yashsingh1/xdaforums huggingface dataset:
[Galaxy Note 3 General] midnite_blue:
While the negri-offered handset you're looking at is sim-unlocked (that is, not whitelisted to a specific US carrier), as bartlaroc pointed out it is region-locked to the Americas (with a MCC blacklist for use outside that region).

I don't recall anyone with a n900 reporting a root solution for the region lock. Chainfire lists only the rooted n9005 as a device compatible with his RegionLock Away app.

DjeMBey's firmware that removes the region lock (and leaves Knox 0x0) is also written specifically for the n9005... he warned a member in post #590 in this thread not to use it to flash a n900 ROM. On Oct. 1st, however, in response to a request that he write a FW solution for the n900, he wrote:

So you might want to be on the lookout for that, iba21, if you're not in a rush to decide.

Or source from South Korea, Hong Kong, Singapore, Vietnam, Malaysia, India, Pakistan, Egypt or South Africa.
[Galaxy Note 3 General] iba21:
that's what i would understand :D

so, simply, i'm fu.....ed.. :p

DjeMBey may create that firmware, but, it's not sure it will work, and, the problem is simple, i need a phone.. so.. midnite, many many thanks for you answer ;)
[Galaxy Note 3 General] dxzh:
So far not seen an MCC block list on this regional lock thread blocking any EU MCCs. Would it be possible to post the CSC name and full list of NetworkLock MCCs in its CSC for the South American N900? The only Americas region lock seems to have been a 20 MCC list in a Note 3 from Trinidad & Tobago - see http://xdaforums.com/showpost.php?p=46124007&postcount=814 - which does not contain any European region MCCs.

There have been no reports to date of any regional lock list of NetworkLock MCCs in the CSC of any of the AT&T, Verizon, Sprint, T-Mobile

Note 3s (or the latest GS4s either). Perhaps as they are bound to be locked to the particular carrier network anyway. Any Americas regional SIM lock therefore is presumably omitted entirely from the CSC of these US Note 3s?
[Galaxy Note 3 General] midnite_blue:
You want that 5420, don't you!

Looks like puman.ru can unlock the model of the Note 3 that's released in Russia... it's a n900.

No problem, iba21. Unless there's something about the Latin American model you particularly want, negri is selling a handset you might be interested in. It's neither carrier-locked nor region-locked and (though they also have it in black) white like the one you linked to, with 32Gb and the Exynos processor:

negrielectronics n900

This item is 80 USD more than the one you were looking at, but minus the 26 USD you're willing to give puman, you're out only 54 USD... and it should be good-to-go out of the box.

Does this work for you?
[Galaxy Note 3 General] yitzc77:
Trying to make some order in my head.

I live in Israel, will be next week in the uk for a week.

If I buy a N9005 from say carphone warehouse, and use it with my 3 pay as you go sim card.

It should unlock within 10 days?

And then I can use it back home?

If it does not unlock I can purchase an unlock code from puman.ru and then it should work?
[Galaxy Note 3 General] Ather:
http://www.sammobile.com/2013/10/17/samsung-acknowledges-region-locking-on-note-3-was-a-bad-move/
[Galaxy Note 3 General] bogdan1980:
In that link sammy says that it doesn't give an *iet about costumers, lock region remain, and all sammy products will have it. *uck the costumers.
[Galaxy Note 3 General] avenging:
not all sammy phones have region locks. here in bahrain not a single note 3 has region lock.

and its good they are acknowledging the problem instead of keeping quiet on it, did they not say if you want the lock removed that you go to the nearest samsung store?
[Galaxy Note 3 General] speculatrix:
My nearest Samsung store is a good hour's drive away, so a two hour round trip. Perhaps I could call them and ask if I bought a Note 3 there whether they could release the region lock; I'd expect one of four answers:

* we can release the lock, and it will cost you X

* we can release the lock and it'd be free

* what's a region lock?

* we have no idea what's going on, do you know?
[Galaxy Note 3 General] coolfreebies:
Would that mean that i would only be able to use roaming if i took my phone outside the EU?

coolfreebies
[Galaxy Note 3 General] artesea:
The phone will work almost anywhere in the world, it just at the moment the EU phones will only accept SIM cards from the EU.

