Galaxy S8 Active - It's here!!

[Toes Up]

VZW never gets them Unlocked won't have access to the best VZW features.

What are the best VZW features and why would those features not work on an unlocked phone? Thanks.

 

[PowrDroid]

None of the others ever got to VZW. I making an assumption based on the past. I'm also a pessimist.

If it doesn't make it to Verizon this might be the phone that gets me to leave Big Red.

 

[recDNA]

What are the best VZW features and why would those features not work on an unlocked phone? Thanks.

Often some of the lte bands are not available. Sometimes you don't get 3G only LTE or 1G. Special calling features like wifi calling or advanced calling may not be available. Often updates must be manually installed with Odin. It varies but if you read any of the threads about unlocked phones being connected to VZW network you'll see the complaints. It is hard to predict the problems but it seems like there are always problems. Some will deny any issues. Someone else says wait this doesn't work or that doesn't work then first person says I don't care about that feature. That doesn't mean there is no problem. Now if vzw SELLS the phone then we're all set and it does sound nice.

 

[jimd1050]

Often some of the lte bands are not available. Sometimes you don't get 3G only LTE or 1G. Special calling features like wifi calling or advanced calling may not be available. Often updates must be manually installed with Odin. It varies but if you read any of the threads about unlocked phones being connected to VZW network you'll see the complaints. It is hard to predict the problems but it seems like there are always problems. Some will deny any issues. Someone else says wait this doesn't work or that doesn't work then first person says I don't care about that feature. That doesn't mean there is no problem. Now if vzw SELLS the phone then we're all set and it does sound nice.

That's why two years ago, I switched to AT&T after twenty-three years with Verizon for what I could only describe as their total arrogance! They do what THEY want and really don't care what YOU or I want... I had finally had it! Buh-bye! Hello AT&T! No looking back - totally happy since.

 

[strikeIII]

That's why two years ago, I switched to AT&T after twenty-three years with Verizon for what I could only describe as their total arrogance! They do what THEY want and really don't care what YOU or I want... I had finally had it! Buh-bye! Hello AT&T! No looking back - totally happy since.

I'm happy with AT&T as well but like Verizon if you don't buy a carrier device you won't get the Advanced features they offer. I have a Google Pixel and Blackberry KEYone and AT&T does not support those devices for WiFi Calling, Direct Video Calling, Advanced Messaging, VoLTE (HD Voice), etc. It's a bummer...

 

[jimd1050]

I'm happy with AT&T as well but like Verizon if you don't buy a carrier device you won't get the Advanced features they offer. I have a Google Pixel and Blackberry KEYone and AT&T does not support those devices for WiFi Calling, Direct Video Calling, Advanced Messaging, VoLTE (HD Voice), etc. It's a bummer...

Absolutely! But neither do T-Mobile, or Sprint, etc. - the Special Functions for the Google Pixel/XL were ONLY available with Verizon. I found that out too. I ordered one before they were shipping (Thank God) - I had a Pixel XL on backorder and had done some reading, and some more reading and then finally realized that I was screwed trying to use it on AT&T. I was able to cancel the order for a full refund because they weren't shipping yet!!! Whatever... I guess you have to go with the flow wherever you hang your hat!

 

[Almeuit]

Absolutely! But neither do T-Mobile, or Sprint, etc. - the Special Functions for the Google Pixel/XL were ONLY available with Verizon. I found that out too. I ordered one before they were shipping (Thank God) - I had a Pixel XL on backorder and had done some reading, and some more reading and then finally realized that I was screwed trying to use it on AT&T. I was able to cancel the order for a full refund because they weren't shipping yet!!! Whatever... I guess you have to go with the flow wherever you hang your hat!

Ehhh hold your horses there. T-Mobile does support WiFi calling / VoLTE on unlocked devices .

 

[jimd1050]

Ehhh hold your horses there. T-Mobile does support WiFi calling / VoLTE on unlocked devices .

When I was about to buy the Pixel, Pre-Release, there were several features that were only available if you were on Verizon's Network Almeuit. I can't remember now what they were but they were major issues for me - enough to make me cancel the order because I was with AT&T. Do you remember that?

 

[Almeuit]

When I was about to buy the Pixel, Pre-Release, there were several features that were only available if you were on Verizon's Network Almeuit. I can't remember now what they were but they were major issues for me - enough to make me cancel the order because I was with AT&T. Do you remember that?

AT&T -- yes you don't get that stuff.

