yashsingh1/xdaforums huggingface dataset:
[Sprint Samsung Galaxy S 4 Q&A, Help & Troubleshoot] obender:
Ok, so I got the non-US SIM card and put it into the phone, as I suspected after entering PIN code it says "Invalid SIM", I tested it with another Sprint SIM unlocked phone (iPhone! :) ) and it worked. So SIM card is not to blame.

Now, I called Sprint, they said I have to factory reset the phone, well fine, did the reset. Nothing changed "Invalid SIM" message is still there. They said they will open the case but didn't even give me the case number.

I guess I'll wait a couple of days and will call them again.

I'm wondering why unlocking the iPhone took one call and SG4 took 8 calls and counting... :)
[Sprint Samsung Galaxy S 4 Q&A, Help & Troubleshoot] bowss47:
hey man, i got a spring S4 here, please let me know what you need and let's give this a shot.....have you tried since you've posted this?
[Sprint Samsung Galaxy S 4 Q&A, Help & Troubleshoot] brianhot1:
any update?
[Sprint Samsung Galaxy S 4 Q&A, Help & Troubleshoot] balistic2:
I have some, and it is not good. I was able to get sprint to "unlock" my sim. I called sprint international, and they said I had to wait 90 days of my device being active before they could offer the unlock. I asked to be escalated to a supervisor. The supervisor said she would escalate it further. Today I got an email saying:

Well I got giddy and went to settings->more->system updates->Unlock UICC. Instead of giving me an error, it said my profile has been updated. I then restarted my phone.

I have a valid T-mo micro sim. I placed it into the sprint S4, and I get INVALID SIM. I am unable to see any GSM networks, it will just sit there spinning searching for one. Sprint must have a special block for US GSM carriers.

So then I tried doing what the T-mo, att, & 9505 variants are doing to unlock the sim found here. I still get INVALID SIM after attempting this change (setting SHA256 to off and rebuilding the NV with back up).

There is another forum posting with this dude called Rod, found here. He says even if you are unlocked, you will still see INVALID SIM while in the US. Once you are out of the US with a foreign sim card, you will see GSM networks that you can connect to. So it looks like we are going to need some more hackery to get the Sprint S4 working on US GSM carriers.
[Sprint Samsung Galaxy S 4 Q&A, Help & Troubleshoot] obender:
So far the consensus is that it is just impossible to unlock Sprint (and Verizon) SG4 for use with US GSM carriers.
[Sprint Samsung Galaxy S 4 Q&A, Help & Troubleshoot] PapaDocta:
I'm outside the us now and when searching for networks it's shows them but when I try to choose one it keeps saying connecting and then says failed to connect try again later
[Sprint Samsung Galaxy S 4 Q&A, Help & Troubleshoot] balistic2:
Did you get an "unlock" from Sprint? An email similar to mine? When you were back in the US with sprint coverage did you try UICC Unlock and NOT get an error?
[Sprint Samsung Galaxy S 4 Q&A, Help & Troubleshoot] PapaDocta:
I didn't use it on sprint at all.. I bought it off ebay and the seller told me that he activated the phone under his account and already called sprint international cs and they said that they will submit his request and waiting till now...
[Sprint Samsung Galaxy S 4 Q&A, Help & Troubleshoot] myphone12345:
As far as I know, the Verizon S4 is completely unlocked, even for US use.
[Sprint Samsung Galaxy S 4 Q&A, Help & Troubleshoot] eyecon82:
This is correct. USA GSM carriers are blocked. It's going to take some time, if ever, to crack
[Sprint Samsung Galaxy S 4 Q&A, Help & Troubleshoot] pmcnano:
Lol, after all this, not one person has tried the phone overseas?
[Sprint Samsung Galaxy S 4 Q&A, Help & Troubleshoot] Vydiot:
out of curiosity what did you say to sprint? I called them to unlock as well, and I had no such luck.
[Sprint Samsung Galaxy S 4 Q&A, Help & Troubleshoot] manojcitc:
Tell them you are going abroad for trip and need to unlock phone for same purpose...
[Sprint Samsung Galaxy S 4 Q&A, Help & Troubleshoot] Ingenium13:
I was able to get Sprint to supposedly unlock my phone before the 90 days because I purchased it outright. I got the same email as other people saying that it was now unlocked and that the phone would reboot. The Unlock UICC option previously wouldn't work, but after this email it appears to have unlocked it.

