Database Users

No contract EVO on family plan?

I looked through the threads and didn't see any topics about this, but if there are, my bad!
My question sort of has two parts:
Can I buy an EVO at full retail price so I'm not under contract? I just called Sprint customer service and they said they don't offer devices at full retail price, but could I buy it from Walmart or Best Buy, then have Sprint activate it on a new account? The customer service rep did say that in order to activate a new number, I would have to sign up for a 2 year contract, but I'm not sure if that's true if I bring my own device.
The other part of my question is, if I can get an EVO without a contract, could I then be on a family plan with my girlfriend if she gets an EVO for $200 on a two year contract? So it'd be a family plan split between two EVOs, one under a two year contract and one without a contract.
I'm hoping I can somehow make this work, I'm not a fan of contracts (I'm on T-Mo with no contract and I'm not sure what the status of my gf's dumb-phone on Verizon is).
Any help would be great! Thanks

That makes no sense you can buy it on Sprint's site at full price.
$450. Best Buy sells it for $500. You do have to have a plan that supports the phone though. Anyone who tells you differently is lieing because they don't make commissions when you don't extend your contract.
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Good luck finding a EVO off contract. At the Best buy and Sprint stores they were being real stingy with them, lying to people trying to get one without a contract and saying they were out of stock and they only have reserved phones.

Unless you already had the number that you wanted to purchase the off contract evo on already tied to sprint, you are out of luck. Once we activate a new line on a phone it will automatically create a new contract. It's the same concept as bringing in an old phone to activate it, you will still have a 2 yr contract but you will be eligible for your upgrade at any point in time. What you are trying to do is pointless because you still end up with a contract. Might as well just pay discounted price.

Unless you already had the number that you wanted to purchase the off contract evo on already tied to sprint, you are out of luck. Once we activate a new line on a phone it will automatically create a new contract. It's the same concept as bringing in an old phone to activate it, you will still have a 2 yr contract but you will be eligible for your upgrade at any point in time. What you are trying to do is pointless because you still end up with a contract. Might as well just pay discounted price.
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If he already has a plan that supports the Evo he won't need to extend the contract. The $10 data charge is treated like an add-on. Best Buy sold the guy next to me a full price Evo, that being said opening week is the hardest to buy a full price phone off of contract.
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Sent via the XDA taptalk app from my EVO

donatom3 said:
If he already has a plan that supports the Evo he won't need to extend the contract. The $10 data charge is treated like an add-on. Best Buy sold the guy next to me a full price Evo, that being said opening week is the hardest to buy a full price phone off of contract.
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Sent via the XDA taptalk app from my EVO
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Correct. But he said that he was with T-mobile. So in going with that I'm making the assumption that he doesn't have a sprint line, and he is more than likely porting over the number. If he does port over the number to create a new line then all the afformentioned contract info still applies. And at that, even with the small amount, at my store we were selling phones flat out if the customer did not yet qualify. A sale is a sale is a sale.

Oops I missed the TMobile part. Yeah new contract is the only way to go.
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Sent via the XDA taptalk app from my EVO

Contract? Seriously?

So I picked up a new Galaxy Tab from someone on Craigs last night. Love the device. The problem is, it's from Sprint. I wanted Sprint because they had good coverage where I needed it. Today, I found out that there's no way to get data on it without signing a 2-year contract. Seriously? You can get an iPad without signing a contract and T-mobile and Verizon have post-paid options, but not Sprint?
What is my incentive to sign a 2-year contract for a device that was never subsidized? I talked to a rep in the store as well as on the phone and there's apparently no compromise here. I guess I should have done more research before I bought the Sprint version. Now I have to sell it and try to get a T-mobile Tab.
I just can't believe that Sprint is this lame. I could understand something like this from Verizon or AT&T, but not Sprint.

