Locked phone?

[rkeenan]

I called ATT to check if a Nexus 4 was able to activate on their network. They said that it is "locked". I didn't think that would be possible since it is an unlocked phone. I checked on CheckESNFree.com and it said everything is fine. I want this phone badly but I do not want to risk buying a locked phone that I can't use. Any advice? T-Mobile is not an option because it does not work where I live.

 

[Christopher Matthews Jr]

Yes, you will be able to use ATT with the N4. You will not, however be able to utilize LTE speeds. Highest you can go is HSPA+.

Tapped from my Nexus 10.1

 

[rkeenan]

Is it possible that it is carrier locked? ATT Customer Service told me it was but the CheckESNFree.com said it is not.

 

[jtb79]

I am on at&t and bought mine last week. It arrived Thursday night and I popped Sim out of old phone and into Nexus 4 and it works perfectly. So far I've had no problems at all.

Posted via Android Central App

 

[Christopher Matthews Jr]

Is it possible that it is carrier locked? ATT Customer Service told me it was but the CheckESNFree.com said it is not.

No. They are wrong. They simply don't like when people with unlocked phones use their network. They prefer you to use a AT&T branded device.

It is an international device, so it should function on any service that supports the frequency bands the phone's hardware supports.

Tapped from my Nexus 10.1

 

[rkeenan]

I am on at&t and bought mine last week. It arrived Thursday night and I popped Sim out of old phone and into Nexus 4 and it works perfectly. So far I've had no problems at all.

Posted via Android Central App

I KNOW it works on ATT. It is a GSM phone! I am asking if it is possible for a Nexus 4 to be locked by another carrier so it cannot be used on the ATT network. I called an ATT rep and they said the phone is locked but according to CheckESNFree.com, it is not locked. I don't want to get burned on a phone that ATT will not activate.

 

[rkeenan]

No. They are wrong. They simply don't like when people with unlocked phones use their network. They prefer you to use a AT&T branded device.

It is an international device, so it should function on any service that supports the frequency bands the phone's hardware supports.

Tapped from my Nexus 10.1

Thank you, Sir. I thought the same thing.

 

[Christopher Matthews Jr]

Thank you, Sir. I thought the same thing.

It simply isn't possible for it to be carrier locked. It comes straight from Google. Not a carrier.

Tapped from my Nexus 10.1

 

[rkeenan]

It simply isn't possible for it to be carrier locked. It comes straight from Google. Not a carrier.

Tapped from my Nexus 10.1

Yeah, I was wondering about the possibility of it being purchased subsidized through T-Mobile and then the user screwed their account or reported it stolen. I know if it is bought through Google Play, then it should be impossible for it to have a bad ESN.

 

[Christopher Matthews Jr]

Yeah, I was wondering about the possibility of it being purchased subsidized through T-Mobile and then the user screwed their account or reported it stolen. I know if it is bought through Google Play, then it should be impossible for it to have a bad ESN.

If I were to buy a Nexus, it would be outright. No sense in screwing around with the formalities that you mentioned.

And Nexus's don't have ESN numbers, as they are not CDMA phones. The only thing you'd have to worry about, is a botched IMEI number. But generally, those are very hard to mess up.

Tapped from my Nexus 10.1

 

[rkeenan]

If I were to buy a Nexus, it would be outright. No sense in screwing around with the formalities that you mentioned.

And Nexus's don't have ESN numbers, as they are not CDMA phones. The only thing you'd have to worry about, is a botched IMEI number. But generally, those are very hard to mess up.

Tapped from my Nexus 10.1

Yeah, the IMEI number is clear according to CheckESNFree.com and through Swappa. I think ATT is just being difficult

 

[Christopher Matthews Jr]

Yeah, the IMEI number is clear according to CheckESNFree.com and through Swappa. I think ATT is just being difficult

Then I'd go for it man.

Have you had a look at any prepaid services, like GoPhone, Net10, or Aio Wireless?

Tapped from my Nexus 10.1

 

[rkeenan]

Then I'd go for it man.

Have you had a look at any prepaid services, like GoPhone, Net10, or Aio Wireless?

Tapped from my Nexus 10.1

Yeah, I looked at GoPhone. Probably my best bet

 

[Christopher Matthews Jr]

Agreed. And they do not throttle, which is a major plus!

Have a look at this: http://smartphones.wonderhowto.com/how-to/enable-hidden-4g-lte-feature-your-google-nexus-4-0140450/


Keep that in mind, as GoPhone just got 4G LTE..

Tapped from my Nexus 10.1