Database Users

Urgent AT&T network problem: Atrix 4G Android

I am urgently in need of someone who can solve this network problem I have been having. Right now I can not access any mobile network with this phone.
I am using an Atrix 4g unlocked and rooted.
Basically, my problem is that my phone has been asking me for a "SIM network unlock PIN" every since my time in Italy.
I recently went to Italy 2 weeks ago, and came back yesterday. On my first day in Italy I bought an Italian SIM card from the Mobile Network company Tre, a company similar to AT&T. When I replaced my AT&T network card with the Tre one, it asked for the SIM network unlock pin. Seeing that I did not have a code on me at the time, and after trying several numbers given to my by Tre, I replaced the tre card with my original AT&T SIM card. I later learned that my phone was not international and I unfortunately did not call AT&T ahead to unlock it, causing the phone to lock network access. I learned that this is a security feature in case your phone is stolen.
I'm asking for your help because I spent literally over an hour with tier one and tier two support of both AT&T and Motorola technical support all telling me the same BS.
Before calling any support numbers, I went to an AT&T branch, and I told them the situation. They replaced my AT&T SIM card with a new one, yet the phone still asked for the SIM network unlock PIN. They then told me to call support and ask them about a subsidy unlock code. AT&T phone support gave me multiple codes to unlock the phone, but none of them worked. All of the SIM and IMEP numbers on the phone were correct in their systems too. After telling me exactly the same thing as tier 1 support, AT&T tier 2 then transferred me to common Motorola support tier 1 support. Motorola only told me to hard reset the phone, which I do multiple times every time I update your firmware anyway. The last hard reset I did to my device was literally 30 minutes before I called technical support. They then told me that the only thing I could do is to replace the phone under warranty with either motorola or AT&T.
However, I am in a pickel becuase my phone is completly unlocked, rooted, has CFW/kernel, etc...and I think that wards the warranty.
I have been using this same firmware ever since I got this phone during the last summer, and it has been working perfectly. After I put in the Italian SIM card, the network locks. I have no where else to turn but to an expert here on xda.
Is there anything I can do? The only thing I can think of is to tell my story to a nonobservant AT&T guy over at a store and ask him to replace it. However, I don't know what would happen if they found out my phone is unlocked and they gave me a new phone under warranty before realizing this...
Thanks

eurosport360 said:
I am urgently in need of someone who can solve this network problem I have been having. Right now I can not access any mobile network with this phone.
I am using an Atrix 4g unlocked and rooted.
Basically, my problem is that my phone has been asking me for a "SIM network unlock PIN" every since my time in Italy.
I recently went to Italy 2 weeks ago, and came back yesterday. On my first day in Italy I bought an Italian SIM card from the Mobile Network company Tre, a company similar to AT&T. When I replaced my AT&T network card with the Tre one, it asked for the SIM network unlock pin. Seeing that I did not have a code on me at the time, and after trying several numbers given to my by Tre, I replaced the tre card with my original AT&T SIM card. I later learned that my phone was not international and I unfortunately did not call AT&T ahead to unlock it, causing the phone to lock network access. I learned that this is a security feature in case your phone is stolen.
I'm asking for your help because I spent literally over an hour with tier one and tier two support of both AT&T and Motorola technical support all telling me the same BS.
Before calling any support numbers, I went to an AT&T branch, and I told them the situation. They replaced my AT&T SIM card with a new one, yet the phone still asked for the SIM network unlock PIN. They then told me to call support and ask them about a subsidy unlock code. AT&T phone support gave me multiple codes to unlock the phone, but none of them worked. All of the SIM and IMEP numbers on the phone were correct in their systems too. After telling me exactly the same thing as tier 1 support, AT&T tier 2 then transferred me to common Motorola support tier 1 support. Motorola only told me to hard reset the phone, which I do multiple times every time I update your firmware anyway. The last hard reset I did to my device was literally 30 minutes before I called technical support. They then told me that the only thing I could do is to replace the phone under warranty with either motorola or AT&T.
However, I am in a pickel becuase my phone is completly unlocked, rooted, has CFW/kernel, etc...and I think that wards the warranty.
I have been using this same firmware ever since I got this phone during the last summer, and it has been working perfectly. After I put in the Italian SIM card, the network locks. I have no where else to turn but to an expert here on xda.
Is there anything I can do? The only thing I can think of is to tell my story to a nonobservant AT&T guy over at a store and ask him to replace it. However, I don't know what would happen if they found out my phone is unlocked and they gave me a new phone under warranty before realizing this...
Thanks
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Ahh, perm SIM locked.
Pretty sure that has to go back to the manufacturer to be fixed, if it can be fixed at all.
Just go ask for a replacement, they shouldn't be able to unlock it anyways.

