[Q] Using Verizon LG G2 in Europe - G2 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting

I'm getting conflicting information from Verizon employees as to whether I could use one of their LG G2s in Europe, specifically Switzerland. I don't want to pay Verizon for international roaming. I want to buy a local SIM card and use that. Some tell me it works; others say paying Verizon for international roaming is the only option.
Anyone here know for sure?

AirDiamond said:
I'm getting conflicting information from Verizon employees as to whether I could use one of their LG G2s in Europe, specifically Switzerland. I don't want to pay Verizon for international roaming. I want to buy a local SIM card and use that. Some tell me it works; others say paying Verizon for international roaming is the only option.
Anyone here know for sure?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You can use a local SIM card with the G2. All current Verizon LTE phones automatically come unlocked and are global ready so you have nothing to worry about.
Good luck and have fun!

Related

[Q] Possible to Unlock?

Hi I wanted to buy this pone from amazon, but the thing is that I would buy the sprint versiĆ³n with no contract and I don't live in the US, so my question is, can I unlock this pone to use it with any other company? like Movistar? I read that the pone was GSM so I thought it would be posible, however I won't take the risk of paying 590 dollars for a pone that I can't use, thanks
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Won't work. Sprint is NOT gsm
Sent from my GT-I9505 using xda premium
hyelton said:
Won't work. Sprint is NOT gsm
Sent from my GT-I9505 using xda premium
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
if you dont know dont tell !! sprint s4 (gsm-cdma) but gsm its locked (low level lock )
LIAM83 said:
if you dont know dont tell !! sprint s4 (gsm-cdma) but gsm its locked (low level lock )
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
What do you mean if I dont know dont tell? What does that supposed to mean?
I KNOW my Cellular Networks!
Sprint is a CDMA Network!
The ONLY part about sprint that is NOT CDMA is LTE which the sim card slot is LOCKED to sprint.
They MIGHT be a fix but right now there is NOT. Some of the older phones like the Moto Photon its not LTE but its a world phone and people could flash a few things and make it work, But only EDGE in the USA anyway.
But as of right now and problay for a while its NOT going to work.
hyelton said:
What do you mean if I dont know dont tell? What does that supposed to mean?
I KNOW my Cellular Networks!
Sprint is a CDMA Network!
The ONLY part about sprint that is NOT CDMA is LTE which the sim card slot is LOCKED to sprint.
They MIGHT be a fix but right now there is NOT. Some of the older phones like the Moto Photon its not LTE but its a world phone and people could flash a few things and make it work, But only EDGE in the USA anyway.
But as of right now and problay for a while its NOT going to work.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thats right sprint CDMA provider YES! but sprint announce more cdma-gsm phones (like blackberry) now sprint sell locked phones (htcone , S4)and this man need know maybe he unlock phone for him country(i think he live in spain(movistar as i know its spain company! right now he not can use gsm in this phone but i think i found solution maybe via nv maybe via modem patch !
sorry for my english )its not my own language !
LIAM83 said:
Thats right sprint CDMA provider YES! but sprint announce more cdma-gsm phones (like blackberry) now sprint sell locked phones (htcone , S4)and this man need know maybe he unlock phone for him country(i think he live in spain(movistar as i know its spain company! right now he not can use gsm in this phone but i think i found solution maybe via nv maybe via modem patch !
sorry for my english )its not my own language !
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Modem patch is not even possible with this phone right now... The phones are ONLY meant to run on GSM for LTE data and NOTHING ELSE
hyelton said:
Modem patch is not even possible with this phone right now... The phones are ONLY meant to run on GSM for LTE data and NOTHING ELSE
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
bro you not right ! not only for lte data ! if we unlock this phone we can use it in at&t voice and data and t-mobile too ! belive me i know all about samsung phones !!
LIAM83 said:
bro you not right ! not only for lte data ! if we unlock this phone we can use it in at&t voice and data and t-mobile too ! belive me i know all about samsung phones !!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I expect Sprint will provide a method soon to unlock the GSM and UMTS functions in the phone to be able to use it internationally. However, I don't expect the GSM and UMTS functions to operate inside the US. Sprint has always disabld them on GSM capable Android and iOS devices it sells.
I don't see why it wouldn't work for you as long as you can get it unlocked.
Sprint is not going to unlock it for you unless you are a long time customer or have the phone with them for 90 days.
hyelton is completely wrong though.. the sim does authenticate lte on sprint but also acts as a gsm sim internationally.
you can also remove the sim and insert any international sim once unlocked providing the carrier uses the correct bands.
hyelton said:
Modem patch is not even possible with this phone right now... The phones are ONLY meant to run on GSM for LTE data and NOTHING ELSE
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You are all kinds of WRONG.
