URGENT Help Needed! Using GAL S3 purchased in Korea in the States!

nexusmaster
Newbie

I bought a Galaxy S III in Korea from a carrier there and was told that I would be able to

use the Gal III in the States just by switching the SIM Card and getting the right "MAC address" (or something of the sort)

I was told by a Verizon Wireless representative in NY, however, that this is not possible.

CAN SOMEONE PLEASE HELP ME AND LET ME KNOW OF A WAY TO GET MY GAL 3 FROM KOREA TO WORK IN THE STATES?

(WITH MY CURRENT VERIZON WIRELESS DATA PLAN?)

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Ann154
Community Leader
Community Leader

You might be able to use it on ATT, T-Mobile or any other GSM carrier in the USA.  I don't think it can be used on the Verizon Wireless network.

I'm most definitely NOT a VZW employee. If a post answered your question, please mark it as the answer.

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nexusmaster
Newbie

Oh no,

My current family data plan is with verizon, so it's sort of difficult for me to switch to ATT at this point.

So you think there's no way whatsoever for this to work out on verizon?

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Tidbits
Legend

Which S3 do you have from Korea?  Which carrier or is it unlocked?  If you have a GSM carrier branded or international version it will not work on Verizon.  If you have the one from LG and is tied to their CDMA network it still will not work as there is a policy to not allow foreign IMEI's into their database.  Your best bet is to sell it and buy a Verizon version.

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nexusmaster
Newbie

I bought my S3 from SK Telecom in Korea. According to the website, the model number is SHV-E210S and it lists "WCDMA/GSM" under CPU. If I were to unlock this phone (hopefully that won't be illegal now since this is a Korean phone under a Korean network anyway), would I be able to use it on verizon?

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Tidbits
Legend

No they will not import the IMEI. Best option is to sell it and buy a Verizon branded version.

The SK version uses simcards for their CDMA network, and Verizon does not as well.  Which poses the problem why it will not work.

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bjeffers52
Newbie

Wow, guess I'm out of luck - leaving for New Zealand in 5 days!

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