Hi All,
I am curious regarding phones which are being sold for low prices on sites like Ebay labeled as Bad ESN. What i have read so far a Bad ESN phone cannot be used in the same country. Since i live in India, is it possible to use such phones in a different country. Also if yes would it only apply to Global phones or any CDMA Device.
metal5nake said:
Hi All,
I am curious regarding phones which are being sold for low prices on sites like Ebay labeled as Bad ESN. What i have read so far a Bad ESN phone cannot be used in the same country. Since i live in India, is it possible to use such phones in a different country. Also if yes would it only apply to Global phones or any CDMA Device.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The reason a phone likely has a bad ESN is it has been reported as lost or stolen. The US carriers blacklist the phone so it cannot be used. This is also sometimes from when someone skipped out on a ETF fee. Most of the time the phone was at one time sold by someone who didn't have the right to sell it. Sure there's exceptions, but the majority of stolen phones in the US end up overseas for this reason.
I don't know that there is any guarantee that a phone with a bad ESN will work for you. I personally wouldn't trust let along support people selling these devices, but I suppose that's your call.
Coop9 said:
The reason a phone likely has a bad ESN is it has been reported as lost or stolen. The US carriers blacklist the phone so it cannot be used. This is also sometimes from when someone skipped out on a ETF fee. Most of the time the phone was at one time sold by someone who didn't have the right to sell it. Sure there's exceptions, but the majority of stolen phones in the US end up overseas for this reason.
I don't know that there is any guarantee that a phone with a bad ESN will work for you. I personally wouldn't trust let along support people selling these devices, but I suppose that's your call.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thank you for sharing this information.
I still have one more question, is there a flashing process to use a Moto X with Bad ESN in a different country as i can register a CDMA phone with a CDMA carrier in India.
metal5nake said:
Thank you for sharing this information.
I still have one more question, is there a flashing process to use a Moto X with Bad ESN in a different country as i can register a CDMA phone with a CDMA carrier in India.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Bad ESN is carrier specific. And is blocked on the carriers end. The phone remains untouched. Example: Verizon moto x gets banned on verizon, but it can still be used on gsm carriers. Assuming the.moto x u buy supports the right frequencies in your area you should be fine.
Sent from my XT1060 using Tapatalk
Legacystar said:
Bad ESN is carrier specific. And is blocked on the carriers end. The phone remains untouched. Example: Verizon moto x gets banned on verizon, but it can still be used on gsm carriers. Assuming the.moto x u buy supports the right frequencies in your area you should be fine.
Sent from my XT1060 using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Supposedly not going to work with the "Big 4" in the US at the least.
http://www.theverge.com/2013/11/27/5153694/stolen-smartphone-database-is-complete-says-ctia
So the phone will work in countries that don't use this USA blacklist, but I assume Motorola will not allow to unlock the bootloader of a phone with bad ESN?
As a result you won't be able to install updates on your phone? Or am I wrong in this.
To save a few bucks I don't think it's worth it. Also the moral factor...phone probably stolen.
Spend a bit more and get a clean phone.
Sent from my Moto X cellular telephone...
Im not 100% sure, but since the Verizon moto is unlocked so even if has a bad esn, you could use it overseas if the bands in india match what bands are supported by the verizon moto x
If the price for a clean phone is too much....get a Moto g....hear great things about it.
Seriously...buying a stolen phone with a bad esn just seems ridiculous.
Sent from my Moto X cellular telephone...
Kittiesoncrack said:
Im not 100% sure, but since the Verizon moto is unlocked so even if has a bad esn, you could use it overseas if the bands in india match what bands are supported by the verizon moto x
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I don't think any Moto X has an unlocked bootloader by default. Some providers leave you the choice to unlock trough the motorola website, but I would assume the motorola website won't allow to unlock a bad esn phone?
kj2112, not every bad esn phone is a stolen phone. Switching providers without paying the termination fee, billing issues with provider,... will also lead to a bad esn. I wouldn't mind buying a phone like that for use in another country given the seller has evidence to back up his story.
