Needing advice and information on region lock - Galaxy S6 Edge+ Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting

Greetings,
I've browsed a lot of threads on this particular subforum and didn't find the answer to my question, apologies in advance if by some chance I missed the straightforward answer to my situation. So, two weeks ago I was in Vienna and decided to buy a Samsung Galaxy S6 Edge+, naturally, the phone is region locked to EU sim cards only. The people selling it to me provided a sim card of their own brand (Ge-Org) in order to do the whole five minutes call thing; thing is, once I activated it (while still in Austria) I got a ton of messages in german that I didn't understand so I started googling about whether it was possible to unlock it or not and found several hits. Being that I was on vacation I just put the issue on the backburner and moved on with my Life...
...which turns out it might not have been such a good idea because now I've learned that carrier lock is far from being the same thing as a region lock. So, short story: I'm back in my country with a region locked phone and I wonder what my options are. I still have the sim card provided by the seller but no idea if that works or not; none of the threads I checked ever clarified whether you can still do the calls from abroad the base country of the phone or not. Like I said, lots of information on what my options are would be most appreciated as I won't be going to Europe for another year and I so want to use this phone long before that~.

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Has anyone unlocked their g1 running on cyanogen?

Well, the story goes like this:
Bought a g1 and the second logical step was to put in cyanogen. After a while I thought that an unlocked phone would be even better. Went online and purchased the unlock code and tried to use it while running cyanogen. Did not work. Flashed to rc29, tried again, did not work. Then I went to another unlock provider and this guy, gave me the same code as the first, based on my IMEI ( I don't have a fake IMEI), he tried it as well and did not work. Then he searched for different version of the code based on the IMEI for different htc products ( it seems that they have some accounts with htc and for IMEI they receive the unlock code). We also tried it with a goldcard which only made my g1 scream that I don't have a simcard inside.
Bottom line, did cyanogen mood do something to the unlock procedure ( hard locked the phone on tmobile - on tmobile the phone works fine) ? Or I just happened to have a weird phone, Thank you.
Btw, my unlock code is 92179512. Feel free to try it. It would be funny as hell if it were to unlock someone elses phone, and if it does, let me know as well.
I unlocked my phone on a MUCH older version of CM, so I wouldnt be able to tell you if anything has changed to effect the process. However, if you're a TMO customer, you do know that after 90 days they will GIVE you the unlock code for free, right?
I also have unlocked it on Cyanogen mod, but I believe I was on 4.2.7.1 at the time.... not that long ago really.... but T-Mobile does indeed give away the unlock code for free, and it worked flawlessly.
Neither the ROM, SPL or radio can effect the simlock. It's not Cy's ROM that's causing the problem...
What do you mean 'it doesn't work'? Does the phone reject the code?
Thank you for the reply. Well the problem is that I don't have a contract with Tmobile since I don't have the money for it. I bought it off from someone and used Tmobile prepaid sim card, which works fine. And, because of that, Tmobile won't provide me with an unlock code .
Regarding the code, when I type in the code it says network unlock unsuccessful, so I can't do much about it. I'm trying to update to the latest stock donut and see what happens.
Ah that sucks :-( I really can't of any options for you, since any codes generated will always be the same...
nope -
cmcx_linux said:
Thank you for the reply. Well the problem is that I don't have a contract with Tmobile since I don't have the money for it. I bought it off from someone and used Tmobile prepaid sim card, which works fine. And, because of that, Tmobile won't provide me with an unlock code .
Regarding the code, when I type in the code it says network unlock unsuccessful, so I can't do much about it. I'm trying to update to the latest stock donut and see what happens.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
notice in the replies above, that cyanogen nor spl, nor anything software related can change your unlock status.
you already have an unlock code, and since you've had it generated from two different sources, i believe that code is correct for THAT IMEI number. that being said, did you copy the imei number from the sticker on the inside, or from what the phone shows in "PHONE INFO" ? I'd make sure they both match.
