Samsung Galaxy S4 Global GSM Does not work

[ucshah]

Hi All,

I have just got my brand new Samsung S4 from Verizon. I took it to India as it is and switched it on in India for the first time.

I inserted a local GSM Card and it recognized the career fine which is Airtel. It was already on GLOBAL GSM network mode, however it does not search for any available networks!

When i switch to GSM/UTS it does search for local networks and also shows a list of local networks, but when i select the local network operator (Airtel), it says Registering on Airtel and after a long wait it says Failed to Register. Or Could not register please try again later.

On automatically assign it gives me the same error.

It only searches network operator when i switch to GSM Network Mode. When i select Global GSM Network Mode it does not search at all. In fact the option to search Network Operator is greyed / Off / not available upon click!

I had called Verizon before ordering the phone and they clearly told me that the S4 comes unlocked for Global use and i simply have to insert an International GSM Card and it will work. No settings, No configuration are required.

But i am in middle of no where and my phone is not working on any of the GSM SIM cards in India.

I am badly stuck please help. I am on a 6 months long travel and it really sucks.

Umesh.

[vzw_customer_support]

Hi Ucshah,

India sounds fantastic! I know how important it is to have a device that works properly when you travel. Let's get this resolved. While we cannot guarantee service on another provider, we can make sure that your device is set for global travel. Our Global team would need to unlock the device in order for the device to work Globally, but you would need meet the following requirements. Do you currently have service with Verizon Wireless? Has your service been active for the last six months and in good standing? Keep me posted.

Thanks,
Pamela_VZW
Please follow us on twitter @VZWSupport

[gimmeniz]

I'm having the same problem with my daughter in Australia. I was assured by a rep that she would not have any problems using the phone globally, either with the VZW sim or a local one. I knew the guy didn't sound as if he knew what he was talking about. She just arrived last night and is frantic.

She is there for 3 weeks and is with a group. They staff want them to all have local numbers so she got a local sim but it does not work. What is with the outright lies  from VZW reps?? I explained to him that this is my child going overseas and I need to make sure that communication will not be lost.

[vzw_customer_support]

Hi Gimmeniz,

Oh no! Having a properly working phone while traveling is important.Let's get this resolved. What happens when she puts in the SIM?  Is the device network set to Global services http://vz.to/14y5vHN? We can check the global features on the line. Please accept my follow, and then you can send me a Direct Message with the mobile number. She can call the Global Team at 908-559-4899 if changing these settings do not work.

Thanks,
PamelaF_VZW
Tweet us @vzwsupport

[gimmeniz]

It's working now. Thank you so much for your response.

Sent from my iPhone

[SheriD]

Hi Pam, you seem to be the expert on this...I have a VZW Samsung Galaxy S4 and I am going to the UK tomorrow evening.  What can I do, if anything to get it to be GSM by then?  Looks like I need a new SIM card and VZW may have to open it up for global use?  Where do i get a SIM card?

[vzw_customer_support]

SheriD, the best way to get a SIM card  would be to go to a store. However, we are able to send them to you. If you would like one sent, please PM me your number and verification code so we can get that out to you.

SammuelP
VZW Support

[mikaylam]

Hi there, I'm trying to figure out if I buy a Verizon Samsung Galaxy S4 on Ebay if it will work efficiently where ever I'm living with the global services. I currently live in Canada but I am moving back to Australia and will be travelling through the USA and possibly Europe in the next year.

Thanks!

[aprilinindia]

Hi Pam,

I hope you can help me! I am having a similar problem as Umesh. I bought a Galaxy S4 in the US  and then moved to India.  The primary reason I bought it was because I was assured that it would work flawlessly with a local Indian Sim.  I put in an Airtel Sim, and bought airtime and a data package. The voice is working fine, but I can't get the data to work, and I REALLY need the data to work urgently, or I am screwed.

I took my phone to the airtel office here, and they said that the problem was the software from the US was a different version from what they use. I also met a local tech who offered to remove the US software and put the Indian one on. I did not do that because I want my phone to also work when I travel to the US (is that too much to ask??)