DVgadget said:
I don't think any Moto X has an unlocked bootloader by default. Some providers leave you the choice to unlock trough the motorola website, but I would assume the motorola website won't allow to unlock a bad esn phone?
kj2112, not every bad esn phone is a stolen phone. Switching providers without paying the termination fee, billing issues with provider,... will also lead to a bad esn. I wouldn't mind buying a phone like that for use in another country given the seller has evidence to back up his story.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Im not talking about the bootloader. Im talking about Sim card. All Verizon 4G LTE phones come factory unlocked so could use them on any gsm carrier if the bands matched. So even if the Carrier blacklisted the phone, its would still work on other carriers
Kittiesoncrack said:
Im not talking about the bootloader. Im talking about Sim card. All Verizon 4G LTE phones come factory unlocked so could use them on any gsm carrier if the bands matched. So even if the Carrier blacklisted the phone, its would still work on other carriers
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The US carriers started developing a national blacklist in 2012 and was supposed to be fully operational on all four carriers in November 2013.
http://www.digitaltrends.com/mobile/us-stolen-phone-database-goes-live/
kzoodroid said:
The US carriers started developing a national blacklist in 2012 and was supposed to be fully operational on all four carriers in November 2013.
http://www.digitaltrends.com/mobile/us-stolen-phone-database-goes-live/
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
even if it was blacklisted on all 4 carriers, OP was talking about using the phone overseas which is possible with the Verizon Moto x since it comes factory unlocked
I think buying phones with bad ESNs (blacklisted) should not be allowed in the US (or elsewhere). People get mugged, beaten, stabbed and sometimes killed for smartphones these days because people can still sell these stolen phones on eBay to be used overseas. Some countries are actually running ads on national TV networks calling them "blood phones" since many of them were taken from the owners by physical force. Each time a person knowingly (or unknowingly) buys these phones they are indirectly supporting such type of behavior.
streak4m3 said:
I think buying phones with bad ESNs (blacklisted) should not be allowed in the US (or elsewhere). People get mugged, beaten, stabbed and sometimes killed for smartphones these days because people can still sell these stolen phones on eBay to be used overseas. Some countries are actually running ads on national TV networks calling them "blood phones" since many of them were taken from the owners by physical force. Each time a person knowingly (or unknowingly) buys these phones they are indirectly supporting such type of behavior.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I don't know this system in my country, but from my point of view this US system is seriously flawed if they put phones from people who don't pay their termination fee or have some billing issue on the same blacklist as phones that were taken with force by criminals...
If the operators were really serious about stopping phone theft with this blacklist, only true 'blood phones' should be on this list.At the moment it looks more like another opportunity to up their revenue stream rather than provide a service to society.
DVgadget said:
I don't know this system in my country, but from my point of view this US system is seriously flawed if they put phones from people who don't pay their termination fee or have some billing issue on the same blacklist as phones that were taken with force by criminals...
If the operators were really serious about stopping phone theft with this blacklist, only true 'blood phones' should be on this list.At the moment it looks more like another opportunity to up their revenue stream rather than provide a service to society.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
So you can walk into a store...get a phone with zero down on a contract...then never pay them a penny and sell the phone? And enjoy your new found riches while you ignore their threatening letters to pay?
Doubt that will happen.
Sent from my Moto X cellular telephone...
I'm absolutely not saying it's ok to (try to) rip of your provider, I'm only saying that you can't put these issues on the same level as robbery with or without violence. As long as you mix all these types up, you won't be able to create a legal basis to completely ban the bad ESN phones, as is the case now.
They can and the have.. weather you don't pay your bill or kill 100 people to steal a phone...either way they kill the phone. As they should. LOL
How is that a cash grab for them? They don't want stolen phones used....basically not paying your bill and keeping the phone is stealing too...so bye bye esn.
Anyone risking it and buying one is ridiculous. Pay a bit more for one that will work without question ....or buy a different phone that you can afford.
Sent from my Moto X cellular telephone...
Whether the phone is blacklisted due to it being stolen or taken by force(sometimes lethal) or due to not paying your dues - either way those buying phones with bad ESN are indirectly supporting this behavior - which is stealing.
A phone can get a bad ESN if it's reported lost or stolen, as may have said prior. I think it's fine buying a phone with a bad ESN so long as the phone was reported lost by the owner, they somehow found it, and are now selling it. How often does this happen, I can't say for sure. Are most phones being sold with a bad ESN stolen? The chances are high. As far as phones that got a bad ESN because the owner didn't pay their ETF, I guess that's up to the buyer. I personally wouldn't buy one like that.
