I want to import the European variant of a Samsung phone to the USA (the price without VAT and no duties make it tempting). However Samsung is known to have region locking where one has to place a five minute call with a region's SIM card to fully unlock it for global use.
If I have a European SIM card (the UK for example) and I'm roaming in the USA with it can I make a 5 minute phone call while roaming overseas with the European SIM card to fully unlock it?
Yes I think that's how it works
BigBen60 said:
Yes I think that's how it works
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
So even if I'm roaming internationally a European SIM card would allow it to be unlocked? I've been reading online that you also have to connect to a European mobile network/carrier.
darabo said:
So even if I'm roaming internationally a European SIM card would allow it to be unlocked? I've been reading online that you also have to connect to a European mobile network/carrier.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I can't say it for sure : I've never done this
Check on these online reading you are talking about or on XDA, someone must already have tried this
At worst you can buy a european S7 edge already used, at least you'll be sure that it is fully unlocked ^^
Related
Hi guys. I have a Galaxy Grand 2 (G7109), China Telecom model.
It has two SIM card slot, one for CDMA(Slot 1) and the other for GSM(Slot 2) network.
Slot 2 is originally unlocked. But Slot 1 is locked for China Telecom.
Are there any ways to unlock Slot 1 so that I can use other SIM cards for 3G connection or for use abroad?
My phone is rooted. Thanks in advance!
takapitan said:
Hi guys. I have a Galaxy Grand 2 (G7109), China Telecom model.
It has two SIM card slot, one for CDMA(Slot 1) and the other for GSM(Slot 2) network.
Slot 2 is originally unlocked. But Slot 1 is locked for China Telecom.
Are there any ways to unlock Slot 1 so that I can use other SIM cards for 3G connection or for use abroad?
My phone is rooted. Thanks in advance!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
First, thanks for using proper English.
Your operator will unlock the SIM slot if you pay a contract termination fee.
Tried with American operators.
WaseemAlkurdi said:
First, thanks for using proper English.
Your operator will unlock the SIM slot if you pay a contract termination fee.
Tried with American operators.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thank you for your kind reply and the useful info. I will go to the carrier shop and ask if they do the same in my country.
Would there still be other ways to unlock it? I am not going to terminate my contract for the moment but I have a plan to go to another country for a few weeks.
takapitan said:
Thank you for your kind reply and the useful info. I will go to the carrier shop and ask if they do the same in my country.
Would there still be other ways to unlock it? I am not going to terminate my contract for the moment but I have a plan to go to another country for a few weeks.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You still have to pay some fee if you purchased the device ON CONTRACT WITH YOUR PHONE LINE (SIM CARD).
Your operator knows better.
WaseemAlkurdi said:
You still have to pay some fee if you purchased the device ON CONTRACT WITH YOUR PHONE LINE (SIM CARD).
Your operator knows better.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I went to the China Telecom shop a few days ago and asked the staff if they can unlock the phone. He said, "The phone is not locked. Some people from other countries told me that they were able to use the phone in their country. Just try using it." So I am here in Japan and tried to use it. But unfortunately it IS locked and Japanese SIM doesn't work. Any solution??
takapitan said:
I went to the China Telecom shop a few days ago and asked the staff if they can unlock the phone. He said, "The phone is not locked. Some people from other countries told me that they were able to use the phone in their country. Just try using it." So I am here in Japan and tried to use it. But unfortunately it IS locked and Japanese SIM doesn't work. Any solution??
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It may be a compatible band range issue.
Operators in Asian countries operate very strange bands (especially China, for political reasons, and Korea).
As I have heard, you cannot travel and bring a smartphone from outside China as the airport cops will confiscate it AND because it won't work.
Operators are the worst liars ever. Rogers, a Canadian operator, repeatedly told me that its Nexus 5 was locked. They lied. Again. And again. Over different shops. But a quick Google search revealed that North American Nexus devices are ALL unlocked. Don't trust your operator.
I'm quite sure it is the bandwidth. Ask your (destination) operator if it operates your device's bands. It also happened with me. Almost tricked by an operator called Vidèotron into buying a SIM card, but it turned out that they don't operate the bands my dad's Note II (Saudi Arabian unit). Checked with other operators and, luckily, some did operate them. Just try different operators.
WaseemAlkurdi said:
It may be a compatible band range issue.
Operators in Asian countries operate very strange bands (especially China, for political reasons, and Korea).