I was about to say get a gsm one - i just use a pay as you go sim in the tab and swap it with the contract one with data when i want to use the tab for 3g
Sent from my GT-P1000 using XDA App

That sucks, I just bought T-Mob GT from CL for $280 a couple of days ago. And I am digging it. I just went to T-mobile they gave me a new sim for $10.00 and paid $10.00 for 100mb to get it started and Im on a pay as you go plan. No questions asked.

What's weird to me is Sprint doesn't want your money. I bought my sprint gtab at best buy and I'm currently on a pay per month plan that I signed up for when I bought it - 2 gig limit. I can cancel it anytime and there's no 2 year contract. Maybe it was a promotional contract or something i dont know. It's weird that if I sold it they wouldn't let the owner fire up the same plan.
Sent from my SPH-P100 using XDA App

You can activate with a contract
If you paid for price for the device and its not logged in their system as being sold with a contract, you can activate it month to month it just takes some talking. I received my tab as a gift and it was bought at full price at Best Buy. I had to talk to 3 sets of higher up reps, but finally someone was able to active it on the month to month plan. Just be persistent.

That's why, despite all it's shortcomings, I bought the verizon version. AT&T blows in general and I will be damned if I'm signing a contract for a freaking tablet so Verizon it was. I'll go without before I sign a contract for any kind of phone, tablet, laptop or anything else ever again.

Can't you use Boost Mobile pay as you go?

rangercaptain said:
Can't you use Boost Mobile pay as you go?
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How would I connect to Boost Mobile? Does it operate on the same frequencies as Sprint?

wolfson292 said:
If you paid for price for the device and its not logged in their system as being sold with a contract, you can activate it month to month it just takes some talking. I received my tab as a gift and it was bought at full price at Best Buy. I had to talk to 3 sets of higher up reps, but finally someone was able to active it on the month to month plan. Just be persistent.
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Did you already have Sprint service? I talked to two different reps today. They are claiming that I have to activate a line of service, which initiates the contract. I currently have a contract with AT&T, so that's not going to happen.
Still, I think it's ridiculous that it's this hard with Sprint, considering that I can buy a T-mobile Tab and just pop in a sim card and go with no issues. I've been shopping around for a T-mobile Tab, but I haven't found anything in the same price range so far. For me, the Tab is kind of crippled without always on data.

**Update**
I called again tonight and talked to a very sweet girl. She apparently talked to the right supervisor this time and they let me go month-to-month. Thanks for the suggestion, wolf. Looks like I'm good to go. Now I'll just have to go through this again if I ever cancel service and want to reactivate it.
So they do support month-to-month for tablets. You just have to talk to someone who knows that.

greyhulk said:
How would I connect to Boost Mobile? Does it operate on the same frequencies as Sprint?
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Its the same company.

FYI If you were thinking of getting the nexus S 4G

I ordered a pair of these yesterday over the phone with sprint, I asked them to match the bestbuy $149 price and they did, and they also waived the activation and gave me free shipping. And since I'm porting 2 numbers over from tmobile they are giving me $125 per line for that.
So if you hate best buy as much as I do, you don't have to deal with them if you can stand to wait a few days for a phone to ship out.
I'm going to spend that time backing up what I want off of my current phones and getting ready to ebay them or something.

I wonder if that only works for new customers, or if it works for those of us who upgraded.

EXACTLY what I did as well... Remember to fill out your paperwork for the port credit (you have 72 hrs).
https://www.spcconsumer.com/
The Nexus Rocks

Nice to know...I'm going to see if Sprint can credit my account the $50 difference I paid when I got my Nexus.

thanks for the heads up. wish i would of known sooner, i already bought mine from best buy. i paid the $199 bc i was adding a 5th line...i would take it back, but i already ported my at&t number over, so its a no go...oh well at least i'm still getting my $125 port-in credit.

i paid almost $600 for mine. got it on sunday at my local sprint store
Sent from my Nexus S 4G

why so much? I don't know really how sprint plans work, I didn't have a contract on tmo, does sprint have non contract plans like month to month that you're on so you didn't have to renew a contract?

