Database Users

Tell The FCC to unlock the Bootloader

There is a new FCC chairman and he wants carriers to "unlock" phones. The argument for bootloader and carrier lock are quite similar. The definition of unlock is at play. It is super easy to lobby them.
If you want to complain then write the fcc: http://www.fcc.gov/complaints
I tried to purchase a new Samsung Galaxy Note 3 Without a contract at full retail price. AT&T. I would like to modify the phone for a visual impairment application. AT&T has a phone unlock policy: https://www.att.com/deviceunlock/client/en_US/”
They have limited the unlock definition saying it does not apply to an “unlocked bootloader” which is necessary to modify the device. AT&T and Verizon are the only worldwide carriers with this practice. They have added custom software to permanently destroy the device if tampered with. They created a shadow policy on bootloaders:http://www.androidpolice.com/2013/0...tloaders-so-stop-asking-us-about-every-phone/.
The claim “To ensure a safe and consistent experience on your wireless device, we do not support unlocked bootloaders” is nonsense since they allow ANY GSM device on their network. Please add bootloaders explicitly to the FCC unlock policy.

sonicthoughts said:
There is a new FCC chairman and he wants carriers to "unlock" phones. The argument for bootloader and carrier lock are quite similar. The definition of unlock is at play. It is super easy to lobby them.
If you want to complain then write the fcc: http://www.fcc.gov/complaints
I tried to purchase a new Samsung Galaxy Note 3 Without a contract at full retail price. AT&T. I would like to modify the phone for a visual impairment application. AT&T has a phone unlock policy: https://www.att.com/deviceunlock/client/en_US/”
They have limited the unlock definition saying it does not apply to an “unlocked bootloader” which is necessary to modify the device. AT&T and Verizon are the only worldwide carriers with this practice. They have added custom software to permanently destroy the device if tampered with. They created a shadow policy on bootloaders:http://www.androidpolice.com/2013/0...tloaders-so-stop-asking-us-about-every-phone/.
The claim “To ensure a safe and consistent experience on your wireless device, we do not support unlocked bootloaders” is nonsense since they allow ANY GSM device on their network. Please add bootloaders explicitly to the FCC unlock policy.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You should mention specifically that T-Mobile and Sprint have their bootloaders unlocked and there have been no problems with inconsistent service. AT&T and Verizon are just abusing their power. Being the largest two carriers, they dictate to manufacturers to lock down the devices to force us not to tether anyway but through them and to use their "bloat apps". Any other reason they state they lock the devices down for is absurd and bs.

sonicthoughts said:
There is a new FCC chairman and he wants carriers to "unlock" phones. The argument for bootloader and carrier lock are quite similar. The definition of unlock is at play.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No, the FCC couldn't care less about our ability to modify our phones. It has zero to do with antitrust or consumer portability. Therefore, the FCC won't care.
No matter how you attempt to word it, it's not the same thing, doesn't do the same things, and in reality nobody cares except the XDA echo chamber.

sonicthoughts said:
There is a new FCC chairman and he wants carriers to "unlock" phones. The argument for bootloader and carrier lock are quite similar. The definition of unlock is at play. It is super easy to lobby them.
If you want to complain then write the fcc: http://www.fcc.gov/complaints
I tried to purchase a new Samsung Galaxy Note 3 Without a contract at full retail price. AT&T. I would like to modify the phone for a visual impairment application. AT&T has a phone unlock policy: https://www.att.com/deviceunlock/client/en_US/”
They have limited the unlock definition saying it does not apply to an “unlocked bootloader” which is necessary to modify the device. AT&T and Verizon are the only worldwide carriers with this practice. They have added custom software to permanently destroy the device if tampered with. They created a shadow policy on bootloaders:http://www.androidpolice.com/2013/0...tloaders-so-stop-asking-us-about-every-phone/.
The claim “To ensure a safe and consistent experience on your wireless device, we do not support unlocked bootloaders” is nonsense since they allow ANY GSM device on their network. Please add bootloaders explicitly to the FCC unlock policy.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
the argument for forcing att/verizon to unlock phones and bootloaders falls flat when other companies(tmobile sprint) offer phones with unlocked bootloaders and unlocked for gsm use(tmobile-if you buy full price)
no one is forcing you to stick with att version, when there are other options, it sounds silly when its a gsm capable phone you're complaining about

FCC does not regulate this part of the industry nor do they regulate what a manufacturer or dealer puts on the phone as long as it does not violate FCC rules in the way it performs as a phone.
In short the FCC has no authority on the subject of bootloaders. End of thread..

