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i got a question, i just got interested in buying a phone, and lots of people tell me its of a certain brand name, Vodafone for example. I was wondering, what are my limitations with a branded phone? I want to use the phone in a diferent country, and with a diferent company, is there a way to unlock it, and have all its features availible as if it was unbranded??
Your post is very vague. Basically the phone has a little bit to do with how you can use it and ROM or Operating systems has a lot to do with it. For example, I have an AT&T phone which is a HTC Raphael. The brand on it means it originally is only able to work on the AT&T network. It has features only to be used with AT&T and when it is put on the AT&T network it reports to their servers. The fact that it is AT&T also means the hardware is GSM based (the type of radio in it and how it joins the network space). You can flash a customize from onto this phone to allow for use on any GSM carrier or you can unlock the phone to be only used on any network but you would not be able to use some of the AT&T specific features.
I hope this answered your basic questions.
pegun said:
Your post is very vague. Basically the phone has a little bit to do with how you can use it and ROM or Operating systems has a lot to do with it. For example, I have an AT&T phone which is a HTC Raphael. The brand on it means it originally is only able to work on the AT&T network. It has features only to be used with AT&T and when it is put on the AT&T network it reports to their servers. The fact that it is AT&T also means the hardware is GSM based (the type of radio in it and how it joins the network space). You can flash a customize from onto this phone to allow for use on any GSM carrier or you can unlock the phone to be only used on any network but you would not be able to use some of the AT&T specific features.
I hope this answered your basic questions.
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that is exactly what i wanted to know.. where i am from, i use a prepaid sim, of a foreign company, and everytime i travel, i have a diferent companie's prepaid sim in my phone, i dont want to be bound to only 1 company, i want to be able to use the phone's features, and not be obligated to only use AT&T's sim cards for example. So flashing a Rom, of unlocking, maked the phone become just like the rest of the factory unlocked, if i understood correctly?
A branded or carrier phone by default is typically only locked to the carrier's SIM, and typically has carrier specific software on it, like a media store, or internet portal, ect. If you unlock the phone, and flash an unbranded ROM (i.e. an XDA ROM, or an original HTC ROM) then there is no real difference between a branded phone and an unbranded phone besides carrier added labeling on the faceplate.
sonus said:
A branded or carrier phone by default is typically only locked to the carrier's SIM, and typically has carrier specific software on it, like a media store, or internet portal, ect. If you unlock the phone, and flash an unbranded ROM (i.e. an XDA ROM, or an original HTC ROM) then there is no real difference between a branded phone and an unbranded phone besides carrier added labeling on the faceplate.
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THank mate, i got it now.. i didnt understand those things since i never had to deal with branded or company slavery
So, I have an Xperia Z3, D6616, stock, locked bootloader still, and I'm considering sim unlocking the device for use on AT&T. Bought it on craigslist. It's currently locked to T-Mobile. Most unlock websites say not to purchase the unlock code for the device if it is locked to T-Mobile due to an unlocking app that T-Mobile installs on handsets that prevents third party unlocking. See attached pictures. I'm an AT&T customer, so this is a bit of a pain for me.
Called T-Mobile, they will not unlock the device as it does not meet the requirements. I'm not a T-Mobile customer either, so there is no account history associated with this IMEI. I have a feeling that someone bought this device at a subsidized price, sold it new in box, and pocketed the cash. Now I have a fancy T-Mobile MP3 player and digital camera that won't play nice with my AT&T sim....
Has anyone successfully unlocked this device for use on another GSM carrier while originally being locked to T-Mobile without going through the carrier's unlocking process? If so, what website/service did you use? I'm considering selling this thing as it's a bit useless on my network thus far, being locked to another carrier and all.
Thanks in advance.
is this me being a bit daft, but could you not simply put an unbranded firmware on the device via ftf and simply unlock the device via a website?
henson0115 said:
is this me being a bit daft, but could you not simply put an unbranded firmware on the device via ftf and simply unlock the device via a website?
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I'm not sure if that's a possibility. There is no root for this device without unlocking the bootloader, which wipes the TA partition and causes you to lose the DRM keys and cripples camera functionality. I'm trying to avoid unlocking the bootloader for as long as possible, but if unlocking, rooting, and installing a custom ROM will assist in sim unlocking, it may be in my best interest to do so.
I'm trying to do a network unlock with a code and keeping the phone stock if at all possible, at least until a root method without unlocking the bootloader is found, if it ever is... I just need a way to get a code for unlocking WITHOUT going through T-Mobile.
you don't need root to flash an unbranded ftf., once done then simply use a website and buy the unlock code, with the tmobile firmware out of the way there shouldn't be any interference in terms of network unlock.
what i am saying is:
1: flash global unbranded firmware via flashtools with ftf
2: buy your network unlock code
3: enter code as no t-mobile firmware is available on the device anymore to interfere
i am not saying this is possible as i do not have a t-mobile - us device to test, but my vodafone branded z3 has had an unbranded firmware flashed by myself with no root.
i hope this helps clear up any confusion.
henson0115 said:
you don't need root to flash an unbranded ftf., once done then simply use a website and buy the unlock code, with the tmobile firmware out of the way there shouldn't be any interference in terms of network unlock.
what i am saying is:
1: flash global unbranded firmware via flashtools with ftf
2: buy your network unlock code
3: enter code as no t-mobile firmware is available on the device anymore to interfere
i am not saying this is possible as i do not have a t-mobile - us device to test, but my vodafone branded z3 has had an unbranded firmware flashed by myself with no root.
i hope this helps clear up any confusion.
