Smart call feature removed from S9 / S9+

CuBz90

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Sep 27, 2010
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www.galaxys7.co.uk
I had a rep tell me (INSISTING!) that SIM unlocking the phone voids the warranty. I even tried explaining she meant bootloader unlocking not SIM unlocking, but she just wasn't hearing it.
Ye it's laughable. I work in customer service myself and if I don't know the answer to a customer's question, I will place them on hold and go find out. I wouldn't even think about giving out false information if I wasn't sure myself.
 

Hepheastus

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Mar 4, 2009
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Ithaca
I have an unlocked S9 on sprint and it seems to work for me. I haven't had a Galaxy since the S3 so i had no idea what it was but when i got a call from Samsung CS earlier today it showed their name with the "Smart" next to it.
I am done buying carrier phones, unlocked from here on out. I am half tempted to return these just to make a point.
 

Hepheastus

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Mar 4, 2009
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Is this just US? As I still have this on my S9 here in the UK
I have been in contact with a mod at the sprint community forum, he was surprised to learn that unlocked phones contained this feature. He too was under the impression that this feature was excluded in the US market. He says he is looking into it but his contract at Samsung is traveling right now. I will share any updates.
 
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the_scotsman

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Cant seem to find it in the S9+ SM-965F
Phone app > 3 dot menu > Settings > Caller ID & Spam Protection.

It's based on CSC, it's a regional/carrier thing. So your country or carrier may have disabled it.

Here in Australia it's been available since at least the S7.

US carriers tear the **** out of the phone's features for some reason....they pull half of the useful features out of the firmware.
 

Hepheastus

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Phone app > 3 dot menu > Settings > Caller ID & Spam Protection.

It's based on CSC, it's a regional/carrier thing. So your country or carrier may have disabled it.

Here in Australia it's been available since at least the S7.

US carriers tear the **** out of the phone's features for some reason....they pull half of the useful features out of the firmware.
I am thoroughly convinced it is so they can charge you for their version of what they took out.
 

meyerweb

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Jun 19, 2010
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On my Sprint S9, in Phone / Settings, there's an option called Block Numbers. It has all the numbers I had blocked on my old phone, and one call I got today showed up as "Likely Robo Call" or something like that. In call details, I had the option to block the call. There's also an option "Show caller information." That may be where the Robo Call info is coming from.

Finally, there's a setting for "Search For Places Nearby."

I think the capability is still there, just not under that name.

And no, I'm not paying Sprint a fee for those features.
 
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zelendel

Senior Member
Aug 11, 2008
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Does T-Mobile offer a caller ID service for a fee?
Yes all carriers offer those service for free. Here may be the issue.

Many people keep their numbers marked private when they call everyone. So blocking calls like that will cause a huge issue. I had a feeling this would be the case when I read the feature and after talking to a few att techs, my thoughts were proven true.
 

meyerweb

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Jun 19, 2010
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Look at my post above yours. All those features are on my Sprint branded phone, for free.

Yes all carriers offer those service for free. Here may be the issue.

Many people keep their numbers marked private when they call everyone. So blocking calls like that will cause a huge issue. I had a feeling this would be the case when I read the feature and after talking to a few att techs, my thoughts were proven true.
 

zelendel

Senior Member
Aug 11, 2008
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Look at my post above yours. All those features are on my Sprint branded phone, for free.
Had you read my post. I agreed. That all US carriers already have this service in a way. But blocking all private or unknown numbers will not fly in the states.
 

JS_racer

Senior Member
Oct 29, 2011
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On my Sprint S9, in Phone / Settings, there's an option called Block Numbers. It has all the numbers I had blocked on my old phone, and one call I got today showed up as "Likely Robo Call" or something like that. In call details, I had the option to block the call. There's also an option "Show caller information." That may be where the Robo Call info is coming from.

Finally, there's a setting for "Search For Places Nearby."

I think the capability is still there, just not under that name.

And no, I'm not paying Sprint a fee for those features.
it is turned on and free for 10 days, then its 2.99 per month.
look in your sprint folder, caller id, it will show free trial

its on by default.
 
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BarryH_GEG

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Jan 16, 2009
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Spokane, Washington
I am beginning to think then that if it is only the carrier supplied S9's missing it, it is because they want you to pay for their Caller ID service then.
It has always been this way. Smart Call was never offered in the U.S. until Samsung started selling unlocked phones directly. My unlocked (U1) Note8 had Smart Call and so does my S9+. And yes the reason is carriers sell their own spam and caller ID features. AT&T's is particularly bad.
 

Hepheastus

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Mar 4, 2009
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It has always been this way. Smart Call was never offered in the U.S. until Samsung started selling unlocked phones directly. My unlocked (U1) Note8 had Smart Call and so does my S9+. And yes the reason is carriers sell their own spam and caller ID features. AT&T's is particularly bad.
True, my Sprint S7 didn't have that exact feature . BUT, my S7 did display the exact same call notifications with non-contact calls, and now that is gone in the $9.