yashsingh1/xdaforums huggingface dataset:
[Essential Phone Guides, News, & Discussion] NaterTots:
Once my phone was paid off it was unlocked in 3 days. I never asked for it to be done.

Although I didn't go 50 days so I don't have international unlock. But I didn't care about that. Also my imei it's whitelisted so Sprint has no beef with me.
[Essential Phone Guides, News, & Discussion] cfclay:
Best of luck to you, mine was also unlocked after playing off....then locked again!
[Essential Phone Guides, News, & Discussion] cfclay:
Yes! Maybe you others that had your 50 day unlock on Friday are also unlocked. If you are getting the run-around, private message me and I'll tell you what I did to get a resolution.
[Essential Phone Guides, News, & Discussion] tech_head:
Cool.

I still have 19 days.

Then I'll cancel and put my LG G6 up for sale.
[Essential Phone Guides, News, & Discussion] cfclay:
Did you unlock yet?
[Essential Phone Guides, News, & Discussion] Ascertion:
Not yet. Still waiting lol.
[Essential Phone Guides, News, & Discussion] cfclay:
Sent you a PM
[Essential Phone Guides, News, & Discussion] Caltinpla:
Finally, my phone is UNLOCKED! ?
[Essential Phone Guides, News, & Discussion] cfclay:
Yea! So where are you headed today with that phone
[Essential Phone Guides, News, & Discussion] Caltinpla:
Well, I'll stay with Sprint until the other 2 phones get unlocked.
[Essential Phone Guides, News, & Discussion] JoRocker:
I called and they kept saying international unlock. Is that the same thing as a full unlock, even for U.S. companies?
[Essential Phone Guides, News, & Discussion] Caltinpla:
Sprint does it again... It might not work for everyone!

Android Central: Deal: Get the Sprint Unlimited Data Plan free for one year! http://google.com/newsstand/s/CBIwt_WMujM
[Essential Phone Guides, News, & Discussion] JoRocker:
I'm on this plan now from back in July. I have to say, even at free it's not really worth it... They have your service on very low priority. I'll have full LTE coverage and websites still take 30 seconds to load. Speed test say you're getting 20+ Mbps, but the latency for webpages and apps to load is so horrendous I might as well be 3g...

If you don't use your phone too often, and are on WiFi more often than not, then this is for you. If you actually rely on data for your phone throughout the day then forget about this plan. Not to mention the issues I'm having with Sprint on phone calls and texts. I quite often receive the same text 5-6 times, and I can't make it stop. Also, the phone call quality is very poor.

They are obviously doing this to puff up numbers for a merger, or something of that sorts. Some way to manipulate their numbers.
[Essential Phone Guides, News, & Discussion] Ascertion:
Sprint called me today, stated my device wasn't eligible. Funny thing, they put in the wrong MEID in the unlock ticket. :eek:

Waiting on Sprint to investigate and provide me an update later today.
[Essential Phone Guides, News, & Discussion] Ascertion:
Good to go.

Time to activate my 2nd Essential and begin the 50 day process. Haha
[Essential Phone Guides, News, & Discussion] Rahuuler:
Yes, I need to know the price of the phone, as I am looking forward to purchasing it.

Refer to this one http://scribbleone.com/
[Essential Phone Guides, News, & Discussion] tech_head:
I requested my unlock 30 minutes ago.
[Essential Phone Guides, News, & Discussion] DrvLikHell:
To recap, I bought two phones a week apart back in December. One got unlocked after paying off the lease, one didn't. Yesterday I called to officially request an unlock on the first one because it's been active for 50 days now and they told me that it was already unlocked. I had them put in a ticket anyways to make sure it's permanent and official. I plan on putting my Sprint sim back in and then swapping back to my mvno sims to make sure it stays unlocked. If it doesn't then I'll have their confirmation to use in my complaint.

I asked about the second phone because I forgot exactly which day marks 50 days for that phone. The first Sprint rep I talked to insisted it had 25 days to go. Impossible, because they were activated 1 week apart. I called and asked a second rep who counted on a calendar (not very official-seeming) and he said it has three more days to go. That sounds more accurate. Going to contact them again on Monday about unlocking the second phone. Let's hope there isn't some error in the system and it's actually showing another 25 days. I don't feel like arguing with Sprint anymore. I just want to leave them and be on my way.

