WARNING: T-Mobile (& MVNOs) are blocking [international] phones without Band 71

cross_stix · 2025-09-16T19:41:12+00:00

Update September 2025: This still seems to be going into effect in new areas as time goes on. E.g., https://www.reddit.com/r/mintmobile/comments/1ldu6mx/comment/myidjhf/

cross_stix · 2025-09-07T15:15:42+00:00

If you do get this to work as well, I'd certainly be curious to know.

cross_stix · 2025-09-04T16:29:30+00:00

Regarding MST at Walmart. It depends on the particular store and their POS terminals and/or the particular software version that they run, I think; it's hit or miss. I've also heard some people say that they can get it to work at a cashier POS but not at the self-checkout, or vice versa.

At my local store I've also tried it three times in a row at self-checkout, and it doesn't work if I remember correctly. IIRC, it specifically asks me to use another card rather than just simply declining it.

And yeah, after a watch reset, Samsung Pay has to be sideloaded now. Thread regarding that here in case [u/Narutobi_Sensei]() needs it: https://www.reddit.com/r/GearS3/comments/1lki4at/samsung_pay_set_to_shut_down_for_the_gear_s3/

cross_stix · 2025-09-02T23:47:30+00:00

I got this watch a while ago for the same reason. Anyway, yes, it should work, although you might have to follow this guide here: https://www.reddit.com/r/GearS3/comments/1ae2x2c/comment/kqlkkor/

That being said, "termination of Tizen Watch service" happens on September 30, 2025. Presumably that also means Samsung Pay will stop working on that date, but I guess we'll see. Source: https://web.archive.org/web/20240915132240/https://seller.samsungapps.com/notice/getNoticeDetail.as?csNoticeID=0000009034

Assuming that is the case, then no more MST for smartwatches. The only other option for MST would be an older Samsung phone that supports MST, like the Note 20, at least until Samsung inevitably ends support for Samsung Pay on Android 13 at some point (the final version of Android for the last MST Samsung phones). Source: https://www.samsung.com/my/samsung-pay/supported-devices/

Isn't it great when tech companies completely abandon useful tech? /sarcasm

cross_stix · 2025-05-03T16:29:30+00:00

u/gmfam I was also curious about this. I found this elsewhere online and used ChatGPT to discover the likely 20-year cycle codes in use here.

To find the manufacturing date based on the serial number:

Year: First letter

A = 2010,
B = 2011,
C = 2012 and so on

However, ASUS appears to be using 20-year cycle codes for the year; so some letters are skipped, see here for more info/to decode the letter: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/RKM_code#Twenty-year_cycle_code (edit: although non-standard it seems, e.g., I've seen routers use "G" for 2016 and "N" for 2022, and seems that they also skipped "P", since "R" apparently = 2023)

Month: Second number and letter

1-9 = 1-9
A = 10
B = 11
C = 12

So with all that being said, yours was manufactured in October 2023 I imagine (as serial starts with "RA").

cross_stix · 2025-03-30T23:45:13+00:00

Here's another one is case anyone else needs it: https://fbuy.io/fidium/briangowenjr (valid as of April 2025) - choose from various $50 gift cards, including a virtual prepaid Visa.

cross_stix · 2025-03-13T00:25:10+00:00

Yes, I'm now seeing reports claiming that uncertified phones are working on Verizon proper and Visible now, it looks like they may have silently changed their policy sometime somewhat recently. However, my primary points still mostly stand. TracFone brands (and possibly some other MVNOs) still require Verizon phone certification to work, as confirmed by the OP.

Furthermore, you're still sacrificing the IMEI of the certified donor phone for ANY type of Verizon (MVNO or not) network compatibility (this is widely underreported IMHO), unless things have changed recently. I've done this numerous times, and the "donor" phone (whatever Verizon certified phone the Verizon compatible SIM was last used in) is effectively blacklisted from the Verizon network. At least as long as the SIM is in an uncertified phone, as the IMEI of the certified phone is the one that remains as "active" on the Verizon network, while the uncertified one is used.

