How to sim unlock galaxy s5? - Galaxy S 5 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting

How to....

BUMP.... Same question?
NOTE: this is a legal and legitimate question
I travel A LOT and have a box of 20 different (ACTIVE) sim cards, most places don't support AT&T (my US carrier) plus I want to keep the same foreign number that I had for the past 5 years. Anyway, I have a legitimate need and as such the carrier will unlock but their rules have apparently gotten really strict. [I flew to Canada when I bought my iPhone4 so as not to deal with this.]
T-Mobile requires 40 days of service or will unlock for military after the grace period (14 days) is over
AT&T requires 5 months of service
It just not right! Especially when I paid $720 for my phone -- the no contract price from TMobile ($660) plus 10% California tax.
I even paid this service (http://www.unlock-code-world.com) to unlock my phone and they came back after 2 days and said they couldn't do it. So, don't go to them for S5 although their price was REALLY good ($5.99).
So, what's a guy to do?
My plan is to return my phone to TMobile today and rebuy an AT&T one and try their customer service because I got no where with TMobile, even after requesting a supervisor.

I'd actually like to know this myself.
I don't want to root or flash any firmware, which is why I'd like to buy from the UK (as I've always had their firmware previously)
Happy to pay for an unlock code if that's the way to go, but are they reputable?

If you buy the phone from a online store (not a service provider) it will be unlocked. If you buy it under contract then it will be locked to the Network, at least Vodafone is.
I have tried to get an unlock code but the IMEI numbers are not in the databases yet. Most places online selling these are reputable and you get the code pretty quickly via e-mail, well if they can provide it that is.
For my phone, even Vodafone did not have the unlock code so have had to go back to Samsung for it.

alex_tytn said:
NOTE: this is a legal and legitimate question
I travel A LOT and have a box of 20 different (ACTIVE) sim cards, most places don't support AT&T (my US carrier) plus I want to keep the same foreign number that I had for the past 5 years. Anyway, I have a legitimate need and as such the carrier will unlock but their rules have apparently gotten really strict. [I flew to Canada when I bought my iPhone4 so as not to deal with this.]
T-Mobile requires 40 days of service or will unlock for military after the grace period (14 days) is over
AT&T requires 5 months of service
It just not right! Especially when I paid $720 for my phone -- the no contract price from TMobile ($660) plus 10% California tax.
I even paid this service (http://www.unlock-code-world.com) to unlock my phone and they came back after 2 days and said they couldn't do it. So, don't go to them for S5 although their price was REALLY good ($5.99).
So, what's a guy to do?
My plan is to return my phone to TMobile today and rebuy an AT&T one and try their customer service because I got no where with TMobile, even after requesting a supervisor.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If you paid full price call customer care and tell them that you need a sim unlock code for your phone I had my note 3 for a week not paid in full but on the EIP and I've been a long time customer I told them what I needed and they took my IMEI and emailed me back with an unlock code within 24 hours, they will do it for you easily since your phone is paid for trust me.
Sent from my SGH-M919 using XDA Premium 4 mobile app

Personal rant. ;|
dawgboy1783 said:
If you paid full price call customer care and tell them that you need a sim unlock code for your phone I had my note 3 for a week not paid in full but on the EIP and I've been a long time customer I told them what I needed and they took my IMEI and emailed me back with an unlock code within 24 hours, they will do it for you easily since your phone is paid for trust me.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Not TMobile -- I called multiple times and even waited for a supervisor. PLUS multiple visits to the store.
I bought another one from AT&T yesterday and can hopefully get my money back from T-Mobile without a restocking fee (which I just learned about).
My whole S5 purchase has been quite a nightmare but the phone is cool.
Recapping...
Pre-ordered from Radio Shack to save $50 but their price was $100 more than AT&T so that was not good -- also forced to buy a $50 nonrefundable gift card in order to get the coupon. Then, they tell me later that the $50 coupon was only for people who bought plans but I clearly said that I wanted to pay full price and have no contract. [ Going back to talk to manager there to try and get them to give me my $50 deposit back. ]
Bought a phone from TMo for $720 (with tax) and they salesman told me it was unlocked. Multiple calls to TMobile, etc. no luck. [Going back to return that phone today.]
Bought the phone from AT&T yesterday only to find that I can't root it -- yes, they have a $35 restocking fee. Unlocking from them requires all these things but I'm hopeful that I can at least have that part.
TMo version (G900T) could be rooted -- and mine was so I'm hoping they miss that when I return it. AT&T version (G900A) has a locked bootloader so my understanding is that it will not ever be unlocked by the simple Chainfire method.

alex_tytn said:
Not TMobile -- I called multiple times and even waited for a supervisor. PLUS multiple visits to the store.
I bought another one from AT&T yesterday and can hopefully get my money back from T-Mobile without a restocking fee (which I just learned about).
My whole S5 purchase has been quite a nightmare but the phone is cool.
Recapping...
Pre-ordered from Radio Shack to save $50 but their price was $100 more than AT&T so that was not good -- also forced to buy a $50 nonrefundable gift card in order to get the coupon. Then, they tell me later that the $50 coupon was only for people who bought plans but I clearly said that I wanted to pay full price and have no contract. [ Going back to talk to manager there to try and get them to give me my $50 deposit back. ]
Bought a phone from TMo for $720 (with tax) and they salesman told me it was unlocked. Multiple calls to TMobile, etc. no luck. [Going back to return that phone today.]
Bought the phone from AT&T yesterday only to find that I can't root it -- yes, they have a $35 restocking fee. Unlocking from them requires all these things but I'm hopeful that I can at least have that part.
TMo version (G900T) could be rooted -- and mine was so I'm hoping they miss that when I return it. AT&T version (G900A) has a locked bootloader so my understanding is that it will not ever be unlocked by the simple Chainfire method.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Wow man I cant beleive they wont give you an unlock code, they had no problem giving me mine and I have only made one payment on it so far, what exactly are you telling them and are you currently a tmobile customer?.
Sent from my SGH-M919 using XDA Premium 4 mobile app

