[Q] Buying an AT&T S4 for running custom ROM / GPe ROM

[vortexmak]

Hi,

I am planning to buy an AT&T S4 and then terminate the contract early by paying of the fee.

Once the device is unlocked will I be able to run it on T-Mobile as well ? I know one of the HSPA+ bands is not available on the AT&T device, so will only the HSPA+ speeds be affected or will I still be able to use the phone on LTE/EDGE ?

Also, from what I read in the forums, there is a bootloader lock on the device, is that easily bypassed ? cause I want to run the Google play edition ROM/Slimbean /CM ROM on this phone.

Thanks

 

[jd1639]

What do you mean, break the contract?

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I727 using xda app-developers app

 

[vortexmak]

What do you mean, break the contract?

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I727 using xda app-developers app

I mean by paying off the 325 early termination fee.

 

[getbuzzin]

Let me give you some advice. Instead of trying to "break contract" with AT&T, why don't you just buy a T-Mobile s4 which already comes with an unlocked bootloader out of the box. I know it may cost a little more for the T-mo s4 but believe me, it's going to cost you a lot more later in life if you decide to go the route of stealing, I mean breaking contact from AT&T.

 

[ogxku5h]

Let me give you some advice. Instead of trying to "break contract" with AT&T, why don't you just buy a T-Mobile s4 which already comes with an unlocked bootloader out of the box. I know it may cost a little more for the T-mo s4 but believe me, it's going to cost you a lot more later in life if you decide to go the route of stealing, I mean breaking contact from AT&T.

+1:thumbup:

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I337 using xda premium

 

[vortexmak]

Let me give you some advice. Instead of trying to "break contract" with AT&T, why don't you just buy a T-Mobile s4 which already comes with an unlocked bootloader out of the box. I know it may cost a little more for the T-mo s4 but believe me, it's going to cost you a lot more later in life if you decide to go the route of stealing, I mean breaking contact from AT&T.

How is it stealing if I am legally terminating the contract and paying off the fee ?

 

[getbuzzin]

How is it stealing if I am legally terminating the contract and paying off the fee ?

Lol. Jedi mind tricks. But editing your original post to cover for yourself is not cool.

 

[vortexmak]

Lol. Jedi mind tricks. But editing your original post to cover for yourself is not cool.

No mind tricks. Since the original post did'nt convey the ETF part, I edited it to convey what I meant by 'break the contract'

 

[AxAtAx]

+1 I saw the same thing.

 

[jd1639]

Xda doesn't condone anything illegal or immoral, or smelling of such.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I727 using xda app-developers app

 

[mattdm]

Guys, there's nothing wrong with doing this. It's all legal, and aboveboard. It's what the early termination fee is there for.

That said, I wouldn't do it myself. Using this route, the cost would be $200 for the phone + $36 activation fee + $325 early termination fee = $561 total. The outright cost for a T-Mobile S4 is $580. That's a hell of a lot of trouble to go to to save $19. Especially since you end up with a locked bootloader.

 

[vortexmak]

Guys, there's nothing wrong with doing this. It's all legal, and aboveboard. It's what the early termination fee is there for.

That said, I wouldn't do it myself. Using this route, the cost would be $200 for the phone + $36 activation fee + $325 early termination fee = $561 total. The outright cost for a T-Mobile S4 is $580. That's a hell of a lot of trouble to go to to save $19. Especially since you end up with a locked bootloader.

That's what I have been trying to explain before the lynching . I am no trying to do anything illegal here.
Phone is $100 currently That's $461 compared to the TMobile $670 (580 phone + 40 Tax + 50 first month service)

Anyway, please ignore all the above. I'll just stick to the technical questions
It would be helpful if someone could let me know if currently there is anyway past the locked bootloader ?
How are people able to load custom ROMs ? and is it possible to activate AWS band on it ?

Thanks

 

[alphadog00]

That's what I have been trying to explain before the lynching . I am no trying to do anything illegal here.
Phone is $100 currently That's $461 compared to the TMobile $670 (580 phone + 40 Tax + 50 first month service)

Anyway, please ignore all the above. I'll just stick to the technical questions
It would be helpful if someone could let me know if currently there is anyway past the locked bootloader ?
How are people able to load custom ROMs ? and is it possible to activate AWS band on it ?

Thanks

Don't forget to add in a month of service with AT&T - Voice and Data - they want their 2 lbs of flesh as well.

As for your other questions - did you read any of the threads in the forums? The ones about loading ROMS or activating Tmo bands?

But as others have said, if you want to run on TMO, it may be worth the cost to not have a locked boot loader. The exploit being used may be patched, and some have created quite the issue trying to unlock and such. If your time is not worth money, then save some $$$$ - but I would spend the extra and go for official unlocked. Maybe even the google version since you are basically buying it outright.

The information you ask for is all here at the top of this forum and the general forum.

 

[mattdm]

Phone is $100 currently That's $461 compared to the TMobile $670 (580 phone + 40 Tax + 50 first month service)

Don't forget to add in a month of service with AT&T - Voice and Data - they want their 2 lbs of flesh as well.

Alphadog brings up a good point that I didn't consider: you'll still have to pay the first month of the AT&T service.

Anyway, please ignore all the above. I'll just stick to the technical questions
It would be helpful if someone could let me know if currently there is anyway past the locked bootloader ?
How are people able to load custom ROMs ? and is it possible to activate AWS band on it ?

The bootloader lock is fairly easy to baypass right now. But, that could change in the future, with a software update.

 

[vortexmak]

Alphadog brings up a good point that I didn't consider: you'll still have to pay the first month of the AT&T service.



The bootloader lock is fairly easy to baypass right now. But, that could change in the future, with a software update.

Thank you that's informative.
However, I'm wondering, once custom kernels and ROMs are loaded, doesn't AT&T lose all control. I mean if you don't want the stock update from AT&T and you already have everything enabled, how will they be able to disable the bypass?

 

[jd1639]

Thank you that's informative.
However, I'm wondering, once custom kernels and ROMs are loaded, doesn't AT&T lose all control. I mean if you don't want the stock update from AT&T and you already have everything enabled, how will they be able to disable the bypass?

You would have to apply the att update for the exploit to be patched. If you don't apply the update you'd be ok.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I727 using xda app-developers app

 

[scott14719]

You would have to apply the att update for the exploit to be patched. If you don't apply the update you'd be ok.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I727 using xda app-developers app

Unless you have a future warranty replace or repair situation.

 

[jd1639]

Unless you have a future warranty replace or repair situation.

+1

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I727 using xda app-developers app

 

[AZImmortal]

I have a few follow-up questions in regards to the topic of using an AT&T S4 on T-Mobile. Aside from having to bypass the locked bootloader, are there any other disadvantages to using an AT&T S4 on T-Mobile that can't be overcome? I know that you can unlock the AWS bands, so does that mean that an AT&T S4 can end up functionally exactly the same as a T-Mobile S4?