[Q] Lumia 521 on AT&T - Windows Phone 8 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting

Is it possible? I have a lumia 521 for metro that I'm currently using to work on apps but my family plan is on AT&T. I'm coming from android so is there a ROM I have to flash to use a sim card for them?
Sent from my Nexus 5 using xda app-developers app

SIM unlock and ROM flashing rarely have anything to do with one another. SIM unlock (depending on the locking carrier) may be free, have a nominal cost, be only available on the grey market online, or be utterly unavailable at this time.
Be aware that AT&T uses different cellular bands than T-Mobile / MetroPCS. Make sure that the phone will work on AT&T first! You may find that you're unable to get any speed better than EDGE...

GoodDayToDie said:
SIM unlock and ROM flashing rarely have anything to do with one another. SIM unlock (depending on the locking carrier) may be free, have a nominal cost, be only available on the grey market online, or be utterly unavailable at this time.
Be aware that AT&T uses different cellular bands than T-Mobile / MetroPCS. Make sure that the phone will work on AT&T first! You may find that you're unable to get any speed better than EDGE...
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The bands are all the same so I'll try finding a SIM unlock, thanks.

Guys, I am looking for unlocking my Nokia Lumia 521 which is tied with the T-Mobile. I got it couple of days back when I came to US couple of days back, but I am based out in India and not been able to use it with the Indian Carriers.

Please read the FAQ... There aren't any ROMs that ignore the SIM locking mechanism. You'll need to either call T-Mobile (or MetroPCS for the OP) or purchase an unlock code from various online sites.
Sent from my RM-860 using Tapatalk

Related

Can D3 and activate on pageplus?? and where can i get the phone with no contract?

Can D3 and activate on pageplus?? and where can i get the phone with no contract?
i think verizon offers $459 and amazon offers $549~ but how can i buy the phone with $459 price?
and can i return it if i cant get activated on pageplus
You need a verizon account to purchase the phone, or find a friend that does. The d3 should work on pageplus as its not a new 4glte device that requires a sim to activate, uses an old school *228 activation
Sent from my DROID3 using XDA App
uses an old school *228 activation
Click to expand...
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what does that mean??
If I buy the phone from Amazon wireless will it be unlocked, that is, can it work anywhere in the world on any GSM provider's SIM?
A proper answer would be much appreciated.
I seriously wanna buy this phone and I am willing to pay the $550 price at Amazon wireless, if and only if, the phone is unlocked.
Someone can correct me if I'm wrong, but I don't think the D3 isn't a GSM phone. I'm pretty sure its only a global cdma
lordgodgeneral said:
Someone can correct me if I'm wrong, but I don't think the D3 isn't a GSM phone. I'm pretty sure its only a global cdma
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The Droid 3 is a GSM and CDMA handset, it is mentioned in the verizon manual for this handset that a sim card can be inserted, currently it is suspected however that this is sim locked.
http://cache.vzw.com/multimedia/mim/mot_droid3/droid3.pdf
Go to the Global Phone section in this PDF and it is mentioned
It is a global phone that supports GSM networks. Arguing over it won't help us much. What will help is an answer to which version of the phone is unlocked for all GSM networks.
Its is a GSM global phone, includes a Verizon SIM that is locked. Verizon customers in good standing can get the phone unlocked with a call to Verizon Global support.
JT
Sent from my DROID3 using XDA App
Hmmm....yes, but the question here is whether the phones with no contract are also SIM locked or not.
hi guys, can anyone answer my question
So, here's the response I got from the Amazonwireless guys:
{I'm very sorry but the replacement phones (phone only no service) on Amazonwireless are locked to the carriers. You would need to find an unlocked phone.
There are basically two types of unlocked phones. CDMA Unlocked and GSM Unlocked.
An Unlocked CDMA phone will basically work with carriers like Verizon, Alltel, and Sprint. Unlocked GSM phones work with carriers such as AT&T and T-Mobile.
Unlocked cell phones are designed to work with any carrier that uses SIM cards. Some advanced features may not work depending on the carrier you are using. I would recommend contacting the carrier you are going to be using to ask if the phone you are interested in will work with their network, and if there are any features that you would not be able to use.
If you would like to shop for an unlocked cell phone please visit Amazon.com using the link below
www(dot)amazon(dot)com/cellphones
I hope this information helps. We look forward to seeing you again soon.}
Thomaslau it means that this phone still needs to be activated using *228 which pageplus accepts. 4gLTE phones do not use *228, they use a sim card to activate
Sent from my DROID3 using XDA App
dotson817 said:
Thomaslau it means that this phone still needs to be activated using *228 which pageplus accepts. 4gLTE phones do not use *228, they use a sim card to activate
Sent from my DROID3 using XDA App
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so it will works???
What my understanding is with CDMA is that it's ALWAYS unlocked. The problem lies with carriers not allowing foreign ECID/IMEI's on their network database which allows the phones to work.
Should work flawless
Sent from my DROID3 using XDA App
ok, now i got my droid 3, but i struck at the activation menu, the one with the android robot. what should i do to activate my phone on pageplus?? do i need to activate my phone on verizon then pageplus?
I thought with pageplus you call them, give them the esn from the back of the phone, starts with a000000, then dial *228 when they tell you to
Sent from my DROID3 using XDA App
thx, i will try it

since sprint has a SIM slot, does this mean possible to unlock for ATT / T-mobile?

