I have the model V350ULM purchased from bhphotovideo. According to them this is the unlocked version that works on all 3 US networks including Verizon. Is this the same as the Amazon version except for the fact that the Amazon version has more bloatware?
The AT&T version V350AWM I believe is GSM only and would not work on Verizon, correct?
Is it fair to say that the ULM version is "better" than the AWM version since the ULM can work on Verizon? Or is there a way to root and load a custom rom on the ULM version so that the AT&T version also works on Verizon?
Reason for asking is that I am getting ready to sell the ULM model on ebay and want to be honest and accurate in the listing and description.
I think all of my V35 were AT&T version and I flashed the ULM software on all of them. Recently I tried both Verizon and Sprint sims in one of them. Verizon worked fine but that may be because Verizon has mostly moved away from CDMA. When I tried a working Sprint sim card in it, it did restart and adapted to it showing MEID number, other CDMA settings, and it also automatically put in APN settings as well. I can't be sure if this is the function of ULM software that it did that or it actually has CDMA bands but my hunch is that similar to Samsung (they started with Note 8 and may be even earlier) starting with LG V30, LG is also making just one hardware unit and using software (KDZ) to set it for different regions and carriers.
To help answer your actual question, I can confirm that it will work on Verizon and it should work on Sprint but in Sprint's case you will actually have to request that it's ESN be added to some list through Sprint customer service which it seems is a headache. If you or anyone wanted detailed information about this and how to convert an AWM unit to a ULM one, check out this thread, particularly post #6 and also thank the author of the guide while there:
https://forum.xda-developers.com/lg-v35/help/att-v35-unlocked-wont-verizon-t3958765
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So I got burned on ebay on two separate US996 phones. The sellers never stated a provider and just said factory unlocked (some on ebay actually say US Cellular) so I naively assumed they were the same as the unlocked version B&H photo has been selling.
However after buying them I found a thread on how to tell the difference and the factory unlocked should say USA under the battery. However, the phone I got says UCL (which I think is US cellular) and my wife's phone says BPL (no idea what provider that is).
So, I am wondering if I should just keep these at this point. I paid $268 for my wife's phone about a month or two back and $250 for mine a week ago, so not a terrible deal, but I could have gotten an AT&T unlocked version for not much more new.
So anyway, these phones don't come with any carrier bloatware which is nice and why I'm considering just keeping them. I don't really care about rooting, however I am concerned about 2 things: future updates and cellular bands.
Does anyone know what the differences are hardware wise between these 3 variants or is the only thing that's different the software?
If it's just software shouldn't there be a way to flash these with the real factory unlocked firmware?
Here's a page with the latest ROMs for each variant of the US996:
https://lg-firmwares.com/lg-us996-firmwares/
The BPT one is the BrightPoint version.
The odd thing is that the US Cellular version of the US996 has a much newer version of firmware than the USA Factory Unlocked US996.
Interesting. It looks like the US Cellular firmware works on the unlocked version so I guess there is no difference. I wonder if that means I can flash my wife's phone with the US cellular firmware as well. Never heard of brightpoint.
shawnmos said:
Interesting. It looks like the US Cellular firmware works on the unlocked version so I guess there is no difference. I wonder if that means I can flash my wife's phone with the US cellular firmware as well. Never heard of brightpoint.
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not sure how true it is, but if you flash the US Cellular firmware on the unlocked version and try to unlock through LG then it would no longer be recognized as the unlocked version. that said you can unlock first and then flash... which is what I did so I can't confirm the former to be true
I was wondering if there are different version of the OnePlus 6t. I have seen some called "global", "international", or "T-Mobile" version. I am moving from a LG V20, of which there were 5 or 6 different versions depending on carriers. Are all of the 6t's the same? Can I download the updates and not have to worry about messing up my phone? Thank you!
Downloading an update directly from Android UI will not break your phone (unless you have modified system partition)
Just take the global/international version (a6013) from oneplus.com and you'll be fine
There's two versions, international, and T-Mobile.