So for example if you go to America you could continue to use your UK o2 SIM card out there, but pay the high roaming costs.
[Galaxy Note 3 General] lucfeenstra:
Hmm this seems a bit strange.. who do you go to if you bought the phone directly from Samsung? :P Sounds like she doesn't really know what she is talking about if you ask me.
[Galaxy Note 3 General] Tubgirl:
Everybody please email your local tech news sites about this to spread the word... this is terrible!!!

GT-N7100 via Tapatalk 2
[Galaxy Note 3 General] mathieulh:
Actually the USA MCC isn't in the lock list so sim cards from the usa can be used on the EU handsets so far. Some countries like Australia are in the network lock list though.

It's all done in software from the CSC so there shouldn't be any NCK for the lock (although the default NCK for unlocked phones should be all 0s)

Modifying the CSC should in theory bypass the lock restrictions. From the list it seems Samsung is trying to perfect non LTE markets or markets using different LTE bands from using the LTE devices from the EU. Not sure why.

Some countries like Japan or the U.S aren't in the network lock list.
[Galaxy Note 3 General] coolfreebies:
I don't know what to do??

I love the phone it's awesome but the restrictions seriously peed me off... I suppose if i went outside the EU and i didn't want to pay roaming i could get a very cheap phone just for voice calls and use the Note 3 in wifi spots for Facebook, Tweeting emails etc.

I don't want to cancel my contact as its a waste of a credit score. A friend said take the Note 3 back and get an iPhone 5s but the screen is too small.

What are you guys and girls doing that have the Note 3?

coolfreebies
[Galaxy Note 3 General] fergusstrachan:
I just got off the phone with Samsung support.

The helpful lady said the following:

As long as you REGISTER the device with a Euro SIM card, within the euro zone, you WILL be able to use foreign SIM cards when in foreign lands.

She was unable to provide this in writing, but seemed to say that Samsung would issue some statement about it.

So basically it's a grey import thing. Bad of Samsung to do it, but not as bad as people think.

HTH.
[Galaxy Note 3 General] beasty54:
So this is why my sim card from the USA carrier "simple mobile" isn't giving me any trouble.
[Galaxy Note 3 General] coolfreebies:
Would you still need to get your phone unlocked by your service provider?

Cheers for the info, she sound like Samsung was more helpful to you them they were for me...

coolfreebies
[Galaxy Note 3 General] fergusstrachan:
Would you still need to get your phone unlocked by your service provider?

Didn't sound like it. She def seemed to be saying that it would just work. So the process of registering the device in the home region would automatically unlock it thereafter,
[Galaxy Note 3 General] Netskyliner:
This is easy to test. Registring phone with euro simcard then testing another continent one. No need to physically move abroad
[Galaxy Note 3 General] coolfreebies:
That sounds very promising to me... Fingers crossed it works out like that... :)

Cheers for the info

coolfreebies

---------- Post added at 10:46 AM ---------- Previous post was at 10:43 AM ----------

Just need to get myself a overseas sim card off ebay now... Fingers crossed... :o)

coolfreebies
[Galaxy Note 3 General] lucfeenstra:
Could people try this? I received mine in The Netherlands but am off to China for a year tomorrow. Would be nice to know whether I can take it or whether I should send it back..

Also, registering the Euro SIM card, does this simply mean just putting in a EU SIM card in Europe and then it should be okay abroad?
[Galaxy Note 3 General] fergusstrachan:
She said all you have to do it "use it", so pop in the SIM and have it connect to the mobile network.
[Galaxy Note 3 General] lucfeenstra:
Hmm okay, sounds promising indeed. However, would be good if some people could try this.. Not planning on returning a phone from China to The Netherlands and don't have any foreign sim cards (from outside of the EU)
[Galaxy Note 3 General] mathieulh:
One could just try to flash a modified CSC with ODIN. It shouldn't even need root. Sadly I don't have a non European SIM card here so I can't test this.
[Galaxy Note 3 General] emontes:
I have a non eu SIM but not the phone yet ( I am collecting mine in the evening).

If no one tests that until there,I will let you guys know.
[Galaxy Note 3 General] Netskyliner:
Consider returning it now. Would be very sad if it doesn t work
[Galaxy Note 3 General] coolfreebies:
Just got myself a Australian sim card off eBay as soon as it arrives i will let you all know how i get on...