Related
If I buy a bad IMEI Note 3 from eBay, can I still use it on AT&T? Is there any issue with buying such phone (apart from being at risk of it being stolen) ?
ajamils said:
If I buy a bad IMEI Note 3 from eBay, can I still use it on AT&T? Is there any issue with buying such phone (apart from being at risk of it being stolen) ?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yeah, don't. It means it is blacklisted by the carrier and all carriers until it is cleared. I read to do that is a hassle. Also, the only way to use it outside of that is to unlock it from the carrier and use it on a different network, but I think that's only doable through a Verizon Note 3. In short, don't waste your time or money.
opasha said:
Yeah, don't. It means it is blacklisted by the carrier and all carriers until it is cleared. I read to do that is a hassle. Also, the only way to use it outside of that is to unlock it from the carrier and use it on a different network, but I think that's only doable through a Verizon Note 3. In short, don't waste your time or money.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
As far as I know Tmobile version can be unlocked as well and since I will be using it on AT&T, does it matter that it's blacklisted on Tmobile?
ajamils said:
As far as I know Tmobile version can be unlocked as well and since I will be using it on AT&T, does it matter that it's blacklisted on Tmobile?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yeah because T-Mobile and At&t are both gsm networks. Verizon is CDMA. The article I read in order to further assist you stated that it's easier to use a CDMA blacklisted phone on a gsm carrier. Not sure how, but yeah. Avoid it regardless. It's just stupid.
ya agree with opasha, avoid it. Tmobs and ATT share the same blacklist, and it's technically a felony to flash a new imei and an additional hassle. Only way to use it is on gsm networks, not on that blacklist (which also includes pre-pay and affiliates), which means out of the country for the most part.
ajamils said:
As far as I know Tmobile version can be unlocked as well and since I will be using it on AT&T, does it matter that it's blacklisted on Tmobile?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Carriers share blacklisted IMEI's. They do it on CDMA networks as well. Your really off brand local carriers like MetroPCS may not block it though just because it's basically a mom and pop shop.
agent929 said:
Carriers share blacklisted IMEI's. They do it on CDMA networks as well. Your really off brand local carriers like MetroPCS may not block it though just because it's basically a mom and pop shop.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Metro PCS is owned by T-mobile. Truthfully there aren't really any independent operators anymore.
As others have mentioned, IMEI blacklists are shared across US carriers now so you'd be better off avoiding the phone unless you plan on only using it internationally.
dawheat said:
Metro PCS is owned by T-mobile. Truthfully there aren't really any independent operators anymore.
As others have mentioned, IMEI blacklists are shared across US carriers now so you'd be better off avoiding the phone unless you plan on only using it internationally.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Eh it was just an example. I don't know for sure what the little junk carriers are. It may be now to where it's shared with everybody. I know there's ESN checker websites out there and I'm sure these carriers have access to something even better than that.
agent929 said:
Eh it was just an example. I don't know for sure what the little junk carriers are. It may be now to where it's shared with everybody. I know there's ESN checker websites out there and I'm sure these carriers have access to something even better than that.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Is there a reliable IMEI checker website? The IMEI number that a guy from CL gave me does not show up in Tmobile IMEI checker.
do you know anybody that has T-mobile because you could have them call the IMEI in to make sure
Att doesn't care if it's been black listed. I had a Friend on my account he stopped paying for the line I reported it stolen and he went the next day to get it activated. They even told him that it was reported stolen and still did it. I have heard that both t mobile and att do it all the time cuz they want the business.
infowars.com get the truth
ajamils said:
Is there a reliable IMEI checker website? The IMEI number that a guy from CL gave me does not show up in Tmobile IMEI checker.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Even if you do check the IMEI and its good today doesn't mean it won't be blacklisted tomorrow.........
Quickvic30 said:
Even if you do check the IMEI and its good today doesn't mean it won't be blacklisted tomorrow.........
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
So what's the suggestion? Pay $700+ and buy brand new from Tmobile?
Sent from LG Optimus G Pro via Tapatalk.
ajamils said:
So what's the suggestion? Pay $700+ and buy brand new from Tmobile?
Sent from LG Optimus G Pro via Tapatalk.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes or you can buy used but make sure you meet the person at the T-Mobile store to confirm the phone is paid off.
Been through this whole scam ordeal already so I went and bought a new phone straight from T-Mobile.
ajamils said:
Is there a reliable IMEI checker website? The IMEI number that a guy from CL gave me does not show up in Tmobile IMEI checker.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You can call tmo yourself to verify the IMEI number and if it will activate.
T-Mobile and AT&T share blacklisted IMEI's? I'm not sure you guys are correct about this. You can buy blacklisted Nexus 4's all day long on Craigslist from deadbeat T-Mobile payment plans and put an AT&T sim card from AT&T or an AT&T based MVNO sim card in them and they work 100%. I have a T-Mobile no payment N4 I bought for $40 and use it with my Straight Talk AT&T sim regularly.