dawgboy1783 said:
Wow man I cant beleive they wont give you an unlock code, they had no problem giving me mine and I have only made one payment on it so far, what exactly are you telling them and are you currently a tmobile customer?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
They said they'd unlock but I had to be a customer for 40 days -- no, I wasn't previously a customer. 40 days won't work for me because I have an AT&T GoPhone plan while in the US and I'm leaving this weekend. Besides, I didn't want to subscribe to the TMobile one which is waaaaay more expensive.
I spent $40 for two phones for 5 months while in the US. My wife and I don't talk/text a lot and I use Skype out for all my voice calls. It also seems that I always have Wifi in SoCal -- especially since I get my home internet from Time Warner and they give free wifi coverage.
$0.10 per minute and $0.20 per SMS and only when you use it. :good:
Sorry to hijack this thread.
I really want the same answer.
HOW TO SIM UNLOCK THE S5?

alex_tytn said:
They said they'd unlock but I had to be a customer for 40 days -- no, I wasn't previously a customer. 40 days won't work for me because I have an AT&T GoPhone plan while in the US and I'm leaving this weekend. Besides, I didn't want to subscribe to the TMobile one which is waaaaay more expensive.
I spent $40 for two phones for 5 months while in the US. My wife and I don't talk/text a lot and I use Skype out for all my voice calls. It also seems that I always have Wifi in SoCal -- especially since I get my home internet from Time Warner and they give free wifi coverage.
$0.10 per minute and $0.20 per SMS and only when you use it. :good:
Sorry to hijack this thread.
I really want the same answer.
HOW TO SIM UNLOCK THE S5?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I think they are afraid that if they give you an unlock code and you unlock the phone then you will sell it, I think that was included in my conversation with customer support when I requested my unlock code but I assured them that was not my intentions, also being a customer for at least 40 days would makes sense, because I believe that I did read that in the support section for unlocking prerequisites, I wish I could help you but it seems the only method would be to buy an unlock code which I hear is a fast process and I've seen them advertized pretty cheap under $30.00 US, wich is not bad because if you ever decide to sell it, unlocked device's are always worth more.
Sent from my SGH-M919 using XDA Premium 4 mobile app

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=60EsHfH6eVw

hemander said:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=60EsHfH6eVw
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That's about the only way for now.
Sent from my SGH-M919 using XDA Premium 4 mobile app

hemander said:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=60EsHfH6eVw
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks!
Worked for me UK Vodafone handset.
Either all IMEI unlock codes have now been released to all databases or these are the only guys that have them at the moment. I tried a couple of online places last week and they did not have the unlock codes.

chippyuk said:
Thanks!
Worked for me UK Vodafone handset.
Either all IMEI unlock codes have now been released to all databases or these are the only guys that have them at the moment. I tried a couple of online places last week and they did not have the unlock codes.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I have on my web site mobileunlock24.com access to unlock galaxy s5 from All European networks unlocking code is ready up to 1 hour.

Would this somehow work on sprint?

goodboynyc said:
Would this somehow work on sprint?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Should do! Try it, if they cannot provide an unlock code they will refund you straight away.

I usually use this site: http://unlockphonenetwork.com/
They always when i had a phone to unlock they did it flawlessly.
I had a AT&T phone and needed to get it unlocked, found it cheaper then anywhere else.
Cellunlocker.net sells it for 29.99$
Unlockthaphone.com 34.99$
and they sell it for 24.99$ which is awesome!
Youtube link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MVkhvWMQe08&list=UUxk75HVldBdY7jgRFlyfIcw
Hope ti helps you guys!
Cheers!

Related

T-Mobile US requires credit check for "off-contract" tab

Just checked out the GT in a local store. Cute hardware. But they wouldn't sell it to me without passport and social security number. So much for picking up a U.S. tab while on holidays...
Were you trying to buy it at the off contract price? Were you paying cash?
I definitely wanted the "off-contract" GT. I would have been happy to pay cash, but we didn't get that far...
PS: On the t-mobile web page you need to pick an "even more" or "even more plus" plan to order.
Are you visiting friends in the States? If so, have them buy it for you. Or try a different T-mobile corporate store.
They can sell it to you without any credit check just like any item in the store if you are paying up front. Maybe they were just trying to make more money and/or save it for somebody who was going to sign up for service. Sad but it happens.
I just brought mine
I just brought one from tmobile store (no contract), and didn't ask for any credit check
I called up the other stores in town and they do require you to get at least one month of service with it. Which then entails a credit check, even if its only month-to-month. I guess ahbvrh was just lucky and ran into a CSR who wasn't aware of these rules. Yay!
you can simply buy a prepaid data plan (10$) and that will save you the credit check.
Im still loooking for the tmobile sim unlock code so I can use my existing corporate sim card which is AT&T
ahbvrh said:
you can simply buy a prepaid data plan (10$) and that will save you the credit check.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I am a current T-mobile prepaid user. I tried buying the tab with and without telling them my t-mobile number, but no luck...
ahbvrh said:
Im still loooking for the tmobile sim unlock code so I can use my existing corporate sim card which is AT&T
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Are you saying that the 599.- "off-contract" GT is sim-locked to t-mobile US?? That would be insane...
That's no policy of Tmobile but maybe something they are doing in that region or those particular stores. There is no policy that says you have to buy a month of service for any device on tmobile now that they have the prepaid webconnect plans too. Even before that though you never needed to sign up for service to just buy a device its just expensive.
Yes,it locked for tmobile,but im sure it is possible to find unlock code somewhete
If you pay full invoice price its still sim locked but you are allowed to request the sim unlock code from tmobile. Just one catch you gotta have an account with tmobile to process that request.
That good to know,I just faxed them my recipt ,I will see if they will send me the unlock .....
Good luck! The t-mo web page say: http://support.t-mobile.com/doc/tm51885.xml
For customers with a T-Mobile Postpaid Plan, T-Mobile will provide the SIM Unlock Code upon request to eligible customers, provided the requesting customer has a minimum of 40 days of active service with T-Mobile.
To me, that sounds like you have to wait >1 month... Yay!
it seem this is only for postpaid users....,I just bought prepaid data plan....
I'm sure there is a way to unlock using root or something
ahbvrh said:
it seem this is only for postpaid users....,I just bought prepaid data plan....
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Oh yeah good point, you are the lucky one that got one on prepaid. Though in that case its even worse, and the same page says:
For customers with a T-Mobile Prepaid Plan, T-Mobile will provide the SIM Unlock Code upon request to eligible customers, provided the requesting customer has a minimum of 60 days of active service with T-Mobile and either a Prepaid Plan account balance of at least $10.00 or a prior refill within the last 30 days.
However, a quick google search brings up various pages that send you an unlock code for $$$...
I dont mind paying few extra bucks for gettong the unlock code.
googling it up show only one site that promise unlock code for the galaxy tab,but it is for the sprint vetsion,and I'm not sure it will work on the tmobile one...
Confused! I thought CDMA devices were never locked and if you wanted to change carrier (eg Sprint to Verizon) you just needed to get the new carrier to register the devices ESN on their network (which is often easier said than done!).
Regards,
Dave
Tmobile is GSM
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I897 using XDA App
I know. I was referring to the previous poster who mentioned unlock codes for sprint, which CDMA.
Regards,
Dave

