Are Galaxy S4 phones network Branded?

[Anonymous]

Hi, getting my upgrade to a galaxy S4 soon and I was just wondering if Galaxy S4 phones that are purchased through o2 carry the network branding? so when you boot up the phone you might see the o2 logo appear, also are they locked to o2 or unlocked to take any sim?

Thanks in advance

[MI5 · Accepted solution]

Sometimes at the very beginning of a phones launch you will get sim free phones, but, by now I would expect them all to come network locked with network branded firmware. Dial *#1234# and look at the CSC. If it has "o2u" after I9505 then it's locked and branded.

[Anonymous]

Cheers MI5

In the meantime if any s4 owners who purchased through o2 can tell me and post here you have branded/unbranded and date of purchase

I'll know tomorrow anyway, not a major problem, simple enough to debrand and have stock firmware

[MI5]

---

@Anonymous wrote:

I'll know tomorrow anyway, not a major problem, simple enough to debrand and have stock firmware

---

But only after you've unlocked it

[Anonymous]

Yeah easy !

[version7point0]

The 3 staff members in my store who have S4's are all locked and branded O2, as have been every one I have seen sold.

[Anonymous]

It very easy to unbrand it, By using odin and the unbranded official firmware from http://www.sammobile.com/firmwares/.

I have one  unbranded and one that WAS Branded. 

The unbranded 1st phone was from the release date of the 26th April, My branded phone was 6th may.

[MI5]

@Anonymous wrote:

It very easy to unbrand it, By using odin and the unbranded official firmware from http://www.sammobile.com/firmwares/.

I have one  unbranded and one that WAS Branded. 

---

For those not as savvy as yourself the guide is here

http://community.o2.co.uk/t5/Android-Devices-Samsung-HTC-Sony/HOW-TO-A-Guide-to-using-Odin/m-p/463464#M18334

[Anonymous]

I see you mention odin 3.7 , Just an heads up from the inside, 3.4 is much better more reliable apparently. 

[MI5]

I've had no problems with 3.7 but the usual advice is to try a different version if you run into any problems....