Guess my S7 was affected by the 3g shutdown, but can i upgrade to an S10?

[SirMoeHimself]

So all this time I thought my Samsung Galaxy S7 would be ok after the 3g shutdown. I have a Samsung Galaxy S7 model G930U. I checked the ATT compatible list too late and saw that the S7 model that WOULD still be supported would be the G930A, and it says the model number is specific. And on the 22nd I was no longer able to make or receive calls (Signal Strength is -105 dbm 33 asu). However I can still send and receive texts and even access data/internet.
Kind of a bummer, but my main question is, I have my eyes on a refurbished Samsung Galaxy S10 unlocked. This phone is on the ATT compatible list so would I be able to get this phone and switch my sim card to it and have a working phone? Also, more specifically to the S10, on the ATT list the model number listed is G973U, and both the ATT and unlocked versions share the same model number. Would I be able to get the unlocked version or should i play it safe and get an ATT version? Thanks, guys.

 

[VidJunky]

The S10 is a 4G/LTE device and should not be affected by the 3G shutdown and changing devices is usually as easy swapping SIM cards. As for ATT model vs. unlocked, you'll probably be happier with the unlocked version as there is far less bloatware than the ATT model. In my opinion I wouldn't foresee any reason this switch wouldn't work out for you.

 

[Laura Knotek]

The S10 is a 4G/LTE device and should not be affected by the 3G shutdown and changing devices is usually as easy swapping SIM cards. As for ATT model vs. unlocked, you'll probably be happier with the unlocked version as there is far less bloatware than the ATT model. In my opinion I wouldn't foresee any reason this switch wouldn't work out for you.

I concur. To the OP, it is also possible to flash the carrier firmware via Odin if you really want to.

 

[L0n3N1nja]

The S10 is a 4G/LTE device and should not be affected by the 3G shutdown and changing devices is usually as easy swapping SIM cards. As for ATT model vs. unlocked, you'll probably be happier with the unlocked version as there is far less bloatware than the ATT model. In my opinion I wouldn't foresee any reason this switch wouldn't work out for you.

It could very well be affected, and clearly has been.

 

[L0n3N1nja]

Do you have advanced calling enabled in settings? It's needed for HD Voice(Voice over LTE/data) now that the 3G network is shut down. There's a possibility you can't enable it on AT&T using an unlocked phone of that age.

 

[SirMoeHimself]

Scratched reply.

 

[SirMoeHimself]

The S10 is a 4G/LTE device and should not be affected by the 3G shutdown and changing devices is usually as easy swapping SIM cards. As for ATT model vs. unlocked, you'll probably be happier with the unlocked version as there is far less bloatware than the ATT model. In my opinion I wouldn't foresee any reason this switch wouldn't work out for you.

Thank you for this. I feel assured. I mean, the S10 phone and model number is on the ATT list of compatible phones so it should work. I should also add that I was on an ATT customer service chat, and both people really sounded like they wanted me to go to the store. First person said there was some push update she could activate that would, and I quote, "take 48 hours over network but would be instant if you went to the ATT store." Second guy did confirm that my S7 would be affected by the shutdown but for every other question i had his answer was "go to the ATT store." THEN, when I mentioned my plan to get a refurbished S10 he asked if it was 5g, to which I responded "its 4g" and he claimed that it wouldn't work. I feel that was just a straight up lie.

 

[SirMoeHimself]

I concur. To the OP, it is also possible to flash the carrier firmware via Odin if you really want to.

Thank you for reassurance. I've never worked with Odin but that my be something I consider. Just good to know I can move forward with my plan to get that S10.

 

[SirMoeHimself]

It could very well be affected, and clearly has been.

Could you elaborate?

 

[SirMoeHimself]

Do you have advanced calling enabled in settings? It's needed for HD Voice(Voice over LTE/data) now that the 3G network is shut down. There's a possibility you can't enable it on AT&T using an unlocked phone of that age.

Are you talking about my S7? I don't think I can do that, hence why it probably is affected by the shut down. I'll enable it on the S10 though.

 

[Laura Knotek]

Are you talking about my S7? I don't think I can do that, hence why it probably is affected by the shut down. I'll enable it on the S10 though.

He is referring to your S7. The S10 definitely supports VoLTE (aka HD calling).

