[E 2015 General] MT123abc:
Long time reader first time poster, hopefully this is helpful to others.

These are my notes on how I activated a TruPhone sim on the PrePaid Verizon Moto E (which goes on sale for ~$50 periodically).

These instructions will _likely_ also work for AT&T, TMO, and their MVNOs (but I haven't tested).

Extra notes added that may be helpful to some.

My notes are in a fixed width font so...

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not sure if necessary but i did:
- before initial power up install non verizon sim
if did not, reset device to factory after installing non verizon sim
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go through initial setup using wifi
- phone activation, this sim not vzw, <use wifi>
- setup wizard, <next>
- select wifi ..
- about privacy <accept>
- add account, <skip>, <skip anyway>
- google svcs, unchk helpx2, <next>
- summary, <done>
- welcome
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optional:
- settings/display/sleep after 5mins of inactivity (30secs is a real pain)
- settings/security screenlock=none (again a real pain)
- create a new gmail address for phone if desired
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getting verizon moto e to be a gsm+lte phone instead of cdma+lte
- currently must be on 5.0 android for network app to work (see below)
- google play store:install "network" app by phillip mangelow
- turn off wifi (settings/tapOnWifiIcon)
- run network app
- tap turn off radio btn
- set preferred network type
- tap radio select drop down (found just above turn off/on radio btn)
- select lte/gsm auto (prl)
- tap turn on radio btn
- quit out of network app (showAllApps/swipeAway - all done with it now)
- go into phone settings (swipe down from top)
settings/more/cellularNetworks/prefferedNetType
select 4G (recommended)
settings/more/cellularNetworks/networkOperators
choose att (or tmo if available)
note you will get a notification saying No Service on ATT since you
haven't activated yet
- now you are ready to activate service on truphone
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truphone sim activation (follow procedures in manual shipped with your sim
- goto truphone.com
- click consumer
- click activate your sim
- enter sim id,next (id found on card that held sim
- open myaccount link in new tab, login to myAccount to get activation code
- copy/paste activation code into prior tab,next
- power off phone, power back on (so phone sees newly active sim)
or you can try this (thought of later so not sure if it'll work)
settings/more/cellularNetworks, search and choose ATT or TMO
- make a call and receive a call to confirm it is working
- remember incoming calls are free in US so test delay/quality on incoming
(quite large for me: about 1sec, I can say "one-one-thousand" on
my landline completely before I hear it exit the cell phone)
- you will get notifications stating "sim card not verizon", simply ignore
- done!
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data use prevention
- data on truphone can be expensive when roaming out of country,
$4.50/MB in Canada vs 9c/MB in US, i prefer to leave cell data disabled
and rely only on wifi for data for this rarely used phone
- settings/dataUsage, flip switch to off
- the above apparently will not disable the smaller amt of
background data happening. to disable background data:
settings/dataUseage, view list of apps scrolldwn, chk restrict bkgnd data
for those apps you wish only to have wifi (which 4me is all of them)
(note i had an empty list after reboot. so YMMV)
- a kid/senior safe way to do this is to NOT add APNs under the section
settings/more/cellularNetworks/networkOperators
or to ensure that the APN info is modified with DONTUSE_originalAPname
to prevent access, BUT APN info is locked out on truphone sim
- verify cannot connect to google play store then turn wifi back on
- playstore/menu/settings/general/autoUpdateApps = over wifi only
(is usually the default setting)
- settings/more/cellNetworks/globalDataRoaming = deny
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icons top of screen
- see moto manual:
google "moto e 2nd gen manual" and should be the first link
- initially on top left will see phone icon and lock icon
that are reflections of what is under notifications instructing you
to set up lost phone features and security pin
- icons on right will show ATT with R for roaming and possibly a H with
a crossed out circle beside it indicating hotspot disabled
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update notifications disabled
- accidental install of the android 5.1 update will currently (June2015)
disable the network app from working preventing selection
of LTE/GSM vs LTE/CDMA
- if android update is downloaded already it will continue to show up
so longpress the notification, select "i", then it will
bring up MotorollaOTA app, enable "Block"
or alternatively simply go into
settings/apps/all, select MotorollaOTA, uncheck notifications
(reverse this if you want the update notifications back)
- settings/apps/all/googlePlayServices uncheck show notifications
this will disable all update notifications but is important to prevent
accidental install by senior parents and their "helpful" friends for now
see: xdaforums.com moto-e-2015 general how-to-verizon-moto-e-2015-gsm-network-t3098953
