Hopefully this thread may help a lot of others out there and save all some time. Here in Japan the carrier staff are notoriously useless when it comes to technical help. Even the technical staff.
So bought a new unlocked Nexus 5 from EMobile Japan with a 4G-S sim piggy-backing the Softbank network. Staff stated the sim should work in any unlocked phone (now stating he said it would not lock, but says it is not IMEI specific). Anyway here's the deal when using the sim in a Docomo unlocked Samsung Note 3
* Voice calls okay
* DATA does not work.
* Have tried many different APNS including those below, but no joy.
* The Nexus 5 itself can use any sim.
Can anyone shed any light on the above? Have tried to speak to EMobile technical support but they were no help. Here are some links in Japanese on the subject.
http://decoy284.net/2013/12/22/em01l-sim-not-use-other-device/
http://detail.chiebukuro.yahoo.co.jp/qa/question_detail/q13118062853
http://apostrophea.com/2013/11/nexus5106shsim.php
Japanese APN list: http://b00111.blogspot.jp/2011/07/simapnsimsimsim.html
Also seen some talk about "The USIM-specific ID/pass". Does anyone know of this?
duttyskank said:
Hopefully this thread may help a lot of others out there and save all some time. Here in Japan the carrier staff are notoriously useless when it comes to technical help. Even the technical staff.
So bought a new unlocked Nexus 5 from EMobile Japan with a 4G-S sim piggy-backing the Softbank network. Staff stated the sim should work in any unlocked phone (now stating he said it would not lock, but says it is not IMEI specific). Anyway here's the deal when using the sim in a Docomo unlocked Samsung Note 3
* Voice calls okay
* DATA does not work.
* Have tried many different APNS including those below, but no joy.
* The Nexus 5 itself can use any sim.
Can anyone shed any light on the above? Have tried to speak to EMobile technical support but they were no help. Here are some links in Japanese on the subject.
http://decoy284.net/2013/12/22/em01l-sim-not-use-other-device/
http://detail.chiebukuro.yahoo.co.jp/qa/question_detail/q13118062853
http://apostrophea.com/2013/11/nexus5106shsim.php
Japanese APN list: http://b00111.blogspot.jp/2011/07/simapnsimsimsim.html
Also seen some talk about "The USIM-specific ID/pass". Does anyone know of this?
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Click to collapse
any updates on this??
I have some questions:
- Is the Docomo Phone unlocked?
- Did you try the Emobile Sim on another International LTE phone (other than iPhone)?
Hi fake guy. No positive updates. Just some clarification. EMobile Japan uses a type of device filtering (like IMEI filtering) that allows their SIM only to work in devices with certain spec. I.e. Nexus 5 and their Arrows phone. This means you CANNOT get data services in an UNLOCKED phone like my unlocked Docomo Note 3 or my international HTC SV LTE.
I was told that Emobile tech have an engineering code that can remove this, but of course this would never be publicised.
Why they choose to do this when their target users are business people, early adopters and foreigners who want flexibility, and the fact they are losing the tiny market share they.
Sent from my Nexus 5 using Tapatalk
Emobile 4G-S locked
same here - no ability to connect to data network using emobile 4G-S sim into simfree Xperia Z2....Anyone has an idea as to what is the filter/lock used by Emobile (phone model type etc...) or found a way around it ?
eMobile phone SIMs
terracielo said:
same here - no ability to connect to data network using emobile 4G-S sim into simfree Xperia Z2....Anyone has an idea as to what is the filter/lock used by Emobile (phone model type etc...) or found a way around it ?
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Click to collapse
I don't have a huge amount of experience trying to use eMobile phone SIM cards for data, but I can tell you that SIM cards sold for an eMobile feature flip phone work in the Sony Mini Smart Phone that eMobile was selling just fine.
Also, I took a data only SIM for a GL06P and put it in a NEC Aterm router and it works just fine.
In my experience they don'T filter by phone IMEI or anything like that, it's just that they use band 9, which isn't supported by a lot of hardware. For example, I have an unlocked DoCoMo Xperia Z1 and it works with other SIM cards fine, but it doesn't work with eMobile just because of the frequency support.
Thanks Shiruba. That may be another possibility, but I visited my EMobile, sorry Y!Mobile (rolling my eyes ) shop last week, and they said a customer reported success in getting data with the Nexus 5 sim in different handsets. Coincidence as I just had a feeling to check about that time , and sure enough the Japanese blog had updated with this info. They report intermittent success.
http://decoy284.net/2013/12/22/em01l-sim-not-use-other-device/
http://decoy284.net/2014/08/11/nexus-5-em01l-sim-use-other-device/
If anyone gets success, please report here for others.
Sent from my Nexus 5 using Tapatalk
@terracielo You want to check again. Seems like the links above have it working on Xperia Z Ultra.
