region sim lock
any real solutions? cos lots of people have real issues here!
So, how does that solve the problem? IMSI
any real solutions? cos lots of people have real issues here!
SIM restrictions on unlocked European Note3
- Thread starter htc6500uk
- Start date
listening but not doing vs. doing and not listening
I'm saddened to hear this, dxzh. You have, IMHO, made the most significant contributions to our understanding of the technical side of this issue... and done so in the most fair handed of ways. I can only imagine that you've engaged in your recent dealings with Samsung in the most clear and civil manner possible. If you can't get a decent response from Samsung UK's HQ, I believe it cannot be done.
It appears that Samsung UK is more afraid of Samsung Global than they are concerned about our understanding of what's going on. I shy from the cynicism of the following, but it seems unavoidable: UK management believes that losing loyalty and sales by stonewalling us is better than risking the ire of someone at Global by helping us with honesty and clarity. If crossing this person at Global wouldn't cause heads to roll in retaliation, at a minimum bonuses and promotions would be lost.
To the people at Chertsey reading this, I hope you have another Internet tab open looking for a better job, working for better masters. I have empathy for the dilemma you're in as on the one hand you look to maintain the lifestyle you, your spouse and your children have become accustomed to, while, on the other, you consider the cost to your personal values and your principles... to your beliefs in how to run a good company. I've been there myself. You're not unlike dxzh in a complementary sort of way, loyal to a vision of a firm you thought was better, an organization you know could be better, but bewildered about how to make it so.
The people put in a position supposedly to listen to us have been ordered to do nothing in response. The people capable of responding to us have no interest in listening.
And so as the veil of media promotion now gets pulled aside, we see the difference between what Samsung advertises itself to be... and the company it really is.
I'm saddened to hear this, dxzh. You have, IMHO, made the most significant contributions to our understanding of the technical side of this issue... and done so in the most fair handed of ways. I can only imagine that you've engaged in your recent dealings with Samsung in the most clear and civil manner possible. If you can't get a decent response from Samsung UK's HQ, I believe it cannot be done.
It appears that Samsung UK is more afraid of Samsung Global than they are concerned about our understanding of what's going on. I shy from the cynicism of the following, but it seems unavoidable: UK management believes that losing loyalty and sales by stonewalling us is better than risking the ire of someone at Global by helping us with honesty and clarity. If crossing this person at Global wouldn't cause heads to roll in retaliation, at a minimum bonuses and promotions would be lost.
To the people at Chertsey reading this, I hope you have another Internet tab open looking for a better job, working for better masters. I have empathy for the dilemma you're in as on the one hand you look to maintain the lifestyle you, your spouse and your children have become accustomed to, while, on the other, you consider the cost to your personal values and your principles... to your beliefs in how to run a good company. I've been there myself. You're not unlike dxzh in a complementary sort of way, loyal to a vision of a firm you thought was better, an organization you know could be better, but bewildered about how to make it so.
The people put in a position supposedly to listen to us have been ordered to do nothing in response. The people capable of responding to us have no interest in listening.
And so as the veil of media promotion now gets pulled aside, we see the difference between what Samsung advertises itself to be... and the company it really is.
Last edited:
I'm saddened to hear this, dxzh. You have, IMHO, made the most significant contributions to our understanding of the technical side of this issue... and done so in the most fair handed of ways. I can only imagine that you've engaged in your recent dealings with Samsung in the most clear and civil manner possible. If you can't get a decent response from Samsung UK's HQ, I believe it cannot be done.
It appears that Samsung UK is more afraid of Samsung Global than they are concerned about our understanding of what's going on. I shy from the cynicism of the following, but it seems unavoidable: UK management believes that losing loyalty and sales by stonewalling us is better than risking the ire of someone at Global by helping us with honesty and clarity. If crossing this person at Global wouldn't cause heads to roll in retaliation, at a minimum bonuses and promotions would be lost.