This whole ordeal has actually turned me off a bit on the Essential phone. If there were another phone with similar specifications and features in a similar package, I'd probably switch.
[Essential Phone Guides, News, & Discussion] borijess:
I just got a check from sprint for 50 bucks. Don't know why.
[Essential Phone Guides, News, & Discussion] tech_head:
But this is an issue with Sprint and their unlock policy.

It could have happened with any device.
[Essential Phone Guides, News, & Discussion] Ascertion:
Maybe referral bonus?
[Essential Phone Guides, News, & Discussion] borijess:
Didn't refer anyone. I bought the essential and sold it. Got two free cameras and 50 bucks for nothing. Thanks sprint.
[Essential Phone Guides, News, & Discussion] wolfu11:
If you ported out this is the refund for unused service. I got a check today too. Ported out in Mid December.
[Essential Phone Guides, News, & Discussion] DrvLikHell:
That's true, but it's just like if there's a car that you really want, and you finally get it, and you love it, but then it's always having problems, constantly in the shop, leaving you stranded, always costing you money in repair bills... Eventually, you start to hate the car that you once loved. Even if it's just that one car that was a lemon, or the previous owner treated it badly, or some bad mechanics messed it up. Whatever the reason, the compounded frustrations and bad experiences make you hate it. At least it's so with me, and that's how I'm starting to feel with this phone. I'm not at all hyped about it like I was when I first got it. I've even started to look at new phones that will be announced at MWC 2018.

On a side note. I got an email from Sprint a little while ago stating that my first phone is officially unlocked. My OMADM menu says that the phone is still locked, but it accepts whatever sim card I put in it, so I guess I'm good to go with that one. The other one should be eligible on Monday.
[Essential Phone Guides, News, & Discussion] tech_head:
I understand.

Just waiting for my unlock.
[Essential Phone Guides, News, & Discussion] Caltinpla:
Finally, both of my phones are officially UNLOCKED today after numerous phone calls and emails back and forth!!!
[Essential Phone Guides, News, & Discussion] lcpham:
you can unlock yourself for less than 3 minutes, no need to root.
[Essential Phone Guides, News, & Discussion] DrvLikHell:
After all this crap, time, money and frustration, both of my phones are completely unlocked. But of course, Sprint doesn't fail to deliver on further frustration at the end. When I called to cancel, I was told that they would put in for a cancellation today but that it wouldn't take effect until my next billing cycle, on the 6th of next month. My account could be canceled immediately if I ported my numbers out, but otherwise, nothing could be done until the 6th of March.

Once again, this is why people hate you, Sprint.
[Essential Phone Guides, News, & Discussion] cfclay:
Sprint actually mailed me a check for the credit that they said they would give. Wow. I didn't give them a chance to give me that credit.
[Essential Phone Guides, News, & Discussion] glasscitysd:
After unlocking does any one else have an issue after unlocking where your phone goes back to thinking it's Sprint and says it's roaming? My service still works fine (switched to straight talks Verizon) but seeing this roaming signal is annoying
[Essential Phone Guides, News, & Discussion] tech_head:
Yes,

I saw a process over in another thread that repopulates the PRL so that it ties it to VZW.

I have a Sprint varian on Verizon also.
[Essential Phone Guides, News, & Discussion] glasscitysd:
I'm gonna have to research that method cause it's annoying getting that Sprint message
[Essential Phone Guides, News, & Discussion] tech_head:
See this thread. https://xdaforums.com/essential-pho...3g-upgrade-t3756600/post75742086#post75742086

See this post

https://xdaforums.com/showpost.php?p=74920423&postcount=506

I can't be held responsible if it doesn't work or messes up your phone.

My phone has been fine for a week now.
[Essential Phone Guides, News, & Discussion] glasscitysd:
sadly that method borked my phone with straight talk verizon(no blame my choice) now its worse at trying to be on sprint. ill just switch my service to an att sim until i can sell this headache of a phone for something else
[Essential Phone Guides, News, & Discussion] wolfu11:
Mine was /is doing the same crap on verizon sim in my case it isn't the phone it's the software I'm on 8.1 beta. The phone is working great now but hoping this is corrected in the next O update. many have contacted essential about it.
[Essential Phone Guides, News, & Discussion] glasscitysd:
I'm also on 8.1 beta. Hopefully they fix it. I got it sorta working but with only 3g so I'm gonna use my buddy's iPhone 7 till this can be ironed out
[Essential Phone Guides, News, & Discussion] glasscitysd:
my credit score is in the very poor range i still got approved for a lease with only $25 down and a $150 spending limit although im still leaving the service after a month heard straight talk has unlimited now might grab one of their Verizon sims and see how that goes
[Essential Phone Guides, News, & Discussion] ElfinJNoty:
Could you describe the process of transferring the account to this sim a little more?

