no one has interfaced it with QPST yet.. so no meid change there either. the htc thunderbolt can easily be put on any cdma network.. that has a sim. any htc device wouldnt be a problem putting on other networks... vzw gnex would work as well.
tl;dr
the moto cant be done... but not for the reasons people specified in this thread. if u wanna edit meid's.. dont ever choose moto.
Yes, like auto said, the MEID was created as an ESN replacement. You cannot "clone" and MEID to another device to fool Sprint anymore. Old ESN devices could be done that way, but that is no longer the case with MEID
Korey_Nicholson said:
Yes, like auto said, the MEID was created as an ESN replacement. You cannot "clone" and MEID to another device to fool Sprint anymore. Old ESN devices could be done that way, but that is no longer the case with MEID
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
i didnt say that
you can certainly edit meid's on phones still. any htc device, 99% of samsung devices, 90% of lg devices... all editable. you can even force meid phones back to use esn-only if you must.
the issue in this thread is that the OP wanted to edit the motorola droid razr, but you are unable to edit it due to how motorola locks their phones down.
and to everyone else reading this thread.. no this thread will NOT be used for directions on how to do any of this. we're merely discussing whether something is technically possible or not.
autoprime said:
i didnt say that
you can certainly edit meid's on phones still. any htc device, 99% of samsung devices, 90% of lg devices... all editable. you can even force meid phones back to use esn-only if you must.
the issue in this thread is that the OP wanted to edit the motorola droid razr, but you are unable to edit it due to how motorola locks their phones down.
and to everyone else reading this thread.. no this thread will NOT be used for directions on how to do any of this. we're merely discussing whether something is technically possible or not.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Ahh misunderstood.
autoprime said:
you can certainly edit meid's on phones still. any htc device, 99% of samsung devices, 90% of lg devices...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I can Vouch
check this out
or this or this or this if your lazy
rruss said:
I have heard of people using a evo on verizon i been eyeing the droid razr so if possible i wanna flash it to sprint. I called a store they said no but they prolly just want me to spend money on a new phone. So is it possible?
Sent from my SPH-D710 using xda premium
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
http://www.verizonwireless.com/b2c/estore/certifieddevice/cd
Why didn't you just reply to the thread this was in?
Sent from my SPH-D710 using xda premium
Hi guys, need some help.
If I switch carrier then phone automatically get bad Sprint ESN, right? If so, thats ok, because I dont want to use Sprint.
I've got Sprint L710 but I never used CDMA before, so little bit confused with how to get rid of that Sprint and make it work with Boost even w/o 4g.. perhaps 2g or 3g if possible. Or Virgin, doesn't really matter, the most important is prepaid plan w/o contract.
I'll make a root and even if then I install custom ROM then still will be using Sprint? Or after flashing custom ROM I can go to Boost and ask them to flash their codes?
Nobody else will help me, I hope for your understanding.
As far as I know. You won't get bad esn as long as you don't have any pending balances pending.
And if you pay the early termination fee.
But I'm not sure. As far as the s3 on another net work then it would have to be flashed with whatever company your gonna use it with.
But your probably better off just selling it on craugslist or eBay and buying an unlocked international version.
Sent from my SPH-L710 using xda premium
When I switched from ATT contract to TMobile prepaid I just unlocked phone, pulled out ATT sim card and go forward with TMobile. I didnt make any notifications to ATT, TMobile just transferred my number in few secs.
I mean how could I make same on CDMA? Could by example Cricket take my phone to their network? Is it possible to delete all related to Sprint from my phone, make it clean as from factory? And then come to Cricket or another CDMA carrier? In that case if I terminate Sprint contract without any notification I think ESN would be bad.
escknx said:
When I switched from ATT contract to TMobile prepaid I just unlocked phone, pulled out ATT sim card and go forward with TMobile. I didnt make any notifications to ATT, TMobile just transferred my number in few secs.