International and global are names for the same thing. It's the phone directly from OnePlus. It gets updates the quickest and has dual SIM support out of the box. You can get all the hardware versions (6/8gb ram, 128gb/256gb storage).
TMobile version is only 8gb/128gb. Only in mirror black. It comes with single Sim support out of the box. It has a locked bootloader that can only be unlocked if you get TMobile to SIM unlock the phone (typically once the device is paid off, but people have got it done sooner). So far it's only gotten one update and seems to be a few weeks behind the international version. It *might* have software optimizations for T-Mobiles network. (Dual SIM can be done with an unlocked bootloader and running the international software. You can't take OTA updates and must flash manually)
Sales and monthly payments can possibly make the TMobile version a better deal. If you're paying outright and full price. Get the phone directly from OnePlus. The only advantages the T-Mobile version has is the possible network optimizations (not proven, but assumed), and the fact that you can swipe left on the home screen and access Google feed. You can't do this with the default launcher on the International version. But this is a minor issue. There's trade offs with the TMobile version, but it's possible to be cheap enough to make up for the trade offs. You can look at the (Don't buy the TMobile, and Do buy the T-Mobile) threads in the discussion subforum.
Thank you.
My 6t is on order and I plan to use it with Verizon. Thank you for the information.
wakko222 said:
My 6t is on order and I plan to use it with Verizon. Thank you for the information.
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Works great on Verizon.
Use chat to get them to configure CDMA_LESS or LTE only mode. Took about two minutes for me. Otherwise SMS won't be received.
I'm looking to activate a factory-unlocked US996 on the US Cellular network. The MEID does not show up as working on their BYOD site, and they said the same thing when I took it in to activate it. It does seem to work with a USCC sim card. I checked the MEID Swappa and the stolen phone database and it came up clean on both.
Do I have any options for getting this to work on their network? I have seen comments on Reddit recommending people to lie over the phone and say that it's an unlocked G5, but I don't really see how that would work unless they're somehow getting USCC to add that ESN to their whitelist.
I probably should have bought the USCC version, but I wasn't thinking. If nothing works, I'll just buy the USCC version and sell this one.
If this is a repeat, my apologies. I have searched in a couple places, but the particular wording (US996 AND US Cellular) means that a lot of hits are for using the USCC V20 on other carriers or distinguishing between the unlocked and USCC versions of the V20.
I'm not sure how US Cellular does things, but when this issue would arise with Verizon, we could just take a SIM out of a phone that has service on their Network, and put it into the new device (if it has the supported bands).
This may mean that you would have to activate service with a different "approved" device with the same size SIM, and then swap the SIM into the US996 once activated.
Again, I don't know if this is the case with US Cellular.
pistacios said:
I'm not sure how US Cellular does things, but when this issue would arise with Verizon, we could just take a SIM out of a phone that has service on their Network, and put it into the new device (if it has the supported bands).
This may mean that you would have to activate service with a different "approved" device with the same size SIM, and then swap the SIM into the US996 once activated.
Again, I don't know if this is the case with US Cellular.
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That's a great idea, thanks! I'll give it a try.
tried to run the imei number on the sprint and verizon site, says cannot be activated. Went to sprint and called verizon, says att branded phone cannot be activated. This is unlocked, works on tmo. tried searching for a solution in the forum but no dice.
nerd2k said:
tried to run the imei number on the sprint and verizon site, says cannot be activated. Went to sprint and called verizon, says att branded phone cannot be activated. This is unlocked, works on tmo. tried searching for a solution in the forum but no dice.
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Doesn't matter if it's "unlocked", other carriers have their rules for what they allow on their networks. Most AT&T phones don't have CDMA, and Sprint, Verizon (for now) still uses CDMA.
On non-branded phones you won't get VoLTE from most carriers (T-Mobile is the exception) and without VoLTE you would need to temporarily drop down to CDMA for voice calls on Sprint and Verizon.
