yashsingh1/xdaforums huggingface dataset:
[Sprint Samsung Galaxy S 4 Q&A, Help & Troubleshoot] mattvalenz:
You're very welcome

We are doing our best to help support users in XDA so I appreciate the thanks. We are working hard giving feedback to the SWW care teams about user experience on forums like this one about the process. Everything I said before is how things should work. Again, the exception process should only take a couple of days provided the account is in good standing and not flagged for fraud. If you try and request it and do not get what you need, please private message me and I will do my best to help you. Prior to the S4 and HTC One we did not have Android devices that could be unlocked for 3rd party SIM use so this is a new thing for the CARE teams to get accustomed to. We only had the iPhone prior so they are used to those devices only. The teams also want to do the right thing for the customer and are getting better every day. Actionable solid feedback will help us improve our processes for users, so I appreciate any detail you can share.

Thanks.

---------- Post added at 10:29 PM ---------- Previous post was at 10:26 PM ----------

How about the user that buy this phones but not in usa?

That would be the global model not the Sprint model and should work on GSM networks anywhere.

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

That is an Samsung support issue not a Sprint issue.

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

That is specific to the Sprint model, but we are not refusing to unlock the device for use with 3rd party SIM as I have already stated.

so it almost impossible to unlock this phone for foreign user

Not for our model.

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

The above process applies for devices purchased at full price. 90 days active on a sub but there is an exception process if needed.

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
[Sprint Samsung Galaxy S 4 Q&A, Help & Troubleshoot] lordfariq:
and for FYI Sprint model S4 phones do support GSM http://www.samsung.com/us/mobile/cell-phones/SPH-L720ZWASPR-specs

and they should at least give a chance to unlock it even the user is not from sprint.

lets say the user buy phones at ebay (wrongly buy) so they have no luck to unlock it?

and yet u said ''but we are not refusing to unlock the device for use with 3rd party SIM as I have already stated.''

i have chat log with sprint cs before they refused to do if the phones is not under sprint contract.

anyway what are u mean by HTC support issue ?
[Sprint Samsung Galaxy S 4 Q&A, Help & Troubleshoot] mattvalenz:
Correct

The device cannot be unlocked if not under contract due to fraud risk. This is non-negotiable, sorry. It is policy.
[Sprint Samsung Galaxy S 4 Q&A, Help & Troubleshoot] lordfariq:
:)

fraud? lol

people buying it for full price and out of contract i bet sprint know and able to check on this issue.

at least give an chance with some verification for user that not in contract

i really don't understand what mean by ''fraud'' if the phones is bought with full price and out of contract..

well if this is sprint policy then i cant say much. hope they improve the policy one day perhaps
[Sprint Samsung Galaxy S 4 Q&A, Help & Troubleshoot] Kastrga:
Sprint not unlocking giving one device per contract unlock policy

Well I purchased my Galaxy S4 for full price and got it activated on my account. I put a request to get it unlocked with Sprint WWC both on phone and on live chat. Initially I was given the 90 day BS that everyone has been getting but later I was told that my request would be escalated to back end team and they would contact me. After few hours I got a mail from sprint back end that because they unlocked my iphone 5 some 6 months back they can no longer unlock my s4 because its sprint policy to unlock just one device per contract. I tried to argue with the Supervisor at WWC but he said that its sprint policy to not unlock more than one device within a contract. This is absolute BS to me. Does that mean I can't buy more than one World Handset from sprint in one contract period. I got my s4 for full price and I should be entitled to get unlock. I have been sprint customer for a very long time and have also upgraded my contract with iPhone 5.
[Sprint Samsung Galaxy S 4 Q&A, Help & Troubleshoot] brianhot1:
would anyone be willing to try this,I know it has the wrong model number but it clearly states unlock Sprint s4

http://www.unlockallcellular.com/united-states-sprint-samsung-galaxy-s4-iv-i9500-np-200800.html
[Sprint Samsung Galaxy S 4 Q&A, Help & Troubleshoot] obender:
The cannot do it for Sprint S4, it's just an ad.

If you chat right on the site with them, they say that they cannot unlock phones where IMEI starts with 99.
[Sprint Samsung Galaxy S 4 Q&A, Help & Troubleshoot] myphone12345:
In a bit of good news, it looks like Sprint has finally figured out how to unlock the HTC One: http://xdaforums.com/showthread.php?t=2243724&page=40

Hopefully this means that that they are on the right track to successfully unlock the S4 too.
[Sprint Samsung Galaxy S 4 Q&A, Help & Troubleshoot] lordfariq:
they wont.. trust me they just saying to make user think sprint is good carrier lol
[Sprint Samsung Galaxy S 4 Q&A, Help & Troubleshoot] spydc:
I received the following email today in reference to the new unlock process:

Hello Sprint Customer,

This email is intended to confirm that Sprint has successfully unlocked your Samsung Galaxy s4 Device using an updated unlock tool. Please follow the steps below to complete the unlock:

settings > more tab > system update > UICC Unlock

Phone number: 555-555-5555

If you have any additional questions comments or concerns please contact Sprint World Wide care 24/7 at 888-226-7212.

