Will Verizon A50 Work On T-Mobile? - Samsung Galaxy A50 Questions & Answers

I was looking to get it from Samsung. com and wanted to make sure if it will work fine (all the bands) on T-Mobile. I checked with Verizon and they said I wouldn't have to unlock it and it should be already unlocked.

My verizon version arrived today and I want to use it on Cricket. Fist boot looks positive showing LTE and 3 bars, but halfway through initial setup LTE disappears and prompt shows that alternate SIMS cannot be used at this time. From the little I have researched looks like since a few months ago Verizon phones no longer come unlocked out of box and require you to activate on their network. Upon activation the phone should automatically be unlocked within 48 hours.
I jumped on xda to see if there was an unlocked firmware i can flash to avoid that, and if I find something... if i dont update it means I never did and probably asked a family member whose on Verizon to use my phone for a few days until its unlocked.
*update/edit*
Just to clarify, my first boot had an alternate sim in(Mint mobile). Next boot I tried with the provided Verizon sim, and got through the initial setup screens choosing to skip the Verizon account setup. Then tried switching the sims, which prompted me to restart. Upon restart I again see LTE and 3 bars while booting. Once booting is complete I see the gray antenna mark with the "x" again. So still no good. Havent seen a release of an unlocked firmware yet, except for one paid service ($4). Not willing to pay for something that should be free... yet. SO I will keep looking

Similar issue, did you ever find a solution? Third party unlocks via ebay also do not support the Verizon or Sprint version it seems.

Ended up biting the bullet and paying for a month, but its prorated so I figure should get 90% of the money back -$20 fee for opening the line. Also rakuten has $75 cashback for opening a new verizon line. So not too bad. Might even make money in the end.
Anyway here is my process:
1. Get a plan - $55 single device plan is the cheapest you can get
2. Stick sim in and it will activate fairly quickly (less than 10 minutes, likely less that 5)
3. Wait 12-24 hours. Might not be necessary but I did this anyway
3. Create Verizon online account and login
4. Chat with agent and ask them to unlock the phone (do not call, it takes longer and they are worthless)
I did this, and immediately swapped out the sim and put it in another Verizon A50 bought from samsung and it quickly activated, Waited 12 hours and chatted with another agent. Now I have two unlocked, and if I get that $75 cashback the cost will be under $15.
($55 + $20 activation fee + tax = ~$90) - $75 cashback = $15 + prorated return on the $55

Thanks, may try that if flashing to the canadian version A-505W fails. Usually Canadian and US samsung phones are the same hardware and firmware compatible. This seems more like a software lock on Verizon firmware than a true SIM lock as those would not register any signal from a different provider for any length of time (which these do) and ask for an unlock code which in the case of these is no where to be found or entered.

Would activating on a prepaid Verizon plan works or does it have to be post pay?

moku160 said:
My verizon version arrived today and I want to use it on Cricket. Fist boot looks positive showing LTE and 3 bars, but halfway through initial setup LTE disappears and prompt shows that alternate SIMS cannot be used at this time. From the little I have researched looks like since a few months ago Verizon phones no longer come unlocked out of box and require you to activate on their network. Upon activation the phone should automatically be unlocked within 48 hours.
I jumped on xda to see if there was an unlocked firmware i can flash to avoid that, and if I find something... if i dont update it means I never did and probably asked a family member whose on Verizon to use my phone for a few days until its unlocked.
*update/edit*
Just to clarify, my first boot had an alternate sim in(Mint mobile). Next boot I tried with the provided Verizon sim, and got through the initial setup screens choosing to skip the Verizon account setup. Then tried switching the sims, which prompted me to restart. Upon restart I again see LTE and 3 bars while booting. Once booting is complete I see the gray antenna mark with the "x" again. So still no good. Havent seen a release of an unlocked firmware yet, except for one paid service ($4). Not willing to pay for something that should be free... yet. SO I will keep looking
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Click to collapse
lol i dont think u will get an "unlocked" firmware on the A50 since it is a exynos chipset and the "unlocked" firmware you speak of assuming you mean U1 firmware ive only ever seen on qualcomm..
to add, it sounds like ur device is probably unlocked but u need to set the apns and network mode.. vzw typically uses LTE/CDMA/UMTS or something rather whereas tmo uses GSM n other modes..
on my A10e from tmo it works with vzw and tmo and spr etc etc but usually i need to play with the modes and apns to get it just right..
to add, if it was still locked itd tell you.. usually something about using a non vzw sim or simply say the device is locked etc etc

undertaker2k14 said:
Thanks, may try that if flashing to the canadian version A-505W fails. Usually Canadian and US samsung phones are the same hardware and firmware compatible. This seems more like a software lock on Verizon firmware than a true SIM lock as those would not register any signal from a different provider for any length of time (which these do) and ask for an unlock code which in the case of these is no where to be found or entered.
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Click to collapse
correct.. wat ppl r describing in here seems to me the devices r unlocked lol.. wat i noticed on my tmo a10e is that it seems the carrier configs are not switching over properly at times so it might seem like its locked but it isnt..
then again my tmo a10e is sim/carrier locked.. chimera tool is pretty good.. they have a paid feature they recently added called carrier relock.. instead of unlocking the sim they lock the device to up to 64 carriers which works the same as a sim unlock without actually sim unlocking lol.. quite clever i must say..
i get a vzw a50 tomorrow and will b testing it out on tmo and will try to remember to report back here..

romeo0119 said:
Would activating on a prepaid Verizon plan works or does it have to be post pay?
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Click to collapse
id research that if i were u.. go to vzw site and view the device unlock policy.. sometimes prepaid has different policies.. if its purchased for vzw postpaid then might need to b activated on postpaid.. prepaid might require a longer timeframe possibly as most prepaid carriers have a time frame such as 50 days or somethin

elliwigy said:
id research that if i were u.. go to vzw site and view the device unlock policy.. sometimes prepaid has different policies.. if its purchased for vzw postpaid then might need to b activated on postpaid.. prepaid might require a longer timeframe possibly as most prepaid carriers have a time frame such as 50 days or somethin
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Click to collapse
Yea seems like it’s 60 days for prepaid, I might just open a line and cancel after a month.

romeo0119 said:
Yea seems like it’s 60 days for prepaid, I might just open a line and cancel after a month.
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I asked the question about unlocking at my local Xfnity store. They said they want to see it activated for 60-90 days (she wasn't sure exactly how long) on the Xfinity mobile plan (postpaid only available) before they will entertain any unlock requests. They only sell the phone if you bundle it with some sort of plan. I believe the US carriers with the A50 (Sprint, Verizon, Xfinity) will want you to activate it on their network first for a specific length of time before they will unlock it. She said it will work on any US carrier after unlocking, but she was unsure whether the phone will automatically rebrand like the higher end Samsung phones.
As far as I can tell the only out-of-the-box unlocked phones available in the USA are grey market. Their specs are not identical to the multi-CSC A505U version that is sold in the US that support the domestic carrier bands (and features like wifi calling.)

