Galaxy note 7 - purchasing unlocked direct from Samsung

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Sancho

119 posts

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#201347 15-Aug-2016 09:47

Hoping someone can confirm what I have been told from Samsung direct when I called. My main reason for concern is that the call was obviously answered offshore and the operator didn't sound overly confident.

I went to preorder on the Samsung site directly but it makes the buyer select one of three telco providers. Usually this means you are locked to the network you select. I live rural and find the providers fade in and out with coverage strength a bit and have had to change providers 4 times in 4 years as I keep having calls disconnected etc.

I was advised that provided I buy from Samsung direct the phone will be open, meaning it will work on any provider in NZ, well the big 3 anyway, and whatever provider I choose is irrelevant as they all ship via 2Degrees.

I don't care where it ships from, as long is it can on 2degrees, Vodafone or Spark.

Can anyone confirm this? Would be much appreciated.

hyperman

418 posts

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#1611728 15-Aug-2016 10:00

Even if you buy it from a telco here in nz it will not be "sim locked"

however most providers will require it to be on a post paid connection be it fixed or open term

The views expressed by me are not necessarily those of my employer

Stu

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#1611731 15-Aug-2016 10:01

That is correct. There are a a tweak or two that are geared towards the 2Degrees network, but it will work on any of the three. The phone will also have the 2Degrees startup logo and the 2Degrees app preinstalled.

People often mistake me for an adult because of my age.

Keep calm, and carry on posting.

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thecatsgoolies

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#1611732 15-Aug-2016 10:01

It does not mean handset will be SIM locked but you should get the handset for the network you will be using the handset on as they will have slightly different software versions and features enabled

Stu

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#1611735 15-Aug-2016 10:03

hyperman:

however most providers will require it to be on a post paid connection be it fixed or open term

Confirming this doesn't apply unless you buy from the telco itself.

People often mistake me for an adult because of my age.

Keep calm, and carry on posting.

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sep11guy

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#1611760 15-Aug-2016 10:45

Stu:

The phone will also have the 2Degrees startup logo and the 2Degrees app preinstalled.

do you have this info direct from samsung itself / does it say this somewere on the website , or are you "assuming" this?

Stu

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#1611765 15-Aug-2016 10:48

I bought my S7 Edge from a Samsung Kiosk. They sold all three variants, I chose 2Degrees because that's the network I'm on. Why else do you think they list all three networks on the website if there aren't differences?

People often mistake me for an adult because of my age.

Keep calm, and carry on posting.

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Sancho

119 posts

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#1611766 15-Aug-2016 10:50

Can these 'tweaks' and branding be removed should I wish to move to another network? Or just don't want a telco splash screen?

Samsung

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Stu

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#1611770 15-Aug-2016 10:53

Not without root access and/or flashing a different ROM.

The tweaks are nothing major, and don't stop the phones being used on the other networks.

People often mistake me for an adult because of my age.

Keep calm, and carry on posting.

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Sancho

119 posts

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#1611785 15-Aug-2016 11:02

Thanks everyone... have ordered, If I dont like it I'l flick it on and keep the iPhone 6s Plus.

Main reason for changing is I have to upload a bank file to our system each morning for my staff to match it and send out orders and my iPhone cannot download the file and them upload it without using numerous apps (and even then I havn't been able to do it successfully) which is just pathetic. But the only reason I moved to iPhone in the first place was because my S3 (latest model at the time) couldn't hold a signal where I am (which isnt exactly overly remote!) - Hopefully the Note will be better in that area.

richms

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#1611834 15-Aug-2016 11:24

But they do prevent you getting timely software updates, since the telco is then involved in the process.

Really wish we at least got the unbranded aussie software release here.

Richard rich.ms

Kopkiwi

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#1611892 15-Aug-2016 13:08

richms:

But they do prevent you getting timely software updates, since the telco is then involved in the process.

Really wish we at least got the unbranded aussie software release here.

Why not manually install it? Piece of piss to do.

MissyMoo

148 posts

Master Geek

#1612030 15-Aug-2016 15:43

Sancho:
Hoping someone can confirm what I have been told from Samsung direct when I called. My main reason for concern is that the call was obviously answered offshore and the operator didn't sound overly confident.

I went to preorder on the Samsung site directly but it makes the buyer select one of three telco providers. Usually this means you are locked to the network you select. I live rural and find the providers fade in and out with coverage strength a bit and have had to change providers 4 times in 4 years as I keep having calls disconnected etc.

I was advised that provided I buy from Samsung direct the phone will be open, meaning it will work on any provider in NZ, well the big 3 anyway, and whatever provider I choose is irrelevant as they all ship via 2Degrees.

I don't care where it ships from, as long is it can on 2degrees, Vodafone or Spark.

Can anyone confirm this? Would be much appreciated.

Just buy one from Noel leeming. They told me it's unlocked to all networks

stevenz

2802 posts

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#1612510 16-Aug-2016 14:36

"unlocked to all networks" is not the same as "unbranded", it'll have 2Degrees branding but will work with all NZ TelCo's.

@KnightNZ

stevenz

2802 posts

Uber Geek

#1612512 16-Aug-2016 14:37

Kopkiwi:
richms:But they do prevent you getting timely software updates, since the telco is then involved in the process.

Really wish we at least got the unbranded aussie software release here.

Why not manually install it? Piece of piss to do.

Is it just a case of finding the appropriate firmware file (samfirmware.com ?) and flashing it using Odin still?

@KnightNZ

Kopkiwi

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#1612520 16-Aug-2016 14:54

stevenz:

Kopkiwi:
richms:But they do prevent you getting timely software updates, since the telco is then involved in the process.

Really wish we at least got the unbranded aussie software release here.

Why not manually install it? Piece of piss to do.

Is it just a case of finding the appropriate firmware file (samfirmware.com ?) and flashing it using Odin still?

Yeah I did it a couple weeks ago with my Note 5