I know a Sprint store manager who is holding a device for me for tomorrow morning(so I can get the free 360° camera promotion from Black Friday deal) and I'd like to get this sim as you suggested....

I JUST paid my TMobile bill, so I am trying to do what I can to avoid transferring my mobile number to Sprint when I have no intention of staying with them. I'm also considering taking advantage of this promotion stuff to get a second device as a gift for a friend.... But only if it works out as simple as described here.

I appreciate you guys sharing your experiences and how to accomplish TOTALLY taking advantage of crappy Sprint in order to get an awesome device :good:
[Essential Phone Guides, News, & Discussion] JoRocker:
I wouldn't do it now. Sprint is relocking everyone's phone. Mine was unlocked a week before being relocked last night. Tune to Slickdeals for more info, but it's happening to everyone.
[Essential Phone Guides, News, & Discussion] spiderjerusalem:
Worked for me, started a new account, paid it off same day, was told 50 days for unlock but it unlocked 2 days later using it on att now, Sprint line was closed
[Essential Phone Guides, News, & Discussion] ElfinJNoty:
I was in store yesterday and discussed exactly what my plan was with my buddy that's the manager. He assured me I wouldn't get locked into a Sprint service by utilizing the promotion....

Once a device becomes unlocked... I don't understand how it can be relocked while on another sim and service?
[Essential Phone Guides, News, & Discussion] NavySpark:
Good to hear, waiting on my unlock now. Online account still shows the lease though. Might need to call tomorrow if they didn't close it right.
[Essential Phone Guides, News, & Discussion] Clayter21:
Yes. Read through this form post. I bought it and paid it off before activating. I use Sprint so I don't know if it was unlocked or locked. Good luck and now you hey the 360 camera free.

https://slickdeals.net/share/android_app/t/10772655
[Essential Phone Guides, News, & Discussion] State.of.mind:
I want to do this, but now there seems to be so many mixed reviews. Can at least 4 people confirm that this worked for you?
[Essential Phone Guides, News, & Discussion] shooterlgk:
I did it. Buyout is 30 dollars. Still haven't got my phone since it's been on backorder tho
[Essential Phone Guides, News, & Discussion] kbonnel:
I did it. Ordered online with store pickup on 11/21. Picked up phone, (they activated it in store). Paid it off via online chat and on 11/23 (i checked around 8am) I was able to verify via the UICC unlock that it was unlocked. (prior to that it indicated it was carrier locked). I then took the sprint sim out and it has been working great with my t-mobile and project fi sims.
[Essential Phone Guides, News, & Discussion] State.of.mind:
I went ahead and gave it a try. I will let you know the results. Apparently, all of the devices were pulled from the shelves at the Sprint stores.
[Essential Phone Guides, News, & Discussion] Croak:
Don't know about them being pulled from the shelves. I just picked up today (as of 11AM EST) a black PH-1 AND the 360 camera, at a corporate Sprint store, for $25 today (activation waived), $5/month, $30 buyout on the contract. And some free Hulu too!

I was a "walk in" customer, not with Sprint, and sporting a "killer" 565 credit score (a decade living/working in Canada means all my US credit dropped off).
[Essential Phone Guides, News, & Discussion] Milly7:
For everyone buying from Sprint, do they sell any cases for this phone in store?
[Essential Phone Guides, News, & Discussion] Croak:
The only accessory my Sprint store had for the PH-1 was the 360 camera. No cases, no skins, no screen protectors.

I got the distinct impression from my rep that Sprint wants out of the Essential phone business, and is blowing out all the inventory and maybe picking up a few new customers in the process. Might have worked for me, turns out at both work and home I get a better signal with the PH-1 on Sprint than with my HTC M8 on Verizon.
[Essential Phone Guides, News, & Discussion] TheDethEgineer:
Some stores have in stock the incipio clear case
[Essential Phone Guides, News, & Discussion] whymoo:
It might be difficult if you don't have a US SSN number because they need to verify your credit before selling, but good luck.

