Help a n00b understand "unlocked phone" and "activation"

[stlc8tr]

In case you needed links...
It is new, direct from google ("the google phone")
Unlocked and will work on att, tmobile, sprint, or other supported providers worldwide (will not work on verizon)

Sprint will only allow Sprint-branded phones on their network.

 

[Trombe]

Yes it's unlocked but there will be taxes and shipping so expect closer to $400. If you really want an S4 used ones are easy to find on swappa (which is IMO much safer than eBay as far as phones go).

 

[bearxor]

Thanks for the links, ImDonly1. $350 is a nice pricepoint for me. I am assuming that if you buy the phone direct from Google, it's unlocked? It doesn't say on those pages (unless I missed it).

Completely unlocked and fully compatible with AT&T, T-Mobile and Sprint.

For $800 you can have two great Android devices that are supported directly by Google.

Sprint will only allow Sprint-branded phones on their network.

Normally, yes. But you can buy the a Nexus 5 from the Google Play Store and Sprint will activate it.

 

[stlc8tr]

Normally, yes. But you can buy the a Nexus 5 from the Google Play Store and Sprint will activate it.

Huh. I did not know that. Thanks for the info.

I wonder why Sprint changed policies? After all, this is the same company that still refuses to unlock their off contract iPhones.

 

[ImDonly1]

Huh. I did not know that. Thanks for the info.

I wonder why Sprint changed policies? After all, this is the same company that still refuses to unlock their off contract iPhones.

Well Sprint also sells the Nexus 5. Google didn't make a special Sprint version. So the google play and the Sprint versions are the exact same thing.

 

[ImDonly1]

Yes it's unlocked but there will be taxes and shipping so expect closer to $400. If you really want an S4 used ones are easy to find on swappa (which is IMO much safer than eBay as far as phones go).

$400 (for a new phone) is still cheaper than what a used but good condition S4 would probably go for.

Also OP is interested in new phones only, not used.
Not to mention the Nexus 5 is newer and has a better CPU, warranty, no bloat, etc.

I own an S4 and the Nexus 5 is a better deal.

 

[bearxor]

Huh. I did not know that. Thanks for the info.

I wonder why Sprint changed policies? After all, this is the same company that still refuses to unlock their off contract iPhones.

Do they have off contract iPhones? They've only been selling the iPhone since 2011. The CDMA provisioned 4S's can't be unlocked to work on GSM networks in the US. The iPhone 5 came out in 2012 so they wouldn't be unlocked until this fall for people.

Doing some reading, I have to wonder if the Sprint version of the phone is provisioned the same way as the iPhone 4S, where the home CDMA carrier always takes top priority.

 

[MichaelD]

Yep, new phone only. Wife is leaning towards the MotoX b/c she can customize the case colors. Me and my fat mouth. It has no SD card slot though...trying to school her on that.

 

[Viper GTS]

Yep, new phone only. Wife is leaning towards the MotoX b/c she can customize the case colors. Me and my fat mouth. It has no SD card slot though...trying to school her on that.

Moto X is a great choice, I bought the g/f one. Closest thing you can get to a Nexus on Verizon so it's arguably the best choice if you care about that kind of thing.

And yes, she loves the custom colors. So we both win.

Viper GTS

 

[stlc8tr]

Do they have off contract iPhones? They've only been selling the iPhone since 2011. The CDMA provisioned 4S's can't be unlocked to work on GSM networks in the US. The iPhone 5 came out in 2012 so they wouldn't be unlocked until this fall for people.

Doing some reading, I have to wonder if the Sprint version of the phone is provisioned the same way as the iPhone 4S, where the home CDMA carrier always takes top priority.

The first wave of Sprint iPhones came off contract late last year. Apple only sold one model of the 4S so the hardware has both GSM and CDMA radios. It's just that Sprint refuses to unlock it for use in the US. Sprint will unlock for international use though.

Lots of rage on the Sprint message boards about it. And with iPhone unlock utilities on wane, there isn't too much users can do about it. Maybe reflash to a different IMEI? But that isn't easy to do.

 

[bearxor]

The first wave of Sprint iPhones came off contract late last year. Apple only sold one model of the 4S so the hardware has both GSM and CDMA radios. It's just that Sprint refuses to unlock it for use in the US. Sprint will unlock for international use though.

Lots of rage on the Sprint message boards about it. And with iPhone unlock utilities on wane, there isn't too much users can do about it. Maybe reflash to a different IMEI? But that isn't easy to do.

Well that's kind of a "glitch" with the iPhone 4S. It is one hardware model but the CDMA and GSM versions are provisioned differently. Neither the Verizon or Sprint iPhone 4S's will work on a GSM network in the US unless you can find a spot where AT&T or TMobile have service and Verizon does not.

Did some more research on this, because I've never really looked. Sprint and Verizon did program the list of allowable SIM cards but it is specified during provisioning. IOW, they couldn't change it after the fact if they wanted to. Similar to how the iPhone 5 could totally do 1700mhz HSPA+ but couldn't until Apple and T-Mobile worked out a deal. Then they "magically" released a new phone version that was exactly the same but provisioned it differently.

 

[stlc8tr]

Well that's kind of a "glitch" with the iPhone 4S. It is one hardware model but the CDMA and GSM versions are provisioned differently. Neither the Verizon or Sprint iPhone 4S's will work on a GSM network in the US unless you can find a spot where AT&T or TMobile have service and Verizon does not.

Did some more research on this, because I've never really looked. Sprint and Verizon did program the list of allowable SIM cards but it is specified during provisioning. IOW, they couldn't change it after the fact if they wanted to. Similar to how the iPhone 5 could totally do 1700mhz HSPA+ but couldn't until Apple and T-Mobile worked out a deal. Then they "magically" released a new phone version that was exactly the same but provisioned it differently.

Interesting but it still sucks for those folks who have purchased a phone that's locked to Sprint/Verizon. The hardware is the same but there's four versions of the firmware (AT&T, Verizon, Sprint, Apple) so I guess they can try flashing to the Apple unlocked image but the problem is how to get a clean IMEI.

 

[Raduque]

Also, the main reason the conversation at the retail store went south was b/c I was told that "adding a new phone to my plan" would raise my monthly bill by $40. When I argued that I was not "adding" anything, I was REPLACING a phone, I was told "Only the two original phones on your plan are valid at the current rate. Adding a new phone to my plan, I lose the original discount." I argued for 30 mins about this and got nowhere.

Slight miscommunication between you and the sales rep. Whenever you say "I want to buy a phone" they hear "I want to add a new line". What you need to say is "I want to upgrade my phone."

There's no reason to deal with the AT&T reps unless you're using NEXT or buying the phone for the (inflated) retail price.

I'll jump on the bandwagon and recommend a Moto G or Nexus 5. Best values for the money. You can also look at the Blu Life phones on Amazon. Here's a review:
http://www.androidpolice.com/2014/0...is-is-probably-my-favorite-blu-phone-to-date/

 

[s44]

Yep, new phone only. Wife is leaning towards the MotoX b/c she can customize the case colors. Me and my fat mouth. It has no SD card slot though...trying to school her on that.

If she's not going to carry around lots of media, it should be fine.