Sprint's GS4 is fully capable of voice and data on international GSM/HSPA+/UMTS 850/900/1900/2100MHz networks. You have to request Sprint to unlock your phone's sim (or find a work around if you're not a Sprint customer), but once unlocked you can pop in any international sim and it will WORK JUST FINE on international GSM networks, they don't have to support LTE. Heck the only thing preventing the SG4 from working on US GSM networks is Sprint locked the Sim from using USofA GSM carrier sim cards.
As long as the OP can get their Sprint SG4 sim unlocked, they can pop in their international sim and use the GSM in their country NO PROBLEM like any other GSM phone.
SO ONCE AGAIN, Sprint's SG4 has a fully functioning GSM modem that supports international carrier GSM/HSPA+/UMTS 850/900/1900/2100MHz bands!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
You would think someone with almost 2,000 posts and who made a statement like "I KNOW my Cellular Networks!" would know better. Do yourself a huge favor and actually know what you're talking about before you go spouting off again, because you really made yourself look like an ignorant fool.
BamAlmighty said:
You are all kinds of WRONG.
Sprint's GS4 is fully capable of voice and data on international GSM/HSPA+/UMTS 850/900/1900/2100MHz networks. You have to request Sprint to unlock your phone's sim (or find a work around if you're not a Sprint customer), but once unlocked you can pop in any international sim and it will WORK JUST FINE on international GSM networks, they don't have to support LTE. Heck the only thing preventing the SG4 from working on US GSM networks is Sprint locked the Sim from using USofA GSM carrier sim cards.
As long as the OP can get their Sprint SG4 sim unlocked, they can pop in their international sim and use the GSM in their country NO PROBLEM like any other GSM phone.
SO ONCE AGAIN, Sprint's SG4 has a fully functioning GSM modem that supports international carrier GSM/HSPA+/UMTS 850/900/1900/2100MHz bands!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
You would think someone with almost 2,000 posts and who made a statement like "I KNOW my Cellular Networks!" would know better. Do yourself a huge favor and actually know what you're talking about before you go spouting off again, because you really made yourself look like an ignorant fool.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well YES you can easily use your phone overseas, But it was POSTED in the Sprint Forum which is ONLY in the USA and in which using it does NOT apply in the USA. And to get the phone unlocked I`m not sure if a regular unlocking company would be able to do it someone with a sprint account would and it would be MUCH more trouble than just to pick up a ACTUAL GSM carriers Version of the phone.( I should had just said that to begin with) Its VERY pointless to TRY and want to use the sprint Version when they are SEVERAL OTHER varrients that are GSM they could have got to use.
EXCEPT... the op specifically said they wanted to purchase it from Amazon America to use on their country's GSM network.
Why they want to do that? WHO KNOWS, maybe it might be cheaper doing it this way, but that is what they want to do and despite all your unnecessary wrongful information, the OP can do what they asked as long as they can get the sim unlocked.
BamAlmighty said:
EXCEPT... again EXCEPT the op specifically said they wanted to purchase it from Amazon America to use on their country's GSM network.
Why they want to do that? WHO KNOWS, maybe it might be cheaper doing it this way, but that is what they want to do.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I sell on Amazon and Most people wont ship out of the USA on Amazon. Mostly only Candia but Ive tried ordering a lot of things overseas and 90% I cant as they wont ship here
Amazon sells the Sprint for $599 this is probably why. I bought mine at Best Buy and had them price match Amazon for that price.
Sent from my SPH-L720 using Tapatalk 2
Yea but out of country cant buy FROM sprint...
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I337 using xda premium
Looks like everyone here is an expert in this matter but so far haven't seen a single link to reputable sources... OP call sprint international department and get answer straight from the carrier (888) 226-7212
Even IF the phone is capable of being used in GSM bands internationally, you would have to get it unlocked by sprint and they change policies all the time so just call..
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk 2
I got my phone unlocked for international use. I contacted sprint international services. I was initially told that you have to be activated for at least 90 days before they could unlock the phone but would forward my request to some department. After one day I got a email that my phone has been unlocked.
fusiondynamics said:
I got my phone unlocked for international use. I contacted sprint international services. I was initially told that you have to be activated for at least 90 days before they could unlock the phone but would forward my request to some department. After one day I got a email that my phone has been unlocked.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
They unlocked Sprint Galaxy 4?
mkang said:
They unlocked Sprint Galaxy 4?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yea.... but it ONLY works internationally AND you have to be a sprint customer.
The POINT I have been trying to get across is that people need to understand Sprint is a CDMA carrier and ONLY relies on GSM for LTE. I think what people think is that they are solely a gsm carrier like most of the world is but its NOT
Sent from my SGH-M919 using xda premium

On ATT buying Tmobile version

Hey, sorry if this is discussed in another thread, but I read a few and couldn't find the answer.
