T-Mobile Galaxy S4 Unlock

[agunjal]

Hi There,

I recently picked up a T-Mobile S4 for full price. I was tired of being tied to a contract. I am traveling to Thailand next week and want this phone to be unlocked. I am getting the run around from T-Mobile even though I paid full price.

Does anyone have any ideas how I can unlock this? I really would like to buy a local SIM card

AT&T said if I paid full price they would unlock it for me...so I might switch but from what I understand they are missing one LTE Band and the bootloader is locked...

Thanks in advance

 

[LoganK]

I recently picked up a T-Mobile S4 for full price. I was tired of being tied to a contract. I am traveling to Thailand next week and want this phone to be unlocked. I am getting the run around from T-Mobile even though I paid full price.

Does anyone have any ideas how I can unlock this? I really would like to buy a local SIM card

Are you going in store or calling the support line (611)? I've called the support number a few times, and they knew exactly what I wanted and executed the request very quickly.

I realize their policy changed to become much worse, but they shouldn't put up any fight if you've paid off your phone.

 

[agunjal]

Thanks. I have been trying for the past 3 days and the request keeps getting rejected. Looks like AT&T is going to be my only choice since they will unlock it ASAP

 

[lasooner]

I go to SE Asia every year. I'll be getting an S4 before my next trip and will want to get it unlocked. I can tell you with certainty that it is very easy to get a phone unlocked in Thailand. Those guys know what they are doing and they do it at a fair price. You didn't say where you are going in Thailand but, if all else fails, take you're T-Mo phone and get it unlocked there.

Here are two places that will do it in Bangkok. Pantip Plaza on Petchaburi Road and MBK at the National Stadium exit on the BTS monrail. Your hotel will definitely know these two places. I'll be getting the ATT version of the S4. I don't know what a locked bootloader is? I won't root my phone but I want to get it unlocked to use SIM cards while traveling to other countries. Is a locked bootloader a problem for me? The S4 is a quadband phone isn't it? I'm not sure what you mean by the phone is missing one LTE band. Have a great trip.

 

[agunjal]

Ah. I didn't think of that. I am going to Pukhet. But I have a 20 hour layover in Tokyo. I bet I could find someone there also. Yes the bootloader will allow you to root. This is what I meant by the AT&T is missing a BAND...Its the LTE ones......but probably doesnt matter now...

T-Mobile GS4 Radios : LTE Bands: 1/2/4/5/7/17 (2100/1900/1700/850/2600/700) MHz; HSPA+/UMTS: 850/1700/1900/2100 MHz; GSM: 850/900/1800/1900 MHz
AT&T GS4 Radios: 4G-LTE Band 4 and 17- 4G HSPA+ with enhanced backhaul - 3G - UMTS 850/1900/2100MHz - GSM/GPRS/EDGE 850/900/1800/1900MHz

 

[leanneleg]

I got my Telus one done by a guy off Ebay... had my unlock code in 2 hours and its was only 20.00

 

[agunjal]

could you PM me the information?

 

[leanneleg]

May as well post it here as others my want the info...

This is the guy I used, but it's only listed for Cdn carriers... Not sure if he can do US one, but it would be worth emailing him...
Unlock Code Samsung Galaxy Note S2 S4 SLLLL Slll S3 I747 T999 Telus Rogers Bell | eBay

If not, try: Unlock Samsung - How to Unlock Samsung Phone by Unlock Code - Samsung Unlock they were advertising as being able to as well.

 

[lasooner]

I don't think the LTE bands matter but I'm not a technical person. I want a quadband phone which will enable me to buy local SIM cards in nearly any country. The T-Mo and ATT versions apparently will both work on any GSM network.

In Phuket there is an IT section on the bottom floor of the Big C shopping mall. I've been there but it's been a long while. I'm sure you can get the phone unlocked in Phuket. If I recall correctly the trip from Narita airport to Tokyo is 2 hours each way by fast train. Thai prices for unlocking will definitely be lower than Tokyo prices. Also, Japan is not GSM. I doubt you'll be able to make calls with your phone in Japan.

 

[CehowardNote7]

Hi There,

I recently picked up a T-Mobile S4 for full price. I was tired of being tied to a contract. I am traveling to Thailand next week and want this phone to be unlocked. I am getting the run around from T-Mobile even though I paid full price.

Does anyone have any ideas how I can unlock this? I really would like to buy a local SIM card

AT&T said if I paid full price they would unlock it for me...so I might switch but from what I understand they are missing one LTE Band and the bootloader is locked...

Thanks in advance

I was told that if you purchased the phone out right from T mobile they will give you the unlock code right then and there.

If I go that route, I am going to ask before I purchase.

