Database Develop

[Q] SIM Unlock, Sprint, and testing other carriers questions

I have been with Sprint since 1999 and have absolutely no idea about SIM cards and other carriers so hopefully you can help clarify a few things that are running through my head with the Sprint HTC One.
1. Will unlocking the SIM for domestic US use cause any problems with using the phone on Sprint?
2. If I remove the SIM card does that basically disconnect Sprint service?
3. I am assuming that if I wanted to test out a different service say from T-Mobile ($30 Walmart plan), or any other subcarrier, after the phone is SIM Unlocked I would just get one of their SIM Cards and place it in the phone and do some activation stuff and in theory that should work. If that is the case would this cause issues at all with Sprint service?
4. Would I be able to swap out a SIM card from AT&T (or any other company) to test it out and if I decided I did not like the service I could just slip my original Sprint SIM card back in and it would be like nothing happened?
Thanks!

What you are asking is near impossible or much harder than you think. Unlocking the Sprint HTC one SIM lock will allow you to use another SIM card but the data is not going to work on anything but edge service. It also depends on what Rom you're running. Sense Roms will work with other carriers but cm, aosp, or anything other than sense will not scan for networks. Basically what you're asking is not worth the time and effort starting with a Sprint phone.
Sent from my HTC One Max using Tapatalk!

gimmeitorilltell said:
What you are asking is near impossible or much harder than you think. Unlocking the Sprint HTC one SIM lock will allow you to use another SIM card but the data is not going to work on anything but edge service. It also depends on what Rom you're running. Sense Roms will work with other carriers but cm, aosp, or anything other than sense will not scan for networks. Basically what you're asking is not worth the time and effort starting with a Sprint phone.
Sent from my HTC One Max using Tapatalk!
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Gotcha, thanks. If you buy a Sprint phone you are stuck with Sprint.

Well not exactly stuck with Sprint. You can program a Sprint phone to work with page plus and have 3G data working flawlessly. It's mostly trying to use the Sprint phone on a different gsm network.
Sent from my HTC One Max using Tapatalk!

(Q) Buying a Nexus 6 at T-mobile to use at Verizon

Since the Nexus 6 US version is the same across all carriers, couldn't someone from Verizon buy a phone at T-mobile off contract and use it on verizon with a pre-existing Verizon sim?

rester555 said:
Since the Nexus 6 US version is the same across all carriers, couldn't someone from Verizon buy a phone at T-mobile off contract and use it on verizon with a pre-existing Verizon sim?
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No. Well you could but version probably won't authorize devices if the imei is not in their database.
Sent from my Nexus 5 using XDA Free mobile app

monkeypaws said:
No
Sent from my Nexus 5 using XDA Free mobile app
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Why not? All signs point to T-Mobile selling the Nexus 6 without any kind of SIM lock, so you should be able to pop in a Verizon SIM in the Nexus 6 you get from T-Mobile and it will probably work.

Probly not. But wait and see.

dualityim said:
Why not? All signs point to T-Mobile selling the Nexus 6 without any kind of SIM lock, so you should be able to pop in a Verizon SIM in the Nexus 6 you get from T-Mobile and it will probably work.
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Click to collapse
People are saying that the T-mobile version IMEI's won't be on VZW's whitelist, but unlocked versions are.
However, no one really knows, it's an assumption based on past knowledge.

Joshnor713 said:
People are saying that the T-mobile version IMEI's won't be on VZW's whitelist, but unlocked versions are.
However, no one really knows, it's an assumption based on past knowledge.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
We had this debate in another thread: http://forum.xda-developers.com/nexus-6/general/cdma-carriers-buying-nexus-6-consider-t2922642
The consensus seems to be that Verizon only uses IMEI whitelists for device activation, and maybe for non-LTE devices. For LTE devices, it seems all the information that is needed to authenticate to both the CDMA and the LTE network are stored on the SIM card. So if you already have an activated SIM from Verizon, it should work on any SIM-unlocked Nexus 6.

dualityim said:
We had this debate in another thread: http://forum.xda-developers.com/nexus-6/general/cdma-carriers-buying-nexus-6-consider-t2922642
The consensus seems to be that Verizon only uses IMEI whitelists for device activation, and maybe for non-LTE devices. For LTE devices, it seems all the information that is needed to authenticate to both the CDMA and the LTE network are stored on the SIM card. So if you already have an activated SIM from Verizon, it should work on any SIM-unlocked Nexus 6.
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Interested to see what happens next week. If you buy from T-Mo, it will be sim-locked. So you'll have to unlock it first.

