[Q] How to get an unbranded GS4 from operators - Galaxy S 4 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting

I have the GS2 and will probably go for the GS4(sim free if I can). My GS2 is O2 branded sim free. At the time of buying I read that when buying a simfree GS2 you should ask for a un-opened factory sealed box as the ones that have been opened had been flashed with the network branding. Admitedly these sealed boxes where few and far between but due to demand the networks didnt have time to get all the phones flashed.
Has anyone else come across this and if it is a plausable idea? Is it similar for any other phones or possible for the GS4

Not even one thought on this?

Bump

I have never heard of operators (at least in the US and Japan) ever receiving any unbranded phones. When you say "unbranded" I'm assuming you mean the international version, which is generally bought directly from the company. I'm also assuming that you mean "retailers" when you say "operators", which certainly don't brand the phones in-shop, the phones they receive from headquarters are branded and already flashed with the carrier's bloat and baseband locked.
In example, the phones I don't buy the international version of, I buy at an official AT&T or Softbank (Japanese carrier) retail shop. When they bring the phone out of the back, it is always in a carrier-branded box, and the phone itself has the carrier name branded somewhere on it.
I don't know about Softbank, but AT&T will occasionally allow you to unlock the baseband of some of their devices, which let's you toss whatever stuff you want on your phone, but it'll still have the physical AT&T branding on the front of the phone.
Sent from my Xperia ion LT28i using xda premium

Phones4u always come unbranded unlocked I have one on order.

jutley said:
Phones4u always come unbranded unlocked I have one on order.
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as above, I have one on order with phones 4 u and they have confirmed the phone is unlocked to all networks

winrya said:
as above, I have one on order with phones 4 u and they have confirmed the phone is unlocked to all networks
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Click to collapse
Do you mind if I ask which network you plan on using the phone on? I would be concerned if the phone they are sending you will work on the network you intend to use it on. With so many variations I wonder how they can know if the phones are unlocked or which networks they are banded for before the phones themselves have even shipped from Samsung. If they can back up (with facts) about the phones they are selling I might consider buying one from them myself so any info you can give will be appreciated. thank you.

scott14719 said:
Do you mind if I ask which network you plan on using the phone on? I would be concerned if the phone they are sending you will work on the network you intend to use it on. With so many variations I wonder how they can know if the phones are unlocked or which networks they are banded for before the phones themselves have even shipped from Samsung. If they can back up (with facts) about the phones they are selling I might consider buying one from them myself so any info you can give will be appreciated. thank you.
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I've ordered it on EE so will be the 4g version.
Carphone and phones4u buy all their phones except the iphone unbranded and unlocked. Puts them in a much better buying position being able to do single large orders with stock they can use with all the contract they use. Apple are the only company that don't allow this and they know by the phones IMEI when it registers on a network that it wasn't purchased from apple direct and locks to the network of the first sim inserted. I have a few friends who work at phones4u so this is what i'm told anyway.

*knocking the dust off this topic*
So I got my S4 on launch day. No 3 branding to be seen and it is sim unlocked.
Would the firmware tell me if it's from 3 or Samsung stock?
Sent from my GT-I9505 using xda app-developers app

Tesco is selling the i9505 unbranded and unlocked.
Tesco Ireland, not sure about Tesco in UK but should be the same.

I9505's are all exactly the same. Unbranded or branded. Network locked or not.
The difference are simply software.
You have for example in UK.
BTU,VOD,O2U,HG3 etc those are what ppl refer to as the Brands, with BTU being the UK unbranded.
The likes of 02 or Vodafone will never open a phone to try and brand it if that's what you suggested a few posts back. They get the phones as per the manufacturer. If it is branded its done with samsung and whatever firmware is put on it, bloated or not branded or not its all done with Samsung.
Now with my experience In buying Samsung phones in UK And more so the galaxy s4 from Vodafone UK I have seem this...
Since preorders went up within my household we have had 3 s4's from vodafone.
The 1st was an upgrade and was ordered on pre order day - it came as BTU and had the BTU firmware on it.
The 2nd was also an upgrade and was a few days after release - this came also as BTU and had BTU firmware on it.
The 3rd was bought from Vodafone but not on contract at a local retailer maybe 3 weeks after launch and was VOD branded and VDF firmware with Vodafone's bloat.
HOWEVER ALL 3 where simunlocked and work on ALL UK networks.
There really is no way to guarantee an unbranded from a carrier at all its luck and in past and with my s4 experience you only get unbranded from some carriers at launch. I've read elsewhere that this can be due to the carriers not having whatever firmware "tweaks and tests" they do ready at launch.
And as others have said in this thread, the likes of Phones 4U or carphonewarehouse will always sell unbranded unlocked.
This is my understanding/experience with this, hope it helps.
Sent from my GT-I9505 using xda premium

