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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.
Hey, everyone!
I was perusing the forums for sim unlocking an HTC 7 pro. Many years have passed since I adquired my 8125, and it is still serving me faithfully. Yes, it is still working
Back then we just had to flash the roms, I think the radio part did the trick, and then phone was thus unlocked.
But the couple of hours I spent today looking for some insight only led me to 3rd party sites which charge money for sim unlocks. Those require the carrier to be mentioned in order for them to provide an unlocking code. So I can't just buy a phone off ebay and expect to get a code from those sites. US cellular, for instance, is never listed on them. Besides, $25 is not bucks where I live >.>
Is that really how SIM unlockings are handled here now, or have I just been really unlucky with my skimmings and searches?
TYVM, have a great day!
I believe there is no free option in order to get the HTC 7 Pro unlocked, unless you can get the seller to call their cell phone provider to get the code. Most, if not all, windows phones don't have a free option to unlock but I could be wrong on that. But if you already have a HTC 7 Pro I think you're gonna have to cough up some cash and use some unlocking websites...
Well, thanks for the straight answer.
Oh, no, I don't have one, yet. I was thinking of Buying one off Ebay, used and locked. It is harsh having to pay for switching carriers, but maybe that is what they had intended with their locking in the first place
Hmmm. Do you know, by chance, if this is the norm for smartphones recently, not being able to sim unlock them at home? Or is this device special for that matter? or was it not popular enough to tinker with it?
TY, again. Peace
I wouldn't say your device special in regards to that, all phones come SIM locked. Its just some android phones are easier to unlock during the process of rooting phones. I know for my old HTC touch running windows, it was easy to unlock since you basically had to move a couple files. I think windows 7 in general makes it harder in general to unlock as opposed to android.
hi, i have Huawi U8150 and it's network locked i can't run all the SIM card.. it can be unlock..?
azii said:
hi, i have Huawi U8150 and it's network locked i can't run all the SIM card.. it can be unlock..?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
you should post your own thread if you have any questions...yes you can unlock your phone to work with your network provider.
HI,
I'm thinking of buying AT&T 1020, but I from Europe and don't want to wait any exclusive period to over (like 920) so I can unlock the phone.
Did someone tried this already to unlock 1020 bought from AT&T ?
Evidently there are reports of people getting AT&T to unlock their devices, but not everyone has been successful so your mileage may vary.
I called at&t to unlock and the rep said the device can't be unlocked till 2014. I called back and asked for a manager, I explained to him that I bought it at full price and the phone is not on a contract. I was actually told if a device is bought at full price then yes it can be Unlocked. the manger put me on hold and then returned with the unlock code just fight the issue with at&t and ask for a manager even if you have to call several times that is as long as you bought it full price.
Yes, I tried
Yes, I tried. Got very complicated Code with easy instruction. Now At&t Nokia Lumia 1020 phone is Unlocked. Thanks for attphoneunlockingshop(dot)us site's Support team.
Thanks
smrkhn124 said:
Yes, I tried. Got very complicated Code with easy instruction. Now At&t Nokia Lumia 1020 phone is Unlocked. Thanks for attphoneunlockingshop(dot)us site's Support team.
Thanks
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
so i have a at&t phone 1020...i think that is already unlock, in fact i can use every sim; but i have problem with thetering; when i try to active the option, the phone say that i must contact at&t for thetr abilitation. A solution?
tailele said:
so i have a at&t phone 1020...i think that is already unlock, in fact i can use every sim; but i have problem with thetering; when i try to active the option, the phone say that i must contact at&t for thetr abilitation. A solution?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
try to install another language keyboard beside english one..this was working solution for AT&T 920.
boril said:
try to install another language keyboard beside english one..this was working solution for AT&T 920.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
i think to have already the italian Keyboard and the English so
Yes, I've got the same problem. Have you solved it?
Phone was unlocked with code provided by ATT rep, but tethering isn't working. I know that AT&T phones from Microsoft stores were unlocked by personnel without problems.
https://twitter.com/bongiozzo/status/383679862638387200 here is my conversation Nokia Care US (AT&T admitted that phone fully unlocked in their systems) with no resolution.
I've got additional Russian keyboard - so it doesn't look like solution.
Actually I've experienced once this problem when was using Lumia 920 with AT&T SIM in USA business trip. When I returned to Russia I couldn't share internet with the same error message.
So I launched Access Point from Settings which sets parameters to Cellular, MMS and Internet Sharing. Problem was solved.