got my Note 4 unlocked

I just bought my note 4 about 3 days ago and called T Mobile to see if I could get unlock code (I paid full price) but have not heard back from them yet. Since I am leaving on a trip to Asia on Tuesday I decided to try cellunlocker.net and within a few hours or less they got me the unlock code. It cost about $30.00. Nice service.
Bill
bkkcnxsi said:
I just bought my note 4 about 3 days ago and called T Mobile to see if I could get unlock code (I paid full price) but have not heard back from them yet. Since I am leaving on a trip to Asia on Tuesday I decided to try cellunlocker.net and within a few hours or less they got me the unlock code. It cost about $30.00. Nice service.
Bill
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I used them as well and was very happy. I called up TMobile twice for it and both times they said they could not do it if the phone was never used on the TMobile network - so you took the right path.
msherman123 said:
I used them as well and was very happy. I called up TMobile twice for it and both times they said they could not do it if the phone was never used on the TMobile network - so you took the right path.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
This is their recent response to me a few days ago, paid full price for phone.
Thank you for taking the time to contact T-Mobile. We have received your SIM Unlock Request. Unfortunately, this subscriber is not eligible to receive the unlock code at this time. In order to be eligible, the IMEI must have usage by the mobile number requesting the unlock code and the account must have a minimum of two monthly service payments since first use of requested device.
Sent from my SM-N910T using Tapatalk
MMakoto said:
This is their recent response to me a few days ago, paid full price for phone.
Thank you for taking the time to contact T-Mobile. We have received your SIM Unlock Request. Unfortunately, this subscriber is not eligible to receive the unlock code at this time. In order to be eligible, the IMEI must have usage by the mobile number requesting the unlock code and the account must have a minimum of two monthly service payments since first use of requested device.
Sent from my SM-N910T using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
i have been with TMO for almost 8 years so i have never had a problem with the last part but your IMEI must register on the network for them to unlock. However, i have gotten round this once by calling in and talking to the accounting depart i think it was. she looked up that the device was paid off in full and i told her i need the phone unlocked for business. depending on who you talk to when you call that department the IMEI being registered on the network doesnt matter. I will also state that when i made a regular request my unlock was denied but she got my unlock code sent the same/next day. I also have a history of unlocking all my phones and been with them for that long. but it never hurts to try right?
Mine unlocked in less than 20 minutes. Freedommobile.com
Sent from my SM-N910T using Tapatalk
So just wait 2 months and call Tmo and they get it unlock for you?
On my last HTC One M7, they email me the unlock code within 1 day.
Some have gotten the unlock code without waiting two months, some have not. Depends on how T-mobile feels that day. I paid full price and they did not send me an unlock code. I had to use a web service to send me the unlock code.
I got the unlock code from tmobile. Took 3 times talking to them but got it eventually.
kendonsh said:
i have been with TMO for almost 8 years so i have never had a problem with the last part but your IMEI must register on the network for them to unlock. However, i have gotten round this once by calling in and talking to the accounting depart i think it was. she looked up that the device was paid off in full and i told her i need the phone unlocked for business. depending on who you talk to when you call that department the IMEI being registered on the network doesnt matter. I will also state that when i made a regular request my unlock was denied but she got my unlock code sent the same/next day. I also have a history of unlocking all my phones and been with them for that long. but it never hurts to try right?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
my first time was talking to csr, got rejected. yesterday i did the live chat and asked to unlock it again, told them it was for a business trip and phone has been paid. a few hours later i got the email with the unlock code. so i guess it really depends on which rep you are dealing with at that moment. btw, i have been with them for 8 1/2yrs.
I suppose my question to you guys simply, why? T-Mobile's outright purchased Note 4 can be used in say, India (can use t-mobile data/text while overseas). Are you saying that if the phone isn't 'unlocked' I cannot purchase a pre-paid SIM card from India and pop it in and it work? Is that why you guys are SIM unlocking? If I wanted to get mine SIM unlocked, will it affect anything with my use here in the states? Thanks all!
MMakoto said:
This is their recent response to me a few days ago, paid full price for phone.
Thank you for taking the time to contact T-Mobile. We have received your SIM Unlock Request. Unfortunately, this subscriber is not eligible to receive the unlock code at this time. In order to be eligible, the IMEI must have usage by the mobile number requesting the unlock code and the account must have a minimum of two monthly service payments since first use of requested device.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Just went through this with an iPhone.
Sadly, this is the current T-Mobile policy. Even if you pay full price for the phone you MUST have the phone in service in their network for 2 billing cycles or 40 days. Just then, and only then, they will unlock it. It doesn't matter if you've been with them for 8 years or 1 months, the 40 days of active service for the specific device being unlocked must be met. I'm sure there must be a way to skip this talking with someone over there but you have to get lucky. It's all explained here: http://support.t-mobile.com/docs/DOC-1588 . This applies to the Note 4 too.
bartolo5 said:
Just went through this with an iPhone.