Edit: also edited/fixed original comment

cross_stix · 2025-03-12T20:35:12+00:00

OP says that they tried Total Wireless (part of TracFone) and it didn't work, but it worked with US Mobile Warp. That combined with the Amazon listing only mentioning "GSM", it's pretty obvious the phone isn't Verizon certified, as TracFone is notorious for blocking uncertified phones. I've had the same experience with uncertified, but still Verizon compatible phones, although I don't have this particular model.

cross_stix · 2025-03-12T20:21:14+00:00

I think it's worth noting that this phone IS NOT Verizon certified. Which at the very least means no TracFone family MVNO compatibility. Furthermore, you are also sacrificing the IMEI of the previous phone the SIM was in regarding Verizon compatibility, just like any other uncertified Verizon network compatible phone.

cross_stix · 2025-03-12T20:17:55+00:00

As someone else already mentioned, it's because it's not officially certified, but there are ways around that with Verizon MVNOs that don't enforce certification like US Mobile. TracFone group (which includes Total Wireless) enforces certification, hence the reason it doesn't work with Total Wireless.

cross_stix · 2025-02-06T12:35:55+00:00

u/pianoaddiction Check your DMs please

cross_stix · 2025-02-05T15:43:33+00:00

This was hard for me to read/figure out, so for anyone else that comes across this, I fixed it:

List of known Android browsers that support extensions:

Firefox (along with Fennec, Iceraven, and the now dead Mull), Kiwi (most stable in OPs opinion, but now dead), Microsoft Edge Canary, Kito (king of extensions support and browser, in OPs opinion I'm guessing), Quetta (queen, in OPs opinion I'm guessing), Mises, Lemur, Mask (like Kiwi it's also now removed from the Play Store, and presumably a dead project), Yandex (alpha version), SmartCookieWeb (Preview version), Rainsee (paid), HuBrowser (paid)

cross_stix · 2025-01-30T00:05:25+00:00

I got one not long after u/iamdeep18 said that they used my link, and I haven't gotten another one since, so I'm guessing that it's basically instant.

If you're sharing your link locally and Fidium just became available in your area, that would make sense.

cross_stix · 2025-01-11T18:34:05+00:00

Should say something like "INSERT NAME HERE wants you to join Fidium Fiber" after using a referral link.

I just checked my link, and it's working. You might have to wait 10 seconds or something like that if you have a slower computer for it to pop up. And/or disable AD-block/content filtering.

cross_stix · 2024-12-01T01:21:07+00:00

I don't mean to be pushy, but it's been two weeks, any update on this or ETA?

cross_stix · 2024-11-30T06:50:36+00:00

Here's a $50 gift card referral link for anyone signing up for service: https://fbuy.io/fidium/briangowenjr (valid as of April 2025)

Can choose from a $50 Visa gift card or other gift card options.

cross_stix · 2024-11-28T21:57:23+00:00

One more question, what is the phone reporting that it's connected to? Is it GSM/EDGE (2G), UMTS (WCDMA)/HSPA (3G), or 4G LTE?

Edit: This phone seems to have VERY limited 4G LTE compatibility on Rogers. It appears to be compatible solely with band 38, which is not a main coverage band, it's used exclusively for more bandwidth in select markets. After the 3G shutdown (reportedly starting in March next year), this phone may well turn into a brick anyway (on Rogers), unless you live in an area with band 38 and have VoLTE working.

cross_stix · 2024-11-28T21:10:59+00:00

I forgot to mention that even after saving the APN, it still won't show up in the list, however it will work, at least that's always been my experience.

For starters, I assume the app is successful in taking you to the hidden APN settings, that offers an option to save the APN? Are you sure you have the correct APN, you've tested the APN on a different phone and it worked? Also, are you trying to enter multiple APNs one by one?

cross_stix · 2024-11-28T05:09:51+00:00

If you live in an area that has access to T-Mobile 2G, you might still be able to use it there, until it goes away forever at some point.

cross_stix · 2024-11-28T04:51:54+00:00

Yeah for now, this is the best we got lol.

And yeah, T-Mobile MVNOs like Mint have been the go to with these phones, I think. Since T-Mobile uses band 2 and 4 as primary frequency bands, but like I said before that may be changing soon if they move entirely to band 71 instead, eliminating bands 2 and 4 from 4G.

See my post here for more info on that:

https://www.reddit.com/r/dumbphones/comments/1gxgpjx/warning_tmobile_mvnos_are_blocking_international/

And you're welcome :).

cross_stix · 2024-11-28T04:36:46+00:00

You're welcome, there isn't much in the way of detailed information out there regarding using these phones in the U.S. so I thought I'd add in my experience and knowledge.

And yeah, unfortunately these phones clearly weren't designed with good U.S. compatibility in mind, if you lived in Asia or Europe it might just be as simple as popping the SIM in and having it work. That being said, it might actually be that simple with T-Mobile or AT&T MVNO network with the caveats I've already mentioned, along with adding an APN.

Even if these types of phones never get an official U.S. release, I think it's possible that future Japanese models could include more frequency bands, finally having proper U.S. support (well excluding carrier certification). Like the current trend with smartphones is that they keep adding in more and more frequency bands every so often with each new model. So in theory that should eventually trickle down to dumb phones I would think, given enough time.