I haven't been out of the country yet to try it and see if it's actually unlocked. It's certainly taking a risk to not know for certain if it's actually unlocked...
[Sprint Samsung Galaxy S 4 Q&A, Help & Troubleshoot] eyecon82:
That did the trick! I didn't even bother to try it before. Didn't know what it was for

Mine said successfully updated!

I attached screenshots for easy directions, not like it was that difficult to find to begin with
[Sprint Samsung Galaxy S 4 Q&A, Help & Troubleshoot] GiantJay:
I was told that my phone is unlocked but the other carriers have to allow it to be on their network. So carriers like T-Mobile and At&t might not want Sprint phones to be used on their network. Idk.

Sent from my SPH-L720

---------- Post added at 04:53 PM ---------- Previous post was at 04:36 PM ----------

They wouldnt unlock my phone this is what they said, this is from the Sprint chat directly.

Sprint: Great, unfortunately I do apologize but I would not personally be able to submit an unlock request for you at this time due to the device not being on the account for the required 90 days. What I will need to do for you is create a case for the device to be unlocked. The operations team will review your account for you and once they have made a decision as to your device being eligible for an early unlock they will contact you via email or by phone. It generally takes 2-3 business days for them to complete their review. Would you like me to create this case for you?

Me: Yes. Why cant the device be unlocked until owning the device for 90 days. I have been a customer for a long time and bought this phone full price off contract

Sprint: Unfortunately it is Sprint Policy that the device be active on the account for 90 days prior to the unlock request being able to be submitted. The operations team will look into the amount of time you have been with Sprint when making there decision about the device being eligible for an early unlock.

---------- Post added at 04:56 PM ---------- Previous post was at 04:53 PM ----------

So I guess don't plan a International trip within 3 months of buying a Sprint phone even at full price off contract. :confused:
[Sprint Samsung Galaxy S 4 Q&A, Help & Troubleshoot] myphone12345:
Sprint is thinking other carriers are like Sprint, who only accept whitelist devices on their network. GSM carriers usually have no such restrictions. Just pop in your SIM and you're ready to go.

In any case, even when unlocked, I would not expect the phone to work with other US carriers. Sprint usually disables that. It does allow GSM usage internationally though, but only internationally.
[Sprint Samsung Galaxy S 4 Q&A, Help & Troubleshoot] 5$t@r:
Unlock sprint s4

hey would u mind getting mine unlocked i dont have a sprint account i'm currently in the caribbean stuck with this sprint s4 really need to get it unlocked
[Sprint Samsung Galaxy S 4 Q&A, Help & Troubleshoot] pmcnano:
That wont work, because they will check the MEID in the account. :C haha

edit:

Has anybody check logcat while doing the unlock?
[Sprint Samsung Galaxy S 4 Q&A, Help & Troubleshoot] GiantJay:
I got a email today in response to the situation I posted about and my phone is now unlocked.
[Sprint Samsung Galaxy S 4 Q&A, Help & Troubleshoot] brianhot1:
Unlocked how? Domestic or int.
[Sprint Samsung Galaxy S 4 Q&A, Help & Troubleshoot] GiantJay:
They said it's for both but if I wanted to take it to a US carrier the other carrier would have to approve. Not sure what that means, if it would only work on Boost and Virgin?
[Sprint Samsung Galaxy S 4 Q&A, Help & Troubleshoot] myphone12345:
Have you been able to verify that it is indeed unlocked? There have been plenty of folks around here who have been told by Sprint their device was unlocked, only to take it overseas and find out the opposite.
[Sprint Samsung Galaxy S 4 Q&A, Help & Troubleshoot] GiantJay:
No verification.
[Sprint Samsung Galaxy S 4 Q&A, Help & Troubleshoot] spydc:
Sprint unlocked my device as well. They claim it is only unlocked for international use and they will not unlock for domestic use.. :(

I am unable to confirm the international unlock.
[Sprint Samsung Galaxy S 4 Q&A, Help & Troubleshoot] tarasator:
Unlocked internationally

Alright. It is very easy to unlock the phone internationally. You just call sprint and tell them you are traveling in near future. They open a case and unlock the phone within 2 days. I did that, have international card at home. You can get one on eBay cheap. I put it in, switch to gsm network in menu and it WORKS. I even got an sms from that carrier, who is roaming on ATT, about how much everything will cost if i use their services in USA. (if you have old, large sim card, you don't just cut the corners of the card, you have to cut contacts on chip itself).