But I don't have Access Point in my Lumia 1020 setting. Moreover, firmware of ATT Lumia 1020 is older than official Russian firmware of Lumia 920.
What is possible solution to enable internet sharing? It's critical for me.
Does flashing solve this problem? What ROM can I use for Lumia 1020?
I think the tethering is set by the carrier and even though you have you're phone unlocked, you can't get tethering working unless you're able to flash a ROM that enables it OOTB. I had a problem with an HTC 8X from Rogers on ATT. Could never solve the problem even though ATT help desk tried to help me for hours.
sergey.polyakov said:
Yes, I've got the same problem. Have you solved it?
Phone was unlocked with code provided by ATT rep, but tethering isn't working. I know that AT&T phones from Microsoft stores were unlocked by personnel without problems.
https://twitter.com/bongiozzo/status/383679862638387200 here is my conversation Nokia Care US (AT&T admitted that phone fully unlocked in their systems) with no resolution.
I've got additional Russian keyboard - so it doesn't look like solution.
Actually I've experienced once this problem when was using Lumia 920 with AT&T SIM in USA business trip. When I returned to Russia I couldn't share internet with the same error message.
So I launched Access Point from Settings which sets parameters to Cellular, MMS and Internet Sharing. Problem was solved.
But I don't have Access Point in my Lumia 1020 setting. Moreover, firmware of ATT Lumia 1020 is older than official Russian firmware of Lumia 920.
What is possible solution to enable internet sharing? It's critical for me.
Does flashing solve this problem? What ROM can I use for Lumia 1020?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Nokia 1020 AT&T Tethering unlock solution
I bought my Nokia 1020 from NegriElectronics unlocked (AT&T).
It worked very well in Canada (Rogers), Portugal (Vodafone), Spain (Vodafone). So no question it was unlocked. But Tethering was not working.
I got in touch with Negri and they pointed out this article: http://www.wpcentral.com/issues-internet-sharing-windows-phone-try-out-diy-fix
But I could not apply the workaround because the Cellular Settings did not allow me to add a second APN. I could only update the existing or delete it and add it again.
Anyway, I found this page: http://discussions.nokia.com/t5/Pool-of-Knowledge/Nokia-Windows-Phone-8-App-Updates/td-p/1640082
They had a QR code on it to update the Access Point settings app (My Phone did not have it, probably removed by AT&T). Link to QR Code: http://imgur.com/ZLdL6
After I installed the AccessPoint from the QR code, it added to my phone settings an Access Point configuration. Then I could follow the original steps from the WPCentral article.
My Nokia 1020 is now unlocked for Tethering, and I did not have to call AT&T or dial 611...
boril said:
HI,
I'm thinking of buying AT&T 1020, but I from Europe and don't want to wait any exclusive period to over (like 920) so I can unlock the phone.
Did someone tried this already to unlock 1020 bought from AT&T ?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I know im "a little" late but i bought mine at the MS Store in SFO and called AT&T afterwards and after ~45min and 3 different people i had to exlpain myself (plus i was customer of a goPhone once back in 2008) i finally got my unlock code
Works like a Charm here in Germany with Vodafone (except for LTE ofc coz of the different bands).
Penecho said:
I know im "a little" late but i bought mine at the MS Store in SFO and called AT&T afterwards and after ~45min and 3 different people i had to exlpain myself (plus i was customer of a goPhone once back in 2008) i finally got my unlock code
Works like a Charm here in Germany with Vodafone (except for LTE ofc coz of the different bands).
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hi everyone, anyone know where I can unlokc my lumia 1020 from at&t? cellunlocker.net said me that they cannot do that.. please I listen there are issues with at&t...
Seems like you are doing a little bit of spamming.
You made a similar post for a lumia 520
Leading to the same site.
at & t operator nokia lumia 1020
People tell me what could be wrong, my phone lock on at & t operator nokia lumia 1020.Problema next when I enter the unlock code there 10 attempts and is considered to be only the first, and then stands on the 9th and nothing happens even slightly enter these codes unlock ((((how to fix it?
nokia lumia 1020
orepator at & t
IMEI: **************
the first time you enter the code does not write an incorrect PIN, and the following are not considered an attempt to not error sim cards ((((what is this?
Please remove your imei in your post.......
