So, I have wanted to be able to mess around with phones for a while, and figured this could be a good place to start.
First: I do not use a smartphone at the moment. I am cheap and use a Pantech GoPhone. I had a US Cellular (CDMA ) LG Optimus U but decided I wanted a full keyboard phone and service outside of my area.
Anyways, I want to know if my GoPhone SIM Card will work in a Blackberry or an Android device, that is either unlocked or locked. I need to do this WITHOUT buying the smartphone data service for an extra 25 bucks a month.
Also, I need to know how to unlock stuff. I want to be able to buy a phone on eBay or something and unlock it and flip it around and sell it for more.
Thanks guys!
~thebigcheese
You can put your SIM card into any other AT&T branded smartphone. Assuming it's a 3g card, anyway. As for the data plan? AT&T will eventually realize you're on their network with a smartphone without a data plan. You basically need to buy it.
EDIT: With unlocking phones, they're all different. You would really need to go to the specific device's subforum here and check out how to do it.
some noob questions
I hear that AT&T has some software to detect your device and read your usage.There are ways to get around this it depends on the device ,you can mask your imei for instance so they can't detect the type of device your using ,works on a few pads with voice comm
capabilities such as the mediapad (springboard in the U.S)
As for unlocking ..depends on the manufacturer as they are all different
Related
Hi guys,
Easy questions I hope:
I've never (yet) got into the area of unlocking phones and I would appreciate someone just answering a couple of questions to make sure I've got the general idea of unlocking.
1.
Am I right in thinking that you have to unlock a phone so that you can use a different provider's SIM card - instead of using one that is provided at purchase time?
e.g if I have an XDA supplied by O2, I could unlock the XDA and then use a SIM card from T Mobile?
2.
Do I need to unlock my phone EVERY time I put a SIM card from a different provider in it? Or once the phone is unlocked I do not need to do it again?
e.g. If I unlock my XDA, put in an O2 SIM card, and then go on a flight abroad, can I simply pull out the O2 card and pop in one from a local shop in a different country?
3.
Do I need to keep a record of anything before I unlock it?
e.g. Are any settings needed to be recorded BEFORE YOU START in order to unlock the phone ? Do I need to record information so that in the future I can put things back exactly as they originally were.
4.
Is there any differences between unlocking phones that have PAYG or CONTRACT cards? Are there any issues here?
Thanks for answers
Anne
In the USA a un-locked fone will bring more money used or new. and also has a wider seller/buyer market.
Once unlocked that's it. any sim anytime.
we have 5 fones between the two of us ( me and my better 1/2)
2 nokia's, a palm treo, a behold and a behold II (rooted 12/1/2009)
We have just our personal sim cards from T mobile (one each) we work weird, REALLY wierd hours. Some times our smart fones don't get charged or go dead while we are out. We just pop the sim cad into one that's got enough juice to get one of the "better" fones charged.
We both rely on our fones for our jobs.
A little know fact: in the USA it's a federal law. IF you bought your fone legitamatly. IE: not stolen. the carrier must provide you with the un-lock code in 24 hours.
The people that pay 15.00 or more to have a fone unlocked are either. Un-aware of that law. In a country where it's illegal to unlock a fone. Or knowingly have a stolen fone.
1: So yes you are right you need to un-lock the fone to use another provides fone with your sim.
2: You un-lock the fone once any sim card will work after that. AGAIN your right. (provided your in a country that has the same GSM 3g 4g network)
3: ALWAYS keep a written log of any "admin" #'s given to you for a fone.
the behold has a admin # that lets you turn on all kinds of things that are "off" out of the box. and you need that # everytime you make a adminastrative change. This maybe true with other fones as well.
4: I don't know about pay as you go. I would think once unlocked you would be able to use the fone pay as you go, so long as you had minutes on the sim installed.
I'm sure there are alot of people here that know alot more than me, and can help you further. I just got back into the cell fone game about a year ago and was out of it for about 10 years.
Things have really changed, then again they really haven't changed.
HTH
Later
Rich
One thing of note is that just because a GSM phone is unlocked, doesn't mean it'll work with every carrier, as carriers will sometimes use different baseband frequencies (there are four, 850, 900, 1800, 1900mHz I think) and some phones only support 2-3 our of 4.
I'm in Canada for example, where Rogers and Fido support GSM networks (phones that use SIM cards), Bell and Telus use CDMA (phones that have ESNs programmed into them). So if I buy a Sony Xperia X1 for example, I have to be sure to buy the American version, as Rogers only supports 850mHz, and the European version of the X1 will only support 900mHz. So even if I unlock the european version of the X1, I can't use it on Rogers in Canada.
I'm guessing you're from the UK, where the market is even more diversified. 3 Mobile for example, can only use phones that support 3G (or HSDPA). A good place to look for such specs, after finding out what frequencies your carrier supports, is GSM Arena.
