Database Users

Being Deployed to Germany - Can I Keep US T-Mobile Plan?

Hey guys,
So I'm being deployed to Germany for 2 years, and I would like to know if I can keep my US T-Mobile service and use it over there. The dude at T-Mobile said that my G1 will not work in germany. He said I would have to get a new, German G1 and get a new service plan with the provider over there.
My phone is currently rooted and I use Cyanogen's roms. I have no idea who the provider is over there.
Guessing I would be roaming?
G1 not a world phone?
Would tethering still work?
Any information or help is greatly appreciated. I leave next Tuesday and need to get things squared away before I go.
Thanks!
EDIT: Maybe this needs to be moved to Q&A, my bad. If so, mod please move it. Sorry

lol the provider over there is T-Mobile.... they're a german company
as for the phone I think (but not 100%) it will work.
Your plan is with T-Mobile US and thus you will be in roaming when in Germany, will cost you a heck of a lot of money, would be cheaper to cancel it maybe?

T-Mobile originated in Germany.
A quick google search shows that T-Mobile 3G operates on the 1700/2100 frequency in both the US and in Germany. So looks like your phone will have all its features in both countries.

you can call tmobile and tell them that you are being deployed, and you may be able to suspend but as mentioned above, you will be roaming and it will cost a ton, you can get a prepaid sim with service in germany and get your phone unlocked? may be an option, check the carrier in germany's website and see if they say what radio bands they use.

thanks for the replies. The d-bag at the t-mobile kiosk is obviously unaware the history of the company he works for.
He did mention though that it would cost a ton to stay on my US plan and use the phone over there. He said it can be done if the phone is unlocked. I'm not sure what that means, but, like I said, it is rooted.
Also, I don't want to suspend my plan, cause I'll still get to use it a lot. I'm not going into combat, just a medical station in Heidelberg, so I'll have off duty hours and would like to use sms.
Maybe did he mean I'd have to carrier unlock it, like I did to my old Dash? I dunno...god I'm a noob.

d0m1n0 said:
thanks for the replies. The d-bag at the t-mobile kiosk is obviously unaware the history of the company he works for.
He did mention though that it would cost a ton to stay on my US plan and use the phone over there. He said it can be done if the phone is unlocked. I'm not sure what that means, but, like I said, it is rooted.
Also, I don't want to suspend my plan, cause I'll still get to use it a lot. I'm not going into combat, just a medical station in Heidelberg, so I'll have off duty hours and would like to use sms.
Maybe did he mean I'd have to carrier unlock it, like I did to my old Dash? I dunno...god I'm a noob.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
When you go to Germany and use a prepaid SIM, your phone will prompt you for the unlock code. Your phone comes locked to T-Mobile US, and SIM cards from any other providers (including T-Mobile Germany) will prompt for the unlock code.
You can get the unlock code by calling T-Mobile, if you've been a customer for longer than 90 days. As for root, it's unrelated to lock/unlock.

cigar3tte said:
When you go to Germany and use a prepaid SIM, your phone will prompt you for the unlock code. Your phone comes locked to T-Mobile US, and SIM cards from any other providers (including T-Mobile Germany) will prompt for the unlock code.
You can get the unlock code by calling T-Mobile, if you've been a customer for longer than 90 days. As for root, it's unrelated to lock/unlock.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Ok, I understand. maybe I'll just get rid of the G1 plan and go back to my Dash, that's completely unlocked. Or maybe I'll just say F it and buy a new device when I get over there. Like I said, the only reason I'll be using it is for sms to my buddies, and an occasional call back to the US. But I might get an internet service for phone calls, I dunno.
I appreciate all the quick replies. I'll get it figured out. Probably just change to a German plan and get a new phone when I get there. Get a pretty good cost of living pay that I can buy a new phone with

d0m1n0 said:
Ok, I understand. maybe I'll just get rid of the G1 plan and go back to my Dash, that's completely unlocked. Or maybe I'll just say F it and buy a new device when I get over there. Like I said, the only reason I'll be using it is for sms to my buddies, and an occasional call back to the US. But I might get an internet service for phone calls, I dunno.
I appreciate all the quick replies. I'll get it figured out. Probably just change to a German plan and get a new phone when I get there. Get a pretty good cost of living pay that I can buy a new phone with
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Dude, keep your phone, it costs nothing but time to get it unlocked with T-Mobile, just tell them you need to use the phone overseas. I think it took 2 or 3 days to get the code after I made the request.