Longcat14 said:
Ahh, perm SIM locked.
Pretty sure that has to go back to the manufacturer to be fixed, if it can be fixed at all.
Just go ask for a replacement, they shouldn't be able to unlock it anyways.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
thanks for the reply.
However, two things:
1) I thought it might be permanent, but I was not sure. Back in Italy I remember the phone giving me a certain number of try's, so I now that I think of it I might have exceeded that, causing it to perm lock. Is there any other way in telling if it's perm locked?
2) Also, one of my concerns is that AT&T will see that my phone is unlocked and rooted and all of that, thus warding the warranty and the replacement. I'm thinking that maybe after I give them this phone and I get a new one, they look at the old phone in the future and will see that its rooted and unlocked. Is this possible or what?

eurosport360 said:
thanks for the reply.
However, two things:
1) I thought it might be permanent, but I was not sure. Back in Italy I remember the phone giving me a certain number of try's, so I now that I think of it I might have exceeded that, causing it to perm lock. Is there any other way in telling if it's perm locked?
2) Also, one of my concerns is that AT&T will see that my phone is unlocked and rooted and all of that, thus warding the warranty and the replacement. I'm thinking that maybe after I give them this phone and I get a new one, they look at the old phone in the future and will see that its rooted and unlocked. Is this possible or what?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
1) Just putting your sim card in and having the phone not respond pretty much sums up the sim lock.
2) I would at least revert the phone back to stock. AFAIK, unlocking the bootloader burned some sort of efuse so returning it back to a true factory state is "technically" impossible, but I do remember seeing that you could at least relock(?) and removed the unlocked notification at boot. I believe you should still be able to access the phone even when the sim has been locked, just start it without a sim card in place. If you can bring it back to an AT&T build, I think you'll be okay if you're still under warranty.
Just remember that next time you travel, either have an unlocked GSM phone or get a sim subsidy code from the carrier that the phone is linked to.

Would getting a code from cellunlock.net work? Or is their code the same as the ones given to me by AT&T tech support?
AT&T tech support gave me three '8 digit numbers', which were randomly generated. None of those worked. DO you think a cellunlock number would work?
Also, I am reading up on some forums saying that people in my situation (who's phone does not accept any SIM card and still askes for the code), can get the phone to accept some codes by reverting to stock firmware and radio. This is by .sbf though....

If things haven't changed, I believe the sim subsidy unlock would only clear the phone for the next foreign sim card placed in the phone whereas a real unlock code would completely unlock the code. Once your phone has been locked though, I don't think that code will be of use anymore.
It wouldn't hurt to try to sbf back to a stock build provided you follow the proper instructions to not get the x1000 hard bricks. Aside from trying that, I would think your best bet would be to just get the phone exchanged under warranty.
Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using Tapatalk

SIM lock
Looks like you have locked your SIM. Since you have rooted your phone you voided your warranty , best bet is look for SIM unlock code from online probably ebay will give you cheaper options, try them if worked great if not then there is a tool to root/unroot any android device, I will post the download link once i find. restore the device to factory settings if it permits and unroot back . then claim for replacement.

