Hello.
I am interested to buy a smartphone from another country, some people told me to make sure about the IMEI and the language.
So here are my three simple questions.
1)What should i look for on the IMEI ? Some told me to see if the device IMEI is equal with the one on the box ? I am quite unsure what i can understand from the IMEI number.
2)Furthermore what is about the language. I mean if i order the phone from Germany, does this mean that i will not be able to use it in another language ? e.g. English ?
3)When talking about an unlocked phone, i understand that it can be used with any carrier. Fine. But on several websites i see the same phone on the same store with 2-3 different variants, meaning Mobile-A by T-online, by Vodafone etc. What difference does it make ? Should i go for one that is carrier-free (or however we can call this) ?
Thank you.
I'll try and answer all of your questions for you
1. Every phone in the world has a different IMEI. If a phone is reported as lost or stolen, a carrier can 'blacklist' an IMEI so that it does not work on their network, and shows up as 'stolen' on other networks. It's always important to determine that the IMEI of the phone you are buying is not stolen. You can ask the seller for it, and use an IMEI lookup website to determine this. There is a sticker on the retail box that has the IMEI printed on it. If it is different to the IMEI of the phone, it means the phone is being sold in a different box. This would start raising alarm bells for me.
2. Not necessarily. Most modern phones support multiple languages, and almost all of them support English. It always pays to double-check with the seller, though!
3. Different variants of the same phone usually support different radio 'bands'. This means that they may or may not work on your chosen network. Check your carrier website to determine the network bands they use, and then double-check those bands are supported on the device you wish to buy.
Good luck!
thank you for the reply.
Everything is pretty clear now.
I believe i can go to the shop now
Thanks again !
You're very welcome
Related
I've a M600 since yesterday but I can't use it with any company.... I would like to know if there's any way to know if it have been IMEI blocked....
If someone knows how to know it....
thanks
This really depends on your country. In some regions IMEI black lists are shared between cellular providers, in others they are not. Also some countries like Turkey use 'white lists' meaning you can not connect unless your IMEI is registered and approved by the company.
Best solution is to contact you cellular provider and give them you IMEI which can be found in Start->Settings->System->System information so they can check it against their database.
Hi Guys,
I lost my phone one night. I am not in hope of finding it, but I do not want thief to profit from the occasion.
I have the IMEI number still at hand. Is there anything that can be done?
(NB: I did not have a phone/sim lock on the phone and the thief deleted the findmyphone function WP7 has)
Many thanks in advance,
Jason
jasonchiu said:
Hi Guys,
I lost my phone one night. I am not in hope of finding it, but I do not want thief to profit from the occasion.
I have the IMEI number still at hand. Is there anything that can be done?
(NB: I did not have a phone/sim lock on the phone and the thief deleted the findmyphone function WP7 has)
Many thanks in advance,
Jason
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If you really want to pursue it, you can ask your cell phone company to try and give you a rough location of where it is through cell triangulation, although that may be difficult to get them to do. Otherwise, you can tell them to Blacklist the IMEI number so that it can't be used on any networks.
Product F(RED) said:
If you really want to pursue it, you can ask your cell phone company to try and give you a rough location of where it is through cell triangulation, although that may be difficult to get them to do. Otherwise, you can tell them to Blacklist the IMEI number so that it can't be used on any networks.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks for the tips.
I tried to block the IMEI in Hong Kong, but my service providor (Smartone Vodafone) said they dont provide such service.
When I went back to the UK, I called up T-Mobile and someone from an India call centre said they blocked it for me, but the "reassuringly" told me it can be easily unlocked by someone who knows mobiles well...
Are there any sites or places I can submit the IMEI number to?
Many thanks,
Jason
jasonchiu said:
Thanks for the tips.
I tried to block the IMEI in Hong Kong, but my service providor (Smartone Vodafone) said they dont provide such service.
When I went back to the UK, I called up T-Mobile and someone from an India call centre said they blocked it for me, but the "reassuringly" told me it can be easily unlocked by someone who knows mobiles well...
Are there any sites or places I can submit the IMEI number to?
Many thanks,
Jason
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It can't be "unlocked". The person would have to spoof or change the IMEI number, something which I've been able to ever do on 1 phone (original iPhone). But the reason I did it is not because it was stolen, but because I didn't want a data plan that AT&T was forcing on its customers, so I made the phone appear as another phone. I don't think it can be done easily on most phones.
I don't think there are any websites you can submit the IMEI number to. I believe there's a global IMEI blacklist database that most responsible carriers choose to enforce.