my line was an upgrade....paid 199.99 tired to get them to pm they told me to get bent. I could return it but then its 35.00 restock....thats lame! They also reset my upgrade status from 75 to 150....so maybe I sholdnt complain to much.

i wasn't eligible for upgrade or discount so i paid retail. but so far i love this phone. i came from a rooted evo with aosp gingerbread
Sent from my Nexus S 4G

Good tip. I HATE going to best buy too.
Sent from my Nexus S using Tapatalk

I had a Hero, but broke contract for $50 to get the Nexus S at $199..I also got $40 for my hero which had a cracked screen and serious body damage. Best decision I've ever made!
Sent from my Nexus S 4G using XDA App

I bought this phone for retail as well for $550 plus tax from sprint release morning. Came out to be $620 with tax and the gloss black tpu case. Worth every penny,love thus phone so much! I hate beat buy as well they are selling it retail for $699 little over 8 bills with tax and a case. Screw that. This phone is awesome and I love it's on sprint
Sent from my Nexus S 4G using XDA Premium App

Anyone know if they'll price match in the Sprint store?

I just wanted to update, called UPS to tell them to hold the package at the warehouse, not able to do that only sprint can change it. I just called sprint they told me they can't change it either.
I specifically asked the rep I placed the order with if this was possible and I was LIED to.
Now I have to either try and work from home or take a day off of work to wait at my house for my phone to show up. What a ****ing joke, this isn't getting off to a good start at all.

http://www.wirefly.com/catalog/sprint/samsung/nexus-s-4g-from-google-black/
$99 starting tomorrow! damn that was quick :|

Why buy sg3 for full price?

I am from Canada and I'm with bell. I see all this people ordering phones for the price of 680$ and i can't help to ask myself if all those ppl are not on any contract. Because if you are in a 2 or 3 year contract you'll pay 200$ for the phone....So. If you are in a contract and are ordering the s3 please post your reasons please.
One of the reasons can very well be that there is a good flow of money and allows to get phones every year
Send from the Noteorious BIG 5.3" Bell Canada

Yep.. I hear ya. I just recently ran my contact out. Bought my GS2 for full price and didn't resign. Now I'm buying the GS3 with no contract. (I was considering switching to Verizon.. that's why I ran my contract out) but now I'm gonna stick around for a little bit. Oh and I happen to have the money right now, and you only live once so I'm going for it!
Though.. it wasn't easy telling my gf how much I paid
Sent from my SGH-I777 using Tapatalk 2

Cuz my current phone is absolutely uselessly unreliable but if i cancel my contract i will lose my unlimited data which is basically impossible to get now for the price i am paying.
Sent from my LG-P920 using xda premium

You can try getting your current contract phone unlocked, sell it, then buy the sg3 (or a newer phone in general) to replace it.
In general contracts are more expensive than their prepaid alternatives (that's the point of having them). They also ensure that you're locked-in. This is why getting something that does not have you extend your contract is preferable. At the end of the day, however, the only way to tell if it's worth it is to do the math and determine whether that's a price you're willing to pay for a $400 discount.

Youhit it right on the head.....a good flow of money allows me to buy 2 to 3 phones a year. so i bought the Note Lte, then im getting the international SGSIII, i will then switch back to LTE when the Note 2 comes out later this year I hope.
i love my phones and tablets........cant wait for the next big break on Tabs. My Prime is gathering dust....lol

the2rrell said:
Youhit it right on the head.....a good flow of money allows me to buy 2 to 3 phones a year. so i bought the Note Lte, then im getting the international SGSIII, i will then switch back to LTE when the Note 2 comes out later this year I hope.
i love my phones and tablets........cant wait for the next big break on Tabs. My Prime is gathering dust....lol
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I wouldn't mind taking that prime off your hands