Hi i just unlock my device after hours of investigation. You have to change the baseband. Here is what you have to do. Flash the baseband to the ones from brazil (search in google sbf not the zip ones), after the process you can put it back to the usa at&t radio. Ones you change to tha brazil radio (wipe always before changes radio), put one sim card of another provider and voila, the code will work. You need to have your phone with no registration of motoblur at all.
I hope it will help you.
Enviado desde mi MB860 usando Tapatalk 2

kemoli said:
Hi i just unlock my device after hours of investigation. You have to change the baseband. Here is what you have to do. Flash the baseband to the ones from brazil (search in google sbf not the zip ones), after the process you can put it back to the usa at&t radio. Ones you change to tha brazil radio (wipe always before changes radio), put one sim card of another provider and voila, the code will work. You need to have your phone with no registration of motoblur at all.
I hope it will help you.
Enviado desde mi MB860 usando Tapatalk 2
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hey this metod works with an lg p930 too?

[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.

Please read forum rules before posting
Questions and help issues go in Q&A and Help sections
Thread moved
Thank you for your cooperation
Friendly Neighborhood Moderator

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.

[Q] International travel questions

Hey guys,
I tried searching on the topic but I'm hoping for more information specific to this phone.
I'm traveling to Germany in September. This will be my first time out of the country. I just called Sprint and requested for the phone to be unlocked for international travel. Since I've had the GS4 less than 90 days, I'm told this process will take a few days.
My questions are:
Now that my phone is unlocked, I can use international/locally bought micro-SIM cards, correct?
If I use these SIMs, will I still be subject to Sprint's high usage billing or will it operate entirely independently of Sprint's service?
If I flash a ROM, should I stick to the TW-based variants to ensure international capability? Or is it safer to leave the phone entirely stock until my trip is over?
If you have any tips and tricks for traveling (best SIM card, how to save money, the ROM you used while traveling, best apps for using minimal data, etc.) please do so! I appreciate your advice, everybody.
Thanks
-Tory

Edit:
D'oh! Thought I was in the Q&A forum. Mods, please move.
-Tory

mynameistory said:
Edit:
D'oh! Thought I was in the Q&A forum. Mods, please move.
-Tory
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If you lucky and your unlocking will go through without issues that some of us here are having then you should be able to use any non-US sim cards while outside the US. You will be subject to those carriers charges only. Just don't forget to turn off CDMA roaming and switch the phone to GMS/UMTS mode.
I cannot comment on the ROMs though.

I'm currently delpoyed with the military. Had my gs4 remotely unlocked and I now use a rebelphone sim card for my local area. Just turn your phone to gsm and I turn off data because its not included in my rebel phone package. Should be all good to go once u get that done.
Oh and I use blue kabans ROM
Sent from my SPH-L720 using xda app-developers app

Please read forum rules before posting
Questions and help issues go in Q&A and Help section
Thread moved
Thank you for your cooperation
Friendly Neighborhood Moderator

Possible to use US sim?
obender said:
If you lucky and your unlocking will go through without issues that some of us here are having then you should be able to use any non-US sim cards while outside the US. You will be subject to those carriers charges only. Just don't forget to turn off CDMA roaming and switch the phone to GMS/UMTS mode.
I cannot comment on the ROMs though.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Is it possible to use a US sim card from another carrier in the US to check that the phone has successfully been unlocked before traveling? Sprint's told me that they unlocked my phone, but I want to be absolutely sure before I step on a plane in two weeks. I also have an update procedure to unlock the phone - I'd like to do that here in the US before I leave so that if there's any problem, I can work them in advance.

