4G S8 to be disconnected with 3G shutdown - here is what you can do

From Verizon website--

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@krishmunn 

Again, it is not just technical capabilities. The manufacturer had to certify it with AT&T to meet all their qualifications, and they chose not to. For whatever reason they decided not to certify with AT&T, and for all we know there is a technical difference with AT&T's service that needs something other carriers don't.

I wasn't saying you were guaranteed to replace it with another carrier, only that it was a possibility. If Verizon confirms they can use your exact model, then fine. As long as you do your research and confirm what will work going forward that is all well and good.

I really wish the "white knights" would stop the complete defense of ATT by continually telling users, who bought unlocked phones that they investigated and found, at the time, to be perfectly functional under ATT.

Yes, a business has a right to put a line in the sand and make distinctions on what will work going forward or not, but, at the same time, customers have a right to be upset if the decision sounds arbitrary and isn't well, or at all, communicated.

Think: Microsoft and operating systems, Apple and products there, HP/(Edited per community guidelines)/etc and which printers/scanners work going forward on new operating systems, etc.

People put their own, REAL, money and time into buying something that they knew, going by all the rules, would work when they bought it. When the company makes a decision to not support that, at a later date, people will feel cut off at the kneecaps. If it is well communicated, that is one thing. If it is not, and the majority of the people don't understand why and how the industry and the products actually work (and that is by design in this industry), then they DO have a right to complain.

I was happy I found this thread, initially, but the more I see a small subset of ATT "white knight heroes" jumping on everyone else that is having issues or is upset about how this whole thing has unfolded, I more I shake my head and think of certain words, that I won't repeat here, that I think they are acting like.

The "I don't work for ATT but you were stupid in buying that unlocked phone and they don't owe you anything" may be true but really is rude to say. Better to just not say anything at all as that is a, too much, repeated type of post in this thread now...and always by the same few people. Maybe it feels godlike to say it to the peons who are getting screwed by this....makes you feel better?

Whatever.

I will say, as an ATT stockholder, I am upset by (A) the way ATT has handled it, (B) the "free" phones they sent out (I don't think any should have been sent out for free and I think it should have been much better communicated), (C) the people on this forum denigrating ATT customers who tried to do the right thing and are getting blasted as stupid for it.
Those people in (C) are helping to push away, to other networks, ATT paying customers for years.  As a shareholder, I don't like that.  Yep, I'm leaving ATT next week, myself. 100% because of the way this 5G was done and the S8 debacle. As a shareholder, I tried to stay and be loyal and supportive.  As a customer, too many wrong decisions...and then the few on this forum that get on the ones who are having legit issues/problems.  You know who you are. Flaunt your badges and such, that ATT forums have given you for "help" but realize that the way you are talking to people with legit issues is a big NEGATIVE for ATT and maybe (but I doubt it) someone from ATT will notice that and try to correct it as well.

Those who claiming Samsung did not submit their phone for certification - do you have any proof ?

Buying a unlocked phone is fine. Just saying you do so at your own risk. And many have had their phone for years and are upset they cannot keep using it.

Many of us agree the 3G shutdown should have been communicated better. But those arguing that their phone has the hardware specs to use the service either don't realize that AT&T works slightly differently or they are just unfortunate that the manufacturer chose not to certify it to work going forward.

In the end, get a phone that works or go with another carrier if they can use your phone.

@krishmunn It is very likely that there is a very tiny little thing that ATT demanded for their network, that wasn't already done on the Samsung (unlocked) version. Or, just even submitting it for testing. ATT is VERY strict on their network; and I am fine with that part. 
But, part of that means that anything and everything goes through a long, convoluted, process. Any hiccup and it doesn't make it. It isn't cheap, for either party, and Samsung, being a HW manufacturer, may have decided, for business reasons, to not submit, or make a small change. I don't know, but I do know the types of scenarios, from having been in the tech field and working with these particular parties before.

I like Samsung. ATT was a (Edited per community guidelines).  But....being a (Edited per community guidelines) doesn't mean ATT was wrong. Without knowing the particulars, I/we just know that ATT management f'ed up the communication and processes.

Samsung's reasons could have been as devious as "old product, let's get people to upgrade to new product" or as simple as "don't want to pay ATT for certification of old product" or "our devs have moved on and we don't want them to go backwards for even a simple thing".  Too hard to know which reason, and those are only the quick 3 to mind...easily more exist.

@Juniper Unless YOU know the specific reason, you are ALSO stretching to find excuses.  The phone's specs may be fine and ATT could easily be the issue here. For Samsung to create unlocked/carrier-locked versions of the S8 and make it a big difference that couldn't be easily made to be compatible is very unlikely. OEMs don't like to spend a lot of money doing that. They like making things the same or with a small minor tweak. It is all about the pennies for them, and what they are paid to do.
Yes, you seem to be one of the "ACE-'Experts' " that looks down on those having the issue and expressing that.

As I said before, your little diatribe of "people don't understand how ATT works" and "get a phone that works or LEAVE ATT" is getting tiresome. 

If I were an ATT employee/manager and saw you guys posting it like that, I would remove your posts on it and lock your accounts as anyone on a company's forum that purports to be helping them while at the same time telling people to leave, is not good for that company.

At that point, if you believe you are helping ATT, you are better off just shutting up and not typing that.

This is a public forum. We don't have to agree with what AT&T is doing. Only employees (those official help, not those posting on their personal time) have to follow any special guidelines.

The problem is software on the s8u1..  samsung did not make a universal csc file for the phone.  I could flash u1 software on a att s8 and volte would work.  But not the other way around.  Imei plays a small role in this.

@Juniper Actually, you are incorrect. It is an ATT run forum, not a public one.

As such, ATT can censor/boot any of us, not just employees of theirs.

You have a lot to learn about these things, it would seem.

Having been an employee of a company that had forums, I actually know a little bit about that.

@NotChurMama 

Let me clarify since you misunderstood (purposely?) my post.

Those of the official help team are expected to follow strict/special company rules as any employee for what they post.

The rest of us only need to follow the general forum guidelines. We are not required to tell everyone to stay with AT&T or to agree with everything that AT&T says.

This forum is AT&T owned but is open to the public. Everybody can contribute. It is not private (such as only exclusively for those actively AT&T customers).

You may have experience in other forums, but only a few days on this one. This is not run to where you must bow down to the company or be handled by a manager as you suggest. So yes this is a public forum as anybody can join. That is how the owner AT&T chooses to run it.

Get a phone that is compatible or go elsewhere are the options. Nothing about that warrants censoring by AT&T. Welcome to where you can share information that is not rose colored for the company as well as your own opinions (at least if done respectfully of course).