Nice theory!! I was the first preorder at my 3 store, so early that on launch day they didn't have me on the list. The store manager had to dig out my details from a pre preorder list lol. Maybe that fits the not having time to get firmwares to Samsung etc. Be interesting to see if they are 3 branded now.
Any who, I'm happy I got a non bloat S4
Sent from my GT-I9505 using xda app-developers app

Related

Unlocked X10a

It seems that the majority of X10's in the market seem to be the X10i variant, however I am trying to locate the X10a, so I can use it with AT&T 3G.
I found a few small retailer sites that do say they offer the x10a, but seeing as they aren't exactly the most reputable of online stores, I am a bit hesitant to order.
Has anyone found unlocked X10a's sold directly from SE? Or is my only option to get one from a wireless provider outside the US that supports AT&T 3G bands such as Rogers?
Yup, or from a Canadian/US seller on Ebay, or from a Canadian friend who owes you a big favor.
go to amazon and search "xperia x10a" there is one that is 564.99. it doesnt say which bands are on it, the others that come up with the search all say 900/1700/2100. you might could call the seller or amazon and see if it is the x10a or x10i. they should be able to look at the box and tell you.
cant find anywhere other than that possibility. I bought one off of ebay. most expensive thing i have ever bought on ebay, scared me to death, but everything turned out fine. just look for a reputable seller on ebay with lots of positive feedback, use paypal, hope for the best.
i can say this, i love this phone, also using it on ATT. with the rumors that ATT are forcing nexus one users to use the $30 data plan instead of the $15 ($10 on family plan), i couldnt come up with a better android phone to use on ATT.
i can unlock x10
hi everyone, i can unlock x10 via code. email me at [email protected] and include your contact number.
just wait, X10 is coming to AT&T.
Thanks for the input guys.
I've found a site that sells it for about $614 and free shipping. They accept Paypal payments, so at least I feel a little safer with their buyer protection. I'll let you guys know when/if I receive the correct product.
As for waiting for AT&T to start carrying the X10, that's not an option for me for a few reasons. First, my N97 is on it's way out. It's beginning to seem really sluggish and the slide lock key fell off... Second is that I have the unlimited data plan, and would not like to be forced to downgrade to their 2GB data cap. Lastly, after hearing how AT&T is locking down some aspects of their Android software such as in the HTC Aria, I would rather not let them get their hands on my phone.
unknown13x said:
just wait, X10 is coming to AT&T.
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I don't believe it will.
I remember reading this about eight months ago and now with the Samsung Captivate headed there I can't see them bringing in the X10.
k0sun7eash3d said:
Thanks for the input guys.
I've found a site that sells it for about $614 and free shipping. They accept Paypal payments, so at least I feel a little safer with their buyer protection. I'll let you guys know when/if I receive the correct product.
As for waiting for AT&T to start carrying the X10, that's not an option for me for a few reasons. First, my N97 is on it's way out. It's beginning to seem really sluggish and the slide lock key fell off... Second is that I have the unlimited data plan, and would not like to be forced to downgrade to their 2GB data cap. Lastly, after hearing how AT&T is locking down some aspects of their Android software such as in the HTC Aria, I would rather not let them get their hands on my phone.
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Ouch, rogers quoted me 499 plus
Just posting a follow up.
I received my X10 last night, only took about a week, i suspect had i ordered the phone on monday morning instead of night, I would have had it by Friday.
I did receive an X10a, but it was a Rogers branded phone, already sim-unlocked.
If anyone wants the seller information so they can order it for themselves, pm me.
Just curious, but how could you tell it was rogers branded? Was there a rogers startup screen, or rogers apps somewhere, or physical rogers logo on the phone exterior or something? The reason i ask is because i bought mine used on ebay, and when i popped my att sim in and powered up, there was never any hint that it had anything to do with rogers, or any other carrier. I have just always wondered if there was some way to figure out where the phone originated from. I checked th service info or system info or whateverr from the secret menu, but all it said was custom. Anyway, glad you got your hands on one. I got it as my first android phone, came from a nokia n95, and overall have been pleased with it. Certain things i miss, but the goods have definitely outweighed the bads.
Sent from my X10a using XDA App
uabtodd said:
Just curious, but how could you tell it was rogers branded? Was there a rogers startup screen,
Sent from my X10a using XDA App
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Click to collapse
Yup, there is a Rogers screen after the initial Sony Ericsson screen. Also, there are a couple of Rogers apps, the moxier apps.
Most important, whether Rogers or stock, if it is a X10a, it should say so under settings -about phone -model number - x10a.
Oh, it is definitely an x10a, came in a sony ericsson box with x10a on the barcode and everything, and in the device info is listed as an x10a, has the att 3g bands and works fine. I have just been curious since I got it if it originally came from a wireless carrier in another country. When I bought the thing, I thought that the only x10a models that were made were made for rogers, i wasnt aware that they even made a generic, factory unlocked, unbranded version of the x10a.
btw, i believe moxier apps are standard on all xperia x10's, regardless of i or a designation, or carrier branding.
Yeah, the Rogers carrier logo on boot was the dead giveaway for me. Also the fact that I couldn't manually change configure the AT&T apn until I unbranded it.
I am pleasantly surprised by the speed of the X10 though. It puts my hd2 to shame.
Sent from my X10a using Tapatalk