.... My phone no longer says invalid sim
[Sprint Samsung Galaxy S 4 Q&A, Help & Troubleshoot] balistic2:
I got the same email today too. The phone no longer says invalid sim with my T-mo sim, but it is still unable to find any US GSM carriers. My SHA256_ENABLE_FLAG is set at [0]. So that unlock that the native GSM variants still does not work for us :(. Anyone on CM10 can try the dialer code *#*#4636#*#* hit phone info, then scroll down and hit a drop down menu. Try selecting GSM only mode. See if you can get a signal.
[Sprint Samsung Galaxy S 4 Q&A, Help & Troubleshoot] ehaalandtluk:
Now I'm no expert, but I think I read about a million focking times that the US GSM carriers are blocked by the current settings in a Sprint phone. You need to be out of the country.
[Sprint Samsung Galaxy S 4 Q&A, Help & Troubleshoot] setitoff215:
I don't think we will ever see a domestic unlock for sprint galaxy s4

Sent from my SPH-L720
[Sprint Samsung Galaxy S 4 Q&A, Help & Troubleshoot] mobileunlocked:
Does anyone know how they're doing the domestic locks but the phone can be unlocked for international use? I wanted to explain it to a customer a few days ago but couldn't.
[Sprint Samsung Galaxy S 4 Q&A, Help & Troubleshoot] myphone12345:
It's pretty simple actually. All GSM signals (and SIMs too actually) are tagged with with an identifying code consisting of a country code and carrier code. It seems to me what Sprint has done is have Samsung program the radio so that the device will only allow emergency-calls-only mode registration to any GSM signal tagged as belonging to a US carrier.
[Sprint Samsung Galaxy S 4 Q&A, Help & Troubleshoot] mobileunlocked:
Oh, I see. Essentially giving them "ID's".

Thank you very much.
[Sprint Samsung Galaxy S 4 Q&A, Help & Troubleshoot] myphone12345:
Yes, I think they are just blocking non-emergency mode registration on any network code with an MCC of 310 or 311. For a full list of the MNCs under those MCCs see here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_mobile_network_codes_in_the_United_States
[Sprint Samsung Galaxy S 4 Q&A, Help & Troubleshoot] setitoff215:
Can it just be reprogramed?

Sent from my SPH-L720
[Sprint Samsung Galaxy S 4 Q&A, Help & Troubleshoot] PapaDocta:
Could someone with unlocked phone post the file from the following location:

/carrier/properties.db

You can get that file using root explorer...

I have made some changes but then a process was crashing and when you go to settings-more - system update it crashes as well....

From that file you can get the activation information and subscribe information and sim lock status... I need to compare and see what has changed from an unlocked device as this could be the solution....

Make sure you remove your personal information from the file before attaching it here....
[Sprint Samsung Galaxy S 4 Q&A, Help & Troubleshoot] obender:
I hope I removed everything, there was not much of personal info that I could see though.

This is from the phone that was "unlocked" by Sprint.
[Sprint Samsung Galaxy S 4 Q&A, Help & Troubleshoot] PapaDocta:
thank you for posting.

here is mine... except my Customization/CustID gives a number and not just 0...

i'll keep looking into this.... as i believe this database along with the chameleon.xml has something to do with the unlocking because they are tied with system update menu and uicc unlock....
[Sprint Samsung Galaxy S 4 Q&A, Help & Troubleshoot] obender:
I've set the CustID to 0 before posting it here, it was not 0 initially.
[Sprint Samsung Galaxy S 4 Q&A, Help & Troubleshoot] sicily123:
What program are you guys using to open the db file?
[Sprint Samsung Galaxy S 4 Q&A, Help & Troubleshoot] obender:
Search for SQLite viewer/editor on the web, any will do.
[Sprint Samsung Galaxy S 4 Q&A, Help & Troubleshoot] sicily123:
Thanks man, I had my S4 "unlocked" too but im still a little skeptical about it. :laugh:
[Sprint Samsung Galaxy S 4 Q&A, Help & Troubleshoot] mobileunlocked:
If you're unsure if the phone is really unlocked or not, simply turn it on and type in *#7465625#

That'll bring up the list of locks on the phone and it'll let you know if they're active or not.
[Sprint Samsung Galaxy S 4 Q&A, Help & Troubleshoot] obender:
Are you sure? It just tries to dial this as a number for me.
[Sprint Samsung Galaxy S 4 Q&A, Help & Troubleshoot] mobileunlocked:
Definitely. I've heard of instances where the code hasn't worked on some Samsung handsets but I haven't yet been able to find the common dominator to suggest why it hasn't worked for you.

