Android 4.4 Kit Kat Release For Previous Samsung Devices Will Make Them Region-Locked, Customer Rep Says

Last week, we discovered that Samsung's Galaxy Note 3 smartphones were region-locked, and while UK retailer Clove seemed to provide a quick workaround to address the issue, several Note 3 owners have already filed reports that they are not able to use sim cards issued outside the region where they bought their phones. Furthermore, a consumer reported that a Samsung customer representative said that the Android 4.4 Kit kat release update would render several Samsung phones region-locked. 

In a report by Android Authority, several consumers have been asking questions from Samsung's support personnel regarding their region-locked Galaxy Note 3 smartphones, and there were to main answers. 

The first one is similar to the workaround mentioned last week. The buyer would just need to insert a local sim to the Note 3 before bringing it to another region where he can use a different sim card. However, that solution has not worked well for most users.

Another response was that Samsung intentionally region-locked their phones, thus these devices can only be used using the sim cards from carriers within that particular region. 

And that's when the 'Android Kit Kat update' response came in. 

Here's the complete portion of the consumer's report:

[...] the rollout of Kitkat is to extend the regional lock to existing SGS3s and Note 2s - I asked if my existing unlocked SGS3 bought unlocked over a year ago is to be subject to the same regional lock if I upgrade. Yes according to rep. So I would not be able to use a SIM from outside the European region in it when travelling? Yes according to the rep. 

We still don't know whether this rep is telling the truth or s/he is just as confused as we are. Android 4.4 Kit Kat will be relased on October 14, so the KitKat update for Samsung's previous devices may not come until mid next year.