Database Users

[Q/SOLVED/CLOSED] Which UK networks will a sim-free phone be able to use??

Currently on orange with a Hero- if I buy a sim-free unlocked Desire Z, will that work with my sim card? I'm planning to switch to 3 when my contract is up as well.
I hear a lot about phones being restricted to EDGE when used on an incompatible network, and hoped someone could fill me in.

I'd be interested to know too, ready for when my new Desire-Z arrives. Fingers crossed for next week, but not holding my breath just yet.
I'm on T-Mobile UK, so any specific settings that I'll need to make to get myself up and running as quickly as possible would be appreciated.
Andre

I've never heard of this being an issue here in the UK about certain carriers only getting Edge on their phones. This is more the case over in the states where the different carrier use different frequencies.
The carriers here all use the same so an unlocked and unbranded phone can be used on any carrier. If anything you find maybe the speeds are a bit slow then just go on your carriers website and you can find the settings to use.

just buy it from the car one of the high street phone retailers and you will get it unlocked as all the phones there they sell are unlocked I believe

Yes. An Unlocked DesireZ will work with all valid UK Operator SIMs

[Q] CDMA carriers in Spain?

Hey XDA, just got a quick question. Im heading to Spain on a trip tomorrow and I want to take my phone with me. Im on Verizon right now (Galaxy Nexus) and was wondering if there were any CDMA carriers in Spain to connect to. Searched the net but havent found anything yet. Too lazy to call Verizon and thought you guys would be more helpful. If you know any carriers, lemme know and I'll look em up. I always thought spain was a GSM only country but I can always hope.
I sold my old global phones way back when so I dont have anything left to use hah...

There are no CDMA operators in europe (for general phone service).

Unfortunately, Europe is GSM only. Your Verizon Nexus wouldn't get any service there at all. You could only use it for wifi. Verizon would be able to loan you a "global" phone to use there if you want to keep your phone number. However, it wouldn't be as nice as your current phone, it'd probably either be a basic flip-phone or a BlackBerry at best.
Otherwise, you'd have to rent a phone there and get a local sim, but you'd get another phone number as well.

nerdydesi said:
Unfortunately, Europe is GSM only.
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Well technically there are CDMA providers in europe, but not that provides normal cellphone service (forexample ice.net)

mshdk said:
Well technically there are CDMA providers in europe, but not that provides normal cellphone service (forexample ice.net)
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Well, thanks. I learned something new today. I did not know that.

[Q] How to Unlock G7109 CDMA SIM Slot

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!
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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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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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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.
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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??
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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.
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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...

[Q] Please help me figure out which model to get

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.
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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!

Will Korea version of V20 be usable outside Korea?

I plan for vacation in South Korea next month and I assume the device will be available there and I plan to buy it there.
But I heard issues that smartphone bought in South Korea cannot be used in other country. Is that true?
Sent from my LG-D802 using Tapatalk

simorangkir_dcs said:
But I heard issues that smartphone bought in South Korea cannot be used in other country. Is that true?
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I don't know about that, but here are some things to consider:
1) Make sure that it has all the bands for your other country carrier
2) At least in the USA, the V20 is expected to be available only through the carriers (E.g. T-Mobile, AT&T) and without a general unlocked version that works with all the supported carriers. That means that a Korean phone may not have specific software for USA such as VoLTE and VoWiFi.
I would recommend getting the V20 version from/for the carrier you plan to use it on unless you can verify all the other carrier's features are supported using the Korean version.

haris163 said:
I don't know about that, but here are some things to consider:
1) Make sure that it has all the bands for your other country carrier
2) At least in the USA, the V20 is expected to be available only through the carriers (E.g. T-Mobile, AT&T) and without a general unlocked version that works with all the supported carriers. That means that a Korean phone may not have specific software for USA such as VoLTE and VoWiFi.
I would recommend getting the V20 version from/for the carrier you plan to use it on unless you can verify all the other carrier's features are supported using the Korean version.
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B&H Photo/Video typically sells unlocked flagship phones that work with US GSM Networks (AT&T/T-Mobile & the MVNO's that operate on their networks).
https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/buy/smartphones/ci/24039/N/3955685938
I wouldn't rule out the possibility,unless you're using VZW or Sprint as your service provider.

all Korean phones are unlocked internationally, just locked region. if you buy kt you cant use it on sk or LG U+. i made sure when i bought the lg v20 because ill be in the Philippines for vacation. KT phones seem to always work with AT&T