yashsingh1/xdaforums huggingface dataset:
[Galaxy Note 3 General] koyanishi:
Seems to me that the region unlock works once you activate the phone in the native region but then you need to

unlock the sim card.

Seems that samsung is confused about this because it does not instruct the users of its product clearly. Quoting from the first response from Samsung to the above poster

This e-mail is to confirm the information I provided you during our conversation today which is that the Note III once activated within Europe, users should be able to enjoy the roaming service as usual and can use other region’s SIM card when travelling any where around the world

(providing that the phone is SIM free & not locked to a specific network).

Seems that you have to get an unlock code for the sim card after the region unlock. Samsung should be able to give you that code for free. (Here in U.S.A, t-mobile {I believe they get the code from samsung} will give you the sim unlock code for free after you have owned the phone for a week)

If samsung will not give you the sim unlock code, than you can reference this
[Galaxy Note 3 General] dxzh:
Currently the written words of Samsung are capable of meaning that the regional SIM lock can block SIMs provided by some network providers outside of the region, so long as at least some SIMs provided by network providers outside of the region will not be blocked. Despite this, I suspect most of those working at Samsung UK's call centre would like to believe that Samsung is not rolling out anything more than a one-time test to control the SIM first placed in the device. Whatever is being said by the Samsung UK call centre though, they are clearly not involved in writing the code implementing the regional SIM lock and therefore their hopes for the way the regional SIM lock works are mere aspirations that need to be supported by some clear corporate commitment from Samsung to support consumers if the reality does not match the aspirations.

The fact that what may be currently committed to paper by Samsung UK is restrained by some unseen HQ hand which requires them to stick to the stock script (seemingly a poor translation, presumably from Korean) leads to yet more reality distortion, given that the same rep who is reassuring when speaking of the reality of the regional SIM lock must write about it in a more ambiguous, potentially contradictory way. As I have within the same week been told utterly different accounts of the effect of the regional SIM lock, I am wary of accepting any oral explanation unless backed up in writing and in plain English. At some stage they will hopefully cease the obfuscation of the stock script used for written confirmation of the policy and instead explain exactly what it is going on - even if it means explaining that in reality ABC SIM-free phones will still be subject to the region lock post-activation in the following XYZ circumstances.

If nothing else I would like to be told in writing by Samsung of any circumstances in which I could find a SIM in my phone being blocked by the regional SIM lock so that I can make an informed choice as to whether to buy (or upgrade) it. I could then have more confidence as an individual consumer that Samsung would be committing to unlock my phone if I was to find my phone wrongly regionally locked. Perhaps the main benefit for Samsung customers of matching Samsung's spoken and written words is:

- first, to help Samsung articulate a clear description of their regional SIM lock policy in writing, whether or not it matches the reality reported by users; and

- second, then to use that written description of the regional SIM lock policy as a benchmark against which can test, and hold Samsung to account for, the reality (as you point out) on the ground.
[Galaxy Note 3 General] basilbaby:
I have 5 units of SM-N900 with regional lock. Hope you may help me to unlock them.
[Galaxy Note 3 General] PanNet:
Hi there,

I have the same situation. Galaxy s4 from Australia, unlock carrier. It's been properly activated etc. I can't use it in Europe. All software has been changed to European region but it does not work.

---------- Post added at 03:39 AM ---------- Previous post was at 03:38 AM ----------

I can be a tester as well (Galaxy s4)

Regards

---------- Post added at 03:40 AM ---------- Previous post was at 03:39 AM ----------

I can be a tester as well (Galaxy s4)

Regards
[Galaxy Note 3 General] mathieulh:
Yes, the "activation" process is nothing but Samsung's PR nonsense. In reality there is no such thing and the device stays locked.
[Galaxy Note 3 General] maidangisme:
[MENTION=3210128]panet[/MENTION], you are first one reported S4 region locked from Australia.

-I check with Whirlpool there isn't reported region lock.

-I have no idea what u did to your phone when you said update software to EU region.

