
New Member
•
11 Messages
European phone can't register to AT&T: Error GA205
Hi,
my son arrived in the US last Thursday and he wants to activate an AT&T prepaid SIM card.
He get's a text message with error code GA205, stating in the text "the phone you recently tried to activate won't work"
He went to the store again today and when he was in the store, the shop assistant was able to call him on his US number.
But once he was back in his room, he again got the same text message.
What can be wrong?
The phone is a (european) Samsung Galaxy S8
Thanks in advance.
Regards,
Luc
Accepted Solution
Official Solution
sandblaster
ACE - Expert
•
64.6K Messages
2 years ago
Without checking the supported phone list, I’m pretty sure the problem is his phone is not on ATT’s supported phone list and ATT will no longer activate a phone not on the supported list.
0
OttoPylot
ACE - Expert
•
21.8K Messages
2 years ago
It could be that the IMSI number for a non-domestic phone is not recognized on the AT&T network. It is almost impossible for any carrier to recognize every single IMSI number for all carriers world-wide. The IMSI number is comprised of the MCC, MNC, and the MSIN identity codes.
If that is the problem then I don't think AT&T can change it because I believe the IMSI number may be embedded on Android phones and not on the SIM card. He may just need a new SIM card tho.
0
0
lumat
New Member
•
11 Messages
2 years ago
Hi,
thanks for your answer.
Isn't it strange that it worked once in the store?
I'd think this would be a binary problem: either it never works or it always works?
0
0
lumat
New Member
•
11 Messages
2 years ago
Furthermore, his European SIM card is working on the AT&T network
0
0
OttoPylot
ACE - Expert
•
21.8K Messages
2 years ago
Did he get a new SIM? It is strange that it worked in the store but not out in the wild. Has he reset the phone? Maybe that's what it needs as well as a new SIM.
0
0
OttoPylot
ACE - Expert
•
21.8K Messages
2 years ago
I missed that it was a prepaid phone. I don't know how that would affect a European Android phone but we do have an Android expert here so maybe he can shed some light.
0
0
lumat
New Member
•
11 Messages
2 years ago
He got a new SIM yesterday, but he didn't activate/try it in the store.
When he was "in the wild" and tried to activate it, he got the message "GA205: ... We're sorry, but the phone you recently tried to activate won't work. ..."
So he went to an AT&T shop today and they helped him to activate it, and the shop assistant was able to call him on the new SIM/number.
But when he was back "in the wild" he received the same text message again
0
0
lumat
New Member
•
11 Messages
2 years ago
Don't they check this when he is in an AT&T shop specifically for this problem?
0
0
sandblaster
ACE - Expert
•
64.6K Messages
2 years ago
They should.
0
0
lumat
New Member
•
11 Messages
2 years ago
Samsung Galaxy S8 is on the supported phone list, but he has the G950F and on the list is G950U
I don't know if that makes a difference
0
0