To the people at Chertsey reading this, I hope you have another Internet tab open looking for a better job, working for better masters. I have empathy for the dilemma you're in as on the one hand you look to maintain the lifestyle you, your spouse and your children have become accustomed to, while, on the other, you consider the cost to your personal values and your principles... to your beliefs in how to run a good company. I've been there myself. You're not unlike dxzh in a complementary sort of way, loyal to a vision of a firm you thought was better, an organization you know could be better, but bewildered about how to make it so.
The people put in a position supposedly to listen to us have been ordered to do nothing in response. The people capable of responding to us have no interest in listening.
And so as the veil of media promotion now gets pulled aside, we see the difference between what Samsung advertises itself to be... and the company it really is.
---------- Post added at 04:00 PM ---------- Previous post was at 03:36 PM ----------
Your heart's in the right place, Ahmads001!
(I think artesea's is, too. He was just trying to figure out the mechanism for the lockout... it's a big part of what we do here... and, to be fair, he posted that almost a month ago, on the first day of this debacle, 1246 posts ago.Keep reading beyond his post #15 and you'll get a fuller picture of artesea's position on the lockout. And welcome to the forum!!)
A bit melodramatic aren't we now fella? I almost cried reading this.:crying:
3 pairs of questions for Samsung, part 2
3 pairs of questions for Samsung, part 2
3. why have so many units not unlocked when your official procedure was followed?
4. why have some units spontaneously unlocked while others haven't?
Silence breeds speculation. It looks like you have burdened a region-lockout design -- poorly conceived and disastrously implemented -- with overly complex variations:
a) which you don't want to reveal in a misguided attempt to control how we use our phones, and
b) which you yourselves no longer fully comprehend.
Some will assume that you are refusing to address these questions because you believe it's none of our business and that you don't value a collaboration with your consumer base.
Say it isn't so.
3 pairs of questions for Samsung, part 2
3. why have so many units not unlocked when your official procedure was followed?
4. why have some units spontaneously unlocked while others haven't?
Silence breeds speculation. It looks like you have burdened a region-lockout design -- poorly conceived and disastrously implemented -- with overly complex variations:
a) which you don't want to reveal in a misguided attempt to control how we use our phones, and
b) which you yourselves no longer fully comprehend.
Some will assume that you are refusing to address these questions because you believe it's none of our business and that you don't value a collaboration with your consumer base.
Say it isn't so.
Your heart's in the right place, Ahmads001!
(I think artesea's is, too. He was just trying to figure out the mechanism for the lockout... it's a big part of what we do here... and, to be fair, he posted that almost a month ago, on the first day of this debacle, 1246 posts ago.*
* Keep reading beyond his post #15 and you'll get a fuller picture of artesea's position on the lockout.* And welcome to the forum!!)- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
‹‹I've been having trouble with this site appending my posts to my last post, even with an hour or two between them... and it changes the timestamp of the original post. Anyway, I just separated this post from one earlier today.››
sim restriction on galaxy note3 lte
thanks for the insight.
but more seriously, can any one please supply me with credible sites where i can purchase the sim unlock code.
i emailed the Russian, but no replies till now. not even an acknowledgement of my mail.
i've also tried fastgsm.com, problem there is that youre supposed to pay usd25 via paypal, which does not operate in nigeria. i asked for an alternative modality of payment, but again, the guys at fast gsm just went mute on me!
my suppossedly "unlocked" sim-locked SM-N9005 arrived yesterday from saudi arabia. it was "activated" there with a saudi sim x1day, but still does not recognise any of my local provider sims here in nigeria- MTN, AIRTEL, GLO...!
can anyone please help
---------- Post added at 09:41 AM ---------- Previous post was at 09:35 AM ----------
but more seriously, can any one please supply me with credible sites where i can purchase the sim unlock code.
i emailed the Russian, but no replies till now. not even an acknowledgement of my mail.
i've also tried fastgsm.com, problem there is that youre supposed to pay usd25 via paypal, which does not operate in nigeria. i asked for an alternative modality of payment, but again, the guys at fast gsm just went mute on me!
my suppossedly "unlocked" sim-locked SM-N9005 arrived yesterday from saudi arabia. it was "activated" there with a saudi sim x1day, but still does not recognise any of my local provider sims here in nigeria- MTN, AIRTEL, GLO...!
can anyone please help
Your heart's in the right place, Ahmads001!