I'm on ATT, but I want to have an unlocked bootloader, so if I buy the Tmobile version for full price online can I just put my ATT sim card in there and it will work? Also will I be able to get LTE?
Pikezer1337 said:
Hey, sorry if this is discussed in another thread, but I read a few and couldn't find the answer.
I'm on ATT, but I want to have an unlocked bootloader, so if I buy the Tmobile version for full price online can I just put my ATT sim card in there and it will work? Also will I be able to get LTE?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I don't believe it is that easy. YOu either need to get Tmobile to Unlock the phone so you can move it to another carrier or pay someone online to unlock it - I don't think you can just switch sim cards unless you have first unlocked the phone. (I am not talking about unlocking the bootloader - that is something else entirely - TMOBILE probably won't lock theirs like ATT does - but the phone itself is locked to the carrier until you get it unlocked)
mocsab said:
I don't believe it is that easy. YOu either need to get Tmobile to Unlock the phone so you can move it to another carrier or pay someone online to unlock it - I don't think you can just switch sim cards unless you have first unlocked the phone. (I am not talking about unlocking the bootloader - that is something else entirely - TMOBILE probably won't lock theirs like ATT does - but the phone itself is locked to the carrier until you get it unlocked)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well if I buy it from Negri online it says it already comes unlocked. So since it is unlocked then is it able to be used on ATT, or is it only unlocked for Tmobile?
Pikezer1337 said:
Well if I buy it from Negri online it says it already comes unlocked. So since it is unlocked then is it able to be used on ATT, or is it only unlocked for Tmobile?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The unlocked from Negri should work without issues
apascual89 said:
The unlocked from Negri should work without issues
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
And I should still have LTE?
Pikezer1337 said:
Well if I buy it from Negri online it says it already comes unlocked. So since it is unlocked then is it able to be used on ATT, or is it only unlocked for Tmobile?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If you buy it from TMOBILE it is probably locked but there are a bunch of places you can buy unlocked Note 3's - plus yiou can always unlock the MOBILE NOTE 3 either with TOMOBILEs help or thru an online service.
apascual89 said:
The unlocked from Negri should work without issues
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Plus I believe the Negri version is cheaper.
Pikezer1337 said:
And I should still have LTE?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes you should. It has the bands to support it. Keyword should until someone with device on hand confirms it.
I plan on walking in Wednesday afternoon to a T-Mobile store, purchasing two Note 3s at full price (one black, one white) and then immediately using them both on AT&T. Actually one phone on AT&T and the other on AIO Wireless (AT&T network).
My history is with Verizon and Sprint so I'm not 100% sure about all the specifics of SIM cards.
I'd imagine I'll ask if its SIM locked, hopefully they say no and I'll be on my way. But if it is carrier SIM locked, I just ask them to unlock the device? Is this normal? Does anyone see any issues with this?
TerryNova said:
I plan on walking in Wednesday afternoon to a T-Mobile store, purchasing two Note 3s at full price (one black, one white) and then immediately using them both on AT&T. Actually one phone on AT&T and the other on AIO Wireless (AT&T network).
My history is with Verizon and Sprint so I'm not 100% sure about all the specifics of SIM cards.
I'd imagine I'll ask if its SIM locked, hopefully they say no and I'll be on my way. But if it is carrier SIM locked, I just ask them to unlock the device? Is this normal? Does anyone see any issues with this?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
i dont think they will be selling the device alone at full price anytime soon..
i ordered mine from negri and overnighted it so i am hoping to get it wensday/thursday. will post back with results but if it is unlocked fcc confirms which bands it works with so there should be no issues at all.
TerryNova said:
I plan on walking in Wednesday afternoon to a T-Mobile store, purchasing two Note 3s at full price (one black, one white) and then immediately using them both on AT&T. Actually one phone on AT&T and the other on AIO Wireless (AT&T network).
My history is with Verizon and Sprint so I'm not 100% sure about all the specifics of SIM cards.
I'd imagine I'll ask if its SIM locked, hopefully they say no and I'll be on my way. But if it is carrier SIM locked, I just ask them to unlock the device? Is this normal? Does anyone see any issues with this?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yeah I believe in-store, T-mobile requires you to have service with them to buy a phone at full price (even pre-paid service). So you'd have to signup for the cheapest one (I think like $30/mo), buy the phone, and cancel right away. However they still charge you for the first month.
However they should unlock it no issues (though you may have to call - don't know about t-mobile).