i also have a phone that is flacky about SIMs. haven't found an explanation yet, I think some of the boards have bad solder joints, or there is another hardware problem that causes similar errors. no proof yet.
try a friends Tmo sim card, and if his is recognized, and allows data connection, you'll know it's your phone that is locked, and that all the hardware is working. i'll bet you entered the wrong code because the sticker inside was wrong, or you fat fingered it. just a guess.
good luck, please update the thread when/if you find a definite answer.
I would bet the IMEI on the sticker and on the board are different... where did you buy said phone and for how much? It could very well be a refurb, which will have bits and pieces from several different phones, and thus could have the SIM locked guts for phone 666 and the case from phone 888 type thing.
Yep, checked it 10 times the first time I bought the code online. The same imei in about this phone is on the sticker. After I saw it did not work, I went to a local unlock shop around my place and the guy there checked it again more than 6 times. So.. weird eh? And both guys got the same code from HTC based on that IMEI
Sounds like this may be a hardware error. If that is the unlock that is generated then it should just work. The unlock does not really pertain to the rom or anything else that people usually mod. Also, maybe ask that dude why he was giving up that phone, maybe there is really something wrong with it.
the only other thing left is get an turbo unlocker chip that sits between SIM and phone
pain in ass to install but I have done it with out cutting the SIM card
I am guessing someone had typed the code in incorectly .. they can be permiatly locked if wrong code has been entered
also just because it was another person does not mean their MEI source wasn't the same
I guess they worked out they work ,,, I payed $5 for mine .. now 4x the price
http://cgi.ebay.com.au/NEXT-SIM-TUR...wItemQQptZPDA_Accessories?hash=item4cec3cab8c
The unlock codes sources are all the same. I lost over 100$ trying to get unlock codes from them but 80% of them don't work (only the ones for htc phones). I use a turbo sim with my G1 and is really easy to install. just buy one and cut your sim where the CHIP from the turbo sim is located. It works flawlessly.
Im just throwing this out there to say that I was able to successfully unlock my g1 with CM 4.2.10.1
Other than that I would just be repeating what was already said if I was to give any advice.
Best of luck man.
If you live close to pasadena
cmcx_linux said:
Yep, checked it 10 times the first time I bought the code online. The same imei in about this phone is on the sticker. After I saw it did not work, I went to a local unlock shop around my place and the guy there checked it again more than 6 times. So.. weird eh? And both guys got the same code from HTC based on that IMEI
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You're welcome to try it with my sim card. But you're probably far far away.
tmo will give out unlock code
kusotare said:
I unlocked my phone on a MUCH older version of CM, so I wouldnt be able to tell you if anything has changed to effect the process. However, if you're a TMO customer, you do know that after 90 days they will GIVE you the unlock code for free, right?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Actually, they will give you an unlock code after 90 days of being a customer and every 90 after the last time you got an unlock code. They will give you an unlock code the same day you buy the phone if you meet those requirements.
Sorry if this is irrelevant to the rest of the thread, but assuming I unlock on JF 1.5 (yea I'm behind) to ATT, and wipe everything to install a HeroUI ROM of some sort, will the unlock still be in effect or will I need to unlock the phone again?
Thanks.
dshyang50 said:
Sorry if this is irrelevant to the rest of the thread, but assuming I unlock on JF 1.5 (yea I'm behind) to ATT, and wipe everything to install a HeroUI ROM of some sort, will the unlock still be in effect or will I need to unlock the phone again?
Thanks.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You'll be ok.
I actually like JUST did it on a coworkers(I admit, going from WiMo to Android is a learning curve, but its easy), he got his from craigslist, had JF 1.5 on it. He used it for like a week, complained about sluggishness (he did have like 20 apps constantly running) Anyway, after a few beers and lurking here (it was when I was deciding what HTC to get) we decided to go to CM (latest build). Everything went fine step by step.
I cannot vouch for your particular ROM but for CM it was fine.