I mean how could I make same on CDMA? Could by example Cricket take my phone to their network? Is it possible to delete all related to Sprint from my phone, make it clean as from factory? And then come to Cricket or another CDMA carrier? In that case if I terminate Sprint contract without any notification I think ESN would be bad.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well if your gonna flash the phone to another carrier like cricket. Then bad esn or clean esn don't matter. Just go into a cricket store and tell them you need to flash your phone and they'll put other on their network.
Sent from my SPH-L710 using xda premium
And am I be able to get at least their Cricket's 3G?
Or for that I need to go through special procedure with donors?
escknx said:
And am I be able to get at least their Cricket's 3G?
Or for that I need to go through special procedure with donors?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
What? lol
they should have a cricket store where they flash phones. Idk how the procedure is done, or how it affects the phones. But there might be something screwy with MMS, but you can always ask before you do it. and there might be a fix for that sort of stuff here at XDA
Cricket said that they flash only their phones and I cant keep my existing.
BTW finally we've switched it to Verizon prepaid
escknx said:
Cricket said that they flash only their phones and I cant keep my existing.
BTW finally we've switched it to Verizon prepaid
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
weird, down here where I'm at, they flash any phone really.
well if your S3 is just a brick there you can always sell it.
If the price is low enough i can buy it from you, or also ebay
They said that in New York area they flash only Cricket phones.
But even good, cause because of I that I got Verizon.
I currently have a Galaxy S3, running rooted stock ICS for Tmobile - and I would like to switch over to ATT and keep the same phone, just flash the ATT JB stock firmware onto it (or a custom ROM), and whatever other flashes may be needed to make it work, or something along those lines. Is this even possible?
The only reason I would think it could work is that they are both GSM phones so the tech should essentially be the same right? And since it's rooted, switching the SIM shouldn't be an issue either, as I have done so when I am travelling.
Or are there other major diffs between the 2 s3's that I am missing which make this an impossible.
I have a friend who is looking to buy a new S3 from ATT, and I would just as soon sell him mine with their stock stuff on there if they are basically the same.
Many thanks in advance to any who can help shed light on this.
U have complete wrong idea brother. You cant just flash att s 3 rom on tmobile s 3.
Find some att based rom for tmobile s3 . i think we have some.
Its almost same hardware but not same network antenna. So you cant run att 4g on it.
Simply dont flash att rom on it unless its says for tmobile.
bikrame said:
U have complete wrong idea brother. You cant just flash att s 3 rom on tmobile s 3.
Find some att based rom for tmobile s3 . i think we have some.
Its almost same hardware but not same network antenna. So you cant run att 4g on it.
Simply dont flash att rom on it unless its says for tmobile.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I always thought that Tmo (i was actually told this by tech support once) shares antennas/repeaters with ATT... so I guess they are just piping the 4G through a diff frequency or something, and the antenna isn't tuned to pick it up. damn.
are there any carriers it WILL work with?
mikewikkid said:
I always thought that Tmo (i was actually told this by tech support once) shares antennas/repeaters with ATT... so I guess they are just piping the 4G through a diff frequency or something, and the antenna isn't tuned to pick it up. damn.
are there any carriers it WILL work with?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The T999 supports at&t's 3G, just not their LTE (T999 doesn't support LTE period).
What was being told to you is don't flash an at&t baseband (radio), recovery, or full ROM to the phone or you risk a brick. Any of the ROMs marked *AROMA* have multi-carrier compatibility, you just choose the underlying device.
mikewikkid said:
I currently have a Galaxy S3, running rooted stock ICS for Tmobile - and I would like to switch over to ATT and keep the same phone, just flash the ATT JB stock firmware onto it (or a custom ROM), and whatever other flashes may be needed to make it work, or something along those lines. Is this even possible?
The only reason I would think it could work is that they are both GSM phones so the tech should essentially be the same right? And since it's rooted, switching the SIM shouldn't be an issue either, as I have done so when I am travelling.
Or are there other major diffs between the 2 s3's that I am missing which make this an impossible.
I have a friend who is looking to buy a new S3 from ATT, and I would just as soon sell him mine with their stock stuff on there if they are basically the same.