This was my experience at a T-mobile corporate store, you may have better luck at a franchise store.
dawheat said:
Yeah I believe in-store, T-mobile requires you to have service with them to buy a phone at full price (even pre-paid service). So you'd have to signup for the cheapest one (I think like $30/mo), buy the phone, and cancel right away. However they still charge you for the first month.
However they should unlock it no issues (though you may have to call - don't know about t-mobile).
This was my experience at a T-mobile corporate store, you may have better luck at a franchise store.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Anyone know where to get the Tmobile version in white? Full price. Negri seems to sell the blk version only.
daraj said:
Anyone know where to get the Tmobile version in white? Full price. Negri seems to sell the blk version only.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hopefully Negri gets them in stock eventually.
Pikezer1337 said:
Hey, sorry if this is discussed in another thread, but I read a few and couldn't find the answer.
I'm on ATT, but I want to have an unlocked bootloader, so if I buy the Tmobile version for full price online can I just put my ATT sim card in there and it will work? Also will I be able to get LTE?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hi. I think these will precisely answer your questions about 3G/4G compatabilities between all US models (including ATT and TMo) for use in the US and abroad. A lot of people seem to think it has immensely clarified their concerns. It's partially based on FCC filings as well as documents from T-Mobile so is as official as it gets.
[Q] Which USA Note 3 Variant to get?
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?p=45794297#post45794297
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?p=45807074#post45807074
Galaxy Note 3 AWS 1700/2100 Users Thread (T-mobile, Windmobile, Mobilicity)
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?p=46032280#post46032280
Best wishes.

Is my sprint S8 seriously locked to sprint FOREVER?!

Hi guys.. So I bought a Samsung Galaxy S8 from Best Buy Mobile last month. I had to use sprint because at&t (my fav. carrier) would not finance me on the phone. I was told if I paid off the phone I could switch carriers. So that's what I did. Sprint even unlocked it. Now people are telling me I can't use this certain phone on at&t, or even verizon because it is a cdma phone. No one told me this when buying the phone.
Is it true that I am stuck with sprint?! I have horrible coverage in my area and I can't even use the internet and such unless I'm on a wireless connection. What can I do? Please help!
Did you try putting in a non sprint sim?
If it is SIM unlocked, just flash the unlocked (G950U1) firmware on it.
https://forum.xda-developers.com/galaxy-s8/how-to/snap-guide-flashing-standard-fw-carrier-t3625817
KARVEGA79 said:
Hi guys.. So I bought a Samsung Galaxy S8 from Best Buy Mobile last month. I had to use sprint because at&t (my fav. carrier) would not finance me on the phone. I was told if I paid off the phone I could switch carriers. So that's what I did. Sprint even unlocked it. Now people are telling me I can't use this certain phone on at&t, or even verizon because it is a cdma phone. No one told me this when buying the phone.
Is it true that I am stuck with sprint?! I have horrible coverage in my area and I can't even use the internet and such unless I'm on a wireless connection. What can I do? Please help!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If the Sprint unlocked your phone, then it won't hurt inserting another sim in it. Theoretically speaking it should work and if it won't, then flashing is another way of making it work.
KARVEGA79 said:
Now people are telling me I can't use this certain phone on at&t, or even verizon because it is a cdma phone. No one told me this when buying the phone.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Who are these ignorant people telling you this and why are you listening to them?
1) Verizon also uses CDMA, so having CDMA is the reason it WOULD work with Verizon.
2) All the carriers in the U.S. get the same phone. All the bands needed for a specific carrier are activated when the SIM card is installed. The only reason it wouldn't work is if Sprint had not unlocked the phone after you paid it off. It would be locked to Sprint to prevent you from not honoring the purchase agreement. And even then it would be blacklisted on Sprint network, if you didn't honor the purchase agreement.
3) if inserting the SIM card for another carrier doesn't automatically change the firmware, then do what this guy said:
lancemoreland said:
If it is SIM unlocked, just flash the unlocked (G950U1) firmware on it.
Guide for Flashing Standard Firmware, Carrier Switching, and Flashing Unlocked Firmware
https://forum.xda-developers.com/galaxy-s8/how-to/snap-guide-flashing-standard-fw-carrier-t3625817
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Sprint, at&t and even verizon said my phone wasn't compatible even after I told them sprint unlocked it. I had no idea about all this cdma, gsm crap when buying the phone. I have never had a decent phone like an S8. All my phones have been cheap prepaid phones since now due to the fact no one would ever finance me for one. I was SOO freakin surprised and happy when someone actually agreed to finance me, I figured I could pay off the phone and then switch. After paying off the phone is when these companies said it was incompatible. Weird thing is I went to IMEI.info and it says it IS compatible and IS unlocked for sure. I then went to at&t online and after typing in my imei number it also said it was compatible. I'm so confused. I am going to take it up to at&t tomorrow and see what happens when I buy and insert a sim card. If it turns out to be sim locked is there a way to bypass this? I truly have paid the phone off and after doing so I asked sprint (on the phone) to sim unlock it, they said they did.