-I guess that you bought your phone from online store which stock Grey Imported Model.
[Galaxy Note 3 General] Chainfire:
Are you absolutely sure your S4 is a proper Australian model, not grey import? I need the original firmware that came with this S4, to be able to see if there's anything I can do.
[Galaxy Note 3 General] dxzh:
If the activation process is a red herring misdescribing the reality, then one strawman explanation for the different real-life reports is that:

- a level of lock (say NCK, SPCK or PCK) is set at ON when shipped by Samsung to the retailer so that, for so long as it is left switched ON, the regional SIM lock in the form of the MCC block list in the CSC is enforced, blocking all MNCs with MCCs on that list; and

- the level of lock may then be either:

** switched OFF by certain retailers as part of their carrier branding process before the point of sale (in which case the MNCs affected by the regional SIM lock are not blocked, but some other form of carrier lock specific to the carrier in question might be set ON using a different level of lock to the one turned OFF); or

** left switched ON by certain retailers as part of their carrier branding process before the point of sale (and possibly some other form of carrier lock specific to the carrier in question is set ON, whether relying on the same level of lock or using a different level of lock); or

** left switched ON by a retailer, perhaps because the reseller is independent and has not been given any ability to change any lock state by Samsung?

In practice:

- would a carrier be expected to brand and set the various locks on its own phones itself before re-boxing them to be sold to the customer, or does it get the manufacturer to do it on its behalf ahead of shipping to the carrier?

- presumably a reseller entrusted with the right to switch ON or OFF a level of lock for themselves is simply supplied by Samsung with the lock/unlock codes for the particular phones shipped to that reseller?

- the level of lock used to cause the enforcement of the MCC block list in the CSC might be capable of operating independently of a lock to to engage the more typical carrier-specific lock in the home region, so that they do not both have to be switched ON or OFF at the same time?
[Galaxy Note 3 General] Chranich:
Regional locked S3

First of all many thanks to Chainfire for his work and the great benefit of his unlock-app for the community!

I'm following this thread for quite some days because I've the same problem with my new S3 (CSC I9300DBTEMG3) which someone bought for me last week in Germany for usage in China. I activated the phone with my German SIM in China and tried to use my China Unicom SIM afterwards which leads to the regional lock screen. I also tried my Thai Sim card and that one is working which is contrary to most posts before.

Is there any hope for a quick release for the app for my S3? I would be willing to be a tester as well ;)

Fur further information ... On Wednesday I ordered the unlock code from puman.ru. However it's not working with my phone even the guy was quite helpful and tried to solve the issue for some hours. He said I'd be his first customer whom he can't help. Finally I got the money back which is at least giving me some trust about that website.
[Galaxy Note 3 General] dxzh:
Two issues here:

- the region "unlock" or "release" does not seem to work for everyone who buys a SIM-free phone, even if they use it as advised for the first time out of the box with a SIM from a home region provider - what seems to be being called "activate". One guess is that the regional restrictions continue to apply for some users because the first SIM card inserted has nothing to do with whether it is unlocked and "activation" is a misleading explanation of the real switch for the region lock - an alternate explanation is that the regional lock may simply ship with the relevant lock switched ON or OFF and remain that way until, if the switch is ON, someone intervenes (whether carrier or reseller before point of sale, or user after point of sale) to unlock it with a NCK (or relevant level of lock) unlock code generated by Samsung (or someone with access to the code generator).

- the carrier may deliver to its customer a phone locked in the home country (at least) to the specific carrier - this is not what I understand to be an "unlocked" phone as described in the thread title. If the phone is subject to such a lock, separate from the embedded regional SIM lock, the expectation is that you would have to get the unlock code from the carrier for that level of lock (who may in turn have to source it, possibly at a price, from Samsung). For a phone bought SIM-free off-contract though, I personally would not expect to be subject to a carrier-specific lock preventing use of a SIM.

As the NCK unlock code seems to act as a master key for all levels of lock on the phone, it may be that entering that NCK unlock code will unlock both the lock enforcing the regional lock and any carrier-specific lock which may be switched ON at the same time, even if they might otherwise operate independently of one another.

---------- Post added at 11:44 AM ---------- Previous post was at 11:28 AM ----------

Please note that there are two different MCC block lists identified for European region Note 3s (and SIVs) so far. One has 63 MCCs including both China and Thailand; and the other has 38 MCCs including China but not Thailand. See http://xdaforums.com/showpost.php?p=46089580&postcount=762.

