Database Users

Unlocked Galaxy Note - yes or no?

I am considering buying a Galaxy Note but I have a dilemma so I hope you will be able to help me out with it.
If I decide to buy it I will probably have to buy it through a mobile carrier meaning that I will have to unlock it to run it on a different network. I have someone to do it for me so I don't know what kind of software they will use.
Since I am new to Android, I would like to keep away from the rooting as long as possible so I am talking about stock software here.
Therefore, I would like to ask this:
1) Have any of you unlocked their Galaxy Notes? Are there any side-effects or it feels totally SIM-free?
2) Am I going to be cut-off from the official software updates (ICS and so on?) or it will be totally like a SIM-free experience?
3) Are all the splash screens, apps and other carrier-related stuff gone after the unlock?
Thank you in advance!

This doesn't answer your questions, but why would you buy a carrier phone and use it on another network? Why not buy unlocked?
Sent from my GT-N7000 using xda premium

If you plan to get the ATT one, I dont think it will get 3G/+ on Tmo. The intenational one I have definitely does not have that band. Unless there is another unlocked version that has those bands. And my international version does not have LTE as well.
And why would you sign a contract with ATT and want to use it on another n/w? Doesnt make any sense whatsoever.
Eborg said:
I am considering buying a Galaxy Note but I have a dilemma so I hope you will be able to help me out with it.
If I decide to buy it I will probably have to buy it through a mobile carrier meaning that I will have to unlock it to run it on a different network. I have someone to do it for me so I don't know what kind of software they will use.
Since I am new to Android, I would like to keep away from the rooting as long as possible so I am talking about stock software here.
Therefore, I would like to ask this:
1) Have any of you unlocked their Galaxy Notes? Are there any side-effects or it feels totally SIM-free?
2) Am I going to be cut-off from the official software updates (ICS and so on?) or it will be totally like a SIM-free experience?
3) Are all the splash screens, apps and other carrier-related stuff gone after the unlock?
Thank you in advance!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse

I live in Europe so I am talking about an international version.
Technically I wouldn't be buying it directly from a carrier, I just wanted to keep the discussion simple. I would buy it from a store but they get it abroad, unlock them and sell them legally. It's the only way I can get it where I live.
Ordering from Expansys or similar sites would mean that I would have to pay import customs which would probably amount to 200-300$ or more.

Where are you from? There are more retailers than expansys
Sent from my GT-N7000 using xda premium

I live in Bosnia & Herzegovina. Since it is not yet a member of the EU, you have to pay customs fees for this kind of stuff.
I will be going to the UK in a few weeks and thought about buying it there but that would mean that I wouldn't have any warranty. Most sites do not offer warranty outside the UK or EU. Also, even if I found one seller that offers worldwide warranty, I would still have costs shipping the phone to the UK or wherever and back (still EU issues) if needed.
Buying the phone locally should give me a 2-year warranty so that's why I am thinking about that option.

if you get it sim free fromthe uk then you woudl be paying more than you woudl in say germany - sim free in the uk are about £500+
sim free means it isnt locked to a carrioer that doesnt stop anything regarding updates to ics, you wil lstil lget them just might be at alater date than other countries
unlocking is not the same as debranding which would remove the software and logos etc
mine is sim free whcih i bought on a 2 year contract and it is no different to any other note locked on the networks

Eborg said:
I am considering buying a Galaxy Note but I have a dilemma so I hope you will be able to help me out with it.
If I decide to buy it I will probably have to buy it through a mobile carrier meaning that I will have to unlock it to run it on a different network.....
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
buying it through a carrier does not mean that the phone is locked to that carrier anyway. have you asked your carrier or the store you want to buy from if they sell the Note locked?. my Note is bought from German Telekom/T-Mobile and has no sim or netlock. i just tested the Note with simcards from other German and foreign carrier and they all work flawlessly. so maybe you can purchase a Note at your side that is also sim/netlocked free.

All Galaxy Notes available locally were on foreign carriers. The guy at the store could only confirm that it works will all SIM cards, not that the particular phone had to be unlocked or not, but it was definitely on a foreign carrier when they got it.
I am not sure if the phones are debranded or not. Is that something that I can do on my own without rooting the phone?
So, you guys can officially confirm that unlocked (and optionally debranded) Galaxy Note will act as if they were SIM-free in regards to official updates, apps and so on? No worries there?
As for getting it abroad, it wouldn't be the best solution since I would have to send it to the UK, Germany, Italy or wherever if something is wrong paying 100-200$ of customs fees every time if something goes wrong.