I spoke to Verizon customer service tonight who told me that the reason was because the Samsung Galaxy S4 doesn't allow you to put in an APN for a network other than Verizon.  This didn't make sense to me, because my phone has a menu for APNs and I have an Airtelgprs APN already there.

My US Verizon acct is active and in good standing.  I would appreciate any solution you can offer.

Warm wishes,

April

[erosenbe]

I just arrived in Japan with my Verizon Samsung Galaxy S4 and I had pre-purchased a pre-paid local SIM for the phone and had it shipped to where I am staying (actually a pair of identical SIM's, one for me and one for my wife).  I popped it in the phone and entered all the APN settings as directed by the carrier, however, it does not work.

I know the phone is capable of the right frequencies (at lest for SMS/Voice) as it got text messages detailing roaming costs when I first got here and had the Verizon SIM in still.  (I can't test voice/SMS with the local SIM I got as it is only for data)

It shows a banner of: Non-Verizon SIM - This SIM card is from an unknown source (though I think this may be just informational).

I was able to get into the APN menu and set things properly (unlike what some have reported with the older software on the Galaxy S3).

I am positive the issue is not with the local SIM since my wife's phone (a unlocked T-Mobile Galaxy S3) works perfectly with both SIM's.

I have re-entered and verified the APN info several times (and again, it works when I enter it on my Wife's Galaxy S3 with the same SIM), so I am pretty certain that is not the issue.

I am going to be here for two weeks traveling and I am desperate to get this working.  Any help is appreciated.

I called Global Roaming Support to see if my phone needed unlocking, and they swear up and down that it comes from the factory unlocked and that this should work.

As far as I am concerned this phone is defective (software wise) and does not work as advertised.  Unless their is some magic workaround solution that Global Roaming Support was unable to provide for me, I am screwed for the next couple weeks unless I buy/rent a phone here (I am not paying Verizons astronomical roaming rates).  I think I am done buying carrier mangled phones in the future.  I see a stock Google un-subsidized phone in my future on whatever carrier (T-Mobile?) would make the most sense.

Under "Mobile Networks" "Network Operators" is greyed out (though when I first put the SIM in I think that let me click on it, but trying to select one of the two operators that showed up failed - now it does not seem to be an option).

FYI-  This is the local SIM I am using

http://www.bmobile.ne.jp/english/

[selin319]

I am also traveling to Japan this coming weekend, so it would be great if a Verizon representative responds to the gentleman above.

Thanks.

[vzw_customer_support]

Your upcoming trip to Japan sound amazing selin319. I know the importance of ensuring you are able to use your phone while out of the country. I am happy to confirm that your Samsung Galaxy S4 will be compatible to use while in Japan. Prior to you leaving out of the country, please ensure you contact our Customer Service Department to ensure we activate the SIM card. In the event you encounter difficulites with service while out of the country you may contact our Global Support Team at 1-908-559-4899.

Thank You,
MichelleL_VZW
VZW Support
Follow us on Twitter @VZWSUPPORT

[nsyed2]

Hi can you please help. I am having a similar problem. When I insert my polish SIM card, the phone reads "non- verizon SIM". I have tried changing all of the settings that I have seen recommended on these forums, including changing to network mode global and to allow global data roaming access. I need to get my Polish SIM card to work, now. I KNOW it is a problem with the phone because no other SIM cards are working AND they are working in all my friends' phones (who also had Verizon back in the States, but none of them have the S4)

I called customer support and he told me to do all of the above, nothing is working and I need it to be.