Please do not listen to the idiots at the mobile companies. There is ZERO difference in the S8, ZERO!!!!! If It's not sim locked it will work on ALL carriers, both cdma and gsm.
If It's still sim locked, some people have had success paying a third party to provide a code. But I would try sprint first since They said it should be unlocked.
My guess is that it will work fine with another sim card.
I would either flash the att firmware or the unlocked firmware on it.
Sent from my SM-G950U1 using Tapatalk
Should I flash the att firmware before inserting the sim or only if the sim does not work? Also is there a way and should I back up my sprint firmware or should I be ok? Thanks.
KARVEGA79 said:
Should I flash the att firmware before inserting the sim or only if the sim does not work? Also is there a way and should I back up my sprint firmware or should I be ok? Thanks.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I would flash the unlocked firmware on the phone. Will get rid of bloatware. No reason to backup sprint firmware, Its everywhere.
Sent from my SM-G950U1 using Tapatalk
ChazzMatt said:
Who are these ignorant people telling you this and why are you listening to them?
1) Verizon also uses CDMA, so having CDMA is the reason it WOULD work with Verizon.
2) All the carriers in the U.S. get the same phone. All the bands needed for a specific carrier are activated when the SIM card is installed. The only reason it wouldn't work is if Sprint had not unlocked the phone after you paid it off. It would be locked to Sprint to prevent you from not honoring the purchase agreement. And even then it would be blacklisted on Sprint network, if you didn't honor the purchase agreement.
3) if inserting the SIM card for another carrier doesn't automatically change the firmware, then do what this guy said:
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It says this guide is only for snapdragon S8's I have an exynos S8. Is there another guide for that one? Nevermind, IMEI.info said I has an exynos, I guess it was wrong info. CPU-Z says it's a snapdragon 835. I'm assuming the CPU-Z info is the correct info?
KARVEGA79 said:
It says this guide is only for snapdragon S8's I have an exynos S8. Is there another guide for that one? Nevermind, IMEI.info said I has an exynos, I guess it was wrong info. CPU-Z says it's a snapdragon 835. I'm assuming the CPU-Z info is the correct info?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You said you purchased that phone from Sprint directly. It's a snapdragon. Exynos is in the international version, which Sprint does not sell.
rkennison said:
You said you purchased that phone from Sprint directly. It's a snapdragon. Exynos is in the international version, which Sprint does not sell.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I purchased it from Best Buy Mobile, had to sign with sprint because no other carrier would finance me.
KARVEGA79 said:
It says this guide is only for snapdragon S8's I have an exynos S8. Is there another guide for that one? Nevermind, IMEI.info said I has an exynos, I guess it was wrong info. CPU-Z says it's a snapdragon 835. I'm assuming the CPU-Z info is the correct info?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If you bought it from Sprint (or even just used it on Sprint), then you have a Snapdragon 835 S8. Only the Snapdragon variants have CDMA bands for Sprint and Verizon. Only the Snapdragon S8/S8+ variants are sold by carriers in North America -- so they can be cross compatible with Sprint/Verizon/AT&T/T-mobile/Canadian carriers. That's why whoever told you this nonsense is so ignorant.
If you had IMPORTED an Exynos variant from like England, then you would be limited to AT&T or T-mobile. But you have the "universal" Snapdragon model. Now the Exynos variant has an easily unlocked bootloader, which is a reason people import them, but that's another topic altogether.
As long as your Snapdragon 835 S8 is SIM unlocked (you have paid for it in full, and Sprint says they have unlocked it), you can take it to any other carrier or even an MVNO (like Straight Talk) and use it.
---------- Post added at 08:04 AM ---------- Previous post was at 08:00 AM ----------
KARVEGA79 said:
I purchased it from Best Buy Mobile, had to sign with sprint because no other carrier would finance me.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If you used it on Sprint, you have Snapdragon 835. Only the Snapdragon S8/S8+ variants have CDMA bands for Sprint and Verizon, in addition to LTE bands.
---------- Post added at 08:26 AM ---------- Previous post was at 08:04 AM ----------
KARVEGA79 said:
Should I flash the att firmware before inserting the sim or only if the sim does not work? Also is there a way and should I back up my sprint firmware or should I be ok? Thanks.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thor2j said:
Please do not listen to the idiots at the mobile companies. There is ZERO difference in the S8, ZERO!!!!! If It's not sim locked it will work on ALL carriers, both cdma and gsm.