T-Mobile announcement update SGS End of month!!!!

http://support.t-mobile.co.uk/discussions/index?page=forums&topic=801038132d6a86012b3763ab0b007e4e
Only for T-Mobile users?
Well I guess that it will be for some other country too and if it doesn't I think that the rom will be modded fast here
Wow only Tweeted them last night to say the forums were implying they would not have it out before Christmas while Samsung were releasing it tomorrow. LOL. I like the reply
I assume Bell or samsung canada will dosame .
Sent from my GT-I9000M using XDA App
Does the Galaxy S that T Mobile UK supply come with any of their branding?
I was expecting to see a load of T Mobile crap installed on my SGS but there was nothing.
I'm on T Mobile but I upgraded via a carphone warehouse shop and mine isn't network locked.
Could be it depends on language? English first, then translation and rest of the world?
Fuctifino said:
Does the Galaxy S that T Mobile UK supply come with any of their branding?
I was expecting to see a load of T Mobile crap installed on my SGS but there was nothing.
I'm on T Mobile but I upgraded via a carphone warehouse shop and mine isn't network locked.
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Click to collapse
Same here via Buymobilephones.net.
Fuctifino said:
Does the Galaxy S that T Mobile UK supply come with any of their branding?
I was expecting to see a load of T Mobile crap installed on my SGS but there was nothing.
I'm on T Mobile but I upgraded via a carphone warehouse shop and mine isn't network locked.
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Click to collapse
The Eclair ROMs had nothing from T-Mobile apart from the start up and shutdown screen.
Chronos12 said:
Only for T-Mobile users?
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Click to collapse
I guess this pretty much confirms the froyo update on all US carriers in the days to come...
Fuctifino said:
Does the Galaxy S that T Mobile UK supply come with any of their branding?
I was expecting to see a load of T Mobile crap installed on my SGS but there was nothing.
I'm on T Mobile but I upgraded via a carphone warehouse shop and mine isn't network locked.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I thought Craphone Whorehouse always sold generic handsets? If Vodafone hadn't been selling generic unbranded sets when I got my Galaxy S I would have gone round the corner and got one from them instead.
Seems that because of the huge success of the phone worldwide the release will be progressive because the servers might not be able to handle all the phones
Might explain why not all the country releases will be at the same time
That doesn't make sense at all. Multinational companies have their servers in whichever countries they are present. An american customer won't download updates from samsung india or vice versa... So in the end, each country is unique and regardless of when the update releases, users will download it from the same local servers after all, whether it's one country at a time or all of them simultaneously....
I would have thought it's equally (or more) likely that the T-Mobile forum team haven't heard about the delay yet. Given that the definite knowledge of the delay itself only seems to have surfaced in the last couple of days.
Also, without wanting to sound mean about it, the non-answer in that thread, re how to back up data etc, doesn't suggest the highest level of possible competence.
Anyway, we'll know soon enough, I suppose!