Fingers crossed...

coolfreebies
[Galaxy Note 3 General] non1oson:
that confirms for me as I live in NZ. BUT, I'd have to send to someone in the UK to do this, then send it to me. a bit of a major...
[Galaxy Note 3 General] avenging:
yours is locked? where are you from? :)
[Galaxy Note 3 General] midnite_blue:
Your first two questions are hard to answer, as different users have had, well, different user experiences... and there's no way to know the answer to the third one for sure without first buying the phone and providing puman with its IMEI, according to puman.

Bear in mind what Carphone Warehouse has to say about this phone: “You'll need to make sure your UK Network offers service in the place you're visiting,“ which to me sounds more like roaming than using a local sim. I'm guessing by 'use it back home' you didn't mean you're hoping to have the ability to roam with a British sim.

One of the customer reviewers on Carphone Warehouse gave the product 1 star, bringing up the region-lock issue and suggesting that the best thing you could do is...

Wait...

Looks like there's been some breaking news since you posted, yitzc77, coming out of Germany by way of Ather in Bahrain.

Would you try calling Samsung Israel customer service at 03-9057875/4 and asking them these questions?

If you do, please let us know what they say.
[Galaxy Note 3 General] speculatrix:
I haven't bought one yet, I'm holding off until

* the early adopters price premium has gone

* the proper truth about region lock is known

Maybe next year. To be honest, my Note 2 is doing sterling service, and is only 11 months old, and I only just implanted a Qi charger coil. But it's possible someone will make me an offer for it which means I could justify the cost to upgrade.
[Galaxy Note 3 General] dxzh:
Israel is on both of the European region block lists seen so far. You might therefore wish to be particularly careful to get something in writing. Or better still test it out in the shop with an Israeli SIM before agreeing to complete the sale.

FYI, Samsung UK's customer service centre (0330 7267864) are continuing to adopt the following approach:

- their UK Technical Support team will generally say when put on the spot that, following activation, you

can

use any SIM from any region - though one or two other in the UK Technical Support team have previously said that you

cannot

.

- however, whatever UK Technical Support team members may say whether helpful or not, they cannot confirm anything in writing as they are not permitted to send out emails confirming what they say.

- the UK Technical Support team can though refer the matter to the UK Customer Services and Complaints team at Samsung who are allowed to send emails.

- however, the UK Customer Services and Complaints team cannot currently send anything in writing different to the stock response that following activation "users.. can use other region's SIM" - in particular, the UK Customer Services and Complaints team are not currently permitted to confirm in writing that, following activation, "users can use a SIM from any other region".

- the UK Customer Services and Complaints team have said to me that they will contact Samsung UK head office to see if the UK Customer Services and Complaints team may have permission to send me an email confirming that, following activation, "users can use a SIM from any other region". They acknowledge that the current stock wording could be read to mean that can only use other SIMs from the home region.

- however, UK Customer Services and Complaints team tell me that they cannot rush this clarification since Samsung UK head office likes to have three working days to respond to any question - UK Customer Services and Complaints team have indicated they should get some form of response to me on or before Tuesday next week. (At my request, they are also going to ask Samsung UK head office whether the roll-out of the regional SIM lock to my unlocked SGS3 in the next firmware update will, in any circumstances, lead to my unlocked phone becoming regionally locked!)
[Galaxy Note 3 General] samisi:
Samsung Germany issued the following statement to some german Tech-Sites:

allaboutsamsung. de /2013/10/samsung-hat-region-lock-problem-erkannt-und-sucht-nach-verbesserungen/#more-23349

techstage. de /news/UPDATE-Offener-Brief-an-Samsung-Fragen-zum-Region-Lock-1979864.html

(no spaces before and after de)

Statement zur „Regional Lock“-Thematik bei

aktuellen Samsung-Produkten

Wir versichern, dass das angenehme und reibungslose Nutzererlebnis

unserer Kunden mit Samsung-Produkten für uns oberste Priorität hat.

Selbstverständlich nehmen wir uns das Feedback unserer Kunden zu

Herzen.

Dass die regionale SIM-Lock-Funktion in diesem Maße für

Verunsicherung sorgt, haben wir nicht erwartet. Daher haben wir in den

letzten Tagen die vielen Fragen gesammelt und ausgewertet.

Die regionale SIM-Lock-Funktion auf aktuellen Samsung-Produkten wird

weiterhin Bestand haben. Derzeit prüfen wir jedoch intensiv, wie wir das

Verfahren insgesamt zur Zufriedenheit unserer Kunden optimieren und

vereinfachen können. Um alle Fragen zufriedenstellend beantworten zu

können, benötigen wir jedoch noch etwas Zeit.