I agree. Tmobile unlocked my G1 when I traveled no problem. So call them and ask for an unlock code. Then just sign up with T-Mobile Germany when you get there. All will be well and you get to keep the g1

d0m1n0 said:
Hey guys,
So I'm being deployed to Germany for 2 years, and I would like to know if I can keep my US T-Mobile service and use it over there. The dude at T-Mobile said that my G1 will not work in germany. He said I would have to get a new, German G1 and get a new service plan with the provider over there.
My phone is currently rooted and I use Cyanogen's roms. I have no idea who the provider is over there.
Guessing I would be roaming?
G1 not a world phone?
Would tethering still work?
Any information or help is greatly appreciated. I leave next Tuesday and need to get things squared away before I go.
Thanks!
EDIT: Maybe this needs to be moved to Q&A, my bad. If so, mod please move it. Sorry
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If you move outside T-Mobile USA's calling area (out of the country counts) and you can show them you did (call 800-937-8997) they will let you pass on the early termination fee.
Just ask a customer care rep know what you need to provided them to show you moved out of their coverage area to get your ETF fee waved.
Also if you have had TMO for more then 90 days you can reqeust a SIM unlock code. I would do this before you cancel service...

T-Mobile G1 in Europe?

I live in the US and I have a trip planned to London, Paris and Rome in May. I own a T-mobile G1 and was wondering what my best option was for using my G1 in those cities. I know there are a lot of European users here on XDA so I was hoping somebody could give me some advise from experience. I do realize that the 3G won't work over there no matter what I do.
Thanks for any and all help!

NickPDX said:
I live in the US and I have a trip planned to London, Paris and Rome in May. I own a T-mobile G1 and was wondering what my best option was for using my G1 in those cities. I know there are a lot of European users here on XDA so I was hoping somebody could give me some advise from experience. I do realize that the 3G won't work over there no matter what I do.
Thanks for any and all help!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
3G should work fine. When you get there, buy a local prepaid simcard.

You need to unlock it first, call T-Mo and tell them what you just posted and they will give you the unlock code.

Your best bet for London (once you've got the phone unlocked) is a "pay as you go" sim from three. Just put £10 credit on it and you'll get a 150mb, 90day internet allowance. If you need to top it up again you get that allowance renewed every time.

Unless I am mistaking, the phone is rooted and is running a non stock rom, thus it is unlocked. I will look into the prepaid sim cards. Will I have to get a different one for each of the countries/cities?
@lbcoder: are you sure about the 3G? since this is a t-mobile phone I was under the impression that the bands it uses for 3G are only the N. American Bands and would only work over here.

Not unlocked for other networks, you need to get it unlocked to use other networks.

NickPDX said:
Unless I am mistaking, the phone is rooted and is running a non stock rom, thus it is unlocked.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Sim unlock isn't the same thing as root.. You need a code from t-mobile for that. They'll give you one if you tell them what you've told us.
NickPDX said:
I will look into the prepaid sim cards. Will I have to get a different one for each of the countries/cities?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That's going to be the cheapest way to do it.. You'll get brutally raped for roaming charges otherwise. In the UK the cards are usually free, you just have to buy the calling credit.

TMO will give you your SIM unlock code for free if your account has been paid up for 90 days or longer. They take up to 7 days. I had to get this from TMO via my American friend when I bought my G1 off him. There are places online where you can pay $25 or so and get an unlock code within hours. SIM unlock is not the same thing as root.
I'm also just about to go to Europe! Vodafone turned on global roaming for free (I just pay for calls) and they sells packs of roaming data, I got 25Mb for $50, which is way cheaper than their usual rate of $10 per 1Mb! For me this is easier than stuffing round with pre-paid SIM cards, changing number and whatever, I also don't know if a pre-paid SIM gives mobile data access? Give TMO a call and see what they offer.
I will turn off Sync and use DroidWall to make sure stuff doesn't update in the background and use all my allowance. It's really only to update Facebook to let people know I am still alive

Your G1 will most definitely work and use 3G in London. You can grab a T-Mo prepaid SIM from the multiple vending machines in the airport when you arrive in London, and swap it in and start using it immediately. I did exactly this at both Gatwick and Heathrow. Do like the other posters said and call T-Mobile in the US and get the unlock code before you fly. It's free that way. I did that too, and they are cool about it. It took about 24 hours after my request and it was emailed to me. The one thing that confused me at first was my G1 kept asking for a "SIM unlock code" or something like that after I had unlocked it using the T-Mobile code. Turns out it was a security setting that I could disable, to prevent someone from using the phone if they stole it. Two totally different "SIM unlocks". Now I know.