since sprint has a SIM slot, does this mean possible to unlock for ATT / T-mobile?
Nope
Sprint=CDMA
ATT/T-Mobile=GSM
Actually... Sprint HTC One = CDMA/LTE and GSM...
So yes it's technically possible, but there's been a few hiccups with getting it accomplished. The method to SIM Unlock the device that regular GSM providers use (pop in a third party SIM and it prompts you for an unlock code) doesn't work with the Sprint HTC One so it requires a bit more creativity to get it unlocked. Unless something's changed recently there hasn't been a whole lot of success with using it on domestic GSM networks either. Reference the Sim Unlock thread for more info:http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2243724
bigdaddy619 said:
Nope
Sprint=CDMA
ATT/T-Mobile=GSM
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Even if you could do it, it's of limited utility since it only supports one 3G band out of the various 3G and 4G bands used by AT&T and T-Mobile in the US. Therefore, you may experience reduced data performance with the device in certain places.

[Q] Flashing MetroPCS Lumia 521 with T-Mobile Firmware

If I purchase the MetroPCS version of the Lumia 521, would I be able to use Nokia Suite to download and install the T-Mobile version of the firmware? Are the firmware locked to the carrier-specific devices?
Product codes (sincde I can't link to the site that lists them):
059T039 RM-917 VAR NAM US METROPCS WIRELESS <- I'd like to buy this one because it's cheaper
059S0B4 RM-917 VAR US T-MOBILE SL <- then upgrade to this one
squinky86 said:
If I purchase the MetroPCS version of the Lumia 521, would I be able to use Nokia Suite to download and install the T-Mobile version of the firmware? Are the firmware locked to the carrier-specific devices?
Product codes (sincde I can't link to the site that lists them):
059T039 RM-917 VAR NAM US METROPCS WIRELESS <- I'd like to buy this one because it's cheaper
059S0B4 RM-917 VAR US T-MOBILE SL <- then upgrade to this one
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You should be able to swap firmware, but you still might have the issue where you need an unlock code to use a t-mobile SIM, as that's usually hardware locked. I can't say for sure as I don't own a 521 and know if they are pre-unlocked.
I debranded my 521 with code 059s000, and the SIM Lock is still active.
The answer to your question is no, buy the T-mobile one because you can request unlock code when you meet all their criteria. Getting a Metro PCS phone and the code from Metro PCS is probably tough if you are not a customer.
There still isn't any unlock services that is cheap on the 521. Until that happens, you probably want to get the T-mobile one.
Sent from my Nexus 4
killer23d said:
I debranded my 521 with code 059s000, and the SIM Lock is still active.
The answer to your question is no, buy the T-mobile one because you can request unlock code when you meet all their criteria. Getting a Metro PCS phone and the code from Metro PCS is probably tough if you are not a customer.
There still isn't any unlock services that is cheap on the 521. Until that happens, you probably want to get the T-mobile one.
Sent from my Nexus 4
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Is that just carrier unlock or carrier subsidy unlock? I'm not too keen on the IMEI unlock scenarios.
Sent from my RM-860 (Lumia 928) using the OFFICIAL Tapatalk app.
I thought SIM Lock is all there is? The 521 is cheap enough to be a prepaid phone so I don't think there are subsidies.
Sent from my Nexus 4
killer23d said:
I thought SIM Lock is all there is? The 521 is cheap enough to be a prepaid phone so I don't think there are subsidies.
Sent from my Nexus 4
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I just recently found that out. Its an unlock to switch from something like att gophones to att's normal service or Cincinnati bell to att. Its still an unlock, but its probably a subsidiary in the first place.
There are 4 unlock levels and the one other I know of off the top of my head is a corporate SIM lock. Its essentially for locking a device down to one or two issued SIMs an employee might be assigned.
Sent from my RM-860 (Lumia 928) using the OFFICIAL Tapatalk app.
Lumia 521 t mobile pin code
Do you know how to get the pin code of a Lumia 521 t mobile, to be able to use it with another network service provider?
killer23d said:
I debranded my 521 with code 059s000, and the SIM Lock is still active.
The answer to your question is no, buy the T-mobile one because you can request unlock code when you meet all their criteria. Getting a Metro PCS phone and the code from Metro PCS is probably tough if you are not a customer.
There still isn't any unlock services that is cheap on the 521. Until that happens, you probably want to get the T-mobile one.
Sent from my Nexus 4
Click to expand...
Click to collapse

[Q] Use SM-G900A (AT&T) in Europe?

