Re:
I'm having an issue similar. I have Ting as my carrier and I'm really happy with them. I'm not a heavy user of talk, text or data (usually on wifi at home and at work) and they have great customer service. They use the Sprint and T-Mobile networks. Years ago I had T-Mobile pre-paid and I didn't get service either in my house or at work. I switched to Ting and the Sprint network and have had no problems. I've been trying out the Galaxy Note 5 for a month through a Samsung promotion. . I really like the phone and want to get one. The one I've been testing is a Sprint version.
I wanted to buy an unlocked phone that could go either CDMA or GSM, but Samsung (USA) doesn't sell unlocked phones. I'm afraid if I buy a GSM unlocked international version, that I might have problems on the T-Mobile network again, and I won't have the option to go back to CDMA. On the other hand, I want the option of GSM and unlocked, so that if I travel abroad I can put another sim card in it.
Sprint won't sell me a phone without signing up for their service. If I were on their service, they would unlock it after 50 days of service (not sure of the cost or activation fee), but they say there is no guarantee you can use it with another carrier.
T-Mobile will unlock it after 40 days of service (~$100 for 2 months). Also currently wifi calling is only supported by Ting with T-mobile native phones, which is somewhat of a draw for me.
AT&T will unlock it after 14 days of service and you pay an activation fee, but it would amount to a total of $35. But Ting says AT&T phones are hit and miss on their network.
This is such a new phone, I want to believe that it would work coming from any carrier (although Ting does not recommend bringing over Verizon phones). But I understand that each carrier installs their own software and that might be an issue when changing carriers.
Anyone have used this phone to switch from one carrier to another, or from CDMA to GSM, or bought a phone to use with Ting? Any advice? Thanks.