I'd just like to confirm that it is possible to update the firmware automatically with an unlocked Note. Cheers!

Richy99 said:
sim free means it isnt locked to a carrioer that doesnt stop anything regarding updates to ics, you wil lstil lget them just might be at alater date than other countries
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Quite.
Also to keep in mind : in the EU, the carrier must agree to unlock phones after at the most 6 months.
And regarding ICS upgrades for the Note, they're apparently fairly messy at the moment. Locally (France) my carrier and the local Samsung branch are apparently more or less pointing at one another for a botched upgrade (at the end of June, note that it was announced as "we're fixing a few things, should be any day now" in March) where they apparently managed to brick a number of user phones. Samsung tends to communicate fairly poorly on the issue.
Other than the updated stylus apps, I'm not really sure the upgrade is worth it. And I discovered the whole "Kies" crud when I got this phone which really annoyed me since I don't normally run Windows (or Mac OS) and some operators apparently like to push their stuff only through that channel.
---------- Post added at 01:16 PM ---------- Previous post was at 01:08 PM ----------
Eborg said:
I'd just like to confirm that it is possible to update the firmware automatically with an unlocked Note. Cheers!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
There's no reason why you couldn't. Possibly you'd get the Samsung update instead of the one from the original carrier (not guaranteed). But unlocking phones is fairly standard procedure.

Actually I got an update from the previous carrier from which it was unlocked from judging by the bloatware installed with the update.

Samsung Galaxy S5 g900t t-mobile unlocked

Guys, yesterday I was able to unlock my s5 that my brother bought from t-mobile in the US and brought to me to use it with brazilian carriers.
I purchased an unlocking code from Cellf Services for about $35, I paid + $5 for the instant service they provide which they promise to delivery the code in less than 30 minutes. I indeed received mine in less than 30 minutes. :good:
They sent me an email telling the codes were ready and gave me an url. I was impressed. I thought I was buying only the network unlocking code, but they gave me NETWORK, PROVIDER, SUBPROVIDER and DEFREEZE codes.
Somewhere in the site, I think in the terms and conditions, they say if you record a video of the unlocking proccess, upload to youtube or to metacafe, and send them the link they'll refund you. That might have been the first terms and conditions I have ever read in my life... :cyclops:
Well, I didn't record the video of the proccess because I was at work and was too worried about the possible region lock :crying:
Whatever, I inserted the non suported sim card I wanted to use, booted the beast and was propted for the "SIM network unlock pin", typed the network code provided by cellfservices and boom, unlocked :victory: . Worked like a charm. No region lock in my case, or maybe it's the same region since it's south america... who knows...
As of the other codes, I didn't test them, only needed the network one, so I don't know if they'll work, probably will...
Now I'm happy like a chick in the dumpster.

Alande Amorim said:
Guys, yesterday I was able to unlock my s5 that my brother bought from t-mobile in the US and brought to me to use it with brazilian carriers.
I purchased an unlocking code from Cellf Services for about $35, I paid + $5 for the instant service they provide which they promise to delivery the code in less than 30 minutes. I indeed received mine in less than 30 minutes. :good:
They sent me an email telling the codes were ready and gave me an url. I was impressed. I thought I was buying only the network unlocking code, but they gave me NETWORK, PROVIDER, SUBPROVIDER and DEFREEZE codes.
Somewhere in the site, I think in the terms and conditions, they say if you record a video of the unlocking proccess, upload to youtube or to metacafe, and send them the link they'll refund you. That might have been the first terms and conditions I have ever read in my life... :cyclops:
Well, I didn't record the video of the proccess because I was at work and was too worried about the possible region lock :crying:
Whatever, I inserted the non suported sim card I wanted to use, booted the beast and was propted for the "SIM network unlock pin", typed the network code provided by cellfservices and boom, unlocked :victory: . Worked like a charm. No region lock in my case, or maybe it's the same region since it's south america... who knows...
As of the other codes, I didn't test them, only needed the network one, so I don't know if they'll work, probably will...
Now I'm happy like a chick in the dumpster.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You think, every SIM card even in other region, it will work? I'm planning to buy one and send it to the Philippines.