If It's still sim locked, some people have had success paying a third party to provide a code. But I would try sprint first since They said it should be unlocked.
My guess is that it will work fine with another sim card.
I would either flash the att firmware or the unlocked firmware on it.
Sent from my SM-G950U1 using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Since you phone is paid off, when you go to AT&T, try AT&T Prepaid (formerly called GoPhone). It's really for people who already own their phones.
Same high speed data off the same low-lag data servers used by "contract"/postpaid AT&T customers (with one exception, which I'll warn you about),
same in-store AT&T customer service as contract/postpaid AT&T customers,
same AT&T SIM card as contract/pospaid service. (The store may have SIM cards labelled "AT&T Prepaid", but underneath it's the same AT&T SIM card. If they try to charge you for one, tell them you want the FREE AT&T SIM card. It's the exact same thing.)
Make sure you go to an AT&T corporate store, not a "franchise" store. At the AT&T corporate store they will even give you free AT&T SIM card to use for AT&T Prepaid. (Franchise stores will try to sell you SIM cards.)
The advantage is AT&T Prepaid is much less expensive service than "postpaid" AT&T (contract service). Since you already own your phone in full, all you need to pay for is monthly service. You don't need to pay extra each month so you can get a "free" upgrade to a new phone in 2 or 3 years. (Not free, you are really paying for it with extra fees each month.)
You would want the $45/6GB plan on AT&T Prepaid. Do not fall for the $60 "unlimited" plan. The $45/6GB plan gives you plenty of UNCAPPED high speed data/unlimited calls/unlimited texts. Whereas the $60 plan caps your data speeds at 3mbps to compensate for it being "unlimited". AT&T Prepaid uses same data servers as their AT&T postpaid customers and I get ping speeds often less than 30ms, most often 26-29ms, which is fantastic low lag speed. (Lower pings are better, lower ping speed = less lag). If you go to even a service like Cricket (owned by AT&T, but you won't see any AT&T logos anywhere), they use proxy server farms and you often get triple digit ping speeds (high lag). This is also why Cricket has to use a DIFFERENT SIM card from regular AT&T. Higher ping speeds make it seems like your download speeds are much slower than they are.. due to LAG. Plus Cricket caps ALL download speeds at 8mbps. Until AT&T Prepaid (formerly called GoPhone) introduced their $60 "unlimited" plan, ALL their plans were uncapped high speed data. They didn't cap download speed at all. But now they have started capping speeds with the $60 "unlimited" plan. So STAY AWAY FROM THAT.
With the $45/6GB plan, if you autopay each month, you can save $5 and only pay $40 per month. So, $40 per month for 6GB data, with UNCAPPED low lag data straight from AT&T. Don't let them charge you for a SIM card! AT&T Prepaid uses the exact same SIM card as "regular' AT&T.
If you decide you don't like it, for whatever reason, you can switch to "regular" postpaid AT&T. But since I always pay for our phones in full, I like to save on monthly service. Although there are tons of MNVOs with prepaid service, they all use proxy servers with high lag (high ping speeds). Even AT&T's own Cricket is configured as an MVNO, to compete with MNVOs like Straight Talk. But AT&T Prepaid is not. It's "pure" AT&T, but at budget prices -- which AT&T uses to compete with actual carriers like T-mobile and Sprint.
You can "bring your own phone" , which in this case is your fully paid for Galaxy S8.
How do I know which ones are the corporate stores and which are the franchise stores? I'm looking at the St. Louis map now. Some say at&t authorized retailer and then some just say at&t.
I have a sprint model and I unlocked it.
It works with T-Mobile and gets LTE
It works with att and gets LTE
It works with Verizon my current carrier now and also gets LTE
Highly recommend flashing the unlocked software if you go this route the sprint software with non sprint SIM cards is very annoying.
Sheon849 said:
I have a sprint model and I unlocked it.
It works with T-Mobile and gets LTE
It works with att and gets LTE
It works with Verizon my current carrier now and also gets LTE
Highly recommend flashing the unlocked software if you go this route the sprint software with non sprint SIM cards is very annoying.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It worked! Thank GOD! In my room now I get -90/-100 with att and had -100/-125 with sprint. It is using HSPA and I can't find LTE on here to switch over. It stays on 3g, it never goes to 4g or LTE, how can I fix that?
So please tell me what I need to do to delete the sprint crap on here and put att on it. Thanks guys.
Not being rude, but you've been told many times on here What to do , reread the posts.
Follow the directions, we can't spoon feed every little thing.
https://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=3625817
Sent from my SM-G950U1 using Tapatalk
Ok, so I want to do the prerequisites - check.
Then just do the carrier switching part and I'm done right?
Do I do all this with the sim card installed or not installed?
