Unlocked phone question

msweig

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Mar 28, 2016
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I recently purchased an unlocked Galaxy S9 on Swappa. Received it yesterday, and it is unlocked as noted. My current carrier is AT&T, and based on what was on this S9 it was originally on Sprint. I have some questions that have popped up when setting this up (this is the first time I've dealt with an unlocked phone).

When I got the phone I reset it, then dropped in my SIM card. The SIM card wasn't originally working/connecting, so I went to bed figuring I'd contact AT&T in the morning. Woke up this morning and there was a software update available. So I ran that, several AT&T apps were downloaded on the phone, and the SIM card worked (I don' know if the SIM card working was related to the update, or if it finally started working overnight, as I didn't check before running the update).

1) Is it typical that a bunch of AT&T software would be downloaded on an unlocked phone? It was everything from MyAT&T to CandyCrush. I was always under the impression that one of the advantages of unlocked phones was the lack of carrier crud. If Sprint crud had been present I would not have been surprised, but I wasn't expecting AT&T to add a bunch. If the carriers can do this, what is the point of buying something like an unlocked phone directly from Samsung (one never associated with a carrier)?

2) Who is responsible for the software updates/where do they come from? I've gotten the one update so far, but it is not the most recent (I don't have Pie, nor the more recent security patches). If I go into the phone to search for an update it says there are none available. Do updates only go through once a day or something?

3) I keep getting notifications to turn on WiFi Calling, and then it fails when I try. AT&T says that since it wasn't originally purchased from them then the phone will not support this feature. Is this correct?
 
1. On an unlocked phone you can uninstall all those apps. On a locked phone you can't.
2. Not really sure about that. In theory unlocked phones get the updates from samsung but sometimes the carrier can get in the way.
3. That is correct.
 
Thanks! The deleting apps part makes sense. Now I just need to figure out how to get the software to update.
 
Alas, that doesn't seem to work (or I'm using it wrong). It says "your device software is up to date: RK1(ATT)"
 
I recently purchased an unlocked Galaxy S9 on Swappa. Received it yesterday, and it is unlocked as noted. My current carrier is AT&T, and based on what was on this S9 it was originally on Sprint. I have some questions that have popped up when setting this up (this is the first time I've dealt with an unlocked phone).

When I got the phone I reset it, then dropped in my SIM card. The SIM card wasn't originally working/connecting, so I went to bed figuring I'd contact AT&T in the morning. Woke up this morning and there was a software update available. So I ran that, several AT&T apps were downloaded on the phone, and the SIM card worked (I don' know if the SIM card working was related to the update, or if it finally started working overnight, as I didn't check before running the update).

1) Is it typical that a bunch of AT&T software would be downloaded on an unlocked phone? It was everything from MyAT&T to CandyCrush. I was always under the impression that one of the advantages of unlocked phones was the lack of carrier crud. If Sprint crud had been present I would not have been surprised, but I wasn't expecting AT&T to add a bunch. If the carriers can do this, what is the point of buying something like an unlocked phone directly from Samsung (one never associated with a carrier)?

2) Who is responsible for the software updates/where do they come from? I've gotten the one update so far, but it is not the most recent (I don't have Pie, nor the more recent security patches). If I go into the phone to search for an update it says there are none available. Do updates only go through once a day or something?

3) I keep getting notifications to turn on WiFi Calling, and then it fails when I try. AT&T says that since it wasn't originally purchased from them then the phone will not support this feature. Is this correct?

Since you purchased the phone on swappa couple question for you
1. What's your model number? Can find in setting about phone.
2. If was orginally on sprint but its unlocked for any carrier that's just network unlock , if its unlocked version I can tell you by model number.
 
Model number is SM-G960U (though it was sold as a SM-G960U1). My understanding is the fully unlocked/from Samsung is the U1 version, and I have a carrier version, but I'm not positive on that. Feel free to correct me if I'm wrong.
 
Model number is SM-G960U (though it was sold as a SM-G960U1). My understanding is the fully unlocked/from Samsung is the U1 version, and I have a carrier version, but I'm not positive on that. Feel free to correct me if I'm wrong.

Yes you have a carrier phone which is network unlocked , that's why when it updated it had updated with Att apps
 
Thanks! Any idea how to get the software to update?

Your welcome, you said you got a update which version you got?
Last 4 of your build number should be CSAA, CSB3? Sorry these are Note 9 build numbers , which is yours ?
 
I have a Galaxy S9. I'm not sure if the update that installed was just to work on the AT&T network, or other stuff too. Last 4 of build are BRK1
 
November 1, 2018

Yikes, Att for some reason been having issues on the Note forum on Att updates unfortunately Att doesn't seem to help on this matter and probably have to go the Odin way or SD card update to get on track.
 
Thanks. I'll either return it or try the Odin route (I'm a bit cautious of the Odin route as I've never tried that before, and based on stuff I was reading online it was complicated, and some people seemed to have problems getting it to work)
 
Thanks. I'll either return it or try the Odin route (I'm a bit cautious of the Odin route as I've never tried that before, and based on stuff I was reading online it was complicated, and some people seemed to have problems getting it to work)

just need the right files and little patience not easy but not that hard either. You can always watch some YouTube videos to get familiar with it
 

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