Thanks for you help,

nsyed2

[vzw_customer_support]

Hi nsyed2,

We definitely want to get you back up and running as you should be! Sorry to hear about the trouble you've been going through. Since you are outside of the country, I would recommend reaching out to our Global Tech Support directly! They will be able to run through everything with you and make sure you are set up to successfully use your device outside of the states. They can be reached using the "calling card" instructions found on this page: http://vz.to/17KseUf

RuthW_VZW
Follow us on twitter @VZWSupport

[nsyed2]

Hi,

I called the recommended department and received absolutely no help. I was told that I must be using a SIM from an "unsupported" carrier. Well, I have officially tried every single SIM card offered in Poland. FURTHERMORE, I have placed these same exact SIM cards in all of my friends' phones and they are working just fine. Something is either defective with the phone (in which case I would like a new one sent to me here in Poland) OR Verizon has placed their own block on the phone. I am leaning more towards the latter because the phone is stating that I am using a non- Verizon SIM; meaning that it is working enough to be able to differentiate between SIMS.

I have some friends who have had to pay money to 3rd parties (on Ebay) for a code to fully unlock their Verizon phones. I don't want to do this because I don't trust these non- Verizon companies.

I am extremely upset with the service I have received. I am paying so much money right now to be able to stay in contact with my family back at home but enough is enough. Please work with me to resolve this problem as soon as possible. I have been with Verizon for several years now and have never had such a terrible problem.

Sincerely,

Nicole

[nsyed2]

I would like to add that when I decided to re-sign my contract with Verizon last July, I was assured beyond a doubt that my phone would work completely fine abroad. I even informed my representative of where I would be, what service I would be using, how long I would be away for and I told him that using global networking plan was too expensive; that I needed  to be able to use Polish carriers. Under absolutely no circumstances will I continue to pay for global networking. It is costing me $25/ 100mb of internet; I have been in Poland for 3 weeks and have already added $75 to my account because of that. And as a medical student, I am using internet a lot! I don't even want to begin discussing how much it is for text messaging and phone calls.

Please do not refer me to your global networking plans any more. I need a solution that will allow me to use a Polish provider.

Thank you for any help you can give me! I truly hope we can figure this out so I don't continue to waste money.

Sincerely,

Nicole

[vzw_customer_support]

nsyed2,

Understood completely. Ultimately, our options are limited when you're located out of the country. That's why we must refer you to contacting our Global Support Team. We apologize for the inconvenience.

EvanO_VZW

Follow us on twitter @VZWSupport

[edmiii]

I hear your pain.  Verizon tech just carries on about changing plans.  Plans are just billing mechanisms.  Travel Pass should work.  But in many countries Verizon doesn't work and I found out last week TMobile does.  Probably goodbye Verizon

[edmiii]

Tech support didn't help.  No surprise.  I spent 4 hours on the phone trying to get an iPhone 14 working in Bahrain while watching all the TMobile phones working.  I am adding TMobile as a second number and see what happens.  If TM works where Verizon does not then it's time to say goodbye to Verizon.  TM is basically GSM.  Verizon is supposed to cover GSM but apparently not.  It was originally CDMA only and didn't work in Europe.  Seems we are back to where we were 30 years ago with having to rely on a GSM US carrier for service outside of North America

[jnbgtr]

Hi Nicole,

I've read about this issue with a solution over on Android Central.  Go over there as it is a far better user community that has tons a real sharp people.  There is a way to add the APN to your phone so it is recognized on any network.  By FCC rules the S4 is unlocked.  The only issue I've read is that you'll always get the nagging message of 'non-Verizon Sim' however it will work regardless.

[mrfried]

I am a little confused by your comments re: Japan and SIM cards.

You Stated "Your upcoming trip to Japan sound amazing selin319. I know the importance of ensuring you are able to use your phone while out of the country. I am happy to confirm that your Samsung Galaxy S4 will be compatible to use while in Japan. Prior to you leaving out of the country, please ensure you contact our Customer Service Department to ensure we activate the SIM card. In the event you encounter difficulites with service while out of the country you may contact our Global Support Team at 1-908-559-4899."

I am trying to understand like the above posts, If I pick up a local sim card from a Japanese company will it work properly in Japan for data.  You state above the phone is compatible and we should contact Verizon to activate it.

Traveling to Japan and hoping to use my unlocked Samsung S4 for data.

Thanks

Jeff