I asked Verizon and they said 60 days, doesn’t matter post or prepaid. I think it will depend on the rep. I activated mine on the cheapest prepaid plan, will try to chat in a few days and ask them to unlock the phone. I don’t think it will be a problem.

Why Switch...
occams-razor said:
I asked the question about unlocking at my local Xfnity store. They said they want to see it activated for 60-90 day on the Xfinity mobile plan before they will entertain any unlock requests.. She said it will work on any US carrier after unlocking, but she was unsure whether the phone will automatically rebrand like the higher end Samsung phones.
As far as I can tell the only out-of-the-box unlocked phones available in the USA are grey market. specs are not identical to the multi-CSC A505U version that is sold in the US
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I just sent back an Overpriced (IMO) Galaxy S9+ ($600.00) after tax (Amazon..) after using it for 14 days once I seen this deal at Xfinity for the Galaxy A50..
How The Hell can you beat $385.00 (Out The Door) with a $250.00 rebate after 3-4 Months using the service.. ?
$0.00 down.. and after making four $14.58 payments and applying the $250.00 rebate to the balance.. you throw $75.00 on top of that and your done.. for only $135.00 out of your pocket.. :angel:
And to top it off... Xfinity still has the cheapest Unlimited Plan That I see in the U.S.A. @ $45.00 a month.. Hell I was paying $50.00 on MetroPCS for the same thing.. and get better and faster coverage with Xfinity using Verizon's Towers.. :good:
The coverage may not be as good as using other carrier's for some of you.. I get that.. but, the price is consistent across the U.S.
This device is equal to the S9+ I just sent back minus the stereo speakers.. battery is superior.
For a Brand New device that has Samsung Pay and only cost the buyer $135.00 bucks.. This is a STEAL.

RaiderWill said:
I just sent back an Overpriced (IMO) Galaxy S9+ ($600.00) after tax (Amazon..) after using it for 14 days once I seen this deal at Xfinity for the Galaxy A50..
How The Hell can you beat $385.00 (Out The Door) with a $250.00 rebate after 3-4 Months using the service.. ?
$0.00 down.. and after making four $14.58 payments and applying the $250.00 rebate to the balance.. you throw $75.00 on top of that and your done.. for only $135.00 out of your pocket.. :angel:
And to top it off... Xfinity still has the cheapest Unlimited Plan That I see in the U.S.A. @ $45.00 a month.. Hell I was paying $50.00 on MetroPCS for the same thing.. and get better and faster coverage with Xfinity using Verizon's Towers.. :good:
The coverage may not be as good as using other carrier's for some of you.. I get that.. but, the price is consistent across the U.S.
This device is equal to the S9+ I just sent back minus the stereo speakers.. battery is superior.
For a Brand New device that has Samsung Pay and only cost the buyer $135.00 bucks.. This is a STEAL.
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Click to collapse
It was even a bigger steal before August 1st. You could buy the phone outright from XFinity with their "free" unlimited calling and text plan and not use any mobile data (it was $12/gig rounded up if you used it). Leave the plan after a couple of months and then you have an unlocked phone and $250. As of August 1st, the minimum charge per month changed to $12 after Xfinity realized what was going on. Only issue for some was the need to be an xfinity internet customer. So outright robbery is now just theft.

I Mean.. Really...
occams-razor said:
It was even a bigger steal before August 1st. You could buy the phone outright from XFinity with their "free" unlimited calling and text plan and not use any mobile data (it was $12/gig rounded up if you used it). Leave the plan after a couple of months and then you have an unlocked phone and $250. As of August 1st, the minimum charge per month changed to $12 after Xfinity realized what was going on. Only issue for some was the need to be an xfinity internet customer. So outright robbery is now just theft.
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Click to collapse
What You Are Stating Is Not Entirely Correct..
You still can NOT use Data.. and just pay the Sir-Charges..
These A50's ( Verizon's Sprint's and Xfinity's ) all released at: $349.00 + Tax..
In what State did someone sell you one for only $250.00 + Tax ???
Even with NOT using data.... and only using Wi-Fi for your connection to the Internet.. ( Which Most People Cannot Do.. ) you still have Sir-Charges of a few dollars a Month.
Finally... Please Tell Us....
What United States "U-Version" A50 Do You Have That Came With A "Carrier Unlocked Bootloader" ..
Every version I've seen does not even have the option in Developer Settings... So, you're saying you just Pop In any old Sim and it works for "You" ? :victory:
If Xfinity sold you a GSM / CDMA "Unlocked" version of this device ( ) AND you only paid $250.00 for it.. AND you can use it on any CDMA / GSM Carrier.. Then *Bully!* for you.

RaiderWill said:
What You Are Stating Is Not Entirely Correct..
You still can NOT use Data.. and just pay the Sir-Charges..
These A50's ( Verizon's Sprint's and Xfinity's ) all released at: $349.00 + Tax..
In what State did someone sell you one for only $250.00 + Tax ???
Even with NOT using data.... and only using Wi-Fi for your connection to the Internet.. ( Which Most People Cannot Do.. ) you still have Sir-Charges of a few dollars a Month.
Finally... Please Tell Us....
What United States "U-Version" A50 Do You Have That Came With A "Carrier Unlocked Bootloader" ..
Every version I've seen does not even have the option in Developer Settings... So, you're saying you just Pop In any old Sim and it works for "You" ? :victory:
If Xfinity sold you a GSM / CDMA "Unlocked" version of this device ( ) AND you only paid $250.00 for it.. AND you can use it on any CDMA / GSM Carrier.. Then *Bully!* for you.
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Click to collapse
You completely misunderstood me. The phone was $349 + local sales tax at Xfinity. The $250 is the gift card they give you back after you port your number, activate the phone, and stay on the plan for a few months. Before August 1st you could get away without being charged the minimum $12 per month for being on the "by-the-gig" plan. Use no data and you just pay the telecom taxes and fees if you bought the phone before August 1st (effectively a free plan). After you meet the minimum requirements for being on the Xfinity mobile plan, the phone is yours and unlocked + the $250 dollar visa gift card or whatever it is. This deal is still available but the cheapest "by-the-gig" plan now is $12 +taxes because they don't want you getting a free plan.
Since only xfinity internet have access to this deal, any decently populated area should have enough access to their hotspots so lack of mobile data is not a deal killer for many. Kids, grandmas, and the like will probably be ok with this if all they need is a way to call and text mom and dad from the mall or school.
And I did not participate in this deal since I already have the verizon version.