It would seem reasonable therefore to assume that your new S3 with CSC I9300DBTEMG3 has the same 38 MCC block list as say the Note 3 with CSC N9005OXXBMH1. Of course it would be great if you can check your /system/csc/customer.xml file to find out.
[Galaxy Note 3 General] wimbelgium:
Hi,

I read on a german forum that the blocking list for s3 and s4 is shorter than for the note 3, probably that is why your Thai sim works...
[Galaxy Note 3 General] Chranich:
Regional locked S3

[/QUOTE]

I can confirm that my MMC block list is identical with CSC N9005OXXBMH1. Same 38 countries are blocked!
[Galaxy Note 3 General] midnite_blue:
dual-sim Note 3 with no region lock to hit select Asian markets

The timing of this is interesting or ironic or...

Here's an excerpt and a link to a story SamMobile picked up from news.Zing.vn about the launch of a dual-sim Note 3 that “doesn't come with a region lock.“

Don’t expect the

dual SIM Galaxy Note 3

to be

launched in markets other than a few Asian ones,

though since there’s no region locking at play, no

one is stopping you from importing one to Europe

or the US if two SIM slots are what you want.

​
[Galaxy Note 3 General] Chiron43:
As there's a BIG demand on dual sim phones in the Chinese market, most manufacturers release special versions of their phones for China.

Samsun has been doing that previously with their S3, S4 and probably Note 2 (but i'm not sure about that).

Anyway, the Note 3 is launched in 4 different versions for China, depending on the carrier but according to a news on gizmochina.com from Sept 16, only one version will be dual sim, the SM-N9002

So I have my eyes on the SM-N9002 which will come with the Snapdragon S800 but only with 16Gb memory (same as current HKG version)

Though I'm still going to wait for a bit since i'm really close to just simply blacklist Samsung for the way they're handling this, as i don't bite at all that the region lock feature is implemented by the carriers or operators. That's a straight feature coming directly from Samsung.

Full specs of the SM-N9002 can be found here (and the 3 other models as well) on pdadb.net then use the search on the top left side and type SM-N9002
[Galaxy Note 3 General] midnite_blue:
is this is partially about Samsung chip sales?

A lot of posters, including Onweel2 in a later post, have speculated that Samsung's motivation for this fiasco stems from a secret deal with carriers who stand to make out like bandits with increased roaming charges. One poster pointed out that, given this incentive, carriers might push Samsung products more.

This makes sense -- in a sinister kind of way -- especially from a Western perspective... since Westerners would be prone to focus on how Samsung's epic fail effects them when the official instructions don't work.

I think Onweel2's earlier theory is also interesting and I wonder what other people think.

What he's suggesting is that Samsung doesn't want the European & US versions of the Note 3, which have the Qualcomm chipset, to be exported to Asia, reducing Asian sales of the version that carries their own chipset.

Likewise, European consumers would have an incentive to buy imported Asian models, also helping to maximize the sale of Samsung chips.

Perhaps, in their clandestine planning sessions, they really did want the reality to be what they now officially pretend it is... and then they proceeded to royally screw up their implementation.

Regardless of their motivation, this poorly executed gambit of theirs is a hamfisted and widening disaster of historic proportions. I bet this community, at least, won't forget it for a long time.
[Galaxy Note 3 General] Chainfire:
Find me the complete stock firmware to flash including CSC and I will see what I can do.
[Galaxy Note 3 General] midnite_blue:
Do you happen to know, Chiron43, how common it is for Samsung to use Snapdragon processors in Galaxy handsets manufactured across Asia?
[Galaxy Note 3 General] Scootmien:
I hope that Samsung burn for this. After all, if you look at the recent Microsoft back-pedalling over the Xbox One 'features', it has been shown that the fans do have enough power when it comes to a poor implementation providing their raise their voices loud enough. The issue here is that the region lock only affects a much smaller percentage of users so their voices could be lost in the background noise.
[Galaxy Note 3 General] voodoodror:
Hi,

Bought my SM-N9005 in Italy.

