Help No Android Market on Samsung Galaxy S (GT-I-9008) in China !

[frenchbei]

Hello everybody,

I live and work in China have just got a Samsung Galaxy S ( in china Samsung Galaxy S GT-I9008) handphone from the mobile phone operator China Telecom.

Th firmware of the phone is OPhone OS 2.0

To my biggest disappointment, there is no market android application that comes with it but another local application called MM ( mobile Market) which is only in Chinese ! with very limited capabilities.

So basically i can not download any applications which you can imagine is very frustating

Would there be a way to have the original android market installed ( heard there is a chinese version but again only in Chinese) or reconfigure/root the phone accordignly to eventually start to enjoy it.

Many thanks !

Chris

 

[snapper.fishes]

I attempted to google for an answer, and the information is chaotic. Several websites states that China actually banned Android Market, but whether that ban is still in effect is uncertain. MM is a market by OPhone, and as such they are VERY reluctant to allow android market onto their phones. And your firmware is extremely disturbing - there's no such thing as a 2.0 Android OS. It's Cupcake 1.6, Eclair 2.1 and Froyo 2.2.

But the Chinese usually have ways around things like this. You should either approach a mainland Chinese friend with an Android phone, or browse some Chinese Android forums. And if all else fail, there're always places where you can download apk files.

 

[frenchbei]

thanks for your reply. i have also been through so many websites including chinese ones and it seems there is no solution as of now.As u say, chinese have always a way so i guess and hope it is just a matter of time..What is clear is that all google related applications including Android Market and other apps such as goolgle maps etc can't be installed right now.. Skype doesnt work either.

 

[mikedt]

thanks for your reply. i have also been through so many websites including chinese ones and it seems there is no solution as of now.As u say, chinese have always a way so i guess and hope it is just a matter of time..What is clear is that all google related applications including Android Market and other apps such as goolgle maps etc can't be installed right now..

Does your Galaxy S phone have the wording 'with Google' printed on the back? Probably not.

I live in China myself, but have not actually seen a Chinese carrier supplied Galaxy S yet. However just about all the Android devices I've seen here are not Google certified, no 'with Google', and therefore do not have the Android Market.

China Telecom operates a CDMA/EV-DO network. So one should not attempt to flash that phone with any generic Galaxy S firmwares, as they're for GSM/HSDPA phones.

I have a UK purchased Galaxy S with Froyo 2.2 operating on China Mobile, which does have the Android Market. I can download free apps and games just fine, but not paid ones. Google does not distribute paid apps and games in the Chinese mainland. They're only available in Hong Kong and Macau.

Skype doesnt work either.

Skype should work, maybe China Telecom is blocking it. Have you tried it on Wi-Fi?

BTW using Skype in China is a story in itself. Just about all mainlanders are using a version of Skype called 'Tom-Skype' on their PCs. Which contains censoring and a government backdoor. In fact the internet censoring (Great FireWall of China) here actually makes it very difficult to get to the official Skype website. One gets redirected to Skype?????????-?????????? which distributes the special Chinese version of Skype.

 

[Remordere]

They banned the Android Market in China but they have their own local version of it but it is a baaaad idea since the virus issue in everything.

 

[frenchbei]

Hi Mikedt,

the galaxy S ( actually its chinese version under the name of Galaxy S GT I-9008) was just released few weeks ago and China Mobile as the operator.

No, the phone doesnt have the wording "with google" printed on the back.

I managed to install a chinese version of Android Market but well, it is in chinese and has only a limited number of applications to be downloaded.. The english version of Android Market apk file cant be successfully installed.

Really frustating !

Best

Chris

 

[Deleted User]

Try flash a UK or US OR CA ROM.

 

[auszel]

Well, I was lucky enough to come across a Chinese forum where I found and downloaded a software for rooting my Galaxy S, China Mobile Ophone 2.0.
I have enclose the website link where you can download the Z4 program. After you install the Z4 in your phone, you should download the program from the second web link so that you can go to the system/carrier folder and delete the junks that you don't want. You can first download to the computer and copy to your SD card and install.

