I am buying an international version. I read a lot about being region locked. Most inhave found about it is using a EU sim for five minutes while in EU, rooting (which will be a tough option) and using chainfire to unlock, or paying to unlock it. I had email the place I am purchasing it from and they gave me a vauge, "it's unlocked and will work anywhere" response. Are these my only options or can someone shed some more light on the subject?
When I get it I will be checking on this http://www.androidwikihow.com/2014/08/how-to-unlock-galaxy-s5-from-region-lock-html/ trick that works on the s5
Related
Hey guys,
I'm just found a locked U.S. Note 3 here in Europe and wondering if there is a chance some carriers "hard-lock" their phones, so that I wont be able to unlock it through the guides here at xda-developers.
Quick Q - Quick A....?
P.S. the other guy is using it as a indoor tablet
cvlaros said:
Hey guys,
I'm just found a locked U.S. Note 3 here in Europe and wondering if there is a chance some carriers "hard-lock" their phones, so that I wont be able to unlock it through the guides here at xda-developers.
Quick Q - Quick A....?
P.S. the other guy is using it as a indoor tablet
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
There are no "Guides" here to unlock your the phone.
However there are many reputable online shops which
will unlock your phone, the prices vary a lot.
Good luck!
Misterjunky said:
There are no "Guides" here to unlock your the phone.
However there are many reputable online shops which
will unlock your phone, the prices vary a lot.
Good luck!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2475552
I found this before I post the question thats why I mentioned a "guide". Is it not?
Thank you!!
cvlaros said:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2475552
I found this before I post the question thats why I mentioned a "guide". Is it not?
Thank you!!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Take a look at this thread. http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2470551
If you meet the criteria of being on MI7, MJ1, MJ3 firmwares then that will get you a REGION UNLOCK.
A region unlock does not necessarily mean you have a SIM unlock, but if you have a SIM unlock you will automatically get region unlocked (experience).
They state that region locks are placed by black listing a bunch of numbers around the world if you're, let's say in US AT&T. Breaking the region lock will allow you to call using your phone in other countries. However the SIM lock blocks it on the SIM level, and only available to be unlocked through a website.
I bought my Note 3 from Canada, using it in HK at the moment. I used cellunlocker.net and they were quite fast, but it may not have your carrier so you'll have to search around yourself.
re: unlock
nicholaschum said:
Take a look at this thread. http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2470551
If you meet the criteria of being on MI7, MJ1, MJ3 firmwares then that will get you a REGION UNLOCK.
A region unlock does not necessarily mean you have a SIM unlock, but if you have a SIM unlock you will automatically get region unlocked (experience).
They state that region locks are placed by black listing a bunch of numbers around the world if you're, let's say in US AT&T. Breaking the region lock will allow you to call using your phone in other countries. However the SIM lock blocks it on the SIM level, and only available to be unlocked through a website.
I bought my Note 3 from Canada, using it in HK at the moment. I used cellunlocker.net and they were quite fast, but it may not have your carrier so you'll have to search around yourself.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I am beginning to think that half the people here in xda think that region unlock
and sim unlock are one and the same thing. LOL
For region unlock there is an excellent app which we can download here in xda:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2470551
Sim Unlock (carrier unlock) is a totally different thing.
I have been reading this RegionLock Away thread so much, I think I learned it by heart!!! So I believe I understand the difference between Region Lock and Sim Lock, and the fact that Region Lock can be disabled by rooting and launching this app and Sim Unlock is possible through a purchasable code.
My phone is a Spint N-9005P model. If I just RegionLock Away the device, will I be able to make call and connect to my GSM carrier here in Greece or will I still experience problems from the change of countries?
Thank you so much for your responses!! Looking forward to the next :cyclops:
cvlaros said:
I have been reading this RegionLock Away thread so much, I think I learned it by heart!!! So I believe I understand the difference between Region Lock and Sim Lock, and the fact that Region Lock can be disabled by rooting and launching this app and Sim Unlock is possible through a purchasable code.
My phone is a Spint N-9005P model. If I just RegionLock Away the device, will I be able to make call and connect to my GSM carrier here in Greece or will I still experience problems from the change of countries?
Thank you so much for your responses!! Looking forward to the next :cyclops:
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You got the SM-N900P not the N9005P (No such thing).
It's better to ask in the Sprint forums just to be sure, a lot of pros there can help.
http://forum.xda-developers.com/note-3-sprint/help
Helllo,
I have a question, in Italy we have all cellphone unlocked to use with every carrier (there are some locked phone but there are less), but in USA i have a huge problem to find unlocked S 5. So my question is, could i take a used Verison,AT&T etc, and after flash with some cooked ROM and using Italian SIM?