I turned on the phone with my SIM inside (Outside of Europe) - It asked me for Network unlock code.

I've sent my IMEI to the mail address @ http://puman.ru. I received really really fast answer that it's in progress.

After 8 hours - I got the unlock code, which works very well (without paying yet).

$20 is the price, and it really worth it.

:good:
[Galaxy Note 3 General] Chranich:
Stock Firmware I9300DBTEMG3

Here you can find my stock firmware for downloading: (please add "www" + ".html" to the link as I cannot post outside links as a new user)

android-hilfe.de/original-firmwares-fuer-samsung-galaxy-s3/457202-stock-rom-4-1-2-germany-dbt-i9300xxemg4-06-08-2013-a

or (DBT on top of list):

faq4mobiles.de/samsung-forum/116198-liste-samsung-galaxy-s-iii-firmware-firmware-liste-firmwareuebersicht
[Galaxy Note 3 General] AcostaJA:
I consider it's only matter time while appear some unlock technique requiring no fees, no root, just decoding the unlock code from the imei or something inside the phone, btw Sammy tried to p1ss the gray market unsuccessfully and ended p1ssed again by the community, I said again this was one of the stupidest ideas ever come from Samsung since I own samsung devices
[Galaxy Note 3 General] Chiron43:
No i don't really know, or let say not yet because i didn't search information country by country.

What i know so far is that in HKG it Snapdragon, in China 1 or 2 of the 4 versions as well (the others are with Exynos) and that you can also find the Note 3 with Snapdragon in Singapore online retailers (but not sure if it's the local version or grey import - though i believe it would be the local version)
[Galaxy Note 3 General] Ficob:
Is there any risk sending the imei of ours Note 3 to this puman.ru, can they use our Imei to somthing else? It realy works this code they sen to you?

im complete a novice in this thanks.
[Galaxy Note 3 General] Chainfire:
Funny enough, both of these links don't work for me, hehe. Can you find it on SamMobiles ?
[Galaxy Note 3 General] brooon:
I know - this is massively OT, so please excuse my groupie-comment...but:

it's good to see Mr.Chainfire playing on the N3 playground ;)

Sent via tapatalk
[Galaxy Note 3 General] wetsleet:
Did DVD region coding only affect those few who liked to import DVDs from other markets? Or did it affect us all through its intended outcome - higher prices through stifled competition? The same thing is at work here, and we will all pay the price, quite literally.
[Galaxy Note 3 General] Peter Unger:
Please try http://netload.in/dateia4mNpIO0nw.htm

...and http://www.android-hilfe.de/origina...1-2-germany-dbt-i9300xxemg4-06-08-2013-a.html should work
[Galaxy Note 3 General] Chranich:
yeah quite strange. I need 10 posts first ... so again I cannot post the link. But u can easily find it at SamMobile by searching for "I9300DBTEMG3" under Firmware. Or login and add the following path to the homepage: /firmwares/3/?download=17796
[Galaxy Note 3 General] Chainfire:
Sorry I failed at reading your post properly, downloading now. I'm not sure if I can actually flash it on my device though - this new EFS stuff is scaring me :D

EDIT: Also, can you run RegionLock Away, let it do the unlock, then post the entire logcat file ?
[Galaxy Note 3 General] iba21:
stupid question: region lock is only for european?

i'm italian, and i'd want to buy a n3 exynos version.. but.. i have to buy it over my continent since here is impossible to buy it..

so.. does only the n9005 version has the region lock?

is possible to buy an n900 over a asian/american shop and use the phone with italian simcard?

thanks
[Galaxy Note 3 General] xenix96:
was thinking the same ^^
[Galaxy Note 3 General] iba21:
Well tech users need the best cpu :D

Hope someone can help us
[Galaxy Note 3 General] bartlaroc:
Regional Sim Lock on European, American, Arabic :

http://cdn.idigitaltimes.com/data/images/full/2013/10/01/12054.jpg

http://cdn.idigitaltimes.com/data/images/full/2013/10/01/12053.jpg

http://cdn.idigitaltimes.com/data/images/full/2013/10/01/12055.jpg
[Galaxy Note 3 General] iba21:
And africa? South asia?
[Galaxy Note 3 General] xenix96:
hmm..... seems there is no restriction... like in hong kong, thailand etc. ...
[Galaxy Note 3 General] mrpug:
I just want to double check before I actually get the note 3 as I have been reading the posts here. If I were to buy the note 3 N9005 from Hong Kong, would there be no region lock on the phone? if there isnt a region lock, will there be an effect on it if the Kit Kat rolls out?? I live in NY right now but just want to make sure my t-mobile sim will work on it.

