[Replicant] Phone locked to an operator (Josh Branning)

Wed Dec 27 15:40:19 UTC 2017

Hi Josh,

Thank you for this very complete reply. I was not aware of the bootloader issue. I will check this before I buy my phone.

I realised afterwards that it would have been clever to ask my question on the forum instead of the mailing list so that more people can benefit from your answer. I will do so next time.

Best regards,

Laurent

Le 22/12/2017 à 13:00, replicant-request at osuosl.org<mailto:replicant-request at osuosl.org> a écrit :

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Today's Topics:

   1. Re: Phone locked to an operator (Josh Branning)

----------------------------------------------------------------------

Message: 1
Date: Thu, 21 Dec 2017 21:15:00 +0000
From: Josh Branning <lovell.joshyyy at gmail.com><mailto:lovell.joshyyy at gmail.com>
To: replicant at osuosl.org<mailto:replicant at osuosl.org>
Subject: Re: [Replicant] Phone locked to an operator
Message-ID: <5A3C2454.8080005 at gmail.com><mailto:5A3C2454.8080005 at gmail.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=windows-1252; format=flowed

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 ? 13:00, replicant-request at osuosl.org<mailto:replicant-request at osuosl.org> a ?crit :

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When replying, please edit your Subject line so it is more specific
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Today's Topics:

    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><mailto:brian.kemp at gmail.com>
To:replicant at osuosl.org<mailto:To:replicant at osuosl.org>, Laurent F<milhouse_fr at hotmail.com><mailto:milhouse_fr at hotmail.com>,
        "replicant at osuosl.org"<mailto:replicant at osuosl.org>  <replicant at osuosl.org><mailto:replicant at osuosl.org>
Subject: Re: [Replicant] Phone locked to an operator
Message-ID:<5AC80195-A90C-42E1-A610-6027788895AB at gmail.com><mailto: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><mailto: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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