GT-I9300 Not Registered on Network Problem Solved

Dear All,
I write to inform you that i finally solved my GT-I9300 'Not Registered on Network' problem. I decided to make this official announcement so as to assure others, most especially those who have tried almost all the tricks and steps found on this and other forum on the subject that all hope is not lost.
May be if i shed more lights on the problem which i encountered, and i suppose many other people, you will understand me very well. First, i did the upgrade through Samsung Kies and after the phone rebooted, it lost link to network. I called Samsung and chatted online with the Customer Service, i was asked to send the phone to South Africa where i bought it. I called South Africa and also chatted but they could not understand let alone solve the problem. I headed to XDA and other forum to find solution, I tried all versions of ARIZA Patch, none work. I tried all modified ROM, yet no solution. At one point, the problem became complex. The phone moved from not registering on network to 'Factory Mode'. I followed many other steps, but could not get past restoring it back to User mode. I gave up after a month and bought another phone.
My son shocked me last Friday when he said that it will be his first time of seeing me accepting that some problems cannot be solved. I mused over it and told myself that i will rather destroyed the phone totally than giving him the impression that i cannot solve the problem.
I got out my two computers - Mac and PC and reformatted them all. Installed ODIN and downloaded a 4.3 Stock ROM. I then began searching everywhere for any clue as to what went wrong with the phone. My research is simple; the PHONE could not register simply because the IMEI and Serial Number were wrong. My IMEI and S/N moved from 0000 to unknown. After reinstalling through KIES, it came back from unknown to another wrong numbers.
I finally decided to go inside the phone by activating everything on ODIN and see if i can get the wrong EFS on the phone wiped away and left empty. I repartitioned, wipe EFS, etc. and the only thing the phone did was to move from unknown to another incorrect IMEI and Serial.
Finally, i read on a post that the problem is simply software, so i began searching if it is possible to repartitioned the phone completely and turn it into a toy. I recalled that about ten years ago, i successfully installed Nokia OS on Blackberry through a poorly concerted code designed by a friend. In so far i still have the code, I thought that i could do same with my GT-I9300. It won't work, sadly. But in the process of doing so, i realized that using SRS, i can do so comfortably. With this 20 USD software, i gained control of the internal organs of my phone and started out by wiping out the EFS first and with my EFS Backup, i re-wrote it back on the phone. That done, i expected the phone to work, but sadly it refused to register on network.
Not ready to give up, i went further to see what other options are available to me. I realized that i can actually re-wrote my IMEI and Serial number back to the phone. I tried it and after about an hour and almost three attempt, T-MOBILE surfaced on my phone and the GT-I9300 came back to life.
Altogether, i spent two unbroken days reading and reading and applying one step after another, one procedure after another till i finally got the phone back.
SRS can not only do this, but can take back your contract and locked phone from those shylock and give you your phone. It go inside your phone and show you all the codes that locked you to a particular network, etc. It can remove those useless codes that make your phone patented to a particular country and give you an international version. It can also turn your international version to a local one, if you so desire.
I do not know who designed this software, i however testify to its immense ability to safe you from Samsung's irresponsibility.
I am open to helping others and answering questions on GT-I9300.
I have since been enjoying my phone.
what's the short version of the story?
tmzbeme said:
what's the short version of the story?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Going by the last lines, it seems this is the tl;dr version
"SRS can not only do this, but can take back your contract and locked phone from those shylock and give you your phone. It go inside your phone and show you all the codes that locked you to a particular network, etc. It can remove those useless codes that make your phone patented to a particular country and give you an international version. It can also turn your international version to a local one, if you so desire."
Hi! As i understood i need to get SRS and after?
where is the SRS software ? can you post a link ?