Thanks!
[Galaxy Note 3 General] dxzh:
Unlikely to be regional lock. To have a regional lock, the phone would probably have to be imported from outside HK, be sold with a switched ON network lock in place and be loaded with a CSC file containing an MCC block list.

The Kit Kat roll out could update the CSC file and any MCC block list in it. However:

- none of the four different MCC blocklists seen to date (two for Europe, one for Middle Eastern region and one for Americas region) have blocked either of the US MCCs so that, on the assumption that the USA MCCs will not be included in any MCC block list in the immediate future, it seems probable that a t-mobile sim would not be affected even if a MCC blocklist was added by Kitkat; and

- even if Kitkat did contain a MCC blocklist and it did include the two US MCCs, so long as the phone is sold with its various locks all switched OFF, then the working assumption is that a firmware update will not switch ON a lock and as a result any MCC blocklist in the CSC will not be in force. It would be good if Samsung would confirm this latter point.
[Galaxy Note 3 General] midnite_blue:
It's within the realm of possibility, mrpug, that Samsung could introduce new and unpredictable restrictions retroactively to any phone you buy today. But I'm probably being cynical... no self-respecting company would ever abuse their customers' trust that way.
[Galaxy Note 3 General] bogdan1980:
Sammy says that will add lock on all sammy phones, at least expensive ones, even old s2,s3. The lock will came with ota.
[Galaxy Note 3 General] midnite_blue:
Yeah... it's already started. Chainfire's on the hack.
[Galaxy Note 3 General] mathieulh:
you may be able to remove the region lock if you flash an official signed CSC from an unlocked region.
[Galaxy Note 3 General] maidangisme:
Chainfire'region Locked Removal, another slap in the face of Samsung. and FU Samsung more restriction = less resale values for all S3 S4 and Note II.

-One big step from global became Local Organization, U are F**king done it Samsung.
[Galaxy Note 3 General] Chranich:
Logcat File S3 after running RegionLock Away

I ran RegionLock Away. Got the message that ur patch seems to be successful. However network PIN code still required even after rebooting several times. I tried with and without SIM as I've no idea if that makes any difference. Attached u can find my logcat after running ur app (hope that's the file u asked for).
[Galaxy Note 3 General] Chainfire:
It's the right file, but it doesn't contain any of the information I'm looking for. How did you dumb it? Using ADB ?
[Galaxy Note 3 General] Chranich:
I used the app CatLog - Logcat Reader! Ok, I'll do it again with ADB. But have to download it first.
[Galaxy Note 3 General] dxzh:
Different regions + different phones + different processors

Regional SIM lock is not only European - see below:

- European regional lock - two examples, one with 63 MCCs (See http://xdaforums.com/showpost.php?p=46018692&postcount=584) and another with 38 MCCs (see http://xdaforums.com/showpost.php?p=46089580&postcount=762).

- Middle East regional lock - one example with 50 MCCs (see http://xdaforums.com/showpost.php?p=46035842&postcount=618).

- Americas regional lock - one example with 20 MCCs (see http://xdaforums.com/showpost.php?p=46124007&postcount=814).

The locks have been so far seen applied to Note 3 (N9005), Galaxy SIII (i9300), Galaxy S4 (i905) and Galaxy S4(I9500). The one for the Americas was on a Galaxy S4 model I9500 which has an Exynos chip so it seems MCC block list not just to be limited to Snapdragon family of phones.
[Galaxy Note 3 General] Tubgirl:
Which means the topic is misleading. Non European users might miss this thread because of that.

GT-N7100 via Tapatalk 2
[Galaxy Note 3 General] bilal1979:
I heard that there is OTA update but can not do it becuase my phone rooted and device status custom ... in this case how we can update ? Thanks