Unless something changed like this week, there is zero sharing among US carriers regarding their blacklist. The only people who MAY have incentive to share are T-Mobile and AT&T since they can have each others phone operate in some capacity on each other's networks. As for Sprint and Verizon, they don't share blacklists because their phones only work on their towers.
As for the comment of would I buy a phone for a considerable amount of money and hope they never in the future share black lists? Hell No. My upper limit on risking that is about $100. I'd say most of the phones on Craigslist anymore suffer from this problem of no payment on payment plans. Even when you get the phone and its working there's nothing to say that a carrier won't blacklist it in 2 weeks or a month. And trust me they won't do a darn thing, had this problem with a T989 S2 back in 2012.
aygriffith said:
T-Mobile and AT&T share blacklisted IMEI's? I'm not sure you guys are correct about this. You can buy blacklisted Nexus 4's all day long on Craigslist from deadbeat T-Mobile payment plans and put an AT&T sim card from AT&T or an AT&T based MVNO sim card in them and they work 100%. I have a T-Mobile no payment N4 I bought for $40 and use it with my Straight Talk AT&T sim regularly.
Unless something changed like this week, there is zero sharing among US carriers regarding their blacklist. The only people who MAY have incentive to share are T-Mobile and AT&T since they can have each others phone operate in some capacity on each other's networks. As for Sprint and Verizon, they don't share blacklists because their phones only work on their towers.
As for the comment of would I buy a phone for a considerable amount of money and hope they never in the future share black lists? Hell No. My upper limit on risking that is about $100. I'd say most of the phones on Craigslist anymore suffer from this problem of no payment on payment plans. Even when you get the phone and its working there's nothing to say that a carrier won't blacklist it in 2 weeks or a month. And trust me they won't do a darn thing, had this problem with a T989 S2 back in 2012.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Ya they do, sprint and verizon included. As to how efficient they are in updating their networks to reject imei's when the other network post a new one on the list, I don't know. Plenty of sources confirm it, here's one for example: http://www.theverge.com/2012/11/1/3584466/att-t-mobile-stolen-cellphone-database
babyshanks said:
Ya they do, sprint and verizon included. As to how efficient they are in updating their networks to reject imei's when the other network post a new one on the list, I don't know. Plenty of sources confirm it, here's one for example: http://www.theverge.com/2012/11/1/3584466/att-t-mobile-stolen-cellphone-database
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
http://www.ctia.org/media/press/body.cfm/prid/2220
Yeah this was announced in 2012. Now of course knowing US carriers - what they said they'd do and what they should do may be very different than what they actually do.
ajamils said:
If I buy a bad IMEI Note 3 from eBay, can I still use it on AT&T? Is there any issue with buying such phone (apart from being at risk of it being stolen) ?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
it wont work within the US, so if your going to try using it, it wont work.
---------- Post added at 09:56 PM ---------- Previous post was at 09:55 PM ----------
aygriffith said:
T-Mobile and AT&T share blacklisted IMEI's? I'm not sure you guys are correct about this. You can buy blacklisted Nexus 4's all day long on Craigslist from deadbeat T-Mobile payment plans and put an AT&T sim card from AT&T or an AT&T based MVNO sim card in them and they work 100%. I have a T-Mobile no payment N4 I bought for $40 and use it with my Straight Talk AT&T sim regularly.
Unless something changed like this week, there is zero sharing among US carriers regarding their blacklist. The only people who MAY have incentive to share are T-Mobile and AT&T since they can have each others phone operate in some capacity on each other's networks. As for Sprint and Verizon, they don't share blacklists because their phones only work on their towers.
As for the comment of would I buy a phone for a considerable amount of money and hope they never in the future share black lists? Hell No. My upper limit on risking that is about $100. I'd say most of the phones on Craigslist anymore suffer from this problem of no payment on payment plans. Even when you get the phone and its working there's nothing to say that a carrier won't blacklist it in 2 weeks or a month. And trust me they won't do a darn thing, had this problem with a T989 S2 back in 2012.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I tried it, before it used to be cool, now it doesn't work
T Mobile Note 3 on ATT
I traded a guy an S4 plus some cash for a new T-Mobile note 3...I rooted and used region lock away to Sim unlock it...The phone has worked perfectly on ATT and it is blacklisted on T-Mobile for Non pay...I'm sure its was bought on the no contract deal and then as soon as they dumped it they just didn't pay...Its not stolen as I have checked...So it is possible to use them on ATT if the phone is unlocked...Not sure if eventually it won't work on ATT but for now it does..I guess if it stops working I will sell it or see if I can settle with T-mobile ...Just be very careful when buying them brand new in box..Note 3 and IPhone 5s are the 2 big ones that are being purchased on these pay 25-30 a month then don't pay..then Bam they are blacklisted for non pay on that network..Pretty sad but that is what's going down on CL right now...
