New Member
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40 Messages
4G S8 to be disconnected with 3G shutdown - here is what you can do
If you own a Samsung S8 starting with model number G955U or G950U, and you have received a text/letter from AT&T saying they will disconnect you in February for using a 3G phone, take note.
FIRST: Your phone is 4G and should is supported. Samsung has confirmed this for me and showed me an AT&T web page that doubly confirms it (see https://www.att.com/device-support/article/wireless/KM1273778/Samsung/SamsungG955U/).
SECOND: AT&T is ignoring complaints about unilaterally disconnecting 4G phones under the guise of dropping 3G service. Some are speculating that AT&T is railroading you into upgrading your phone when it is not necessary.
THIRD: You should make your concerns heard by the following interested parties:
SAMSUNG: They should be concerned that AT&T is misinforming customers about Samsung product capabilities. Here is a shortcut to voicing your concern https://www.samsung.com/us/support/contact/?model=N0022597&topic=SYM0000442
FTC: Since AT&T is providing customers fraudulent information, telling the Federal Trade Commission about it will get a response. Visit https://reportfraud.ftc.gov/#/form/main?pid=B
FCC: Since AT&T rents the public airwaves, and since the FCC has many consumer protection rules, they too should be made aware at https://consumercomplaints.fcc.gov/hc/en-us/requests/new?ticket_form_id=39744
Be sure to note that (a) you have a 4G phone, (b) AT&T is incorrectly identifying it as 3G and (c) is preparing to kill your service in February (and maybe scaring you into upgrading).
kautzdw
New Member
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6 Messages
1 year ago
To KevInk, my S8 is an unbranded bought on Amazon.
The box it came in DOES NOT say voLTE.
Number SM-G950UZKAXAA
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kevink
ACE - Scholar
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652 Messages
1 year ago
That phone, since it doesn't have a 1 after the U, seems it should be supported.
However, if you go to https://www.samsung.com/us/support/service/warranty/SM-G950UZKAXAA
it says it is the U1 model, which isn't listed as supported by ATT.
Not obvious.
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jb011
New Member
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2 Messages
1 year ago
This is pretty ridiculous. My Galaxy S8 was originally a factory locked SM-G950U, but I flashed the firmware a few years back to the unlocked version SM-G950U1.
Same exact phone, but AT&T now says the unlocked version that ends in "1" is not compatible. Total (Edited per community guidelines).
FYI, you can flash your firmware using Odin to the factory version SM-G950U and then like magic AT&T will accept your S8 again! Wow! A slight software change makes all the difference!
This is just a ploy by AT&T to try and force people to "upgrade" their phones even though the newer Galaxy phones offer almost nothing that the S8 doesn't already have. You'll be doing all the exact same things on your new $1400 phone that you can be doing on your S8. Is fourteen hundred dollars worth slightly clearer photos?
AT&T is lying to your about your phone not being compatible. You can look up videos on youtube or search for tutorials on using Odin to flash the firmware on your S8 to the SM-G950U or SM-G955U, and AT&T will accept your S8 again. However, you will lose all your data and will need to backup so be forewarned. Otherwise, vote with your feet and leave AT&T for trying to lie you out of your hard earned money.
(edited)
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NotChurMama
New Member
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12 Messages
1 year ago
Kind of blows the "samsung's fault" argument out of the water, doesn't it
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GLIMMERMAN76
ACE - Expert
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23.6K Messages
1 year ago
Att is not lying. Your changing the software.. what does that tell you. The unlocked firmware is missing something right?
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kautzdw
New Member
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6 Messages
1 year ago
I guess my perseverance paid off. I went thru the support chat one more time and they have agreed to send me an S22 for just the cost of sales tax $62.40 US. They will take the S8 in trade. I'm speechless !
They passed me to a manager and a sales rep. One of them did say my particular S8 should have still worked.
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GLIMMERMAN76
ACE - Expert
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23.6K Messages
1 year ago
That has been the deal for the last 3 weeks.
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GLIMMERMAN76
ACE - Expert
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23.6K Messages
1 year ago
@ATTTimCS
can you add this link in the post?
https://www.att.com/es-us/idpassets/images/support/pdf/Service-Capabilities-Unlocked-Devices-ATT-Network.pdf
It shows the actual unlocked phones that will work. Part of this problem is the fact ATT has 2 lists and then there is the asterisks that people think is a wild card on the s8 series.
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yaid2r
New Member
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5 Messages
1 year ago
@GLIMMERMAN76 If that's been the deal for the last 3 weeks, why do the people at the AT&T store keep telling me I have to buy a new phone?
I'm looking at move to another carrier. I've already spent two days of my time trying to get this resolved with no luck.
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djmdesign
New Member
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18 Messages
1 year ago
if your imei clears, proper firmware will solve this.
i have 2 g950u and a g950u1, 950u1 is not supported however if the imei clears you can firmwre flash the 950u rom and it will work. my 950u1 has been fine and i dont recieve the txt messages anymorel
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