Samsung's Galaxy Note 3 goes beyond carrier locking, implements region locks

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  • Reply 21 of 75
    tbruinsma wrote: »
    <p style="margin-bottom:.0001pt;margin:0in;">This is very misleading. You should correctly state WHY the SIM cards will not work. Samsung employed two different hardware sets. One of the designs limits network compatibility.  </p>

    <p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"> </p>

    <p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;">Please do everyone a favor and do your research. I understand trying to break something early but this does nothing more than present readers with a fact that is missing context.</p>

    <p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"> </p>

    <p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;">This is not much different from my unlocked iPhone. It will only work with SIM cards from carriers that support the frequency bands available in the iPhone. </p>

    That's fine but why the July 2013 inclusion date? why did Sammy change it in July?
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  • Reply 22 of 75

    I hate to defend Samsung, but here goes.

     

    Region locking may derail unlocked movement, but it is still superior to carrier locking. Provided one can unlock the phone once contract obligation is fulfilled or unlocked phone is also available at unsubsidized pricing, I would much rather have region locked iPhone than carrier locked iPhone 5 that I am carrying now.

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  • Reply 23 of 75
    apple ][apple ][ Posts: 9,233member
    Quote:

    Originally Posted by filburt View Post

     

     I would much rather have region locked iPhone than carrier locked iPhone 5 that I am carrying now.


     

    And I'd much rather have a fully unlocked iPhone, which one can easily get.

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  • Reply 24 of 75
    quinneyquinney Posts: 2,528member
    I have to wonder if this is Samsung giving in to carriers demands for this or what is going on? I don't see why they would choose to do this.
    ...

    Maybe they know there are not enough people affected by this to be concerned.
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  • Reply 25 of 75
    andysolandysol Posts: 2,506member
    Quote:

    Originally Posted by filburt View Post

     

    I hate to defend Samsung, but here goes.

     

    Region locking may derail unlocked movement, but it is still superior to carrier locking. Provided one can unlock the phone once contract obligation is fulfilled or unlocked phone is also available at unsubsidized pricing, I would much rather have region locked iPhone than carrier locked iPhone 5 that I am carrying now.


     

    Except if you have a carrier locked iPhone 5, you would also have a carrier AND region locked Note 3.

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  • Reply 26 of 75
    jragostajragosta Posts: 10,473member
    Customers are up in arms as news comes that the SIM-unlocked version of Samsung's latest Note "phablet" features DVD-style region locking, meaning that frequent intercontinental travelers must pay carrier roaming rates to use their devices on a cellular network overseas.

    What do you know? Samsung is innovative, after all.
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  • Reply 27 of 75

    Wait, wait, wait…

     

    Macedonia’s full country name is “The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia”? Someone’s bitter. 

     

    I bet Prince logo.svg gets a huge audience when he performs there.

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  • Reply 28 of 75
    gwmacgwmac Posts: 1,830member
    Quote:

    Originally Posted by filburt View Post

     

    I hate to defend Samsung, but here goes.

     

    Region locking may derail unlocked movement, but it is still superior to carrier locking. Provided one can unlock the phone once contract obligation is fulfilled or unlocked phone is also available at unsubsidized pricing, I would much rather have region locked iPhone than carrier locked iPhone 5 that I am carrying now.


     

    I don't know about other carriers but Sprint allowed me to unlock my iPhone very easily. It was a long time ago so I can't remember the exact details but they asked for some info then I connected my iPhone to iTunes and got a message it was unlocked. 

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  • Reply 29 of 75
    To be fair to Sammy, it's probably the dumb carriers.

    I guess they don't have the backbone to stand up to their demands.

    What I find interesting is, why is it that besides Apple, almost all large blue chip companies are so clueless.
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  • Reply 30 of 75
    Wait, wait, wait…

    Macedonia’s full country name is “The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia”? Someone’s bitter. 

    I bet <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Prince_logo.svg" style="background-image:none;color:rgb(11,0,128);" target="_blank"><img alt="Prince logo.svg" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/a/af/Prince_logo.svg/15px-Prince_logo.svg.png" style="border-style:none;vertical-align:middle;width:15px;">
    </a>
     gets a huge audience when he performs there.