MrReynus said:
I wouldn't mind taking that prime off your hands
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Haha.
Sent from my SGH-I777 using Tapatalk 2

eviltango said:
I am from Canada and I'm with bell. I see all this people ordering phones for the price of 680$ and i can't help to ask myself if all those ppl are not on any contract. Because if you are in a 2 or 3 year contract you'll pay 200$ for the phone....So. If you are in a contract and are ordering the s3 please post your reasons please.
One of the reasons can very well be that there is a good flow of money and allows to get phones every year
Send from the Noteorious BIG 5.3" Bell Canada
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Many of us have a good reason. Mine is that i got a free skyrocket when o renewed my contract and i sold ot immediately for 500. Then I just sold my captivate that i was using for 120 so now the sgs3 isnt really costing me much.
Sent from my HTC One X using XDA

SlimJ87D said:
Many of us have a good reason. Mine is that i got a free skyrocket when o renewed my contract and i sold ot immediately for 500. Then I just sold my captivate that i was using for 120 so now the sgs3 isnt really costing me much.
Sent from my HTC One X using XDA
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Damn.. over 100 for your cappy?! Nice job
Sent from my SGH-I777 using Tapatalk 2

Most of the users on xda are 27+ years old, they have the money...
While others like me, stick to one phone for 3+ years if possible and try to get the best phone at present.
3 years have passed and now its time for a new phone, ill get the international one which is unlockable/rootable for xda hacks and stuff like that

Coreym said:
Damn.. over 100 for your cappy?! Nice job
Sent from my SGH-I777 using Tapatalk 2
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Just sold my old SGS1 130€ (165$)

Mopral said:
Just sold my old SGS1 130€ (165$)
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Yeah that should be easier to sell. The international versions just hold more value.
Sent from my HTC One X using XDA

I'm in the UK on giffgaff. The network gives you payback for referrals and community help. It's paying me a fair bit this way, more than enough to cover the cost of the phone and topups

In Austria there are some really cheap bargain-contracts where you pay ~10€ per month for EVERYTHING (1gb, 1000 texts, 1000 minutes). These contracts also don't come with the obligation to stay at the network-provider for 24 months or so. The only thing: With these contracts you don't get an expensive phone cheaper, you need to buy it for the full price on the market.
But all in all you're on the cheaper side with these bargain contracts than with the normal contracts, because with normal contracts you pay about 20 to 50€ for the same service! If you calculate for 24 months, it's actually a bit cheaper when you buy the phone on the market for full price. With the advantage that you don't have any obligation to stay at this provider.

I'm in the US under AT&T, my contract is up in June. The reasons I'm getting the Int. S3 are:
- Won't be released in the US until later in the Summer
- Won't have to extend my AT&T contract
- Retain my AT&T phone upgrade discount (in case any come out I want)
- US version will be inferior to the Int. in many ways IMO (other than LTE)
- higher re-sale value
Those are the main reasons.

This is a re-post of something i posted up on another S3 thread:
yyhd said:
meeh, i dont mind waiting, but some of us have more than 1 spare phone available. others dont. so in that case, i'm right there with ya.
but on the other hand, $10 AT&T medianet is a no-brainer for me.. I'll buy an iPhone or an AT&T HOX on AT&T upgrade/contract for $199 and sell it on XDA MP or Craigslist for $600. That's $400 profit. International SGS3 is $700, less the $400 for the sold AT&T HOX. That's $300 out of pocket for an international SGS3.
Then take AT&T's 3gb data plan of $30 per month, multiply that by 24 and I get $720. VERSUS AT&T's medianet unlimited data plan for $10 per month, multiply by 24 and I get $240.
$720 minus $240 is $480. Take $480 and apply that towards the $300 you have left on the SGS3 after i've sold my AT&T HOX. I'm still out on top $180 (unless i did my math wrong, which im prone to do often lol)
This is my rational for getting an international SGS3.
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I'm on Sasktel. Sasktel chooses to shaft it's user base again and again.
What's different now? Oh yeah. COMPETITION! I can pop over to Rogers, Bell, Telus, Fido, Koodo...but that damn contract...that's the pain.
So, I figure when it comes out, I can buy either the bell OR sasktel version outright, slap it on Sasktel, and wait until next year to move.
I'm seriously debating the Expansys one though. If I pre-order a 16GB right now, it will be mine in no time at all.
That way...come September 2013, I can move, get a new phone for my wife for cheap (her needs aren't nearly the same as mine), get whatever latest greatest then, and turn around and sell my still amazing SGS3 for $400-$500 bucks, and my new contract didn't cost me a cent.

