[Q] Using Spring Photon 4G with Israel Sim Card - Motorola Photon 4G

I have a Sprint Photon 4G which is no longer active on my account. I want to use it in Israel with an Israel sim card (Orange network). From everything I've read here it seems that should work without a problem, but when I called Sprint (to unlock the sim of my husband's Galaxy S4) I asked about the Photon 4G and they said that while it is not locked it cannot be used with a foreign sim card unless the phone is active on my account (which it is not). Is this true? Will it work to just put in the Israel sim card and adjust the settings appropriately or is Sprint right?
Thanks.

CMeys said:
I have a Sprint Photon 4G which is no longer active on my account. I want to use it in Israel with an Israel sim card (Orange network). From everything I've read here it seems that should work without a problem, but when I called Sprint (to unlock the sim of my husband's Galaxy S4) I asked about the Photon 4G and they said that while it is not locked it cannot be used with a foreign sim card unless the phone is active on my account (which it is not). Is this true? Will it work to just put in the Israel sim card and adjust the settings appropriately or is Sprint right?
Thanks.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm using a SIM card of orange in Israel. Actually my photon is heavily customized but I think that nothing should be done in order to make it able to use foreign SIMs. If you will encounter problems with the Spring app that connects you to Spring's services you'll always have the option to root your device and remove the stupid app. Like here http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1265816&highlight=bypass+sprint+activation
However, it's about time to unlock the bootloader (if you don't use the version that makes it impossible) and have some fun!
קיצור לא אמורה להיות בעיה עם הסים, ברוך שובך לארץ הקודש.
יאיר

yairku said:
I'm using a SIM card of orange in Israel. Actually my photon is heavily customized but I think that nothing should be done in order to make it able to use foreign SIMs. If you will encounter problems with the Spring app that connects you to Spring's services you'll always have the option to root your device and remove the stupid app. Like here http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1265816&highlight=bypass+sprint+activation
However, it's about time to unlock the bootloader (if you don't use the version that makes it impossible) and have some fun!
קיצור לא אמורה להיות בעיה עם הסים, ברוך שובך לארץ הקודש.
יאיר
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I don't want to bother with unlocking the bootloader or rooting. I'm not using the phone regularly; it is the phone I had before the current one (which doesn't use a sim). Since it can use a sim, I will just use it for overseas travel.
תודה רבה!

Related

[Q] Is it possible to remove network lock without an unlock code?