Time To Close This Out..
occams-razor said:
You completely misunderstood me. The phone was $349 + local sales tax at Xfinity. The $250 is the gift card they give you back after you port your number, activate the phone, and stay on the plan for a few months. Before August 1st you could get away without being charged the minimum $12 per month for being on the "by-the-gig" plan. Use no data and you just pay the telecom taxes and fees if you bought the phone before August 1st (effectively a free plan). After you meet the minimum requirements for being on the Xfinity mobile plan, the phone is yours and unlocked + the $250 dollar visa gift card or whatever it is. This deal is still available but the cheapest "by-the-gig" plan now is $12 +taxes because they don't want you getting a free plan.
Since only xfinity internet have access to this deal, any decently populated area should have enough access to their hotspots so lack of mobile data is not a deal killer for many. Kids, grandmas, and the like will probably be ok with this if all they need is a way to call and text mom and dad from the mall or school.
And I did not participate in this deal since I already have the verizon version.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
A Lot To Unpack Here...
AS I AM A BUYER WHO "DID PURCHASE THE DEVICE UNDER THIS PROMO".... Let me explain the FACTS to you. :angel:
FACT 1 ) Xfinity Gives You * 100 mb of data* FOR FREE.. If One Can Use That To Quickly Check Their Mail, Tweets.. Whatever.. And Somehow Stay Strictly on Wi-Fi.. Then Their Bill Is NOT A MINIMUM OF $12.00...
It Will Consist Of Regulatory / 911 / Misc Fees.. Totaling Less Than $5.00 A Month.
August 1st Had Nothing To Do With Changing That.. That's All Day Every Day.. Standard Fare With Xfinity. :victory:
FACT 2 ) You're Thinking Of Yourself... Maybe All You Do Is Call Mommy & Daddy... But, Most Of Us Adults Need And Want Internet Access *When We Want It* And Are Not Going To Drive / Walk / Bus Or Bike Their Way Around Towns Looking For A Wi-Fi Connection.
If You Have The Funds / Credit To Purchase A $350.00 Phone.... Then You Have The Means To Pay A Monthly Cellular Bill.. :victory:
Fact 3 ) The A50 Through Xfinity Will Cost $100.00 + Tax @ Whatever A Person's County Tax Rate Is... PERIOD.. After The $250.00 Rebate Which Indeed Comes Around The 4th Month Of Service.
And Finally,
So... You Think Your CDMA Verizon A50 ( Or Xfinity's And / Or Sprint's ) Has All The Bands.. And Is Ready For You To Unlock It And Run It On ANY Carrier's Network You Choose?
I'd Like To See That...
By All Means.. Hit Me Up.. with A Pic Showing Your Verizon A50 Running On T-Mo , Cricket, MetroPCS Or AT&T..
You'd Certainly Be The 1st To Do So..... :victory:

I got one from Verizon and it is GSM unlocked.

Hi,
Has anyone found a solution to use the Verizon A50 on other carriers. Some where I read that the device can be used on international Sim, but when I tried the international Sim, it's not working
Any suggestions?
Thanks

As of today after unlocking from xfinity, an Xfinity a50 works on the T-Mobile mvno mint and att postpaid plans. I tried various flavors of gsm Sims including FreedomPop and they are all working. Only issue is sprint and their mvnos. Sprint still uses their IMEI whitelist and the Xfinity branded phones are not in their database. Maybe a corporate cs can add it if you beg.

Related

Unlocked AT&T Tilt 2 (Touch Pro 2)

I'm in a dilemma and in need of some advice. I'm in the market for a new Windows Mobile Phone. The last phone I had (The HP Ipaq 910c) went sour on me 3 times before I finally sold it off. I've been using a phone that's 8 years old for the past several months...trying to patiently wait for the Touch Pro 2 on AT&T.
Here's my problem...I'm on an unlimited data plan right now with AT&T that's relatively cheap. If I were to sign a new 2 year contract with them with the Tilt 2, my monthly bill would increase by about $30-$40 dollars with the new data plans they put in place. (I'm on a family plan). I'm due for an upgrade because my HP 910c was unlocked and I didn't have to sign a contract, but I still used it on the AT&T networks. I guess my question is...is there a way to do this with the Tilt 2 ...get it unlocked and still use the data plan I have without having to go through AT&T and have all the sluggish software they install put on the phone. Not to mention I was using CoPilot GPS on my HP 910c and I wanted to be still use that on my Tilt 2 (doesn't AT&T have the GPS locked or charge for the service?) ...I'm not the expert on phones and how carriers change things up so I apologize if I'm completely off in left field with these statements. I know you can also buy the phone...non commitment with AT&T for $550ish, but I'm worried they'd still charge me for some of these services I'm wanting. Soooooooo...
I've looked at these two sites who are selling an unlocked version of the AT&T Tilt 2:
($600) Negri Electronics: http://www.negrielectronics.com/product_info.php?currency=USD&products_id=2758
&
($550) Wireless Networks: http://www.ewirelessexperts.com/product_info.php?products_id=1361
Can anybody recommend one of these sellers and/or tell me if they are legit and point me in the right direction?
OR am I better off just signing a new contract with either AT&T or Verizon. I'm basically trying to find the least expensive way to get this phone and use it how I want to use it. I don't want to be paying extra for monthly services and data plans that I COULD already have available to myself. I really like Verizon's version (I've heard its the closest to the original HTC Touch Pro 2 as far as the software. And that there is virtually no carrier bloat pre-installed...not to mention there's a 3.5mm jack...but that's not a deal breaker for me) ...OR is there anyway I CAN get the Verizon version UNLOCKED and still use it on the AT&T networks somehow? I've heard the 3G bands are different. Could anyone confirm if this is even a possibility? (Also I'm wanting to run Windows Mobile 6.5 on this phone...so I need to take into account how much it would be to upgrade if I did take the Verizon route and when the update would be available)
I definitely want 3G...I know there are unlocked versions of this phone that don't have it and I want to STAY AWAY from that. I've also heard stories that AT&T can somehow detect now when you're using a new phone and switch your SIM card to a different model (and that they can change or start charging you differently if they catch you). BASICALLY ...is there a way to avoid all this and finally get myself an ever-so-lovely Unlocked Touch Pro 2? And...from WHERE?
OK here is the deal. If you want 3G then either find an unlocked version or pay retail for the ATT TP2 549.99. As long as you dont upgrade your account then you are grandfathered in for your data. I would pay the retail price which is cheaper then an unlocked version and then call ATT to get the unlock code. You can remove the bloat ware easy enough, Custom rom.
Does anyone know about the legitimacy of the Negri or Wireless Networks sellers? I'm skeptical to buy it directly from AT&T...Just having to deal with the additional software and having to unlock it...and them possibly noticing a change and changing up the price of my service...just seems like a hassle. I just wanna buy it, get it, put in my SIM card, and live happily ever after with no worries.
TheScPCrew said:
Does anyone know about the legitimacy of the Negri or Wireless Networks sellers? I'm skeptical to buy it directly from AT&T...Just having to deal with the additional software and having to unlock it...and them possibly noticing a change and changing up the price of my service...just seems like a hassle. I just wanna buy it, get it, put in my SIM card, and live happily ever after with no worries.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No matter where you get it after awhile your IMEI will reg on the system and they will know you are using a TP2. Even with an unlocked version of ATT touch pro 2 it will still come with all the att software as it is the only version that comes with 6.5. If you look at the screen shot it still has the ATT tab in TF3d. I cant say about those places but on the go solutions I have delt with and when I got an unlocked carrier version it still had all the bloatware installed. I called them and they stated that they only unlock them, they dont change anything else.
Will At&T just give you the unlock code... no questions asked? I thought they kept it locked for a reason. And if I buy it from At&T for $550 do I get any kind of warranty if say a part fails on the device?
TheScPCrew said:
Will At&T just give you the unlock code... no questions asked? I thought they kept it locked for a reason. And if I buy it from At&T for $550 do I get any kind of warranty if say a part fails on the device?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
They will give you the unlock code if you buy it out right and tell them you travel overseas. It will have the normal one year warrenty if you buy it at one of the stores. You can always add insurence to the plan when you buy it out right with in 30 days.
Getting your AT&T phone unlocked
zelendel said:
They will give you the unlock code if you buy it out right and tell them you travel overseas. It will have the normal one year warrenty if you buy it at one of the stores. You can always add insurence to the plan when you buy it out right with in 30 days.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
This only works if you've been with AT&T for at least 3 months. If you're starting a new plan/new account with AT&T, you have to wait 3 months before unlocking your phone. Otherwise, just tell CS that you want it unlocked for overseas travel.
i got my tilt2 directly from att for 425. dont have it unlocked yet, as i dunno if i want to keep the phone or go under a contract (prices are around 99 with 2yr). with contract prices so low, maybe it makes sense to pay the extra $10-15 for their new data plan? especially with att new data plan rules for all smartphones. I'd hate to pay full price and the have att bump me up 2 months or so down the line, when I can't return the phone..
motoq9h said:
i got my tilt2 directly from att for 425. dont have it unlocked yet, as i dunno if i want to keep the phone or go under a contract (prices are around 99 with 2yr). with contract prices so low, maybe it makes sense to pay the extra $10-15 for their new data plan? especially with att new data plan rules for all smartphones. I'd hate to pay full price and the have att bump me up 2 months or so down the line, when I can't return the phone..
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If they bump up prices, you can call them and they HAVE to let you out of your contract, without any penalty at all
i recomend you buy a locked one and unlock it here using Olipro programs , are 100% safe , and locked phones are cheaper
arreguingalindo said:
i recomend you buy a locked one and unlock it here using Olipro programs , are 100% safe , and locked phones are cheaper
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Wow, way to go replying to a thread that's over a year old.