Because people don't want to be tied into contracts. In the UK 24 months seems the norm where as as few years ago 12 month contracts where widely available.
2 years is a long time, especially if the network you are on has poor signal and such. Most plans have poor amounts of data, but the likes of Three offer unlimited data for £34pm and free phone, however signal can be an issue on Three. And I myself have terrible speeds previously on Three.
So buying outright and then a sim only route does not tie you down, you can sell 12 months down the line and get half your money back if the phone value holds, it'll be worth more than say 2 years down the line. This method does work out more expensive but it's worth it if you keep updating all the time.

Im getting the international version because I think ATT is the devil reincarnated and I hear good things about T-Mobile but Im not sure I want to sign a 2year contract with them since Im already signed with Sprint. The only thing that makes me weary of pulling the trigger on the pre-order is I just ordered the Evo 4g LTE and my money is tied up with that and Im not sure if the US version is getting the 2gb of RAM like the Japanese version. Im just not sure wich I would rather have Quad Core Exynos or Duals core S4 with 2gb or Ram. Plus I plan on stepping up my international travel game this year and it would be nice to have a phone that I would be able to just pop a sim card in and no hassle.

Despite its poor software and being unlocked anyway im still keeping this current phone just for media playback.
I use it to play tunes from samba shares on a wifi harddrive between bands (i do sound) cuz its way more portable than a laptop but it means i cant really use the phone at all while im working. Bit of an oversight selling my previous one when i got this really.
Sent from my LG-P920 using xda premium

Looking for Advice - I REALLY want the SIII

I was hoping to get some creative ideas on how I can get my hands on the Verizon Samsung Galaxy SIII. I am eligible for an upgrade on 5/13/13 but I would love to hear about possible workarounds that could get me that phone a lot earlier.

You can buy It off someone here that wants the dev edition
Sent from my SPH-L710 using xda premium

Buy it for full price.
Sent from My Epic Ice Cream Sandwich With Sprinkles!!!

Sell your kidney on the black market then buy one.
Hey you said creative!!!!!

This has probably been stated before but you could invent a time machine and travel into the future where your contract is up and then get the S3. Then travel back with your new S3 ready to use.

animal7296 said:
Sell your kidney on the black market then buy one.
Hey you said creative!!!!!
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I thought you're only allowed to do this for the iphone

Sell your current phone and buy a new one full price from your carrier.
Alternatively, buy a used one from someone here on xda who will inevitably feel the need to upgrade to the Developer Edition, despite us having custom kernels and custom ROMs working on our consumer models.
I wouldn't trust Craigslist, I've seen quite a few threads about stolen phones bought on Craigslist getting blacklisted.

tonysunshine said:
I thought you're only allowed to do this for the iphone
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No your thinking "brain"
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I747 using xda app-developers app

Not sure about in the US but up here in Canada with our retarded 3 year contracts heres what I did (not my first time). I get a second phone line on a new contract for the new phone, do a number swap ($20 carrier charge) post on Kijiji (craigslist) looking for someone to take over my contract (carried the 2 phones for a total of 6 days). I just got rid of my Galaxy S2 (i9100) NOT LTE or HD that was on 2 1/2 contract by paying someone $50 to take over the contract. I would have gotten $300 or less for the phone outright which is no wheres near the cost of the S3 outright or the early term on my old contract ($550). The time before that I had an iPhone 4 with 18 month contract left on Rogers I was looking for someone to take over and them pay me for it (asked $75), they just wanted the contract (no idea why) so they took over the 18 month contract for free and left me with a iPhone 4 off contract I turn around and sold for $350.