Sadly, this is the current T-Mobile policy. Even if you pay full price for the phone you MUST have the phone in service in their network for 2 billing cycles or 40 days. Just then, and only then, they will unlock it. It doesn't matter if you've been with them for 8 years or 1 months, the 40 days of active service for the specific device being unlocked must be met. I'm sure there must be a way to skip this talking with someone over there but you have to get lucky. It's all explained here: http://support.t-mobile.com/docs/DOC-1588 . This applies to the Note 4 too.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
then can you explain how i got my note 3 unlocked in the first week and the imei not being registered on the network.
you have to have 40 days of active service, now with new policy, but that does not mean that specific phone. the imei just has to register on the network and have no EIP for it on your account.
and yes being with t-mobile longer makes a difference, at least for me it does when i call.
---------- Post added at 08:36 PM ---------- Previous post was at 08:26 PM ----------
inco9nito99 said:
I suppose my question to you guys simply, why? T-Mobile's outright purchased Note 4 can be used in say, India (can use t-mobile data/text while overseas). Are you saying that if the phone isn't 'unlocked' I cannot purchase a pre-paid SIM card from India and pop it in and it work? Is that why you guys are SIM unlocking? If I wanted to get mine SIM unlocked, will it affect anything with my use here in the states? Thanks all!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
to answer your question, freedom lol. but seriously if i am paying full price for a phone i should be able to do what i want with it and use it on whatever supporting carrier i want.
you could use that phone in india with a tmobile sim inside but thats roaming with free data and text.
however if you wanna put in a non tmobile sim in your phone, like a prepaid one from india like you said, your phone would need to be unlocked. you can of course buy an unlock code but i rather have tmobile do it for free since its a service they offer lol.
So with that said, there's ZERO harm in requesting a SIM unlock for my N910T for primarily use in the states and it's a nice feature to have implemented such that when I travel abroad, simply replacing my TMO SIM with an out-of-the-country pre-paid GSM SIM (so I can make calls/data/text) is simple as pull-out/push-in and VOILA?!?
kendonsh said:
then can you explain how i got my note 3 unlocked in the first week and the imei not being registered on the network.
you have to have 40 days of active service, now with new policy, but that does not mean that specific phone. the imei just has to register on the network and have no EIP for it on your account.
and yes being with t-mobile longer makes a difference, at least for me it does when i call.
---------- Post added at 08:36 PM ---------- Previous post was at 08:26 PM ----------
to answer your question, freedom lol. but seriously if i am paying full price for a phone i should be able to do what i want with it and use it on whatever supporting carrier i want.
you could use that phone in india with a tmobile sim inside but thats roaming with free data and text.
however if you wanna put in a non tmobile sim in your phone, like a prepaid one from india like you said, your phone would need to be unlocked. you can of course buy an unlock code but i rather have tmobile do it for free since its a service they offer lol.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
inco9nito99 said:
So with that said, there's ZERO harm in requesting a SIM unlock for my N910T for primarily use in the states and it's a nice feature to have implemented such that when I travel abroad, simply replacing my TMO SIM with an out-of-the-country pre-paid GSM SIM (so I can make calls/data/text) is simple as pull-out/push-in and VOILA?!?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No harm, it would be the same as you buying an unlocked phone.
And I've heard some people say they get better roaming on AT&T or other carriers after, specially since we have free roaming but I haven't noticed if it has
Sent from my SM-N910T using XDA Premium 4 mobile app
Got both my mom's and my note 4 unlocked from tmobile. Just had to pay 2 months of EIP.
noob question, what's EIP?
m3lover1 said:
Got both my mom's and my note 4 unlocked from tmobile. Just had to pay 2 months of EIP.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Same, here. I did lose some time because the first CSR put in an unlock request for me without discussing any payment. The next morning I got a rejection from ARSystem Notify. I then called T-Mobile and asked for a supervisor. He wanted both two months of installment payments and two months of payments on the account as a whole. After I politely questioned why I should I have to pay in full for a five-member family plan, he settled for two months of EIP. After I paid, he read me the unlock code over the phone, which I also got in an email from T-Mobile.
Now all I need is a non-T-Mobile SIM. Sooner or later ...
inco9nito99 said:
noob question, what's EIP?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Equipment installment plan
Anyone get their Note 4 unlocked and using it on something like Cricket? I'd like to know if the mobile hotspot app on the tmobile version will allow me to tether. Currently, I have an ATT Note 4 that I bought outright but ATT has locked down the hotspot app so even if I use it with another carrier it's trying to verify that I have a hotspot plan with ATT which obviously fails. And of course the ATT Note 4 doesn't have root yet. So I have no options. I'm coming from a Nexus 5 which was completely stock without carrier interference and this was simple. Hoping someone can help. Thanks in advance.
Asked tmobile on phone for unlock code for international use. They made me pay only one months of device payment which was 17.99. the next day received the email telling me the device has to be paid in full. Called again asked to talk to supervisor as soon as she came on the phone she said don't worry will unlock right now. I got my unlock code within 2 min.
Just ask to talk to manager guys and be nice and respectful say that is very important business travel and u need ur phone. 99.9% they will do it. Just don't complain or be rude. I guerantee u will get it

T-Mobile Unlimited International Calls/SMS for $10 Total for Entire Family.