Sollten Nutzer bis dahin Probleme bei der Deaktivierung der regionalen

SIM-Lock-Funktion haben, können sie sich direkt an den Kundendienst

wenden. Dieser unterstützt gern beim Freischaltungsprozess, sodass

Kunden ihr Gerät uneingeschränkt nutzen können.

Der Samsung-Kundenservice ist erreichbar unter Telefon: 0180 667 267

864 (*0,20 €/Anruf aus dem Festnetz und maximal 0,60 €/Anruf aus dem

Mobilfunk; aus dem Ausland abweichend. Servicezeiten: Montag bis

Freitag: 08:00-20:00 Uhr, Samstag: 09:00-17:00 Uhr) oder unter:

(translated from German, so don’t mind the improper grammar in places): “We assure you that the pleasant and smooth user experience for our customers with Samsung products is a top priority for us. Of course, we take customer feedback to heart.The fact that the regional SIM Lock function ensures this degree of uncertainty , we did not expect . Therefore, we collected and analyzed the many questions in the last days .The regional SIM lock feature on the latest Samsung products will remain in place. We are currently examining intensively However , how can we optimize and simplify the procedure for total customer satisfaction. To answer all the questions satisfactorily , but we still need some time .If users previously have problems with the deactivation of the regional SIM lock function, they can contact customer service . This supports like the activation process so that customers can use their device without restrictions.”
[Galaxy Note 3 General] midnite_blue:
Sounds like a good validation, samisi, of what Ather posted. Thanks for the sourcing!
[Galaxy Note 3 General] Simon_y7:
Check this out:

http://www.gottabemobile.com/2013/10/17/galaxy-note-3-region-lock-mistake-says-samsung/
[Galaxy Note 3 General] bubblesmoney:
The inconvenience continues as samsung says it will continue with the region locking but agrees it was causing issues

http://www.sammobile.com/2013/10/17/samsung-acknowledges-region-locking-on-note-3-was-a-bad-move/
[Galaxy Note 3 General] midnite_blue:
Great ideas. I suggest

both

the in-shop test

and

the document.

I noticed this double meaning of “other region's sims“ in your earlier post and just knew you wouldn't let them slip that by you!

You're doing a great job, dxzh, IMHO, at providing focus, technical expertise, ideas and initiative on the issues of this thread. Much gratitude... I hope you keep it up!

Excellent.
[Galaxy Note 3 General] bubblesmoney:
Can you please write a review of your situation and the projected expenses on amazon reviews on all amazon sites please. Just copy paste your review on all amazon sites. This way hopefully it will discourage any BYOD business customers when they realise the potential expenses during roaming.

Also link that amazon review on a twitter post saying that note 3 region locking is untenable for BYOD business customers and post that on all Samsung twitter account. Hopefully that will be picked up by competitors for relevant advertising on TV etc in comparing their device against Samsung. Just like Samsung comparison to iPhone store queues in their advertising
[Galaxy Note 3 General] iba21:
I'll send you a pm about it
[Galaxy Note 3 General] midnite_blue:
As encouraging as it is to hear a part of Samsung finally acknowledge that there's some sort of problem, it's troubling how much of what needs to happen still hasn't happened:

1. Why is this acknowledgement not being released in every major language by Samsung Global? Will Samsung Germany conclude its inquiry only to be stymied by a recalcitrant Seoul?

If we are to be reassured by translations of a statement issued in a single tongue about a highly convoluted issue that's been previously riddled with official ambiguity, contradictory positions and cautiously worded distinctions, would it not be more reassuring if that language were Korean?

2. Yesterday's tardy concession by Samsung Germany that there is indeed a problem... well, that's a good start, but it doesn't provide any clarity about what the heck happened or how to go forward.

It's like being in a traffic jam for three weeks, turning on the news and hearing that... there's a traffic jam. Well... yeah! Have a good nap, did ya? What we need are explanations about what happened, a view of what it looks like up ahead and directions for alternate routes... people are starting to abandon their vehicles out here.

3. Telling consumers to call customer service is simply leading us back into the decentralized maze of confusion. How many emails and phone calls have you made, dxzh, only to still be waiting on hold during impromptu huddles, relentlessly insisting on getting clarity in writing despite a string of empty promises?