 

[smvim]

Your S7 includes support for 4G/LTE, just get a new SIM card from AT&T. Keep in mind that 4G has been in place for decades now. I used to have a S3 that used a 4G Sprint service (2012 or so) and even back at that point 4G was a well-established, mature cellular network. Keep in mind it's the cellular radio chip that's soldered onto your S7's logic board that connects to different cellular networks, a SIM card just retains your account info and authenticates your cellular access. So get a current SIM card, your phone already supports the bands necessary for 4G/LTE. Don't keep using your current 3G SIM, it's time to move on.

You could keep using your S7 but it's a dated model so upgrading to a S10 might be a wise move for a lot of other reasons.

 

[SirMoeHimself]

He is referring to your S7. The S10 definitely supports VoLTE (aka HD calling).

Thank you for that. And that's also good to know.

 

[SirMoeHimself]

Your S7 includes support for 4G/LTE, just get a new SIM card from AT&T. Keep in mind that 4G has been in place for decades now. I used to have a S3 that used a 4G Sprint service (2012 or so) and even back at that point 4G was a well-established, mature cellular network. Keep in mind it's the cellular radio chip that's soldered onto your S7's logic board that connects to different cellular networks, a SIM card just retains your account info and authenticates your cellular access. So get a current SIM card, your phone already supports the bands necessary for 4G/LTE. Don't keep using your current 3G SIM, it's time to move on.

You could keep using your S7 but it's a dated model so upgrading to a S10 might be a wise move for a lot of other reasons.

Just wanna say you guys are really helping me, and I am definitely learning things here. And yes I probably should get a new sim card, as the one I have I've had for several years now, and started off as a mini sized I had cut down to a nano size at my phone repair place. Of course that was two or three years ago and it still works fine. But as you said upgrading the phone for newer Android versions and other reasons is why I'm probably still gonna get the S10, and my S7 has a screen flicker that's off and on that can be annoying (but not ready to go into the 20's yet plus the S10 I'm looking at is loads cheaper.) But I'll probably get the S10 and transfer my current sim card first, then get a new sim card. Seeing as I can get the phone here a lot quicker and would rather have it if I HAVE to go into the store to lessen the sales assault I'll get. Thanks for the info and suggestion about the sim card. That's somethint I never considered, and I'm glad it's not necessary to do now but it is something I believe I'll do.

 

[smvim]

Use Samsung's Smart Switch utility to transfer your S7 user account data to a newer S10. Smart Switch works with a limited number of non-Samsung devices but it's primarily a Samsung-to-Samsung service. Works phone-to-phone but install it on a computer and do a S7 to computer to S10 transfer instead. That gives you a restorable backup on a separate computer , and it's always better to have a remote backup. Don't just store important files solely on any smartphone, that's not a safe practice. Anyway, Smart Switch isn't as comprehensive and seamless as Apple's Time Machine style backup/restore service but it's close. It will make migrating between two Samsung devices are lot less of a hassle.
https://forums.androidcentral.com/e...%2Fus%2Fapps%2Fsmart-switch%2F&token=guLU9XPE

But again whether you do or don't upgrade phones, just request a new SIM card from AT&T, or at the very least check your current APN settings. According to reference in one of AT&T's support pages, if there's a reference to wap.cingular as a server, their cellular network no longer supports is. Try creating a new APN entry using AT&T's currently documented settings and see if that works out.
https://forums.androidcentral.com/e...rt/article/wireless/KM1062162/&token=Ehm3K091
(Be sure to use the config settings exactly as spelled and don't add in any spaces or other characters on your own -- i.e. don't just arbitrarily add space characters. And when you select the new APN entry you just created, be sure to reboot your phone to test it. Otherwise the old APN data remains in use, a reboot reloads the APN into memory at startup.) Or just get a new SIM card, that will by default add a current APN to your phone.