[Q] Unlock Contract Phone AT&T

Hi, I recently bought a Samsung S4 from AT&T (sgh-i337) with 2 years contract and I wanted to know if I can unlock the sim carrier lock to use it outside the US, Im going to Italy for 3 weeks and I want to buy a sim over there since At&t's international plans are expensive, if its possible to unlock it wil I have any problems with at&t? I heard they usually block the phone.

stewe95 said:
Hi, I recently bought a Samsung S4 from AT&T (sgh-i337) with 2 years contract and I wanted to know if I can unlock the sim carrier lock to use it outside the US, Im going to Italy for 3 weeks and I want to buy a sim over there since At&t's international plans are expensive, if its possible to unlock it wil I have any problems with at&t? I heard they usually block the phone.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Try this method:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2285431
or this method if the first one didn't work
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showpost.php?p=41580940&postcount=18
if both don't work use ebay, you'll find plenty of sellers that unlock the device for as low as $3.00. I got mine unlocked on ebay and i'm using it on a overseas LTE network with no problems whatsoever.
Hope this helps
For a better visual guide see this
http://www.redmondpie.com/how-to-sim-unlock-samsung-galaxy-s4-gt-i9505-for-free/

stewe95 said:
Hi, I recently bought a Samsung S4 from AT&T (sgh-i337) with 2 years contract and I wanted to know if I can unlock the sim carrier lock to use it outside the US, Im going to Italy for 3 weeks and I want to buy a sim over there since At&t's international plans are expensive, if its possible to unlock it wil I have any problems with at&t? I heard they usually block the phone.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Call AT&T and tell them you are going out of country. Sometimes they will give you an unlock code. Sometimes you have to try a couple of times (call and talk to different people). Sometimes they won't give you a code. If you try the "hidden menu" unlock, be careful, it can mess your phone up...read through the thread completely.
Best thing to do, if AT&T doesn't give you a code is to try one of the online sites such as cellunlocker.net.
Good luck.

scott14719 said:
Call AT&T and tell them you are going out of country. Sometimes they will give you an unlock code. Sometimes you have to try a couple of times (call and talk to different people). Sometimes they won't give you a code. If you try the "hidden menu" unlock, be careful, it can mess your phone up...read through the thread completely.
Best thing to do, if AT&T doesn't give you a code is to try one of the online sites such as cellunlocker.net.
Good luck.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hmm all right Im going to try with the hidden menu method, but they won't block my sim (at&t), the phone or anything like that because of the 2 years contract?

stewe95 said:
Hmm all right Im going to try with the hidden menu method, but they won't block my sim (at&t), the phone or anything like that because of the 2 years contract?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
They have no way to know if the phone is sim locked or not. They don't even car if you turn it off or use it on another carrier. As long as you pay your bill and are not abusing unlimited data (if you have it) - they leave you alone. They just want the monthly fee for 2 years.

I recently called ATT and was told that I would have to wait 90 days before they could give me unlock code. I didn't try again but have read about people being successful at getting code from ATT.

stewe95 said:
Hmm all right Im going to try with the hidden menu method, but they won't block my sim (at&t), the phone or anything like that because of the 2 years contract?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Good luck. The "Hidden menu" unlock has worked for many. However, if it doesn't work for you or if it screws your phone up in some way please do not make another thread about it. Several threads already exist that you can get information from others that tried it and screwed their phones up...just search for them. Of course, it won't do you any good because I haven't seen people find away to undo the damage (unable to unlock at all, worse reception, etc...). Hopefully, you won't need to search for them.

I used the hidden menu tutorial and can tell you it works perfect if you follow the direction right. I tested it with a t mobile sim and it worked also tried a European Vodafone and worked because I'm also going to Europe for 5 weeks.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I337 using Tapatalk 4 Beta

milicigoran said:
I used the hidden menu tutorial and can tell you it works perfect if you follow the direction right. I tested it with a t mobile sim and it worked also tried a European Vodafone and worked because I'm also going to Europe for 5 weeks.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I337 using Tapatalk 4 Beta
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It worked perfect for you but it doesn't work for everyone. Telling people it WILL work for them if they follow the directions right is misleading and dangerous. How do you know it WILL work for him? It is well known that people have followed the directions right and it did not work. It is also known that people have messed their phones up using the method. Can you guarantee that the "Golden backup" on his phone eliminates the network locks? How do you know the "Golden backup" on his phone won't lock his ability to use a sim-unlock code for ever...or worse?
Maybe it will work for him (it has for many), maybe it will not, but it IS HIS RISK and there are no guarantees, It is arrogant to suggest something will work for everyone just because it worked for you. Especially when it has been documented time and time again that it does not always work regardless of the directions followed. Are you are saying that everyone it didn't work for didn't follow the directions right?