Joshnor713 said:
Interested to see what happens next week. If you buy from T-Mo, it will be sim-locked. So you'll have to unlock it first.
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Click to collapse
No all nexus are Sim unlocked.
Sent from my Nexus 5 using XDA Free mobile app

Joshnor713 said:
Interested to see what happens next week. If you buy from T-Mo, it will be sim-locked. So you'll have to unlock it first.
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It won't be sim locked ...they already took a t mobile nexus 6 and put vzw sim in it and it worked lte and calls

nexus6R3plicant said:
It won't be sim locked ...they already took a t mobile nexus 6 and put vzw sim in it and it worked lte and calls
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Are you talking about the Droid-life vid? That was a Play store version.

Joshnor713 said:
Are you talking about the Droid-life vid? That was a Play store version.
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ExCtly. People are getting confused because of the pamphlets that have to logos but they are google play review units. They were probably google units going to Tmobile that had those pamphlets and were used as review units. That DOESNT mean they came from Tmobile which is a different thing. Plus you also have to consider that the persons Verizon Sim car is already provisioned. The real test is activating new new service with a new sim card.
Sent from my Nexus 5 using XDA Free mobile app

Yes, you guys have some valid points. I already have an activated sim and all I would need to do is pop mine in to a T-mobile phone to see if it works.
But speaking to the last post, it would be interesting to see if a new verizon sim would work with a t-mobile bought phone.

There are only 2 versions. ..... international and north American. .....not a t mobile sprint vzw etc they are the same

If that's the case, then everyone should flock T-mobile stores on Nov. 12th if they are buying off contract.

rester555 said:
If that's the case, then everyone should flock T-mobile stores on Nov. 12th if they are buying off contract.
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Uh no. That's not how it works.
Sent from my Nexus 5 using XDA Free mobile app

Well how does it work then? I am reading that it is/is not tied to IMEI. So what is the reason you can't? Does anyone know?
Sent from my Nexus 5 using XDA Free mobile app[/QUOTE]

rester555 said:
Well how does it work then? I am reading that it is/is not tied to IMEI. So what is the reason you can't? Does anyone know?
Sent from my Nexus 5 using XDA Free mobile app
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[/QUOTE]
Well first. Good luck trying to get a Tmobile store to sell you the phone without having an account. I've heard that some might for a higher msrp price. Even then if Verizon doesn't have the imei in their database you can't get it activated there. Some have said if you pop in an existing nano Sim with existing service it will work but trying to activate new service with it on Verizon may be tricky, specially since Verizon hasn't said squat about release dates or if they will even have the device in stock.
Sent from my Nexus 5 using XDA Free mobile app

monkeypaws said:
Well first. Good luck trying to get a Tmobile store to sell you the phone without having an account. I've heard that some might for a higher msrp price. Even then if Verizon doesn't have the imei in their database you can't get it activated there. Some have said if you pop in an existing nano Sim with existing service it will work but trying to activate new service with it on Verizon may be tricky, specially since Verizon hasn't said squat about release dates or if they will even have the device in stock.
Sent from my Nexus 5 using XDA Free mobile app
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This exactly.
Fact is if you want to use a Nexus 6 on VZW your best bet is to buy from Play Store, Amazon, Motorola Direct, Verizon upon release, etc but NOT from other carriers.
Also T-Mobile has confirmed that they will turn away anyone hoping to buy off contract at any of their stores on launch day. They want to give current customers and new service customers the first go at the device sale before expanding sales to a whole after the hype dies down on their customer end.