Never buy a phone from AT&T or Verizon again if you root

I had an interesting conversion on AT&T's forum today. In short, I learned that both AT&T and Verizon had Samsung "hard code" their software to all their phones by altering the bootloader in version 5.1.1. This is nothing new to anyone who's tried to root their AT&T or Verizon Note Edge after the update. We know it as "branding", but in the past it was something we could usually bypass. No more. These "damaged" bootloaders will never allow these phones (and all future phones) to be rooted or upgraded EVER AGAIN. It's just not something a piece of software or an app can ever bypass. Even if you had AT&T unlock the SIM and you went to T-Mobile, you still have to live with AT&T's mountain of bloatware because the ROM can't be flashed. It like buying a PC and not being able to delete Windows Vista...ever. The horror.
What makes it worse is that doing a carrier unlock and jumping ship will get you no joy. I asked how someone gets OTA updates on a carrier unlocked phone and they said you can't. You can never update again. You'll need to go to Best Buy and have them flash updates for as long as you own the phone. How this doesn't violate the carrier unlock law is beyond me.
Google created an operating system that was supposed to be open source. We were happy to play the root game for years, but now AT&T and Verizon have changed the rules of the game and effectively put an end to the idea of open source. Now AT&T and Verizon androids are no better than iphones. If you ever want to root your Samsung devices in the future, DO NOT BUY YOUR PHONE FROM EITHER OF THESE CARRIERS!
This is a practice that they have already admitted will continue. #unlockourbootloaders
Sign the United States petition to stop this at once: http://wh.gov/iGwh4

Thankfully, the firmwares are available (usually) quite quickly, and the drivers and tutorials are easily found so you can flash your own update with ease!
I understand your frustration, but thanks to XDA Devs all of this is manageable.
I agree about the open-source comment, btw.

AT&T claims to unlock their SIM locked device for US networks only, but not Europe?

AT&T claims to unlock their SIM locked device for US networks only, but not Europe?
Hi people, I'm new in US Samsung models world, so I have a couple of burning questions.
Long story short, my friend lives in US, has bought AT&T S7 Edge last year off contract, paid the device fully, so in theory he should be free from their will, except the device being SIM locked to AT&T. Now he has S8, and wants to send me his S7 Edge here in Europe, however upon contacting them about removing the lock, they have claimed that at least a year has to expire from the day of purchase for the phone to be fully unlocked and used globally, and as for now, they can only unlock the phone from their network so it can be used (on all networks) in US only, but it can't be used in Europe (until a year expires which they indicated).
Now, from my very limited knowledge I smell BS here, since only thing they can do is block the usage of certain bands through their software thus limiting usage of the device across all networks, but that can be avoided by flashing a fresh firmware, or better yet U firmware, since I've read that its Samsungs firmware with unlocked bands for a global use.
So, as long as there is hardware capability, they can't limit it really permanently, or for certain amount off time if you bypass that with U global firmware.
Or am I wrong here? Is unlocking through 3rd party websites better solution?