What options do I have for Sim Unlocking

I bought this phone to use on Sprint MVNO company and want to use it to travel and use on other countries.
What are my options?
Sprint is telling me I must have a Sprint account and open for 50 days before they will unlock.
Never ulocked CDMA phone before.
Thanks in advance.

Nextstep said:
I bought this phone to use on Sprint MVNO company and want to use it to travel and use on other countries.
What are my options?
Sprint is telling me I must have a Sprint account and open for 50 days before they will unlock.
Never ulocked CDMA phone before.
Thanks in advance.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
For $14.95 you can get it unlocked, it takes about 5 minutes if that. I already did it to my phone.
http://theandroiddoctor.com/remote-network-unlock-service-for-sprint-samsung-galaxy-s7-edge-sm-g935p/

I don't trust someone logging in remotely doing who knows what... Any other options?

I can do it for you, it's remotely but I won't be logging in to your pc and I can price match $15.

Desperate: Is there any way to unlock a blacklisted Samsung S7 from T-Mobile?

Hello all,
Like many others, I unknowingly bought a blacklisted phone on eBay. It's a Samsung S7 with T-Mobile from the US. I live in Costa Rica, and I'm trying to use a SIM from a local service provider. Sending the phone back for an uninteresting list of various reasons is impossible at this point. So, I am attempting to unlock it.
I rooted the phone with SuperSu thinking that would work, now I know better. After hours and hours of research, I found a xda dev that can remove the lock, but with my slow internet speed, he says it's impossible.
I was suggested to use one of the paid services, but I'm concerned that if my slow connection will not work for the xda dev, why would it work for a paid unlock service? My connection is 5/1. Anyone have any luck buying the expensive @$$ service and successfully receiving the code with a slow connection?
Is there really no way around the T-Mobile Unlock App?
Is there truly no DIY process or program that I can do, being that the paid unlock services may not to work?
I really need this phone to work. I just moved to Costa Rica, and I use my phone to work. So, I am pretty damn stuck between a rock and a hard place with spikes. I'm pretty desperate, almost willingly to pay my last money to a dumb unlock service.
But some of the services say that it will not work if the phone is blacklisted.
I just don't know what my options are at this point.

Blacklisted phone
victoriaa22 said:
Hello all,
Like many others, I unknowingly bought a blacklisted phone on eBay. It's a Samsung S7 with T-Mobile from the US. I live in Costa Rica, and I'm trying to use a SIM from a local service provider. Sending the phone back for an uninteresting list of various reasons is impossible at this point. So, I am attempting to unlock it.
I rooted the phone with SuperSu thinking that would work, now I know better. After hours and hours of research, I found a xda dev that can remove the lock, but with my slow internet speed, he says it's impossible.
I was suggested to use one of the paid services, but I'm concerned that if my slow connection will not work for the xda dev, why would it work for a paid unlock service? My connection is 5/1. Anyone have any luck buying the expensive @$$ service and successfully receiving the code with a slow connection?
Is there really no way around the T-Mobile Unlock App?
Is there truly no DIY process or program that I can do, being that the paid unlock services may not to work?
I really need this phone to work. I just moved to Costa Rica, and I use my phone to work. So, I am pretty damn stuck between a rock and a hard place with spikes. I'm pretty desperate, almost willingly to pay my last money to a dumb unlock service.
But some of the services say that it will not work if the phone is blacklisted.
I just don't know what my options are at this point.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Might be able to resell the phone with a *disclaimer* that it is blacklisted, I would recommend Swappa over Ebay though, (I got a really decent chunk of change for my Galaxy S Blaze that I sold on there), and then use the proceeds from that to acquire a phone that isn't stolen.

I got mine unlocked in a repair shop at gaffar market,delhi,india for rs 3200 inr and it was blacklisted on tmobile's website, when bought it was unlocked but after few days it automatically got locked to tmobile.
I mean to say if i can get it done in india you guys can also get it done in your countries.

You would have to do a firmware swap - which you could do yourself - you just won't be able to use it on that particular carrier, even via an MVNO on that carrier. My own S7 is ex-VZW (network locked); but I could take it to T-Mobile (and did) via firmware swap. My carrier (Tracfone) uses both VZW and T-Mobile towers ; while VZW was out, T-Mobile, however, works fine. If you sell the phone post-swap, include documentation that a firmware swap was done, so the buyer does not try to take it to T-M by mistake - some folks insist on following the labelling unless expressly told not to. (My S7 still has VZW labelling.)