If I unlock a verizon htc touch pro 2 (Rhodium) will I be able to use prepaid sim card based unlimited plans on it? The kind you can get from walmart and stuff? I don't want to buy a new phone because I still love my touch pro 2 but having a verizon account isn't possible anymore so I would like to get some sort of prepaid plan for it. Thanks.
em0rox said:
If I unlock a verizon htc touch pro 2 (Rhodium) will I be able to use prepaid sim card based unlimited plans on it? The kind you can get from walmart and stuff? I don't want to buy a new phone because I still love my touch pro 2 but having a verizon account isn't possible anymore so I would like to get some sort of prepaid plan for it. Thanks.
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Yes, if you do the SIM unlock and get a prepaid provider that uses (regular) SIM cards.
Note this is different from the hSPL process.
I already unlocked the spl a long time ago, using mighty rom on it. Would all providers work? I'm wanting to get one of those unlimited text things from like t-mobile or even verizon. Is there any free way to unlock the phone? If not do you know the best way to go about doing it?
What do you mean by "regular" sim cards? I've never used anything but Verizon cdma on someone else's actual account so I'm not sure about sim cards. I've had lots of phones but they have all been on verizon and cdma.
em0rox said:
I already unlocked the spl a long time ago, using mighty rom on it. Would all providers work? I'm wanting to get one of those unlimited text things from like t-mobile or even verizon. Is there any free way to unlock the phone? If not do you know the best way to go about doing it?
What do you mean by "regular" sim cards? I've never used anything but Verizon cdma on someone else's actual account so I'm not sure about sim cards. I've had lots of phones but they have all been on verizon and cdma.
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Not all sim cards are the same size/shape. There are some adapters out there for sale, but I don't suggest going that route. If it is a major carrier, and the sim card fits your phone, and your phone is sim unlocked it should work.
em0rox said:
I already unlocked the spl a long time ago, using mighty rom on it. Would all providers work? I'm wanting to get one of those unlimited text things from like t-mobile or even verizon. Is there any free way to unlock the phone? If not do you know the best way to go about doing it?
What do you mean by "regular" sim cards? I've never used anything but Verizon cdma on someone else's actual account so I'm not sure about sim cards. I've had lots of phones but they have all been on verizon and cdma.
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Verizon = CDMA.
You need a GSM provider that uses standard size SIM cards. Some providers use different sized cards (as noted previously), but most use standard size cards.
I know verizon is cdma but the touch pro 2 has a sim slot as well because it was sold as a "world phone". So as long as I unlock it and the sim card I get fits it should work? I've only seen one type of sim card before but from a bunch of different phones and they were all the same size as the touch pro 2 takes.
As for the second part of my question I'm still a bit confused about. Is there any free way to unlock the phone? If not do you know the best way to go about doing it? Should I take it to a provider with a local store, use a site that does it, etc?
em0rox said:
I know verizon is cdma but the touch pro 2 has a sim slot as well because it was sold as a "world phone". So as long as I unlock it and the sim card I get fits it should work? I've only seen one type of sim card before but from a bunch of different phones and they were all the same size as the touch pro 2 takes.
As for the second part of my question I'm still a bit confused about. Is there any free way to unlock the phone? If not do you know the best way to go about doing it? Should I take it to a provider with a local store, use a site that does it, etc?
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First question has been answered several times. Yes.
There is not a free way to unlock the phone.
However, if you had looked at the stickies... In this very section... You might've noticed this thread. I hope...
No reason to be rude man... I just didn't want to spend $20 on unlocking it then another $40 on the card just to find out it won't work. Not all of us are "well off", can't just throw away money like that... I could eat for weeks off that money lol...
Also I didn't look for anything on how to unlock it because, like I said, I wanted to know if the prepaid things would work on it in the first place. Thanks for all the answers though guys it has helped a lot. My phone was on my ex wife's mother's plan and the 2 year contract just ran out so she closed the account. I can't afford a new phone to go with a prepaid plan. Just trying to find a way to have a phone again so I can talk to my children and want to make sure I don't spend money I don't have on something that won't work.
em0rox said:
No reason to be rude man... I just didn't want to spend $20 on unlocking it then another $40 on the card just to find out it won't work. Not all of us are "well off", can't just throw away money like that... I could eat for weeks off that money lol...
Also I didn't look for anything on how to unlock it because, like I said, I wanted to know if the prepaid things would work on it in the first place. Thanks for all the answers though guys it has helped a lot. My phone was on my ex wife's mother's plan and the 2 year contract just ran out so she closed the account. I can't afford a new phone to go with a prepaid plan. Just trying to find a way to have a phone again so I can talk to my children and want to make sure I don't spend money I don't have on something that won't work.
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Just take your time and read as much as you can.
Wish there was a 'free way' to unlock the phone, but Olinex is still allowed to charge for that privilege... Sorry.
Mind explaining the whole unlock thing? It seems to me there are "official" sites, random people, companies, local stores, pretty much anyone can do it... Do they have to have a license to register the code on some global database or what? I've softmodded and hardmodded just about everything I've ever owned since my sms (yea that's kinda funny talking about phones but I meant sega master system...) flashcart but I don't really get this... From what I've read you get a code from someone (which can be anyone who can do it I guess) and that unlocks your device. So does that unlock your device 100% or only on networks that person/company has license to unlock on?
em0rox said:
Mind explaining the whole unlock thing? It seems to me there are "official" sites, random people, companies, local stores, pretty much anyone can do it... Do they have to have a license to register the code on some global database or what? I've softmodded and hardmodded just about everything I've ever owned since my sms (yea that's kinda funny talking about phones but I meant sega master system...) flashcart but I don't really get this... From what I've read you get a code from someone (which can be anyone who can do it I guess) and that unlocks your device. So does that unlock your device 100% or only on networks that person/company has license to unlock on?