As I have heard, you cannot travel and bring a smartphone from outside China as the airport cops will confiscate it AND because it won't work.
Operators are the worst liars ever. Rogers, a Canadian operator, repeatedly told me that its Nexus 5 was locked. They lied. Again. And again. Over different shops. But a quick Google search revealed that North American Nexus devices are ALL unlocked. Don't trust your operator.
I'm quite sure it is the bandwidth. Ask your (destination) operator if it operates your device's bands. It also happened with me. Almost tricked by an operator called Vidèotron into buying a SIM card, but it turned out that they don't operate the bands my dad's Note II (Saudi Arabian unit). Checked with other operators and, luckily, some did operate them. Just try different operators.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thank you for the message. Yes, I also think it is a problem of bandwidth. I guess China Telecom version of Galaxy Grand 2 doesn't work with UMITS 2100MHz, which is a common bandwidth in Japan. I was just able to use it in China, Macau & Hong Kong. It's a good device but useless in Japan...
They write need to put European sim to make it sim free.
Have some unlcoked for it??
I want order
morell2 said:
They write need to put European sim to make it sim free.
Have some unlcoked for it??
I want order
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
For the N910C, works fine with my three sim, they only difference is N910C is exynos with a wolfson dac the N910F being snapdragon 805.
Apart from that they should be the same.
The phone comes sim free and unlocked, so put in whatever micro sim you have.
Sure is unlocked? I will use micro sim of no European countries
morell2 said:
Sure is unlocked? I will use micro sim of no European countries
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It sure is unlocked.... all they mean is that every galaxy note is region locked... this means that the first sim you HAVE to put in it should be one from a European carrier. I don't know carriers from the rest of Europe, but in the UK that means just put ANY sim in from Three, O2, EE, Vodafone, Orange or T-mobile
I received my 910-C from handtec today, popped my three sim in and all is well. Since then, its also had a visit from an EE, and O2 sim, all working just fine
dannstarr said:
It sure is unlocked.... all they mean is that every galaxy note is region locked... this means that the first sim you HAVE to put in it should be one from a European carrier. I don't know carriers from the rest of Europe, but in the UK that means just put ANY sim in from Three, O2, EE, Vodafone, Orange or T-mobile
I received my 910-C from handtec today, popped my three sim in and all is well. Since then, its also had a visit from an EE, and O2 sim, all working just fine
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
but i dont have one of this sim
morell2 said:
but i dont have one of this sim
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well... If you ask handtec, im sure they would open one for you and activate it with a uk sim... It will then ne able to be used where ever you are, with a sim of your choice
Sent from my SM-N910C using Tapatalk
Has anyone actually seen a exynos version against a snapdragon. Can the better sound and camera sensor in the exynos really be identified, can any difference in speed be seen either?
So a couple days ago I had a live chat with one of the agent about whether the phone I ordered from official website will come unlocked or not and she said that it will be unlocked. I just got my phone today and just before I decide to put the sim card in, I saw a video from LinusTechTips saying that it will lock to the carrier that the first sim you put in belongs to... That's not cool, not only because I need to spend an additional 15-20 bucks to unlock it, also I will be getting OTAs from carrier which is much slower than straight from Samsung. So I haven't put a sim card in it and is there a way that I can prevent my phone from swapping to a carrier rom? I can do a few things now on my phone such as disable system packages and services, without avoiding my warranty.
Anyone in Canada (well, anywhere) getting an 950/955 W have put their sim card in the phone? What did you guys get when you put in the sim card?
I should get my phone today. My shipping notice included the unlock code, didn't yours or did it not work? It also described the process were it would initially carrier lock. My plan is to put my Virgin SIM card in then go to wireless wave and use a Rogers SIM to carrier unlock. I have done that before. Since I didn't purchase through a carrier updates shouldn't be through the carrier but time will tell. The only carrier stuff will be what is included in the SIM card.
CASz said:
I should get my phone today. My shipping notice included the unlock code, didn't yours or did it not work? It also described the process were it would initially carrier lock. My plan is to put my Virgin SIM card in then go to wireless wave and use a Rogers SIM to carrier unlock. I have done that before. Since I didn't purchase through a carrier updates shouldn't be through the carrier but time will tell. The only carrier stuff will be what is included in the SIM card.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Lol thanks, Just took a closer look to my shipping notice. I got the unlock code too. But I'm still worried that the update speed will be slow as hell. I'm on Fido, as far as I know, we usually get update a month after the international version does..