I currently use a Motorola Atrix HD cell phone . The Android version is 4.1.1 and it will not update to a newer version. It is probably 4 years old at least. I want to get a newer phone but really was trying to avoid signing another 2 years contract with AT&T so wondered if I bought an unlocked phone that is AT&T compatible, can I just move the SIM card to the new phone and then use it as my new phone? I am older, 75, and need help with this decision. I don't need a phone with all the bells and whistles, just a basic smart phone to call, text, do email and other basic online functions. I did go to Best Buy and selected one of their unlocked phones but my SIM card would not fit the new phone so had to cancel that. Any help, comments or suggestions will be greatly appreciated.
JosephDamien said:
I currently use a Motorola Atrix HD cell phone . The Android version is 4.1.1 and it will not update to a newer version. It is probably 4 years old at least. I want to get a newer phone but really was trying to avoid signing another 2 years contract with AT&T so wondered if I bought an unlocked phone that is AT&T compatible, can I just move the SIM card to the new phone and then use it as my new phone? I am older, 75, and need help with this decision. I don't need a phone with all the bells and whistles, just a basic smart phone to call, text, do email and other basic online functions. I did go to Best Buy and selected one of their unlocked phones but my SIM card would not fit the new phone so had to cancel that. Any help, comments or suggestions will be greatly appreciated.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes. Switching your current AT&T SIM card to another unlocked phone will work. There are a few things to watch out for:
1. Don't forger to somehow transfer your contacts to your new phone. This can be done with Google account sync or (easier) you could export your contacts from your phone to your SIM card.
2. There are multiple SIM card sizes (as you notices). There is standard size sim, micro sim and nano sim. Make sure your SIM size is compatible with your phone. If it's too big or too small go to AT&T and ask for a different size SIM card. Just don't ever use SIM adapters. They can break the phone's SIM tray permanently.
JosephDamien said:
I currently use a Motorola Atrix HD cell phone . The Android version is 4.1.1 and it will not update to a newer version. It is probably 4 years old at least. I want to get a newer phone but really was trying to avoid signing another 2 years contract with AT&T so wondered if I bought an unlocked phone that is AT&T compatible, can I just move the SIM card to the new phone and then use it as my new phone? I am older, 75, and need help with this decision. I don't need a phone with all the bells and whistles, just a basic smart phone to call, text, do email and other basic online functions. I did go to Best Buy and selected one of their unlocked phones but my SIM card would not fit the new phone so had to cancel that. Any help, comments or suggestions will be greatly appreciated.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
see
What's your next smartphone / What should I buy by poseidon5213
and
**DEVICE SUGGESTION THREAD** -- Not sure what device to buy? Ask here! by KidCarter93
Sent from my XT1254 using XDA Labs
janekmuric said:
Yes. Switching your current AT&T SIM card to another unlocked phone will work. There are a few things to watch out for:
1. Don't forger to somehow transfer your contacts to your new phone. This can be done with Google account sync or (easier) you could export your contacts from your phone to your SIM card.
2. There are multiple SIM card sizes (as you notices). There is standard size sim, micro sim and nano sim. Make sure your SIM size is compatible with your phone. If it's too big or too small go to AT&T and ask for a different size SIM card. Just don't ever use SIM adapters. They can break the phone's SIM tray permanently.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks Janekmuric. I'll have to take out my SIM card and see what type it is. Also will try to see if there is a way on my phone to put my contacts on my SIM card. So moving my SIM card to a new phone (assuming it fits) will then enable me to begin to use that phone as my normal phone. I just can't believe it's that easy and that AT&T won't have their claws in there for some kind of fee or charge. I'll have to look for a phone then and want to try to get one that is at least version 6, I think that's Marshmallow. I've seen a number of these on Amazon that are unlocked and compatible with AT&T and not very expensive. I just need as I said earlier a basic smart phone to do calls, text, email and some basic internet. I do not do streaming or use my phone for music and all that.
JosephDamien said:
Thanks Janekmuric. I'll have to take out my SIM card and see what type it is. Also will try to see if there is a way on my phone to put my contacts on my SIM card. So moving my SIM card to a new phone (assuming it fits) will then enable me to begin to use that phone as my normal phone. I just can't believe it's that easy and that AT&T won't have their claws in there for some kind of fee or charge. I'll have to look for a phone then and want to try to get one that is at least version 6, I think that's Marshmallow. I've seen a number of these on Amazon that are unlocked and compatible with AT&T and not very expensive. I just need as I said earlier a basic smart phone to do calls, text, email and some basic internet. I do not do streaming or use my phone for music and all that.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Good luck with finding a new phone. You can use GSMArena Phone Finder to find a phone you need. You put in what you want from the phone, what android version you want, what battery capacity, price, size and so on, and it returns a list of phones that fall into that category.