Has Samsung Germany provided training to its customer-service personnel, readying them to field the potential deluge of phone calls from people expecting straight talk and results?

If yitzc77 calls customer service in Israel, will his call be expedited to someone who's knowlegeable and empowered to make decisions because they just got off a conference call with HQ, clarifying policy?

Will callers finally get consistent messages regardless of who they're talking to, in Paris or in Rio?
[Galaxy Note 3 General] betoNL:
Bla bla bla...

Consumers should avoid buying the Gnote3, till Shamesung totally abandon this disgusting region lock policy , PERIOD.

HAVING BAD SALES IS THE ONLY WAY THEY WILL LEARN AND STOP BULLCRAPING AROUND.....

.
[Galaxy Note 3 General] dxzh:
A fair few calls all under same reference and lasting over 4 hours in total - on 26, 27 and 30 September, and 1, 4,15 and 16 October. Boot loop like situation - I explain region lock issue, ask for clarification of the ambiguous stock response, be told something different to stock response, ask for confirmation in writing and then receive only stock response in writing and start again. To be fair to Samsung UK, they gave me a reference, the Samsung UK call-centre staff have been polite and patient, have always taken my calls and appear none the wiser about the way the region lock actually works so they are not deliberately dissembling.

As a long-time customer of Samsung (including phones like SGS, SGS2 and SGS3), I am prepared to persevere but it is painful to do so. You really do not want to have to rely on Samsung support, particularly not if you are in a hurry or want a straight answer. I thought about writing a letter to Andy Griffiths (the MD) at Samsung Electonics (UK) Limited (UK and Ireland) as this seems to go to the heart of the brand and customer experience associated with Samsung, but given this seems to be a global corporate policy I suspect that he will have little say or influence on this matter, or worse still supports it.
[Galaxy Note 3 General] midnite_blue:
boot looping...

It's hard not to have a great deal of empathy for front-line Samsung customer-service staff. They are probably by nature inclined to want to help, but are shackled by corporate restriction and disregard... and they could get themselves in trouble for saying the wrong thing, particularly in writing.

Apologies for an ethnocentric reference, but sometimes I've wondered if Andy of Mayberry is running Samsung's PR. :eek:

Thanks for your fortitude and determination, dxzh, trying to preserve a relationship with a product you've been loyal to and working to defend your principles regarding consumer rights.

I think it's important for us to hold the line with giant corporations, especially regarding cell phones, which can track our physical location and which access & contain so much personal information. Let's hope some progress is being made.
[Galaxy Note 3 General] midnite_blue:
open source, open sore, open letter...

The recent statement from Samsung Germany asks customers to be tolerant... to give the company some time... to be patient with a firm which has now had weeks with this problem, crucial weeks they spent denying our protests, disdaining our pleas, stonewalling behind their blatantly misleading pronouncements and apparently doing nothing active beyond retrenching their position.

Their new message boils down to, “We'll look into it... .“ That's the kind of thing parents might say if we were asking to borrow the car. The problem is...

it's

our

car

! Remember, Dad, that we already gave you the money?...

so now give us the darn keys

. No, Mom, we want all the spare keys, too... we can't have you guys driving off with our property on the next update.

Samsung needs to take reparative action or risk the loss of an increasingly cynical consumer base. (Some people may actively organize a boycott... some will sigh, and buy anyway. Some people will stand up and speak their minds while others grumble, shrug and walk away. There's no one way, no right way... just personal choice... in what you say and do and choose to read or to ignore... and a basic respect for each other's decisions.)

A positive response by Samsung to the following -- a draft conclusion to an OPEN LETTER -- would go a long toward healing a gravely wounded trust.

***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** *****

Open Letter to Lee Kun-Hee, Chairman, Samsung Electronics:

This doesn't have to be complicated. Apologize for your mistake and immediately abandon region locking as a failed experiment. You must:

a) recall all region-locked devices in stores, warehouses and the distribution pipeline

b) cease loading the relevant code in newly manufactured devices

c) desist from your plans to hijack other models with OTA downloads

d) instruct your customer-facing personnel to voluntarily dispense free region-unlock codes to device owners and

e) admit that everyone with a region-locked device has a potentially defective unit and proactively reach out to them with the provision of a free region-unlock code.

I should add here:

f) hire dxzh as Senior Consulting Executive Vice President of Global Consumer Ombuds Services...

...and, while you're at it:

g) buy Chainfire a keg of his favorite brew!