(I think artesea's is, too. He was just trying to figure out the mechanism for the lockout... it's a big part of what we do here... and, to be fair, he posted that almost a month ago, on the first day of this debacle, 1246 posts ago.*
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
‹‹I've been having trouble with this site appending my posts to my last post, even with an hour or two between them... and it changes the timestamp of the original post. Anyway, I just separated this post from one earlier today.››
thanks for the insight.
but more seriously, can any one please supply me with credible sites where i can purchase the sim unlock code.
i emailed the Russian, but no replies till now. not even an acknowledgement of my mail.
i've also tried fastgsm.com, problem there is that youre supposed to pay usd25 via paypal, which does not operate in nigeria. i asked for an alternative modality of payment, but again, the guys at fast gsm just went mute on me!
my suppossedly "unlocked" sim-locked SM-N9005 arrived yesterday from saudi arabia. it was "activated" there with a saudi sim x1day, but still does not recognise any of my local provider sims here in nigeria- MTN, AIRTEL, GLO...!
can anyone please help
---------- Post added at 09:41 AM ---------- Previous post was at 09:35 AM ----------
thanks for the insight.
but more seriously, can any one please supply me with credible sites where i can purchase the sim unlock code.
i emailed the Russian, but no replies till now. not even an acknowledgement of my mail.
i've also tried fastgsm.com, problem there is that youre supposed to pay usd25 via paypal, which does not operate in nigeria. i asked for an alternative modality of payment, but again, the guys at fast gsm just went mute on me!
my suppossedly "unlocked" sim-locked SM-N9005 arrived yesterday from saudi arabia. it was "activated" there with a saudi sim x1day, but still does not recognise any of my local provider sims here in nigeria- MTN, AIRTEL, GLO...!
can anyone please help
Ok, so now I have been in Thailand for a little over three weeks and the phone is still working fine with a Thai sim.
---------- Post added at 08:48 AM ---------- Previous post was at 08:41 AM ----------
Try the Russian on Skype then.
Skype name: smsmts
---------- Post added at 08:48 AM ---------- Previous post was at 08:41 AM ----------
Try the Russian on Skype then.
Skype name: smsmts
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...and what do we do with the ones we just spent a fortune to purchase?
---------- Post added at 10:15 AM ---------- Previous post was at 09:55 AM ----------
thanks.
tried that too, but he's still not replying!
Thank you for pointing me in the direction of that press statement. Some equivalent sentences in the German press release seem more clear-cut than the English one - in that they are clearly referring to SIM cards from other regions as well as referring to other affected phone models. So:
"Welche Auswirkungen hat die Sperre bei der Benutzung außerhalb Deutschlands?
Mit einer SIM-Karte aus Deutschland kann der Roaming-Service des Providers genutzt werden.
Mit einer SIM-Karte aus einer anderen Region gilt:
Wenn das Gerät in Deutschland mit einer deutschen SIMKarte aktiviert und benutzt wurde, kann es ohne Einschränkung mit SIM-Karten aus anderen Regionen verwendet werden.
"
and
"Die regionale SIM-Karten-Sperre betrifft nur die folgenden Samsung Modelle, die ab Ende Juli 2013 hergestellt und mit einem entsprechenden Aufkleber versehen sind:
Samsung GALAXY S III, GALAXY Note II, GALAXY S4, GALAXY S4 mini und das GALAXY Note 3.
Geräte, die bereits von Samsung ausgeliefert wurden und sich in Lagern oder bereits bei Endkunden befinden, sind nicht betroffen."
