When the Galaxy Note 3 launched, many people were up in arms over a SIM Regional Lock policy that Samsung implemented, which made it difficult for people to import the global version. At first, it appeared the Note 3 would only work with the SIM for the country that the particular model was intended for. Then it was later clarified that if you powered on the phone with the proper SIM (from the country it was intended for), then it would be unlocked and could be used anywhere. However, many people found this wasn’t the case.
Now Samsung has chimed in again with more clarification on how it works. Apparently there is one more step that is needed in order to free the phone of the Regional Lock: Once the phone is powered on with the proper SIM, you will need to make or received calls for a total of 5 minutes. Once that is completed, the Regional Lock will be removed. Now if you have no way of doing this because you’re in the U.S. with a European model, you can still go to a Samsung Care Center, and they will unlock it for you.
Adding to all this confusion is the fact that a lot of people weren’t certain of which countries are in the European Region. These include:Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania , Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, UK, Switzerland, and Croatia. Non-EU/EEA include Albania, Andorra, Belarus, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Macedonia, Moldova, Monaco, Montenegro, San Marino, Serbia, Vatican City.
Bare in mind that this new “feature” is tied to Android 4.3, which means all phones that get the 4.3 update will get the Regional Lock. This includes the Galaxy S 4, the Galaxy S III, and the Galaxy Note II. It’s very possible that if you imported one of these models, you phone could very well be locked after the update.
Samsung claims this is to stop illegal imports, but I am still trying to figure out what illegal imports they are talking about? I have never seen a report of this problem anywhere. I think it’s to appease the carriers in the U.S. because they don’t like people using unlocked phones on their networks.
Here is the full statement (translated)…..
Statement to simplify the "Regional Lock" at current Samsung products
Samsung has implemented regional SIM lock feature in current device to your respective region to provide customers the best possible mobile experience and customer service to the different needs in different regions to adapt.
Samsung the feedback of its customers has taken to heart and improves the activation of regional SIM lock and simplified. The first activation of a device with regional SIM lock feature should be used with a SIM card from a provider from the European region. A device from the Europe region * is immediately ready when dialing the SIM card from the Europe region in a network within the European region and is used to make phone calls as normal. In practice this means that customers in Germany have the phone with a SIM card of a provider from the European region after the first use of your device only five minutes in the German mobile network to deactivate the regional SIM lock feature. It does not matter if the usage time of five minutes is achieved actively or passively as a caller callee. Then, the regional SIM Lock is permanently disabled. The new solution is part of Android 4.3 Jelly Bean update that note 3 is already available for the Samsung GALAXY. More updates for the Samsung Galaxy S4, S4 mini, S III and Mark II will be available in the coming weeks via FOTA system update (Firmware Over The Air). If a user device to be from the Europe region with a SIM card from a provider who is not from the Europe, in operation and the device does not accept a SIM card, he can unlock his device from Samsung Customer Service.
If customer questions regarding the "regional lock" function of their product, they can contact customer service.
Samsung Customer Service can be reached by phone: 0180 667 267 864 (* 0,20 € / call from a landline and a maximum of 0,60 € / call from a mobile phone, from the International delivery service hours: Monday to Friday: 08:00. -20:00 clock, Saturday: 09:00-17:00 clock) or at: * To http://www.samsung.com/de/info/contactus.html Region Europe include
countries of the European Economic Area (EEA) :
Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania , Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, UK, Switzerland, Croatia
non-EU/EEA:
Albania, Andorra, Belarus, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Macedonia, Moldova, Monaco, Montenegro, San Marino, Serbia, Vatican City
source: All About Samsung
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