I was lucky enough to get an order in today on Motorola's site, but after watching the latest Droid-Life show I was left with a concern. Apparently we won't be able to use simultaneous voice and data. So say for example I'm on a call and want to look something up, unless I'm connected to a WiFi network I won't be able to do that. This is the case with the 2014 Moto X and the just released Droid Turbo. Those phones though are (according to Verizon) going to get an update before the years end to allow for VoLTE, which will fix this problem. The problem I see is that since this isn't a "Verizon" phone per say, how are we going to get that update? Are we going to be stuck not being able to use simultaneous voice and data? For once I thought we finally had a great Nexus phone on Verizon and now this news reminds me of why we haven't had a Nexus phone after the Galaxy Nexus.

I have been mainly using it with T-Mobile but have popped in a Verizon sim and got LTE service. Made a couple of calls, used the internet.

Sprint Nexus 6 for Verzion?

Hello I currently have Verizon for a carrier and was wondering if the Nexus 6 for sprint would be able to work on my Verizon carrier? I had a pretty decent deal $520.00 for a Sprint Nexus 6 that I had to pass up today sadly... I went to the Verizon store and it turns out the IMEI # is not showing up in Verizons database for supported devices.. I was wondering if the Nexus 6 work for Verizon? I'm looking to get a phone that has the bootloader unlocked and will work for Verizon and is a pretty new phone this is why I was considering the Nexus 6, I'm open to other devices that can do this as well if anyone has any other suggestions?

If you have a Verizon activated nano sim (or cut a micro down) you could just put it in the sprint nexus 6 and everything would work fine from what I've read. It will still show as an unknown device and no one knows what will happen for sure with volte yet, but it sounds like verizon will get it on the 12th. People speculate that play store and Motorola phones may eventually be recognized by Verizon, but a sprint version probably never will.

mwalt2 said:
If you have a Verizon activated nano sim (or cut a micro down) you could just put it in the sprint nexus 6 and everything would work fine from what I've read. It will still show as an unknown device and no one knows what will happen for sure with volte yet, but it sounds like verizon will get it on the 12th. People speculate that play store and Motorola phones may eventually be recognized by Verizon, but a sprint version probably never will.
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The "sprint" version is the same version from the play store, that's how's it been for quite some time now, that's why it works on any carrier even if you got a contract
Sent from my Nexus 6 using XDA Free mobile app

question.

I have a Nexus 6 I bought from a 3rd party. Its a TMo variant so its Sim unlocked and whatnot. When I put my VZW Sim in I get LTE and such. I can't call nor send texts messages from said device. From what I get from threads on here I should request a new Sim card and stuff from VZW but if that doesn't work how would I go about fixing this issue. I mean I've already tried the whole calling the Verizon and having them elevate the case but that doesn't do anything. Eh. I mean I still have my M8 so I've been using that but it seems like this phone just doesn't want to work on VZW.
Are there any special things I should do to my phone to make it work. Or any special APNs I should use
Thanks
-ElChibo

Please could you describe your question in the thread title? Maybe something a bit more descriptive like "using Verizon sim in TMO N6 - no calls or sms"? That way you will target the people who may know the answer whilst saving people who don't the time spent on reading the thread?
Thanks for your consideration

The phone is going to be blocked via the IMEI.
I don't see it happening on Verizon. Maybe after they roll out the Nexus on their network we would know more.
http://www.androidpolice.com/2014/1...or-that-carrier-and-what-you-can-do-about-it/
Sent from my Nexus 6

DebianDog said:
The phone is going to be blocked via the IMEI.
I don't see it happening on Verizon. Maybe after they roll out the Nexus on their network we would know more.
http://www.androidpolice.com/2014/1...or-that-carrier-and-what-you-can-do-about-it/
Sent from my Nexus 6
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Mine was purchased from Motorola and activated just fine on VZW. Used a cut down sim card from my last phone. Phone was purchased in November.
Sent from my SinLess Shamu

My N6 is from Sprint. Installed my Nano Verizon Sim and it works perfectly.

trickster2369 said:
Mine was purchased from Motorola and activated just fine on VZW. Used a cut down sim card from my last phone. Phone was purchased in November.
Sent from my SinLess Shamu
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Yes direct from Google or Motorola has always worked. I have one from Google myself on Verizon.
lukesdiesel said:
My N6 is from Sprint. Installed my Nano Verizon Sim and it works perfectly.
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Click to collapse
This surprises me maybe Verizon has decided to stop being such douchebags.
Sent from my Nexus 6

The N6 is carrier unlocked except the AT&T version and that's easily remedied, it's got to be APN related. Try a ROM that includes all of the Verizon APN's like Chroma and see if that helps.

