AT&T Avail (ZTE-Z990) Android Go Phone at Fry's for $100.

I wanted a quad band phone to use on a trip to China, and I saw the AT&T
Avail/ZTE-Z990 on sale at Fry's for $100. Unlocking it was pretty
straight-forward (and free) using the instructions at
<http://android.modaco.com/topic/351886-zte-z990-avail-howtos/> though
the instructions for rooting it don't work.

It runs Gingerbread. 5MP camera which is unusual for a low-end Android
phone.

<http://www.phonescoop.com/phones/phone.php?p=3293>
<http://www.frys.com/product/6909417>

The reason that this is related to Verizon is that Verizon users often
want a GSM phone for travels to countries where the primary mobile
networks are GSM.

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› See More: AT&T Avail (ZTE-Z990) Android Go Phone at Fry's for $100.

On Fri, 30 Mar 2012 23:14:23 -0700, SMS wrote:

> I wanted a quad band phone to use on a trip to China, and I saw the AT&T
> Avail/ZTE-Z990 on sale at Fry's for $100. Unlocking it was pretty
> straight-forward (and free) using the instructions at
> <http://android.modaco.com/topic/351886-zte-z990-avail-howtos/> ...

For each of the two non-contract AT&T (really, Cingular-branded) phones
I've acquired, I've just phoned AT&T wireless Customer Service, who have
been pleased as punch to read me the whole unlock scenario script, slowly,
over the phone, from alpha to omega, code and procedure,while I took notes.

So, Steven, was getting that information somehow out of the question for
you in the case of that Avail / ZTE-Z990 from Fry's? Or were you more
interested in rooting it, actually?

> ... though the instructions for rooting it don't work. ...
>
> It runs Gingerbread. 5MP camera which is unusual for a low-end Android
> phone.

And: is it tetherable? by USB? by BlueTooth? by IR?

> <http://www.phonescoop.com/phones/phone.php?p=3293>
> <http://www.frys.com/product/6909417>
>
> The reason that this is related to Verizon is that Verizon users often
> want a GSM phone for travels to countries where the primary mobile
> networks are GSM.

Another reason: we all love Chinese food so where better to go than ... :-)

Cheers, -- tlvp
--
Avant de repondre, jeter la poubelle, SVP.

On 3/31/2012 11:48 PM, tlvp wrote:

> So, Steven, was getting that information somehow out of the question for
> you in the case of that Avail / ZTE-Z990 from Fry's? Or were you more
> interested in rooting it, actually?

Yes. No.

a) I did not want to wait 90 days
b) I did not want to activate a prepaid account on AT&T

> Another reason: we all love Chinese food so where better to go than ... :-)

For Americans used to only American-Chinese food the food in China can
be a shock.

Actually I did manage to root it, what I could not do was load the
non-AT&T code onto it. Once rooted I installed Droid Wall which is a
very important app to have on any Android phone.

On Sun, 01 Apr 2012 13:51:20 -0700, sms88 wrote:

> On 3/31/2012 11:48 PM, tlvp wrote:
>
>> So, Steven, was getting that information somehow out of the question for
>> you in the case of that Avail / ZTE-Z990 from Fry's? Or were you more
>> interested in rooting it, actually?
>
> Yes. No.
>
> a) I did not want to wait 90 days
> b) I did not want to activate a prepaid account on AT&T

Oh. A phone for an at&t prepaid service. And at&t won't honor your request
for unlock info if you haven't already been with them for 90 days. I see.

>> Another reason: we all love Chinese food so where better to go than ... :-)
>
> For Americans used to only American-Chinese food the food in China can
> be a shock.

All the more reason to go try it :-) .

> Actually I did manage to root it, what I could not do was load the
> non-AT&T code onto it. Once rooted I installed Droid Wall which is a
> very important app to have on any Android phone.

Agreed. Can't have apps phoning home, on your dime, not from abroad :-) .

Well, say "hsie, hsie" to your software sources; and bon voyage and bon
appetit to you and any fellow travelers accompanying you. Cheers, -- tlvp
--
Avant de repondre, jeter la poubelle, SVP.

On 4/1/2012 8:09 PM, tlvp wrote:

> Agreed. Can't have apps phoning home, on your dime, not from abroad :-) .

ZTE left a lot of capability in that phone that AT&T probably isn't
happy about. You can disable CarrierIQ with a code (*983*24737#) and you
can gain root access with a code (*983*7668#).

<http://forum.gsmhosting.com/vbb/archive/t-1444914.html>

On Mon, 02 Apr 2012 07:42:21 -0700, SMS wrote:

> ... You can disable CarrierIQ with a code (*983*24737#) and you
> can gain root access with a code (*983*7668#).

Cute mnemonics: 983 CIQ 37 # and 983 ROOT #, respectively :-) .
And 983 ? = WUD (WoUlD)? As in "would that I could"?

> <http://forum.gsmhosting.com/vbb/archive/t-1444914.html>

Thanks; cheers, -- tlvp
--
Avant de repondre, jeter la poubelle, SVP.