Verizon vs Unlocked

[Mike Dee]

Yes it's changed now. On Verizon, WiFi calling works on Samsung US unlocked phones and Pixels. I can't remember if it changed with S10 or from Note 10 onwards but it works now. If my memory serves correct it's from S10 series onwards.

Source: I'm using US unlocked Note 10 on Verizon now and works perfectly.

I believe WIFI calling support started earlier than the 10 series.

 

[mustang7757]

WIFI calling works and Samsung has the own version of visual voicemail. I believe you activate it when you receive the first voicemail but maybe @mustang7757 can chime in and confirm.

Yeah Verizon wifi calling should work on unlocked and visual voice should have on the unlocked model but not carriers like my unlocked Note 10+ has it when my Att sim in but my tmobile sim says not available.

 

[Mike Dee]

I go with the carrier version for discounts, which doesn't seem to be available right now.

Note 9 is still my newest phone, got it for $600 new if I factor in bill credits, much better than shelling out $1000 up front for the unlocked model just to avoid having 2 or 3 apps I don't want on the phone.

Just my opinion.

It depends on how and when you purchase with the Note 10+ the unlocked versions had better trade in deals especially during preorder and they gave decent credits for accessories.

 

[Mike Dee]

Agreed, simple and straight forward. Also like how they charge tax on the reduced price after trade in and additional work/student discount. Best buy/Microsoft/Amazon or others need to have a crazy offer in order for me to buy my unlocked device from them instead of Samsung.

How do you activate the student discount during purchase?

 

[Mike Dee]

I've had unlocked on VZ for both the S9 and now my S10. Wifi calling can be enabled/disabled on the S10 ( i.e. there is an actual toggle for it in Settings). I'm not sure what a previous poster indicated about "flashing" the phone. Sure you can root it if you want, but why? To put VZs bloatware back on the phone? Each time I've received my new unlocked phone, I take the VZ sim out of the old phone, put in the new one, and I am up and running in less than 60 seconds on the VZ network. Google automatically begins restoring my contacts, the APP Store knows every app I had on my old phone and I can actually use this moment not to add back anything I really didn't use before. I did add a Voice Mail app, but that was the only change from a locked phone.

Buying an unlocked phone is not rocket science and I was certainly nervous the first time a couple of years ago. The sim card controls network access and technically if you had accounts and sim cards from VZ, ATT and T-MO you could just bounce between carriers all day long by swapping out cards on an unlocked phone.

I'm not sure there are any big revelations using unlocked vs locked, I just like the "perception" of freedom to able to switch carriers and the lack of VZ bloatware.

Depends on the carrier. As an example WIFI calling doesn't work with a AT&T and that's an important feature for some. Luckily for me it works with Verizon.

 

[Mike Dee]

Yeah Verizon wifi calling should work on unlocked and visual voice should have on the unlocked model but not carriers like my unlocked Note 10+ has it when my Att sim in but my tmobile sim says not available.

I know about the wifi calling and it has visual voicemail. I was referring to how the voicemail gets activated.

 

[mustang7757]

I know about the wifi calling and it has visual voicemail. I was referring to how the voicemail gets activated.

Usually call your voice mail it Dow load in Galaxy store

 

[Beth Hahn]

Well I've decided to take the plunge and get unlocked this time around, I hope they have the 512 in the blue but it's saying the phone isn't available in that configuration only black 512. Eh I can make 128 work as I'm only using 43g on my note 10+. I'll just buy a bigger SD card if I can't get the 512. Plus I figure anymore I go through phones every year so if I don't like it I'll trade it in next time

 

[mustang7757]

Well I've decided to take the plunge and get unlocked this time around, I hope they have the 512 in the blue but it's saying the phone isn't available in that configuration only black 512. Eh I can make 128 work as I'm only using 43g on my note 10+. I'll just buy a bigger SD card if I can't get the 512. Plus I figure anymore I go through phones every year so if I don't like it I'll trade it in next time

Congrats , think you will be happy

 

[Beth Hahn]

Congrats , think you will be happy

Yeah so do I. Lol I miss the old days of tweaking phones like rooting and stuff. Anymore it's not a need anymore but back then it was a must imo

 

[mustang7757]

Yeah so do I. Lol I miss the old days of tweaking phones like rooting and stuff. Anymore it's not a need anymore but back then it was a must imo

Yeah , what andriod offers now with Samsung good lock and others no need to root anymore.