I have reviewed similar threads for a few days but have not found any answers. The simple question I have is in the title:
Can you unlock the ATT Atrix without an unlock code.
However the situation is a bit more complicated and ill explain.
I have been traveling the past few months and was in Costa Rica for a month. I decided to purchase a local SIM so I could use my phone without paying ridiculous ATT roaming charges. I inserted the SIM and it was locked, unaware of the network lock I inserted my personal code thinking that may be it. No luck and returned to my old ATT SIM. At this point it still worked but a few days passed and I tried again, still no avail so I contacted ATT. It just so happened the 6 month mark was coming up from the original purchase date of my phone so they would provide the unlock code in 4 days time. I waited and finally received, after inserting the code it did not work and I contacted ATT back to assure they provided the proper code as they had to send me a replacement phone a few months prior due to my original Atrix crapping out. They checked it out and determined it was correct but it never worked. I finally inserted my original ATT SIM back into the phone and it also requested network unlock code. Now I am back in the states and even with the original ATT SIM it still requests for the network unlock code. I tried unlocking and flashing with CM7 beta and STILL requests unlock code. So basically the phone is useless for network data but will work fine as a mini tablet i suppose connected to WIFI.
So with that explanation does anyone have any idea on bypassing this or removing this entirely, not even to use overseas but just on the ATT network!
Additionally
ATT provided me with another Atrix to alleviate my troubles so im not entirely phoneless. However I would like to sell one of these and possibly purchase the GS2 0_o
I have contacted 3 cell phone unlocking sites explaining the situation and only one has responded but not with any answers.
HELP!
if you got a new phone, is it still asking for a network unlock code?
No. Its working fine, but I still have this perfectly good working phone I would rather use and sell the brand new one. Unless I cant get rid of this unlock problem I suppose Ill sell it as is. Any takers?
Hi, I talk to att once when i want to unlock my atrix and they told me if the phone is more than six months old the give you the unlock code for free.
so for the atrix if that is your phone you can ask att for your code since august 21.
just call att customer support.
hope this help.
try a diff sim card with data plan and see if it still asks for code
or try flashing a custom rom
I suppose I was not clear in the OP. ATT DID provide this code for me. I did flash a custom rom already.
As far as using a different SIM card I tried to use a second SIM that ATT provided and still nothing.
I am assuming this is a very unique situation and probably wont find any answers unless someone has successfully unlocked the phone by flashing some special ROM.
Flashing a ROM of any kind will never sim-unlock your phone.... ever. period.
The only way to resolve this is through AT&T. The only way to sim-unlock is with the code it requests.... must have proper code. That is the only way. So, I would talk to AT&T about it, in person, at a local store.
I unlocked the inspire 4G simple by rooting and flashing a custom rom didnt ask for network password after that it worked on tmobile
With edge service no. 3g or 4g different bands between tmobile and att
Sent from my HTC HD2 using XDA Premium App
jussuh said:
I unlocked the inspire 4G simple by rooting and flashing a custom rom didnt ask for network password after that it worked on tmobile
With edge service no. 3g or 4g different bands between tmobile and att
Sent from my HTC HD2 using XDA Premium App
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
highly doubt that....
when does it ask you for the network code? can u provide a screen capture?
jgc121 said:
Flashing a ROM of any kind will never sim-unlock your phone.... ever. period.
The only way to resolve this is through AT&T. The only way to sim-unlock is with the code it requests.... must have proper code. That is the only way. So, I would talk to AT&T about it, in person, at a local store.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Just the info I was looking for. Basically the phone is boned in that case. Spent a good with with ATT advanced tech support and motorola to no avail.
What I do want to know is WHERE this information is stored out of curiosity. It seems the modding community would have tinkered with some hacks to remove the sim lock at some point.
wyldkard said:
when does it ask you for the network code? can u provide a screen capture?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Tried to screen shot it but it wont allow in the screen. The request comes as soon as I turn the phone on. If I dismiss it I can use the phone I just wont have cellular access.
Ok so I am reposting and not editing as I feel this deserves a bump.
I got my new Atrix unlock code from ATT today and tried it on the new Atrix I received and that one ALSO will not unlock.
Is there ANY ATT Atrix sim unlocked and if so how did you go about doing it? I have only found one thread and no response via PM.
How to SIM unlock Atrix!
I have read both your post and I believe you used a ATT sim card that was not in use or a GO phone Sim card. Am I correct so far? To sim unlock you have to insert a non ATT sim card!! No go phone sim card or a non active att sim!
Call one of your friends and borrow a Verizon sim or Tmobile sim. You only have 5 tries to do this. So as for your first Atrix I believe it is already locked permanently to ATT. Dont ruin your second Atrix.
katinatez said:
I have read both your post and I believe you used a ATT sim card that was not in use or a GO phone Sim card. Am I correct so far? To sim unlock you have to insert a non ATT sim card!! No go phone sim card or a non active att sim!
Call one of your friends and borrow a Verizon sim or Tmobile sim. You only have 5 tries to do this. So as for your first Atrix I believe it is already locked permanently to ATT. Dont ruin your second Atrix.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well I found that if you push #073887* in the dialer it will actually prompt you for the unlock code. I tried this with NO sim in at first and that is when it said it was unsuccessful. However late last night I inserted my ATT SIM back in and tried again just for ****s. Entered in #073887* and typed the unlock code and viola, it worked. Interesting information for anyone who wants to unlock there Atrix WITHOUT another carriers SIM!
But back to my original issue. I wouldn't mind if the original atrix was locked to ATT, at least I would still be able to use it. The problem is that it wont work with ANY SIM. My thoughts is that it is a glitch and locked the phone to... nothing?
To make matters worse I emailed cellunlocker.net explained the issue and they said they thought if they requested a carrier unlock code it would work. Paid the 20 and 10 minutes later they sent me the same unlock code ATT had provided. Now the hassle of obtaining a refund.
are you selling the phone?
komakos96 said:
are you selling the phone?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yea. Both.
you have to use a *different* sim card than your regular carrier uses (ex - I'm on AT&T, so i used a Boost Mobile Sim to unlock my Atrix) You cannot use YOUR sim to sim-unlock.
jgc121 said:
you have to use a *different* sim card than your regular carrier uses (ex - I'm on AT&T, so i used a Boost Mobile Sim to unlock my Atrix) You cannot use YOUR sim to sim-unlock.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes you can, by the method I explained in my previous post. It works!
There may be some confusion. The one im referring to (the original ATRIX) will not unlock with an ATT sim, a TMOB sim, a verizon SIM, or even a Costa Rican SIM. NO matter WHAT the SIM is in the "original" phone it always prompts me for a SIM unlock password. Like I said I believe it to be a glitch, intending to lock it to the ATT SIM but in reality it locked it to NO SIM.
So to restate.
YES you can unlock an ATT Atrix with only an ATT SIM in the phone using the method I explained. ( I did it with the phone in my hand right now)
and
NO my original Atrix will not unlock regardless of SIM installed or method.
i will send you a p.m with my offer
Just out of curiousity did you ever set up the sim card lock feature in the location and security settings. It will ask you for the unlock code every time you turn your phone on...shot in the dark here....
Sent from my MB200 using XDA App

