Using the Verizon GS3 with an international sim card.

[sergeyuf]

I just spoke with someone at VZW's global department and here is what I was told: Verizon-branded Galaxy S3 with Jelly Bean update will (supposedly) work with foreign GSM carriers - the phone is only locked to block other US providers (T-Mobile, ATT), and NOT any of the foreign ones. I was told that all I need to do is pop in the other carrier's Micro SIM card and it will work for both voice and data.

Can anyone confirm this?

 

[YBCold]

Will I'm in Cayamn now and tried to pop in a Digicel sim and was able to pick up voice but no data. What good is this phone without data? After talking with Verizon Global Tech support he blamed it on the SIM card but I was able to get the SIM to work fine with another GS3 that is part of Digicel's network and it is fine.

 

[madison437]

Hi,

I have the official Verizon S3 update -- installed it just before I left for my trip to South America.

I can confirm that here in Santiago, on their carrier Entel, that voice & sms work just fine with a local SIM card.

HOWEVER, DATA DOES NOT WORK, and like you have mentioned, there is no ability to add other APNs into the phone.

I've tried some of the apps on the Android market (Hi-APN, APN Manager Pro, Offline SIM APN Database Pro) to no avail... these apps don't have permission to write out a new APN without root access.

I have spoken to the local carrier here (and there was a Samsung rep at one of the larger Entel offices here), and he was *confused* as to why there was no option to add an APN.

I then spoke with Verizon global support and they essentially know NOTHING... I then spoke with Samsung, and they know nothing.
I then called back Verizon and said to focus on the issue of adding an APN -- forget this is a global problem -- why is this disabled.
The rep I got was persistent, and five phone calls later managed to get an answer from Samsung who said the option had been explicitly removed.

The rep seemed to think it was Samsung's decision, but that doesn't make any sense.
In any case, if you want data, I think all indications are you're GONNA HAVE TO ROOT THE PHONE.

I don't want to, because of the hassle factor, but it's eather that or no dice.

 

[bmolloy]

I was with a friend today who just updated his GS3. We tried putting in my AT&T Sim and got the persistent unauthorized sim notification. I was assuming that when he called to unlock it it would work fine. Sounds like that is not the case. I have done this before with an unlocked blackberry on Verizon and it worked fine with my Sim card. What a pain. Hopefully they will fix it so it actually is a world phone.

Sent from my Nexus 7 using Android Central Forums

 

[chachazlo]

Hi,

I have the official Verizon S3 update -- installed it just before I left for my trip to South America.

I can confirm that here in Santiago, on their carrier Entel, that voice & sms work just fine with a local SIM card.

HOWEVER, DATA DOES NOT WORK, and like you have mentioned, there is no ability to add other APNs into the phone.

I've tried some of the apps on the Android market (Hi-APN, APN Manager Pro, Offline SIM APN Database Pro) to no avail... these apps don't have permission to write out a new APN without root access.

I have spoken to the local carrier here (and there was a Samsung rep at one of the larger Entel offices here), and he was *confused* as to why there was no option to add an APN.

I then spoke with Verizon global support and they essentially know NOTHING... I then spoke with Samsung, and they know nothing.
I then called back Verizon and said to focus on the issue of adding an APN -- forget this is a global problem -- why is this disabled.
The rep I got was persistent, and five phone calls later managed to get an answer from Samsung who said the option had been explicitly removed.

The rep seemed to think it was Samsung's decision, but that doesn't make any sense.
In any case, if you want data, I think all indications are you're GONNA HAVE TO ROOT THE PHONE.

I don't want to, because of the hassle factor, but it's eather that or no dice.

That solves it then, as the rep I spoke with suggested that the phone should've been updated in the states on the VZW network. Shame a carrier would purposefully cripple a solid device for their [potential (read: unlikely)] pecuniary gain...

 

[madison437]

Yes, clearly, they don't understand the customer base well enough. The type of customer that is going to go out of their way to buy a local sim and install it is not the kind of customer that will merely use their global roaming option (albeit useful, and for short business trips essential).

Instead, they upset their loyal customer base. They should have made this clear to us, and all of the reps should understand well enough that the phone will work fine, 'cept for data. This is not a difficult thing to understand for even the level one reps.

BTW, the "non-Verizon sim: this sim card is not supported" message is just a minor annoyance... it doesn't effect your ability to make calls or receive SMS messages. In fact there is a service/app running that if one disables, you can get rid of the message. Do a few google searches on this, and you'll find it. It just hasn't really affected me enough to bother.

 

[Rockbeast]

Will I'm in Cayamn now and tried to pop in a Digicel sim and was able to pick up voice but no data. What good is this phone without data? After talking with Verizon Global Tech support he blamed it on the SIM card but I was able to get the SIM to work fine with another GS3 that is part of Digicel's network and it is fine.

Look, don't rub it in...you are in the Caymans and we are jealous! I was there one year ago tomorrow (does that make sense?) and enjoyed some snorkeling. Was disappointed that the high winds created swells that were too high to allow us to visit Sting Ray City, but the water on the leeward side was pretty nice!