Cirra92 said:
Hi people, I'm new in US Samsung models world, so I have a couple of burning questions.
Long story short, my friend lives in US, has bought AT&T S7 Edge last year off contract, paid the device fully, so in theory he should be free from their will, except the device being SIM locked to AT&T. Now he has S8, and wants to send me his S7 Edge here in Europe, however upon contacting them about removing the lock, they have claimed that at least a year has to expire from the day of purchase for the phone to be fully unlocked and used globally, and as for now, they can only unlock the phone from their network so it can be used (on all networks) in US only, but it can't be used in Europe (until a year expires which they indicated).
Now, from my very limited knowledge I smell BS here, since only thing they can do is block the usage of certain bands through their software thus limiting usage of the device across all networks, but that can be avoided by flashing a fresh firmware, or better yet U firmware, since I've read that its Samsungs firmware with unlocked bands for a global use.
So, as long as there is hardware capability, they can't limit it really permanently, or for certain amount off time if you bypass that with U global firmware.
Or am I wrong here? Is unlocking through 3rd party websites better solution?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
1) As soon as the phone is paid off (no balance owed) and you have been a customer in good standing for either 2 months (post-paid) or 6 months (pre-paid) you can request a SIM unlock code. Yes, this is BS, but it is what it is. Note that it is important to do SIM unlocking BEFORE removing your old device from your account, as you will guarantee a bad time trying to do it afterward.
2) The SIM unlock is global and should allow any APN to be used with the device. AT&T doesn't really care where you use your unlocked device because T-mobile is just as much not AT&T as any European carrier.
3) If you can get it from AT&T for free, why not? Otherwise, get it where you can. So far, every time I have requested an unlock for an AT&T device I have had to escalate, and for some devices they don't even offer unlocks (AT&T branded hotspots, tablets, etc. aren't unlockable through AT&T)
4) Using U firmware doesn't help because it is the baseband processor (and related firmware) that handles network locking. Simply switching to unlocked software doesn't alter the baseband at all. Changing the modem/baseband firmware won't help EITHER, because that processor has it's own non-volatile storage. Carriers take SIM locking very seriously at a hardware level.

jshamlet said:
1) As soon as the phone is paid off (no balance owed) and you have been a customer in good standing for either 2 months (post-paid) or 6 months (pre-paid) you can request a SIM unlock code. Yes, this is BS, but it is what it is. Note that it is important to do SIM unlocking BEFORE removing your old device from your account, as you will guarantee a bad time trying to do it afterward.
2) The SIM unlock is global and should allow any APN to be used with the device. AT&T doesn't really care where you use your unlocked device because T-mobile is just as much not AT&T as any European carrier.
3) If you can get it from AT&T for free, why not? Otherwise, get it where you can. So far, every time I have requested an unlock for an AT&T device I have had to escalate, and for some devices they don't even offer unlocks (AT&T branded hotspots, tablets, etc. aren't unlockable through AT&T)
4) Using U firmware doesn't help because it is the baseband processor (and related firmware) that handles network locking. Simply switching to unlocked software doesn't alter the baseband at all. Changing the modem/baseband firmware won't help EITHER, because that processor has it's own non-volatile storage. Carriers take SIM locking very seriously at a hardware level.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
1) All those conditions have been met, so there shouldn't be a problem about requesting SIM unlock code, and they did say the phone can be unlocked and be SIM free but it will work on US networks only, and not on European, until 1 year expires.
2) Since the G935A has GSM 2G bands and HSDPA 3G bands, it is already compatible with European bands, or specifically with bands on my carrier here, I don't see how are they going to unlock it to work on US networks but not on EU, that's what confused me. SIM unlock should be global that is how it goes anyway.
3) Yeah that's what I thought, but since they mention limiting the unlock (if it is possible) for US usage only (maybe tampering with the device in hand) it might be better to go for 3rd party unlock.
4) Thanks for the explanation, that seems serious, not sure why so serious though.
Anyway as a conclusion, since both 2G and 3G bands match with my carrier's, if they do unlock the device (AT&T) it should work in EU, despite their claims that it won't for a year? How would they "unlock" it after a year when the device is not in their hands :S
I suggested to my friend to request a code through 3rd party anyway, unlock it and send me the device, since he was already pissed off with the response from AT&T.

Desperate: Is there any way to unlock a blacklisted Samsung S7 from T-Mobile?

Hello all,
Like many others, I unknowingly bought a blacklisted phone on eBay. It's a Samsung S7 with T-Mobile from the US. I live in Costa Rica, and I'm trying to use a SIM from a local service provider. Sending the phone back for an uninteresting list of various reasons is impossible at this point. So, I am attempting to unlock it.
I rooted the phone with SuperSu thinking that would work, now I know better. After hours and hours of research, I found a xda dev that can remove the lock, but with my slow internet speed, he says it's impossible.
I was suggested to use one of the paid services, but I'm concerned that if my slow connection will not work for the xda dev, why would it work for a paid unlock service? My connection is 5/1. Anyone have any luck buying the expensive @$$ service and successfully receiving the code with a slow connection?
Is there really no way around the T-Mobile Unlock App?
Is there truly no DIY process or program that I can do, being that the paid unlock services may not to work?
I really need this phone to work. I just moved to Costa Rica, and I use my phone to work. So, I am pretty damn stuck between a rock and a hard place with spikes. I'm pretty desperate, almost willingly to pay my last money to a dumb unlock service.
But some of the services say that it will not work if the phone is blacklisted.
I just don't know what my options are at this point.