Sorry, this is my first time doing this.
Ok, I did what the guide said. During the flashing standard firmware part after clicking start is said FAIL! SHA256 is invalid. I ended up going back into ADB, rebooting and trying a different att firmware download and now the phone works. Weird thing is, I don't see alot of the apps that I had on an old phone with go phone and 4g LTE is not working, it's not even an option. What should I do if I want to wipe clean the phone to stock samsung android, not stock sprint as I bought it. Then I could insert the new go phone sim and it will install those apps and turn on 4g LTE? I'm learning guys, slowly but surely. I love this kinda stuff, so please bear with me here.
KARVEGA79 said:
How do I know which ones are the corporate stores and which are the franchise stores? I'm looking at the St. Louis map now. Some say at&t authorized retailer and then some just say at&t.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
https://www.att.com/maps/store-locator.html
Authorized retailers are code for "franchise stores". They are not owned by AT&T nor run by AT&T. They do not have actual AT&T employees and they will nickel and dime you for every little item, like SIM cards. Whereas "corporate" AT&T stores will give you free AT&T SIM cards.
When AT&T Prepaid was called GoPhone, event the AT&T stores sold a GoPhone SIM card "kit" that had various sizes SIM cards with plastic shims for $15 -- which was totally unnecessary. I just told them, "NO, I want a FREE AT&T SIM card which fits my phone." And at the corporate stores they have to give it to you. AT&T and AT&T Prepaid (formerly branded as GoPhone) uses the EXACT same SIM cards. It's just they had some "labelled" as GoPhone but underneath it was the exact same thing.
3or 4 years ago, I had a friend buy a brand new Samsung Galaxy phone "on contract" INSIDE an AT&T corporate store, then immediately paid it off with his credit card, and switched to GoPhone -- all in the same visit -- and they did NOT even touch his AT&T SIM card inside his phone. It's just an internal AT&T accounting change. Now GoPhone has been re-branded as AT&T Prepaid to make it less confusing.

Getting a (Factory Unlocked) US996 to work on US Cellular

I'm looking to activate a factory-unlocked US996 on the US Cellular network. The MEID does not show up as working on their BYOD site, and they said the same thing when I took it in to activate it. It does seem to work with a USCC sim card. I checked the MEID Swappa and the stolen phone database and it came up clean on both.
Do I have any options for getting this to work on their network? I have seen comments on Reddit recommending people to lie over the phone and say that it's an unlocked G5, but I don't really see how that would work unless they're somehow getting USCC to add that ESN to their whitelist.
I probably should have bought the USCC version, but I wasn't thinking. If nothing works, I'll just buy the USCC version and sell this one.
If this is a repeat, my apologies. I have searched in a couple places, but the particular wording (US996 AND US Cellular) means that a lot of hits are for using the USCC V20 on other carriers or distinguishing between the unlocked and USCC versions of the V20.
I'm not sure how US Cellular does things, but when this issue would arise with Verizon, we could just take a SIM out of a phone that has service on their Network, and put it into the new device (if it has the supported bands).
This may mean that you would have to activate service with a different "approved" device with the same size SIM, and then swap the SIM into the US996 once activated.
Again, I don't know if this is the case with US Cellular.
pistacios said:
I'm not sure how US Cellular does things, but when this issue would arise with Verizon, we could just take a SIM out of a phone that has service on their Network, and put it into the new device (if it has the supported bands).
This may mean that you would have to activate service with a different "approved" device with the same size SIM, and then swap the SIM into the US996 once activated.
Again, I don't know if this is the case with US Cellular.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That's a great idea, thanks! I'll give it a try.

activate ATT v35 on sprint or any cdma mvno

tried to run the imei number on the sprint and verizon site, says cannot be activated. Went to sprint and called verizon, says att branded phone cannot be activated. This is unlocked, works on tmo. tried searching for a solution in the forum but no dice.
nerd2k said:
tried to run the imei number on the sprint and verizon site, says cannot be activated. Went to sprint and called verizon, says att branded phone cannot be activated. This is unlocked, works on tmo. tried searching for a solution in the forum but no dice.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Doesn't matter if it's "unlocked", other carriers have their rules for what they allow on their networks. Most AT&T phones don't have CDMA, and Sprint, Verizon (for now) still uses CDMA.
On non-branded phones you won't get VoLTE from most carriers (T-Mobile is the exception) and without VoLTE you would need to temporarily drop down to CDMA for voice calls on Sprint and Verizon.