It is however a universally recognised code on Samsung phones, much like *#06# on all phones. It is a prompt to display a piece of information.
[Sprint Samsung Galaxy S 4 Q&A, Help & Troubleshoot] obender:
Would be interesting to see what others report.

---------- Post added at 04:34 PM ---------- Previous post was at 03:39 PM ----------

I have a feeling that this code and the whole bunch of others, are not for the Sprint modification, I've done some search on the net, there are a lot of codes that are claimed to be supported by all samsung phones when in fact they aren't recognized by Sprint samsung variants.
[Sprint Samsung Galaxy S 4 Q&A, Help & Troubleshoot] sicily123:
I had no success with the dialer code either... Sprint always has to complicate things :D
[Sprint Samsung Galaxy S 4 Q&A, Help & Troubleshoot] Ingenium13:
Mine is the same, except "SDM/SESSION_TYPE" has a value of "CI_DC". On both of the ones posted here, it's "CI_SIM_LOCK".

My phone was supposedly unlocked with both the "old" and "new" unlocking tools on Sprint's end. I put in an AT&T data only SIM from my tablet and I didn't get an "invalid SIM" error (or at least not one that I saw), but it of course also didn't pick up service.

Can anyone with "CI_SIM_LOCK" verify theirs is actually unlocked? I would guess that CI_SIM_LOCK means that it's still locked.
[Sprint Samsung Galaxy S 4 Q&A, Help & Troubleshoot] mobileunlocked:
To put another twist in the mix, I've actually had a customer with a Vodafone locked Samsung this morning confirm that a universal code hasn't worked for them (*#7465625#).

Could it be the software version? Have you noticed any commonalities here? Android version 4.1.2 was reported for the customer today.
[Sprint Samsung Galaxy S 4 Q&A, Help & Troubleshoot] PapaDocta:
i think there is another file is also involved in the unlocking process... it's called chameleon.xml which is associated with .chameleon.hash ...

the chameleon.xml includes settings for the phone and on mine there isn't any entry related to unlocking and that's maybe because my device isn't unlocked...

i will try to change the SDM/SESSION_TYPE to CI_DC and report back..

update

edited the field to CI_DC but still no luck... keeps trying to register for a gsm network but never register..
[Sprint Samsung Galaxy S 4 Q&A, Help & Troubleshoot] obender:
Interesting, so you don't get "Invalid SIM" message anymore? Did this happen when you changed to CI_DC? What kind of SIM are you using?
[Sprint Samsung Galaxy S 4 Q&A, Help & Troubleshoot] PapaDocta:
I'm getting invalid sim card all the time... I programmed the phone to a different carrier and current outside the US and used Du sim card
[Sprint Samsung Galaxy S 4 Q&A, Help & Troubleshoot] obender:
I see...
[Sprint Samsung Galaxy S 4 Q&A, Help & Troubleshoot] Ingenium13:
There's nothing in chameleon.xml that looks related to the SIM. There's a bunch of stuff about MMS URLs, and which numbers on the dialer to intercept and redirect to an app (611 and *2). Under operators it does have "<CarrierLegal>/carrier/data/app/Settings/</CarrierLegal>", so that might have more stuff. The only other mention of GSM is under wifi, where it says only 1 user is allowed versus 8 for everything else (I'm assuming this is for the sprint hotspot).
[Sprint Samsung Galaxy S 4 Q&A, Help & Troubleshoot] ehaalandtluk:
I cannot get that code to work an I am on android 4.2.2 sprint handset
[Sprint Samsung Galaxy S 4 Q&A, Help & Troubleshoot] Puzzlegal:
Thank you. Please tell sprint that

after reading this thread, and similar threads on this issue regarding the htc one and the samsung galaxy 4, I have decided my next phone will not be on sprint.