I believe the answer to this is "no", but:
I have access to an AT&T SM-G900A that is not being used. My daughter is about to move to Germany for an extended period.
First, can the phone be used in Europe at all?
I certainly wouldn't want to pay AT&T's probably-exorbitant rates, so then: can we buy a SIM card there to use in it as is? (pretty sure the answer is "no")
If I unlocked the phone (by buying an unlock code), could it then be used with a Europe-purchased SIM card?
I suspect this is all more trouble than it's worth and I'm better of just finding a used unlocked GSM phone of some sort.
Much thanks.
if you can use it abroad unless you unlock it first.
I have a galaxy s5 att and I am using it with another carrier here in south america.
only bad thing is that the wifi hotspot will not work for being a simcard from another operator, only work by usb tether.
It's working well. I bought an AT&T Galaxy S5 from USA and now I use it in Romania.
The WiFi hotspot is not working, but all the other features work very well.
Probably, after the bootloader will be cracked and we will have the opportunity to install a custom rom or an unbranded rom, the hotspot will function as well.
Enjoy your gadget !
All answers are correct. I was formerly in the U.S.Army and took an old T-Mobile HTC Dream over to Kuwait with me. I called T-MO and got a sim unlock code for free. Upon getting overseas I established service with a GSM carrier over there and popped in my sim card and whallaa! My phone completely worked in Europe and the middle east.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G900A using XDA Premium 4 mobile app

Can I upload a custom ROM

Hi,
I am using samsung Galaxy S6 ATT version with the following software version:
Android Version 6.0.1
Android Security Patch September 1,2016
Baseband Version G920AUCS5DPI1
Build number MMB29K.G920AUCS5DPI1
The phone is sim unlocked but I need help with rooting / unlocking the bootloader. On checking this forum I did not find any way to do this on my. So I was just wondering if there is anything else (such as installing any other ROM) that I can do with this phone.
Since the contract on my phone has expired I tried using this phone with another carrier and it does not seem to be working (tried with metroPCS) the phone does not show any other network operators except ATT/T-mobile and Verizon and on trying to connect to T-mobile it fails to connect (metro PCS uses T-mobile line)
After spending few hours with an account rep from metro he felt the phone may not be compatible. So at this point I am just trying to figure out if there is anything I can do with this device.
Sorry for the long winded post but I just hate how these carriers tell you that after the contract you own the device but their own software updates mess up any chance of using your own device as you want.
Appreciate any insight or links to help me figure out if anything can be down to get rid of the ATT rom.
Thanks,
Matt
You can use it for a wifi hotspot or spare android device. no roms, no custom recovery, no bootloader unlock, no real root option. sadly. this device thanks to att gets no love.
Sent from my SM-N900V using Tapatalk
This is very sad. what is the point of paying the bloated ATT bill and getting the phone sim unlocked after 2 years of payments. Wish someone could sue these big carriers with their dealing with locking devices that are not really theirs to lock after a period of time.
Planet Z !! said:
You can use it for a wifi hotspot or spare android device. no roms, no custom recovery, no bootloader unlock, no real root option. sadly. this device thanks to att gets no love.
Sent from my SM-N900V using Tapatalk
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Click to collapse
Correct that there is no bootloader unlock, so no custom ROMs.
However, Sim unlocking should get you functionality on MetroPCS, among other carriers. According to willmyphonework, you should be able to get on MetroPCS 3g on 1900mhz band, and LTE band 4. Whether or not towers on those frequencies exist in your area is another matter. Did you verify the device was using the correct APN data when you tried non-ATT Sims?
Hi dandrumheller, sorry for the late response. I did verify that the APN was setup correctly even set it up manually with the metropcs customer service but the phone still does not show metropcs as an available network. It does show ATT/T-Mobile/Verizon as the available options and does not work on choosing T-Mobile (Metropcs uses t-mobile network). When I put the sim in my other phones they all work fine and show 4g lte availability from metropcs in my area. so I thought my only option is to unlock the bootloader and try my own rom instead of the good for nothing ATT rom.
dandrumheller said:
Correct that there is no bootloader unlock, so no custom ROMs.
However, Sim unlocking should get you functionality on MetroPCS, among other carriers. According to willmyphonework, you should be able to get on MetroPCS 3g on 1900mhz band, and LTE band 4. Whether or not towers on those frequencies exist in your area is another matter. Did you verify the device was using the correct APN data when you tried non-ATT Sims?
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