branded vs unbranded

Should this make or break my decision whether to purchase one or not? I'm new to this scene and I'm not too sure what the differences are besides the carrier-installed apps.
Evo 4G63 said:
Should this make or break my decision whether to purchase one or not? I'm new to this scene and I'm not too sure what the differences are besides the carrier-installed apps.
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Hey. Unbranded vs Branded matters only if you don't want to wait for updates to be released since carriers have custom firmware whereas unbranded handsets will be able to apply new firmware as soon as the manufacturer releases it.
However, since your a member on XDA, this shows you may be interested in custom roms and modifying your phone. The above therefore does not matter because as soon as a new update/firmware is released, XDA have it and we can all (unbranded/branded) install it...
If you know that you won't be modifying your phone and sticking with stock then go for the carrier option as this is usually subsidised and cheaper than the unbranded 'sim-free' option... however updates will take longer than those with unbranded phones...(however as I said above... you don;t have to wait for updates if your part of XDA)
Either way, you could buy the branded version and debrand it by installing an unbranded stock rom and then installing a custom rom/kernel if you like.
If the phone is physically branded (e.g. The phone has a T-Mobile logo printed on it) I would always go for the sim-free / unbranded one in that case because for me it ruins the look of the phone.
Also your point about carrier bundled apps... carriers usually bundle bloatware/crapware with there branded phones... however you can easily uninstall these applications so its no big deal if it saves you money buying a carrier branded handset.
To add something to the above post from jUsT2eXy.
You can always get the branded version cheaper, change the back cover since most Carrier put their logo on the bottom back side and unlock it.
Worth the extra hassle? Can't say since I never done it.
jUsT2eXy said:
Hey. Unbranded vs Branded matters only if you don't want to wait for updates to be released since carriers have custom firmware whereas unbranded handsets will be able to apply new firmware as soon as the manufacturer releases it.
However, since your a member on XDA, this shows you may be interested in custom roms and modifying your phone. The above therefore does not matter because as soon as a new update/firmware is released, XDA have it and we can all (unbranded/branded) install it...
If you know that you won't be modifying your phone and sticking with stock then go for the carrier option as this is usually subsidised and cheaper than the unbranded 'sim-free' option... however updates will take longer than those with unbranded phones...(however as I said above... you don;t have to wait for updates if your part of XDA)
Either way, you could buy the branded version and debrand it by installing an unbranded stock rom and then installing a custom rom/kernel if you like.
If the phone is physically branded (e.g. The phone has a T-Mobile logo printed on it) I would always go for the sim-free / unbranded one in that case because for me it ruins the look of the phone.
Also your point about carrier bundled apps... carriers usually bundle bloatware/crapware with there branded phones... however you can easily uninstall these applications so its no big deal if it saves you money buying a carrier branded handset.
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Thanks a lot for the replies!
I usually would buy branded phones from the carrier, but I live in the US and the SGN isn't available here yet. Since I'm still new to this, I don't think I'll be doing any kind of software modifications yet.
Someone mentioned that they received an e-plus branded unlocked SGN. I was just a little confused about what that meant.
If I do have an unlocked, let's say, e-plus branded SGN, would I still be able to receive updates even if I'm not running on their network?
Since I'm going to go out of my way to order a SGN from overseas, I might as well get an unbranded one right? The problem is, I already ordered one from Germany and I'm not sure if it's unbranded or not. It should be coming in tomorrow morning. If it is branded, do you think it's worth the hassle to return/sell it back out and order an unbranded one?
If you could please provide a link of where you bought it we might able to provide better assist/advice to you.
koniakki said:
If you could please provide a link of where you bought it we might able to provide better assist/advice to you.
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I bought it on eBay from this guy: http://www.ebay.com/itm/200670239165?ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1497.l2649