Many thanks in advance to any who can help shed light on this.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Sorry to say, but you are forgetting something, a stock rooted Tmobile Galaxy S3
is not compatible with the AT&T services as well as any of the AT&T roms.
You would need to UNLOCK the phone first before doing anything else.
Good Luck!
Thread belongs in Q&A, reported.
|When Emotion Goes Up, Logic Goes Down|
|Even If You Fall Face First You're Still Moving Forward|
Misterjunky said:
Sorry to say, but you are forgetting something, a stock rooted Tmobile Galaxy S3
is not compatible with the AT&T services as well as any of the AT&T roms.
You would need to UNLOCK the phone first before doing anything else.
Good Luck!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
pardon my ignorance, but what is the diff between unlocking and rooting, and how can I go about doing it? Also, and this is an aside, the only way that i can find to change the IMEI of a T999 is by using an external box - there is no software-only method of doing this yet, correct?
re: unlocking
mikewikkid said:
pardon my ignorance, but what is the diff between unlocking and rooting, and how can I go about doing it? Also, and this is an aside, the only way that i can find to change the IMEI of a T999 is by using an external box - there is no software-only method of doing this yet, correct?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
To put it into simple terms,
Rooting a phone allows YOU to make changes to the phone which includes flashing roms as well as
allowing apps which require root access to work on your phone which are available at the play store.
But rooting has nothing to do with AT&T or any other carriers.
Unlocking a phone allows the phone to communicate with different carriers like AT&T and others.
Your phone does not need to be rooted to work with different carriers, it only needs to be Unlocked.
Also once the phone is unlocked you would need a AT&T Sim card for it to work.
Even an Unlocked Galaxy S3 will not work on AT&T unless you have a AT&T sim card.
There is absolutely no reason to change IMEI.
If you want to find out more about Unlocking, here is a link: https://www.google.com/search?q=unl...96,d.cGE&fp=db8d96ed93be75f0&biw=1017&bih=490
Check out the videos and articles.
Good Luck with the phone.
mikewikkid said:
pardon my ignorance, but what is the diff between unlocking and rooting, and how can I go about doing it? Also, and this is an aside, the only way that i can find to change the IMEI of a T999 is by using an external box - there is no software-only method of doing this yet, correct?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
This is what you need, a SIM Unlock - and it happens to be rather easy on the S3.
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2023709 :good:
they are right. you need to unlock your phone. if you go into a store or call customer care they should be able to help you out with unlocking it. i used to work for tmobile and i remember unlocking a few peoples phones.
Hello
Hopefully someone here can point me in the right direction for help or assist.
I purchased a unlocked Galaxy Z Fold3 off of Swappa.com. Ive purchased many of phone off this site and had no issues including this Fold3. When I got the phone i placed my T-Mobile sim in the phone and all was fine since the phone was unlocked. When T-Mobile pushed the Android 12 update out we all know it caused issues with the phones network. Since i did not purchase the phone from T-Mobile i sent my phone to Samsung so they could fix the issue. Since they knew of the issue with T-Mobile they replaced the motherboard of the phone. Well that sim locked the phone to the original carrier which i found out was Spectrum Mobile. Spectrum states they cannot unlock the phone because they cannot see the IMEI on their network. T-Mobile sees the IMEI on their network from when i used the phone before the update, but they stated that since the original carrier is Spectrum, they have to unlock the phone. Samsung states that one or the other will have to unlock the device because they do not have carrier unlock codes even though they replaced the motherboard which cause the phone to lock again. After weeks of the back and forth i paid a site to give me a unlock code for the phone via Spectrum Mobile. the code they sent did not work and they refunded me my money. But now im stuck with a brick unless i get a Spectrum Mobile account. The phone works fine on their network but i refuse to get their internet service so i can get a mobile account just to use the phone.
Anyone have any advice as to how i can get the phone unlocked again? I reached out to the person i purchased the device from and they didnt have the unlock code. Also the IMEI is clean because Samsung, Spectrum, and T-Mobile checked it.
