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Help s3 - unlocking and a sim card, how to do it?

N

netrate

Newbie
Ok, I purchased an s3 phone about a year ago used.
1) I only use it wifi
2) I have never inserted a sim card

At this point, I realise that maybe I would need to use this phone for an emergency when there is no wifi around - so I thought I would get a SIM card from 7-11 (for example) and insert that. I don't know if the person I bought the phone from had a plan or not and I don't know if it is unlocked or not.

1) Is my logic about using a sim card for emergencies sound?
2) Will I need to unlock it to use the sim card?
3) If the above is possible- Can I continue to use wifi and only use the SIM card for emergencies?

Also I saw this for unlocking - not sure if it works or not : http://gs3.wonderhowto.com/how-to/ne...rrier-0148738/

Running Android 4.4.2
Model Number SGH-1747M
Kernel 3.4.0-178458
Canadian phone

Thanks in advance.
 
netrate said:
Ok, I purchased an s3 phone about a year ago used.
1) I only use it wifi
2) I have never inserted a sim card

At this point, I realise that maybe I would need to use this phone for an emergency when there is no wifi around - so I thought I would get a SIM card from 7-11 (for example) and insert that. I don't know if the person I bought the phone from had a plan or not and I don't know if it is unlocked or not.

1) Is my logic about using a sim card for emergencies sound?
2) Will I need to unlock it to use the sim card?
3) If the above is possible- Can I continue to use wifi and only use the SIM card for emergencies?

Also I saw this for unlocking - not sure if it works or not : http://gs3.wonderhowto.com/how-to/ne...rrier-0148738/

Running Android 4.4.2
Model Number SGH-1747M
Kernel 3.4.0-178458
Canadian phone

Thanks in advance.
Click to expand...
I'm not sure how emergency calls work in Canada,but,in the US,emergency calls (911) can be placed w/o service & I believe,no SIM Card is needed either.
I'd contact Rogers & see if this is the case with their phones.
While you're on the phone with them,if the phone is indeed SIM Locked,they should be able to provide a SIM Unlock code & aid you in unlocking the device.More than likely,you'll need an active SIM Card from a carrier other than Rogers.

Looks kinda quiet in our Rogers forum,but,it wouldn't hurt to look/ask around for advice................
http://androidforums.com/forums/rogers.97/
 
My phone boots with the SAMSUNG Logo, and not a carrier. Not sure if this means anything or not.
I am not sure if this is rogers or not, but I guess I will have to go there and ask anyway.
 
It looks like it is locked by Rogers. Is there a way of avoiding the $50 fee for unlocking at Rogers? I saw some unlocking videos, but they all require codes you pay for. Is there a way of doing it for free?
 
I managed to root the phone, but GalaxSim unlock does not work. It says it doesn`t have the unlock codes for my phone, weird. Any suggestions of places that would do this online and send me a code. I phoned around here and the cheapest store is $35 cdn. I thought some places did it online for $15-20
 
I bought a micro SIM card at 7-11 ($10 micro), installed it and turned the phone on. It says the SIM card is inactive, but I did not get a screen that said I needed to enter an unlock code. So what is the next step?
 
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