T-Mobile has a limited time offer of "Family Unlimited International Calling and SMS" for all lines on an account for $10. I just activated it for my account. Just thought others should know.
Mods please move to Off Topic, accidentally posted here, forgive me.
How long does this run till?
inco9nito99 said:
How long does this run till?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Its a limited time offer (to sign up), they said its active as long as you are with T-Mobile, if they intend to make changes in the future for any reason they will inform ahead.
So don't worry go ahead and activate it online or by calling, before they remove the option.
Is it $10 period and everybody within a family plan (simple choice) can call/sms internationally?
inco9nito99 said:
Is it $10 period and everybody within a family plan (simple choice) can call/sms internationally?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes $10 total, as in everyone on account is covered! NOT PER LINE! Enjoy!
They said limited time only, but it's still there so far.
Say away from T-Mobile
I purchased two phones form them and used them on their network for over a year I was traveling out of the county (I live in the USA) and asked that the phones be unlocked they refuse stating that the phones were never on their networks. So now unless I can get them unlocked by someone else I am forced to buy new phones. Don't care what kind of plans they offer if you can't get customer support it not worth it.
jazzrome said:
I purchased two phones form them and used them on their network for over a year I was traveling out of the county (I live in the USA) and asked that the phones be unlocked they refuse stating that the phones were never on their networks. So now unless I can get them unlocked by someone else I am forced to buy new phones. Don't care what kind of plans they offer if you can't get customer support it not worth it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If you were out of the country, and wasn't on their network for at least 40 days, they won't unlock it. According to this page: https://support.t-mobile.com/docs/DOC-1588 "The device must have been active on the T-Mobile network for at least 40 days on the requesting line."
They will unlock only after 40 days of use, and if there is an issue they are pretty quick to resolve it from my experience. I suggest you take them (phones) to the TMO store or ask for tech support via phone call.
If you switched carriers, then also they will not unlock in fact I know Sprint is the same, I was with them till last year. Sprint refused to unlock my sister's iPhone, which had been lost for 6 months and re-found, since we switched carriers even though it was paid off.

SIM card unlock for the Sprint variant ?

Does anyone know if a method to unlock the SIM card has been found on the Sprint variant?
its not locked
The sim card itself is locked, but you can just take it out and throw any other carriers sim in and it should work dandy.
I'm using TMobile on my sprint version
No so.
What they do now is when you go into the Sprint store they activated on the network and try to download updates so you can factory reset it however when you do and you put in a new Sim card it gets stuck on activating cellular service when you try to enter Sim card and after that is not of the sprint it basically just says invalid Sim will have to work on and unlock method
so what happened was i got them to exchange it with an unopened one, t-mobile works just fine. going to try att and "maybe" pop the sprint sim in however one might assume (I have little working knowlege) that if a sprint sim is put in it carrier locks it?
any more info on this?
from what I heard from here and on this reddit post" https://tinyurl.com/essentialsprint" it only locks if a sprint sim is put in first activating it with another sim keeps it unlocked gonna try this method when i get mine thursday. hopefully this works and ill pay off the cheap lease promotion they have which allegedly can let you get the phone for as little as 130 or so then use it with my mint sim service.
glasscitysd said:
from what I heard from here and on this reddit post" https://tinyurl.com/essentialsprint" it only locks if a sprint sim is put in first activating it with another sim keeps it unlocked gonna try this method when i get mine thursday. hopefully this works and ill pay off the cheap lease promotion they have which allegedly can let you get the phone for as little as 130 or so then use it with my mint sim service.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm really curious if this works. Keep us posted. I would love to score one and use it on T-Mobile. I've heard some people have had success harassing live chat support into unlocking them.
benjmiester said:
I'm really curious if this works. Keep us posted. I would love to score one and use it on T-Mobile. I've heard some people have had success harassing live chat support into unlocking them.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Sadly they forced me to activate in store so I'm sim locked for 50 days then they will unlock it but I may try harrasing live chat lol cause sprints service is a hit or miss here in Toledo ohio
The lower option for end of lease payment is an extra. You still have to pay the whole amount when deactivating from Sprint. plus the lower amount you see as your End Of Lease buy out price. Yes after activating the phone first with Sprint the Sim will be locked. If you are traveling outside the country and you have been a customer for years Sprint will unlock your sim for International Usage. But for Domestic usage no. As long as the phone remains Unpaid on the Lease program they will Not provide the Msl to Unlock the device. In order to get the Msl the device will have to be Fully paid.
These phones are shipping locked before you put a sim in now. It happened to my and hours of calls to Sprint won't change a thing. I have to wait 50 bloody days. There's a thread for this on slick deals where this is explained in red text.
Weird, I just called and paid it off, and requested unlock and guy submitted for me right away. He said 24-48 hours, so I'll update this when I know more.
MSL is easy to get on other phones. Is that all you need to unlock?
JoRocker said:
Weird, I just called and paid it off, and requested unlock and guy submitted for me right away. He said 24-48 hours, so I'll update this when I know more.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
keep us posted im keeping mine a few days before I pay it off to make sure i have no errors id need to return it for although so far so good especially after upgrading to the oero beta. hopefully getting unlocked is that easy cause id rather be back on my cheap mvno plan with this phone lol but 50 days isn't too long a wait if not
glasscitysd said:
keep us posted im keeping mine a few days before I pay it off to make sure i have no errors id need to return it for although so far so good especially after upgrading to the oero beta. hopefully getting unlocked is that easy cause id rather be back on my cheap mvno plan with this phone lol but 50 days isn't too long a wait if not
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Less than 24 hours with phone and paid off. I am now unlocked.
More details:
Purchased through flex lease on 10/14 on Free BYOD line
Received phone 10/15 then immediately called to pay off ($90+$30).
After payoff I asked to have a ticket submitted for unlock. My rep said that was fine, since I legally own the device, and promptly did it for me.
10/16 it's unlocked
If you're wondering who I spoke to, I went through tech support instead of traditional customer service route.
Please verify total cost of phone.
$25 down.
$5*18 months
$30 payout?
Some taxes and fees?
$145? +Tax
avd said:
Please verify total cost of phone.
$25 down.
$5*18 months
$30 payout?
Some taxes and fees?
$145? +Tax
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That's right. Just taxes and no fees.
I believe total was low $150s.
Black Friday comes early. They are going to shut this off I'm afraid.
I picked one up yesterday at the Sprint store. Sealed in the box. I took it home, unboxed it, and powered it on with my Verizon sim and it immediately connected to Verizon LTE and I tried a T-Mobile and it worked perfectly too. So I guess that trick still works to unlock the phone?

