My wife bought a SCH-I699 phone and I try to install the Google Play on it but wasn't able to. I download the file on my laptop and then copy it onto the Android phone. I was able to install it but when I click on 'add account', it just goes back to the home screen. Is there a work around this?
You need to root the phone and then you will be able to install third party apps like the Google Play store. This is because your wife got a Chinese version of the phone and as we all know, China does not play nice with Google. So search for this term: "root SCH-I699" and follow the instructions. You will then need to search for "install Google Play store on SCH-I699" since there will be a few steps to complete (it is not as simple as just installing the apk file).
If you are not handy with technology and computers, visit unofficial shops where they sell phones and they may be able to help you in rooting it.
Thanks. I thought that was the problem. Since it's my wife's phone I'll just leave it unrooted.
Try amazon.com app store. You can get to the amazon app store app that way. There is a hitch at times as I occasionally get an error message about which country I am in even while using a veepeeen. I down loaded free and paid apps for my phone and was surprised they were also downloaded to my tablet when I got it.
Lately, I have having trouble getting apps from both sources so good luck.
Google Play uses 2 methods to determine where you are (and display content accordingly):
1. Your IP;
2. Your mobile service operator's numeric value (Mobile Network Code- MNC);
You may use a veepeean and connect to a US server, but if you don't fake your operator's MNC, you're still not gonna be able to see certain content (paid apps, books, movies, music).
To fake this number, you need a rooted phone and "Market Enabler" app (just google it, it can be downloaded for free).
Important:
Google Play launches itself as a background service whenever you connect to the internet, so if you do that when not using a faked MNC, it will be set to your Chinese operator's number.
However, you can always clear Goole Play's data (go to Settings->Applications Manager).
Procedure:
Fake MNC, connect to a US veepeeean, clear Google Play data, relaunch Google Play.