Question about T-mobile service

Hello, I'm going to have a T-mobile G2 soon that I'm going to use on T-mobile's prepaid monthly 4g plan. But I do have one question before I do it, and this might be a dumb question but do I technically have to carrier unlock the G2 to use it on prepaid versus contract?
nope...
Not to my knowledge and I used prepaid tmobile for years until last month they stoped doing prepaid and now am running regular contract...but no unlock needed for prepay as its already a tmobile phone..
No, there's no need to unlock for prepaid unless you're going to use a phone sold thru a different carrier. Like the Evo on T-Mobile, for instance.
Sent from my HTC Vision using XDA App
If you mean the simple plan it has a apn option built in. Just watch the data cap. Its like being crippled when it comes to data speed.
Sent from my HTC Vision using XDA App
Have you looked at theyre no contract plans? They are much cheaper then the contract plans. If you have been a customer for a while they are even cheaper! I have a family plan but if i were on it myself i think its only around 50 a month. Unlimited data and whatever minutes...i dont talk much
Sent from my HTC Vision using Tapatalk
I couldn't get them to give me a no contract plan (2 weeks ago), but I got unlimited everything for 50 a month. Saving me some big money right now compared to my old no contract plan (cause it only gave me 500 mins a month), and I kept going over talking with someone.
Sent from my HTC Vision using XDA Premium App
Karakoram2 said:
I couldn't get them to give me a no contract plan (2 weeks ago), but I got unlimited everything for 50 a month. Saving me some big money right now compared to my old no contract plan (cause it only gave me 500 mins a month), and I kept going over talking with someone.
Sent from my HTC Vision using XDA Premium App
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
For me, the main difference between prepaid (no contract) and contract is the discount on devices. I like to upgrade once a year, and with out my contract I wouldn't not qualify for a significant discount on a new device. So while non contract plans are cheaper, you do give up that annual discount on a new device. Basically, in the States, we're being ripped off no matter which way you look at it.
I also agree with the previous user who posted about watching you data consumption on prepay. A friend of mine was throttled to a point where his phone was almost unusable after using only 300 MB! (on a 50 USD Unlimited prepaid plan).
shortlived said:
Have you looked at theyre no contract plans? They are much cheaper then the contract plans. If you have been a customer for a while they are even cheaper! I have a family plan but if i were on it myself i think its only around 50 a month. Unlimited data and whatever minutes...i dont talk much
Sent from my HTC Vision using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That's what I'm doing, the monthly pre paid plans.
What I was asking is if I could take a G2 that's carrier locked to T-mobile to T-mobile prepaid without having to unlock it, basically if there was a difference in the phone seeing it as a supported carrier being locked.
vbetts said:
That's what I'm doing, the monthly pre paid plans.
What I was asking is if I could take a G2 that's carrier locked to T-mobile to T-mobile prepaid without having to unlock it, basically if there was a difference in the phone seeing it as a supported carrier being locked.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You know T-Mobile carried the G2, right? There is no reason to carrier-unlock a phone for it to work on it's intended carrier's network -- regardless of whether you're on a contract or prepay. Unless I'm completely misunderstanding you... which is entirely possible as I am sleep-typing...
vbetts said:
That's what I'm doing, the monthly pre paid plans.
What I was asking is if I could take a G2 that's carrier locked to T-mobile to T-mobile prepaid without having to unlock it, basically if there was a difference in the phone seeing it as a supported carrier being locked.
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Click to collapse
Just to reiterate what others have said, you're good dude. I just did the same thing, bought a used G2 off ebay and got the $30 100min, unlimited text/4G prepaid plan. No problemos. Just make sure you get a prepaid sim card, like this:
http://prepaid-phones.t-mobile.com/prepaid-phone/T-Mobile-Prepaid-SIM-Activation-Kit
(Tmobile has two separate sites for contract and prepaid, so as long as you go through above site, you're all good.)
P.S. If you buy your sim-card at a Tmobile store, they'll probably try to activate you there, but don't do it if you want that $30 plan mentioned above, which is only available online.
voltaic said:
Just to reiterate what others have said, you're good dude. I just did the same thing, bought a used G2 off ebay and got the $30 100min, unlimited text/4G prepaid plan. No problemos. Just make sure you get a prepaid sim card, like this:
http://prepaid-phones.t-mobile.com/prepaid-phone/T-Mobile-Prepaid-SIM-Activation-Kit
(Tmobile has two separate sites for contract and prepaid, so as long as you go through above site, you're all good.)
P.S. If you buy your sim-card at a Tmobile store, they'll probably try to activate you there, but don't do it if you want that $30 plan mentioned above, which is only available online.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I wasn't aware of this... I have a friend (who I gave a store bought prepaid SIM card to) who is paying 50 USD a month and they keep throttling him at like 300 MB. I'm wondering if this plan you're talking about would have the same issue... also, if he wanted to switch to this plan, he'd have to purchase a new SIM card from the link you posted above, right? But then would he have to change his number, or could he transfer it to the new SIM? I've always been under contract, so I only know the basics when it comes to prepay...
Ditamae said:
I wasn't aware of this... I have a friend (who I gave a store bought prepaid SIM card to) who is paying 50 USD a month and they keep throttling him at like 300 MB. I'm wondering if this plan you're talking about would have the same issue... also, if he wanted to switch to this plan, he'd have to purchase a new SIM card from the link you posted above, right? But then would he have to change his number, or could he transfer it to the new SIM? I've always been under contract, so I only know the basics when it comes to prepay...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The prepaid plan I'm talking about is $30 a month for 100 minutes talk (.10 cents a minute if you go over, which is reasonable), unlimited texts, unlimited 4g web (speed is throttled when you pass 5gb in a month, but there are ways* around that, but still, that's MUCH better than 300mb) and it's only available online. So it does sound much better than what your friend has, specially if you get the GrooveIP app and use that to make calls through Google Voice over wifi/4g for free without using your minutes.
It's my understanding that they only let new accounts get this plan, so your friend would most likely need to get a new sim card AND either get a new number or port in a non-Tmobile number. (I ported in a landline number) You *might* be able to pull a fast one, and port the existing Tmobile number to Google Voice, then port it back to Tmobile under the new account, but I have no idea how doable that is.
As for porting in a number, since there was no option for it when activating the sim-card online, I completed the registration up to the point where they tell you your new number, but before I put any money in the account, I called Tmobile support line, and had them initiate the port. Once that was in motion, I funded the account.
* - Check out this thread for the unthrottle solution:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1318460&page=2
voltaic said:
The prepaid plan I'm talking about is $30 a month for 100 minutes talk (.10 cents a minute if you go over, which is reasonable), unlimited texts, unlimited 4g web (speed is throttled when you pass 5gb in a month, but there are ways* around that, but still, that's MUCH better than 300mb) and it's only available online. So it does sound much better than what your friend has, specially if you get the GrooveIP app and use that to make calls through Google Voice over wifi/4g for free without using your minutes.
It's my understanding that they only let new accounts get this plan, so your friend would most likely need to get a new sim card AND either get a new number or port in a non-Tmobile number. (I ported in a landline number) You *might* be able to pull a fast one, and port the existing Tmobile number to Google Voice, then port it back to Tmobile under the new account, but I have no idea how doable that is.
As for porting in a number, since there was no option for it when activating the sim-card online, I completed the registration up to the point where they tell you your new number, but before I put any money in the account, I called Tmobile support line, and had them initiate the port. Once that was in motion, I funded the account.
* - Check out this thread for the unthrottle solution:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1318460&page=2
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks so much for all the info. I'll defintely pass this along to my friend.
As for the "unthrottle" method, I did read that thread a while back and explained the procedure to my friend, but he never got back to me about it... he was actually out of town at the time. And unfortunately that method doesn't work for everyone (or so I've read). He does use wifi at home, so this shouldn't be a problem too often. But, the plan you've described sounds 100% better than what he's working with... he's not a big talker either, so 100 minutes would likely suit him, especially with all the different ways to make voice calls these days. He could also probably port his landline number and get rid of it once and for all.
Thanks so much.
I just wanted to add that you can get no contract plans that are not prepaid. You do not get deals on phones but they do have an interest free loan option depending on vyour credit. I payed cash for my phone but the contract plan was a solid 50 dollars more a month and they would have approved me for an interest free phoneloan that would have cost 40 a month for what 10 months or so.... So either way it was cheaper monthly even if i got a new phone every year. However maybe my circumstances and unique? Either way i avoid term contracts at all costs! There is nothing like being able to call a company up and saying "hey fix X or i will cancel" you would be amazed at the deals you can get.
Sent from my HTC Vision using Tapatalk

