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[Q] Can this phone be used overseas (with local SIM)?

I currently have a photon, and one great convenience of the phone is that when I travel I just buy a local SIM and pop it in. But Sprint has been making that more difficult. The Photon Q didn't even have a removeable SIM, and I've read that the Sprint version of the HTC One needs to be unlocked by Sprint, and it's a nuisance to get them to do that. (and they don't always succeed with the first try, and...)
Does anyone know the status of this phone with regards to using a local SIM overseas?

you have to have sprint unlock it and it depends on some "qualifications" from them based on who you talk to and what your account looks like. The sim card used in the gs4 is so we can have lte.(just a reminder, wont need this over seas) but essentially you should be able to pull it off as long as you plan for it.

So theoretically it should work. But it didn't for me.
- Before leaving the US, I called sprint and asked them to unlock the phone
- They said they would
- I got an email saying the phone was unlocked
- I called sprint, asked "Is there a way for me to confirm it's unlocked?". They said no, trust the email.
- I traveled to Hungary.
- Got a Tmobile SIM. Inserted, got "Invalid SIM" message
- Called Sprint tech support- they were completely unhelpful. Blamed T-Mobile
- Went to Vodafone and tried a SIM here (the agent even pulled a 2nd out of his personal phone). Neither worked, I just got the "Invalid SIM" message
- Called sprint again. Unhelpful. Blamed the foreign SIMs
- Friend arrived in Hungary w/ an unlocked iphone. The Hungarian T-Mobile SIM worked instantly.
- Called sprint again- still blamed the foriegn SIMs. "It shows as unlocked on my screen!"
By the way, I was able to hit the "UICC Unlock" in my phone's settings. Didn't help.
So- I'm a sample size of 1- but don't count on it working. Bring a backup phone if you've got one, and/or be prepared to buy a burner.

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Consigliere2 said:
So theoretically it should work. But it didn't for me.
- Before leaving the US, I called sprint and asked them to unlock the phone
- They said they would
- I got an email saying the phone was unlocked
- I called sprint, asked "Is there a way for me to confirm it's unlocked?". They said no, trust the email.
- I traveled to Hungary.
- Got a Tmobile SIM. Inserted, got "Invalid SIM" message
- Called Sprint tech support- they were completely unhelpful. Blamed T-Mobile
- Went to Vodafone and tried a SIM here (the agent even pulled a 2nd out of his personal phone). Neither worked, I just got the "Invalid SIM" message
- Called sprint again. Unhelpful. Blamed the foreign SIMs
- Friend arrived in Hungary w/ an unlocked iphone. The Hungarian T-Mobile SIM worked instantly.
- Called sprint again- still blamed the foriegn SIMs. "It shows as unlocked on my screen!"
By the way, I was able to hit the "UICC Unlock" in my phone's settings. Didn't help.
So- I'm a sample size of 1- but don't count on it working. Bring a backup phone if you've got one, and/or be prepared to buy a burner.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Bummer...
Just to confirm, you hit the "UICC Unlock" when you were in the US? or when you were overseas?

jj14 said:
Bummer...
Just to confirm, you hit the "UICC Unlock" when you were in the US? or when you were overseas?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Both.
I ended up giving the SIM to my friend. When I got back in the states, and the phone had connected back to Sprint's network, I figured I would give the SIM another try just in case I had somehow missed the OTA unlock.
Still no luck.

Consigliere2 said:
Both.
I ended up giving the SIM to my friend. When I got back in the states, and the phone had connected back to Sprint's network, I figured I would give the SIM another try just in case I had somehow missed the OTA unlock.
Still no luck.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Are you rooted? I ask because if so I would be curious to see your /carrier/properties.db file. I think there's a line in there that says your lock status. I am pretty sure mine is unlocked, and under SDM/SESSION_TYPE it says CI_DC but people with locked phones said theirs has CI_SIM_LOCK.
When did you get the unlock done? Supposedly there was an "old" tool and a "new" tool to unlock the phones internally at Sprint. Many people said that unlocks performed with the old tool didn't work, but when they had them unlock it again with the new tool it worked.
Now, the real problem seems to be adding the proper APNs for an international SIM. The menu item isn't there, but you can get into it with a trick. However, when you try to add a new APN everything is greyed out.

Sim Unlock Sprint Galaxy S5 for use on the AT&T Network?