Then, i put in my friends ATT card and it says invalid sim. Sprint blocks domestic carriers on their phones, but not on all.. like blackberry. There are ways to unlock though. None of which i tried yet. There's a very popular unlocking website on internet. Do a Google search. They claim to unlock your phone for $40. The site is very popular and I have unlocked the phones using their method. The other way is if someone tried to unlock the baseband or modem or whatever the name is, but no one is. It was a hot thing to do with iPhone while back when it was only on ATT; and since GS4 on every national network, not too many hackers want to do it but it is definitely possible.

Well if anyone knows how to unlock the phone domestically please let me know.
[Sprint Samsung Galaxy S 4 Q&A, Help & Troubleshoot] obender:
What kind of SIM card did you use that sg4 was able to connect to AT&T? I have sg4 unlocked according to sprint but when I put Vodafone SIM card in it while here in the US it says invalid SIM card.
[Sprint Samsung Galaxy S 4 Q&A, Help & Troubleshoot] tarasator:
one more thing

I forgot 1 more thing. In menu where it has updates, like software update, it has a new option saying uicc unlock. I ran that too and it was successful.

Actually by now I used a couple of sim cards. First one was from o2 which is german. Then, I used djuice which is like a couple of countries in europe. This one i had to cut. Try doing uicc and let me know if it works.
[Sprint Samsung Galaxy S 4 Q&A, Help & Troubleshoot] spydc:
Are you located in USA? Which sim card company did you use that actually piggy backed off AT&T's network?
[Sprint Samsung Galaxy S 4 Q&A, Help & Troubleshoot] wolf1o:
Using on International GSM carrier - working?

After realizing that the HTC One (Sprint!) can't be used on international gsm carriers, I want to verify about the S4: Did someone used it on a GSM carrier, outside the U.S? (europe, mid east, far east etc.)

Thanks!
[Sprint Samsung Galaxy S 4 Q&A, Help & Troubleshoot] thehawdis:
I don't think anyone in this thread has actually verified outside the US. There was an earlier post in this thread that someone said they tried a foreign SIM here in the US and it worked (they got a confirmation text).

I just wanted to chime in on this thread. I contacted Sprint and got the unlock (even though I've had it under 90 days), they said they had to elevate it (I am travelling to Europe in 2 weeks) but then I got an email a day later saying I was unlocked just like a couple other people did. I then did that UICC unlock which was successful. I will verify here after I get back from England and France on June 30th, but I'm assuming all is well for now.
[Sprint Samsung Galaxy S 4 Q&A, Help & Troubleshoot] wolf1o:
Thanks for the update - will wait for your update on it!!

Can you explain (or link) on what's "uicc unlock"?
[Sprint Samsung Galaxy S 4 Q&A, Help & Troubleshoot] pmcnano:
The UICC unlock is in a software update menu in the phone. Its pushed via OTA, however if you are not in the US with a sprint account that wont work, since its, again, via ota.

Im in Mexico and tried the Service Menu option and it didnt work. So im screwed. Apparently as off now, the only way to unlock it its via sprint.
[Sprint Samsung Galaxy S 4 Q&A, Help & Troubleshoot] thehawdis:
Check out post #47 in this thread
[Sprint Samsung Galaxy S 4 Q&A, Help & Troubleshoot] ehaalandtluk:
I have gotten it unlocked by sprint and I am going to south america this month.

Does anyone have any suggestions as to what kind of services would be best for text, voice, and data in the greater metropolitan area of Buenos Aires?

I am not planning on leaving the province.