Firstly you have to make a minimim 5 minutes call from country where you bought your phone. After then regional lock will be removed

hemander said:
You think, every SIM card even in other region, it will work? I'm planning to buy one and send it to the Philippines.
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Click to collapse
I can't say. I've searched extensively about the region lock on the S5 before purchasing the sim unlocking code. Cellunlocker, one of the unlocking sites I found, explicitly stated that "*All USA and European Carriers ARE subject to Region Locking". However, saying they're 'subject to region locking' doesn't mean they definetly are.
There's a BGR.com article (google 'bgr galaxy s5 region lock') confirming the region lock of the european S5 with a picture of one of the box stickers warning it.
Are you planning to buy one in USA?
Mine I'm almost sure wasn't region locked. I am not sure if mine came with it since my sister in law opened the box to avoid paying customs duty and was missing one of the stickers, but if there was one of this sticker, she wouldn't have bought it.
The official way to region unlock the S5 would be making calls that sum 5 minutes on the region it was purchased.
Check the box for this sticker prior buying. If you can, use the device for some time before sending it.
If you do this -- I give you no warrant -- I think you should be ok... I personally would go for it.
In my case, I might have been lucky, else I would have to wait for some weeks (maybe months) until someone managed to hack it.

Alande Amorim said:
I can't say. I've searched extensively about the region lock on the S5 before purchasing the sim unlocking code. Cellunlocker, one of the unlocking sites I found, explicitly stated that "*All USA and European Carriers ARE subject to Region Locking". However, saying they're 'subject to region locking' doesn't mean they definetly are.
There's a BGR.com article (google 'bgr galaxy s5 region lock') confirming the region lock of the european S5 with a picture of one of the box stickers warning it.
Are you planning to buy one in USA?
Mine I'm almost sure wasn't region locked. I am not sure if mine came with it since my sister in law opened the box to avoid paying customs duty and was missing one of the stickers, but if there was one of this sticker, she wouldn't have bought it.
The official way to region unlock the S5 would be making calls that sum 5 minutes on the region it was purchased.
Check the box for this sticker prior buying. If you can, use the device for some time before sending it.
If you do this -- I give you no warrant -- I think you should be ok... I personally would go for it.
In my case, I might have been lucky, else I would have to wait for some weeks (maybe months) until someone managed to hack it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yeah. Am planning to buy another here. I just wanted to know, where did your sister-in-law bought that? Maybe, that'll also work when unlock and bring to Philippines.

Galaxy S7 Free Unlock Code Through Samsung Canada Chat

How to unlock Galaxy S7 for Free Credits to: RedFlagDeals
Go to Samsung Canada website > Contact Us http://www.samsung.com/ca/info/contactus.html
Start Live Chat
Tell the rep that you would like to unlock your Galaxy S7
Rep will ask a few questions including your IMEI number and the carrier your S7 (only mention carrier if they ask) is currently locked to.
Within a few days, you will receive an email from Samsung with the unlock code.
Done!
Important Details
Note your Phone Model Number & IMEI before going in chat
Prepare the address of your Samsung Experience Store
Mention you got the phone on Samsung Experience Store or Costo in full
DO NOT mention you are in contract with a carrier.
Example message: (It worked for me)
I bought this phone Samsung S7 G930W8 from Samsung Experience Store at [insert address here, google location near you] few months ago. I'm flying in few days and I want to use my phone abroad while on Vacation. I just want to unlock this phone, that way I can use it for my travel. My IMEI is [insert IMEI here].
There are online during Canada - Pacific Time

Can confirm that this works. I've done it few months ago and again few days for a different phone.

My fiance traveled to Europe and her phone wasn't working with a local sim. She didn't know and input a few wrong codes, I think she tried twice so there was one attempt left. I attempted to contact Samsung and I gave them the Imei and told them it's from Costco.
The agent provided me with the code and my finance tried it once but it didn't work and now it says it requires a master code instead of a network code. The phone still works but network doesn't.
The Samsung agent said he will get me the master code but it'll take 3-5 days. Does anyone know how I can get this faster? I don't want her to be without a phone for that long.