But, thanks for reporting. I'm very interested in the GS3 and one of the reasons is that I could use it internationally. Sounds like there is a partial solution (voice and SMS) but data too would be great.

 

[DrPreeth]

Guys its looking like the only solution is to root and use APN Manager Pro. If Verizon won't provide us with a solution, that will be the only option

Sent from my SCH-I535 using Android Central Forums

 

[MichaelSanFrancisco]

Since rooting and then using APN Manager Pro is the way to go, has anyone tried this yet on the new Jelly Bean update?

Sent from my SCH-I535 using Tapatalk 2

 

[madison437]

I have to yet root my phone.

I am waiting until my wife and I make it to Uruguay on Sunday until rooting, because her family is there and I will have a support network if I need something.

On the very off-chance I brick my phone here in Chile, I'm on my own... so for me right now voice+SMS but no data when no wifi is the safest route.

If I root the phone next week, I will report back how it works with APN Manager or one of the other manager softwares.

 

[madison437]

Well, I was ill today, so I stayed inside the hotel and managed to get data working.  Here ya go:

1)  ROOT THE PHONE
First, I rooted the phone (as well as gave it an unlocked bootloader), which I've never done before...  I did it using this xda guide... and followed every step.  I chose the ClockWork recovery mod.
It wasn't bad if you read over the steps, familiarize oneself with the video, and read through the steps again.

http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2046439

Download Titanium Backup Pro via Google Play store
Download HiAPN Global via Google Play store

2) Use Titanium Backup Pro to turn HiAPN Global into a system app
-- you do this by going to the Backup/Restore tab, and LONG HOLD on "HiAPN Global", and then choose "Convert to system app"

3) Open up HiAPN Global, and choose "Click to AutoSet APNs"
-- here, you're possibly done!

Note:
-- HiAPN will ask you if you want to blow away the other APNs in the list... it recommends blowing away the old list... a couple of comments here.
I don't think it matters either way, 'cause I tried both ways... it, in my case figures out the information (I guess) from the Entel servers, and writes the APN entries into the list.  If you choose the option to blow away the APN entries prior to writing the new ones, it will delete all of the Verizon settings.  You can get the Verizon settings back by choosing the menu option (the only menu option in the APN Settings screen) called "Reset to default."  I've tested this, and it brings back the Verizon settings.  You can also, like I did, choose to backup the APN settings using HiAPN or other APN programs which will store a private backup of those settings just in case.
-- I've also tried using the APN settings found in "Offline SIM APN Database Pro", as well as "Tweakker" (which I was able to install via Aptoide, 'cause Google Play says it is incompatible), and then entered the APN settings in via APN Manager Pro (after having converted it to a System App)... well, all I can say is that I don't think this is necessary to manually enter the data if HiAPN works for you... it just magically finds the correct settings from the operator, and BTW, they weren't exactly the same (but very similar) as the others I had found using the other apps.  Though, the other settings had worked, I suspect the most correct settings will be through HiAPN.

I'm currently able to use data in Santiago using Entel.

Thanks (not!) Verizon...

 

[MichaelSanFrancisco]

Madison you're awesome!

Sent from my SCH-I535 using Tapatalk 2

 

[puritel]

rooting the Galaxy s3 won't void Factory warranty??

 

[sergeyuf]

When I click on "Click to AutoSet APNs", I get the following message: Sorry, no suitable apn info for your sim card, operator is 311480.

I'm not sure what that means. Will it change when I put in the third party sim card (I'm on Verizon and in the US right now)?

 

[jonmellman]

I'll be travelling to The Netherlands in a week, what type of microSIM card do I need to get voice + texting on my S3? Will any local one work, or does it need to be on a specific band/frequency? (No idea how these things work..)

Apparently I'll need to root the phone to get data, but that shouldn't be a big deal.

 

[James Changstein]

Well.. I am travelling in Asia and using my Verizon unlocked, but not rooted, S3 via Wifi at a coffee shop.

Wifi is so prevalent here that I don't need the data function here....

If you use only the phone function, then any micro SIM would work....

Happy travels

James

Sent from Verizon-unlocked SCH-I535 using a non-Verizon micro SIM and a Wifi connection at a coffee shop Taiwan..

 

[Wildside]

rooting the Galaxy s3 won't void Factory warranty??

Yes, rooting voids the warranty. There are ways to unroot if you have a warranty claim though (and also trip the counter back to 0).

 

[tyson.clarke]

No. No dice. I bought the GS3 and was going to swap for a Razr M or DNA to get a more reliable global device. I fixed my VZW Razr with AOKP which automatically picked up the APN; but the GS3 is still being a real nightmare. Desperately seeking a rom that supports UMTS/WCDMA 850mHz.

 

[deca2499]

What APN program are you speaking of? I have the APN Manager Pro and cannot get it to delete or add new APNs.

 

[deca2499]

Still not working for me to get a new APN in there. I can get one in there, but cannot edit any that I do get on the phone. Thus I am still without data other than wifi...