Best place to buy? and A free unlock method?

I am was looking at the cheapest place to buy this phone.
NegriElectronics (preorder) $698.50 free shipping (unlocked)
T-Mobile studentrate. $629 + $50 basic month to month service, free shipping = $679.00
There is bascially about a $20 difference here.
So my question........ Is there a FREE unlocking method known for this phone? Will T-Mobile give me the unlock code during my first month of service so I can switch to Red Pocket Mobile use thereafter and use the phone out of the country?
Advantage of getting through T-Mobile is available now but is locked.
I live in a area were AT&T has better coverage but I do not want to buy the AT&T phone because of the locked bootloader.
Does T-Mobile use the AT&T towers in areas they have limited coverage? If not, will the T-Mobile phone work on at AT&T system by accessing with a Red Pocket Sim Card which uses AT&T?
Confused buyer for Samsung Galaxy S 4. I am trying to determine which company will give me the fastest speeds and the lowest price for the phone and thereafter for the monthly service.
Please advise.
T-Mobile will unlock your phone for you once you've paid the full purchase price.
Edit: As far as service goes with them, it'll be $50 for unlimited talk/text and 500 MB of high-speed data (unlimited data at 2G speeds once you pass that), $60 for 2.5GB high speed, or $70 for unlimited high speed.
buyslake said:
I am was looking at the cheapest place to buy this phone.
NegriElectronics (preorder) $698.50 free shipping (unlocked)
T-Mobile studentrate. $629 + $50 basic month to month service, free shipping = $679.00
There is bascially about a $20 difference here.
So my question........ Is there a FREE unlocking method known for this phone? Will T-Mobile give me the unlock code during my first month of service so I can switch to Red Pocket Mobile use thereafter and use the phone out of the country?
Advantage of getting through T-Mobile is available now but is locked.
I live in a area were AT&T has better coverage but I do not want to buy the AT&T phone because of the locked bootloader.
Does T-Mobile use the AT&T towers in areas they have limited coverage? If not, will the T-Mobile phone work on at AT&T system by accessing with a Red Pocket Sim Card which uses AT&T?
Confused buyer for Samsung Galaxy S 4. I am trying to determine which company will give me the fastest speeds and the lowest price for the phone and thereafter for the monthly service.
Please advise.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
with tmobile, if you buy the phone outright, you can unlock it for free if you meet the following requirements http://support.t-mobile.com/docs/DOC-1588
---------- Post added at 01:03 AM ---------- Previous post was at 12:59 AM ----------
JimmyTheShovel said:
T-Mobile will unlock your phone for you once you've paid the full purchase price.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
only half true. thats only one of the requirements
Thanks, wasn't aware of the time requirement. Not surprising that they want you to at least do a full month+ of service with them since otherwise one could essentially buy an unlocked phone from them for $629+tax and give them nothing else.
you must do 40 Days of Activated Service thru tmobile and have completely bought and paid off the full phone price. You must all be have been using the phone u want unlocked for 4 days prior to requesting the unlock code. Even after all this it will take a couple hours to days before they give u the code (and sometime u gotta nag them and have a reason for wanting it, TMO is so strict with unlocks).
or u can get it unlocked by a 3rd party for about $20-$30
buyslake said:
I am was looking at the cheapest place to buy this phone.
NegriElectronics (preorder) $698.50 free shipping (unlocked)
T-Mobile studentrate. $629 + $50 basic month to month service, free shipping = $679.00
There is bascially about a $20 difference here.
So my question........ Is there a FREE unlocking method known for this phone? Will T-Mobile give me the unlock code during my first month of service so I can switch to Red Pocket Mobile use thereafter and use the phone out of the country?
Advantage of getting through T-Mobile is available now but is locked.
I live in a area were AT&T has better coverage but I do not want to buy the AT&T phone because of the locked bootloader.
Does T-Mobile use the AT&T towers in areas they have limited coverage? If not, will the T-Mobile phone work on at AT&T system by accessing with a Red Pocket Sim Card which uses AT&T?
Confused buyer for Samsung Galaxy S 4. I am trying to determine which company will give me the fastest speeds and the lowest price for the phone and thereafter for the monthly service.
Please advise.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Don't forget that there is a sales tax in most states if you buy from T-Mo
see if the service menu method from the s3 also works on s4
*#197328640# option 1 (umts) / option 1 (debug screen) / option 6 (phone control) / network lock / option 3 (2nd persona 256 ) / once it says off give it 30-45 secs then using the menu soft key go back 1 screen and select nv initializ and if it allows and says successful you should be factory unlocked --- just confirm with dead or active sim from another carrier or region
Price. :$0
Time : ~90 seconds
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sgs22012 said:
see if the service menu method from the s3 also works on s4
*#197328640# option 1 (umts) / option 1 (debug screen) / option 6 (phone control) / network lock / option 3 (2nd persona 256 ) / once it says off give it 30-45 secs then using the menu soft key go back 1 screen and select nv initializ and if it allows and says successful you should be factory unlocked --- just confirm with dead or active sim from another carrier or region
Price. :$0
Time : ~90 seconds
Sent from my SGH-T999 using Tapatalk 2
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Ya really think they haven't patched that hole? Unfortunately there is a menu but the required options are not there.

