Importing a Verizon model.

[datafiend]

Hey all,

I live outside of the USA and I was thinking of importing a Verizon S6 from Amazon. I understand that Verizon phones are GSM unlocked and I'm wondering if I were to purchase a contract free S6 if I would be able to use it with my carrier without having to activate it with Verizon?

 

[Rukbat]

If your carrier uses the same frequencies for 3G, 4G and LTE. Add shipping and import duty and it would probably be cheaper to buy one designed for your continent from an on-line seller. (And the Verizon version - 920V - doesn't have the bands for a few countries that I'm aware of off the top of my head, like Globe in the Philippines.)

Your choices, other than US carriers, are:

SM-G9200 (Hong Kong)
SM-G9208, SM-G9208/SS, SM-G9209 (China)
SM-G920F (Global)
SM-G920FD (Pakistan, Philippines)
SM-G920I (Latin Aerica, Singapore, India, Australia)
SM-G920S (Korea)

 

[datafiend]

Ty for the feedback. I would prefer to buy an unlocked international model but it is way too expensive and my carrier will only be carrying the 32gb model.

 

[Rukbat]

Have you checked 1) whether the Verizon model covers the frequencies your carrier uses and 2) how much shipping, insurance and import duty will be?

 

[datafiend]

Verizon would support everything other than 4G with my carrier, I may go with the T-Mobile version as it does support it. Would you happen to know if there would be any problem unlocking a T-Mobile phone without activating it on their network first? Also I would willing to eat the import cost.