 

[SirMoeHimself]

Use Samsung's Smart Switch utility to transfer your S7 user account data to a newer S10. Smart Switch works with a limited number of non-Samsung devices but it's primarily a Samsung-to-Samsung service. Works phone-to-phone but install it on a computer and do a S7 to computer to S10 transfer instead. That gives you a restorable backup on a separate computer , and it's always better to have a remote backup. Don't just store important files solely on any smartphone, that's not a safe practice. Anyway, Smart Switch isn't as comprehensive and seamless as Apple's Time Machine style backup/restore service but it's close. It will make migrating between two Samsung devices are lot less of a hassle.
https://forums.androidcentral.com/e...%2Fus%2Fapps%2Fsmart-switch%2F&token=pKpRu9BK

But again whether you do or don't upgrade phones, just request a new SIM card from AT&T, or at the very least check your current APN settings. According to reference in one of AT&T's support pages, if there's a reference to wap.cingular as a server, their cellular network no longer supports is. Try creating a new APN entry using AT&T's currently documented settings and see if that works out.
https://forums.androidcentral.com/e...rt/article/wireless/KM1062162/&token=LY4vZNY1
(Be sure to use the config settings exactly as spelled and don't add in any spaces or other characters on your own -- i.e. don't just arbitrarily add space characters. And when you select the new APN entry you just created, be sure to reboot your phone to test it. Otherwise the old APN data remains in use, a reboot reloads the APN into memory at startup.) Or just get a new SIM card, that will by default add a current APN to your phone.

Yeah I've never taken advantage of Samsung's switch features. When I went from my S4 to S7 i just held both phones in my hands and downloaded apps one at a time. But a computer assist is part of my plans for sure. I'll have to give this Smart Switch a try. And yeah I'm already backing up personal files to transfer to a larger sd card I have. And yeah you've definitely convinced me to make arrangements to get a new sim card. Again, much thanks for all of this!

 

[SirMoeHimself]

Use Samsung's Smart Switch utility to transfer your S7 user account data to a newer S10. Smart Switch works with a limited number of non-Samsung devices but it's primarily a Samsung-to-Samsung service. Works phone-to-phone but install it on a computer and do a S7 to computer to S10 transfer instead. That gives you a restorable backup on a separate computer , and it's always better to have a remote backup. Don't just store important files solely on any smartphone, that's not a safe practice. Anyway, Smart Switch isn't as comprehensive and seamless as Apple's Time Machine style backup/restore service but it's close. It will make migrating between two Samsung devices are lot less of a hassle.
https://forums.androidcentral.com/e...%2Fus%2Fapps%2Fsmart-switch%2F&token=doBbKAOR

But again whether you do or don't upgrade phones, just request a new SIM card from AT&T, or at the very least check your current APN settings. According to reference in one of AT&T's support pages, if there's a reference to wap.cingular as a server, their cellular network no longer supports is. Try creating a new APN entry using AT&T's currently documented settings and see if that works out.
https://forums.androidcentral.com/e...rt/article/wireless/KM1062162/&token=yCYiCF8H
(Be sure to use the config settings exactly as spelled and don't add in any spaces or other characters on your own -- i.e. don't just arbitrarily add space characters. And when you select the new APN entry you just created, be sure to reboot your phone to test it. Otherwise the old APN data remains in use, a reboot reloads the APN into memory at startup.) Or just get a new SIM card, that will by default add a current APN to your phone.

So just to update, S10 arrived, refurbished and in GREAT condition. I was initially concerned though when I turned it on and it mentioned "Verizon network" during the set up and there were Verizon apps, considering I made sure to get one unlocked. But, I put in my ATT sim card, was told to restart, and then actually saw the ATT logo on start up. When it got to the home screen the Verizon apps were gone and replaced with ATT apps, and 6 voicemails I couldn't check before appeared at the top of the screen. And of course, I was able to check voicemail, made two successful test calls and access data. So now I will make an effort to replace my sim card.

 

[Laura Knotek]

So just to update, S10 arrived, refurbished and in GREAT condition. I was initially concerned though when I turned it on and it mentioned "Verizon network" during the set up and there were Verizon apps, considering I made sure to get one unlocked. But, I put in my ATT sim card, was told to restart, and then actually saw the ATT logo on start up. When it got to the home screen the Verizon apps were gone and replaced with ATT apps, and 6 voicemails I couldn't check before appeared at the top of the screen. And of course, I was able to check voicemail, made two successful test calls and access data. So now I will make an effort to replace my sim card.

I'm glad everything is working for you on your S10. Thanks for the follow-up.