Thanks!
[Sprint Samsung Galaxy S 4 Q&A, Help & Troubleshoot] hckyplayer024:
In the same boat as a lot of other people here. I'm waiting for my e-mail from sprint "back office" to unlock my device. Once I unlock UICC in a TouchWIZ ROM can I flash to CM and will it work? Also anyone know what frequencies the phone works with? Getting conflicting results from different websites.
[Sprint Samsung Galaxy S 4 Q&A, Help & Troubleshoot] myphone12345:
Ahem, first you need to see that it unlocks you on stock in the first place. From the results folks have posted so far, it looks like Sprint's unlock method doesn't work at all regardless of ROM.
[Sprint Samsung Galaxy S 4 Q&A, Help & Troubleshoot] hckyplayer024:
Sorry i should clarify I'm only looking for international unlock. I got uicc unlock working on a touchwiz rom. I have no way to verify if it will currently work internationally but provided it does do you think I can flash cm? Is there any way I can verify if I'm unlocked internationally without an international sim?
[Sprint Samsung Galaxy S 4 Q&A, Help & Troubleshoot] myphone12345:
That's what I meant - that Sprint's official unlock process for international use is broken. Even if you get "update sucessful" after using the hitting the UICC option, according to the users on this forum who have tried it, you will still get the "invalid sim" error if you try to put a foreign carrier's SIM into the phone.
[Sprint Samsung Galaxy S 4 Q&A, Help & Troubleshoot] mattvalenz:
UICC unlock

I'm a Sprint Product Ambassador supporting the launch of the S4 and am here to help.

As many of the threads in this string indicate, the process to unlock the device for use with a foreign SIM is to call Sprint Worldwide Care at 1-888-226-7212 and request this. For fraud prevention reasons, the device must be on a valid subscruiption for 90 days, regardless of the account age. As others in this string have also stated, if you need the device unlocked prior to the 90 days a ticket can be created for you and a back office team will evaluate the request based on the account history. If the account is in good standing with no history of fraud, the unlock request is typically processed in a couple of days. Once that happens, a code is sent OTA to your device which should complete the unlock.

Just to clarify:

1) No code that a user can input on the device will unlock it for 3rd party SIM use magically, this is a myth

2) The device will only work on foreign carriers, NOT domestic GSM carriers like ATT and TMo.

Let me know if you have any questions.
[Sprint Samsung Galaxy S 4 Q&A, Help & Troubleshoot] obender:
Is there a way to verify that the phone is indeed unlocked while being here in the US? It is pretty disappointing to go abroad and then realize that (despite all assurance form Sprint) the phone still shows "Invalid SIM".
[Sprint Samsung Galaxy S 4 Q&A, Help & Troubleshoot] mattvalenz:
Yes

SWW Care should be able to confirm that the payload to unlock the device went through. You have to be in coverage when the OTA payload is sent. If you or anyone else got their device unlocked by SWW Care, went to a foreign destination and found that the device didn't work with a 3rd party SIM, we need examples in order to investigate. Phone #'s are preferred. You can private message me with your number. If there are doubts about my authenticity as an employee of Sprint, PM me and I can send you validation if needed.
[Sprint Samsung Galaxy S 4 Q&A, Help & Troubleshoot] myphone12345:
YES, EXCEPT THAT SPRINT'S OTA UNLOCK PROCESS DOES NOT ACTUALLY UNLOCK THE PHONE TO FOREIGN SIMS FOR INTERNATIONAL USE! If you read the actual posts in this thread you'd see that. Sprint is THINKING they are unlocking the phone for international use but many users who have gone through the process that you are describing are reporting that it doesn't work (phone does say "profile updated" after getting the OTA from Sprint and pressing Unlock UICC but the phone doesn't actually get unlocked for foreign SIMs). However, Sprint keeps insisting that it does, when in fact it doesn't and Sprint IS NOT WILLING TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT!

Your post only reinforces Sprint's cluelessness when it comes to this issue since what you are saying is exactly what Sprint is saying - but that is not what is actually happening to users in the field.

Here is the other thread on this issue: http://xdaforums.com/showthread.php?t=2262939

With all due respect, if you're a Sprint "Ambassador" and you really want to help users around here with this issue, instead of repeating Sprint's erroneous information, please read this and the other thread in their entirety then go back to Sprint and tell them that their OTA unlock process doesn't work and to please fix it. I am sorry to say it but Sprint's handling of this issue is a total joke.

