Note 3 is region locked

[Highrisedrifter]

I did not read the entire thread but I heard it just has to be activated with a Sim from the region its from and then it can be used with other Sim cards.

Yeah that's what they say. However that turned out to not be the case and the issue that even after a correct activation, foreign sims will not work is being reported all over the net. The XDA thread is now over 80 pages long and it's chock-a-block full of people who have tried the alleged 'official method' and it just does not work.

Samsung sneaked this in under the radar and are keeping tight lipped. I for one think Samsung can burn in hell for this. B*stards.

 

[21stNow]

I haven't read the thread on XDA yet. Are US customers noticing problems, as well? I just picked up my Note 3 from T-Mobile and it doesn't have the stickers about the region restrictions on the box.

 

[vpblaze]

Here is another link of a good article about the region locking.

http://m.androidauthority.com/galax...4-4-update-lock-older-galaxy-handsets-279416/

It's hard to rely on any of this info being legit and for real, but it's scary to think that they would do an update that could make your already unlocked phone not work when travelling. Call me silly.... But that just doesn't seem right....

Posted via Android Central App on my Note 2!

 

[Simon_y7]

I think that once the phone begins reaching American consumers and people notice the sticker, there's going to be much unhappiness and complaints galore to Samsung and the carriers. I can't see how this policy can be defended and sustained.

 

[Highrisedrifter]

I think that once the phone begins reaching American consumers and people notice the sticker, there's going to be much unhappiness and complaints galore to Samsung and the carriers. I can't see how this policy can be defended and sustained.

I would like to agree with you but I just think that this region lock won't go away and Samsung will just stick their fingers in their ears and go "la la la" until we all put up or shut up. I would dearly love to be proven wrong over this though.

 

[21stNow]

I think that once the phone begins reaching American consumers and people notice the sticker, there's going to be much unhappiness and complaints galore to Samsung and the carriers. I can't see how this policy can be defended and sustained.

As I stated in an earlier post, the stickers weren't present on my T-Mobile GN3, so it may not affect all American consumers.

 

[Simon_y7]

It's not guaranteed. My understanding that people bought S3 and S4 with no stickers, tried to put other regions' SIMs, and then discovered that their phones were locked.

 

[Raptor007]

While I do not travel much outside the US/Caribbean I am very disappointed in the locked down nature of Samsungs phones. If this is their new trend then I need to look to other phone brands in the future. It doesn't affect my plans for the GN3, but it very well may affect a GN4 or GN5 purchase in the future. I just can't support artificial restrictions that are unneeded and do nothing but line the carriers pockets.

 

[Caeh Augusto]

Guys, does that mean if i buy the American model, i'll be able to use it in Brazil, with a brazilian sim card? And what kind of description i have to look to make sure it's an american model? Because i am ordering one at amazon.com...

 

[Simon_y7]

Galaxy Note 3 Region-Lock a Mistake, Says Samsung

 

[Zergslayer69]

So based on the article Samsung is basically saying "we deeply apologize for the inconvenience and recognize it's a mistake, but that's your problem, here's a complimentary cup of coffee for your troubles, if there's any coffee at all"? Thanks for nothing I guess.

 

[Eclipse2K]

So based on the article Samsung is basically saying "we deeply apologize for the inconvenience and recognize it's a mistake, but that's your problem, here's a complimentary cup of coffee for your troubles, if there's any coffee at all"? Thanks for nothing I guess.

No, Samsung has the restriction in place so you can't buy a device shipped to Europe for initial activation if its an American device. Makes perfect sense and its only region locked during initial activation. Once activated you can use it in any region you choose to. While I'm sure many will still find this policy frustrating it does make sense. Not saying whether I'm for or against it but rather just stating the facts.

Sent from my Droid Maxx using Tapatalk Pro

 

[Zergslayer69]

Hmm, ok then that's not so bad. I have an unlocked t-mobile Note 3 coming in that I ordered from Negri which I'll be activating in the states. I'll be heading out to Taiwan next month, so I assume I can grab some random sim from their 7/11 and it should work since my t-mo phone was first initialized in the correct country?

 

[Adamsberg]

Samsungs has admitted that region-locking was ultimately a mistake ?

I think this web site has the statement of Samsung Germany better interpreted.
http://m.androidauthority.com/samsung-region-lock-surprise-284590/

Update:
Today the Note 3 got an update and should now accept SIM cards from other regions when the Note 3 was correctly activated in its home region ... like Eclipse has posted above

 

[midnite_blue]

... Samsung has the restriction in place so you can't buy a device shipped to Europe for initial activation if its an American device. Makes perfect sense and its only region locked during initial activation. Once activated you can use it in any region you choose to. While I'm sure many will still find this policy frustrating it does make sense. Not saying whether I'm for or against it but rather just stating the facts.

I've been trying to make sense of this new policy of Samsung's and I was wondering, what sense do you make of it?
How does it make sense? Thanks.

 

[Simon_y7]

I've been trying to make sense of this new policy of Samsung's and I was wondering, what sense do you make of it?
How does it make sense? Thanks.

This is one. Counting down your posts.

 

[midnite_blue]

...Samsung has the restriction in place so you can't buy a device shipped to Europe for initial activation if its an American device. Makes perfect sense and its only region locked during initial activation.... While I'm sure many will still find this policy frustrating it does make sense. Not saying whether I'm for or against it....

What I need help with understanding is:

1. What was the disadvantage to Samsung of the situation prior to region locking?

2. Were too many people outside Europe buying European phones and too many outside the Americas buying American phones? (I thought it was the cheaper phones from the Middle East and Asia flowing West that was the problem for Samsung.)

3. How does region-locking Europe and the Americas clamp down on the product flow through the market that Samsung didn't like? Doesn't it make the already cheaper Middle Eastern and Asian phones even more attractive to Western buyers -- since they're not region locked -- and yet no more difficult to find and use?

4. Why can't buyers re-sell phones to whomever they want to unless they're in violation of a licensing agreement, and if the latter is the case, why not just enforce the terms of those deals?

I'm obviously missing something... would appreciate anyone's insight on the gray-market explanation Samsung has offered.