If you're not under contract with Verizon and really just want the S3 I'd say look at other providers if you're into or want to at all mod your device - load custom roms and such...The VZW S3 BL is locked down, but if you have to stay with VZW, dont bother using your upgrade, buy the Dev edition...yea it costs full price but it'll for sure have a better resale value later on as opposed to the locked one, if you just want the phone and are fine with touchwiz then just buy it at a store.

If you're on a family plan, use another lines upgrade?

gtuansdiamm said:
You can buy It off someone here that wants the dev edition
Sent from my SPH-L710 using xda premium
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I'd be willing... but I am certainly not trying to pay the full $599. I'd really want it for the subsidized price.

aNYthing24 said:
If you're on a family plan, use another lines upgrade?
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I do have a family plan but won't I have to still pay the monthly... eventually I would pay for it after some time, right?

JackStorm said:
I do have a family plan but won't I have to still pay the monthly... eventually I would pay for it after some time, right?
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I was under the impression you can transfer upgrades on Verizon.

aNYthing24 said:
I was under the impression you can transfer upgrades on Verizon.
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you can

This was discussed quite a bit in the Verizon Pre-Order thread ...
Add a line and get the SIII. Then, call Verizon Customer Care and downgrade the line to a feature phone (which you probably already have lying around or can purchase for minimal outlay) with no add-ons. Then, switch the SIII to your current line, which I presume already has a data package attached to it.
[Another poster told VCC that the phone was originally for his grandmother, but that she was overwhelmed by the smartphone and preferred a barebones phone.]
Surprisingly, Verizon will allow you to both keep the phone and downgrade the new line. I know, I know ... it defies reason. But apparently, it has been done. In any event, you are stuck with the additional line and all associated costs (.. $9.99+fees/month ..) for the duration of the two year contract.
If you do the math, the cost of a subsidized SIII 32gb obtained this way (over the two year contract period) = $249 + ($9.99/month)(24) = $489, and with taxes/fees/surcharges, will likely end up well over $500. In all reality, you should be able to find one for outright sale for about the same amount.
Or, better yet, wait until the quadcore version becomes available.

pdinphx said:
This was discussed quite a bit in the Verizon Pre-Order thread ...
Add a line and get the SIII. Then, call Verizon Customer Care and downgrade the line to a feature phone (which you probably already have lying around or can purchase for minimal outlay) with no add-ons. Then, switch the SIII to your current line, which I presume already has a data package attached to it.
[Another poster told VCC that the phone was originally for his grandmother, but that she was overwhelmed by the smartphone and preferred a barebones phone.]
Surprisingly, Verizon will allow you to both keep the phone and downgrade the new line. I know, I know ... it defies reason. But apparently, it has been done. In any event, you are stuck with the additional line and all associated costs (.. $9.99+fees/month ..) for the duration of the two year contract.
If you do the math, the cost of a subsidized SIII 32gb obtained this way (over the two year contract period) = $249 + ($9.99/month)(24) = $489, and with taxes/fees/surcharges, will likely end up well over $500. In all reality, you should be able to find one for outright sale for about the same amount.
Or, better yet, wait until the quadcore version becomes available.
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did this in-store for a bionic. Be warned that the etf for the new line is $350 though
Sent from my SCH-I535 using Tapatalk 2

animal7296 said:
Sell your kidney on the black market then buy one.
Hey you said creative!!!!!
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He did say S3 and not an iPad, didn't he?

your carrier isnt just gonna cradle your balls
only real way is to buy one out right whether used or new
i shelled out for mine

I got my Hercules and my g2 off eBay
Sent from my SGH-T999 using xda premium