The reason many network providers SIM lock their phones is that they offer phones at a discount to customers in exchange for a contract to pay for the use of the network for a specified time period, usually between one and three years. This business model allows the company to recoup the cost of the phone over the life of the contract. Such discounts are worth up to several hundred U.S. dollars. If the phones were not locked, users might sign a contract with one company, get the discounted phone, then stop paying the monthly bill (thus breaking the contract) and start using the phone on another network or even sell the phone for a profit. SIM locking curbs this, by prohibiting change of network (using a new SIM). SIM locking is very common if subsidized phones are sold with prepaid contracts.
Been with Samsung since windows mobile days, Omnia2. Then SII, SIII, Note II... and was eager to buy Note 3.. but some stupid sales genius at Samsung doesn't want to sell devices. Will not buy another Samsung device if this is what they think is genius. Will miss S pen but we have got plenty of goods options now. Z1 is the way to go for me...
Anonymous, 28 Sep 2013Correct. Worrying about activating the phone before you leave the airport makes it an easy &q... moreI'm at Incheon airport in Seoul, Korea using airport wi-fi right now and I will tell you they don't even sell phones here. They have the note 8 and 10.1 tablets, but no devices requiring network connectivity. I'm not sure what airport in the world has a LEGITIMATE cell phone company that offers unlocked phones. The train station does have grey market vendors. But I imagine buying a phone at an airport is pretty "dodgy" in itself.
Anonymous, 28 Sep 2013ripping off customers since 1998i think what samsung is doing here is a rip off
Thank you Samsung. Couldn't make up my mind whether to get the Sony Z Ultra, Sony Z1, or Note 3. Now I only have two choices left.
jayN95, 28 Sep 2013come back to nokia, they still care for their customers.ripping off customers since 1998
AnonD-190491, 27 Sep 2013Hello people, the Swiss Samsung clearly writes in German that after the (European region locke... moreI am from outside of Europe, if I purchased a galaxy phone from an airport's duty free in Europe while traveling, what would I do? I have to buy a SIM card as well, just to activate it? This is bullshit. It doesn't have to be from the duty free either, what if I bought it from a local European shop?
NEAR MISS, 27 Sep 2013So, buying a phone from Samsung at an airport suddenly becomes rather dodgy.
Many people do t... moreCorrect. Worrying about activating the phone before you leave the airport makes it an easy "no sale" decision when you can buy another phone and not have that concern.
Have to move out of samsung... I am a freq traveller fron asia to america and europe. This means I cant take the newly release samsung fir the trip. This makes the device useless. Moving to htc..
Like the Iphone, the Samsung Galaxy S4 and Note 3 design is tired and old. Feature wise they have everything you need, but to pull this crap?
Sony, HTC, even LG, have almost as many features and in some instances better (camera for example).
Visiting friends in Bangkok we went to one of the malls and checked out phones. The LG G2 had LTE, the Sony Z1 had LTE, the Samsung Note 3 and the Samsung S4 did not have LTE, it was Samsung's 3G models.
Spoke to the Samsung rep at the TRUE shop about it and he said it was a serious problem that Korea (he meant Samsung HQ) does not understand because many people had asked why Samsung is not selling the LTE version of their phone when LTE is available in Thailand. Even he recognized it as a problem.
So why would an international traveller want to buy a Samsung phone when they're making it difficult to buy and use top of the line model with all features (LTE)?
This is a bad move by Samsung that will cost them sales.
Have to move out of samsung... I am a freq traveller fron asia to america and europe. This means I cant take the newly release samsung fir the trip. This makes the device useless. Moving to htc..
come back to nokia, they still care for their customers.
This just means i gotta move to another brand. Challenge accepted.
AnonD-8545, 27 Sep 2013keep bycot for samsung product epecially mobile will be pushed back by LG,iPHONE,Nokia.nokia with its outdated hardware cant even come anywhere near samsung.
samsung, you make me disappointed, i just renew my contract with swiss carrier and choose your galaxy for my gf in my native country in asia, she need it urgently while i still can use my old xperia but immediately i got the galaxy with european region sim lock without any prior notice from you nor the carriage (when i'm placing the order on 16th sept, i only know that samsung android device are unlocked). until this moment she still cant use that galaxy. really2 disappointing.....ITS ENOUGH, NEVER EVER SAMSUNG ANYMORE
Android is Open Source and now you lock SIM, trying to be closed source. My money wasted. Even after 3 Samsung phones of mine stopped working after a year. IC blasted whilst charging, phone dropped and would switch off whenever an incoming call would come, dropped and stopped working and itcis too costly to repair them. Shit. I'm never buying any Samsung phones.
I don't need to use the phone on another continent, but I will not buy any samsung equipment anymore. I don't want to support corporations that tells me what I am allowed to do with MY devices.
Be smart and support companies that value your freedom.
I,m from Iraq and I think,this action let samsung to be free about the quality of materials used to make their phones,I mean they may use cheap ones for poor coutries ,and vice-versa 'and this is hardly unfair.
AnonD-190491, 27 Sep 2013Hello people, the Swiss Samsung clearly writes in German that after the (European region locke... moreUpdate after reading the official statement of Samsung in German: The phone can be used (all over the world) only with the SIM card of the original region. Disappointing Samsung!
Shame on you Samsung. This latest tactic is nothing more than just blatant greed. I have had Nokia’s for the last 15 plus years and have just purchased my first Samsung. Although the Android operating system took a bit of getting use to I’m pleased with the phone. Rest assured I will be going back to Nokia once this phone comes to the end of its life. Why, well like most people I travel and use my mobile phone around the world with various sim cards in different countries. I always end up giving my retired Nokia phones to my nephews and nieces who always appreciate the upgrade of for their old phones. But now with this latest development what Samsung is doing is shameful. There are so many different types of phones out there why anyone would be bothered with the confusion of “will it or won’t it work here or there” and with what countries sims will it work with is beyond me. Shame on you Samsung – you have lost a convert to your product because of pure greed. Welcome back Nokia!
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