This works perfectly! I've successfully unlocked 2 phones using this method.
Many thanks!

Would this work if my S7 is on AT&T? Wouldn't the Samsung Canada chat people say that they can't help US folks? I can't pretend that the phone is on a Canadian network as the model is GM-930A, correct?

agaurav said:
Would this work if my S7 is on AT&T? Wouldn't the Samsung Canada chat people say that they can't help US folks? I can't pretend that the phone is on a Canadian network as the model is GM-930A, correct?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The Samsung rep world know right away that it's a USA phone when they enter the IMEI into their system.
You could try it since it's free to chat with them.

audit13 said:
The Samsung rep world know right away that it's a USA phone when they enter the IMEI into their system.
You could try it since it's free to chat with them.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I tried just now and they said they help only with Canadian devices. US support directs me to AT&T who say that the phone is locked to the previous owner. I bought it on Craigslist knowing it was locked. I used on AT&T but now want to switch away from AT&T so was trying to unlock. Guess I am stuck for now. Thanks.

agaurav said:
I tried just now and they said they help only with Canadian devices. US support directs me to AT&T who say that the phone is locked to the previous owner. I bought it on Craigslist knowing it was locked. I used on AT&T but now want to switch away from AT&T so was trying to unlock. Guess I am stuck for now. Thanks.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Maybe you can buy an unlock code from eBay?
https://www.ebay.ca/itm/AT-T-ATT-UN...755573?hash=item4b071af9b5:g:Dx4AAOSwzQFZ70Y0

Thanks. I bought it for $0.99. Not sure if that would work as most charge $25. I have a feeling that this seller will just try to use the AT&T unlock service and get the code and forward that. I know AT&T will not unlock my phone so not hopeful but no worries on losing a buck.

Or you can just call your provider and get it unlocked on the spot. It's no longer legal in Canada for carriers to charge you for this

homeslixe said:
Or you can just call your provider and get it unlocked on the spot. It's no longer legal in Canada for carriers to charge you for this
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
There-in lies the issue. I didn't buy/lease it from AT&T directly. I bought it for $300 off Craiglist a year back and now want to use on T-mobile. However, when I called AT&T they said that the phone is still on someone's account and so they can't unlock it. I have no way of communicating with the seller as that was a Craigslist email address and I have no info and AT&T will not tell me the name/address of the seller (obviously and correctly so).

Did not work for me. They said that my IMEI is not in their system. Well, I didn't buy it there actually, but that was not explicitly stated as a prerequisite in this thread.

Sprint Essential Phone - Network outside US (Germany) ?

Hi together,
due to the great price for the phone via Sprint, there are several pretty cheap ones also on ebay. I want to use the phone only outside the US (Germany) - is there any problem when it is locked to Sprint? Few years ago i imported a Verizon Locked Photon Q, and as i remember it was fully usable outside the US.
The ebay listing also includes the IMEI of the phones, and when i check them, they are "Clean on Sprint". But does that mean that they are locked? And if so, can i somehow unlock the phone, when i am in Germany and not on a Sprint Network?
Sorry about the confusion, i dont really get you phone locking stuff in the US
Best regards and thank you so much in advance!

If the phone is truly still locked to Sprint, it probably won't work with any other SIM card (the phone will just report Invalid SIM). You could look at ting.com/byod and check the IMEI there to see if it reports clear GSM / CDMA capabilities. If that shows up OK, then it at least doesn't have any financial obligation, and it should work.
Are you sure the phones are still Sprint Locked? Or was the seller just indicating they were Sprint variant phones, and were unlocked?

kbonnel said:
If the phone is truly still locked to Sprint, it probably won't work with any other SIM card (the phone will just report Invalid SIM). You could look at ting.com/byod and check the IMEI there to see if it reports clear GSM / CDMA capabilities. If that shows up OK, then it at least doesn't have any financial obligation, and it should work.
Are you sure the phones are still Sprint Locked? Or was the seller just indicating they were Sprint variant phones, and were unlocked?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thank you so much for the fast reply :good:
- I checked multiple lisitings from this seller at ting.com/byod, and they all say its compatible with ting/gsm/cdma. So if i get this right, the phone itself should not be locked then, because its neither stolen nor in financial trouble?
- i dont know if i am able to post ebay links here, one of the lisitings from this seller is 332465030454 - the seller just says that the buyer itself should check the IMEI. But as i understood it, i cant check if the phone is net/simlocked to sprint, just if its "legal"..
regards

