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Help Unlocked phone compatibility with carriers?

I haven't purchased a carrier phone since before 2013 when I purchased a Developer Edition of the Moto X, that I used on Verizon. Since then I've used phones on AT&T (via MVNO) and T-Mobile (via MVNO) with no problem. I don't think you will have any problems.

What carrier are you looking at? Maybe we can pin down compatibility.
 
Snakeyeskm said:
Are there any carriers whose systems are not compatible with the "unlocked" S20?
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depends. if you just got an unlocked phone, then it is most likely gsm phone (vs cdma)....so you kind of tied to those carriers that use that tech. while a universally unlocked phone can work on either cdma and gsm......from what i understand.

Benefits of unlocked phones
 
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Snakeyeskm said:
Actually I was thinking of the "unlocked" galaxy S 20. I'm hoping that it follows the description given by ocnbrze for a universally unlocked phone.
Haven't really chosen a carrier yet, but want keep my options open.
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Well, that's the S20 I'm targeting too. I use Mint Mobile, which is an MVNO for T-Mobile. I've used multiple Huawei phones, Le Eco phones, a Moto X4, and now a Pixel 3a with no problem.
 
I have t-mobile for a carrier. I want to take advantage of the Samsung trade-in offer - because I can get $600 back toward a new S20. I'm trying to decide if I want to get the unlocked or the T-Mobile version. I read some of the T-Mobile forums about the S10. Things said in the forum were that the speed was about the same for both versions. However, the unlocked version didn't have the T-Mobile video calling (which we use with grandkids). However, when you bought the phone from Samsung, it was sometimes a big pain to get it unlocked.

I called Samsung for more info. They said that the unlocked phone had video calling, but not the T-Mobile WIFI calling (which I sometimes use when traveling.)

Do you all know anything about those features?
 
artbytes said:
I have t-mobile for a carrier. I want to take advantage of the Samsung trade-in offer - because I can get $600 back toward a new S20. I'm trying to decide if I want to get the unlocked or the T-Mobile version. I read some of the T-Mobile forums about the S10. Things said in the forum were that the speed was about the same for both versions. However, the unlocked version didn't have the T-Mobile video calling (which we use with grandkids). However, when you bought the phone from Samsung, it was sometimes a big pain to get it unlocked.

I called Samsung for more info. They said that the unlocked phone had video calling, but not the T-Mobile WIFI calling (which I sometimes use when traveling.)

Do you all know anything about those features?
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Interesting question. The no video calling was my problem last year with HTC U11. But it didn't have duo support. Samsung explicitly stated better integration with Google Duo.
I played it safe and bought VZW version, but almost instantly wished I went unlocked. Had to pay upgrade fee and made me pay off my pixel, which I was just going to keep paying on.

Meh, if the grandkids can use Duo for video calling you should be fine.
 
artbytes said:
I have t-mobile for a carrier. I want to take advantage of the Samsung trade-in offer - because I can get $600 back toward a new S20. I'm trying to decide if I want to get the unlocked or the T-Mobile version. I read some of the T-Mobile forums about the S10. Things said in the forum were that the speed was about the same for both versions. However, the unlocked version didn't have the T-Mobile video calling (which we use with grandkids). However, when you bought the phone from Samsung, it was sometimes a big pain to get it unlocked.

I called Samsung for more info. They said that the unlocked phone had video calling, but not the T-Mobile WIFI calling (which I sometimes use when traveling.)

Do you all know anything about those features?
Click to expand...
NightAngel79 said:
Interesting question. The no video calling was my problem last year with HTC U11. But it didn't have duo support. Samsung explicitly stated better integration with Google Duo.
I played it safe and bought VZW version, but almost instantly wished I went unlocked. Had to pay upgrade fee and made me pay off my pixel, which I was just going to keep paying on.

Meh, if the grandkids can use Duo for video calling you should be fine.
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I think in this case @artbytes may be getting video chat that doesn't count against data usage via the T-Mo app. In that case I would try to weigh how much I use that while not on WiFi (or when the grandkids are not on WiFi). Aside from that, yeah, I've been using unlocked phones on multiple carriers.
 
Unforgiven said:
I think in this case @artbytes may be getting video chat that doesn't count against data usage via the T-Mo app. In that case I would try to weigh how much I use that while not on WiFi (or when the grandkids are not on WiFi). Aside from that, yeah, I've been using unlocked phones on multiple carriers.
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Ahh, didn't know it was free via app. Wonder if VZW's used to be. Now it just integrates with Duo via phone app, but there used to be a VZW video call feature.
 
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