I am getting ready to order a couple of X's for my wife and me. I have a couple of questions....
We are with at&t. Is there a difference between the at&t branded ones and the GSM dev models? I have Googled this, but I am still confused as to whether there are hardware differences which would make the dev model less useful on at&t and whether there is bloat on the at&t model....
We have a SG4 and an iPhone 5 which still under contract which we will keep as spares for the family. I assume that we can buy the X at&t branded through Moto Maker without a contract? and just stay on the plan?
Thank you. I have spent hours on this and I am still confused, probably because it keeps changing....
I would like to know to. I'm getting ready to buy a moto x also
Sent from my One X using Tapatalk
AlbertoM said:
I am getting ready to order a couple of X's for my wife and me. I have a couple of questions....
We are with at&t. Is there a difference between the at&t branded ones and the GSM dev models? I have Googled this, but I am still confused as to whether there are hardware differences which would make the dev model less useful on at&t and whether there is bloat on the at&t model....
We have a SG4 and an iPhone 5 which still under contract which we will keep as spares for the family. I assume that we can buy the X at&t branded through Moto Maker without a contract? and just stay on the plan?
Thank you. I have spent hours on this and I am still confused, probably because it keeps changing....
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
the developer edition are unlocked and u can unlock ur bootloader without losing ur warranty
being unlocked u can use with other carriers
if u buy at&t u can use only with at&t
if u want a phone that u can use with gsm carriers and with other carriers take or a developer edition or a unlockable one without contract
I got the T-Mobile unlockable (and unbranded!) version from Motomaker off-contract. Works great on AT&T and it beat paying the extra dough for a developer edition, since it's practically the same damn thing! (I also don't care about voiding warranty having unlocked my bootloader. I take care of my phone. If warranty is something you desire, then go dev edition or stick with your current carrier's version).
shkrmkr said:
I got the T-Mobile unlockable (and unbranded!) version from Motomaker off-contract. Works great on AT&T and it beat paying the extra dough for a developer edition, since it's practically the same damn thing! (I also don't care about voiding warranty having unlocked my bootloader. I take care of my phone. If warranty is something you desire, then go dev edition or stick with your current carrier's version).
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm pretty sure the developer edition is the same price as the moto maker version so it won't cost any "extra dough." And it doesn't matter how well you care for your phone. That's not what a warranty is for. It covers failures NOT caused by the user. You could wrap your phone in bubble wrap, never flash a third party app, and only use it under tightly controlled environmental conditions, insuring the phone is never exposed to any abuse, and a part could still fail, thus necessitating the use of the warranty. Which you voided by unlocking the boot loader on a non-developer edition.
You can pick either the AT&T branded one, the T-Mobile variant, or the unlocked. The T-mobile is actually unbranded, SIM unlocked and has no carrier apps.
I'm in the same boat still in contract with AT&T and purchased the T-Mobile one to leave my options open to switch to T-Mobile later and be able to purchase SIM cards for use abroad without having to fight the death star to get an unlock code.
Mr. Orange 645 said:
I'm pretty sure the developer edition is the same price as the moto maker version so it won't cost any "extra dough." And it doesn't matter how well you care for your phone. That's not what a warranty is for. It covers failures NOT caused by the user. You could wrap your phone in bubble wrap, never flash a third party app, and only use it under tightly controlled environmental conditions, insuring the phone is never exposed to any abuse, and a part could still fail, thus necessitating the use of the warranty. Which you voided by unlocking the boot loader on a non-developer edition.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If I could've bought the developer version easily I certainly would have.
But to me...I'll risk the 400 bucks to unlock..root..etc. I have on every device I've owned. LOL. I need my customization, battery life control..etc etc.
Sent from my Moto X cellular telephone...
Buy the unlocked one. Works just fine with att. I'm in the middle of my contract and just had to go to a store and pick up a new sim
Sent from my XT1053 using Tapatalk
i think it is a good mob
so if you get it feed us back
Is there a way to unlock bootloader without getting the code from moto website because they track all the unlock codes which they give..