Google translates this as:
" What impact has the lock in use outside Germany ?
With a SIM card from Germany to the roaming service provider's can be used .
With a SIM card from another region is :
If the device has been activated and used in Germany with a German SIM card , it can be used without restriction with SIM cards from other regions."
and
"The regional SIM card lock only affects the following Samsung models that are produced from the end of July 2013, and provided with a corresponding sticker :
Samsung GALAXY S III , II, GALAXY Note , GALAXY S4 , S4 GALAXY mini and the GALAXY Note 3
Devices that have been delivered by Samsung and are in camps or even at retail are not affected . "
Whether all or only some such SIM cards from outside of the region can be used, is perhaps left open to doubt. However, at least the German statement is clear in its reference to SIM cards from outside the region. Also I note that the German press statement requires the SIM card to have been both activated AND used ('benutzt') - which tallies more closely perhaps with the delays seen in the release of the regional SIM lock.
Not sure if there is any equivalent translation in French or other European language which is out there.
A. Did the Saudi vendor include the Saudi sim card when they sent the phone, and if so, are you able to make roaming calls with your phone in Nigeria, using that sim?
B. I'm surprised that puman.ru has been slow in getting back to you. They accepted my contact request on Skype almost immediately -- using the Skype name that flygaren suggests. And they answered my email in exactly 40 minutes. I assume you used smsmts@gmail.com when you emailed them.
C. What happens exactly when you try your local sims?
D. Would you check the build # under Settings / About phone and let us know what it is?
sim restriction on galaxy note3 lte
tried that too, but he's still not replying!
is there any place else, please?
---------- Post added at 10:33 AM ---------- Previous post was at 10:20 AM ----------
A. the phone was bought full-paid no contract. So, its commited to a particular network. A free Saudi sim, which i regularly use when i travel over there was used to power on the phone, and make a call to nigeria, which went through. the sim still worked in Nigeria, roaming, yesterday.
B. Yes i used smsmts@gmail.com. no replies. till now
C. "invalid sim card".
"ENTRE SIMLOCK CODE"
D. Build number: JSS15J.N9005XXUBMI7
there!
---------- Post added at 10:41 AM ---------- Previous post was at 10:33 AM ----------
A. the phone was bought full-paid no contract. So, its NOTcommited to a particular network. A free Saudi sim, which i regularly use when i travel over there was used to power on the phone, and make a call to nigeria, which went through. the sim still worked in Nigeria, roaming, yesterday.
B. Yes i used smsmts@gmail.com. no replies. till now
C. "invalid sim card".
"ENTRE SIMLOCK CODE"
D. Build number: JSS15J.N9005XXUBMI7
there!
thanks.
tried that too, but he's still not replying!
is there any place else, please?
---------- Post added at 10:33 AM ---------- Previous post was at 10:20 AM ----------
thanks for the concern.
A. the phone was bought full-paid no contract. So, its commited to a particular network. A free Saudi sim, which i regularly use when i travel over there was used to power on the phone, and make a call to nigeria, which went through. the sim still worked in Nigeria, roaming, yesterday.
B. Yes i used smsmts@gmail.com. no replies. till now
C. "invalid sim card".
"ENTRE SIMLOCK CODE"
D. Build number: JSS15J.N9005XXUBMI7
there!
---------- Post added at 10:41 AM ---------- Previous post was at 10:33 AM ----------
thanks for the concern.
A. the phone was bought full-paid no contract. So, its NOT
commited to a particular network. A free Saudi sim, which i regularly use when i travel over there was used to power on the phone, and make a call to nigeria, which went through. the sim still worked in Nigeria, roaming, yesterday.B. Yes i used smsmts@gmail.com. no replies. till now
C. "invalid sim card".
"ENTRE SIMLOCK CODE"
D. Build number: JSS15J.N9005XXUBMI7
there!
seriously mate? ....well if after all you went through you and how you agree samsung are behaving would still like to buy this or any other samsung phone I have no sympathies ...it just boggles my mind, but go for it, and you can keep whinging through your next six samsung phones that won't work.