I travel internationally from time to time, and don't want to jump through hoops to use my phone.

you are wrong. I am typing this on a motorola photon on a sprint contract. It was unlocked for international use out of the box. I have not been able to get data internationally, but I've purchased sims in germany, austria, hungary, and the uk, and each has worked for phone and text with no hassles at all. I am very sorry to see that sprint has changed its procedures and no longer really supports international travel. In other ways, sprint has been a pretty good carrier, although I think I can find cheaper service. But this is just ridiculous.
[Sprint Samsung Galaxy S 4 Q&A, Help & Troubleshoot] Ingenium13:
For people trying to get their unlocked phone to work on domestic networks, take a look at /data/data/com.android.providers.telephony/databases/nwk_info.db

It appears to have an entry for Sprint in the nwkinfo table, I think enabling it (dormancy is set to on). Then in the dormpolicy table it has entries for ATT, Tmobile, and Vodafone. My ATT entries have 3 instead of 0 for lcdofffdtime (I put in an ATT data only SIM at one point to see if I could get an Invalid SIM error, not sure if that has anything to do with it).

Is the plmn a network ID number that's broadcast? I wonder if changing these in some way would enable the use of domestic GSM networks.

EDIT: Yes, it is, plmn appears to be the MCC/MNC. They match up http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_mobile_network_codes_in_the_United_States
[Sprint Samsung Galaxy S 4 Q&A, Help & Troubleshoot] obender:
Did you try to modify any of those? Does it help? :)
[Sprint Samsung Galaxy S 4 Q&A, Help & Troubleshoot] Ingenium13:
No, I didn't change anything. I don't really care about using domestic GSM networks (only care about international), so I don't really want to risk borking my phone over it.

EDIT: It actually appears that the file has something to do with fast dormancy, which I guess lets the phone go into a low power state while maintaining the data connection. So maybe changing it won't enable those networks. It's just very strange though that the carriers that are blocked are the ones listed.
[Sprint Samsung Galaxy S 4 Q&A, Help & Troubleshoot] setitoff215:
The point is for as to crack it domestically as well just not internationally!!

Sent from my SPH-L720
[Sprint Samsung Galaxy S 4 Q&A, Help & Troubleshoot] mobileunlocked:
I wonder what the common issue could possibly be then. It isn't the network they are locked to or the version of Android they are running...

Anyone have any suggestions? :confused:
[Sprint Samsung Galaxy S 4 Q&A, Help & Troubleshoot] pmcnano:
I would love if the Sprint guy answered to this.

Just exactly why dont you sell the unlocks for non-sprint users. When you buy a phone with GSM capabilities you are always able to unlock it to use it in any network. I understand you dont want to unlock phones for non-customers because well, why would you serve for someone who is not your client. But, the problem is, we have no other way to do it as of now. If the cellphone would prompts us for an unlock code in pretty sure we'll just buy the code and input it.

Then again, since you are our only choice, charge us for the unlock, but let us unlock the phone. Its bull**** buying the phone online paying full price just to be unable to use it in our countries (whatever country, not US).

Thanks
[Sprint Samsung Galaxy S 4 Q&A, Help & Troubleshoot] Im a troll:
I have read on several forums of people having their phone unlocked by Sprint already, but the only one who check back in that I saw said that his phone did not work abroad even after being unlocked by sprint first.

I would be very upset if I counted on using this phone abroad by sprint to find out that it did not work whilst abroad. A "Sorry, come back to the US, let us try again, then fly back across world and let us know would not be good enough."

Can anyone confirm that there phone has been unlocked, and that they were in fact able to use their phone abroad with a sim and with full functionality?

Thank you!
[Sprint Samsung Galaxy S 4 Q&A, Help & Troubleshoot] madtork:
Sprint Sucks

I've been with sprint since they were nextel 15 years ago and I just paid full price for this S4.

I've spent countless hours with on the phone with retentions and international supervisors at Sprint.

Since I don't have a contract they won't unlock my phone.....period.

My wife's phone however was "unlocked" by them since she is under contract and that was submitted 1 day after being bought and activated.

I'm done with sprint!

I'm going to use my straight talk ATT sim where i get better speeds, equal or great coverage and pay less than $45 a month, or I'm getting a grandfathered unlimited data plan with verizon and paying $125 a month.