Unlocked Galaxy Note - yes or no?

I am considering buying a Galaxy Note but I have a dilemma so I hope you will be able to help me out with it.
If I decide to buy it I will probably have to buy it through a mobile carrier meaning that I will have to unlock it to run it on a different network. I have someone to do it for me so I don't know what kind of software they will use.
Since I am new to Android, I would like to keep away from the rooting as long as possible so I am talking about stock software here.
Therefore, I would like to ask this:
1) Have any of you unlocked their Galaxy Notes? Are there any side-effects or it feels totally SIM-free?
2) Am I going to be cut-off from the official software updates (ICS and so on?) or it will be totally like a SIM-free experience?
3) Are all the splash screens, apps and other carrier-related stuff gone after the unlock?
Thank you in advance!
This doesn't answer your questions, but why would you buy a carrier phone and use it on another network? Why not buy unlocked?
Sent from my GT-N7000 using xda premium
If you plan to get the ATT one, I dont think it will get 3G/+ on Tmo. The intenational one I have definitely does not have that band. Unless there is another unlocked version that has those bands. And my international version does not have LTE as well.
And why would you sign a contract with ATT and want to use it on another n/w? Doesnt make any sense whatsoever.
Eborg said:
I am considering buying a Galaxy Note but I have a dilemma so I hope you will be able to help me out with it.
If I decide to buy it I will probably have to buy it through a mobile carrier meaning that I will have to unlock it to run it on a different network. I have someone to do it for me so I don't know what kind of software they will use.
Since I am new to Android, I would like to keep away from the rooting as long as possible so I am talking about stock software here.
Therefore, I would like to ask this:
1) Have any of you unlocked their Galaxy Notes? Are there any side-effects or it feels totally SIM-free?
2) Am I going to be cut-off from the official software updates (ICS and so on?) or it will be totally like a SIM-free experience?
3) Are all the splash screens, apps and other carrier-related stuff gone after the unlock?
Thank you in advance!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I live in Europe so I am talking about an international version.
Technically I wouldn't be buying it directly from a carrier, I just wanted to keep the discussion simple. I would buy it from a store but they get it abroad, unlock them and sell them legally. It's the only way I can get it where I live.
Ordering from Expansys or similar sites would mean that I would have to pay import customs which would probably amount to 200-300$ or more.
Where are you from? There are more retailers than expansys
Sent from my GT-N7000 using xda premium
I live in Bosnia & Herzegovina. Since it is not yet a member of the EU, you have to pay customs fees for this kind of stuff.
I will be going to the UK in a few weeks and thought about buying it there but that would mean that I wouldn't have any warranty. Most sites do not offer warranty outside the UK or EU. Also, even if I found one seller that offers worldwide warranty, I would still have costs shipping the phone to the UK or wherever and back (still EU issues) if needed.
Buying the phone locally should give me a 2-year warranty so that's why I am thinking about that option.
if you get it sim free fromthe uk then you woudl be paying more than you woudl in say germany - sim free in the uk are about £500+