If you bought your from from samsung you should of gotten an unlock code from techdata when they sent you the tracking number so the sim lock is irrelevant.
Also all the updates come from samsung, not bell or rogers, they simply give the go ahead for samsung to release their firmware, bell is the quickest and the slowest is the non-carrier xac version so if you have 711/sears/public mobile or those type of providers expect to get any updates dead last. You can change your csc to bell if you want, you'll get 3 bell apps but they can be disabled.
peachpuff said:
If you bought your from from samsung you should of gotten an unlock code from techdata when they sent you the tracking number so the sim lock is irrelevant.
Also all the updates come from samsung, not bell or rogers, they simply give the go ahead for samsung to release their firmware, bell is the quickest and the slowest is the non-carrier xac version so if you have 711/sears/public mobile or those type of providers expect to get any updates dead last. You can change your csc to bell if you want, you'll get 3 bell apps but they can be disabled.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hi peachpuff the comment about receiving an unlock code in the shipping confirmation, does that only apply to Canadian orders?
mredamon said:
Hi peachpuff the comment about receiving an unlock code in the shipping confirmation, does that only apply to Canadian orders?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes as far as i know, in the US you choose your carrier first, in canada you don't on samsungs website.
Yeah I saw Linus vid. So the s8 will lock to the first carrier sim inserted?
Hi,
So I purchased my phone directly from Samsung here in the UK and therefore assume its an unlocked variant. I am using a vodafone SIM in there currently but I was wondering if this has now locked the phone to Vodafone or if it is still unlocked so that I can use it abroad with SIM's overseas?
Thanks.
Sundawg89 said:
Hi,
So I purchased my phone directly from Samsung here in the UK and therefore assume its an unlocked variant. I am using a vodafone SIM in there currently but I was wondering if this has now locked the phone to Vodafone or if it is still unlocked so that I can use it abroad with SIM's overseas?
Thanks.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Unlocked means unlocked. Phones sold and distributed by Samsung directly are almost always unlocked. The U.S. being an exception.
If you bought it from Samsung UK, it's unlocked. However, if you are not already aware, just ensure that before you use the phone overseas, or in any region other than the one you bought it from, you complete a five minute call.
I'll just quote Samsung's own sticker:
To use sim cards from other regions a cumulative call over five minutes must first be made with the SIM card from European operators.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Source: http://www.phonearena.com/news/You-...ore-the-Galaxy-S5-is-unlocked-for-use_id55042
(even though this article is written about the S5, it still applies)
Check before you leave by trying a SIM from another carrier. I got my S8 from Samsung (Canada) It was unlocked but locked to the first carrier SIM I put in. Then I had to use the unlock code included with my shipping notice to unlock.
I purchased an S6 through Expansys when they were in Canada. I got the UAE model and it was unlocked. I never used it on a network from there however the moment I turned it on it updated so maybe that's why.
So, I have a question. My wife and I both bought the G950F version in Norway, and we would like to know if it would be possible to use these phones in Peru.
My wife flew down last week, and she tells me the phone is not accepting the local SIM cards.
Appreciate any input, as I am going down there myself shortly..
Current SP is SAOMC_SM_950F_OXM_NEE_0080
It is not going to work because you need to make call on s8 Europe version so it will work internationally. Basically, it is sim lock only for Europe if you got Europe sim just make call for only 5 mins and then you can use anywhere you want
gurinder073 said:
It is not going to work because you need to make call on s8 Europe version so it will work internationally. Basically, it is sim lock only for Europe if you got Europe sim just make call for only 5 mins and then you can use anywhere you want
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Both the S8 has been in use in Norway for 2 months, but they still wont accept the SIM card in Peru.
4rr4k said:
Both the S8 has been in use in Norway for 2 months, but they still wont accept the SIM card in Peru.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Please then check capability (gsm/cdma) of phone with carrier in the Peru
I have a 950F from Europe and am using it in Canada after making the 5 min call. If I flash either updated firmware form Samsung or a custom rom, will I have to make the call again?
Plugplay said:
I have a 950F from Europe and am using it in Canada after making the 5 min call. If I flash either updated firmware form Samsung or a custom rom, will I have to make the call again?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No, you won't. Once it's been unlocked, it stays unlocked. Proof: bought my S8 from Amazon Germany. Had to make the call. Been using it in Argentina since android 7, with numerous firmware updates