    Brilliant!
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  • Reply 31 of 75
    Quote:

    Originally Posted by Apple ][ View Post

     

     

    At the present time, that is correct.

     

    I have this theory though, and it goes like this. A lot of the people who I see using ridiculous, large Android phones look like people that most likely do not own a larger tablet device, so they're looking to save money and get a phablet that covers both bases.

     

    The only problem is that it doesn't do a good job at either, IMO. It's a bit too large for a phone to be carried conveniently around, IMO. And the tablet part of it is a bit too small for it to be enjoyable, IMO. If I'm first going to carry around a large item like a phablet, I might as well have an iPad in my bag and an iPhone in my pocket. That'll be far superior to any phablet type device, in my opinion.


     

    "I have this theory though, and it goes like this. A lot of the people who I see using ridiculous, large Android phones look like people that most likely do not own a larger tablet device, so they're looking to save money and get a phablet that covers both bases. The only problem is that it doesn't do a good job at either, IMO. It's a bit too large for a phone to be carried conveniently around, IMO. And the tablet part of it is a bit too small for it to be enjoyable, IMO."

     

    Actually, there is value for a larger screened phone about the size of the Samsung Galaxy Note 1 (in the context of the iPad mini).

     

    For some people, a larger screen phone actually would be normal-sized, whereas a 4" iPhone looks comically small.

     

    I have seen individuals with large hands holding an iPhone with a 4" screen that looks like an iPhone with a 3.5" screen.  A larger screened iPhone for such individuals, would be proportionate to their hands and more comfortable to text on.

     

    I myself like the palm-ability of the iPad mini, and would much prefer a larger screened iPhone about the size and proportion of the Samsung Galaxy Note 1.

     

    You retain the portability of the iPhone, but have a little more screen real estate (which is always nice).

     

    A larger screened iPhone about the size of the Samsung Galaxy Note 1 would nicely fit between the 4" iPhone and the 8.9" iPad mini.

     

    As ridiculous as it may seem, a Bluetooth headset would be a nice compliment to such a phone; and you would only need to traditionally use the phone if a BT headset isn't available.

     

    It would even be nice if Apple were to make an iPad mini with a cellular radio that allow you to make and receive phone calls.  As comical as it may seem to put such a device up to your head (like the Samsung Galaxy Note 8), a BT headset (or the Apple headphones) would work well with the device, or to use the speakerphone as an alternative.

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  • Reply 32 of 75
    andysol wrote: »
    Is anyone really buying Samsung phones for business anyway? It's more for the unemployed, correct?
    That was the most absurd comment I have ever read. Having a phone shows your financial status? Speaking of brainwashing. I use a Nexus and I'm very successful. Wake up people using aplle products doesn't mean you are rich. Does it mean that if an author uses a Mac his her book is better than an author writing it on a PC?
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  • Reply 33 of 75
    mstone wrote: »
    What I don't get, is who are these frequent international travelers who need to swap out a local SIM? Frequent International travelers are usually business people. Personally, I need my business associates to be able to reach me anytime, anywhere, which means that I must maintain the original SIM even when abroad. I also carry an unlocked iPhone for use with a local carrier. If someone calls me on my US number, most of the time I don't answer it, but I know they called, so I just call them back on Skype. Obviously, I also need a local SIM to make and receive calls in the foreign country to do errands, business etc. I don't see how a business person can get around carrying two phones or perhaps a dual SIM phone of which there used to be some available from Nokia.

    You can pay for a US phone number from Skype and forward your US cell phone calls to that number which in theory could allow you to receive calls on your local SIM carrier when abroad, however it doesn't work reliably and you miss a lot of calls.

    You can also try the Voange app, they have a function called vonage roam that lets you forward your home number to the app, for no charge. Hence in essence you get two mobile numbers ( your home number and your local sim number) on 1 phone. From my experience it works well, however it takes a little time to transfer the call, if the person calling is not patient they can hang up before you pick it up.

    There are some sims out there that allow multiple international numbers on one sim, I.e. Tru phone sim and others, however personally none of these companies have enough coverage in countries I need, but if your countries fall into their offerings your in luck.