Blacklisted phone
victoriaa22 said:
Hello all,
Like many others, I unknowingly bought a blacklisted phone on eBay. It's a Samsung S7 with T-Mobile from the US. I live in Costa Rica, and I'm trying to use a SIM from a local service provider. Sending the phone back for an uninteresting list of various reasons is impossible at this point. So, I am attempting to unlock it.
I rooted the phone with SuperSu thinking that would work, now I know better. After hours and hours of research, I found a xda dev that can remove the lock, but with my slow internet speed, he says it's impossible.
I was suggested to use one of the paid services, but I'm concerned that if my slow connection will not work for the xda dev, why would it work for a paid unlock service? My connection is 5/1. Anyone have any luck buying the expensive @$$ service and successfully receiving the code with a slow connection?
Is there really no way around the T-Mobile Unlock App?
Is there truly no DIY process or program that I can do, being that the paid unlock services may not to work?
I really need this phone to work. I just moved to Costa Rica, and I use my phone to work. So, I am pretty damn stuck between a rock and a hard place with spikes. I'm pretty desperate, almost willingly to pay my last money to a dumb unlock service.
But some of the services say that it will not work if the phone is blacklisted.
I just don't know what my options are at this point.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Might be able to resell the phone with a *disclaimer* that it is blacklisted, I would recommend Swappa over Ebay though, (I got a really decent chunk of change for my Galaxy S Blaze that I sold on there), and then use the proceeds from that to acquire a phone that isn't stolen.

I got mine unlocked in a repair shop at gaffar market,delhi,india for rs 3200 inr and it was blacklisted on tmobile's website, when bought it was unlocked but after few days it automatically got locked to tmobile.
I mean to say if i can get it done in india you guys can also get it done in your countries.

You would have to do a firmware swap - which you could do yourself - you just won't be able to use it on that particular carrier, even via an MVNO on that carrier. My own S7 is ex-VZW (network locked); but I could take it to T-Mobile (and did) via firmware swap. My carrier (Tracfone) uses both VZW and T-Mobile towers ; while VZW was out, T-Mobile, however, works fine. If you sell the phone post-swap, include documentation that a firmware swap was done, so the buyer does not try to take it to T-M by mistake - some folks insist on following the labelling unless expressly told not to. (My S7 still has VZW labelling.)

PGHammer said:
You would have to do a firmware swap - which you could do yourself - you just won't be able to use it on that particular carrier, even via an MVNO on that carrier. My own S7 is ex-VZW (network locked); but I could take it to T-Mobile (and did) via firmware swap. My carrier (Tracfone) uses both VZW and T-Mobile towers ; while VZW was out, T-Mobile, however, works fine. If you sell the phone post-swap, include documentation that a firmware swap was done, so the buyer does not try to take it to T-M by mistake - some folks insist on following the labelling unless expressly told not to. (My S7 still has VZW labelling.)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Firmware swap? So you're saying you can take a Note 4 on T-Mobile that is blacklisted and you can fix the problem just by flashing a new firmware from AT&T? Am I understanding that correctly or no? Because I have a Note 4 that is on T-Mobile that someone left at my GF's work and never came back for, so they wanted to throw it away, so I took it, I rooted it, deleted all the bloatware and have it working great as a small tablet, but I can't use it as a phone because it is blacklisted. Been trying to find a way to use it for years now with no luck, I will not dish out any money to one of those sites, I don't trust them. If there is a way I can do it myself I would surely try it.