Hello everybody, sorry if this has been asked I tried searching everywhere and have come up with nothing that has been helpful to me. I am new here so if I'm posting in the wrong place I'll be happy to remove this.
I will try to provide you with every detail but my main problem is this: I have obtained an unlock code I received directly from Sprint for a Galaxy S5 I received from a friend. The friend made sure the device and his account met their qualifications, and he received a six digit "MSL Code" that he was told is the unlock code.
I have been told by Sprint, AT&T, countless YouTube videos and forums that the sequence for unlocking this phone is as simple as 1.) Entering a foreign sim into your device. 2.) When you turn the device on you will be prompted to enter the sim unlock code. 3.) Enter the unlock code and your device will be unlocked.
Of course it's turned out to be way less simple than that. My most obvious problem is with step #2. I am never prompted to enter the sim unlock code and instead only receive the message "Invalid Sim card."
Okay here is a back story if you want more details: I am on a family plan with AT&T right now that I believe is a good deal and would not like to switch carriers, although AT&T hires some of the biggest idiots I've ever encountered to work in their retail stores and tech support. I have been tempted to switch to Sprint because throughout all of this they have been the only ones to give me straightforward information and any help at all so far.
The Galaxy S5 in my possession meets all of Sprint's requirements to be unlocked and the previous owner received the unlock code directly from Sprint. It should be good to go.
I went to AT&T retail store with the locked device and unlock code for assistance and to make sure the process would go smooth and easy. The first time I was told it's impossible to sim unlock a phone and all I can do is sell the phone on eBay. I called tech support after this and they told me my problem was that I was using the AT&T sim card from my old HTC One, that SIM Card would be incompatible with the Samsung, so therefore I am receiving an "Invalid Sim card" error. The second time I went in I requested a sim card for a Samsung Galaxy S5 because AT&T tech support told me the SIM card in my HTC will not work. The dude grabbed an empty SIM card and gave it to me without asking me for my information or anything about my account and when I asked him about this he told me that it's not necessary, "SIM cards don't have any memory or carry any information on them for the phone to read other than what service the phone is supposed to use". I honestly don't know much about cell phone technology but I knew this was bull**** but he was no further help after I told him I think he might be wrong about that. I called AT&T tech support and they told me that guy was an idiot and to go back to them and request another SIM card.
I don't want to go back into that stupid store until I'm absolutely sure what the **** I need to do to get this stupid phone to work with my AT&T account. Please educate me on how this process works and what the correct steps I need to take are. Thanks a million times in advance for whatever help you can give me, and again let me know if this is being asked in the wrong place I'm still new here.

Unlocking Sprint S7 for non-Sprint customer - 3rd party only option?

Hi guys. Long time reader, been fortunate, but finally have to post a question.
Thanks up front, this forum is very awesome.
We are Verizon customers. I recently bought an SM-930P from a local guy. He's had his phone stolen, he got another, then it was recovered so he sold the replacement to me.
He called and made sure all was good and deactivated it before the sale.
Well from what I can tell, Sprint didn't push the unlock to the phone before he took it offline. From what I've gathered, the 930P is unusual in that it can't be manually unlocked via a code. Correct?
I called Sprint - (aside - boy it is very hard to get to a human being to talk to you if you aren't a customer) - the rep said, oh yes, the EMEI is OK, phone was paid off, we'll unlock it for you.
Yet it does not work.
Symptoms: My Verizon SIM won't work (just says invalid SIM), and when I tried a friend's SIM from their Spring S7 it also didn't work, said it was invalid.
Today I called Sprint back again, and this time the rep - this time it was somebody from the S7 tech group - said that the phone was still associated w/ the other guy's account. Since I didn't have authorization on the account she wouldn't do anything else. So now I have heard 2 different stories from Sprint.
Well, that guy is in the Army and can't be reached now to call himself.
So, I need to have it unlocked, but I'm stuck. I don't care about Sprint b/c I want to use it on Verizon.
Am I correct that the only option is to do a USB direct-connect unlock, like some people are offering as services (through eBay etc)? My understanding is that they manually update the phone so it thinks it's getting the unlock from the carrier?
And although I don't intend to use Sprint - what happens if, later, I or somebody else wants to put it back on Sprint if it has been unlocked this way? Will there be a whitelist issue with their records?
Thanks

RatLabGuy said:
Hi guys. Long time reader, been fortunate, but finally have to post a question.
Thanks up front, this forum is very awesome.
We are Verizon customers. I recently bought an SM-930P from a local guy. He's had his phone stolen, he got another, then it was recovered so he sold the replacement to me.
He called and made sure all was good and deactivated it before the sale.
Well from what I can tell, Sprint didn't push the unlock to the phone before he took it offline. From what I've gathered, the 930P is unusual in that it can't be manually unlocked via a code. Correct?
I called Sprint - (aside - boy it is very hard to get to a human being to talk to you if you aren't a customer) - the rep said, oh yes, the EMEI is OK, phone was paid off, we'll unlock it for you.
Yet it does not work.
Symptoms: My Verizon SIM won't work (just says invalid SIM), and when I tried a friend's SIM from their Spring S7 it also didn't work, said it was invalid.
Today I called Sprint back again, and this time the rep - this time it was somebody from the S7 tech group - said that the phone was still associated w/ the other guy's account. Since I didn't have authorization on the account she wouldn't do anything else. So now I have heard 2 different stories from Sprint.
Well, that guy is in the Army and can't be reached now to call himself.
So, I need to have it unlocked, but I'm stuck. I don't care about Sprint b/c I want to use it on Verizon.
Am I correct that the only option is to do a USB direct-connect unlock, like some people are offering as services (through eBay etc)? My understanding is that they manually update the phone so it thinks it's getting the unlock from the carrier?
And although I don't intend to use Sprint - what happens if, later, I or somebody else wants to put it back on Sprint if it has been unlocked this way? Will there be a whitelist issue with their records?
Thanks
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I used the Android Doctor, a quick Google search will find it. Super easy, remote unlock...they will stay in contact with you and make sure your phone works before they charge you. Reasonable price. I've done my s7 and s7 edge. Both work flawlessly. I'm on Straight Talk/AT&T.