Cheers for the details.
I too was shocked that Smartone Vodafone did not offer IMEI blocking.
I hope t-mobile really did block the IMEI number.
I was a bit sceptic as all the CS Agent did was take note it and that was it. She didnt ask for any details about me either.
Product F(RED) said:
It can't be "unlocked". The person would have to spoof or change the IMEI number, something which I've been able to ever do on 1 phone (original iPhone). But the reason I did it is not because it was stolen, but because I didn't want a data plan that AT&T was forcing on its customers, so I made the phone appear as another phone. I don't think it can be done easily on most phones.
I don't think there are any websites you can submit the IMEI number to. I believe there's a global IMEI blacklist database that most responsible carriers choose to enforce.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
So, like many of you guys, i bought an D2G from ebay this morning. My phone has not arrived yet but i assume its prob locked by verizon. i took the initiation of seeking how to unlock it, and i landed here. After searching tons of thread with the same topic? i will summarize the major two methods of unlocking the device, so later on, people like me with the same problem doesn't have to. (please correct me if i am wrong)
1. unlock code from VZ or vendor (unlock shack seems to provide refunds, so one might wanna give it a try.)
2. turbo sim (i used it for iphone4 and it works, but i cant say the same with d2g.)
couple members mentions some dude in china works out a method but you will have to send the phone in. it just happens to be that i speaks chinese, so i went over to the china great firewall in attempt to search for an answer. Apparently the method is no secret. The chinese said that this unlocking method is done through software and worked the same as the unlock code by verizon. The only difference is after the unlock process, the IMEI of your phone will turn into a 16 digits number starting with 0000. I got class in a lil bit, so this is my search so far. i will keep you all updated with my process. if i find a solution. i will make a tut for yall.
IMO changing the imei number isn't a solution at all. Thanks for info.
Changing imei isn't the solution but rather the outcome of the software unlock, but many said the unlock code doesn't work. I would assume many would prefer a better solution which promise certainty, especially when it's a paid service.
Why bother with esothic methods when you can unlock the phone with an online service and 10$ ?
The Solutor said:
Why bother with esothic methods when you can unlock the phone with an online service and 10$ ?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Unfortunately - not always. Some are "tough nuts" and only Verizon can unlock them. And probably those Chinese guys..
IMEI must be 15 digit though, not 16. I only see problem if they use same IMEI for everyone. Two phones with one IMEI on one network is a call for trouble..
For the record - chaning IMEI number of a GSM phone is illegal in most countries.
leobg said:
Unfortunately - not always. Some are "tough nuts" and only Verizon can unlock them. And probably those Chinese guys..
IMEI must be 15 digit though, not 16. I only see problem if they use same IMEI for everyone. Two phones with one IMEI on one network is a call for trouble..
For the record - chaning IMEI number of a GSM phone is illegal in most countries.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Apparently, the method switch the original imei 35xxxxxxxxxxxxx of d2g to 0000xxxxxxxxxxx but digits after 0000 are not identical, from there they can calculate the pin code and is available for free. And as i read more, the chinese change esn for the cdma to work. Even thou changing imei or esn is illegal, i doubt they really regulate such act lol. And chill out on the negativity, a thriving forum are great only if their member share their knowledge and benefit us all. My last phone was Nokia n900, and the phone are still popular today due to the community's contributions:
No negativity here. I will be glad if all those having problems unlocking their phone finally find a way to sort their unlock issue.
Discussions about modifying IMEI/ESN is not allowed here on XDA (as well as most other similar forums) hence I expressed this concern.
leobg said:
Unfortunately - not always.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I know.
But I still think that any alternative method should be taken in account only if you are one of those unlucky owners, not when the phone is still on its way...
Hi,
I would like change my imei. I have already root, and install twrp for xposed and plugin imei changer.
Its working but i can t call. And i think its the 2 last letters who do problem. I have 15 letters for imei i would like change *************** / 01 to ... / 05
But i don't know how to do.
Help me please (i try to speak english because i am french.
ZeeN0x said:
Hi,
I would like change my imei. I have already root, and install twrp for xposed and plugin imei changer.
Its working but i can t call. And i think its the 2 last letters who do problem. I have 15 letters for imei i would like change *************** / 01 to ... / 05
But i don't know how to do.
Help me please (i try to speak english because i am french.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hi
Changing the IMEI is ILEGAL everywhere , you will not get any help for that in this forum.
What happen to the original phone IMEI?
MAX 404 said:
Hi
Changing the IMEI is ILEGAL everywhere , you will not get any help for that in this forum.