Even on phones that have CDMA, like the LG V30 US998, Verizon still wants you to buy their branded phones -- because end of this year when CDMA goes away, those phone still won't have VoLTE. So in a few months those phones won't be able to make phone calls. I have two relatives with LG V30/V30+ US998 on Verizon. Don't ask how, there are ways. But even of 2020 they will need new phones when Verizon kills CDMA and they can't get VoLTE on non-Verizon phones.
nerd2k said:
tried to run the imei number on the sprint and verizon site, says cannot be activated. Went to sprint and called verizon, says att branded phone cannot be activated. This is unlocked, works on tmo. tried searching for a solution in the forum but no dice.
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As an owner of an AT&T v35 I can tell you it will work nicely on the Verizon network including VoLTE and VoWIFI. You do have to jump through a few hurdles. You will need a SIM activated on the Verizon network. That may mean buying a new phone from Verizon. You also need to SIM unlock the v35 by buying a code from a site like codes2unlock.com. You may also need to cross flash to the NA rom. These things should be done in that order, and there is no going back to an AT&T rom afterwards.
ChazzMatt said:
Even on phones that have CDMA, like the LG V30 US998, Verizon still wants you to buy their branded phones -- because end of this year when CDMA goes away, those phone still won't have VoLTE. So in a few months those phones won't be able to make phone calls. I have two relatives with LG V30/V30+ US998 on Verizon. Don't ask how, there are ways. But even of 2020 they will need new phones when Verizon kills CDMA and they can't get VoLTE on non-Verizon phones.
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Chazz, can you clarify this? I have a US998 v30s running on Verizon with VoLTE. It was my understanding that it will not be affected by shutdown of cdma by Verizon. I like the phone and want to continue using it.
cmrntnnr said:
As an owner of an AT&T v35 I can tell you it will work nicely on the Verizon network including VoLTE and VoWIFI. You do have to jump through a few hurdles. You will need a SIM activated on the Verizon network. That may mean buying a new phone from Verizon.
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My brother-in-law found Verizon store rep willing to break the rules for he and my sister's USS98 V30+ (converted from Sprint LS998). They switched from AT&T to Verizon.
This guy said "Verizon wants you to buy their phones, of course. They'll tell you this phone (US998) won't work, but it will." He activated two SIM cards and put them in their US998.
He said "If you have any issues, ONLY see me here at this store. Don't talk to any other reps about this." Wink, wink, nudge, nudge. (Monty Python reference.)
My brother-in-law and sister don't have V35 on Verizon, but you probably have VoLTE because you enabled VoLTE on another phone (Droid Turbo)? I don't know if they have Verizon VoLTE on US998 V30+, but I assumed they didn't...
cmrntnnr said:
Chazz, can you clarify this? I have a US998 v30s running on Verizon with VoLTE. It was my understanding that it will not be affected by shutdown of cdma by Verizon. I like the phone and want to continue using it.
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If you have Verizon VoLTE now, then nothing will change.
I assumed my brother-in-law and sister don't have VoLTE and are temporarily dropping to CDMA for phone calls. But I have no way of easily checking. Neither would know what "VoLTE" is nor "CDMA".
I merely told them their US998 phones were carrier unlocked and would work on Verizon -- if they got already-activated SIM cards. My brother-in-law used his considerable sales skills and found a helpful rep.
thanks a ton @chazz for the clarification. i have already move to AMZ 9.0 which looked to be pure android. was not able to get NAO due to error(sha256 auth error). AMZ was the only one that worked from multiple different firmwares(lgfirmware /sammobile) from us region and it works awesome.
For the verizon sim card, can i buy flip phone or a throw away verizon smart phone with the activated sim card and use it with the v35. similarly can you use the approach for sprint?
Again your response is much appreciated.
You should consider features you want to have on your account when buying the phone from Verizon. Some can be toggled through the the settings menu on the v35 like Advanced Calling for VoLTE, but others can't like visual voice mail. Ask to have them activated when you buy the phone. Keep that Verizon phone, you may have to get help in the future from Verizon and it will come in handy! They won't be impressed with the v35.