Just as an update - yes, after more reading what I learned was that the USB-key approach is the only solution to this.
I went through GSM-Zambia.com - pretty much the same as Android Doctor but slightly cheaper.
That did the trick.
Also FYI - once it was unlocked, I flashed the based G930u version firmware - the one intended for unlocked, non-carrier specific phones - instead of the G930p as intended for Sprint. No problems w/ it whatsoever, seems to have all the radio bands active AND no bloatware.
Only hitch was that I still had to call Verizon and work w/ a tech to activate it on their network b/c if you give the IMEI online to do it manually yourself it just complains that they don't recognize it as compatible.

Unlock Asus ZenFone V V520KL (Verizon model) for another carrier?

So I would like to use this Verizon phone with my carrier in Canada.
Simple version: I don't want to root it and I don't care about custom roms. I simply want to use the phone in Canada with another carrier. Is it possible?
Long version:
I got the phone (as a gift from my boss who didn't know what to do with it). Looked it up and found a thread on this forum pointing to this page on the Asus website (it's the not exact same model number, but there's no support page available for 520KL). I downloaded the official "Unlock Device App: Unlock boot loader" under the "Other" category and copied it to the phone and tried to run the apk installation. It gave me an error similar to "An application with the same name is already installed". I tried to look in the application list but couldn't find it to execute it. In any case, I then borrowed a SIM card from Bell Canada from the corporation I work for, and the phone had a notification "This is not a Verizon Wireless SIM card". I then updated the phone firmware (via wifi), and rebooted, and after a few seconds the error message disappeared, and behold I could make and receive calls. I'm not certain if this Bell card was special unlocked for roaming or something (being a corporate one).
In any case my personal phone is better, but I thought it would be a nice replacement for my father's one so I gave it to him. His old phone SIM format was not the same size, so I told him to go to a kiosk of his phone carrier (Telus Mobility) and ask the clerk for a SIM on his account that fit the phone. The clerk looked at the phone and said no, this cannot work, you have to call Verizon to unlock it. My father then called Verizon and they said they can't do that because it could be a stolen phone (it isn't) and that my corporation would have to call them to receive a code (?) to prove ownership. So now I'm a bit mixed up. Was the Telus clerk wrong and the phone would have worked if he just had insisted to get a SIM made, or are they both right and the phone IMEI is locked in a database somewhere and Telus won't be able to create a new SIM for it until my corporation really call them to transfers ownership?

Galaxy S8 - Reactivated on Boost - Invalid SIM & OMADM Error

So it's been a year, or 2 I can't remember since I last used this phone. But I bought this phone through Boost, used it on Boost without issues and then switched to another carrier with a new phone and number. Well 2 days ago I reactivated the S8 back on Boost. I received my SIM card booted up the phone and have 2 notifications. "Invalid SIM" and "Please contact Sprint to unlock device." I've spent a total of 2 hours on chat with Boost between 2 days troubleshooting and trying to figure it out.
Other thing I noticed, I do NOT have Mobile Network Settings in my phone. I even tried to search for it with no luck, I was going to check the APN but that also is no where to be found.
So I hopped onto a Samsung discord where someone advised that I re-flash the stock, which led me to this site to download Odin and Frija. Which I did, and after countless hours of trying to figure out why I kept getting a fail, I switched computers and successfully completed the flash. Cool. Phone boots up, but now it's stuck at 32% update. Get out of that, wipe the cache, reset the phone, it loads up.. Yay, NOT. Still no Mobile Network Settings, but I can search the APN, there is no APN and the "ADD" is grayed out. I'm still getting the same notifications "Invalid SIM" and "Please Contact Sprint to unlock device."
I'm not sure what else I can do, or if there's anything else I can do? I don't understand why it's telling me to contact Sprint to unlock, when It's a Boost Mobile Phone, with Boost apps, and Boost load up screen, purchased from Boost.

So it seems this may not be a phone problem, but a Boost Mobile problem. I just talked to a 5th person on chat and they told me that my phone is too old to work on their new network. They refuse to unlock my device, even though during my search for a fix I came across multiple people with my problem who either easily got their phone unlocked, or filed a complaint with the FCC to get their phone unlocked, and their phone worked.
Also, putting my IMEI in on T-Mobile, Cricket Wireless, and Metro all say my phone will work.. but Boost also said my phone would work.. again as it should it's a Boost phone.