sim free means it isnt locked to a carrioer that doesnt stop anything regarding updates to ics, you wil lstil lget them just might be at alater date than other countries
unlocking is not the same as debranding which would remove the software and logos etc
mine is sim free whcih i bought on a 2 year contract and it is no different to any other note locked on the networks
Eborg said:
I am considering buying a Galaxy Note but I have a dilemma so I hope you will be able to help me out with it.
If I decide to buy it I will probably have to buy it through a mobile carrier meaning that I will have to unlock it to run it on a different network.....
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
buying it through a carrier does not mean that the phone is locked to that carrier anyway. have you asked your carrier or the store you want to buy from if they sell the Note locked?. my Note is bought from German Telekom/T-Mobile and has no sim or netlock. i just tested the Note with simcards from other German and foreign carrier and they all work flawlessly. so maybe you can purchase a Note at your side that is also sim/netlocked free.
All Galaxy Notes available locally were on foreign carriers. The guy at the store could only confirm that it works will all SIM cards, not that the particular phone had to be unlocked or not, but it was definitely on a foreign carrier when they got it.
I am not sure if the phones are debranded or not. Is that something that I can do on my own without rooting the phone?
So, you guys can officially confirm that unlocked (and optionally debranded) Galaxy Note will act as if they were SIM-free in regards to official updates, apps and so on? No worries there?
As for getting it abroad, it wouldn't be the best solution since I would have to send it to the UK, Germany, Italy or wherever if something is wrong paying 100-200$ of customs fees every time if something goes wrong.
I'd just like to confirm that it is possible to update the firmware automatically with an unlocked Note. Cheers!
Richy99 said:
sim free means it isnt locked to a carrioer that doesnt stop anything regarding updates to ics, you wil lstil lget them just might be at alater date than other countries
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Quite.
Also to keep in mind : in the EU, the carrier must agree to unlock phones after at the most 6 months.
And regarding ICS upgrades for the Note, they're apparently fairly messy at the moment. Locally (France) my carrier and the local Samsung branch are apparently more or less pointing at one another for a botched upgrade (at the end of June, note that it was announced as "we're fixing a few things, should be any day now" in March) where they apparently managed to brick a number of user phones. Samsung tends to communicate fairly poorly on the issue.
Other than the updated stylus apps, I'm not really sure the upgrade is worth it. And I discovered the whole "Kies" crud when I got this phone which really annoyed me since I don't normally run Windows (or Mac OS) and some operators apparently like to push their stuff only through that channel.
---------- Post added at 01:16 PM ---------- Previous post was at 01:08 PM ----------
Eborg said:
I'd just like to confirm that it is possible to update the firmware automatically with an unlocked Note. Cheers!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
There's no reason why you couldn't. Possibly you'd get the Samsung update instead of the one from the original carrier (not guaranteed). But unlocking phones is fairly standard procedure.
Actually I got an update from the previous carrier from which it was unlocked from judging by the bloatware installed with the update.