No...
Is it possible now? Like via 3th party middleman?
hamtar0 said:
Is it possible now? Like via 3th party middleman?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
For the Moto G 2013, yes. See http://theroot.ninja/ Must be running 4.4.3 or earlier.
For the Moto G 2014, no, but you can try it if your running 4.4.3 or earlier.
Frankly, if Motorola lets you unlock the phone then count yourself lucky, as many of the Moto G's out there
are carrier-bootloader restricted and will never be unlockable unless enough people scream at the FCC.
tmittelstaedt said:
For the Moto G 2013, yes. See http://theroot.ninja/ Must be running 4.4.3 or earlier.
For the Moto G 2014, no, but you can try it if your running 4.4.3 or earlier.
Frankly, if Motorola lets you unlock the phone then count yourself lucky, as many of the Moto G's out there
are carrier-bootloader restricted and will never be unlockable unless enough people scream at the FCC.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Carrier locked even when purchased directly from Motorola?
r_diaz13 said:
Carrier locked even when purchased directly from Motorola?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Carrier locked phones are purchased from carriers
Android The Greek said:
Carrier locked phones are purchased from carriers
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
OK let me be as clear as I can on my wording:
"carrier locking" is slang for 2 ways carriers have of locking phones. First is network locking. Second is bootloader locking.
Network locking means you can't walk into Walmart and buy a Boost Moto G Prepaid phone for $60 and
then replace the SIM card with your ATT Mobile card and start using it. You will have to obtain a network unlock
code from Boost. In the United States the FCC mandated last year that all cell carriers must permit network
unlocking after the subsidized price of the phone was paid for. (generally a year) You will generally have to supply the MEID
or IMEI of the phone to the carrier, and the carrier won't network unlock phones that were reported stolen to
them or where the owner is owning money. There are companies on the Internet that claim to supply unlock
codes, some for free, some they charge. YMMV. There's hardware unlock code calculators you can buy for
a couple hundred bucks. Typically, network unlocking is more important for GSM phones (or phones that are
dual GSM/CDMA) since even in the United States, few cell carriers use CDMA, so a network unlocked Moto G
that is CDMA is kind of a mental exercise more than anything else.
Bootloader locking was dreamed up to prevent evil crackers from writing viruses and such that will get on your
phone and hijack it for some nefarious purpose. Basically all Moto G's are sold with locked bootloaders no
matter who you buy them from. Unfortunately, bootloader locking is being abused by many carriers to
prevent people from booting unsigned code on their own phones. (ie: rooted phones) I don't know about Boost but I do know
Verizon makes Motorola lock the bootloaders of all phones that Verizon buys to sell through the Verizon
store, and through places like Walmart, etc. and will not allow Motorola to unlock bootloaders.
In the United States most people buy carrier subsidized phones from retail stores for under $100 because most
of them don't understand that paying an extra $20 a month for 2 years is more expensive than saving
$200 on a cell phone.
For the price of this phone, . I don't see why people don't just buy straight from Moto and just get the code from them. I got both a Moto X 2013 and the Moto G 2014 from Moto directly. Best experience ever
So, BF came and I shot me a verizon unlocked xt1096 somewhat foolishly expecting that unlocked means fully unlocked.....means I can do with it what I want.
Not getting gang raped like the Apple crowd.
But it seems like I was wrong. After some days of just playing around with the new phone and still using my Note2 (rooted) I went ahead and made the full switch........
and got kicked in the balls when I realized that some of my beloved progs won't work because, the thing has a locked bootloader (wtf??) and can't be rooted (another wtf).
Now, I really wonder why this is, since I paid for the phone in full that I can not do with it what I want.
Maybe I am stupid (easily possible) but I don't get this. Can someone please explain why this is that way?
Thanks
K
probably stupid.
Verizon sells SIM unlocked devices. What you want is bootloader unlocked which is only possible on the pure edition devices which only work on At&t or T-Mobile in the states.
Caveat emptor.
Unlocked sim is not the same as unlocked bootloader........ two very different things
You have a logic error there. I bought it from Motorola NOT Verizon. So why does Verzion have control over a piece of equipment I bought from somewhere else?
Just because they "allow" me to pay them for their services?
TigerDNA said:
Unlocked sim is not the same as unlocked bootloader........ two very different things
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Again, just follow my way of thought please. I buy from Motorola. Full price. And still Verizon has me by the balls? Please explain why.
hungarian said:
..... still Verizon has me by the balls.....