I purchased my Note 3 in Norway and used a Norwegian Tele Operator sim card in it for the first time. I then went away for three weeks long vacation, tried the "foreign" SIM card...Guess what! regional lock was still there!
Thanks for lying SAMSUNG! This will be the last device i purchase from you!
Thanks for lying SAMSUNG! This will be the last device i purchase from you!
thanks for the concern.
A. the phone was bought full-paid no contract. So, its NOT
commited to a particular network. A free Saudi sim, which i regularly use when i travel over there was used to power on the phone, and make a call to nigeria, which went through. the sim still worked in Nigeria, roaming, yesterday.B. Yes i used smsmts@gmail.com. no replies. till now
C. "invalid sim card".
"ENTRE SIMLOCK CODE"
D. Build number: JSS15J.N9005XXUBMI7
there!
thanks.
tried that too, but he's still not replying!
is there any place else, please?
---------- Post added at 10:33 AM ---------- Previous post was at 10:20 AM ----------
thanks for the concern.
A. the phone was bought full-paid no contract. So, its commited to a particular network. A free Saudi sim, which i regularly use when i travel over there was used to power on the phone, and make a call to nigeria, which went through. the sim still worked in Nigeria, roaming, yesterday.
B. Yes i used smsmts@gmail.com. no replies. till now
C. "invalid sim card".
"ENTRE SIMLOCK CODE"
D. Build number: JSS15J.N9005XXUBMI7
there!
---------- Post added at 10:41 AM ---------- Previous post was at 10:33 AM ----------
thanks for the concern.
A. the phone was bought full-paid no contract. So, its NOT
B. Yes i used smsmts@gmail.com. no replies. till now
C. "invalid sim card".
"ENTRE SIMLOCK CODE"
D. Build number: JSS15J.N9005XXUBMI7
there!
did you by chance buy yours at jarir bookstore? as far as I know so far they re among the few who sell region locked phones, others are selling them unlocked
thanks for the concern.
A. the phone was bought full-paid no contract. So, its NOT
B. Yes i used smsmts@gmail.com. no replies. till now
C. "invalid sim card".
"ENTRE SIMLOCK CODE"
D. Build number: JSS15J.N9005XXUBMI7
there!
NO. NOT FROM JARIR.
THE PHONE WAS PURCHASED FROM EL-MUTAHIDOON COMMUNICATIONS, Palestine Road Jeddah
suggestions?
By 'used' do you mean, for example, making a phone call using the proper sim while within the region that's identified on the sticker?
(Both fergusstrachan and RbbCHan have reported here that they've heard the same from their contacts with Samsung customer service... these Samsung reps have said you need to "register" the phone by using it first in the home region.)
I'm not clear about how you see this factor relating to 'the delays seen in the release of the regional SIM lock.' Do you mean that, if the person received their phone while they're out-of-region, activation may be delayed until the person returns to the home region to use their phone?
sim restriction on galaxy note3 lte
contacted smsmts@gmail.com on skype. no help. says EU only.
Phone purchased in Saudi Arabia, and Im now in Nigeria.
contacted smsmts@gmail.com on skype. no help. says EU only.
Phone purchased in Saudi Arabia, and Im now in Nigeria.
The distinction I was trying to highlight is that while the UK statement requires "activation" of the phone, the German statement expressly requires its "activation" and "use" with a home region SIM card.
If the German statement is closer to the truth, then it would perhaps explain (not excuse) the continued blocking of the SIM-free phones by a usage test, after the user has activated the phone - activation, in this sense, meaning simply to put a home region SIM in the phone. If the German statement is correct that there is a usage test in addition to an activation requirement, then the terms of such usage test have been hidden away by Samsung to the needless disadvantage of its customers who have bought in good faith an unlocked phone, activated it with a home region SIM and then found that Samsung's regional SIM lock continues deliberately and incompetently and without explanation to block the phone's use with SIMs from other regions.