Right now, you can either pay for an unlocking service or, and this is the REALLY hard part, wait until Spectrum's IMEI Database is updated with the new IMEI for your device. This will come from Samsung when they Sync, but no telling how often that is.
The bad thing is, it can take weeks or a month or more. No one knows.
If you are in need RIGHT NOW, I would look for a good Unlock Service and pay them, but it can also take a while with how new these phones are.
Talderon said:
Right now, you can either pay for an unlocking service or, and this is the REALLY hard part, wait until Spectrum's IMEI Database is updated with the new IMEI for your device. This will come from Samsung when they Sync, but no telling how often that is.
The bad thing is, it can take weeks or a month or more. No one knows.
If you are in need RIGHT NOW, I would look for a good Unlock Service and pay them, but it can also take a while with how new these phones are.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Do you know of any good reliable unlock services?
MAC20 said:
Do you know of any good reliable unlock services?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I would suggest one, but I have not used one in so long I can't really suggest one. Sorry.
Talderon said:
I would suggest one, but I have not used one in so long I can't really suggest one. Sorry.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks
MAC20 said:
Hello
Hopefully someone here can point me in the right direction for help or assist.
I purchased a unlocked Galaxy Z Fold3 off of Swappa.com. Ive purchased many of phone off this site and had no issues including this Fold3. When I got the phone i placed my T-Mobile sim in the phone and all was fine since the phone was unlocked. When T-Mobile pushed the Android 12 update out we all know it caused issues with the phones network. Since i did not purchase the phone from T-Mobile i sent my phone to Samsung so they could fix the issue. Since they knew of the issue with T-Mobile they replaced the motherboard of the phone. Well that sim locked the phone to the original carrier which i found out was Spectrum Mobile. Spectrum states they cannot unlock the phone because they cannot see the IMEI on their network. T-Mobile sees the IMEI on their network from when i used the phone before the update, but they stated that since the original carrier is Spectrum, they have to unlock the phone. Samsung states that one or the other will have to unlock the device because they do not have carrier unlock codes even though they replaced the motherboard which cause the phone to lock again. After weeks of the back and forth i paid a site to give me a unlock code for the phone via Spectrum Mobile. the code they sent did not work and they refunded me my money. But now im stuck with a brick unless i get a Spectrum Mobile account. The phone works fine on their network but i refuse to get their internet service so i can get a mobile account just to use the phone.
Anyone have any advice as to how i can get the phone unlocked again? I reached out to the person i purchased the device from and they didnt have the unlock code. Also the IMEI is clean because Samsung, Spectrum, and T-Mobile checked it.
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I have an Unlocked Fold 3 also now using the T-Mobile network and keep experiencing network connectivity issues. In placed where I used to get good 5G signal now I only get LTE and sometimes my data connection drops to H or H+, sometimes just R for roaming.
So they believe the Android 12 update killed the Motherboard in our phones for T-Mobile? Also how long did it take to get your phone back from Samsung after the repair?
BigMosley said:
I have an Unlocked Fold 3 also now using the T-Mobile network and keep experiencing network connectivity issues. In placed where I used to get good 5G signal now I only get LTE and sometimes my data connection drops to H or H+, sometimes just R for roaming.
So they believe the Android 12 update killed the Motherboard in our phones for T-Mobile? Also how long did it take to get your phone back from Samsung after the repair?
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Samsung sent me a shipping label that was two day shiping to them. it took about a week or so to get back. Yes, something with the T-Mobile Android 12 update caused an issue where Samsung has been replacing the mother board of the phones. I found out when i was looking on T-Mobiles forums and a person stated that is what fixed theres. So i contacted Samsung and told them about the Andorid 12 update causing the issue and they had me send it in since they knew of the issue.
MAC20 said:
Samsung sent me a shipping label that was two day shiping to them. it took about a week or so to get back. Yes, something with the T-Mobile Android 12 update caused an issue where Samsung has been replacing the mother board of the phones. I found out when i was looking on T-Mobiles forums and a person stated that is what fixed theres. So i contacted Samsung and told them about the Andorid 12 update causing the issue and they had me send it in since they knew of the issue.
