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Verizon vs. unlocked Galaxy S10

I am aware that the following features

Visual Voicemail (VVM)
LTE Video Calling
Enhanced Address Book
VoWiFi (WiFi calling)
Family Base
Family Locator

were not available on unlocked Samsung S9 phones at least as of Sept 2018. Will Verizon still make these same features unavailable on the unlocked S10 when it is released?

Comments

Ann154

It would depend of if Samsung got that model cerified with those features and included the Verizon software to make those features work in that model's OS build.

Verizon_Support

teeshot, Thanks, for illustrating these features for they are important features for many of our customers. At this time we are not certain if those features will be supported on the unlocked version of the Galaxy S10.

boringusername

Pretty simple if you want Verizon sepcfic features get the Verizon version. If having an unlocked device is more important then realize you won't get those features. Since a Verizon version will work on other carriersand if you don;t plan on leaving Verizon anytime soon I'm not sure why you would bother with an unlocked version

NHGeordie

Why would I go for unlocked? Because it's substantially cheaper and I don't use the Verizon bloatware anyway. Why would I want to pay extra to use features that cost extra and don't do anything I need? And then there's the unlocked thing, once I have the cheaper phone, that is physically identical, I can then do what I like with it. Verizon charges way too much for offering the opportunity to make life easier and more lucrative for them.

jrh4054

Boringusername, you said it perfecly.

teeshot

The reason is called "bloatware" that in many cases can not be removed but carriers force it upon us anyway.

jrh4054

You described several VZW features that apparently you like and want, but don't want to pay for. This is a classic case of getting what you paid for. You can't have it both ways.

teeshot

It's not a matter if I like features or not. As a matter of fact, I don't currenly use any of the features listed and haven't used most of them in the 10+ years as a Verizon customer. There are benefits and draw backs to all carrier branded/locked phones vs the unlocked counterpart. Before I spend almost $1,000 on anything, I try to research the pros and cons of all the different models and then select the one that suits my needs the best. My needs may very well be different than someone else. Even the carrier selection matters. Where I live, Verizon does not even have a close 2nd as far as reception. In many of my daily travels, there are a couple of areas that a competitor far exceeds Verizon's reception. But, again, I choose what's best for me.

kguthery

I purchased an unlocked S10 directly from Samsung. When I put in my SIM card from my Verizon branded S7 it copied/download all of my previous apps and settings. I can confirm that Wi-Fi Calling does work. Visual Voicemail also also works, although it prompted me to install an updated version. I do not use the other features you listed so I can't comment on those.

https://www.verizonwireless.com/support/knowledge-base-223034/

wombat14

So, say I have all of that turned on and wifi calling still doesn't work. I've triple checked all of the settings, and all I have is a glorified brick. Any suggestions beyond those above?

Stryke

Just discovered tonight that video calling is a Verizon feature courtesy of this topic that came up in a Google search. Here I thought that I was avoiding Verizon bloatware for my wife's new phone, just to find that her unlocked S10 can't do video calling.

The best laid plans......

Looks like we will have to go back to the store tomorrow and see about swapping for a Verizon version...

cccerberus

I too bought a factory unlocked S10 direct from samsung, only to find that while visual voicemail works, video calling does not. There is no button for advanced calling features nor any evident way to enable HD Voice etc.

Not a deal breaker, but definitely disappointing

akp55

These features you speak of are actually pretty standard now days. The only thing I'd give an exception for is video calling. I .curr curre using an unlocked s10e. It's great to have VoWiFi, ToWiFi, visual voicemail, and not having Verizon bloatware and not having to pay the VZW tax. Pleased stop thinking cell networks are something special, it's just an evolution of the pstn. HD Voice is a new std codec same as G.711a/u. Verizon and ATT bragged about placing those calls between thier networks. Also look over seas where all this dirt works across mobile networks. Stop letting us carriers fleece us

dexman

Although they cannot be removed, in many cases, the unneeded apps can be disabled. They are still in the phone, but, inoperative.

CharlieOjs

Please let me add to this thread.... for whatever it is worth.

I purchased the S10+ Verizon version directly from Samsung last month and paid full price less my 9+ (Verizon version) trade. I purchased the Verizon variant because I wanted Wi-Fi calling, HD calling and visual voicemail without issues or work-arounds.

The phone has always been on my Verizon account; but when I travel internationally I like to put my Google Fi SIM in. That worked perfectly on the 9+ for a year. It was a simple process to swap the SIM in and out.

Enter the S10+. As it turns out, the Verizon version of the Galaxy S10+, purchased directly from Samsung, comes LOCKED to Verizon. It simply is NOT true that none of Verizon’s phones are carrier locked. The Fi SIM refused to activate with a pop up error indicating that the phone was locked to Verizon and suggesting I call them.

It took 7 calls to Verizon over two weeks before I finally found a technical person knowledgeable enough to help. He happened to be in Verizon international tech support in California. He knew exactly what the problem was, somehow marked the IMEI as “unlocked” on their server side and then had me power cycle the phone. Voilá!! The phone was instantly unlocked and Fi worked. He told me that the unlock is permanent and will survive factory resets, etc. Prior to calling Verizon, I was able to confirm with Samsung support that the phone was carrier locked..... after the fact of course.

I am still shocked that Verizon and Samsung are able to get away with this. There is absolutely NO indication on the Samsung site now that indicates the phone is carrier locked. Besides, I was always under the impression that Verizon wasn’t even allowed to sell locked phones due to some FCC settlement. That is obviously not completely correct.

As a side note, the Verizon tech made a great suggestion and then reconfigured my iPhone 10 XS Max (second phone). He put my Verizon “SIM” on the eSIM rather than physical SIM. That left the physical SIM slot open for my Fi SIM. Now I have both carriers active on one phone...... I am able to use voice with Verizon and data with Fi. Completely configurable any way you want. Unfortunately the S10+ doesn’t support eSIM.

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