Any other ATT users getting the Tmobile one? Also what's the chance of unlocking?

Any other AT&T users who feel burned by the Note 3 Root fiasco going with a full price Tmobile Note 4 to use on AT&T? I know first question is why not switch to Tmobile, well in my area they don't have good coverage so it's not an option. I plan on signing up for their $40 plan, paying full price for the phone, trading in my old iPhone 4 for $50 and getting the remainder $150 rebate from Samsung then shutting off Tmobile service as soon as I get home.
The only issue with my plan is Tmobile requires 40 days of service before they unlock your phone. Anyone care to guess how long it will take an aftermarket company to have the ability to unlock the Tmobile Note 4 for a fee?
I am in the same boat. I will keep my T plan and just want to purchase the full price TMOB phone. I was unaware I needed to start service with TMOB to buy one. Perhaps my sister who is a TMOB customer will buy it for me. I am not sure the LTE frequencies are the same for TMOB and T. I see some threads that say for the Note that it will work but I am note sure if that is for 3G or LTE. I require LTE or I'll just look at other phones. I am still on a subsidized phone plan so I may just pre-order the T locked crapola phone and sell it discounted to recoupe the part of TMOB phone cost. But I too am looking for confirmation that the TMOB boot loader will be unlocked.
This locked boot loader is a bunch of BS!
Same here. I want to confirm it will be rootable.
I also didn't realize you have to go onto their plan to purchase. I'd think if paying full price it wouldn't be a requirement.
I'll be watching. I'm anxious, but need to be patient.
Well I'm not 100% sure you have to sign up for a plan, I'm just not sure how much resistance or BS you will encounter if you just walk in and say you want a full price phone without getting a plan, IE: without making the rep any money. Maybe it's possible to just buy it outright on the website, I think there is also an option to trade in your phone then because you need to prove a trade in to get the $200 Samsung rebate.
I think the issue is to get it unlocked you have to have it on a Tmobile plan for 40 days. So it's going to have to be an unlocking service that is aftermarket. Do these aftermarket unlocking service typically have access to unlock codes immediately when a new phone is released?
Att user here i will be getting the tmob.. as its official that att and verizon Will not sell devices with unlocked bootladers anymore..
So tmob here i come.. shouldnt take long for xda to come up with an unlock....
Sent from my Flashvetrin using Tapatalk
Funny ATT and VZW is not afraid to give more business to Tmo. Thats interesting and good for Tmo.
I plan on buying the t-mobile note 4 at full retail price than paying like 10 or less to unlock it from an online site. I then have a note 4 at a lower price than att outright and hopefully a modable phone
Last year I initially bought the Note 3 on ATT and then later bought the t mobile version off of ebay for full retail unlocked. Then returned my ATT version to best buy.
I tried to buy the t mobile version directly from T mobile, but they would not sell to me without my getting a plan. It was going to cost me quite a bit extra to do it that way so I just went to ebay. Swappa may be another option.
drmacrofish said:
Last year I initially bought the Note 3 on ATT and then later bought the t mobile version off of ebay for full retail unlocked. Then returned my ATT version to best buy.
I tried to buy the t mobile version directly from T mobile, but they would not sell to me without my getting a plan. It was going to cost me quite a bit extra to do it that way so I just went to ebay. Swappa may be another option.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Best buy looks like the best option if they have the Tmobile version next week. They are giving a $200 gift card for any traded in phone, which is as good as the Samsung rebate if you like to spend money at BB. You can also just order it full price on the internet no questions asked, no pushy reps.
What do you guys think of warranty issues though? With a ATT phone I'd just go to the ATT warranty center. Since I won't have a Tmobile account I don't think Tmobile will help me with warranty issues. I guess I'm stuck with Samsung for warranty issues. Will a Samsung kiosk take the phone and replace it or send it in, or do I have to deal with Samsung directly?
spinedoc said:
Best buy looks like the best option if they have the Tmobile version next week. They are giving a $200 gift card for any traded in phone, which is as good as the Samsung rebate if you like to spend money at BB. You can also just order it full price on the internet no questions asked, no pushy reps.
What do you guys think of warranty issues though? With a ATT phone I'd just go to the ATT warranty center. Since I won't have a Tmobile account I don't think Tmobile will help me with warranty issues. I guess I'm stuck with Samsung for warranty issues. Will a Samsung kiosk take the phone and replace it or send it in, or do I have to deal with Samsung directly?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Best Buy doesn't carry T-Mobile phones or plans other than the prepaid stuff. That's why T-Mobile is excluded from the Best Buy promotion. Amazon also doesn't carry T-Mobile phones/plans other than the prepaid stuff.
You'll need to send it in.
Bleh, I guess I'm stuck with Tmobile and faking their cheapest plan then cancelling when I get home. Oh well, at least I can trade my old iPhone in for the Samsung promo. $549 is not a bad deal for the N4 at all.
Can anyone who has bought a TMOB phone please verify they actually get LTE service on T? Looking at the LTE bands, it appears T verse TMOB used different bands in the same frequency.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_LTE_networks
Flame Red said:
Can anyone who has bought a TMOB phone please verify they actually get LTE service on T? Looking at the LTE bands, it appears T verse TMOB used different bands in the same frequency.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_LTE_networks
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yup, many people get ATT LTE with tmobile phones. Here is a very large thread in the note 3 section on everything you need to know.
See my signature.
I'll never buy another AT&T phone as long as they keep locking the bootloader and going out of their way to prevent root.
T-Mobile S5 got root (and recovery option) the first week it was released. First day maybe even?
AT&T S5 didn't get root until what, seven freaking weeks after release?
This year though, I'm seriously considering just leaving AT&T all together and going with both TMO phone AND plan.
Their coverage in my area is actually better than ATT in some places.
I'm not in a rush to leave my Note 3 behind though.
I'm running an AOSP/CM/Slim based ROM that is absolutely rock solid stable, fast and great battery life and has tons of customization options.
It would be several months before the Note 4 gets a really good AOSP ROM.