If you have a SIM that was already activated then there probably won't be a problem -- it should work fine in any N6 (except I hear the AT&T is network locked).

Google play VS. Carrier branded

So I have never purchased a Google play version of a phone before so I am wondering something.
I always root and install ROMs on my phones and I have only had non-nexus devices and know that installing a sprint ROM on a Verizon phone makes it not work correctly... So if I buy a Google play version can I install Verizon ROMs since I'm on the Verizon network?

Both are the same. Roms work on all networks.
Sent from my Nexus 6 using Tapatalk

So the only difference is that I will have different firmware files to use if I bootloop and such?

Nickchapstick said:
So the only difference is that I will have different firmware files to use if I bootloop and such?
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No difference. All Google nexus 6 factory images can be flashed on any nexus 6. They are all identical.
Only thing with Verizon is that they will not add any other nexus 6 to their system. It will work, but you will see that you are using a non vzw device when you log into your account

Nickchapstick said:
So I have never purchased a Google play version of a phone before so I am wondering something.
I always root and install ROMs on my phones and I have only had non-nexus devices and know that installing a sprint ROM on a Verizon phone makes it not work correctly... So if I buy a Google play version can I install Verizon ROMs since I'm on the Verizon network?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I bought mine from Motorola so that I could get the Motocare policy. The issues with buying a non-Verizon branded N6 are the following:
1) Verizon reps won't be able to activate a Verizon nano SIM in the device - so you would need to use an already activated SIM card to get the device active on your line - this can be done by activating a nano SIM in a Verizon branded phone that uses a nano SIM or by cutting down an existing micro SIM card;
2) If you deal with Verizon instead of Google or Motorola for warranty issues, you are going to get a Verizon branded 32GB Midnight Blue N6 as a replacement regardless of whether or not you have the light grey or the 64GB N6 - so IMO, dealing with Verizon is not an option;
3) Asurion insurance likely won't replace your device with a non-Verizon branded N6 should you need to use insurance coverage so again, you would be getting a 32GB Midnight Blue Verizon N6 as a replacement regardless of what device you actually have on the line if you pay for Asurion insurance;
4) Asurion insurance may not cover your device at all since your line will just show Non-Verizon Device on it - hence another the reason I bought from Motorola directly and bought the MotoCare policy;
5) To get HD Voice/Advance Calling/VoLTE active on your line, you would need to first put a Verizon branded device that is VoLTE eligible on your line to add it as a feature or search the forum for other ideas on how to do it; and
6) People with More Everything plans and the month-to-month or Edge discount on their lines are having trouble getting the discount to stick even after the reps add it to their lines.
I had a Moto X on my line, which uses a nano SIM card so I had no issues with #1. I bought the MotoCare policy so I have eliminated issues #2-#4 for myself. I used an iP6 to get VoLTE added to my line and have a legacy nationwide plan so issues #5 and #6 aren't problems for me.
I haven't yet flashed to 5.1 so I can't test the VoLTE yet but others say it works and I will do that soon and report back my results.

Nickchapstick said:
So I have never purchased a Google play version of a phone before so I am wondering something.
I always root and install ROMs on my phones and I have only had non-nexus devices and know that installing a sprint ROM on a Verizon phone makes it not work correctly... So if I buy a Google play version can I install Verizon ROMs since I'm on the Verizon network?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
There's no "carrier" version, there's a nexus 6 made by motorola, endorsed by Google, that's it, your particular carrier may sell said device on their network, but it's not their device or their variant, there are two variants, a US model and an international model and even then, there's literally only a band availability difference. All nexi are the same phone not matter who's providing the service for it
Sent from my Nexus 6 using XDA Free mobile app

Awesome I appreciate all the replies and I have the info I needed. Thanks for being educational.