[url=http://download.pchome.net/mobile/system/files/detail-176934.html

 

[a90394466]

Well, I was lucky enough to come across a Chinese forum where I found and downloaded a software for rooting my Galaxy S, China Mobile Ophone 2.0.
I have enclose the website link where you can download the Z4 program. After you install the Z4 in your phone, you should download the program from the second web link so that you can go to the system/carrier folder and delete the junks that you don't want. You can first download to the computer and copy to your SD card and install.

[url=http://download.pchome.net/mobile/system/files/detail-176934.html[/QUOTE]

Hi, how is the phone working now? I am planning to buy one I9008. after seeing your fustration, i am worry. Can it work the way you wanted it after flashed to Z4?

 

[Maximilian Red]

If you can't get the Android Market working, try the Amazon Appstore: http://amazon.com/app-sms. It is apparently not blocked.

 

[auszel]

Hi, how is the phone working now? I am planning to buy one I9008. after seeing your fustration, i am worry. Can it work the way you wanted it after flashed to Z4?

Well, all the restriction is gone; if you want to download android application, you can use the Google "International Market." Alternatively, you can just copy and paste your android application from your laptop to your SD card.

By the way you don't have to buy the phone, joint the monthly service and promised to use a min of 450 Yuan per month; the phone is free, no deposit is required; they will also delivery the phone right to your home or office.

 

[blue frog]

Let me share my Samsung Android experience :
Bought a GT 9003 for 2700 Rmb including case + 16GB SD.
no market application.. tried many market application found on internet.. app will die in a white screen.
went back to the shop. they install some chinese market app.. white screen
the shop changed my phone with new one. still white screen.
download a market enabler application. white screen.
changed to GT 9000 which strangely is more expensive.. 500rmb.. more. (it s written google on the back)
go home, register to Gmail. then market was working. download one app and then got message : application stopped unexpectedly..
went back to shop. upragde Firmware. now it is working !
firmware 2.2.1 Froyo GT I 9000.

Samsung really sucks ! selling phone than cannot handle android market ! that is a shame. plus google support really sucks !

 

[mikedt]

Let me share my Samsung Android experience :
Bought a GT 9003 for 2700 Rmb including case + 16GB SD.
no market application.. tried many market application found on internet.. app will die in a white screen.
went back to the shop. they install some chinese market app.. white screen
the shop changed my phone with new one. still white screen.
download a market enabler application. white screen.
changed to GT 9000 which strangely is more expensive.. 500rmb.. more. (it s written google on the back)

Grey-import, probably from Hong Kong SAR. Google officially supports Android Market in HK and Macao, but NOT on Android phones sold in the mainland.

go home, register to Gmail. then market was working. download one app and then got message : application stopped unexpectedly..
went back to shop. upragde Firmware. now it is working !
firmware 2.2.1 Froyo GT I 9000.

Samsung really sucks ! selling phone than cannot handle android market ! that is a shame. plus google support really sucks !

You can't really blame either Samsung or Google. Android Market is NOT officially available or supported in mainland China.

 

[blue frog]

for Samsung what is the point to sell Google phone without Market ?
it is like selling a TV restricted to only access to CCTV1 .

and there is tons of Android phone in Mainland.. especially those HTC ...

 

[mikedt]

for Samsung what is the point to sell Google phone without Market ?

They're not selling a 'Google' phone, they're selling an Android phone. Android phones and tablets don't actually have to have Google's 'seal of approval'., NO Google 'seal of approval' means NO Market. Android is like a GNU/Linux distro, anyone can distribute and make devices using it. No payments, licensing or approvals needed.

A 'Google' phone would be something like the Nexus S, made to Google's specifications.

fit is like selling a TV restricted to only access to CCTV1

I'd prefer a TV having only CCTV5, 'cause at least then one would have the sports to watch.

and there is tons of Android phone in Mainland.. especially those HTC ...

There are many Android phones in the mainland including HTC and Moto, but do any of them have the Market? "With Google" printed on them? I'm talking about Android phones officially sold in the Chinese mainland, and not grey-imported from HK and elsewhere.