As a side not I do have ssn but no credit score (because of never having a credit card or getting a lone) but I was able to get this deal and pay with debit.
[Essential Phone Guides, News, & Discussion] Wredal:
You are right. I however noted that a lot of people are reselling these phones through Swappa so I did the next best thing and purchased there for $310. Even this price is still great.

(BTW, is Essential the only company that didn't have any deal for Black Friday on their page?).
[Essential Phone Guides, News, & Discussion] Croak:
Well, considering they dropped the price massively recently, it's more of a Black November. Or a Bloody November, looking at how Sprint is trying to blow the phones and cameras out.
[Essential Phone Guides, News, & Discussion] State.of.mind:
If this were to happen couldn't we just use DoctorSim to unlock the phone?
[Essential Phone Guides, News, & Discussion] NavySpark:
Ting showed available this morning and the UICC button unlocked the phone. Immediately turned it off and popped in my Cricket SIM and it worked. Immediately prompted for software updated too, assuming since Sprint was behind on updates.

Plan to factory wipe and side loaded latest non-carrier update and then use for a few days. If it's good to go, going to cancel my Sprint account.

What I keep reading is that most are re-locked due to putting the Sprint SIM back in.
[Essential Phone Guides, News, & Discussion] wolfu11:
you could try to set it at preferred network type 4G/LTE and LTE/WCDMA in the *#*#4636#*#* menu that's what I did after resettting via*228 and i HAVE LTE AND hd CALLING
[Essential Phone Guides, News, & Discussion] glasscitysd:
I tried that I think because I'm on straight talks Verizon that set up doesn't work fully and with the phone constantly trying to go back to Sprint things are even more messed up
[Essential Phone Guides, News, & Discussion] tech_head:
Go get a new SIM.

A new SIM should have all the PRL information and you should not need to do anything.
[Essential Phone Guides, News, & Discussion] glasscitysd:
ok best option i believe only 99cent so ill put in a order
[Essential Phone Guides, News, & Discussion] tech_head:
If you are on Oreo beta, go back to a 7.1x (non-Sprint) version.

They bake something in the versions that work on Sprint that cause this issue.

Ideally with another SIM card in the phone it should never look for the Sprint network.

But on 8.1 it's looking for Sprint. I have added a bug report with Essential.
[Essential Phone Guides, News, & Discussion] Charles::
It took probably 4 calls and 10 days or so to finally get it unlocked. I had two reps say they submitted an unlock request, after saying I couldn't talk to a tech to get it unlocked while I was still on the phone with them. On my last call, they mysteriously was able to transfer me to a tech that sent a lock signal, then an unlock signal. That finally worked.

A couple days later I called to cancel. I get transferred to the cancellation dept and the dude would not cancel my until I told him why I wanted to cancel. Seriously.

"Why are you cancelling?"

"I just don't need this line anymore"

"Why?"

"Cause I don't"

"But why?"

"Look, I told you why I'm cancelling already. Now cancel my acct"

"No, you didn't tell me why though"

"It doesn't matter why. I'm asking you to cancel my acct. Now cancel my acct"

"I think it's kinda weird that you're wanting to cancel after only having the acct for a couple of months."

"I really don't care what you think is weird. Please cancel my acct"

"I just need to know why first"

"NO YOU DON'T. CANCEL MY ACCT NOW!"

Then he pulls the same **** he did with you. It just so happened that my account was 3 days into the billing cycle, so basically I'd have to pay for another month of service. I asked to speak to an supervisor and he said there wasn't one available. It was an incredibly frustrating experience to have someone hold you hostage like that and refuse to do something you ask when you're paying for a service from them. I called back the next day and spoke to a lady, told her my previous experiences, explained they have no right to make me pay another month for something I don't want. She spoke to a manager and I was able to get them to cancel my acct as of that day.

I mean, I get that they're probably upset that they f*cked up and started a promo that they lost money on...but that's not my fault. I didn't do anything wrong or anything that was outside of their current policies, yet I was treated like someone trying to scam them.

I will NEVER use Sprint again.
[Essential Phone Guides, News, & Discussion] tech_head:
I had the same experience when trying to cancel.

I was a couple of days short of the new billing.

I told them, bad coverage at my home.

I basically had to scream at the guy to get him to put in the cancellation.

I told him, I was noting that I requested cancellation, asked for his customer service number and told him, I'm not paying another dime not matter what he did.

My line was disconnected before the next billing cycle.