Kampfgans said:
Thank you so much for the fast reply :good:
- I checked multiple lisitings from this seller at ting.com/byod, and they all say its compatible with ting/gsm/cdma. So if i get this right, the phone itself should not be locked then, because its neither stolen nor in financial trouble?
- i dont know if i am able to post ebay links here, one of the lisitings from this seller is 332465030454 - the seller just says that the buyer itself should check the IMEI. But as i understood it, i cant check if the phone is net/simlocked to sprint, just if its "legal"..
regards
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I really wish I was able to give you a definitive answer, esp. since you are in Germany, as the return capabilities are a lot harder since it takes a while to ship back and forth. I was reviewing the company's website to see where they get their inventory, but couldn't really come up with a clear answer. They do indicate in the FAQ that they offer a service to test the ESN for a fee, but it doesn't go into much detail. Maybe give them a call, or send the seller a message on ebay to see if they are willing to pop in a non-sprint sim to verify it at least doesn't report back invalid - sim.

kbonnel said:
I really wish I was able to give you a definitive answer, esp. since you are in Germany, as the return capabilities are a lot harder since it takes a while to ship back and forth. I was reviewing the company's website to see where they get their inventory, but couldn't really come up with a clear answer. They do indicate in the FAQ that they offer a service to test the ESN for a fee, but it doesn't go into much detail. Maybe give them a call, or send the seller a message on ebay to see if they are willing to pop in a non-sprint sim to verify it at least doesn't report back invalid - sim.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Just to let you know about the outcome - they cannot guarantee that it is unlocked
Hopefully there will be another Amazon Deal or somebody doesnt need his F&F code

Kampfgans said:
Just to let you know about the outcome - they cannot guarantee that it is unlocked
Hopefully there will be another Amazon Deal or somebody doesnt need his F&F code
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
So what was the outcome? I have one ebay seller that isn't sure either. He bought it from sprint. Wanted to use it in Germany

saschb2b said:
So what was the outcome? I have one ebay seller that isn't sure either. He bought it from sprint. Wanted to use it in Germany
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Assume anything bought from Sprint that the seller can't verify was active on Sprint's network for 50 days as unusable.
Sprint will only generate ISU (international SIM Unlock) that is permanent after a device has been on the network for 50 days.
This policy is strictly enforced and even if the device is paid off, it does not matter.

Hello guys and happy new year.
I'm planning to buy the essential phone from ebay. I have found some quite interesting offers from sprint locked devices. My question is the device will work at cosmote greece?

„Invalid sim“
I bought an essential phone from USA a few days ago and it is sim locked for sprint and I have not found any way to make it simlock free.
It says invalid sim.
I can use it as an expensive MP3 player or camera or when using WiFi.
But not as a telephone.
I asked the seller for help. He said he would call sprint.
I was able to flash Oreo beta2 Android 8.
In fast boot mode the mobile said it was a sprint variant.
I guess only sprint can made it sim lock free with a code.
If there is no solution I will maybe have to send it back.
What a pity situation. Why is essential phone not selling the phone for Europe ?

That's what I was afraid about. Thought a proper rom flash could remove the lock. But it seems you can't do it yourself. Essential will bring it to Europe. But when is not sure.

saschb2b said:
So what was the outcome? I have one ebay seller that isn't sure either. He bought it from sprint. Wanted to use it in Germany
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
As already mentioned above -the seller could not guarantee it to me that i will be able to use it.
Finally, i ended up ordering it directly from Essential. Have it since 2 weeks now, works great on Telekom!

Hi, I am in Ireland and got a PH-1 which was locked by Sprint but i contacted them and they told me they have unlocked it for me and i can use it in Ireland but i am actually not able to use it on any network here, it just says Invalid Sim every time i put the sim card in.
Can anyone help me please?

forget sprint in europe!
In Germany it does not work with "Sprint" Locked Essential Phone.