Indeed You Can
Anthonyx82x said:
Firmware swap? So you're saying you can take a Note 4 on T-Mobile that is blacklisted and you can fix the problem just by flashing a new firmware from AT&T? Am I understanding that correctly or no? Because I have a Note 4 that is on T-Mobile that someone left at my GF's work and never came back for, so they wanted to throw it away, so I took it, I rooted it, deleted all the bloatware and have it working great as a small tablet, but I can't use it as a phone because it is blacklisted. Been trying to find a way to use it for years now with no luck, I will not dish out any money to one of those sites, I don't trust them. If there is a way I can do it myself I would surely try it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
A blacklisted IMEI only affects the blacklisted carrier in question - it does not affect ALL carriers. (I cannot take my Snapdragon S7 to Verizon or that side of Tracfone due the IMEI being Verizon-blacklisted; however, it does not affect T-Mobile or the T-Mobile side of Tracfone - which is a separate network/carrier - which is why I was able to take the phone there.
. In your case, your Note 4 has a T-Mobile blacklisted IMEI; therefore, you can take it to AT&T Mobility, Verizon, the Verizon half of Tracfone, or Sprint - you simply need the apropos firmware and SIM. If the phone itself has T-Mobile labeling/branding, and you are trying to sell it, you should include documentation indicating what was done, and why (honesty). The biggest issue is sellers that DON'T do that (document what was done) or worse - don't do a firmware/ROM change for a phone with a blacklisted IMEI. So you can actually use it as a phone - you just can't take it to the original carrier.

victoriaa22 said:
Hello all,
Like many others, I unknowingly bought a blacklisted phone on eBay. It's a Samsung S7 with T-Mobile from the US. I live in Costa Rica, and I'm trying to use a SIM from a local service provider. Sending the phone back for an uninteresting list of various reasons is impossible at this point. So, I am attempting to unlock it.
I rooted the phone with SuperSu thinking that would work, now I know better. After hours and hours of research, I found a xda dev that can remove the lock, but with my slow internet speed, he says it's impossible.
I was suggested to use one of the paid services, but I'm concerned that if my slow connection will not work for the xda dev, why would it work for a paid unlock service? My connection is 5/1. Anyone have any luck buying the expensive @$$ service and successfully receiving the code with a slow connection?
Is there really no way around the T-Mobile Unlock App?
Is there truly no DIY process or program that I can do, being that the paid unlock services may not to work?
I really need this phone to work. I just moved to Costa Rica, and I use my phone to work. So, I am pretty damn stuck between a rock and a hard place with spikes. I'm pretty desperate, almost willingly to pay my last money to a dumb unlock service.
But some of the services say that it will not work if the phone is blacklisted.
I just don't know what my options are at this point.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Try https://www.gsmzambia.com/.
You need a Windows PC with Teamviewer.

Anthonyx82x said:
Firmware swap? So you're saying you can take a Note 4 on T-Mobile that is blacklisted and you can fix the problem just by flashing a new firmware from AT&T? Am I understanding that correctly or no? Because I have a Note 4 that is on T-Mobile that someone left at my GF's work and never came back for, so they wanted to throw it away, so I took it, I rooted it, deleted all the bloatware and have it working great as a small tablet, but I can't use it as a phone because it is blacklisted. Been trying to find a way to use it for years now with no luck, I will not dish out any money to one of those sites, I don't trust them. If there is a way I can do it myself I would surely try it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
This is what I am saying - that and a SIM from a carrier other than the one that blacklisted the IMEI - I took my own phone from VZW to T-Mobile (Tracfone supports both carrier networks). Because it was an internal swap (same MVNO), it cost me nothing.

Unlock T-Mobile

I have a Samsung tablet E that is locked to T-Mobile. How would I be able to unlock it for At&t?

I feel for you as once, years ago, I had to jailbreak an AT&T iPhone to get it to work on T-Mobile, so I know the feeling of wanting to change what the phone can do but which the carriers locked you out of doing.
Hence, I would like to see you get that tablet unlocked where I have been on T-Mobile in the USA for over a decade and they've unlocked EVERY device I ever asked them to unlock for me.
There are a few caveats, of course, which you didn't mention so I have to ask you.
a. Do you own the device (or does T-Mobile still own parts of it in your contract?).
b. Have you been on T-Mobile for more than two billing cycles?
c. Do you owe T-Mobile any money (e.g., unpaid bills)?
Depending on the answer to a,b,c above, did you ASK T-Mobile to unlock it for you yet? If you did ask, what did they say?
In addition, many people have asked T-Mobile for a temporary unlock when they travel from the USA to Europe but it doesn't seem like you want just a temporary unlock.