Sent from my Nexus 5 using Tapatalk
UPDATE
Checked my sim in HTC one SV. Got 4G. However, no luck in my Samsung Docomo S4 unlocked.
Hi, I just wondering if this thread still active.
Have you @duttyskank try the apn setting from y!mobile faq:
faq.ymobile.jp/faq/view/300348
let me know if its working.
*sorry i just joined, cant make the link
Hi, sold my nexus 5 so my experience stops with above post. When I leave Japan will be happy to return to mobile freedom. None of this nonsense.
Related
Okay, call me a newb or whatever, but I cannot find this information. I was with T-Mobile using my MDA, and everything worked fine. Now, I have moved to Uijeongbu, Korea and I can't seem to locate a place that sells SIM cards for my MDA. All the retailers i have contacted sell phones that do not use SIM cards (possibly CDMA?) I saw a link somewhere (possibly on this site) that had a list of worldwide carriers and a map of their service types. Can anyone recommend a carrier in Korea where I can get service and a SIM for my MDA? Thanks!
snootch said:
Okay, call me a newb or whatever, but I cannot find this information. I was with T-Mobile using my MDA, and everything worked fine. Now, I have moved to Uijeongbu, Korea and I can't seem to locate a place that sells SIM cards for my MDA. All the retailers i have contacted sell phones that do not use SIM cards (possibly CDMA?) I saw a link somewhere (possibly on this site) that had a list of worldwide carriers and a map of their service types. Can anyone recommend a carrier in Korea where I can get service and a SIM for my MDA? Thanks!
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Click to collapse
I don't believe that you will find one.
This is because the Koreans use CDMA and not GSM/GPRS - completely incompatible systems.
My Korean colleagues are somewhat jealous of my XDA Mini S because there is nothing similar available in Korea or that works on their CDMA network, although there are a few basic PDA phones appearing on the market.
What you can do (and it does not help you) is rent a phone at Incheon Airport that accepts the GSM SIM card and allows you to keep you mobile phone number on a Korean CDMA phone.
well, what u could do is purchase a CDMA phone (yes i know thats not what ur asking) but just match the frequencys up.. maybe some sprint or alltel phones will work.. UT starcom's xv6700 maybe.. its the cloest thing to a mda in CDMA format i do believe.
or.. u could do as parbrook said :| those damn koreans!
oh wait.. verizon sells a world phone that accepts GSM/CDMA.. maybe look into that.
That is what I thought after some more research. That sucks. The whole point of the MDA/Wizard is to converge devices. Dammit. Now i'll have to carry two phones.
I've been hunting for an answer to this semi-simple question everywhere, and have found about 4 answers (all different ones - somehow :silly: ) So I'll try asking here.... I'm going to study abroad in Spain this semester, and I just bought a Samsung Galaxy S4 from Verizon (it was an upgrade contract, not full price). When I asked the sales rep he said that the SIM card would have to be unlocked. However, when I talked to Verizon "technical support" they said, no, they're already unlocked and ready for international use. What I've seen in other forums is that people say it seemingly takes SIM cards but won't pick the network up. Does anybody here have experience with the Verizon S4 being used internationally? Can it be done? Do I need to unlock it? Thanks for any insights!
BelowAverage355 said:
I've been hunting for an answer to this semi-simple question everywhere, and have found about 4 answers (all different ones - somehow :silly: ) So I'll try asking here.... I'm going to study abroad in Spain this semester, and I just bought a Samsung Galaxy S4 from Verizon (it was an upgrade contract, not full price). When I asked the sales rep he said that the SIM card would have to be unlocked. However, when I talked to Verizon "technical support" they said, no, they're already unlocked and ready for international use. What I've seen in other forums is that people say it seemingly takes SIM cards but won't pick the network up. Does anybody here have experience with the Verizon S4 being used internationally? Can it be done? Do I need to unlock it? Thanks for any insights!
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Click to collapse
As a Verizon phone uses a CDMA signal, I don't think it is going to work anywhere in Europe where they use GSM signals. Sorry.
bsam55 said:
As a Verizon phone uses a CDMA signal, I don't think it is going to work anywhere in Europe where they use GSM signals. Sorry.
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Click to collapse
The S4 is equipped with a GSM radio, I checked on that much at least.
Yes
I went ahead and just bit the bullet and bought a SIM card here, and good news: it works :good:
HOWEVER, I believe the problem that others who tried to use it globally were having is that it defaults to Global mode, which doesn't really seem to work (No clue what Global mode is, but I got a signal with no data connection). For anyone who wants to use it internationally, you will have to manually switch to GSM/UMTS by going to Settings>Connections>More networks>Mobile networks>Network mode>GSM/UMTS
Galaxy Note 3
Carrier - US Cellular (New England-USA)
Model Number: SM-N900R4
Android Version 4.3
Hardware Version: N900R4.05
IMEI: 9900.......
