Verizon Galaxy S8 Galaxies shipping unlocked?

[Ultimate Catastrophe]

I received my S8+ a couple of days ago and couldn't help but notice the model number of my phone: SM-G955U. While I can't find concrete evidence that the phone is carrier unlocked, I do know that Samsung's previous track record usually reserved the "U" ending for carrier unlocked phones while the four main US carriers had their own respective letters following, instead of the U. My wife's S8 is the same way. Can anyone provide an explanation??

 

[JHBThree]

All S8 pluses are 955U model numbers, save for ATT because they use their SKU numbers as the model number. The U doesn't mean unlocked. It probably actually is a signifier that it's a US model.

 

[smoothrunnings]

They might be unlocked but due to Samsung's policy with unlocked devices they won't stay unlocked very long. Samsungs policy as I have learned is that first SIM you insert into their unlocked devices, the device will lock to that carrier. If you were like me where my wife bought my Tab S2 from Walmart, you then have to go the place were you bought the device to have them unlocked (if you didn't buy directly from Samsung).

 

[bhatech]

That just signifies hardware, firmwares are different for different carriers and they are sim locked to their respective carrier except Verizon who is required by FCC to have all their phones sim unlocked.

 

[aokusman1]

Only Verizon one comes unlocked. Others will be locked to whatever carrier it's sold on.

 

[elter]

Yeah, if I recall correctly, VZW got 700Mhz band with a condition that devices using it must be unlocked.

 

[Almeuit]

Yeah, if I recall correctly, VZW got 700Mhz band with a condition that devices using it must be unlocked.

Yep.

 

[Bugwart]

My S6 Edge was unlocked from Verizon. I have used the following SIM cards with it: original Verizon SIM card, 3 Ireland, O2 Deutschland, China Unicom 2 different SIM cards. All worked and there was no issue getting the phone to accept any of these cards. Note, data was easy on all but O2 DE. That took one hour on the phone with a mediocre CSR - auf Deutsch.

On the positive side, customer service from China Unicom was outstanding. They responded by email to my Amazon review and then continued discussing issues with me on WeChat.

 

[Bugwart]

My S6 Edge was unlocked from Verizon. I have used the following SIM cards with it: original Verizon SIM card, 3 Ireland, O2 Deutschland, China Unicom 2 different SIM cards. All worked and there was no issue getting the phone to accept any of these cards. Note, data was easy on all but O2 DE. That took one hour on the phone with a mediocre CSR - auf Deutsch.

On the positive side, customer service from China Unicom was outstanding. They responded by email to my Amazon review and then continued discussing issues with me on WeChat.