A relative of mine has a TMOB plan and I asked them to pre-order the phone for me. They said that TMOB requires you to have a the "jump" plan which they did not use so they would not let them pre-order it.
I assume someone on Flea-Bay will sell unlocked TMOB Note 4 eventually. I guess I'll just have to wait for those to show up. Unless there will eventually is another source without a plan?
Or are all of you preordering them here and then will just cancel the service after you receive it and pay the balance?
Flame Red said:
A relative of mine has a TMOB plan and I asked them to pre-order the phone for me. They said that TMOB requires you to have a the "jump" plan which they did not use so they would not let them pre-order it.
I assume someone on Flea-Bay will sell unlocked TMOB Note 4 eventually. I guess I'll just have to wait for those to show up. Unless there will eventually is another source without a plan?
Or are all of you preordering them here and then will just cancel the service after you receive it and pay the balance?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yeah I'm just grabbing it off the website, I'm assuming my plan won't start until I actually activate the phone. As soon as I get the phone delivered I'll cancel the plan and hopefully they don't charge me the first month. Only 2 things I'm not sure of are:
1) They are charging me a $50 deposit versus the first months service, will I get this back? It also says within 12 months!?!? Still I'm ok with it as it's cheaper than the ATT one.
2) What happens to the $22 credit they are giving me for my old phone trade in? I won't have a bill to apply it to, will this get lost?
I have the tmobile note 3 and the at&t note 3,I have at&t service as tmobile service sucks were I am.I bought the tmobile note 3 last year from tmobile full price from store got the cheapest plan then shut it off the next day.I got it unlocked when I got home for 15 bucks from unlock service out of the play store in about an hour.I will never buy a At&t phone again unless the bootloader is unlocked.It took forever just to get root access on the at&t model thats why I bought the tmobile note 3.I can live without the roms but not root.I can assure you I get the same at%t service on my tmobile note 3 as the at&t note 3 including lte on the tmobile note 3.I will be picking up the tmobile note 4 .I want the note edge but there no release date yet so the note 4 will do until I can get the note edge,which will also be picking up the tmobile model using it with at&t service.
Flame Red said:
A relative of mine has a TMOB plan and I asked them to pre-order the phone for me. They said that TMOB requires you to have a the "jump" plan which they did not use so they would not let them pre-order it.
I assume someone on Flea-Bay will sell unlocked TMOB Note 4 eventually. I guess I'll just have to wait for those to show up. Unless there will eventually is another source without a plan?
Or are all of you preordering them here and then will just cancel the service after you receive it and pay the balance?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That's what I'll be doing.
I've been reading through the Note 3 TMobile-->AT&T thread and am hoping I don't screw up AT&T LTE service if they have my IMEI. (Or lose my grandfathered unlimited plan)
However, I probably just don't fully understand the process yet.
groovadelickun said:
That's what I'll be doing.
I've been reading through the Note 3 TMobile-->AT&T thread and am hoping I don't screw up AT&T LTE service if they have my IMEI. (Or lose my grandfathered unlimited plan)
However, I probably just don't fully understand the process yet.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I have the grandfathered unlimited plan also, been using the tmobile note 3 on at&t and I haven't lost my lte or unlimited plan for about a year now.
gubbilo144 said:
I have the tmobile note 3 and the at&t note 3,I have at&t service as tmobile service sucks were I am.I bought the tmobile note 3 last year from tmobile full price from store got the cheapest plan then shut it off the next day.I got it unlocked when I got home for 15 bucks from unlock service out of the play store in about an hour.I will never buy a At&t phone again unless the bootloader is unlocked.It took forever just to get root access on the at&t model thats why I bought the tmobile note 3.I can live without the roms but not root.I can assure you I get the same at%t service on my tmobile note 3 as the at&t note 3 including lte on the tmobile note 3.I will be picking up the tmobile note 4 .I want the note edge but there no release date yet so the note 4 will do until I can get the note edge,which will also be picking up the tmobile model using it with at&t service.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I am not sure how big a PITA it will be to cancel TMOB service the day I receive the phone. Will they hit me with charges other than the cost of the phone and the $10 for the SIM?
It does not sound like the day I receive it I could just stick in my T SIM and go since it comes locked (I assume). Folks with Note 3 experience, please chime in if I am wrong.
Plus, I assume the phone will be locked to TMOB. I was reading that they will unlock it after 45 days, but I wonder if you cancel the service if that is true. I guess someone will offer an unlock service for a nominal amount eventually.
Cancellation and Returns. Service Cancellation: You can cancel a new line of Service, and if applicable, not pay an Early Termination Fee, if you cancel WITHIN 14 DAYS of activating that new line of Service (some states may differ – ask your sales representative) (“Cancellation Period”). You remain responsible for all Charges incurred through the date of cancellation. To cancel Service during the Cancellation Period, you may be required to go to the place where you activated Service and return any T-Mobile Device you acquired at the time of activation. You must return your T-Mobile Device in its package with all original contents, undamaged and in good working condition with no material alterations to the Device’s hardware or software. If you do not return your T-Mobile Device or if you return your T-Mobile Device in a damaged, altered or destroyed condition, we may take one or more of the following actions: (a) prevent your T-Mobile Device from working on any network; (b) charge you the Early Termination Fee(if your line of Service is subject to an early termination fee); (c) elect not to process your Service cancellation; or (d) charge you the suggested retail price or the cost to repair a damaged, destroyed, or non-returned T-Mobile Device, (which may be greater than the price you paid), plus any shipping and handling charges. Device Refunds and Restocking Fees: For T-Mobile Device and accessory returns and exchanges, see the applicable return policy, which is available at your place of purchase. Some T-Mobile Devices and accessories may not be refunded or exchanged, and you may be required to pay a restocking fee.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I am wondering if it just might be less hassle to wait a few days after the phone ship and buy it from Flea-Bay or Swappa or such, where the phone may come unlocked (to TMOB carrier) out of the box?