You said Sprint and T-Mobile don't allow those things but that is incorrect. T-Mobile allows WiFi calling / VoLTE to work on unlocked devices. I had a Google Pixel XL on T-Mobile. I had VoLTE and WiFi calling without doing any extra legwork except toggling the setting.

 

[PowrDroid]

AT&T -- yes you don't get that stuff.

What about with Cricket wireless, AT&T's MVNO?

 

[PowrDroid]

Saw and handled the S8 Active at Best Buy this weekend. It's a spec sheet dream, but it's not a pretty phone. It was kind of a let down, especially seeing it next to the S8 and S8+. Still, it crushes my top two priorities in a cell phone--battery and camera.

 

[Almeuit]

What about with Cricket wireless, AT&T's MVNO?

I don't believe you get it there either. AT&T is really strict about their stuff like that when it comes to WiFi calling / VoLTE. They want you to have their phone / software.

 

[dmfp]

I got my S8 Active as soon as the doors opened at AT&T on Friday. I have NEVER broke the screen on any of my phones, yet somehow, magically, I found two small cracks in the screen on my shiny new S8 Active before my case arrived Monday afternoon. It was never dropped. It had to have happened in my pocket, with the screen against my leg, and nothing else in the pocket. I'm very disappointed.

 

[y2jdmbfan]

I got my S8 Active as soon as the doors opened at AT&T on Friday. I have NEVER broke the screen on any of my phones, yet somehow, magically, I found two small cracks in the screen on my shiny new S8 Active before my case arrived Monday afternoon. It was never dropped. It had to have happened in my pocket, with the screen against my leg, and nothing else in the pocket. I'm very disappointed.

I've got an order on Samsung.com for $549.99 after discount and trade-in, but they are currently backordered. I'm tempted to cancel and wait for Note 8 or Pixel XL 2. I don't know...I wish I didn't have this phone addiction. Pixel XL is pretty much everything I want except no wireless charging and no Samsung Pay.

 

[jimd1050]

I've got an order on Samsung.com for $549.99 after discount and trade-in, but they are currently backordered. I'm tempted to cancel and wait for Note 8 or Pixel XL 2. I don't know...I wish I didn't have this phone addiction. Pixel XL is pretty much everything I want except no wireless charging and no Samsung Pay.

Are you with AT&T?

 

[jimd1050]

I got my S8 Active as soon as the doors opened at AT&T on Friday. I have NEVER broke the screen on any of my phones, yet somehow, magically, I found two small cracks in the screen on my shiny new S8 Active before my case arrived Monday afternoon. It was never dropped. It had to have happened in my pocket, with the screen against my leg, and nothing else in the pocket. I'm very disappointed.

Wow... seriously sorry to hear that! I cannot believe it... with the number of times I have dropped my S7 Active and how badly I have treated it, I would hope the S8 Active would be at least equal if not an improvement in durability!!! I mean, I seriously (not on purpose) kicked the crap out of my S7 Active and it doesn't have a scratch - it's in an iBlasson case and has had a tempered glass screen protector since day one but... damned!

 

[anneoneamouse]

@dmfp

I notice that this is your first post here.

Please post pictures of the cracks in your screen.

Thanks,

AoN

 

[y2jdmbfan]

Are you with AT&T?

Yep.

 

[jimd1050]

Yep.

I backed out of my regular Pixel XL order because of a couple of features that Verizon offered that worked on the Pixel that AT&T didn't offer. Can't remember now which features they were but be careful with the Pixel and AT&T... ask your AT&T Rep and hopefully they'll give you a credible answer.

They didn't offer the original Pixel so if they offer the Pixel 2 once it's introduced, then maybe that's been taken care of?

 

[Almeuit]

I backed out of my regular Pixel XL order because of a couple of features that Verizon offered that worked on the Pixel that AT&T didn't offer. Can't remember now which features they were but be careful with the Pixel and AT&T... ask your AT&T Rep and hopefully they'll give you a credible answer.

They didn't offer the original Pixel so if they offer the Pixel 2 once it's introduced, then maybe that's been taken care of?

The Pixel on AT&T will work network wise -- Just no WiFi calling or VoLTE. Those features aren't allowed by AT&T when it comes to that. Sprint never really had VoLTE so pretty much T-Mobile / Verizon allowed it to work for that phone. Other then that I can't think of anything that was exclusive to Verizon at all except the phone itself being purchasable from their stores.

Pixel 2 -- Not sure if that will still be a Verizon only thing. If AT&T themselves sell it then I could see them allowing said features to work.