Help QUESTION: does AT&t block as usual some functions even on this Phone???

[CrazySte]

HI EVERYBODY,
considering that the first Android Phones from AT&t where uncapable of installing apps from outside the Android Market and that you could not set as default search engine to Google (that was ridiculous) and that they do not allow OTA Updates... i wanted to ask:


Other than having the SIM Locked to AT&t

WHAT OTHER LIMITATIONS THERE ARE IN AN AT&T SAMSUNG GALAXY S2 COMPARED TO A FACTORY UNBRANDED ONE?

The question comes after a friend of mine wants to get a Samsung Galaxy S2 and since he has a contract with AT&t he wanted to get it with them...

But i told him to wait because back then, when i purchased my Samsung Galaxy S 1, i had to buy it from elsewhere Unlocked in order to be able to use it freely

Thank's for the help
REGARDS

 

[Baldilocks]

Nothing is blocked.

 

[werds]

HI EVERYBODY,
considering that the first Android Phones from AT&t where uncapable of installing apps from outside the Android Market and that you could not set as default search engine to Google (that was ridiculous) and that they do not allow OTA Updates... i wanted to ask:


Other than having the SIM Locked to AT&t

WHAT OTHER LIMITATIONS THERE ARE IN AN AT&T SAMSUNG GALAXY S2 COMPARED TO A FACTORY UNBRANDED ONE?

The question comes after a friend of mine wants to get a Samsung Galaxy S2 and since he has a contract with AT&t he wanted to get it with them...

But i told him to wait because back then, when i purchased my Samsung Galaxy S 1, i had to buy it from elsewhere Unlocked in order to be able to use it freely

Thank's for the help
REGARDS

He can buy the At&t one, root it and freeze the bloatware or load things that do not work fairly simply. Personally though I purchased an unlocked phone only for the fact that I travel outside the country and it is cheaper to purchase pre-paid sim cards in those countries- therefore requiring the phone to be unlocked. (Also will hold slightly higher resale value)

Otherwise you do not need an unlocked phone. You merely have to ROOT the phone when he purchases it.

 

[CrimsonPride]

Sideloading is now allowed, as are OTA updates which were never blocked by ATT. Nothing else is blocked

 

[jmounteer]

There are some apps that can't be stopped or uninstalled without rooting the phone. (e.g. AT&T Navigator)

 

[Pineguy]

Nothing is blocked.

On my phone I've found AT&T has blocked Tethering and Portable WiFi Hotspot.

 

[Space Cowboy]

They have blocked the NFC feature

 

[Baldilocks]

On my phone I've found AT&T has blocked Tethering and Portable WiFi Hotspot.

More than likely that's because you have to pay extra for tethering. So, it has to be there somewhere.

 

[Baldilocks]

They have blocked the NFC feature

My international version doesn't have NFC at all. Wouldn't exactly call not having NFC a negative.

 

[werds]

There are some apps that can't be stopped or uninstalled without rooting the phone. (e.g. AT&T Navigator)

Correct, but with a simple root and a freeze program you can freeze or even remove that junk (or just flash a custom rom that has them all removed already lol)

On my phone I've found AT&T has blocked Tethering and Portable WiFi Hotspot.

Yep since they feel charging an extra premium for tethering makes logical sense both legally and in business terms... but once again if you root and freeze or remove the ATT tethering and portable wifi services the current Gingerbread software on the SGS2 has wifi hotspot and tethering baked in and you would not have to pay for the tethering - BUT BE WARNED, if ATT figures out you are tethering without paying they will bump you up to the tethered plan (or give you a warning if you get lucky)

They have blocked the NFC feature

Yep, this is because they are part of a joint venture called Isis which is planned to be a direct competitor to Google Wallet. So why bother having NFC active before your service is out the door and ready if it will only allow your competitors to get more access to handsets with NFC before you are prepared lol (I'll let you decide if this is really the reason or not...)