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That pretty much sums it up.
mbkintner said:
That pretty much sums it up.
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I am growing pretty tired about that kind of BS in this country. Maybe I was to cradled by consumer protection laws in Europe, but I seriously doubt that kind of BS would fly in Europe.
I had a oneplus one and sold it because Tmobile didnt cover me....... I was with Verizon for 4 years under contract. SO I thought this way I get a better deal......
I really don't understand why Motorola plays that kind of ****.
hungarian said:
I am growing pretty tired about that kind of BS in this country. Maybe I was to cradled by consumer protection laws in Europe, but I seriously doubt that kind of BS would fly in Europe.
I had a oneplus one and sold it because Tmobile didnt cover me....... I was with Verizon for 4 years under contract. SO I thought this way I get a better deal......
I really don't understand why Motorola plays that kind of ****.
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Yes, you were coddled by EU laws, welcome to freedom bro. The ONLY way to get a better deal with Verizon is to never have any form of contact with them, don't even make eye contact with the stores when you pass. :good:
You entered into a voluntary contract and should have read the conditions before signing.
You know, if my clients would be ok with smoke signals and emails, I would....but damn...sometimes those bad people want to talk to me.....
chrisrozon said:
You entered into a voluntary contract and should have read the conditions before signing.
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What do you mean? I should have asked Motorola if they lock the bootloader in the name of the all so mighty overlord Verizon?
Sorry, but I think if I buy a factory unlocked phone, I should receive a unlocked phone. A phine that is free of the antics and bs of Verizon.
Thats why I opted out of my contract and went with a prepaid solution. Where I bring my own phone.
What nerves me most here, is that everyone takes the dry as* screwing like it is normal that you get drilled up the backside high and dry.
Where is the outcry? Is really everyone so commercially ironed out and conformed that we can be handled like money suppliers that bring their cash anyway?
Please don't answer, I really fear to hear many "yes" or even worse, if you don't like it go back to Europe.
I don't see what the problem is. Your money speaks your opinion. Cancel your service with verizon and switch to T-Mobile or at&t where you can use a PE. Or buy a nexus 6 (which can be unlocked on Verizon). The web has a vast amount of info on any phone you ever plan on buying.
you are overseeing one crucial point. I bought the phone from Motorola. NOT from Verizon. I bought it outside of a contract. I bought it unlocked.
And still Verizon has power over a phone they shouldn't have.
The problem with other providers around here is, that they don't have coverage......
hungarian said:
you are overseeing one crucial point. I bought the phone from Motorola. NOT from Verizon. I bought it outside of a contract. I bought it unlocked.
And still Verizon has power over a phone they shouldn't have.
The problem with other providers around here is, that they don't have coverage......
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You still bought a Verizon branded phone. Verizon doesn't care about whether or not you are on contract, what they care about is that you are on their network. They want to have full control of every device that's on their network, plain and simple. I understand your frustration but it's not like a precedent is being set here- this is how it's always been. Not trying to drive salt in the wound here but had you done your due diligence and researched prior to purchase, you could have avoided this little surprise. As I said, this is nothing new, unfortunately.
Sent from my iPhone 6 using Tapatalk
hungarian said:
you are overseeing one crucial point. I bought the phone from Motorola. NOT from Verizon. I bought it outside of a contract. I bought it unlocked.
And still Verizon has power over a phone they shouldn't have.
The problem with other providers around here is, that they don't have coverage......
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When you buy a Verizon-branded phone from Best Buy do you still wonder why Verizon's software is on it? You didn't buy it from Verizon, you bought it from Best Buy!
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hungarian said:
What do you mean? I should have asked Motorola if they lock the bootloader in the name of the all so mighty overlord Verizon?
Sorry, but I think if I buy a factory unlocked phone, I should receive a unlocked phone. A phine that is free of the antics and bs of Verizon.
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As far as I know, it is impossible to buy any variant of the Moto X 2014 that comes with an unlocked bootloader. Secondly, Motorola only marketed the Pure Edition Moto X (GSM) as being bloat-free. Motorola (or any other manufacturer for that matter) will never sell a CDMA phone that is not carrier-branded as all of the major CDMA carriers will only activate their own carrier-branded phones.
sorry but your statement is void. I bought from the maker. Not a reseller.
I've just submitted an order to buy Pixel 5 from 'Visible' (a US carrier, Verizon based MVNO), and now i am kinda thinking... i should have asked about it here first. Visible's rep has promised (on chat) their phones are unlocked, so this shouldn't be an issue, but are they carrier-customized in any way or form? Anyone here got any experience? I am sure there is still some time window i can cancel this.