Samsung Galaxy J7 is good for what you need. It's responsive, fast, stylish and costs 220 USD on Amazon.com
I'm new at cellphones.
I bought a Pixel 7 Pro. When I get it I'll take it to a T-Mobile store, sign up for service, and have them install a SIM. Any special SIM that I should ask for?
Skuddle said:
I'm new at cellphones.
I bought a Pixel 7 Pro. When I get it I'll take it to a T-Mobile store, sign up for service, and have them install a SIM. Any special SIM that I should ask for?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I wasn't aware of choices--but I'm not an expert. I told them what plan I wanted and they gave me a SIM to put in my phone. Others will likely have a more detailed answer.
Skuddle said:
I'm new at cellphones.
I bought a Pixel 7 Pro. When I get it I'll take it to a T-Mobile store, sign up for service, and have them install a SIM. Any special SIM that I should ask for?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
At one point you'd want to make sure you had an r15 sim but that's been a few years now and I'd suspect all their sims are the same revisions at this point. I will say, esim on my 7 pro had horrible reception and I'm not sure why but went back to a physical sim and alls good again. I wouldn't have thought there would be a difference but indeed there was/is, at least on my phone.
Skuddle said:
I'm new at cellphones.
I bought a Pixel 7 Pro. When I get it I'll take it to a T-Mobile store, sign up for service, and have them install a SIM. Any special SIM that I should ask for?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You don't need to go in a physical store. You can just call them up; tell them the service you want. Once you have that setup. Then tell them you want an e-sim added to your account.
They'll ask for your serial/IMEI. Setup phone with e-sim and your all set.
@djhotsauce
Thanks for your reply.
I called my local store and told them I had a flip phone that used their service (Boost) and that I wanted to move the flip phones SIM and its service to a new, unlocked phone. I was told to bring my flip phone in and in return I would get a new SIM and have my new phone "registered" (can't recall right now the correct word). I was also told that I could not transfer my flip phone's number to the new service and that the visit will cost $35.
I don't understand why I have to bring in my flip phone if I am getting another SIM or why "registration" has to be transferred to the new phone. All I wanted to do is put the current SIM in the new phone. Maybe there is something that I am not aware of??
Skuddle said:
@djhotsauce
Thanks for your reply.
I called my local store and told them I had a flip phone that used their service (Boost) and that I wanted to move the flip phones SIM and its service to a new, unlocked phone. I was told to bring my flip phone in and in return I would get a new SIM and have my new phone "registered" (can't recall right now the correct word). I was also told that I could not transfer my flip phone's number to the new service and that the visit will cost $35.
I don't understand why I have to bring in my flip phone if I am getting another SIM or why "registration" has to be transferred to the new phone. All I wanted to do is put the current SIM in the new phone. Maybe there is something that I am not aware of??
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I've never been on T-Mobile/Boost...
but it seems to me that, at the very least, you can't use a "flip phone" SIM on a smartphone -- no less the latest Google smartphone released. It does suck that you can't transfer your phone number -- i question how hard it actually is to transfer it -- but I guess going from "dumbphone" to "smartphone" would be the culprit; although thinking about it, maybe it's because you're going from Boost to T-Mobile on top of flip phone to smartphone SIM -- too much complication. Maybe if you speak with a more knowledgeable person higher up the customer support chain, they'd either be able to do as you seek or be able to explain better why it's not possible/too difficult.
simplepinoi177 said:
I've never been on T-Mobile/Boost...
but it seems to me that, at the very least, you can't use a "flip phone" SIM on a smartphone -- no less the latest Google smartphone released. It does suck that you can't transfer your phone number -- i question how hard it actually is to transfer it -- but I guess going from "dumbphone" to "smartphone" would be the culprit; although thinking about it, maybe it's because you're going from Boost to T-Mobile on top of flip phone to smartphone SIM -- too much complication. Maybe if you speak with a more knowledgeable person higher up the customer support chain, they'd either be able to do as you seek or be able to explain better why it's not possible/too difficult.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm thinking that I'll just use the camera part of the phone for now. The TCL flip phone works nicely for me. I use it to keep in touch with the wife when I take off for a couple of weeks 2 or 3 times a year. It still has around $150 of credit on it so that should last through October.
Thanks for your reply!