I don't have proof of it and am not in a position to test, but I suspect you cannot activate a Sprint sim on a Sprint phone and then move to the v35. My understanding from reading about the open market ULM and AT&T branded v35 is that Sprint maintains an IMEI whitelist. Sprint only allows Sprint branded phones on their network. This is why the ULM model is preferred for Google FI.
Please post what you learn so others can benefit.
nerd2k said:
thanks a ton @chazz for the clarification. i have already move to AMZ 9.0 which looked to be pure android. was not able to get NAO due to error(sha256 auth error). AMZ was the only one that worked from multiple different firmwares(lgfirmware /sammobile) from us region and it works awesome.
For the verizon sim card, can i buy flip phone or a throw away verizon smart phone with the activated sim card and use it with the v35. similarly can you use the approach for sprint?
Again your response is much appreciated.
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I am trying to buy a new V20 VS995 on ebay right now, but the only NEW ones all say they are 'Unlocked' (I need the VS995 because I have Verizon). I made a previous post yesterday and the responses made me do some research, and I have now learned that Verizon is retiring CDMA around the end of the year, and 4G NON-HD Voice phones will no longer work on the network beyond that. The VS995 does indeed have HD-Voice, but I am confused if the 'Unlocked' versions of the VS995 for sale are devoid of that feature, and if they are still Verizon compatible (since I also have read the "unlocked" US996 model no longer works on Verizon)? If so, then I'd rather get a non-unlocked VS995 phone because it would still be useful beyond 2020. I am a total noob compared to most people here... so these may be basic questions. If anyone can help me in making my decision, I'd be so so thankful.
I'm sorry if my post made no sense. I am just wondering if VoLTE is on the VS995 'unlocked' version. Or if I need to get a 'Network Locked' version to have the VoLTE feature. Verizon it seems will discontinue any non-VoLTE phones, and not allow me to activate them at this point. Just what I read, maybe I'm wrong. I don't want to waste my money. I hope this question makes some sense.
All VS995 phones actually came SIM unlocked out of the box because for a while up until last summer, Verizon was required by law to have their phones come unlocked as part of a deal when they purchased some network frequencies a while back. So, all VS995 models are the same and may only differ by the software that's currently installed when you buy one. VoLTE on Verizon should work on any VS995.
C D said:
All VS995 phones actually came SIM unlocked out of the box because for a while up until last summer, Verizon was required by law to have their phones come unlocked as part of a deal when they purchased some network frequencies a while back. So, all VS995 models are the same and may only differ by the software that's currently installed when you buy one. VoLTE on Verizon should work on any VS995.
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Thank you thank you thank you!!! I couldn't find that information anywhere, so it really helps a lot for you to share it.
Isn't VoLTE dependent on whether your service provider provides it. I only get voicemail messages when I put my fone on LTE/CDMA.
Settings>More>MobileNetworks>SystemSelect> NetworkMode give me options of Global, LTE/CDMA and LTE/GSM/UTMS. I don't get any calls if I select LTE/CDMA but data goes to 4G+ and won't throttle down to 3g. Advanced calling is greyed out as an option to select but that must be because my network provider doesn't provide it.
ezzony said:
Isn't VoLTE dependent on whether your service provider provides it. I only get voicemail messages when I put my fone on LTE/CDMA.
Settings>More>MobileNetworks>SystemSelect> NetworkMode give me options of Global, LTE/CDMA and LTE/GSM/UTMS. I don't get any calls if I select LTE/CDMA but data goes to 4G+ and won't throttle down to 3g. Advanced calling is greyed out as an option to select but that must be because my network provider doesn't provide it.
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Yes, availability of VoLTE and Wi-Fi calling depends on the support of the carrier. And at least in the U.S., if the carrier provides those features, the phone also has to be on whatever certification whitelist the carrier uses. Within the next 2–3 years, all major U.S. carriers are planning to shut down all networks below LTE (2G/3G/CDMA), so VoLTE will become a requirement to make phone calls over here. This may become an issue for any unlocked US996 owners in the U.S. as I don't know if that model gets VoLTE on the other carriers such as AT&T and T-Mobile, who strongly prefer their carrier-branded H910 and H918 variants.