google: "xda-developers moto-e-2015 general how-to-verizon-moto-e-2015-gsm-network"
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verizon apps disabled
- verizon apps are all red icons
- enter apps drawer (6 dots in white circle)
- press and hold on each red icon app/app info
you wont be offered the option to uninstall if it is a core component
like a verizon app
tap force stop/ok, tap disable/ok, uncheck notifications/ok
note this will remove from app drawer but they can still be found
under settings/apps/disabled
list:
backup+contacts (use google to backup your settings and contacts
(note backupAssistant will still run in bkground
message+ (use google hangouts instead)
. my verizon mobile (login to your providers website)
. mobile hotspot (pretty sure this is verizon version)
vz navigator (use mapfactorGPS free, offline maps no data use
nfl mobile (more vzw bloatware
- default messaging app should now be google hangouts check via
settings/more/defaultSMSapp -> set to hangouts if not already that
- now shut down those that are not in the app drawer:
settings/apps/all
tap force stop/ok, tap disable/ok, uncheck notifications/ok
verizon login
vzw apn
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google hangouts dialer installed
- this allows you to make calls for free via wifi
- google play store search "hangouts dialer", install (free)
- call to USA and to Canada free from USA/Canada/HangoutsCountries
"Almost all calls to the U.S. and Canada are free from all countries where
Hangouts calling is available."
List of countries where calling-from is unavailable:
google: "support google com hangouts answer 1267644
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senior citizen tweaks
- keep it simple for the parents
- move everything off other panels so just on one home panel
(only one dot shown above app drawer's 6dot icon)
- add calc into empty slot beside phone (note that you
can access messaging now through hangouts dialer icon)
- put hangouts dialer app at top right near google bar (far away
from regular cell phone calling app)
- put maps in top right corner (my parents have sworn off GPS but Dad
likes to lookup his route before he leaves home - otherwise consider
installing mapfactor but note it has a crappy UI)
- remove google apps folder and remove google play store
and get at these through the app drawer when needed
- left with:
--google bar----------------------
hangoutsDialer maps
.. ..
.. ..
phone calc appDrawer chrome camera
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Verizon prepaid Moto E LTE notes
- can be bought for $50 on sale (Walmart/BestBuy)
- can be used on ATT & TMO and their MVNOs
- verizon moto e prepaid = US moto e LTE but replaces GSM 900/1800(Europe)
with CDMA 800/1900 (see fcc sar report)
google: fccid net document php id=2514233
specs of motoE sold by verizon xt1528 MOTXT1528PP
google: fccid.net number php fcc=IHDT56QC8&id=918760
exhibits tab/testReportSarSupplemental
page3 of google: fccid net document php id=2514280
- most Canadian majors are UMTS and above only (3G GSM), no CDMA, no 2G GSM
this phone _should_ work well in Canada (haven't tested)
- remove side band to access sim, use fingernail in notch on corner
next to the usb/charge port
- stay on android 5.02 for now, cannot run network app after upgrading
(as of June2015)
you have to specifically okay the update it won't do it without your ok
see xda-developers link above for the latest on this issue
see how to turn off notifications above also
- see moto e 2ndgen manual for the minimum info you should know:
google "moto e 2nd gen manual" and should be the first link
- perhaps if you have a previously activated sim you can avoid installing
the network app YMMV (didn't try activating sim first on truphone
website, but it might be worth trying, report back if you do this)
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truphone notes
- truphone minutes never expire as long as you make a 9cent call or text
once every 6months, so the $15 on your sim can last you a long time
great for a rare/emergency use phone
google: www truphone com row consumer Rate-checker
(note difft tabs for sim vs app)
Canada voice in/out 40c/min, US voice out 9c/min, US voice in free!
- i am in a att-only serviced area, truphone uses tmo first then att
but activation procedure still works even in the att only scenario
- truphone now ships a combo standard/micro/nano sim card independent
of what sim you order but you want a micro for moto e, carefully
break out the micro portion without breaking out the nano portion
- google "Truphone SIM Critical Information Summary"
google: www truphone com au Legal Critical-Information-Summary Truphone-SIM-Critical-Information-Summary
(Australian summary of T's&C's written in plain English)
This is a Prepaid plan with no minimum term. Prepaid credit does not
expire, so long as you continue to use the service every 180 days, the term
will continue.
- T's & C's
google: www truphone.com us Legal Ts--Cs Truphone-SIM
see sect 2, sect 7.10
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more notes
- tapping settings/more/mobile plan, then CANCEL!
caused me to drop off of ATT, to get back onto network you can
reboot or simply go to
settings/more/cellularNetworks, search and choose ATT[/SIZE]