Cricket's $149 LG V35 on T-Mobile...WiFi Calling/VoLTE possibility?

Just saw a reddit post where you can basically sign up and get an LG V35 brand new for $149 as long as you "sign up for their service"...and I'd be more than willing to buy the phone along with an unlock code, and move it over to my T-Mobile family plan. My only worry is that because it's has Cricket's decrepit firmware installed on the device that T-Mo's features will not work (and I'm pretty sure they won't because it's not an actual T-Mobile branded device), but I figured I would just check in here to see if anyone has tried using the Cricket V35 on T-Mobile successfully with all of the extra bells and whistles T-Mo smartphones come with. I'm sure by now this is a dumb question, but I'd even go through the trouble of rooting this joker, FlashFire some random T-Mo firmware on to the phone, and see if I can get the extra features working. Please don't hate too much since it's such a good deal, but I had to ask the experts before I made a stupid move.
https://www.cricketwireless.com/cell-phones/smartphones/lg-v35-thinq-aurora-black.html
If it's cricket, it's at&t. Look up flashing from att firmware to ulm firmware. It's been done
Sent from my LM-V350ULM using Tapatalk
Actually, the cricket variant comes unlocked, so you don't need to flash it in order to use on T-Mobile. I believe I plugged in a mint mobile sim card and saw an option to enable WiFi calling. I could be wrong. I know for a fact, WiFi calling works fine on att prepaid for this device
galets said:
Actually, the cricket variant comes unlocked, so you don't need to flash it in order to use on T-Mobile.
I believe I plugged in a mint mobile sim card and saw an option to enable WiFi calling. I could be wrong. I know for a fact, WiFi calling works fine on att prepaid for this device
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You bought the V35 from Cricket store carrier unlocked -- or you bought it online somewhere (eBay, Amazon, etc) carrier unlocked? If online, then it was unlocked by the seller.
Asking because I'm surprised if the Cricket variant comes from store carrier unlocked, while the one from AT&T is NOT.
I just bought another AT&T V35 online already carrier unlocked by the seller. I now own two, unlocked that way. One still has AT&T firmware.
By the way, even US998 V30 (official carrier unlocked V30 variant) has T-Mobile WiFi calling.
LG never made the LG V35 for Cricket...it's all unlocked inventory being sold off at a deep discount, which is why people are buying them left, right, and sideways just to use n T-Mobile and other MVNOs of the sort. I'm just wondering if the normal firmware has T-Mo VoLTE/VoWiFi built-in to it's current firmware or if I do need to pull out LGUP and flash a ULM firmware to get support for it since I know that it works on Google Fi which makes me think that it should work possiby even without a firmware upgrade. I know for a fact all Cricket LG V35 smartphones come unlocked, period. They don't even have Cricket boot logos when you start them up and I'm almost as sure that they don't even have branding at all on the phone itself except for an AT&T boot screen.. I'd flash over a ULM KDZ just to get rid of the AT&T logo though.
Once you add the first month of service at $55/month and taxes, this phone comes out to $225 really but i guess still worth it for a new phone. I bought mine used for around $160 and so far love it. I just wish it could be rooted and in my opinion the better processor, memory, and audio than v30 barely outweigh the benefit of having root on V30. I have both and have been trying to decide which one to keep lol.
Edit: I can also confirm WiFi calling with Mint sim on this phone.
I got this deal few days ago.
I can confirm that the device is unlocked with no cricket / at&t branding on the phone. There is no cricket / at&t boot logo as well. I only see the LG logo on boot.
And after activating it with Cricket, I immediately changed the plan to 30 dollars per month and the extra 25 dollars has been credited to the Cricket account.
So far, I am loving the device.
O can confirm wifi calling works on TMobile once you enable it on the settings. Volte also works because in the phone app the call button has HD icon on it. I tested this on my cricket v35 which arrived today, with a TMobile SIM. Hope this helps.
Seriously?
I bought two of these at $300 each in July/August.
zoeykitten said:
Seriously?
I bought two of these at $300 each in July/August.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Seriously, I bought one of these in July 2018 for $849. Well $649 after the GFi credit...
Sent from my LM-V350ULM using Tapatalk
zoeykitten said:
Seriously?
I bought two of these at $300 each in July/August.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
And it's still $300 if you just buy the phone.
This deal is for phone + 6 month Cricket service contract. Yes, contract.
bmurphr1 said:
Just saw a reddit post where you can basically sign up and get an LG V35 brand new for $149 as long as you "sign up for their service"...and I'd be more than willing to buy the phone along with an unlock code, and move it over to my T-Mobile family plan.
https://www.cricketwireless.com/cell-phones/smartphones/lg-v35-thinq-aurora-black.html
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You mean move it to T-Mobile after you pay off the six month Cricket contract?
These providers aren't interested in selling hardware. They're interested in getting new customers and retaining them. You're locked in for 6 months if you buy the phone at the special price. Otherwise it's $300.
ChazzMatt said:
And it's still $300 if you just buy the phone.
This deal is for phone + 6 month Cricket service contract. Yes, contract.
You mean move it to T-Mobile after you pay off the six month Cricket contract?
These providers aren't interested in selling hardware. They're interested in getting new customers and retaining them. You're locked in for 6 months if you buy the phone at the special price. Otherwise it's $300.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I know they're trying to lure in new customers, but if they're gonna sell me an unlocked V35 for $149 I'd pay for it and just use the phone on T-Mobile since apparently it's the unlocked version of the phone. It doesn't have any Cricket branding or software on it for some odd reason, and one person has stated that it even works on T-Mo WiFi Calling and VoLTE. Screwing over Cricket doesn't bother me since they're selling unlocked smartphones, but even if I could purchase a locked V35 and then unlock it with a code I would still consider it. I'm still happy with my V30+ 128GB though, and considering buying it just to replace this V30+ since it has 6GB of RAM and the Snapdragon 845. If it works on T-Mo it's a much cheaper option than buying a Galaxy S9+ that's for sure.