I want to unlock this device as i've purchased it and paid it outright. i'm not obligated under any service contracts with US Cellular but nobody anywhere around here has any clue how to unlock. I want to unlock it to use on my Verizon Wireless Account with my current SIM Card. I cant seem to get anywhere with anyone on how to do this with US Cellular. US Cellular has indicated that regardless of what I do - it'll never work on Verizon Wireless.....seems like B.S. to me as they are both CDMA... THOUGHTS?......
My apologies, i'm new to this.
Thanks, Tony.
First things first pal, remove that IMEI quick time, never ever share it!
Sent from my SM-N9005 using XDA Premium 4 mobile app
I'm facing the same problem, people don't really like to hassle with hardware that they know little about, for now atleast.
Some sites reefer to the n900r4 from us cellular to be the same model as the note 3 sprint is selling, and some sites also say it still has a gsm 2G antenna built in, though disabled by software ? Could use some help, and get some friends on the issue of sorting out the specific data about the device.
flexxfortin said:
...
US Cellular has indicated that regardless of what I do - it'll never work on Verizon Wireless.....seems like B.S. to me as they are both CDMA... THOUGHTS?......
...
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Click to collapse
I think the LTE bands are different but I don't know about 3G or plain GSM, you will need to research that yourself.
For unlocking the phone the safest way would be an unlock code, if US Cellular does not want to provide one (you can tell them that you travel abroad and you want to use a foreign SIM for a month) or if they ask too much then search around and see which unlocking service supports US Cellular.
Hi guys. I have a Galaxy Grand 2 (G7109), China Telecom model.
It has two SIM card slot, one for CDMA(Slot 1) and the other for GSM(Slot 2) network.
Slot 2 is originally unlocked. But Slot 1 is locked for China Telecom.
Are there any ways to unlock Slot 1 so that I can use other SIM cards for 3G connection or for use abroad?
My phone is rooted. Thanks in advance!
takapitan said:
Hi guys. I have a Galaxy Grand 2 (G7109), China Telecom model.
It has two SIM card slot, one for CDMA(Slot 1) and the other for GSM(Slot 2) network.
Slot 2 is originally unlocked. But Slot 1 is locked for China Telecom.
Are there any ways to unlock Slot 1 so that I can use other SIM cards for 3G connection or for use abroad?
My phone is rooted. Thanks in advance!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
First, thanks for using proper English.
Your operator will unlock the SIM slot if you pay a contract termination fee.
Tried with American operators.
WaseemAlkurdi said:
First, thanks for using proper English.
Your operator will unlock the SIM slot if you pay a contract termination fee.
Tried with American operators.
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Click to collapse
Thank you for your kind reply and the useful info. I will go to the carrier shop and ask if they do the same in my country.
Would there still be other ways to unlock it? I am not going to terminate my contract for the moment but I have a plan to go to another country for a few weeks.
takapitan said:
Thank you for your kind reply and the useful info. I will go to the carrier shop and ask if they do the same in my country.
Would there still be other ways to unlock it? I am not going to terminate my contract for the moment but I have a plan to go to another country for a few weeks.
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Click to collapse
You still have to pay some fee if you purchased the device ON CONTRACT WITH YOUR PHONE LINE (SIM CARD).
Your operator knows better.
WaseemAlkurdi said:
You still have to pay some fee if you purchased the device ON CONTRACT WITH YOUR PHONE LINE (SIM CARD).
Your operator knows better.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I went to the China Telecom shop a few days ago and asked the staff if they can unlock the phone. He said, "The phone is not locked. Some people from other countries told me that they were able to use the phone in their country. Just try using it." So I am here in Japan and tried to use it. But unfortunately it IS locked and Japanese SIM doesn't work. Any solution??
takapitan said:
I went to the China Telecom shop a few days ago and asked the staff if they can unlock the phone. He said, "The phone is not locked. Some people from other countries told me that they were able to use the phone in their country. Just try using it." So I am here in Japan and tried to use it. But unfortunately it IS locked and Japanese SIM doesn't work. Any solution??
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It may be a compatible band range issue.
Operators in Asian countries operate very strange bands (especially China, for political reasons, and Korea).
As I have heard, you cannot travel and bring a smartphone from outside China as the airport cops will confiscate it AND because it won't work.
Operators are the worst liars ever. Rogers, a Canadian operator, repeatedly told me that its Nexus 5 was locked. They lied. Again. And again. Over different shops. But a quick Google search revealed that North American Nexus devices are ALL unlocked. Don't trust your operator.
