A Simcard Slot Problem?????

Forums › Android › A Simcard Slot Problem?????

jiangr

3 posts

Wannabe Geek

#132222 13-Oct-2013 20:34

Sorry for my poor English first.

I bought a Galaxy S4 from an online retailer (it was on pricespy) two weeks ago. The phone was actually shipped from a provider in Hong Kong.
The first thing I did after I received the phone was checking the IMEI number. The IMEI number on the case was consistent with that on white label in battery cell. However, when I tapped *#06# it showed a strange IMEI which was 004999010640000. The phone kept showing "NOT REGISTERED ON NETWORK“ though it could find the network.
I've tried simcard of different companies.
I've tried to select network manually in both wcdma and gsm network.
NONE of these works.
To me it seems like a bug caused by damaged EFS file, but I DIDN'T FALSH ANY ROM OR FIRMWARE ON THIS NEW PHONE.
Then I returned my phone to the retailer. At first, they admitted their fault and promised to have me a brand new replacement. Then, they started to question me about if I had break the interior needle of SIM card slot which I had no idea what that was. The explanation they gave, which sounds none-sense to me, was because SIMCARD in AUS/NZ is thicker, that interior needle of SIM card slot was damage somehow by improper operation. In another words, I have to pay to fix this brand new phone.
My question is, how would such a simcard slot problem, if there is one, change the IMEI showing on my phone?

johnr

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#914446 13-Oct-2013 20:42

AUS / NZ SIM cards are not thicker what rubbish, SIM cards are made to a standard, I have seen crap SIM adapters cause issues

RunningMan

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#914447 13-Oct-2013 20:45

Having that IMEI seems to be a common issue

http://www.google.co.nz/#q=004999010640000

johnr

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#914448 13-Oct-2013 20:45

I would be asking for a refund

michaelmurfy

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#914449 13-Oct-2013 20:48

You've got a phone with a corrupted EFS image. The IMEI: 004999010640000 corresponds to a generic IMEI.

There are some similar problems out there with the Samsung line of phones, long story cut thought you need to contact the retailer you bought it from and get it replaced.

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nitrotech

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#914454 13-Oct-2013 21:04

If you'd broken the sim slot then it would show no sim installed, it is quite a common fault but not the one you're having.

I think what the seller was talking about is that the nano sim is infact thinner than the mini and micro sim - this is mandated by the standard it's 0.76 mm for mini and micro and 0.67 mm for nano sim. However since your phone takes a micro sim it shouldn't matter unless you were using an adapter which as mentioned by john can damage a sim reader.

The imei issue seems to be the cause of your problem so as others have suggested get the seller to replace it for you.

jiangr

3 posts

Wannabe Geek

#914455 13-Oct-2013 21:05

johnr: AUS / NZ SIM cards are not thicker what rubbish, SIM cards are made to a standard, I have seen crap SIM adapters cause issues

Yes, that was also my thought. I will just let retailer continue his nonsense and use that as an evidence if a legal action is necessary.

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Yabanize

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#915783 15-Oct-2013 22:27

And this, my friend is why you don't buy parallel imports

jiangr

3 posts

Wannabe Geek

#915818 16-Oct-2013 00:15

Yabanize: And this, my friend is why you don't buy parallel imports

Surely I will buy from Amazon next time.

tardtasticx

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#915828 16-Oct-2013 00:42

johnr: AUS / NZ SIM cards are not thicker what rubbish, SIM cards are made to a standard, I have seen crap SIM adapters cause issues

Can confirm.

Got SIM adaptors from Vodafone retail store in Takapuna the day I got an Xperia Z. Used Nano to Mico-SIM adaptor, and last night it caught one of the pins and ripped it, breaking the thing. In for repair now. Learnt my lesson, avoid those things like the plague if you have to push the sim in or put it on a tray or something to go in the phone.