Why would I have a verizon system apps on a brand new tmobile phone?

[Android Central Question]

I bought a brand new s9 from tmobile and it has com.vzw.apnlib and vzw_msdc_api. I spoke with Samsung directly and they told me that they don't install carrier apps. TMobile just told me not to worry about it. Anyone have any idea why these apps would be there? I did a hard reset on the phone and the apps are still there.

 

[WP7Nettwerk]

Strange, T-Mo selling VZW branded phone. That's not normal.

 

[B. Diddy]

Welcome to Android Central! Sometimes, a manufacturer will install a carrier-specific app on an unlocked phone just in case you end up using the phone on that carrier. I've seen that for certain Sprint apps on unlocked phones. Even though you bought your phone from T-Mobile, it's still technically carrier-unlocked (assuming you meet their unlock criteria).

 

[billie beach]

I have this on my phone, a Samsung Galaxy Note 9, my carrier is AT&T. For the record, my phone is NOT unlocked. Soooo... any ideas? I have one or two, but you'd think I'm nuts. I just want to know what's going on with my phone

 

[B. Diddy]

I have this on my phone, a Samsung Galaxy Note 9, my carrier is AT&T. For the record, my phone is NOT unlocked. Soooo... any ideas? I have one or two, but you'd think I'm nuts. I just want to know what's going on with my phone

It wouldn't be surprising if these kinds of system apps were on carrier-locked phones as well. The phone manufacturer would still need to account for the possibility that a user may carrier-unlock the phone and move to a different carrier.

 

[Mr Bojangles1]

I'm guessing it has to do with the list of apns on your phone

 

[Ben xfg]

I have this on my phone, a Samsung Galaxy Note 9, my carrier is AT&T. For the record, my phone is NOT unlocked. Soooo... any ideas? I have one or two, but you'd think I'm nuts. I just want to know what's going on with my phone

I can't confirm for Carrier locked devices, but I know on unlocked models after inserting a SIM for the very first time it will enable the respective carrier apps for that SIM after a restart. Those apps will then stay installed and even survive factory resets.

 

[mustang7757]

I think this preinstalled in case you use Verizon service it can configure it , I have on my unlocked s22U