PITA. I was also banned on their forums for inappropriate behavior when they wouldn't unlock the phone.

Seems that talking about FCC action is considered trolling.
[Essential Phone Guides, News, & Discussion] Wredal:
Still in my opinion their either missed a big chance or something is going behind the scene. Let me defend my thesis. First, facts. Amazon and BestBuy were selling Essential for $449. I doubt they were loosing money doing so, so I guess this is at least the price Essential is selling this phone to them and Essential could set the same price as a Black Friday promotion, cutting the reseller in the middle. Next fact, Essential says the Matte Gray model is just around the corner. Last fact - the best opportunity to sell electronic is before / during December, as people buy looking for gifts.

If I were Essential marketing guru, I would certainly do something.

First option - I would sell MG model for the same price as the current price on website. If it is in production but not in stock yet, I would open pre-order - assuming it could be delivered before December 24th.

Second option - If the phone is still far away, then I would at least drop the price a bit to convince undecided.

So, when I see no promotion on the Essential website, it tells me that it is unlikely that we will see the MG model this year. This, combined with all partners trying to sell the phone for reduced price might indicate that there is something going on in the background (Spring - adding camera to already awesome deal, BB and Amazon dropping the price by $50).

What I think is going on? Best case - PH-1S is coming (which I imagine would be *a bit* redesigned version of PH-1 with major problems fixed - looking about the same, but with the audio jack, better touchscreen, repositioned power and volume buttons. Maybe also with wireless charging, to give something new and further reduce negative reviews, without doing major redesign of the phone internals).

Worst case - the company has problems too big to care anymore. If they don't deliver someting new before Christmas, I doubt they will see a lot of selling momentum next year, even with new colors, unless they drop the price even more.

Just my 5 cents, but curious what you think.
[Essential Phone Guides, News, & Discussion] greenpays:
Hello guys, i needed some confirmations to order from Sprint. At first, I wanted to import this phone to France from Amazon at 449$ + taxes 20%. But now, i saw the Sprint deal so i called my sister living in US. She is ok to buy me one. But she doesn't understand all these complicated steps from this deal. My question is that, can i do everything online from France ? Of course, the contract will be at her name and she will receive the phone at her address. If i summary everything :

Step 1 : Order online pay 25$ + taxes online (can be done online)

Step 2 : Receive the phone and payoff all the amount 18*5$ = 90$ and 30$ for buyout ( can be done online ?)

Step 3 : Wait until the phone is unlocked with sprint sim card inside (once unlocked never put the sim card again so the phone won't be re locked)

Step 4 : Call them and cancel the plan according to 14 days satisfaction agreement (can be done online ?)

Am i doing everything correctly ?

Step 5 : Parcel the phone to France

I added up all the costs with 20% import taxes and shipping charges, i have to maximum of 230 $ around 200 euros. At this price, in europe we can't get anything correct !
[Essential Phone Guides, News, & Discussion] JoRocker:
Phone won't work overseas. Sprint has to internationally unlock it. When it's unlocked, it's unlocked domestically. I know this exact answer, because I called last night to ask about my trip to Asia next month. They said that when it says it's unlocked it's only for domestic use. I have to file a different ticket to get it internationally unlocked, which requires it to be used for 50 days minimum on Sprint network.
[Essential Phone Guides, News, & Discussion] greenpays:
Thanks for the information :) I almost ordered the phone today ! So, for international users Sprint deals is no useful. Even if the phone is paid completely, it can't be unlocked internationally ?
[Essential Phone Guides, News, & Discussion] plus_c:
Friend was able to get in on this deal and confirmed the phone was unlocked for use with other carriers. A steal at this price.
[Essential Phone Guides, News, & Discussion] greenpays:
Unlocked for use with carriers in US or throughout the globe ? :rolleyes:
[Essential Phone Guides, News, & Discussion] borijess:
Are you guys ordering them online? Or in store?
[Essential Phone Guides, News, & Discussion] justlookin412:
I ordered two online. When the deal first started, it was hit or miss in stores.
[Essential Phone Guides, News, & Discussion] borijess:
We're you able to payoff both?
[Essential Phone Guides, News, & Discussion] justlookin412:
Yes I was. Right after I got my shipping confirmation I called in and paid off each one (two separate transactions). I paid $25.00 + 10.00 (shipping) + $90.00 + $30.00 for a total of $155.00. I live in a tax free state.