Sim card

Now this may be a stupid question but i just want to know why my photon has a sprint sim card in it? If i remove it the phone functions fine while the sim card is out..
Sent from my rooted mofo running on sprints 4g network
Thought some one said it was 4G wimax ???
Sent from my MB855 using xda premium
I always assumed that it was used if you went abroad and were roaming on GSM/UMTS (which requires SIM cards) -- so that those roaming charges would be charged to your Sprint account.
The phone is an international model with GSM capabilities. The SIM card is only used when roaming internationally.
goaliemn said:
The phone is an international model with GSM capabilities. The SIM card is only used when roaming internationally.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
...and can be swapped out for a local SIM card (which will get you a local number and cheaper rates) from whatever country you are in.
AGiLiT said:
...and can be swapped out for a local SIM card (which will get you a local number and cheaper rates) from whatever country you are in.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I thought I heard that you needed to get Sprint to unlock it or root your phone in order to be able to use your own simcard, though.
menehune said:
I thought I heard that you needed to get Sprint to unlock it or root your phone in order to be able to use your own simcard, though.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Nope; from what I've seen on numerous other forums, people have reported no problem in using pre-paid SIM cards overseas and it doesn't require any intervention by Sprint. The only issue is that it works for voice only; not data.
From the notes of the Feb. Sprint Advocacy Call:
What is Sprints policy of using pre-paid SIM card for international phones. (certain international phones such as the Photon does not save APN settings that do not use Sprint's MCC/MNC 310 and 120. This stops any attempt to use a pre-paid SIM for data in the Photon for example). Sprint claims it’s a Motorola issue and Motorola claims its a Sprint issue). The use of data for a business traveler or the occasional international traveler is important.
1. I actually brought this up to Art when I got my Photon, and the response he got from the product team was "Sprint does not lock phones". I've heard from several people who have traveled overseas that, yes, you can use a foreign SIM card for voice (you use the Sprint card if you want people to reach you on you normal Sprint phone #), but data does not work because of the reasons stated. The problem is that Sprint blames Motorola and Motorola, of course, blames Sprint. Data is important, so some resolution (or a better explanation) is needed.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I believe that you need to contact Sprint to activate their sim card.
Sent from my Epic Touch running Blazer Rom via xda premium
deedscreen said:
I believe that you need to contact Sprint to activate their sim card.
Sent from my Epic Touch running Blazer Rom via xda premium
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes; if you're using your Sprint number, you will have to call Sprint to activate international roaming. The question though was about using a SIM card from an oversees carrier in the Photon.
AGiLiT said:
Yes; if you're using your Sprint number, you will have to call Sprint to activate international roaming. The question though was about using a SIM card from an oversees carrier in the Photon.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes, the card if for calling internationally. The phone comes unlocked and you can put any international Sim in it. I can also confirm that it is quad band. I am currently using the phone in turkey with a local sim and didn't require unlocking
Sent from my Photon
I am using mine in Sweden on prepayed sim and voice and data works great
Sent from my MB855 using XDA App
I am completely stock:::: International sim cards work by simply"putting into the slot; nice and easy " thats what she said!! ..i used a telcel sim in Mexico with no issues for voice or text issues ( of course this depends on what type of service they offer with their sims. I was not able to use outgoing calls until i called their customer service and activated it) Also i was not there long enough to activate data ( nor did i find out if i could) but i was informed that you would need an apn app that can be found in the market such as APN global
Sent from the crapper
Because it's a world/international phone when you leave the us you don't have to buy a new phone!
Photon
Last fall I went on a vacation to Turkey and Bulgaria, I bought local sim cards and had no problems at all. However, photon sucks at auto detecting the apn which is used for 3g data. For that just find the apn codes by downloading the app "tweakker apn internet mms" or google what it is. Usually its easier finding it yourself because when I was in Turkey it wasn't that easy for me to find a tech guy at the cell phone store, especially one that read english.
it works fine in India (Voice and 3G Data) and I love this phone
As noted, the SIM card in the Photon is for international roaming use only.
It is not used to provision CDMA service. The two large US CDMA carriers (Verizon, Sprint) have made a decision not to use SIM cards to provision wireless service for their subscribers. Instead they essentially use the phone's serial number and associate it with an account and phone number.
up up.
china telecom's Uim card is Modified before they can be used for Photon 4g.
odd question, but can i activate the Sprint sim card and use it inside the US instead of internationally? then put said sim card in another gsm phone? and use current sprint plan, not international plans
eyeb said:
odd question, but can i activate the Sprint sim card and use it inside the US instead of internationally? then put said sim card in another gsm phone? and use current sprint plan, not international plans
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I don't think the Sprint SIM card will work inside the US.
I'm using a SIM card in Peru, voice and 3g data work without a problem. You just have to goggle search the APN settings of the operator that you are gonna use.