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Thanks for the quick reply. I have had my Fold 3's screen fixed in the same day by going to a local UBreakiFix, any idea if they can also do the Motherboard swap out?
BigMosley said:
Thanks for the quick reply. I have had my Fold 3's screen fixed in the same day by going to a local UBreakiFix, any idea if they can also do the Motherboard swap out?
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im not sure. you may have to call them to see.
MAC20 said:
im not sure. you may have to call them to see.
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I'm going your route and sending in the phone to Samsung. I even noted others online shared the same experience I am having and the motherboard was replaced.
Talderon said:
Right now, you can either pay for an unlocking service or, and this is the REALLY hard part, wait until Spectrum's IMEI Database is updated with the new IMEI for your device. This will come from Samsung when they Sync, but no telling how often that is.
The bad thing is, it can take weeks or a month or more. No one knows.
If you are in need RIGHT NOW, I would look for a good Unlock Service and pay them, but it can also take a while with how new these phones are.
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@Talderon ive tried two unlock companies so far and neither have been able to unlock the phone. The person i bought it from wants me to mail it back so they can unlock it with a pc. Not going to happen so i won't get it back LOL. I think im just going to get on a friends Spectrum Mobile account and wait 30 so they can unlock it. Think thats my only choice.
If I'm on Google Fi (Which is T-Mobile) is it better for me to get the T-Mobile version of the phone off of Swappa/eBay so I don't run into these issues?
Just buy the samsung unlocked version and then flash the t mobile rom to I have the u1 one version I never had any issues with using t mobile on my z fold 3 and you need the rom bc its helps with towers bc I was using verzion rom on t mobile and I didn't get all the service or 5g uc always buy us unlocked version never buy carrier ones bc it's just easier to flash the rom you need than buy the carrier one bc it's can be relocked at any time bc when I bought t mobile version s21 it's locked the phone so beware
livejamie said:
If I'm on Google Fi (Which is T-Mobile) is it better for me to get the T-Mobile version of the phone off of Swappa/eBay so I don't run into these issues?
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Don't buy off swappa you get better deal on ebay bc you have money back guarantee
MAC20 said:
Hello
Hopefully someone here can point me in the right direction for help or assist.
I purchased a unlocked Galaxy Z Fold3 off of Swappa.com. Ive purchased many of phone off this site and had no issues including this Fold3. When I got the phone i placed my T-Mobile sim in the phone and all was fine since the phone was unlocked. When T-Mobile pushed the Android 12 update out we all know it caused issues with the phones network. Since i did not purchase the phone from T-Mobile i sent my phone to Samsung so they could fix the issue. Since they knew of the issue with T-Mobile they replaced the motherboard of the phone. Well that sim locked the phone to the original carrier which i found out was Spectrum Mobile. Spectrum states they cannot unlock the phone because they cannot see the IMEI on their network. T-Mobile sees the IMEI on their network from when i used the phone before the update, but they stated that since the original carrier is Spectrum, they have to unlock the phone. Samsung states that one or the other will have to unlock the device because they do not have carrier unlock codes even though they replaced the motherboard which cause the phone to lock again. After weeks of the back and forth i paid a site to give me a unlock code for the phone via Spectrum Mobile. the code they sent did not work and they refunded me my money. But now im stuck with a brick unless i get a Spectrum Mobile account. The phone works fine on their network but i refuse to get their internet service so i can get a mobile account just to use the phone.
Anyone have any advice as to how i can get the phone unlocked again? I reached out to the person i purchased the device from and they didnt have the unlock code. Also the IMEI is clean because Samsung, Spectrum, and T-Mobile checked it.
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See you shouldn't buy carrier phones don't do that bc you always have issues and it's hard to find unlocking service just resell the phone and just buy you unlocked us version off ebay and then flash t mobile rom and you be good and then you don't never have to worry about having a brick