Sam.anas said:
Hi, I am in Ireland and got a PH-1 which was locked by Sprint but i contacted them and they told me they have unlocked it for me and i can use it in Ireland but i am actually not able to use it on any network here, it just says Invalid Sim every time i put the sim card in.
Can anyone help me please?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The only way to unlock it is with a Sprint SIM and they update the the phone or enter in a code.

Heloo i bought essential ph-1 amd it says invalid sim card. Im from georgia and want to work gsm carrier. Can i unlock the phone?

Unlock Sprint Version

Hi,
So a friend of mine is bringing the Essential Phone to India from the USA. It is a Sprint model. Can anyone help me and tell me how can I go about unlocking the device so that I can use it with Indian carriers?

zaydenQ said:
Hi,
So a friend of mine is bringing the Essential Phone to India from the USA. It is a Sprint model. Can anyone help me and tell me how can I go about unlocking the device so that I can use it with Indian carriers?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Have your friend from the USA stay on a sprint account for 50 days then he can call them to unlock it for international as long as it's paid in full.

Unlock sprint
Hey. Can somebody help me with the unlock my essential phone pH 1

I had to send mine back. They have two types of UICC unlocks. One of them in for carriers inside the USA only and the other is for international carriers. The problem is that the international unlock is temporary. Even if the phone is paid in full their systems are relocking lots of phones when used on international carriers using the essential on USA carriers seems to be fine. Mine was paid in full with sprint and was unlocked for 1 month when I called Sprint they said that the international UUIC unlock is temporary so I needed to request it again. I decided to return the phone and once I got the refund and I purchased one directly from essential and my problems were solved.

Sprint is a CDMA network, so you need to check a few things before actually using the phone outside Sprint network.
CDMA networks use network-based white lists to verify their subscribers. That means you can only switch CDMA phones with your carrier’s permission. Details: https://www.unlockunit.com/blog/cdma-networks/
However, you might be able to use your phone with a local Indian GSM network. You must make sure that your phone has also GSM capabilities. you can check this on https://www.gsmarena.com/
And you can check your network's bands here: https://www.frequencycheck.com/

Jahdiel2011 said:
I had to send mine back. They have two types of UICC unlocks. One of them in for carriers inside the USA only and the other is for international carriers. The problem is that the international unlock is temporary. Even if the phone is paid in full their systems are relocking lots of phones when used on international carriers using the essential on USA carriers seems to be fine. Mine was paid in full with sprint and was unlocked for 1 month when I called Sprint they said that the international UUIC unlock is temporary so I needed to request it again. I decided to return the phone and once I got the refund and I purchased one directly from essential and my problems were solved.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Was your phone unlocked after 50 days with Sprint? I'm only keeping Sprint for 50 days to get them to do the international unlock. After that I will cancel. My phone was automatically unlocked for US sims after I paid off the lease and I'm using it with a T-mobile sim now. I noticed that the UICC menu is gone with my T-mobile sim in the phone. Do you know if the phone can be relocked for international sims even if it doesn't have a Sprint sim in the phone?

DrvLikHell said:
Was your phone unlocked after 50 days with Sprint? I'm only keeping Sprint for 50 days to get them to do the international unlock. After that I will cancel. My phone was automatically unlocked for US sims after I paid off the lease and I'm using it with a T-mobile sim now. I noticed that the UICC menu is gone with my T-mobile sim in the phone. Do you know if the phone can be relocked for international sims even if it doesn't have a Sprint sim in the phone?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Mine was paid in full and was unlocked both domestically and internationally. I was not 50 days with Sprint. Since I had to travel abroad I asked for the International unlock which they granted as I had already paid for the phone. I started using the phone in South America and around one month later I got the Invalid SimCard message. When I called they said that the UUIC international unlock is temporary so I need to call Sprint and request it again. The domestic unlock is permanent not the same for the international (It made no sense) I called again yesterday to get info on their policies again and now I got different info the phone was supposedly unlocked according to their systems.
Besides this I've got info from trusted sources saying that even devices purchased Unlocked from essential are being locked by sprint when inserting sprint sim cards so stay away from those sim cards.

unlocked then relocked
My phone was unlocked by Sprint shortly after I paid it off, about two days after I received it. I was able to insert a Vietnamese SIM card and download all the Essential security updates.
Then somehow it got relocked. called Sprint to asked them to unlock it internationally, as I actually do travel internationally for work quite a bit. They responded with an email refusing to unlock it until it had been on the network for 50 days.
I have had the last three phones on Sprint unlocked internationally with less trouble than this one.
I guess I'll try again when the 50 days are up.