Unlocking SIM on Razr?

I realise this is new territory as the Droid Razr and the Droid RAZR Maxx are the first 4G Android phones on Verizon Wireless that are now global capable.
I spent the month of March in Thailand and used my iPhone there the whole time. Verizon unlocked my phone and then I just bought a local SIM card and I had unlimited calls, texts, and 3G data for $12 a week. It was great. I would have spent $12 on just 5 minutes of phone calls.
I want to be able to do that on my Droid Razr now, but Verizon will only provide 1 unlocking every 10 months and I am going to be travelling again to Thailand before that.
I know this is new territory since this is a completely new thing for a 4G android phone on Verizon, but if you could help me I would be so grateful.
doesn't ICS provide international ability - only US providers are locked? (912 users)
You may want to check with Verizon again.
P.S. I tried just inserting my Thai SIM card and won't do anything. It recognises that it's a foreign SIM card, but won't connect to any network of any kind.
It does provide that capability, but in order to insert another SIM card and use that on the network you need to unlock it.
newowner said:
doesn't ICS provide international ability - only US providers are locked? (912 users)
You may want to check with Verizon again.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
What am I checking with Verizon for? They only provide one SIM unlock every 10 months. Period. That's their policy.
jamisonhalliwell said:
What am I checking with Verizon for? They only provide one SIM unlock every 10 months. Period. That's their policy.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
First my understanding was that you don't need to get your phone unlocked with ics - but maybe you're correct.
second i apologize to you for trying to answer your question.
third (still trying to be nice) perhaps you need to be in the country your sim card is for?
jamisonhalliwell said:
P.S. I tried just inserting my Thai SIM card and won't do anything. It recognises that it's a foreign SIM card, but won't connect to any network of any kind.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Why would it? You're not in Thailand, are you?
Sent from my DROID RAZR using xda app-developers app
You don't need to be in Thailand for it to work, just like I don't need to be in the USA for my cellphone to work in Thailand without a local SIM card.
When I landed in the USA from Thailand I still got service on the SIM card through T-Mobile. I made calls on my Thai SIM card in the USA and they subtracted from my balance on the SIM card.
According to Verizon, it is not yet possible THROUGH THEM to unlock the phone for use on foreign carriers. Right now you have to use their network if you want to travel abroad. The guy that I spoke to said he could not say whether or not it could be done another way, just that it was not currently available through Verizon.