The reason i went on it is because of their "buy it, and get a free wireless charger at activation and a $200 gift card after 2 month of service" (Google it for more details), with a rather attractive plan (in US terms).
It's hard to know for sure. Some of the MVNO's have customized firmware on their phones and some don't. From what I've seen their phones are supposed to be unlocked. The only negative I've seen on them is than any streaming you do is only 480P.
Tel864 said:
It's hard to know for sure. Some of the MVNO's have customized firmware on their phones and some don't. From what I've seen their phones are supposed to be unlocked. The only negative I've seen on them is than any streaming you do is only 480P.
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I don't care all that much about streaming, also, if i really, REALLY want to stream something in high res, i can probably VPN from the phone into my home network (or into a commercial VPN server). Anyway, my current check list when the phone arrives is currently - check for SIM lock on both physical SIM and eSIM, check if OEM unlock available and not grayed out (unrelated to SIM locking, but there are some rare reports on this), check if the "gap" isn't too bad, test the proximity sensor, check if there is any carrier bloatware on it. Did i miss any important points/popular issues?
Sounds like a good deal.
Visible is NOT technically an MVNO. It is completely owned and operated by Verizon. I've heard good things from people that use it.
I would guess the phone you receive would be the Verizon variant, but that's completely a guess.
jsbeagle said:
Visible is NOT technically an MVNO. It is completely owned and operated by Verizon. I've heard good things from people that use it.
I would guess the phone you receive would be the Verizon variant, but that's completely a guess.
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I hope not, and the order confirmation does explicitly mentions "GA01316-US", which is an unlocked, non-Verizon model.
Is Visible an MVNO? I suppose, despite being owned by Verizon, its still a separate company, which doesn't operate its own mobile towers, so i guess it technically is an MVNO after all.
Anyway, will post here after i receive the device. Would be kinda disappointing if its a Verizon model (i may want to root at some point, not exactly a nice thing to have a bootloader you can't unlock). Would be a showstopper if its SIM-locked or even just eSIM locked, i am going to verify that by putting my old Cricket SIM in before activating theirs, and also loading a Ubigi profile onto an eSIM, and if its locked, and they can't unlock it for me, the device is going back. I've EXPLICITLY asked a rep about this after all.
BTW, judging by a Google search that produces mostly Reddit results, Visible sells mostly unlocked devices (seemingly all of them except Visible-exclusives).
It should not be a Verizon varient, it should be unlocked.
Tel864 said:
It should not be a Verizon varient, it should be unlocked.
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I've already got it, see above. Its not a Verizon variant indeed, and it is unlocked.^H^H^H^H....
I was sure i've posted it here, i've got a device, its a unlocked variant, not Verizon, its fully unlocked (tested on physical SIM and eSIM), and got no carrier bloatware on it.
InfX said:
I've already got it, see above. Its not a Verizon variant indeed, and it is unlocked.^H^H^H^H....
I was sure i've posted it here, i've got a device, its a unlocked variant, not Verizon, its fully unlocked (tested on physical SIM and eSIM), and got no carrier bloatware on it.
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I'm shortly switching to Verizon and I'm taking a look at Visible and Verizon prepaid after seeing your post and talking to my son who's a Verizon engineer, I haven't decided on which though.
InfX said:
I've just submitted an order to buy Pixel 5 from 'Visible' (a US carrier, Verizon based MVNO), and now i am kinda thinking... i should have asked about it here first. Visible's rep has promised (on chat) their phones are unlocked, so this shouldn't be an issue, but are they carrier-customized in any way or form? Anyone here got any experience? I am sure there is still some time window i can cancel this.
The reason i went on it is because of their "buy it, and get a free wireless charger at activation and a $200 gift card after 2 month of service" (Google it for more details), with a rather attractive plan (in US terms).
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Actually just registered an account to answer your question. Got a pixel 5 from the "Visible" deal by porting a number in. The model number is identical to the the unlocked one sold from Google store. It bootloader unlockable, so already unlocked and put in magisk and stuff. (It is carrier unlocked as well) Enjoy the deal!
Mint says they only stream 480p too but I can simply select 720p on up on my Pixel 2 and I get a bump, no VPN required.
Visible has good offers but the service is no good. At least in my area. I cannot wait to go back to AT&T. Verizon has fast coverage but AT&T is more consistent. I tried it for the $100 promotional credit but I will be going back to my original provider.