[Q] Getting an S6E on T-Mo (USA) Prepaid

Has anyone had any luck pre-ordering an S6 Edge from T-Mobile USA on a pre-paid plan?
There doesn't seem to be any way to do this on their website. I went to 2 different stores and they both said I would have to wait until a couple months (!) after launch before I could get one on a prepaid plan. I complained about this on twitter and a t-mo rep said that I should be able to get one on launch day so I guess we'll see about that.
I don't care about financing (I'd actually prefer to buy it outright) so I figured there must be a way to get one, but it doesn't look like it.
I put in a pre-order at gsmnation.com but I don't have a ton of faith anything will come of that.
Other options I've considered:
1. Signing up for a post-paid plan and then cancelling it right away. Kind of a pain, plus it means paying $50 for the first month of service and $15 for the sim card (I can't believe they actually charge you for the sim card when you're signing up for a plan. Total rip).
2. Buying one from AT&T and then getting them to unlock it immediately (they say they'll do it - https://www.att.com/deviceunlock/#/). The AT&T price is $35 more than T-Mo and it doesn't include the "free" year of Netflix that T-Mobile is offering.
I might end up doing one of those two but I just feel like I'm getting ripped off. Anyone have any better suggestions?
I went the tmobile route. Paid the 870 plus the 50 and the 15 and the 62 for tax. Bought it outright to use with cricket wireless. Just waiting on the unlock code to be delivered hopefully sometime soon. Will likely not be able to get a prepaid one unless you get the metro pcs or the cricket wireless s6
Sent from my SM-G925T using Tapatalk
I tried this very thing. I called TMO and they would not budge on it. The only option i can find is to do what @osmosizzz suggested.
smaskell said:
Has anyone had any luck pre-ordering an S6 Edge from T-Mobile USA on a pre-paid plan?
There doesn't seem to be any way to do this on their website. I went to 2 different stores and they both said I would have to wait until a couple months (!) after launch before I could get one on a prepaid plan. I complained about this on twitter and a t-mo rep said that I should be able to get one on launch day so I guess we'll see about that.
I don't care about financing (I'd actually prefer to buy it outright) so I figured there must be a way to get one, but it doesn't look like it.
I put in a pre-order at gsmnation.com but I don't have a ton of faith anything will come of that.
Other options I've considered:
1. Signing up for a post-paid plan and then cancelling it right away. Kind of a pain, plus it means paying $50 for the first month of service and $15 for the sim card (I can't believe they actually charge you for the sim card when you're signing up for a plan. Total rip).
2. Buying one from AT&T and then getting them to unlock it immediately (they say they'll do it - https://www.att.com/deviceunlock/#/). The AT&T price is $35 more than T-Mo and it doesn't include the "free" year of Netflix that T-Mobile is offering.
I might end up doing one of those two but I just feel like I'm getting ripped off. Anyone have any better suggestions?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Will AT&T unlock it right away? What's with the part under prepaid that says it must be active for 60 days before unlocking? I'm also T-Mo prepaid ($30 plan) but am unable to buy it at full retail price without buying a simple choice plan. In the end the extra $35.00 would be cheaper than the $50.00 deposit plus $15.00 sim card with the simple choice contact-free plan. But I wouldn't want to use it for 2 months on AT&T lol.
DanRyb said:
Will AT&T unlock it right away? What's with the part under prepaid that says it must be active for 60 days before unlocking? I'm also T-Mo prepaid ($30 plan) but am unable to buy it at full retail price without buying a simple choice plan. In the end the extra $35.00 would be cheaper than the $50.00 deposit plus $15.00 sim card with the simple choice contact-free plan. But I wouldn't want to use it for 2 months on AT&T lol.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
AT&T's site says this
Non-AT&T Mobility Customers
You’ve never had an AT&T wireless account and you meet the General Requirements for unlock requests.
Not sure how that works if you previously had an account that you cancelled but that doesn't apply to me. You should be able to just buy the phone outright and then get it unlocked immediately. The 60 day thing only applies to current AT&T customers.
Oh I didn't even see that! I just tried to buy it for retail price but even AT&T's website won't let me purchase just the phone. They want me to select a plan. Did you try or are you just going the T-Mobile route?
DanRyb said:
Oh I didn't even see that! I just tried to buy it for retail price but even AT&T's website won't let me purchase just the phone. They want me to select a plan. Did you try or are you just going the T-Mobile route?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Ah, that sucks. I haven't decided what I want to do yet. Probably going to wait until the 10th and see if anything changes.
Mine came with an app called device unlock from tmobile and I just tapped unlock and it unlocked for my phone. No unlock codes needed.
Sent from my SM-G920T using XDA Free mobile app
iPathik said:
Mine came with an app called device unlock from tmobile and I just tapped unlock and it unlocked for my phone. No unlock codes needed.
Sent from my SM-G920T using XDA Free mobile app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Have you tested it at&t sim card? and did you purchase it at full price as a t-mobile customer?
Be Careful with Unlocked Flagship Phones on Different Carriers
On Tmobile Flagships you will have VoLTE and WiFi calling.
IF you get an AT&T Device and unlock it - and use on Tmobile or another Carrier you may not have VoLTE so phone will drop to 3G on calls and may interrupt temporarily your Internet Data and Connection..
Your speed on a fast Network like Tmo may be slower with a non carrier optimized Device.
Your speed and performance on a Flagship Device on ANY Network is unlikely to be equal to a Device Software Optimized for that Network.
If you are buying a Powerhouse Phone for a specific Carrier - you need the Carrier Software to get ALL the features and speed.
The exceptions to this are rare.
All the info about BYOD and all the Internet Articles about Bands and Towers and etc. do NOT mention this.
For example is there ANY DEVICE that has VoLTE across multiple Carriers ?
Or even VoLTE on AT&T and Tmobile ?
robertkoa said:
On Tmobile Flagships you will have VoLTE and WiFi calling.
IF you get an AT&T Device and unlock it - and use on Tmobile or another Carrier you may not have VoLTE so phone will drop to 3G on calls and may interrupt temporarily your Internet Data and Connection..
Your speed on a fast Network like Tmo may be slower with a non carrier optimized Device.
Your speed and performance on a Flagship Device on ANY Network is unlikely to be equal to a Device Software Optimized for that Network.
If you are buying a Powerhouse Phone for a specific Carrier - you need the Carrier Software to get ALL the features and speed.
The exceptions to this are rare.
All the info about BYOD and all the Internet Articles about Bands and Towers and etc. do NOT mention this.
For example is there ANY DEVICE that has VoLTE across multiple Carriers ?
Or even VoLTE on AT&T and Tmobile ?
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Click to collapse
Good info, but I'm doubting most people who are doing this care about carrier optimizations. Most are buying T-mobile devices for the unlocked bootloader so they can run custom ROMs that likely wouldn't have this software anyways.
I went to a T-mobile store this morning and they refused to sell me one. They said I could order one from Samsung but that's just not true. This is so annoying.
smaskell said:
I went to a T-mobile store this morning and they refused to sell me one. They said I could order one from Samsung but that's just not true. This is so annoying.
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Click to collapse
Went to another store after work and they sold me one. I don't know what the deal is here but I'm happy I got one.

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