 

[tlc264]

Well I've decided to take the plunge and get unlocked this time around, I hope they have the 512 in the blue but it's saying the phone isn't available in that configuration only black 512. Eh I can make 128 work as I'm only using 43g on my note 10+. I'll just buy a bigger SD card if I can't get the 512. Plus I figure anymore I go through phones every year so if I don't like it I'll trade it in next time

What is more important to you? Storage or color?

 

[bhatech]

How do you activate the student discount during purchase?

Once you sign up for work or student discount, your account is associated with that and discounts automatically apply during check out.

https://forums.androidcentral.com/e...iscount-program%2Fworkplace%2F&token=DHTzubEF

https://forums.androidcentral.com/e...iscount-program%2Feducation%2F&token=7iLLNSCE

 

[Mike Dee]

Once you sign up for work or student discount, your account is associated with that and discounts automatically apply during check out.

https://forums.androidcentral.com/e...iscount-program%2Fworkplace%2F&token=tijzn0LM

https://forums.androidcentral.com/e...iscount-program%2Feducation%2F&token=tC6pHHwR

How much is the discount? I would have to order under a different email account so I would automatically lose 35 dollars of credit

 

[bhatech]

How much is the discount? I would have to order under a different email account so I would automatically lose 35 dollars of credit

Around 10% if I remember, generally covers my sales tax

 

[Mike Dee]

Around 10% if I remember, generally covers my sales tax

I just enrolled with an email I had already reserved....I didn't see any discount. Unless it only shows up with a real order. The 35 dollar bonus credit was missing. I was surprised it let me reserve with that email because I had reserved an additional device with it previously and you can only reserve one device per email. I guess it's possible signing up reset the reservation.

I'll have to wait until the 21st to see if the employee discount is at least equivalent to the 35 credit

 

[bhatech]

I just enrolled with an email I had already reserved....I didn't see any discount. Unless it only shows up with a real order. The 35 dollar bonus credit was missing. I was surprised it let me reserve with that email because I had reserved an additional device with it previously and you can only reserve one device per email. I guess it's possible signing up reset the reservation.

I'll have to wait until the 21st to see if the employee discount is at least equivalent to the 35 credit

I checked now by adding S10 to cart to see how much is the discount and it’s around 7% which is still a big chunk for higher prices.

 

[Mike Dee]

I checked now by adding S10 to cart to see how much is the discount and it’s around 7% which is still a big chunk for higher prices.

Well that offsets the 35 extra credit for pre registration unless it shows back up when its time.
I'll have to wait for the email when it's time to order.

Wish I had known employee discount sooner...forgot we had that feature

 

[bhatech]

Well that offsets the 35 extra credit for pre registration unless it shows back up when its time.
I'll have to wait for the email when it's time to order.

I don’t get the $35 bonus credit missing part? I order all the time and the pre order/reservation bonus always applied to my account in addition to the work discount of 7%. Even with the S20 Ultra with the same account i was able to reserve for $235 credits on launch day and 7% discount will apply at checkout.

You can’t reserve with your new account now? Or the $35 is no longer for new reservations?

 

[Mike Dee]

I don’t get the $35 bonus credit missing part? I order all the time and the pre order/reservation bonus always applied to my account in addition to the work discount of 7%. Even with the S20 Ultra with the same account i was able to reserve for $235 credits on launch day and 7% discount will apply at checkout.

You can’t reserve with your new account now? Or the $35 is no longer for new reservations?

The 35 dollar bonus was an early sign up. I don't recall if that's the exact wording. That's no longer on the site. When you go in now you only get a 200 dollar credit