Buying Galaxy S9 direct from Samsung-Unlocked or Locked to AT&T?

@lizdance40

The purple is pretty cool. I also have a couple cases waiting and had to buy a bunch of type c cables and car charger since everything else I have is micro usb

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@It_1990 wrote:

Can't wait for my s9+ midnight black to arrive at my doorstep. Got the Spigen "Rugged Armor" case. 

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Well now that reviews are out...  I put the s9+ back in a box after 3 days of use...  Samsung still cant get the watch os right...  Back to my iphone x and apple watch.  The phone is a copy of the s8+ for the most part.  Screen is really nice and the extra ram does make the s9+ more snappy.  Touchwiz is a little better...  Bixby is still a piece of JUNK.

Carrier versions contain carrier paid for software and are prepacked with their software, SIM card and often custom box and accessories.  

In other words, you pay more, you get more.  It’s kind of what a capitalist economy is built on. 

Started using my unlocked S9, yesterday, 13Mar18. AT&T SIM from previous phone worked fine for calls, texts, and mobile data. But no Visual Voicemail. It used to be a Play Store app but now it's supposed to be built into the dialer app. Only it isn't, in the vanilla unlocked S9.

I spent 2 hours with AT&T support this morning -- thank you, Carol and Gina -- but my phone lacks some AT&T stuff and there's no plan to offer it. I was told the S8 had a similar issue on launch and it got fixed, later. We'll see.

I first signed up with AT&T in 1994. Then, as a first iPhone customer, I helped them pay for co-developing Visual Voicemail with Apple. I've probably dropped $10K on their wireless services over the years. Do you think they could offer me a deal on a new phone? Nope. An AT&T version of the S9 -- from Samsung or AT&T -- was $70-80 more than a vanilla unlocked device. I skipped the up charge so now I get dial-up voicemail from 1994. AT&T decision makers are looking like black belts in bad ideas from where I sit. How much will they blow on support calls like mine?

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@broosek wrote:

Started using my unlocked S9, yesterday, 13Mar18. AT&T SIM from previous phone worked fine for calls, texts, and mobile data. But no Visual Voicemail. It used to be a Play Store app but now it's supposed to be built into the dialer app. Only it isn't, in the vanilla unlocked S9.

 

I spent 2 hours with AT&T support this morning -- thank you, Carol and Gina -- but my phone lacks some AT&T stuff and there's no plan to offer it. I was told the S8 had a similar issue on launch and it got fixed, later. We'll see.

 

I first signed up with AT&T in 1994. Then, as a first iPhone customer, I helped them pay for co-developing Visual Voicemail with Apple. I've probably dropped $10K on their wireless services over the years. Do you think they could offer me a deal on a new phone? Nope. An AT&T version of the S9 -- from Samsung or AT&T -- was $70-80 more than a vanilla unlocked device. I skipped the up charge so now I get dial-up voicemail from 1994. AT&T decision makers are looking like black belts in bad ideas from where I sit. How much will they blow on support calls like mine?

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@broosek

you can sideload the att voice mail app from APKmirror...  Just saying....  It will work...  

@broosek

You could have saved $100 by preordering the ATT version from Best Buy.  If you expect a phone with all the carrier features, you need to buy the carrier phone.  

I preordered with trade in GS7 for a total $400 break on the phone.  

APK is new to me. But it's installed! Thanks a million.

Nope. Coming from a string of iPhones before an Xperia Z3c and downloading VVM as an app there was never an issue before. This is on poor AT&T marketing to explain the reason for its up charge BEFORE wasting customer time learning ITS inside story and changes. And pointing me to Best Buy instead of counting on my own carrier for a good deal? Huh.

@broosek  You know we are customers right?   Best Buy always has deals on ATT phones on launch, Black Friday and summer sales.  

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@broosek wrote:

Nope. Coming from a string of iPhones before an Xperia Z3c and downloading VVM as an app there was never an issue before. This is on poor AT&T marketing to explain the reason for its up charge BEFORE wasting customer time learning ITS inside story and changes. And pointing me to Best Buy instead of counting on my own carrier for a good deal? Huh.

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@broosek

your also trying to download apps on a phone that has not OFFICIALLY launched yet which also can cause some problems with app compatibility. 

I have told everyone all the time Best Buy is the best place to get a phone and pay less.