Galaxy Tab activated in store?

[MJBarnes]

I bought the Verizon Galaxy tab yesterday at Best Buy. They had to activate it in the store before I left but they told me I could immediately cancel the data service. So I did.

Then, I decided to mess around with the Tab which forced me to want to start fresh with a restore... Bad news... I now had to activate my tablet with Verizon again. I could not even get past the activation screen.

That is a major issue (at least for me).

I understand that with the ATT version, you buy it and away you go. If you want to activate great, and if not, great.

What about the Sprint version? Does this need a Sprint activation every time I want to reset from factory fresh?

 

[burningembers]

I just finished getting my Sprint tab perfect, so I kind of don't want to factory reset...but, for the sake of science, if nobody answers before later tonight I'll do it and let you know

I imagine it will, though, because it uses CDMA like Verizon. However, isn't there a way even on the Verizon tab to skip it? Something like make an emergency call and exit 6 times or something...I can't remember.

 

[tungtle]

i used to have the Verizon branded.. when youre on the activation screen.. you hit the volume rocker one up, down twice, up three times, & down four times..

i recently just exchanged mine for the sprint version, seems a lil more snappier cant bypass that activation, so its on flight mode with wifi on which makes the notification go away

 

[MJBarnes]

Do you bypass the initial sprint activation the same way? Do I need to initially sign up for service and then deactivate on sprint?

 

[tungtle]

for sprint, apparently no one knows how to really bypass activation.. i exchanged it for the sprint with no contract.. i just have the Tab on flight mode with WiFi on, works just fine..

 

[NunyaBidnez]

If you don't want to activate a data plan, I would suggest buying a GSM Galaxy Tab from T-Mobile or AT&T so you can easily bypass the activation screen. When you do feel like activating a data plan, you can either activate it with the tablet's respective carrier or combine it with a portable hotspot device from a CDMA carrier like Verizon. By combining a GSM tablet with a CDMA portable hotspot device, you can unlock the GSM tablet to use a local SIM card when traveling internationally. When you're in the US, you can take advantage of Verizon's excellent coverage. Since Verizon offers no subsidy with a two years agreement, you can sign a two year contract to get a free Mifi hotspot device instead so you'd really be getting two devices for the price of one.

 

[serendib]

Hi,

I am trying to deduce if I buy the $599 T-Mobile version from amazon.com, whether I can use it out of the USA simply for Wifi without any blockages presented by a need to activate for T-Mobile SIM? Can I simply deactivate by touching the screen corners or volume buttons in sequence? Can anyone please definitively tell me - very grateful?! (I am prepared even to get the AT&T $649 version if it means that bypassing the activation is possible.) I note Costco has it for $539...

I was going to buy from Best Buy until someone alerted the difficulties of deactivation on the Verizon version (and costs).

It is difficult to get a clear pic of the Tab's "unlocked" status as different carriers are doing different things...and I only want to use it for Wifi abroad.

Thanks,

 

[katinsc]

Since Verizon offers no subsidy with a two years agreement, you can sign a two year contract to get a free Mifi hotspot device instead so you'd really be getting two devices for the price of one.

I was sold a mifi with my Verizon Tab, I was told since it was CDMA hotspot device, I really didn't need a mifi. All I have to do is return the mifi (still w/i 30 days) and get a data plan turned on with VZW. Does that sound right.. I use the WIFI connection at home but when I am out I can use it straight from the tab, correct??? Any reason why I wouldn't want to do that?

 

[latinmaxima]

If the verizon tab works like a mifi the only downside would be tab battery life acting as a mifi I would think. If you are using the tab and need to use a laptop or something then you have to keep your tab running for the mifi ability. I haven't heard anyone really state whether or not the battery life with mifi is good or not.

 

[katinsc]

I have wifi at home, so I wouldn't really need to pull the wifi from the tab. I rarely take my laptop with me, now I don't have to with the tab.. ANd that is where i mostly use it, but when I am out and about I don't want to have to worry about having to have my mifi charged and remember to take it with me... I want the tab to be an all in one product. I just think that sold me a product I really don't need.