Thank you very much
Really?
fortunately for us nexus 5 users, you can use the same phone on every provider, besides verizon. unfortunately for you, yours is locked, and you asked your question in the wrong forums. as this is the nexus 5 forums
>.>
SilvanoP said:
could i take a used Verison,AT&T etc, and after flash with some cooked ROM and using Italian SIM?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
This has been asked and answered numerous times, so the ideal way to have found an answer - not mention a quicker one would have been to search the forum for existing threads.
What you are describing is called region locking and is used to discourage black market sales of handsets intended for one region to another. You can purchase region unlock codes or even circumvent the region lock blacklist yourself on a rooted phone. For that matter, (limited) reports seem to indicate that SIM unlock codes also remove the region lock.
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Thank you for the answer,
for me was really hard to search because i don't fully understand the differences, also at shop (best buy/at&T/Radioshack etc) they wasn't able to make a clear difference from no contract, unlocked and 1 month contract. I would be glad to buy S5 unlocked, but it seems impossible (i was in San Francisco and LA) only on web, where amazon (which i thought was more efficient in USA) want +40$ and not guaranteed 1 day shipping (in Italy they are way more quicker and cheaper).
Only to have a quick answer i post it here, because i had to go to see a used phone (which after revealed to be a rooted and flashed with bad IME (like 22222225) i was surprised that in USA people try to cheat you).
Just want a quick question OP, th Sprint s5 it's impossible to flash for UE for working correctly with European SIM Call&data?
So I am going to buy a probably used Galaxy S5, most likely from Swappa.com and I am going to activate it with Metro PCS, which is a GSM carrier, so I know I need a GSM carrier GS5, like from AT&T or T-Mobile. I did a bit of googling and I only ended up with more questions... Are the AT&T and T Mobile versions of the GS5 carrier locked? From what I read online, the ATT is locked and the Tmobile is unlocked, but I cant be certain from the couple forum posts I could only find. If the phone is already unlocked, I can just bring it into the Metro PCS store and activate it, right?
Now, what if it is locked? Can I carrier unlock it myself? How do I do that? Do I really need to buy an unlock code online? Seems kinda sketchy to buy these codes from random unlocking sites, but if I have to...? Also, can I have it unlocked by Metro PCS or T-Mobile or ATT?
Next part of my question is about the bootloader. Again, I did some research, but found only one relatively... relevant forum post. So I come here for direct help. I was chatting with AT&T tech support on their site asking about the bootloader.
Anyways, ATT told me the bootloader on their GS5's are encrypted locked. What about TMobiles version? Supposedly if they are encrypted, there is near to no chance of really getting that unlocked. Although, if they are not encrypted, would they be able to be unlocked? I have no idea about T-Mobile having a locked bootloader or not.
Lastly, has the bootlader been unlocked already for any GS5? I ask because ive seen some GS5's with custom ROM's and launchers and stuff, but last I heard, they were still locked.
You didn't do much "research" via Google or searching this forum or you'd already have the answers your are looking for. These questions have been asked and answered innumerable times.
Very few carriers other than ATT and Verizon lock bootloaders. TMB's bootloader is not locked. Generally speaking, TMB model has the most GSM bands and is arguably the most desirable model but you need to check whether those include the bands you need with the carrier you plan to use. Do that by checking and comparing the bands that both carriers use or simply find out what S5 model your carrier uses itself.
Most phones, incuding TMB, ATT, et al are SIM locked. But you can easily get a third party vendor to provide an unlock code for about $20 and thereafter use it on another carrier.
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fffft said:
You didn't do much "research" via Google or searching this forum or you'd already have the answers your are looking for. These questions have been asked and answered innumerable times.
Very few carriers other than ATT and Verizon lock bootloaders. TMB's bootloader is not locked. Generally speaking, TMB model has the most GSM bands and is arguably the most desirable model but you need to check whether those include the bands you need with the carrier you plan to use. Do that by checking and comparing the bands that both carriers use or simply find out what S5 model your carrier uses itself.
Most phones, incuding TMB, ATT, et al are SIM locked. But you can easily get a third party vendor to provide an unlock code for about $20 and thereafter use it on another carrier.
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Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Sorry, this is just totally new to me. Ive never had an android device other than a Nexus 7 I was gifted that i hardly use. Ive never even had a smartphone, so Ive had to find and absorb all this info about rooting, bootloaders, unlocking. Its been kinda mind boggling. So in the meantime after I posted this I pieced together this info.. I hope I am corrrect:
-AT&T and Verizon have been locking their bootloaders for a while and everyone hates them for that
-Any GSM carrier phone can be unlocked to work with any other GSM carrier
-CDMA cannot be unlocked at all
Kinda iffy on this one, not 100% sure... -Rooting is the same as unlocking the bootloader. If the bootloader is not encrypted, the phone can be rooted and custom ROM's/recoveries can be installed.