PGHammer said:
You would have to do a firmware swap - which you could do yourself - you just won't be able to use it on that particular carrier, even via an MVNO on that carrier. My own S7 is ex-VZW (network locked); but I could take it to T-Mobile (and did) via firmware swap. My carrier (Tracfone) uses both VZW and T-Mobile towers ; while VZW was out, T-Mobile, however, works fine. If you sell the phone post-swap, include documentation that a firmware swap was done, so the buyer does not try to take it to T-M by mistake - some folks insist on following the labelling unless expressly told not to. (My S7 still has VZW labelling.)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Firmware swap? So you're saying you can take a Note 4 on T-Mobile that is blacklisted and you can fix the problem just by flashing a new firmware from AT&T? Am I understanding that correctly or no? Because I have a Note 4 that is on T-Mobile that someone left at my GF's work and never came back for, so they wanted to throw it away, so I took it, I rooted it, deleted all the bloatware and have it working great as a small tablet, but I can't use it as a phone because it is blacklisted. Been trying to find a way to use it for years now with no luck, I will not dish out any money to one of those sites, I don't trust them. If there is a way I can do it myself I would surely try it.

Indeed You Can
Anthonyx82x said:
Firmware swap? So you're saying you can take a Note 4 on T-Mobile that is blacklisted and you can fix the problem just by flashing a new firmware from AT&T? Am I understanding that correctly or no? Because I have a Note 4 that is on T-Mobile that someone left at my GF's work and never came back for, so they wanted to throw it away, so I took it, I rooted it, deleted all the bloatware and have it working great as a small tablet, but I can't use it as a phone because it is blacklisted. Been trying to find a way to use it for years now with no luck, I will not dish out any money to one of those sites, I don't trust them. If there is a way I can do it myself I would surely try it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
A blacklisted IMEI only affects the blacklisted carrier in question - it does not affect ALL carriers. (I cannot take my Snapdragon S7 to Verizon or that side of Tracfone due the IMEI being Verizon-blacklisted; however, it does not affect T-Mobile or the T-Mobile side of Tracfone - which is a separate network/carrier - which is why I was able to take the phone there.
. In your case, your Note 4 has a T-Mobile blacklisted IMEI; therefore, you can take it to AT&T Mobility, Verizon, the Verizon half of Tracfone, or Sprint - you simply need the apropos firmware and SIM. If the phone itself has T-Mobile labeling/branding, and you are trying to sell it, you should include documentation indicating what was done, and why (honesty). The biggest issue is sellers that DON'T do that (document what was done) or worse - don't do a firmware/ROM change for a phone with a blacklisted IMEI. So you can actually use it as a phone - you just can't take it to the original carrier.

victoriaa22 said:
Hello all,
Like many others, I unknowingly bought a blacklisted phone on eBay. It's a Samsung S7 with T-Mobile from the US. I live in Costa Rica, and I'm trying to use a SIM from a local service provider. Sending the phone back for an uninteresting list of various reasons is impossible at this point. So, I am attempting to unlock it.
I rooted the phone with SuperSu thinking that would work, now I know better. After hours and hours of research, I found a xda dev that can remove the lock, but with my slow internet speed, he says it's impossible.
I was suggested to use one of the paid services, but I'm concerned that if my slow connection will not work for the xda dev, why would it work for a paid unlock service? My connection is 5/1. Anyone have any luck buying the expensive @$$ service and successfully receiving the code with a slow connection?
Is there really no way around the T-Mobile Unlock App?
Is there truly no DIY process or program that I can do, being that the paid unlock services may not to work?
I really need this phone to work. I just moved to Costa Rica, and I use my phone to work. So, I am pretty damn stuck between a rock and a hard place with spikes. I'm pretty desperate, almost willingly to pay my last money to a dumb unlock service.
But some of the services say that it will not work if the phone is blacklisted.
I just don't know what my options are at this point.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Try https://www.gsmzambia.com/.
You need a Windows PC with Teamviewer.

Anthonyx82x said:
Firmware swap? So you're saying you can take a Note 4 on T-Mobile that is blacklisted and you can fix the problem just by flashing a new firmware from AT&T? Am I understanding that correctly or no? Because I have a Note 4 that is on T-Mobile that someone left at my GF's work and never came back for, so they wanted to throw it away, so I took it, I rooted it, deleted all the bloatware and have it working great as a small tablet, but I can't use it as a phone because it is blacklisted. Been trying to find a way to use it for years now with no luck, I will not dish out any money to one of those sites, I don't trust them. If there is a way I can do it myself I would surely try it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
This is what I am saying - that and a SIM from a carrier other than the one that blacklisted the IMEI - I took my own phone from VZW to T-Mobile (Tracfone supports both carrier networks). Because it was an internal swap (same MVNO), it cost me nothing.