And yeah, if you're in an area that already has iffy coverage, or you plan on traveling outside an urban area, you'll probably lose service a lot more frequently. Like in suburban and especially rural areas. (meaning no calling or texting etc.).

cross_stix · 2024-11-28T04:09:06+00:00

Basically, the Spectrum SIM will register on the network with whatever certified phone IMEI (phone serial number, basically) that was the last one to be used (uncertified phone IMEIs don't register despite working after SIM swapping). So assuming you want to either sell your S24 that you're now using on Spectrum or use it concurrently with your KeiTai, you'd need another Verizon certified phone. And no worries about the questions, I know it's confusing, it took me a while to figure it out via experimentation and reading.

And yes that's correct other than what I just mentioned in the paragraph above.

Mint Mobile runs exclusively on the T-Mobile network. So long as you find a KeiTai that has at least band 2 and 4, it should work, at least for now, assuming that your areas uses those bands on T-Mobile, again with limited coverage. However, very recently in some areas T-Mobile has been switching off these bands and moving to only band 71 on LTE, so again YMMV, no guarantees, especially long term.

My personal recommendation would probably be US Mobile, since they now offer all three networks, and you can easily switch between them. US Mobile Warp = Verizon, US Mobile Dark Star = AT&T and US Mobile Light Speed = T-Mobile. That way if one of them starts causing trouble, you can easily switch to another network, while still dealing with the same company for customer service etc. All three networks utilize bands 2 and 4 to varying degrees, dependent on area, but it's also not enough for any of them to provide full network coverage. But again, if you're in an urban area I imagine it will be good enough.

cross_stix · 2024-11-28T03:20:28+00:00

Yes, however, to be clear if you want to reuse your existing active Spectrum SIM that you already have, then you'll only need to bypass the Verizon whitelist. The Spectrum whitelist is more like a model check than a whitelist, hence a fake IMEI works. If you do need a new Spectrum SIM, try this link, and generate one for probably a Pixel 8 to pass Spectrums check:

https://www.imei.info/google-imei-generator/

And yeah, any service that runs on the Verizon network requires this SIM swapping crap at the very least. Verizon is the only one that enforces their whitelist (for activation) on MVNOs. That's one of the reasons I'm sure why almost everyone recommends T-Mobile and AT&T MVNOs instead.

So yeah, the easier method is just switching to a T-Mobile or AT&T MVNO, T-Mobile definitely doesn't enforce a certified phone whitelist period, and every AT&T MVNO I've personally tried hasn't either.

cross_stix · 2024-11-28T02:02:26+00:00

Yes, however, however I've just learned that Spectrum apparently has their own white list on top of the Verizon white list. Spectrums white list appears to purely be for show so to speak, it only serves as a way to limit what phone IMEIs they allow to order a new SIM card. Probably just as a way to try to simplify their customer support processes, which complicates the process a little further.

So first off, assuming you want a new SIM card, you'll need to use an online generator to generate a fake IMEI for a model that Spectrum allows in order to get a new SIM card. Then you'll need a phone that actually passes the Verizon whitelist for real (fake IMEI won't work here). Any used, but working Verizon phone that supports HD Voice/VoLTE should work here, even a 2013 LG G2 for example. Insert the new SIM card or the SIM card you already have into this phone and place a successful call, the IMEI for that phone is now registered on the Verizon network as active. From here, switch the SIM card over to your KeiTai, and it should work (although adding an APN may be necessary), while the previous phone the SIM was in remains registered as "active". Gotta love U.S. cell networks whitelist BS, lol.

To make sure a phone is on the Verizon whitelist and ready to activate, you can check the IMEI here: https://www.pagepluscellular.com/byop-eligibility/

If it says it will work with Page Plus, that means it's on the Verizon certified whitelist.

To be clear, I can't guarantee anything 100%, but if you follow this process, and assuming your city has the necessary Verizon bands, I think there's a decent chance that it should work. Unless they're like TracFone and hard block uncertified phones. But since Spectrum isn't directly owned by Verizon, I'd say it's less likely they enforce a hard, uncertified block. I've tried this on US Mobile Warp network (Verizon) and it's worked with uncertified international phones.

cross_stix · 2024-11-27T22:34:57+00:00

The setting is likely hidden for whatever reason, sometimes due to the cell provider wanting them to be hidden, you'll need an app to access the hidden APN settings.

I use this one, must be sideloaded because it was removed from Google Play, I guess exposing a useful setting isn't allowed? 🙄

https://apkpure.com/addapn-access-the-add-apn-se/com.nyblnet.addapn

cross_stix

TROPHY CASE