Also apparently all V35 phones are unlocked in the US according to the Android Pie update released last month.
https://www.mylgphones.com/google-fi-unlocked-edtions-lg-v35-thinq-received-android-9-pie-update.html
bmurphr1 said:
I know they're trying to lure in new customers, but if they're gonna sell me an unlocked V35 for $149 I'd pay for it and just use the phone on T-Mobile since apparently it's the unlocked version of the phone. It doesn't have any Cricket branding or software on it for some odd reason, and one person has stated that it even works on T-Mo WiFi Calling and VoLTE. Screwing over Cricket doesn't bother me [/url]
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You don't understand.
It's $149 + forced to pay for six months Cricket service legal contract.
You can be sued or be sent to Collections for "screwing over Cricket".
Or you can pay full price of $300 and buy it outright with no strings.
ChazzMatt said:
You don't understand.
It's $149 + forced to pay for six months Cricket contract.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Cricket has never once enforced contracts...it's entirely a prepaid phone company that runs on AT&T towers. They can't force you to pay for six months of service because they can't trap you in a contract since they only do prepaid phone service. AT&T could enforce it, but Cricket doesn't have the ability to...they don't even run credit checks or get all of the information necessary to access your credit, so how could they force you to stick with Cricket for 6 months if they sell you an unlocked phone? The second month they expect payment, you could just stop paying them and then the service would be cut off...that's it. If you want to be extremely sure you could setup a Privacy.com card and use a one time payment to Cricket in order to buy the phone, and then in 30 days they just cut off your service and that's all there is to it.
bmurphr1 said:
Cricket has never once enforced contracts...it's entirely a prepaid phone company that runs on AT&T towers. They can't force you to pay for six months of service because they can't trap you in a contract since they only do prepaid phone service. AT&T could enforce it, but Cricket doesn't have the ability to...they don't even run credit checks or get all of the information necessary to access your credit, so how could they force you to stick with Cricket for 6 months if they sell you an unlocked phone? The second month they expect payment, you could just stop paying them and then the service would be cut off...that's it. If you want to be extremely sure you could setup a Privacy.com card and use a one time payment to Cricket in order to buy the phone, and then in 30 days they just cut off your service and that's all there is to it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If you sign a purchase agreement (CONTRACT) contingent on you paying for six months of service, then it's STILL CRICKET property until you pay in full.
$149 is not the full price. It's the down payment.
Sure you can use it on T-Mobile WHILE STILL PAYING FOR CRICKET SERVICE.
But you'll no longer have your T-Mobile phone number. You have to port it to Cricket to get this deal.
Have you even read the terms?
ChazzMatt said:
And it's still $300 if you just buy the phone.
This deal is for phone + 6 month Cricket service contract. Yes, contract.
You mean move it to T-Mobile after you pay off the six month Cricket contract?
These providers aren't interested in selling hardware. They're interested in getting new customers and retaining them. You're locked in for 6 months if you buy the phone at the special price. Otherwise it's $300.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Indeed I did, and I would never port my phone number to Cricket. I would get a new number from T-Mobile (EDIT: Actually it's Ultra Mobile), pay 1 month of service, and then stop payments completely. Cricket does not have the authority to run credit checks and they do not blacklist your phone's IMEI if you stop paying, and since they are selling an unlocked phone there is literally nothing Cricket/AT&T can do about it. The only thing they can do is shut off your service for the new number that Cricket assigns to your account and that is it because if you wanted to come back to Cricket, they still want you to have your phone ready to go and you'd have to purchase a new BYOD Cricket SIM card. They do not even have the capacity to impact your credit score or blacklist your phone for stopping payments on your plan if you pay for the phone in full, and you are paying $150 for the entire cost of the phone - it's not being purchased on a payment plan nor do they charge an equipment fee for the V35 after paying for the device in full. Every single month after the first 30 days you pay $50 plus taxes and that's it. I did read the terms thoroughly and that's how I know if you port in the number from a temporary place like activating a T-Mobile daily SIM card and using that number to port in and that is all that is required. T-Mobile daily prepaid SIM service = $1 per day.
EDIT: I misspoke about the cost of the T-Mobile SIM. Apparently they route you through Ultra Mobile and it's $3 per month for a SIM card with only 30 minutes on it that lasts 30 days.
bmurphr1 said:
Indeed I did, and I would never port my phone number to Cricket. I would get a new number from T-Mobile (EDIT: Actually it's Ultra Mobile), pay 1 month of service, and then stop payments completely. Cricket does not have the authority to run credit checks and they do not blacklist your phone's IMEI if you stop paying, and since they are selling an unlocked phone there is literally nothing Cricket/AT&T can do about it. The only thing they can do is shut off your service for the new number that Cricket assigns to your account and that is it because if you wanted to come back to Cricket, they still want you to have your phone ready to go and you'd have to purchase a new BYOD Cricket SIM card. They do not even have the capacity to impact your credit score or blacklist your phone for stopping payments on your plan if you pay for the phone in full, and you are paying $150 for the entire cost of the phone - it's not being purchased on a payment plan nor do they charge an equipment fee for the V35 after paying for the device in full. Every single month after the first 30 days you pay $50 plus taxes and that's it. I did read the terms thoroughly and that's how I know if you port in the number from a temporary place like activating a T-Mobile daily SIM card and using that number to port in and that is all that is required. T-Mobile daily prepaid SIM service = $1 per day.