Thanks for moving Kenny!
Kate, from what I've been reading, under no circumstances will Sprint allow the phone to connect to a US GSM network using a T-Mobile or AT&T SIM card. I think this is analogous to "unlocking" the phone from its carrier, which carriers do not tolerate.
Buck, I will look at rebel phone among others. It seems data will be expensive, no matter what SIM card I choose. I expect things like Facebook updates and photo uploads should wait until I connect to wireless at hostels or my friend's place.

kate98 said:
Is it possible to use a US sim card from another carrier in the US to check that the phone has successfully been unlocked before traveling? Sprint's told me that they unlocked my phone, but I want to be absolutely sure before I step on a plane in two weeks. I also have an update procedure to unlock the phone - I'd like to do that here in the US before I leave so that if there's any problem, I can work them in advance.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm in the same boat as you are, from what I could gather from forums and Sprint itself, the answer is NO, you cannot verify that you phone was unlock while here in the US with _ANY_ SIM card.

obender said:
I'm in the same boat as you are, from what I could gather from forums and Sprint itself, the answer is NO, you cannot verify that you phone was unlock while here in the US with _ANY_ SIM card.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hey obender, when you use international SIM cards, you lose your phone number for one they provide, correct?

mynameistory said:
Hey obender, when you use international SIM cards, you lose your phone number for one they provide, correct?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes, that's correct.

And does the phone need to be rooted? It sounds like maybe not for voice, probably for data? I will want both when we go to Spain in a few months. I don't have the phone yet but plan to pick one up this week - love my S3 but I can't use it internationally, and I don't think I can go back to my Photon for the trip.

RhinoDoc said:
And does the phone need to be rooted? It sounds like maybe not for voice, probably for data? I will want both when we go to Spain in a few months. I don't have the phone yet but plan to pick one up this week - love my S3 but I can't use it internationally, and I don't think I can go back to my Photon for the trip.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
People report issues with data but according to sprint once it is unlocked it should work just fine both gsm voice and data, no rooting should be needed.

You can verify your UICC(sim) slot is unlocked by sticking in any "non-Sprint" sim card... if you get an error saying "Invalid Sim" then it's not unlocked... if you see no error.. you are probably unlocked. You can further verify this by going into About Device > Status and seeing if it's reading the ICCID of your new sim card.
You can test this with domestic sims too(ATT/Tmo etc).. though you will not get service due to Samsung blocking them. But yes.. the phone will read the ATT/Tmo ICCID if unlocked.

autoprime said:
You can verify your UICC(sim) slot is unlocked by sticking in any "non-Sprint" sim card... if you get an error saying "Invalid Sim" then it's not unlocked... if you see no error.. you are probably unlocked. You can further verify this by going into About Device > Status and seeing if it's reading the ICCID of your new sim card.
You can test this with domestic sims too(ATT/Tmo etc).. though you will not get service due to Samsung blocking them. But yes.. the phone will read the ATT/Tmo ICCID if unlocked.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
According to sprint what you just said is not true. It should show "invalid SIM" all the time while you are in US no matter if you unlocked or not.

obender said:
According to sprint what you just said is not true. It should show "invalid SIM" all the time while you are in US no matter if you unlocked or not.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hi,
I got my sprint s4 unlocked by sprint for international use. I've got a europe orange sim, and when I put it in the phone, I don't get any error msg. (BTW, when I leave the phone without any sim card, it shows some small icon on top saying I'm missing a sim, also it won't let me go into network settings..) is it how it's suppose to be when Sprint unlock the phone for 3rd party sim (international) card? meaning If the phone was "unlocked" i would have get some error msg. saying the device "Can't access" the sim card etc.?
Thanks!

wolf1_o said:
Hi,
I got my sprint s4 unlocked by sprint for international use. I've got a europe orange sim, and when I put it in the phone, I don't get any error msg. (BTW, when I leave the phone without any sim card, it shows some small icon on top saying I'm missing a sim, also it won't let me go into network settings..) is it how it's suppose to be when Sprint unlock the phone for 3rd party sim (international) card? meaning If the phone was "unlocked" i would have get some error msg. saying the device "Can't access" the sim card etc.?
Thanks!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The error message would be the same small icon but it would just say "Invalid SIM", but this is just on my phone that was supposedly unlocked by Sprint, I cannot confirm that it actually works with non US SIM card since I haven't had a chance yet to travel outside the US. Your phone can be unlocked as well or not, you, unfortunately, have no way of telling this until you travel outside the US and try it.

