No matter how hard I try, AT&T keeps screwing with me

dynomot said:

I understand that US carriers have far more "power" over their customers vis a vis things like firmware updates etc than seems to be the case here in the UK, but to have an unlocked privately bought device have to have its new update "approved" by a carrier is, frankly, disgusting. I fear for the state of our mobile network's attitudes as ever the US leads, we in the UK usually follow.

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zuben el genub said:

Unlocked privately bought GSM devices usually updated by mfg, not carrier. Google updates the Nexi - Oppo's updates come from Oppo. It uses Color OS. If you are rooted, the ROM maker updates. I've used Cyanogen Mod and CM sends the updates, not the carrier. The usual hangup with carrier devices is what the carriers demand from the phone mfg.

You can buy an no carrier unlocked Samsung that would probably updated faster than a carrier phone. (Google had one on Play a while ago)

With the Eu fighting for some privacy one one hand and more control to snoop like our NSA on the other, I would think any phone could be banned from sale by gov't if ability to track wasn't allowed. That would apply to all carriers with all phones, so having carrier bloatware wouldn't be much good. One carrier couldn't demand the phone be made to its specs to comply with standards. Most of the bloat here has to do with encouraging extra "pay-for" services and local advertising.

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dynomot said:

"Very despicable" LOL I feel I am having my polite English leg pulled. Now in conversation as a Brit I would say "it F*ck*ng stinks" (censored myself there).

Now, please excuse me, I have to get cook to prepare afternoon tea for the Duchess of Snobchester, she is calling later.

dyno - keeping up Great British stereotypes since 1969

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zuben el genub said:

Did you check the bands before you bought it? One Nexus I bought did have either a TMO or ATT flavor. (Still under Google's control, though and got updates when Google put them out.)

I should think that if both ATT and TMO bands were listed, neither carrier had control.

If it only had either TMO or ATT bands, I'd check the tablet fora or reviews. Someone probably complained, but trying to find the complaint at times can be an exercise in futility. Sounds like as soon as tablet registered on Network, ATT took control.

Wonder what would have happened if you put a TMO SIM in? Would it even work on the 2G/Edge? That's what I got when I put EU phones on. Since I wasn't using data, I didn't care. They were fast enough for MMS.

You still have to have the right flavor of 1700/2100 band for TMO to get 4G. It also has to deal with AWS/UTMS. I remember looking it up, and I got the gist, but the article was very technical.

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zuben el genub said:

I've seen this on TMO sites. one of those bands is "up" and the other "down" in one explanation. If your tablet has them listed but they are not in the right order, 3G won't work. There's a lot posted as many new unlocked phones are hitting the market and people would rather not have to deal with carrier branding and unlocking. I'm not technical enough to totally understand some of the requirements. I know I checked very thoroughly before buying the Oppo Find.
It does work, even down to LTE.

Here's an explantion from TMO forums:
http://support.t-mobile.com/thread/39007?tstart=0

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