EDIT: I misspoke about the cost of the T-Mobile SIM. Apparently they route you through Ultra Mobile and it's $3 per month for a SIM card with only 30 minutes on it that lasts 30 days.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Terms say it's locked to Cricket for 6 months.
Look I'm tired of arguing about it. You go do it and live with yourself.
ChazzMatt said:
Terms say it's locked to Cricket for 6 months.
Look I'm tired of arguing about it. You go do it and live with yourself.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The terms can say anything they want to, but the phone itself comes unlocked directly from Cricket, and the only way that Cricket could touch you is if you purchased the phone and paid for your device in payments, as in 30 dollars a month for 24 months. Cricket doesn't and never will finance phones for just six months, because that would be dimwitted of a company to do. Cricket's generic terms are that they will not UNLOCK a smartphone until the phone has been on their network for at least six months - not that it has to be paid off over a six month term. Since the LG V35 sold by Cricket arrives at your door stop comes unlocked, how are they going to ding your credit? They don't even ask for your social security number or driver's license number when checking out, only payment information. I'm not trying to start an argument for the sake of my ego...arguments on the internet are inherently dumb in the first place and I'm only trying to help you and other people that also think Cricket will wreck your credit report if you don't stay with a prepaid cellular provider for six months. If you don't believe me, launch a chat session with Cricket and link them to that offer page and ask them what the total cost of the phone is if you port in your own number and what happens if you stop paying for service after the second month of service. Their answer will be "Your service will be suspended, and no we cannot report your non-payment to any of the three credit agencies because we are a prepaid phone company and you paid for your device with a single payment and not over multiple months or years like postpaid carriers attempt to lure people into. We also can't blacklist the device because it's been paid for in full, and because the phone hasn't been reported as stolen it's still able to be used on any other GSM carrier as long as the phone is unlocked." Since the phone isn't even a Cricket branded phone and shows up at your doorstep unlocked, that's all there is to it. Feel free to read about the offer on SlickDeals.net and how other people are also buying the phone for $204.99 plus taxes just to use it with Google Fi or T-Mobile now as well, which is easy to find if you just search for "cricket V35" in the forums.
ChazzMatt said:
You don't understand.
It's $149 + forced to pay for six months Cricket service legal contract.
You can be sued or be sent to Collections for "screwing over Cricket".
Or you can pay full price of $300 and buy it outright with no strings.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You're mistaken. The terms mention the standard terms that "you *may* be required to be on a plan for 6 months" before you can request a carrier unlock. Since the phone is carrier unlocked out of the box that request is not necessary. The discount requires a number port in not a service agreement..
It never says you are agreeing to 6 months of service. It would be perfectly reasonable to order the phone and turn off the service immediately and leave it in a drawer and never use it again without violating any kind of agreement.
From Cricket:
LG V35 - 50% OFF
Ends 11/21, while supplies last. Online only. Must port-in & activ. new line on min. $55/mo. voice and data plan. First mo. svc charge & tax due at sale. Excludes upgrades and AT&T ports. Activation fee & add’l one-time fees (up to $3 Customer Assistance Fee) may apply. See cricketwireless.com/fees. Price w/use of Mfg/Dist coupon automatically applied at checkout. By accepting Mfg/Dist coupon, customer agrees to pay all transactional tax due on item sold, including value of coupon where applicable. Transfer Number (Switch/Port), Upgrade or New Line pricing is available to customer once every 90 days. May not be combinable with certain offers, discounts, or credits. Phone may be restricted to Cricket svc during first 6 months after activation. By activating/using svc, you agree to Cricket Terms of Service (cricketwireless.com/terms). Svc good for 30 days and is subject to Cricket network management policies, see cricketwireless.com/mobile broadband for details. Return Fee: $25; see cricketwireless.com/fees for details. Pricing, terms, & other restr's subject to change and may be modified or terminated at any time without notice. Coverage & svc not avail. everywhere. © 2019 Cricket Wireless LLC. All rights reserved.
tlyonstlyons said:
You're mistaken. The terms mention the standard terms that "you *may* be required to be on a plan for 6 months" before you can request a carrier unlock. Since the phone is carrier unlocked out of the box that request is not necessary. The discount requires a number port in not a service agreement..
It never says you are agreeing to 6 months of service. It would be perfectly reasonable to order the phone and turn off the service immediately and leave it in a drawer and never use it again without violating any kind of agreement.
From Cricket:
LG V35 - 50% OFF
Ends 11/21, while supplies last. Online only. Must port-in & activ. new line on min. $55/mo. voice and data plan. First mo. svc charge & tax due at sale. Excludes upgrades and AT&T ports. Activation fee & add’l one-time fees (up to $3 Customer Assistance Fee) may apply. See cricketwireless.com/fees. Price w/use of Mfg/Dist coupon automatically applied at checkout. By accepting Mfg/Dist coupon, customer agrees to pay all transactional tax due on item sold, including value of coupon where applicable. Transfer Number (Switch/Port), Upgrade or New Line pricing is available to customer once every 90 days. May not be combinable with certain offers, discounts, or credits. Phone may be restricted to Cricket svc during first 6 months after activation. By activating/using svc, you agree to Cricket Terms of Service (cricketwireless.com/terms). Svc good for 30 days and is subject to Cricket network management policies, see cricketwireless.com/mobile broadband for details. Return Fee: $25; see cricketwireless.com/fees for details. Pricing, terms, & other restr's subject to change and may be modified or terminated at any time without notice. Coverage & svc not avail. everywhere. © 2019 Cricket Wireless LLC. All rights reserved.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Same to you:
ChazzMatt said:
Terms say it's locked to Cricket for 6 months.
Look I'm tired of arguing about it. You go do it and live with yourself.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse

Categories

Resources