Jahdiel2011 said:
Mine was paid in full and was unlocked both domestically and internationally. I was not 50 days with Sprint. Since I had to travel abroad I asked for the International unlock which they granted as I had already paid for the phone. I started using the phone in South America and around one month later I got the Invalid SimCard message. When I called they said that the UUIC international unlock is temporary so I need to call Sprint and request it again. The domestic unlock is permanent not the same for the international (It made no sense) I called again yesterday to get info on their policies again and now I got different info the phone was supposedly unlocked according to their systems.
Besides this I've got info from trusted sources saying that even devices purchased Unlocked from essential are being locked by sprint when inserting sprint sim cards so stay away from those sim cards.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks for that information. When you were in South America and got the invalid sim card message, were you on a non-US sim? Did you put the Sprint sim back in at any time before you got that message? I'm trying to figure out if they can relock the device without the Sprint sim card in it, because if so I'm not keeping this phone. I requested the international unlock on my phone as well, but they told me I had to wait until the phone was active for 50 days. They wouldn't budge on that at all. Maybe the 50 day policy is why yours got relocked?
huzordaddy said:
My phone was unlocked by Sprint shortly after I paid it off, about two days after I received it. I was able to insert a Vietnamese SIM card and download all the Essential security updates.
Then somehow it got relocked. called Sprint to asked them to unlock it internationally, as I actually do travel internationally for work quite a bit. They responded with an email refusing to unlock it until it had been on the network for 50 days.
I have had the last three phones on Sprint unlocked internationally with less trouble than this one.
I guess I'll try again when the 50 days are up.
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Click to collapse
My phone was unlocked for domestic sims 48 hours after the lease was closed. US sims work in it now, but I put a European sim in it and it asked for an unlock code. Did your phone get relocked while it had the Vietnamese sim in it, or were you swapping between that and the Sprint sim?
Once my 50 days are up and I cancel Sprint, I really don't want to have a phone that can be randomly locked by a company that I no longer have any business with. If that's the case I'm going to get rid of this phone and go with another brand.

DrvLikHell said:
Thanks for that information. When you were in South America and got the invalid sim card message, were you on a non-US sim? Did you put the Sprint sim back in at any time before you got that message? I'm trying to figure out if they can relock the device without the Sprint sim card in it, because if so I'm not keeping this phone. I requested the international unlock on my phone as well, but they told me I had to wait until the phone was active for 50 days. They wouldn't budge on that at all. Maybe the 50 day policy is why yours got relocked?
My phone was unlocked for domestic sims 48 hours after the lease was closed. US sims work in it now, but I put a European sim in it and it asked for an unlock code. Did your phone get relocked while it had the Vietnamese sim in it, or were you swapping between that and the Sprint sim?
Once my 50 days are up and I cancel Sprint, I really don't want to have a phone that can be randomly locked by a company that I no longer have any business with. If that's the case I'm going to get rid of this phone and go with another brand.
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Click to collapse
I did not even bring the Sprint Sim on my trip so I'd say Yes. They can relock it even with other sim card. I was using non US sims the whole time. I'm not sure if the issue is the 50 days policy but I did not want to have a phone I paid in full and cannot own as I should.

How can they lock the phone if it's not on their Network? Sounds like some funny business with firmware updates.
Sent from my PH-1 using XDA Labs

I got a Essential from an ebay reseller, I checked the IMEI before buying it , said it was clean... and thought that's all that mattered :/
It's locked to someone's sprint account or something, i can't use it on sprint even if I wanted! I have no way of contacting that owner... what can I do?
Can I put some other firmware on it or is there some unlocking service I can opt for?
When I contacted sprint they said the phone is clean/not stolen... so yeah... very frustrating.
Please help/advise.