What happen to the original phone IMEI?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The issue is likely because he has one of those IMEI's that is tied to a specific carrier that the carrier doesn't want to turn loose. (For example, my S7 has an IMEI that is tied to VZW due to it being a device that was sold ONLY by VZW in the US - and as a lot of us have pointed out, an IMEI is unique to the specific phone; you have more control over a phone number than you do your handset's IMEI - and a locked IMEI will not accept a ported number. I can't take my locked IMEI (handset) to Tracfone, even though the handset is otherwise compatible with the VZW side of Tracfone's network (in fact, when it was in service, it was a VZW handset) because VZW has the IMEI on lockdown.
PGHammer said:
The issue is likely because he has one of those IMEI's that is tied to a specific carrier that the carrier doesn't want to turn loose. (For example, my S7 has an IMEI that is tied to VZW due to it being a device that was sold ONLY by VZW in the US - and as a lot of us have pointed out, an IMEI is unique to the specific phone; you have more control over a phone number than you do your handset's IMEI - and a locked IMEI will not accept a ported number. I can't take my locked IMEI (handset) to Tracfone, even though the handset is otherwise compatible with the VZW side of Tracfone's network (in fact, when it was in service, it was a VZW handset) because VZW has the IMEI on lockdown.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Even if that is the case... still ilegal
MAX 404 said:
Even if that is the case... still ilegal
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Say what others want to hear is legal but it is illegal to say what is true. I just want to use a telephone that I paid.
But i can t tell you for change my imei i am responsible of my acts and i juste say :
"What coresponding the /05 /03 /01 at the end of imei" Is it illegal to respond at my answer ?
Zeenox said:
Say what others want to hear is legal but it is illegal to say what is true. I just want to use a telephone that I paid.
But i can t tell you for change my imei i am responsible of my acts and i juste say :
"What coresponding the /05 /03 /01 at the end of imei" Is it illegal to respond at my answer ?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hi
I am not judging , I am not even saying if you should or not .... I am saying is ilegal to change the Imei number of your phone whatever the reason maybe.
ALWAYS backup your EFS folder, no matter what phone u have., and then save it on ur PC.
https://forum.xda-developers.com/s7-edge/how-to/guide-how-to-fix-check-drk-imei-issues-t3379516
This link solves most ppl with IMEI problems.
Thread closed
Changing IMEI discussion is not allowed on XDA, even if it's not for bad intentions, we do not allow "things which will obviously lead to legal trouble":
9. Don't get us into trouble.
Don't post copyrighted materials or do other things which will obviously lead to legal trouble. If you wouldn't do it on your own homepage, you probably shouldn't do it here either. This does not mean that we agree with everything that the software piracy lobby try to impose on us. It simply means that you cannot break any laws here, since we'll end up dealing with the legal hassle caused by you. Please use common sense: respect the forum, its users and those that write great code.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thank you for your understanding.
Wood Man
Senior Moderator
Hi everyone. I've been bothering here on this forum since a while, because I bricked a Samsung galaxy A14 5G that a relative gave me, and thanks for the shared files of some people here, i could finally unbrick it. I just wanted at least, to leave all things as before of the bricking, but despite wifi, touchscreen, and so on, are working, the imei has lost. Also its original serial is not the original ("luckily" i have both written). As i've read, i'm not alone with this issue.
I've seen there's several tools that promises repair the imei, but, other than they are paid (and I can't affor them) , I don't know if they really can fix that; or worst, it seems I need that this phone has an unlocked bootloader for I can repair its imei. I say "worst", because the bootloader for this model (A146U) seems to be non unlockable. That's what i've researched about, but; ¿What else do you know? ¿How to repair this model imei (and recover the phone's function, although it still continues network locked)?
Repairing the IMEI of a MediaTek SoC based phone is a complex process that requires specialized knowledge and tools. It is important to note that tampering with the IMEI of a phone is illegal in some countries , including the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Australia, and many countries in Europe and Asia. It is important to check the laws in your specific country before attempting to tamper with the IMEI of your phone, as the penalties for doing so can be severe. In some cases, tampering with the IMEI can result in fines, imprisonment, or even the confiscation of your phone. It is always best to proceed with caution and seek out professional assistance if you are unsure about the legality of this process. .
Anyway you may follow this guide:
[GUIDE]Restoring your lost IMEI in MTK phone
A common problem many face in their phone is loss of IMEI no. This is results in no network detection by your phone. U can come to know you have lost your IMEI by checking Settings->About phone->Phone information. There under IMEI section you...
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