Advice on Buying Galaxy AT&T version to then unlock it

Hello,
My name is Roberto, Iive in Chile and here the Galaxy S8 is still not selling and there is no information about the date, the price? way to high.
I wil be in the US in april and would love to buy the New S8 because is much cheaper, but there is no unlocked version untill MAY.
Can someone tell me, if I buy the AT&T version from the Samsung web page, if I have to activate with a contract or something? or I can Just buy a prepaid at&t sim and use it?
What I want is, to buy the AT&T version, unlock it, and then use it.
Then may be Install the future Unlocked Rom.
I tried to buy the UK version but is Region Locked, you have to make a 5 minut call form the place it was ment to sell UK
Please help.
Thanks.
Hi Roberto,
I am from Brazil and I will be in US in April and wanna get the S8 too.
I always do the purchase on eBay. Today there is some auctions and sellers offering the S8 to $849,00 on pre-order.
I figured out a second option, that is get the phone on Clove.co.uk. On the checkout page, you can choose this option: "Samsung’s region lock stops use of this handset within your chosen country unless activated with a European SIM. I agree for Clove Technology to break the seal on the box, activate the phone and remove the region lock by completing a 5 minute call on the handset." I think it is a good way to get the S8, it costs around $740 with shipping to US on Clove store.
I see no advantage getting the US version for foreign users, because you will not have your country language and can not flash an international firmware. You will be stuck only in AT&T's firmware version
rafaelpinaf said:
Hi Roberto,
I am from Brazil and I will be in US in April and wanna get the S8 too.
I always do the purchase on eBay. Today there is some auctions and sellers offering the S8 to $849,00 on pre-order.
I figured out a second option, that is get the phone on Clove.co.uk. On the checkout page, you can choose this option: "Samsung’s region lock stops use of this handset within your chosen country unless activated with a European SIM. I agree for Clove Technology to break the seal on the box, activate the phone and remove the region lock by completing a 5 minute call on the handset." I think it is a good way to get the S8, it costs around $740 with shipping to US on Clove store.
I see no advantage getting the US version for foreign users, because you will not have your country language and can not flash an international firmware. You will be stuck only in AT&T's firmware version
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hy, thanks for that information, I wrote to them to ask about the shipping time because I will be in the US until the 25th of april so I do not know if they can ship the phone on time.
But great information, about the unlocking service.
rafaelpinaf said:
Hi Roberto,
I am from Brazil and I will be in US in April and wanna get the S8 too.
I always do the purchase on eBay. Today there is some auctions and sellers offering the S8 to $849,00 on pre-order.
I figured out a second option, that is get the phone on Clove.co.uk. On the checkout page, you can choose this option: "Samsung’s region lock stops use of this handset within your chosen country unless activated with a European SIM. I agree for Clove Technology to break the seal on the box, activate the phone and remove the region lock by completing a 5 minute call on the handset." I think it is a good way to get the S8, it costs around $740 with shipping to US on Clove store.
I see no advantage getting the US version for foreign users, because you will not have your country language and can not flash an international firmware. You will be stuck only in AT&T's firmware version
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I got the answer from Clove, the shipping starts on the 28th so It wont arrive on time to me in the US
Too bad.
robertoaste said:
I got the answer from Clove, the shipping starts on the 28th so It wont arrive on time to me in the US
Too bad.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Sad to hear that :/
The imei's are not in ATT's database yet if you go to the unlock page. Itll be a few weeks probably.
Make sure you scroll to the right and choose if you are an ATT customer or not.
https://www.att.com/deviceunlock/request/#/unlockstep1
Sent from my SM-G955U using Tapatalk
If you buy the phone from Samsung it should come with a unlock code in the email they send you.
If you want to buy it directly from AT&T they can unlock it within 24hrs. after the device is fully paid/bought out right. You just have to choose the lowest plan there and roll with it then cancel it after you unlock it
i used sim-unlock.net and it worked perfect man but im on tmobile dunno how to get video chat and **** to work
Mine was unlocked in less than 48 hours.
Sent from my SM-G950U using XDA-Developers Legacy app
where did you get your phone? I am thinking get a ATT S8 from samsung.com, but I don't know if ATT will unlock the phone for me...
Timesnewmen said:
where did you get your phone? I am thinking get a ATT S8 from samsung.com, but I don't know if ATT will unlock the phone for me...
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i got an att s8+ from samsung.com... att didnt unlock my phone because the phone was bought from samsung.com, they told me to call them so i did, samsung told me i had to call with my an agent from my carrier a 3 way line. so i did, i gave them the info and my imei, then they told me to factory reset my phone and that was it, and now i flashed g955u1 firmware so i am fully unlocked and bloatless
unitz0mbie said:
i got an att s8+ from samsung.com... att didnt unlock my phone because the phone was bought from samsung.com, they told me to call them so i did, samsung told me i had to call with my an agent from my carrier a 3 way line. so i did, i gave them the info and my imei, then they told me to factory reset my phone and that was it, and now i flashed g955u1 firmware so i am fully unlocked and bloatless
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Click to collapse
Thanks. I have got an unlock.version from samsung.com for about $500. It's an more easy way.
Timesnewmen said:
Thanks. I have got an unlock.version from samsung.com for about $500. It's an more easy way.
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Click to collapse
well yea since its released its a lot easier lol, received mine a day before launch day
So if i use the phone on another carrier (in my case in Argentina) It works perfectly but I would not be able to receive any OTA unless it has an ATT sim in it?
Does anyone know if it is possible to unlock the ATT version to use on Verizon if there is a 2yr contract still in place but another device is moved onto this contract to keep it active?

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