obender said:
The error message would be the same small icon but it would just say "Invalid SIM", but this is just on my phone that was supposedly unlocked by Sprint, I cannot confirm that it actually works with non US SIM card since I haven't had a chance yet to travel outside the US. Your phone can be unlocked as well or not, you, unfortunately, have no way of telling this until you travel outside the US and try it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Alright, If it says invalid sim after you put international card in it's definitely not unlocked. Me and me friend got the phone on the same day and called sprint about 100 time to get the phones working. After sprint told me and my buddy that phones are unlocked, we put it German sim card in and it said invalid sim, but sprint said it will change when you go to Germany. So i didn't believe them and called them another 100 times till about mid June I talked to some supervisor and she said that phone is unlocked. So I put it my German sim back in and it sent me an SMS about the rates of that German service in USA. After that my friend called those assholes another 100 times and they assured him that it will definitely work even though it says invalid SIM. Long story shor... we get there and he is screwed for 3 weeks. Even more so, he was willing to pay $10 per minute to roam in Germany with Sprint... NO SIGNAL ANYWHERE... AND my data did not work with different sim card. only calls and sms. Later i found out that it could be fixed by going to a local branch and downloading something but it was too late. SO Sprint sucks.

Here's the email I got upon requesting the unlock:
Hello Torrance,
This email is intended to confirm that Sprint has successfully processed the unlock request for your Samsung Galaxy s4 Device.* In order for the unlock to be completed, the device has to be connected to the CDMA Network or Wi-Fi connection for the update to finalize.
*Once the update has been completed, please follow the steps below to unlock the device after you have the third party SIM:
*Turn off device > Insert 3rd party SIM > go to Settings > More (tab) > System Update > UICC unlock.* You will receive the update and it should change to GSM Mode.* *
*Phone number: XXX-XXX-XXXX
*If you have any additional questions comments or concerns please contact Sprint World Wide care 24/7 at 888-226-7212
*Thank you,
Ayesha J.
Sprint eCare

tarasator said:
Alright, If it says invalid sim after you put international card in it's definitely not unlocked. Me and me friend got the phone on the same day and called sprint about 100 time to get the phones working. After sprint told me and my buddy that phones are unlocked, we put it German sim card in and it said invalid sim, but sprint said it will change when you go to Germany. So i didn't believe them and called them another 100 times till about mid June I talked to some supervisor and she said that phone is unlocked. So I put it my German sim back in and it sent me an SMS about the rates of that German service in USA. After that my friend called those assholes another 100 times and they assured him that it will definitely work even though it says invalid SIM. Long story shor... we get there and he is screwed for 3 weeks. Even more so, he was willing to pay $10 per minute to roam in Germany with Sprint... NO SIGNAL ANYWHERE... AND my data did not work with different sim card. only calls and sms. Later i found out that it could be fixed by going to a local branch and downloading something but it was too late. SO Sprint sucks.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
What version of the firmware are you running, is it the latest OTA MF9?
---------- Post added at 02:39 AM ---------- Previous post was at 02:29 AM ----------
tarasator said:
Later i found out that it could be fixed by going to a local branch and downloading something but it was too late. SO Sprint sucks.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Could you be more specific?

obender said:
According to sprint what you just said is not true. It should show "invalid SIM" all the time while you are in US no matter if you unlocked or not.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Sprint doesnt know what theyre talking about half the time. that is incorrect info.
no matter what sim you put in... if its PROPERLY unlocked... then you wont see a "invalid sim error". even att/tmobile.
if you put a sim in and it says "invalid sim" then the OTA sim unlock was not properly done and despite saying unlocked in sprints system.. it's really not.
I have both a sprint gs4 and sprint htc one. it's exactly the same on both.

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.