 

[hnmann]

I bought tmobile galaxy s4 at full price, but I am suspecting it is locked until 40 days over. And God knows how long it will take after.
I am traveling overseas within 20 days anyway. Do you think I could unlock it elsewhere, should I keep it or should I simply return?

can you email me your suggestion? my email hnmann@hotmail.com

 

[CehowardNote7]

I bought tmobile galaxy s4 at full price, but I am suspecting it is locked until 40 days over. And God knows how long it will take after.
I am traveling overseas within 20 days anyway. Do you think I could unlock it elsewhere, should I keep it or should I simply return?

can you email me your suggestion? my email hnmann@hotmail.com

You could return it, and then repurchase it again. But, this time REQUEST it be unlocked before you pay for it..It seems that will have to be truthful at that point. Either tell you they will, they won't or they can't.

- - - Updated - - -

I bought tmobile galaxy s4 at full price, but I am suspecting it is locked until 40 days over. And God knows how long it will take after.
I am traveling overseas within 20 days anyway. Do you think I could unlock it elsewhere, should I keep it or should I simply return?

can you email me your suggestion? my email hnmann@hotmail.com

You could return it, and then repurchase it again. But, this time REQUEST it be unlocked before you pay for it..It seems that will have to be truthful at that point. Either tell you they will, they won't or they can't.

 

[CehowardNote7]

You can get your Samsung galaxy s4 unlocked from Superunlockcodes.com where you just have to submit your IMEi number,country and network to them...They provide affordable unlock codes...

That means one would have to pay the full price of the phone, and then pay the fee to get it unlocked. Trying to find all my options before I buy.
This thread is has been very helpful. I want to buy it outright too, and have T Mobile as a carrier. From reading this thread, looks like my best option would be to buy the phone factory unlocked, then get a sim card from T Mobile.

 

[WhosAsking]

I wouldn't recommend going to the factory for this one.

The reason is that the US carriers cannot use LTE Band #3 (1800MHz). Though it's the most common band internationally, in North America I believe it's reserved for military applications.

The US-branded phones each trade in Band #3 for their preferred LTE Band. That's why the T-Mobile phone uses Band #4 (I have this phone as well and chose it after careful consideration). The AT&T phone uses either band #4 or band #17 while Verizon uses Band #13. So if you're going to be using your phone internationally, examine the LTE bands carefully.

Simply put, getting the phone from the factory will mean NO LTE support from any of the major carriers because the factory LTE bands are 1, 3, 5, 7, 8, & 20. No US carrier supports ANY of those bands.

You mention going to Thailand, so check for support for Band #1. The T-Mobile phone DOES support Band #1. I don't know about the others.

 

[zainab khatoon]

agunjal, i unlock samsung galaxy s4 att about 2 weeks earlier and I attained the code from safeunlockcode.com.

 

[robert_in_la]

AT&T will not unlock it without 30 days of service, if the device is paid in full. If not they will make you wait 90 days.

T-Mobile will unlock the device for post paid customers after 40 days. For prepaid they will make you wait 60-90 days.

- - - Updated - - -

I bought tmobile galaxy s4 at full price, but I am suspecting it is locked until 40 days over. And God knows how long it will take after.
I am traveling overseas within 20 days anyway. Do you think I could unlock it elsewhere, should I keep it or should I simply return?

can you email me your suggestion? my email hnmann@hotmail.com

40 days is correct as I just got phone unlocked by them.

 

[robert_in_la]

Thanks. I have been trying for the past 3 days and the request keeps getting rejected. Looks like AT&T is going to be my only choice since they will unlock it ASAP

AT&T will not unlock it on the spot. They will make you wait...

 

[CehowardNote7]

AT&T will not unlock it without 30 days of service, if the device is paid in full. If not they will make you wait 90 days.

T-Mobile will unlock the device for post paid customers after 40 days. For prepaid they will make you wait 60-90 days.

- - - Updated - - -

40 days is correct as I just got phone unlocked by them.

I think the 40 days is to make sure a customer does use their (T Mobile)service for at least one month..

Also, I notice the full price at T Mobile for the S4 has went down from $629, to $579... Do I smell the 32gb around the corner??

I have been trying my damest to wait for the 32gb. Even going PHONELESS for several days..

 

[robert_in_la]

I think the 40 days is to make sure a customer does use their (T Mobile)service for at least one month..

Also, I notice the full price at T Mobile for the S4 has went down from $629, to $579... Do I smell the 32gb around the corner??

I have been trying my damest to wait for the 32gb. Even going PHONELESS for several days..

You're correct. That's why AT&T also makes people have service with them as well.

 

[vincent08]

Get unlock code from any phone unlocking website.