Note 4 locked by Rent-A-Center

I just bought a Note 4 from a pawn shop. I checked the IMEI with as many online free checking services that I could find. After I connected it to wifi, I started getting these pop ups saying that the phone is owned by Rent-A-Center and it needed an unlock code. I did a little searching and I guess this is a fairly new thing as of a few months ago. I was able to return it to the pawn shop and cancel the transaction, so I was lucky, but other people who have had their phones for months are all of a sudden getting these messages and being left with no real recourse.
I know this is part of the risk when buying a used phone, but I wanted to see if anyone knows a work around for this? I saw some people were able to install CM and then had no more problems. Someone else was talking about deleting certain partitions that don't get wiped during a factory reset. So does anyone have some good info on this problem??? And just a warning to anyone buying a used phone, you might want to call Rent-A-Center and ask them if they have anything to do with the IMEI number in question. If they are going to lock out a phone, they should find a way to be listed on the free checking services.
Here is a good thread with some info
Found this thread here on XDA
http://forum.xda-developers.com/android/help/rent-center-locked-galaxy-s5-t3070877
It has some good info about various ways to get around the problem. I just wonder if RAC will eventually blacklist these phones instead of just having a software lock.

Help please! SiM card not working

Good morning, my phone card suddenly stopped working on the network a few months ago. I believe I may have disabled some things here and there the night prior, I can't remember. I was moving from Germany to the U.S. the next day, so I had alot on my mind. This is the European variant (SM-G935F). I have tried 3 different SIM cards, one from German T-Mobile and two from Verizon in the U.S. to no avail. I have posted screenshots showing what it says I have for signal. Every once in a while it pops up with a message saying SIM card refreshing or something like that. I have tried putting a piece of paper by the SIM card because possibly the contacts were lose and I also factory reset my phone but nothing works. To send it back to Germany to have them fix it is very expensive and also I don't want to try and interpret everything. I have done that for the last 3 years and would probably end up signing a lease for a car with my limited German language skills. Any thoughts? The phone is perfect other than this issue and I am about to put it on Ebay if I can't get it squared away.
Thanks in advance for any thoughts!
Yandawg
did you try to root it and put the bootloader and firmware of t mobile or verizon?
I haven't tried that because I wanted to keep it unroofed if I needed to sell it on eBay. I might try that as a last step before I sell it though
try to flash your phone with smartswitch or odin with original rom if you are skilled, reset seems cannot recover all your settings.

Help with a very odd issue

Hey there, first time poster , long time user of this site. I started using this site about four years ago when I needed help modifying a HTC one V, and from there on out I haven't been able to stop modding and rooting. This site has been so helpful, you have no idea
To date I haven't had many issues with the unlocking of boot loaders and rooting, installing roms and also network unlocking.....Until today.
I am currently trying to network unlock a Samsung s5 neo. I did indeed buy the unlock code from Koodo (the original service provider). However (heres where its going to get weird), no matter how many times I try putting the darn code in, it plain well just refuses to take it. I can sit here all day and nadda a thing will happen.. IN FACT I thought after 10 times it would hard lock its self, resulting in me having to buy a unfreeze code. But nupe.
I'v used 3 different sim cards to try to get this phone unlocked but nothing, Bell Mobility from my LG G5 phone, A PC mobile sim and a Eastlink sim (By the way I'm from Canada)
I tried flashing (odin) with koodo OEM roms, from the first one which i think was 5.1 up to 6.** not sure where it left off. Even went as far as flashing with Telus rom, as koodo is the sister of Telus, and still it sits there pretty much laughing at me.
Factory reset from both with in the OS and the recovery menu, used every code for the phone dialer and half refuse to work. Installed shortcut master (Yes I'm rooted) and keeps saying locked. Also been trying to sim unlock both unrooted and rooted.
I'm completely mind blowen, i even said what the heck and bought a code off line for kicks and sure enough as soon as it showed up in my inbox, same EXACT code Koodo gave me. So we know the code is right.
Any help would be great as I'm at a complete lost. this is the first phone iv had , i'v ever had this much troubles unlocking. OH and if it helps "KNOX" is disabled
P.S I have no idea if i posted this in the right forum , sorry if i didn't.
Thanks

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