[Replicant] Phone locked to an operator

[Josh Branning]

That statement is true, the modem (SMS/voice) for the i9305 is not 
working with all free software on the CPU with replicant yet. I recently 
tested this.

In regards to functionality at this time, you would be better off 
getting an i9000 SIM unlocked if possible, which is what I should have 
done before I got my i9305.

Hopefully the devs will be able to add support for voice/sms on the 
i9305 in future, but in all honesty, I think that may be some time away, 
as AFAIK there is no working demo of libqmi-glib (which qmi-ril is based 
on) for voice/sms yet, at least not in mainline (I also tested qmicli on 
kali rolling to double check after reading sources).

That said, there is hope for this device [the i9305], as I believe the 
actual firmware for the modem, or at least the modem's co-processor, is 
freely available (as it's based on open embedded linux IIRC).

But yes, if you want a working device now, the safest option would 
probably be to get an unlocked i9000, if given the choice between those 
two devices. Note that that's just in my opinion, and you are welcome to 
decide on your own accord.

Josh

P.S.

It's also worth noting that if possible, you should try and make sure 
that you can unlock the bootloader on the phone also. This can be a bit 
of a gamble when buying a second-hand phone for instance, as if the 
phone was x-contract, and then sim unlocked afterwards, sometimes the 
operator restricts the unlocking of the bootloader (eg. by blocking 
fastboot).

If you are buying the phone new, you can always ask the people you are 
buying from if you can unlock the bootloader on the phone, or take it 
back to the shop if the bootloader unlock fails if it's under warranty.

On 21/12/17 07:40, Laurent F wrote:
> Hi everyone,
>
> Thank you for the replies and sorry for late reply.
>
> The i9300 was not for sale anymore but now I have a chance to buy an
> i9305. Would you recommend it for a non Linux/Replicant expert?
>
> I have read here
> (https://redmine.replicant.us/boards/27/topics/2175?r=14538#message-14538)
> that "the modem is not yet working (AFAIK), meaning that Internet,
> telephony, and SMS will not work through the modem". I don't understand
> this sentence: what does the "modem" do on a phone? Does it mean that I
> wouldn't be able to make phone calls and send sms like with an ordinary
> phone?
>
> For a "basic" user like me, what kind of things won't be possible to do
> with an i9305 compared to the i9300?
>
> In other words: is the i9305 a good choice for a beginner?
>
> Best regards,
>
> Laurent
>
>
> Le 13/12/2017 à 13:00, replicant-request at osuosl.org a écrit :
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>> Today's Topics:
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>>     1. Re: Phone locked to an operator (Brian Kemp)
>>     2. Re: Phone locked to an operator (Josh Branning)
>>     3. Re: Phone locked to an operator (Tiberiu)
>>
>>
>> ----------------------------------------------------------------------
>>
>> Message: 1
>> Date: Tue, 12 Dec 2017 15:19:33 +0000
>> From: Brian Kemp<brian.kemp at gmail.com>
>> To:replicant at osuosl.org, Laurent F<milhouse_fr at hotmail.com>,
>> 	"replicant at osuosl.org"  <replicant at osuosl.org>
>> Subject: Re: [Replicant] Phone locked to an operator
>> Message-ID:<5AC80195-A90C-42E1-A610-6027788895AB at gmail.com>
>> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="utf-8"
>>
>> No.
>>
>> On December 12, 2017 3:40:11 AM EST, Laurent F<milhouse_fr at hotmail.com>  wrote:
>>> Hi everyone,
>>>
>>> I am new to the list, here is my first message.
>>>
>>> I am going to buy a second hand i9300 in order to install Replicant on
>>> it. The phone that I have found is locked to a specific mobile phone
>>> operator. Will it become unlocked after installing Replicant?
>>>
>>> Best regards,
>>> Laurent
>
>
>
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