---------- Post added at 11:06 AM ---------- Previous post was at 11:04 AM ----------

Again, please read this and and the other thread. The OTA unlock process has not worked for anyone as I recall. Specific exaples issues: ANYONE WHO HAS CALLED SPRINT TO REPORT THAT IT DOESN'T WORK WAS DISMISSED BY SPRINT OUT OF HAND OR GIVEN SOME RIDICULOUS EXCUSE WHY IT DIDN'T WORK.
[Sprint Samsung Galaxy S 4 Q&A, Help & Troubleshoot] obender:
As with any mobile phone there has to be a way to physically check on the device itself that it is SIM unlocked. It could be via some service menu or via special external tool. I'm pretty sure Samsung has an ability to do that, after all it manufactured these devices for all carriers. If only Sprint could admit a slight issue with a process and perhaps consult with Samsung on the sure way to make its customers happy. Could it be to much to ask?
[Sprint Samsung Galaxy S 4 Q&A, Help & Troubleshoot] mattvalenz:
Just trying to help.

As I said:

If you or anyone else got their device unlocked by SWW Care, went to a foreign destination and found that the device didn't work with a 3rd party SIM, we need examples in order to investigate. Phone #'s are preferred. You can private message me with your number. If there are doubts about my authenticity as an employee of Sprint, PM me and I can send you validation if needed.
[Sprint Samsung Galaxy S 4 Q&A, Help & Troubleshoot] PapaDocta:
the PRL is just CDMA specific and has nothing to do with GSM... how can they control access by limiting it in the PRL?

so, if i edit the PRL i will be able to enable access to any network?

please correct me if i'm wrong
[Sprint Samsung Galaxy S 4 Q&A, Help & Troubleshoot] mattvalenz:
http://support.sprint.com/support/a...ng_List_is_used/case-cx832318-20091216-141942

"Sprint updates the PRL a few times a year to provide you with new domestic digital roaming coverage or with international roaming coverage or to make other necessary adjustments."
[Sprint Samsung Galaxy S 4 Q&A, Help & Troubleshoot] PapaDocta:
true but international here only means for CDMA networks around the world....

check this copied from a sprint prl

SID: 16420 Bell Mobility Cellular Inc - ORANGEVILLE ON Prio:Same Roam:Intl

1X: P/350 P/1025 P/375 P/325 P/1050 P/1075

EV: Bell Mobility(0090:0900) P/375 P/1075 P/1175 C/466 C/630 C/468 C/589 C/426 C/636 P/325 P/425 P/550

EV: Bell Mobility(0090:0000) P/375 P/1075 P/1175 C/466 C/630 C/468 C/589 C/426 C/636 P/325 P/425 P/550

SID: 16410 SaskTel Mobility - STOUGHTON SK Prio:Same Roam:Intl

1X: C/Both-Both

EV: Unk EV(0090:0680) P/375 P/1075 P/1175 C/466 C/630 C/468 C/589 C/426 C/636 P/325 P/425 P/550

from this you don't see any gsm networks.. only CDMA
[Sprint Samsung Galaxy S 4 Q&A, Help & Troubleshoot] myphone12345:
This is for the relativley small number of CDMA carriers located in other countries and is used to roam on them with your Sprint account. This has always been available to those who asked for it and qualified for it on most Sprint handsets. Technically this is not much different than roaming on say Alltel or Verizon, except of course the additional charge which is usually quite hefty.

As previously mentioned however, this particular issue we're dealing with here is unrelated to CDMA roaming. It has to do with GSM usage outside the US using a foreign carriers' SIM - which the S4 should be able to do were it not SIM locked to accept only Sprint's SIMs.
[Sprint Samsung Galaxy S 4 Q&A, Help & Troubleshoot] myphone12345:
I appreciate your willingness to help us resolve this issue. I have not tried submitting an unlock request myself yet since from what I have read around here, at this point it is a waste of time to try. Plus, all of my foreign SIMs are mini SIMs and I'd need to cut one of them to make sure the unlocked worked. I do have a SIM cutter but I haven't used it yet so that would also be a first for me. Hopefully one of the folks who've gone through the request and the unlock UICC thing "successfully" will contact you and you and Sprint will work with them to truly resolve this issue for everyone.
[Sprint Samsung Galaxy S 4 Q&A, Help & Troubleshoot] lordfariq:
How about the user that buy this phones but not in usa?

imposible to make this phones work on GSM it keep giving invalid sim

read so many people contact sprint and they refused to unlock for international sim

so it almost impossible to unlock this phone for foreign user

and sprint should do this the phones is not under contract they should unlock it for international use

since this phone is not for cdma only the t&c should be update. its make outside usa people suffer if they bought this phone online and just throw it in bin