Even on phones that have CDMA, like the LG V30 US998, Verizon still wants you to buy their branded phones -- because end of this year when CDMA goes away, those phone still won't have VoLTE. So in a few months those phones won't be able to make phone calls. I have two relatives with LG V30/V30+ US998 on Verizon. Don't ask how, there are ways. But even of 2020 they will need new phones when Verizon kills CDMA and they can't get VoLTE on non-Verizon phones.
nerd2k said:
tried to run the imei number on the sprint and verizon site, says cannot be activated. Went to sprint and called verizon, says att branded phone cannot be activated. This is unlocked, works on tmo. tried searching for a solution in the forum but no dice.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
As an owner of an AT&T v35 I can tell you it will work nicely on the Verizon network including VoLTE and VoWIFI. You do have to jump through a few hurdles. You will need a SIM activated on the Verizon network. That may mean buying a new phone from Verizon. You also need to SIM unlock the v35 by buying a code from a site like codes2unlock.com. You may also need to cross flash to the NA rom. These things should be done in that order, and there is no going back to an AT&T rom afterwards.
ChazzMatt said:
Even on phones that have CDMA, like the LG V30 US998, Verizon still wants you to buy their branded phones -- because end of this year when CDMA goes away, those phone still won't have VoLTE. So in a few months those phones won't be able to make phone calls. I have two relatives with LG V30/V30+ US998 on Verizon. Don't ask how, there are ways. But even of 2020 they will need new phones when Verizon kills CDMA and they can't get VoLTE on non-Verizon phones.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Chazz, can you clarify this? I have a US998 v30s running on Verizon with VoLTE. It was my understanding that it will not be affected by shutdown of cdma by Verizon. I like the phone and want to continue using it.
cmrntnnr said:
As an owner of an AT&T v35 I can tell you it will work nicely on the Verizon network including VoLTE and VoWIFI. You do have to jump through a few hurdles. You will need a SIM activated on the Verizon network. That may mean buying a new phone from Verizon.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
My brother-in-law found Verizon store rep willing to break the rules for he and my sister's USS98 V30+ (converted from Sprint LS998). They switched from AT&T to Verizon.
This guy said "Verizon wants you to buy their phones, of course. They'll tell you this phone (US998) won't work, but it will." He activated two SIM cards and put them in their US998.
He said "If you have any issues, ONLY see me here at this store. Don't talk to any other reps about this." Wink, wink, nudge, nudge. (Monty Python reference.)
My brother-in-law and sister don't have V35 on Verizon, but you probably have VoLTE because you enabled VoLTE on another phone (Droid Turbo)? I don't know if they have Verizon VoLTE on US998 V30+, but I assumed they didn't...
cmrntnnr said:
Chazz, can you clarify this? I have a US998 v30s running on Verizon with VoLTE. It was my understanding that it will not be affected by shutdown of cdma by Verizon. I like the phone and want to continue using it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If you have Verizon VoLTE now, then nothing will change.
I assumed my brother-in-law and sister don't have VoLTE and are temporarily dropping to CDMA for phone calls. But I have no way of easily checking. Neither would know what "VoLTE" is nor "CDMA".
I merely told them their US998 phones were carrier unlocked and would work on Verizon -- if they got already-activated SIM cards. My brother-in-law used his considerable sales skills and found a helpful rep.
thanks a ton @chazz for the clarification. i have already move to AMZ 9.0 which looked to be pure android. was not able to get NAO due to error(sha256 auth error). AMZ was the only one that worked from multiple different firmwares(lgfirmware /sammobile) from us region and it works awesome.
For the verizon sim card, can i buy flip phone or a throw away verizon smart phone with the activated sim card and use it with the v35. similarly can you use the approach for sprint?
Again your response is much appreciated.
You should consider features you want to have on your account when buying the phone from Verizon. Some can be toggled through the the settings menu on the v35 like Advanced Calling for VoLTE, but others can't like visual voice mail. Ask to have them activated when you buy the phone. Keep that Verizon phone, you may have to get help in the future from Verizon and it will come in handy! They won't be impressed with the v35.
I don't have proof of it and am not in a position to test, but I suspect you cannot activate a Sprint sim on a Sprint phone and then move to the v35. My understanding from reading about the open market ULM and AT&T branded v35 is that Sprint maintains an IMEI whitelist. Sprint only allows Sprint branded phones on their network. This is why the ULM model is preferred for Google FI.
Please post what you learn so others can benefit.
nerd2k said:
thanks a ton @chazz for the clarification. i have already move to AMZ 9.0 which looked to be pure android. was not able to get NAO due to error(sha256 auth error). AMZ was the only one that worked from multiple different firmwares(lgfirmware /sammobile) from us region and it works awesome.
For the verizon sim card, can i buy flip phone or a throw away verizon smart phone with the activated sim card and use it with the v35. similarly can you use the approach for sprint?
Again your response is much appreciated.
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Click to collapse

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