Edwii said:
I got a Essential from an ebay reseller, I checked the IMEI before buying it , said it was clean... and thought that's all that mattered :/
It's locked to someone's sprint account or something, i can't use it on sprint even if I wanted! I have no way of contacting that owner... what can I do?
Can I put some other firmware on it or is there some unlocking service I can opt for?
When I contacted sprint they said the phone is clean/not stolen... so yeah... very frustrating.
Please help/advise.
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Click to collapse
If it's locked to someone elses Sprint account, and it's not sim unlocked so you can't use it on a GSM service, the only option you have is to return it to the eBay seller. If the seller said it was unlocked or otherwise ready to be activated, that was incorrect and you can do an "Item not as described" type of return, stating that it is not able to be used and you'll get your money back. eBay offers very good protection for this sort of thing.
avd said:
How can they lock the phone if it's not on their Network? Sounds like some funny business with firmware updates.
Sent from my PH-1 using XDA Labs
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Click to collapse
I'd like to know the same thing. From what I've learned the sim lock is a single bit somewhere that's nearly impossible to change without an unlock code. And I've never heard of a phone relocking. I don't know how they're doing it with the Essential. The interesting thing is that when you put in a non-sprint sim, the phone will then update to a newer firmware because sprint is behind on theirs, but it can still relock with the newer firmware. Also, with a non-sprint sim the UICC menu disappears, but then it comes back when you put a sprint sim back in. I don't know what its deal is.
Just the fact that it's possible for sprint to relock a phone remotely is enough to steer me away from this phone. I can't be in a situation where I'm relying on my phone for communication in another country and then, oops, sprint decided to relock my phone and now I can't contact anyone. I've been in situations where that could be very dangerous. If I stay with the PH1, I'll sell my sprint phones and get one directly from the company. Otherwise, I'm already looking at other phones.

Edwii said:
I got a Essential from an ebay reseller, I checked the IMEI before buying it , said it was clean... and thought that's all that mattered :/
It's locked to someone's sprint account or something, i can't use it on sprint even if I wanted! I have no way of contacting that owner... what can I do?
Can I put some other firmware on it or is there some unlocking service I can opt for?
When I contacted sprint they said the phone is clean/not stolen... so yeah... very frustrating.
Please help/advise.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
File a claim.
Device different than specified.

So Far the PH-1 is a great option only if you buy it directly from essential and Never EVER put a Sprint Sim Card on it.

Edwii said:
I got a Essential from an ebay reseller, I checked the IMEI before buying it , said it was clean... and thought that's all that mattered :/
It's locked to someone's sprint account or something, i can't use it on sprint even if I wanted! I have no way of contacting that owner... what can I do?
Can I put some other firmware on it or is there some unlocking service I can opt for?
When I contacted sprint they said the phone is clean/not stolen... so yeah... very frustrating.
Please help/advise.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
File a claim with eBay, they'll get your money back!

I have found that a lot of eBay sellers just put "Check IMEI" in their listing, with no other claim to being locked/unlocked, etc. So that it then becomes the buyer's responsibility to throughly check it before they buy. I checked the IMEI on Ting's website and they said it was good to go (vs. a phone that I have with a Bad ESN that they knew about and would understandably not accept - and no this is not a post about Bad ESN so back off wolfdroids!) I didn't bother filing a claim though because it makes an excellent WiFi Smartphone.
Still, I hate Sprint. No nonsense "Account Number and PIN" or we're not going to help you. I wanted to see about paying off the lease myself. Nope! They don't want my money.

atrac88 said:
I have found that a lot of eBay sellers just put "Check IMEI" in their listing, with no other claim to being locked/unlocked, etc. So that it then becomes the buyer's responsibility to throughly check it before they buy. I checked the IMEI on Ting's website and they said it was good to go (vs. a phone that I have with a Bad ESN that they knew about and would understandably not accept - and no this is not a post about Bad ESN so back off wolfdroids!) I didn't bother filing a claim though because it makes an excellent WiFi Smartphone.
Still, I hate Sprint. No nonsense "Account Number and PIN" or we're not going to help you. I wanted to see about paying off the lease myself. Nope! They don't want my money.
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Click to collapse
Find someone that has a Sprint account and see if they can add it on so you can pay it off and use it. It's too good of a phone to be stuck at home being used as a mini-tablet

@Jahdiel2011 About how long did your international sim unlock last before it relocked on you?

30 days or so