-Supposedly Verizon and AT&T GS5's can now be rooted... (cant link to outisde links, but just search "How to Root ANY Samsung Galaxy S5 Variant (Even AT&T & Verizon) in 20 Seconds Flat" and its the first link.
Based off this new info I have gathered... I want a T-Mobile GS5 (or AT&T if they can in fact be rooted and have custom ROM's installed on them). I will have to carrier unlock it myself unless it is already unlocked (someone on Swappa.com says they are selling a "factory unlocked" T-Mobile GS5 for $480, so I guess T-Mobile also sells carrier unlocked versions). I will unlock it using a code from theunlockingcompany website for $40 (seems like a steep price, but supposedly its the best site to use). I will then unlock it with the code which should take a couple minutes after I get the code, code taking up to 5 hours to arrive in my email. I will then have to take it in store to Metro PCS (hopefully I can do it online too if I order the SIM card online to ship to me for $10) to have it activated with them and get service. Then it should be activated, have my phone number, have cell and data service, paid/pay $40 a month. All is well in the world.
Is that info I discovered above true, what about the steps I should go through in the last section, above?
DannyDee15 said:
Is that info I discovered above true
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I wouldn't know where to begin. Yes, a TMB phone is ideal IMO for ATT because it covers all of the ATT frequencies and then some, plus has an unlocked bootloader. Most of the rest you have wrong.
Any GSM carrier phone can be unlocked to work with any other GSM carrier
No. You can unlock phones, but models will seldom work well on a different carriers frequency allotment.
CDMA cannot be unlocked at all
Not true.
Rooting is the same as unlocking the bootloader.
They are not the same thing.
If the bootloader is not encrypted, the phone can be rooted
Not correct. You can root phones with locked (encrypted) bootloaders.
Supposedly Verizon and AT&T GS5's can now be rooted
Almost any Android with a pre-June6th firmware build can be rooted.
so I guess T-Mobile also sells carrier unlocked versions
Nope.
I don't know how you managed to adopt so much misinformation. I can only assume that you haven't done much reading yet and /or made a lot of assumptions. You should read some of the sticky posts to get a better general understanding of how everything fits together. Then you can pose more informed questions.
It has nothing to do with being new to smartphones. You just thought that it was easier to ask than to do a proper search or puzzle out a few confusing points. It would be in your own best interests to do some reading, but whether you do or not is entirely up to you.
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Hello everyone,
I've recently bought a new Galaxy note 4 SM-910H International Unlocked version, The ad confirmed that it works with any operator in any country, Only after I received the phone and tried to use it in my home country, I found that it's American SIM only (Meaning that it needs to be activated with a SIM from America with a 5 Minutes call) ... I'm now stuck out of my new phone and I can't seem to be able to fix this after days and days of research ... I tried contacting the seller who directed me to Samsung and I tried contacting Samsung US several times but they keep giving me conflicted info (Once to refer to the buyer, another to refer to American Carrier and third that they can't provide a region unlock code).
I need an advise from you guys please, This has been a nightmare and It seems I'm stuck with only one option which is buying the unlock code online
Your kind usual support is highly appreciated.
Thank you
Belman90 said:
Hello everyone,
Your kind usual support is highly appreciated.
Thank you
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
From what I understand about the region lock is that your phone will be locked to whatever region you use it in first unless it is first used in whatever region it was sold for then there will not be a lock on it. If I understand you correctly you should be able to use it in your region without issue until you try to use it in a different region.
The "H" variant, is for Asia. The "F" variant is the international unlocked version.
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2883741
Sent from my SM-N910F
JagDave said:
The "H" variant, is for Asia. The "F" variant is the international unlocked version.
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2883741
Sent from my SM-N910F
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Actually that is incorrect. The H Variant is design for use with 3G Cell Networks only and should be International Unlocked. Unless you have purchased a EU/UK model.
My brother bought an s8 from Uk, he pre ordered it and got it from the samsung outlet and brought it home to Bangladesh. It isnt carrier branded or anything, when I tried using local sims (we have 3g sims and carrier bands shouldnt be an issue) it asked for a sim unlock code. Could anyone help me out?
One week with this sexy but useless paperweight.
That mean you didn't buy a unlock phone from first time? Never hear other people have this kind issue
I figured it out. My brother didnt make 5 mins worth of voice calls to disable the region lock that samsung uses. Now the problem is that i dint have a UK sim at hand
the s8 as far as iknow well the international variant is not sim locked in fact is unlock the problem is that is region locked on the s7 international variant i used an app called region lockaway but i dont think tgat work for the s8.