I can't express how tired I am of Sprint!
[Sprint Samsung Galaxy S 4 Q&A, Help & Troubleshoot] mobileunlocked:
Certainly does appear that Sprint have kicked themselves in the butt with this unlocking business. Kind of similar to the reaction of Xbox fans regarding the announcement of game trading on the One (which they quickly back-peddled on).
[Sprint Samsung Galaxy S 4 Q&A, Help & Troubleshoot] obender:
With only one difference - Sprint doesn't care.
[Sprint Samsung Galaxy S 4 Q&A, Help & Troubleshoot] yujioh:
The reason behind this whole unlocking scheme is idiotic. The Sprint personnel seem to be clueless. I called International Support that the unlock did not work when I went abroad and the international support lady told me that I had to get a 128k SIM card vs a 64k SIM card.
[Sprint Samsung Galaxy S 4 Q&A, Help & Troubleshoot] thehawdis:
Regarding SIM unlock

Just wanted to post my experience. I got my phone unlocked by Sprint about 10 days after purchase and travelled abroad in Europe from june 14-30. I bought a SIM card at London Heathrow airport, popped it in and it worked great in England, France, and Italy. NO PROBLEMS. What a relief that it worked as I had seem some people say it didn't. It was great to use my phone for GPS navigation over there.
[Sprint Samsung Galaxy S 4 Q&A, Help & Troubleshoot] money69:
Can you confirm is there is a way or menu option to edit APN settings for the sim in the phone?
[Sprint Samsung Galaxy S 4 Q&A, Help & Troubleshoot] mobileunlocked:
I don't have the phone with me at the moment, but having unlocking the S4 for one of our new videos I've spent some time with it and I'm pretty sure there were APN settings in there that could be edited.
[Sprint Samsung Galaxy S 4 Q&A, Help & Troubleshoot] RegnierD:
When I have my device unlocked, I'll be running a logcat, k/dmesg and every other log I can to get as much information on what calls actually unlock the device. Hopefully, that can help a dev make a mod for that will unlock it for anyone that needs to... maybe even for domestic use.
[Sprint Samsung Galaxy S 4 Q&A, Help & Troubleshoot] Ingenium13:
If you have root, I found out that you can add the following lines to build.prob and it will make the APN settings editable (ie you can add APNs and select which one to use):

ril.sales_code=LOL
ro.csc.sales_code=LOL

I was able to get into the APN settings by creating a shortcut with Nova Launcher. I saw someone say on another forum that when they had a foreign SIM in with these edits that the APN menu appeared where it should be, but that it disappeared again once they put the Sprint SIM back in.
[Sprint Samsung Galaxy S 4 Q&A, Help & Troubleshoot] mobileunlocked:
:good:
[Sprint Samsung Galaxy S 4 Q&A, Help & Troubleshoot] aindfan:
I believe Sprint completed my unlock. Inserting an activated AT&T micro SIM does not show the "Invalid SIM" message, though when I switch to GSM only mode (in "Mobile Network" settings), the phone never sees a signal, even one that would appear as "Emergency Calls Only" (shouldn't this happen with invalid networks? Not with the way this blocking works, I suppose. Before anyone asks, I'm not dialing 911 just to find out if it works). Feel free to reply here or PM if I can help out by providing any logs. I am running rooted stock MF9 and can switch to anything else that might make logging easier, and I'm happy to hear of any ideas that someone may have that would get this community closer to unlocking this phone on domestic GSM networks. (A message to Sprint: I'm not going anywhere, but occasionally popping in a work-provided AT&T SIM card may have its benefits.)

Anyone know if the AT&T SIM will provide service outside of the US? Is it clear if the radio blocks AT&T signals at the tower/network ID level or the SIM card level?

Thanks!
[Sprint Samsung Galaxy S 4 Q&A, Help & Troubleshoot] eyecon82:
you know they have done it when you go to settings-->more-->system update-->and UICC unlock completes successfully
[Sprint Samsung Galaxy S 4 Q&A, Help & Troubleshoot] obender:
Not exactly correct, it complete successfully on mine but I still get "Invalid SIM" message.
[Sprint Samsung Galaxy S 4 Q&A, Help & Troubleshoot] eyecon82:
depends on if its an American GSM band....it can only be international..what kind of SIM card are you putting in?
[Sprint Samsung Galaxy S 4 Q&A, Help & Troubleshoot] obender:
Putting Vodafone sim while in us
[Sprint Samsung Galaxy S 4 Q&A, Help & Troubleshoot] aindfan:
The command does complete successfully for me. My Sprint.com account also shows PIN/PUK unlock codes for my phone (I mention this in case it means that the international department has been mucking around with something in my profile).

I would be interested in hearing if you can successfully use the AT&T or T-Mobile networks in the US with this foreign SIM - keep us posted.
[Sprint Samsung Galaxy S 4 Q&A, Help & Troubleshoot] eyecon82:
maybe it's becuase you're in the USA?

probably not..they locked down on that

---------- Post added at 11:17 AM ---------- Previous post was at 11:16 AM ----------

check and see and go to settings-->connections-->more networks-->mobile networks-->network mode and see if you have an option for GSM/UMTS

if you do, then your SIM is successfully unlocked...i attached a screenshot

Please hit thanks if i helped