Fyi, Apple UK have a somewhat more transparent unlocked device policy than Samsung UK. Apple UK say: "Can I use my iPhone outside my home country? Yes. iPhone is enabled to work on networks using GSM around the world. Because the iPhone sold by the Apple Online Store is unlocked, you can purchase a SIM card and service from a local carrier at your destination. Or check with your home carrier regarding international roaming charges." There is an activation step it seems but no usage requirement.
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The reason people are nervous is straightforward:
1) The phones claim to be "Unlocked' - they are not.
2) There is no evidence that traditional unlock methods will work -
a) I have discussed this with my source for unlocking phones by code - he unlocks about 100,000 phones a year, and has access to all the databases. He has never heard of such a thing, and is not confident that codes will be available.
b) Software solutions may or may not be available. Even so, not everybody is technical enough (or wants) to start butchering their phones. Further, we have customers who need these phones unlocked for network-testing purposes. They are aware of the software-unlock methods and do not want that as they claim it messes with the phone's firmware.
3) No one was informed of this before they purchased the device. Even the largest distributors (10s of thousands of phones - not retailers) only found out about it today.and have no answers
This is totally different than just purchasing an AT&T phone from the USA and getting it unlocked in Israel. Everybody knows how to do it and where to get it done. However, nobody knows how to do this phone, or if it even can be unlocked as this is a new type of lock that nobody yet understands or has successfully unlocked.
We also have these phone on our website, and we had to call each one of our customers that pre-ordered and explain the situation. Some didn't mind, and some were really pissed off and cancelled the orders.
I hope you are correct, and we can all pay our $20.00 and get the code. However, that remains to be seen.
And, on an OEM, carrier-unbranded device that can cost $900, and claims to be "factory unlocked" but is not, it is just bad business IMHO.
Dovid Feldman
On The Go Solutions, Inc15There'll be an app release soon enough.
If you don't want root for other reasons, it is indeed unfortunate you currently need it for this. Rooting (via CF-Auto-Root) does void KNOX warranty (irreversable), however, if you use the unroot option in SuperSU, and flash back a stock kernel and recovery, OTAs will work again. Note that it is possible to root without tripping KNOX warranty using a customized system partition, I'm sure someone has made or will make one sooner or later.
It is theoretically feasable to do this without root, but a lot tougher to make and maintain, with the information I currently have. I'm certain there is a way to improve this, I just haven't found it yet - and as I'm a full on root user, I doubt I will spend more time looking for it.14Latest News - Oct 9th 2013 - Clove, who specialise in sim-free/unlocked phones have suggested
that the Russian unlocking service at:
http://puman.ru/?selectlanguage=English
may be a solution for those concerned about the regional lock.
More info in the Clove blog at:
http://blog.clove.co.uk/2013/09/25/samsung-galaxy-note-3-sim-limitations/
Whether or not the Note 3 Verizon (US) "Developer Edition" will be regionally locked remains to be seen,
At least the bootloader will, according to reports, be unlocked.
More skimpy details at the Samsung/Verizon page at: http://www.samsung.com/us/mobile/cell-phones/SM-N900VMKEVZW
More Recent News - Oct 6th 2013 - Chainfire appears to have created an app to
get round region locking for the Galaxy Note 3 SM-N9005 (MI7 firmware) and rooted
You can buy Chainfire a beer (£1.99) by downloading the app from the Play Store at:
http://pkg.to/eu.chainfire.regionlockaway
There is also a thread started by Chainfire at: http://xdaforums.com/showthread.php?p=46187852 where meanies(!) can download it free.
Recent News (01:30 Oct 3rd 2013)
Android Authority: Galaxy Note 3 region lock is an issue after all, Android 4.4 update may lock older Galaxy handsets http://goo.gl/KjgVwc
Previous news (1st Oct 2013)
A significant number of users still claim they can't use "out of region" sims despite having first used a sim for the region the Note 3 was intended for which is the way Samsung have said is the way to 'unlock' the regional sim lock.