I'm quite sure it is the bandwidth. Ask your (destination) operator if it operates your device's bands. It also happened with me. Almost tricked by an operator called Vidèotron into buying a SIM card, but it turned out that they don't operate the bands my dad's Note II (Saudi Arabian unit). Checked with other operators and, luckily, some did operate them. Just try different operators.
WaseemAlkurdi said:
It may be a compatible band range issue.
Operators in Asian countries operate very strange bands (especially China, for political reasons, and Korea).
As I have heard, you cannot travel and bring a smartphone from outside China as the airport cops will confiscate it AND because it won't work.
Operators are the worst liars ever. Rogers, a Canadian operator, repeatedly told me that its Nexus 5 was locked. They lied. Again. And again. Over different shops. But a quick Google search revealed that North American Nexus devices are ALL unlocked. Don't trust your operator.
I'm quite sure it is the bandwidth. Ask your (destination) operator if it operates your device's bands. It also happened with me. Almost tricked by an operator called Vidèotron into buying a SIM card, but it turned out that they don't operate the bands my dad's Note II (Saudi Arabian unit). Checked with other operators and, luckily, some did operate them. Just try different operators.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thank you for the message. Yes, I also think it is a problem of bandwidth. I guess China Telecom version of Galaxy Grand 2 doesn't work with UMITS 2100MHz, which is a common bandwidth in Japan. I was just able to use it in China, Macau & Hong Kong. It's a good device but useless in Japan...
I’m coming from a Nexus 5 and trying to figure out which model of Note 4 to get. I've read a lot on this and am still finding it all very confusing with so many Note 4 models and rumors of region/continent-locking.
I'm in Canada and need something penta-band 3G support and support for LTE on at least Bell in Canada. I regularly use a T-Mobile SIM in the US and other SIMs in Asia-Pacific and Europe when I travel. I have read that the Note 4 models are region-locked by continent.
Fortunately it does look like CanadaGSM is selling a bunch of different unlocked models including the W8 and the T. From their site it seems that the W8 model would give me the most frequency support but isn't this the model that Bell, Rogers, and other Canadian carriers are selling? If that's the case, why do the sites of those carriers list fewer bands (e.g. no 1700 support except from Wind).
Is it true that the Note 4 is continent-locked? For example if I get a W8 can I use it with SIMs in Asia-Pacific and Europe when I travel as I do with my Nexus 5?
If I'm going to spend $800 on an unlocked Note 4 it had be truly unlocked.
Thanks in advance for any helpful answers.
I think the N910W8 is the model for you. http://pdadb.net/index.php?m=specs&id=6798&c=samsung_sm-n910w8_galaxy_note_4_lte-a_samsung_muscat
The carriers not listing 1700 support probably don't use 1700 to begin with. The W8 definitely supports 1700.
Not entirely sure about the continent locking issue. I've heard about it but I think it only applies to carrier models.
910u.
So in theory if I get a W8 and unlock it I should be fine. That would actually be helpful as I could get it on contract from Bell a lot cheaper.
2xbass said:
Is it true that the Note 4 is continent-locked? For example if I get a W8 can I use it with SIMs in Asia-Pacific and Europe when I travel as I do with my Nexus 5?
If I'm going to spend $800 on an unlocked Note 4 it had be truly unlocked.
Thanks in advance for any helpful answers.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes, your Note 4 is region locked.
BUT the lock works this way: you buy your phone in the US and it's locked to any other SIM other than a US one. Once you insert a US sim into it and make a 5-minute call, it will be unlocked for all SIM cards and you can use it anywhere in the world.
What a lot of people don't know -and it's not their fault, so much misinformation on the internet- is that the lock is not supposed to prohibit users from using their phones while travelling or anything crazy like that. It's Samsung's attempt against grey imports. So that, for example, a device meant to be sold in Europe would not be sold in the US and vice versa. Once you get your phone and activate it with a SIM from your region, you can freely use it anywhere you go.
Thanks for the clarification.
iridaki said:
Yes, your Note 4 is region locked.
BUT the lock works this way: you buy your phone in the US and it's locked to any other SIM other than a US one. Once you insert a US sim into it and make a 5-minute call, it will be unlocked for all SIM cards and you can use it anywhere in the world.
What a lot of people don't know -and it's not their fault, so much misinformation on the internet- is that the lock is not supposed to prohibit users from using their phones while travelling or anything crazy like that. It's Samsung's attempt against grey imports. So that, for example, a device meant to be sold in Europe would not be sold in the US and vice versa. Once you get your phone and activate it with a SIM from your region, you can freely use it anywhere you go.
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Click to collapse
Just want to confirm that this does all work as expected. I got a Note from Bell yesterday and it's an SM-910W8. As expected it would not take a SIM from another carrier. I made a call on it and then unlocked it with a code from cellunlocker.net and after that it was able to take a SIM from Vodafone in Australia as well as one from T-Mobile.
Loving this phone so far!