Sprint Photon abroad on GSM

So i just picked up a used photon to use in Europe but have been reading some disturbing info. Some of it is rather old so just wanted to get updated info.
1. I want to use a local foreign sim. Can i just put one in and use it?
2. Do i need to call sprint to unlock it? I did put in an old Wind sim from italy while I am still here in the U.S. and it asked for a PIN. Is that a PIN I get from Wind or sprint?
3. I read somewhere about renaming two files to bypass the Sprint activation screen. Is that still recommended even though this phone is activated and i using it as my normal cellphone in the US? Pros and cons of doing this?
4. I read somewhere that I will not be able to use foreign sim data/internet? Is this still true. Is there any workaround for this?
Any recent real world experiences would be appreciated.
Thanks!!
superflysocal said:
So i just picked up a used photon to use in Europe but have been reading some disturbing info. Some of it is rather old so just wanted to get updated info.
1. I want to use a local foreign sim. Can i just put one in and use it?
2. Do i need to call sprint to unlock it? I did put in an old Wind sim from italy while I am still here in the U.S. and it asked for a PIN. Is that a PIN I get from Wind or sprint?
3. I read somewhere about renaming two files to bypass the Sprint activation screen. Is that still recommended even though this phone is activated and i using it as my normal cellphone in the US? Pros and cons of doing this?
4. I read somewhere that I will not be able to use foreign sim data/internet? Is this still true. Is there any workaround for this?
Any recent real world experiences would be appreciated.
Thanks!!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Just pop in a foreign sim and you should be ready to go
superflysocal said:
So i just picked up a used photon to use in Europe but have been reading some disturbing info. Some of it is rather old so just wanted to get updated info.
1. I want to use a local foreign sim. Can i just put one in and use it?
2. Do i need to call sprint to unlock it? I did put in an old Wind sim from italy while I am still here in the U.S. and it asked for a PIN. Is that a PIN I get from Wind or sprint?
3. I read somewhere about renaming two files to bypass the Sprint activation screen. Is that still recommended even though this phone is activated and i using it as my normal cellphone in the US? Pros and cons of doing this?
4. I read somewhere that I will not be able to use foreign sim data/internet? Is this still true. Is there any workaround for this?
Any recent real world experiences would be appreciated.
Thanks!!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
1) Yes. Depending on the carrier you may need to configure the APN's for data / internet. Orange UK was just plug and go for me. Vodafone Romania and Tigo Colombia needed APN's configured. If you buy the SIM at the office of the carrier they will help you configure it at that time. If you buy the Sim online, Tweakker or APN Global can help. Both are available on Google Play, or you could always go to the carrier's office.
2) No need to unlock. The PIN would be from the operator (Wind in your case). Normally the PIN is on the little card that the SIM card pops out of of.
3) I never did this. I think that was just for people who were not going to be able to activate the phone in the US. Since yours is already activated I would not worry about it.
4) You can use 3G data assuming APN's and your Sim / plan are current.
I had a few annoyances trying to get prepaid sim cards to work for both voice and data in Iceland and Germany, but I was eventually able to get them to work.

[Q] NO SIM Error- SCH545 on GSM???

Hello XDA!
After reading here that all verizon S4''s are network free, I bought an almost new one to use in Europe(Romania).
But even after i checked global everywhere , the phone says"NO SIM-insert sim card", and refuse to work at all, no voice, data wtatsoever. Also, i cant change the APN (but since there isnt even voice or sms, it isn relevant at this point)
Is there any tutorial for a newbie that i could folow to get the phone working in 3G?
Thank you very much. P.S. I'm on 4.3 stock
I have the same problem. It says no SIM when I put my country's SIM card. When I put ATT sim, the phone shows that there a SIM inside the phone.
its odd, since it is supposed to be a global device. Maybe flashing a custom ROM should remove the restriction?
vasi.utziu said:
Hello XDA!
After reading here that all verizon S4''s are network free, I bought an almost new one to use in Europe(Romania).
But even after i checked global everywhere , the phone says"NO SIM-insert sim card", and refuse to work at all, no voice, data wtatsoever. Also, i cant change the APN (but since there isnt even voice or sms, it isn relevant at this point)
Is there any tutorial for a newbie that i could folow to get the phone working in 3G?
Thank you very much. P.S. I'm on 4.3 stock
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Sounds like you have a bad SIM, or perhaps something wrong with the way it's cut. My i545 works fine with European SIMs (other than the annoyance with the "Non-Verizon SIM" warning).
You can't change the APN since you don't have a SIM installed, and you can't use GSM without a SIM.
k1mu said:
Sounds like you have a bad SIM, or perhaps something wrong with the way it's cut. My i545 works fine with European SIMs (other than the annoyance with the "Non-Verizon SIM" warning).
You can't change the APN since you don't have a SIM installed, and you can't use GSM without a SIM.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I tried three different sims, so this is not the problem...can you tell me exactly wich EU carrier sim you succesfully used?
vasi.utziu said:
I tried three different sims, so this is not the problem...can you tell me exactly wich EU carrier sim you succesfully used?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It's from eKit, which is Jersey Telecom (UK).
k1mu said:
It's from eKit, which is Jersey Telecom (UK).
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
eKit is CDMA? I tried a Giffgaff UK sim and it dont work-still no Sim error Frustrating
vasi.utziu said:
eKit is CDMA? I tried a Giffgaff UK sim and it dont work-still no Sim error Frustrating
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
BTW, eKit is also gosim.com.
No, I'm not using CDMA - the service in the UK is all GSM. You install the SIM then set the phone to GSM mode to use it. I've used the eKit service for years, starting with my incredible 2 which is another CDMA/GSM hybrid phone.
When moving about, I get service from Vodaphone, O2, AT&T UK, and probably others. I really don't understand why your phone isn't recognizing the SIM.
Is the service in your country CDMA by any chance? You don't use a SIM to activate a CDMA phone, so perhaps what you have is some proprietary thing that's not a standard GSM SIM.
I fixed my problem by using a different SIM card. When I put it, it picked up the network automatically.

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