A number of users in this thread who found their Note3 was still region locked despite following the Samsung advice have successfully unlocked their Note3 regional lock using a Russian unlocking web site at http://puman.ru/ Although I am the OP of this thread, I do not have an out of region Sim to test this out myself - so no guarantees but read the posts!
Pics say it all. The Note 3 "unlocked" models are still locked to regions like DVD's and thus not very attractive to globetrotters or international purchasers who are being asked to pay £600 or so for a crippled device.
13Health warning: the message below is worrying.
I spoke yet again to the Samsung UK customer service team (+44 330 726 7864) this afternoon (at 5:40pm GMT) as I had not received the email I had been promised this morning with a statement on the region lock. A different rep spoke to me and had the following news to report to me:
- the Samsung UK telephone staff have had problems sending out emails today and therefore have not sent out the statement to me - which was fine by me as these things happen.
- the SIM limitation sticker really is meant to mean what it says - the N9005 is not meant to be compatible with SIMs issued by operators outside the European region - I believe at least some owners are using the Note 3 with SIMs issued by operators outside the EU but the rep was adamant that the Note 3 was not intended by Samsung to be used with SIMs issued by operators outside of the European region, even following first activation.
- the European region Note 3s are only meant to be compatible with SIMs issued by operators from the European region, and this applies equally after activation - I asked repeatedly her to confirm this which she did each time. I tried practical examples too and it got worse: So if I go to Australia I must use a European region SIM in my Note 3 even if I buy the Note 3 SIM-free for £620? Yes according to the rep. So I asked if I go to Florida on vacation, I have no choice but to use a European region SIM in my Note 3? Yes again according to rep.
- it makes no difference if here in the UK I buy the Note 3 from Carphone Warehouse, Phones 4U, EE or Clove.
- I could buy another phone if I wanted to use a SIM from an operator outside the EU in my mobile - the rep volunteered this to me as it never occurred to me that they might seriously suggest such a policy.
- the rollout of Kitkat is to extend the regional lock to existing SGS3s and Note 2s - I asked if my existing unlocked SGS3 bought unlocked over a year ago is to be subject to the same regional lock if I upgrade. Yes according to rep. So I would not be able to use a SIM from outside the European region in it when travelling? Yes according to the rep.
- no statement can be sent in an email to me by the Samsung UK telephone team to confirm this in writing.
- I can email uk.help@samsung.com with any questions but it might take up to 24 hours to respond. When I pointed out to the rep that I had already done just this, emailing uk.help@samsung.com on Friday evening (27th) and not had a response in over 50 hours (including after checking my spam folder), I was told that sometimes the email team are very busy and she could not say for sure when I would receive a response to any question.
I have asked to get a call back from the Tier 2 rep who I spoke to on Friday (27th) but in the meanwhile I can only stand gobsmacked by the apparent madness of this corporate policy. For example:
- Samsung cannot even implement a draconian region lock policy (if that is what they really intend) properly and consistently - given that some European Note 3s with the European regional lock sticker are reported to be being activated and then successfully used outside the home region with SIMs issued by operators outside the home region - while others are able to activate with home region SIM but not then able to use out of region SIMs when travelling.
- Samsung (whether through its local offices, PR companies or employees) can brief against itself so that some Samsung offices will say one thing and others possibly within the same office, something completely different, on the same day, and day after day.
- the utter, utter lack of leadership from Samsung Global (Electronics) to coordinate and communicate their own policy (whether that policy is good or bad is almost irrelevant) clearly, consistently and transparently - or to communicate it at all.
- complete confusion among retailers, and among Samsung reps talking to retailers, here in the UK as to Samsung's region lock policy, to the extent they are even aware in the first place of the region lock policy and how it operates - which, from first hand exerience, I can say many are not.
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