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I don't really understand how the SIM unlocking process works unfortunately... I know Oli's works for our devices, so if you're going to pay for one that's the one to go with.
Hi all, my parents are heading out of the country soon. They wanted to pick up a cheap android phone to take with them and to give to a relative there, and I was suggesting the Nexus S (it's around $100 on craigslist and ebay)
However, I'm curious if there is any sort of carrier-lock placed by AT&T on their phones that makes it so I can't slap in another SIM card from an international provider?
I've always heard nexuses don't have any carrier locks, but wanted to clarify. If it does have a carrier-lock, is there an easy guide to getting around it?
Thanks in advance!
There is no lock.
Sweet! So I can just pop in any SIM card and get service (don't need data really)?
Yes. As long as the carrier supports the bands the phone uses. Almost all do.
*Mods, please move if there is a better place. I normally hang out on the development forums so I'm not exactly sure where to post*
I have a phone that I bought from Verizon and I have kept the unlimited data. I know all about my phone but next to nothing about my service.
My question is specifically about phablets (for example, this) which is basically a big ass phone, or a tablet with cell service, however you want to word it. I'd use it exclusively with bluetooth instead of holding the thing up to my head, don't worry.
I travel internationally and see them A LOT in other countries (they cannot help me though since I need one to use in the US). I am under the impression that VZ will not activate anything I did not buy from them. I don't know how solid this is but every VZ employee I have asked has confirmed this so far. I know in the past that it used to be as simple as switching out the SIM card but doubt this is still the case.
I'm sure there are some hardware specs that I need to look at that would determine the LTE/3G whatever compatibility, but I don't know the terminology. Can you help me out?
Also, I am hesitant to leave VZ because of the unlimited data and the service coverage. I live in mildly populated CT, USA and would welcome a prepaid plan if it was comparable but don't even know where to begin looking.
Thank you in advance - I really don't have anyone else to ask about this stuff.
You will want to look for international versions of the devices you are looking for. These versions carry multiple antennas that allows them to be used in different countries. As far as I know, these phones use SIM cards, which allows you to purchase an international SIM or a SIM in the country you are in, and it should work when you plug it into your device.
Is there a way to check for the antennas in the specifications instead of relying on the seller to accurately sell me the int'l version? How would you go about buying a SIM card?
Hi all. I guess, this question is more about the hardware rather than a particular provider. Let me begin with its origins.
I am a member of a Verizon family plan, and I am the only member who owns a smartphone (Verizon S5 - G900V(B)) - others have much simpler devices. We have few gigs of data in our plan. At some point I realised that I don't need data any longer, and we decided to remove the data from the plan (downgrade).
But Verizon does not let us to do so. Their motivation is that they have a policy saying that since I have a smartphone, we are obliged to have a plan with data. However (!!!), they say that if I buy a simple used phone myself (like LG Terra - which supports 4G, but is not considered by them as a smartphone), they will allow us to switch to a plan without data.
Now, my question is very simple. How will they know if I have changed the phone? What if, after changing it, I just put my SIM card back into my smartphone? I can hardly believe they will switch us back to the plan with data...
Basically, the question reduces into two:
Is SIM card sending information about the device model to the carrier?
Can they use this information to change the plan?
As you may guess, my intent is to call Verizon and to say that I have already changed my device to this damn LG Terra, and to ask them to change the plan.
Thanks. Sorry if the question does not fit the forum, just don't know where else to ask.
mavzolej said:
Hi all. I guess, this question is more about the hardware rather than a particular provider. Let me begin with its origins.
I am a member of a Verizon family plan, and I am the only member who owns a smartphone (Verizon S5 - G900V(B)) - others have much simpler devices. We have few gigs of data in our plan. At some point I realised that I don't need data any longer, and we decided to remove the data from the plan (downgrade).
But Verizon does not let us to do so. Their motivation is that they have a policy saying that since I have a smartphone, we are obliged to have a plan with data. However (!!!), they say that if I buy a simple used phone myself (like LG Terra - which supports 4G, but is not considered by them as a smartphone), they will allow us to switch to a plan without data.
Now, my question is very simple. How will they know if I have changed the phone? What if, after changing it, I just put my SIM card back into my smartphone? I can hardly believe they will switch us back to the plan with data...
Basically, the question reduces into two:
Is SIM card sending information about the device model to the carrier?
Can they use this information to change the plan?
As you may guess, my intent is to call Verizon and to say that I have already changed my device to this damn LG Terra, and to ask them to change the plan.
Thanks. Sorry if the question does not fit the forum, just don't know where else to ask.
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https://www.cnet.com/news/on-call-how-does-my-carrier-know-which-phone-im-using/