    Hopefully one day the woes of international travellers such as my self will be solved without awkward work a rounds or multiple phone.
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  • Reply 34 of 75
    Because "open always wins."
    Isn't that right, fandroids?
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  • Reply 35 of 75
    jfc1138jfc1138 Posts: 3,090member
    Quote:

    Originally Posted by Esoom View Post

     

    Why in the world do they want to piss off customers like this?


     

    "using SIM cards only from the regions where they were purchased." Yes, such an odd thing: almost looks as if they're being subsidized by the local carrier? But that's the American phone model, is that really how tablets are marketed internationally?

     

    Otherwise, yes, why on earth would Samsung care?

     

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  • Reply 36 of 75
    jfc1138jfc1138 Posts: 3,090member
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by filburt View Post

     

    I hate to defend Samsung, but here goes.

     

    Region locking may derail unlocked movement, but it is still superior to carrier locking. Provided one can unlock the phone once contract obligation is fulfilled or unlocked phone is also available at unsubsidized pricing, I would much rather have region locked iPhone than carrier locked iPhone 5 that I am carrying now.


     

    Purchasing that locked iPhone was, and is, your choice. Totally unlocked versions and pathways exist.

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  • Reply 37 of 75

    Originally Posted by mstone View Post

     

    What I don't get, is who are these frequent international travelers who need to swap out a local SIM? Frequent International travelers are usually business people. Personally, I need my business associates to be able to reach me anytime, anywhere, which means that I must maintain the original SIM even when abroad. I also carry an unlocked iPhone for use with a local carrier. If someone calls me on my US number, most of the time I don't answer it, but I know they called, so I just call them back on Skype. Obviously, I also need a local SIM to make and receive calls in the foreign country to do errands, business etc. I don't see how a business person can get around carrying two phones or perhaps a dual SIM phone of which there used to be some available from Nokia.

     

    You can pay for a US phone number from Skype and forward your US cell phone calls to that number which in theory could allow you to receive calls on your local SIM carrier when abroad, however it doesn't work reliably and you miss a lot of calls.

     


    I travel a lot and have 2 SIM cards (in addition to my local Canadian SIM). Roaming is stupid expensive and it pisses me off enough to go the SIM route. I have a UK SIM and when I get to the UK, I put £10 on it and I get 100 free minutes to Canada (which is a lot more reliable than Skype and iChat, which are at the whim of the network connection). It gives me cheap calls, text and internet (£1/day for internet access). Roaming is also a lot cheaper, so I use it all over Europe. I can always set my local phone to forward to the UK number, so while I still pay for long distance, I don't get dinged for the roaming air time. Compare that to $1.50+/minute and about $30/MB of data, and it saves hundreds of dollars and is more reliable than Skype. I do the same for the US with an ATT card.

     

    If the carriers here had roaming plans that were not obscene, I would stick with them, but they are over the top with the costs.

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  • Reply 38 of 75
    Quote:

    Originally Posted by Esoom View Post

     

    Why in the world do they want to piss off customers like this?


     

    In this case it not Samsung pissing people off it is the service providers they are the one who force this requirement. This is another reason Apple is better they do not succumb to the service providers requirements, Apple listens to the consumer since they are the one paying their bills.

    Quote:

    Originally Posted by Andysol View Post



    Is anyone really buying Samsung phones for business anyway? It's more for the unemployed, correct?

    I think the correct term would be underemployed since the Obama administration has not yet agree to pay for smart phones yet

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  • Reply 39 of 75
    andysolandysol Posts: 2,506member
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by stylorouge View Post



    Having a phone shows your financial status? 





    No you aren't.  Truly successful people don't have to shout "I'm very successful".  Besides- it's a relative term.  Someone who makes $30k a year might think $70k a year is financially "successful".  Not that income makes you successful, but that's for another day.

     


     Wake up people using aplle products doesn't mean you are rich.




    Except it does mean they are wealthier than those that don't.

     


     Does it mean that if an author uses a Mac his her book is better than an author writing it on a PC?


      Yes, because the author wouldn't be a complete idiot.

     

     

     

    Now shoo fly, don't bother us.

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  • Reply 40 of 75

    More (deliberate?) misinformation and half-truths by Apple Insider.

     

    Samsung Switzerland on their Facebook site states that:

     

    A local region sim card is only needed for the very first activation of the phone.  From then on you can use whatever sim you want.?

     

    Expect this post to be deleted within minutes by the censors of this site.

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