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I may try this tonight.
If I flash another firmware with flashtool, can I return to stock after unlocking without root access?
Rooting and/or unlocking the bootloader or flashing a custom rom or a different firmware has absolutely nothing to do with SIM lock.
If you try and sim unlock by doing any of that you are wasting your time.
Best bet is to go to your carrier and ask them to sim unlock it
gregbradley said:
Rooting and/or unlocking the bootloader or flashing a custom rom or a different firmware has absolutely nothing to do with SIM lock.
If you try and sim unlock by doing any of that you are wasting your time.
Best bet is to go to your carrier and ask them to sim unlock it
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Yeah, that has been my experiences in the past. The carrier always did it for me. But T-Mobile will not unlock this device as it does not meet eligibility requirements, and the unlock websites say not to buy a code for a T-Mobile US locked Z3. I need it unlocked for use on AT&T. I remember unlocking HTC devices with SuperCID and unlocking Samsung devices with dialer codes. Anything like that for the Sony side of the house? this will be my first Sony phone.
HORiZUN said:
Yeah, that has been my experiences in the past. The carrier always did it for me. But T-Mobile will not unlock this device as it does not meet eligibility requirements, and the unlock websites say not to buy a code for a T-Mobile US locked Z3. I need it unlocked for use on AT&T. I remember unlocking HTC devices with SuperCID and unlocking Samsung devices with dialer codes. Anything like that for the Sony side of the house? this will be my first Sony phone.
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Not that I know of. In the UK you can get any phone sim unlocked on any market stall in a few minutes for a fiver. Its not really to do with the phone but the carrier and the laws you have over the pond.
Simply try a websites unlock, I do not believe T-Mobile can block carrier unlocks. Who has told you otherwise?
See the attachments in the OP. The unlocking websites are saying not to purchase the codes if you have a T-Mobile US locked Z3. I don't want to waste $40, especially when there are no refunds, and want to know if anyone has successfully unlocked with a website and NOT the carrier.
D6616 has an NOT unlockable bootloader, so that method is a no-go.
If it was on EIP and they sold it, the phone may be blacklisted by T-Mobile already
I don't believe you can flash a different version firmware, for multiple reasons, one of which is because it's a D6616 and not a D6603
The T-Mobile SIM unlock tool does work if all conditions are met.
Good luck OP, I think you might have a difficult time with this one
se1000 said:
D6616 has an unlockable bootloader, so that method is a no-go.
If it was on EIP and they sold it, the phone may be blacklisted by T-Mobile already
I don't believe you can flash a different version firmware, for multiple reasons, one of which is because it's a D6616 and not a D6603
The T-Mobile SIM unlock tool does work if all conditions are met.
Good luck OP, I think you might have a difficult time with this one
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Again, the bootloader status has nothing to do with SIM lock.
Flashing another firmware will also not effect sim lock.
I'm seriously considering selling this device and going for another bootloader unlockable handset due to this unlock headache. T-Mobile is no help for unlocking this IMEI.
gregbradley said:
Again, the bootloader status has nothing to do with SIM lock.
Flashing another firmware will also not effect sim lock.
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Sorry for the first line, didn't mean to get that wrong. Definitely agree that bootloader unlock and SIM unlock have nothing to do with each other.
Called T-Mobile again, tried to unlock. No account number to tie unlock request to since I use At&t as a carrier. They recommend I call Sony directly and ask for an unlock. I did, Sony told me to contact the carrier again. I do, and have the T-Mobile rep call Sony guys on a three way call. I explain that I purchased the device on craigslist, not a T-Mobile account holder, I'm an active duty military member, phone was several hundred dollars, I didn't know... boohoo, I'm dumb, I should have purchased from Sony, No moneys to get a new phone since this was so expensive, etc. Sad poor me story, you know.
Sat on hold for a bit, but Sony caved and said they would attempt a remote unlock via code, but it would be between 1-3 days and the reply will be via email. Time will tell, now. Just waiting to see what happens. I hope it works. I had to have the situation escalated to the third level of supervisors to get this far...
sounds like good news, if that fails, you could ask someone you no on T-MOBILE or a family member to give them a ring and pretend its there phone, should also do the trick
That's a good idea!! Thanks for that. I'll find someone at work who has T-Mobile and go that route if I need to.
any updates.. i badly need my T mobile Xperia Z3 to be get it unlocked...
Sadly, there is no update. T-Mobile will not unlock the device unless I use it on their network for 45 days, ahve an account in good standing, etc. This isn't going to happen, as I am an AT&T subscriber. I have the Z3 listed for sale on craigslist. Awaiting a sale or trade. If anyone wants to swap phones for a still in the box T-Mobile Z3, let me know. Looking for an S5, G3, or Nexus 6. Gsm variants only. Too bad, cause I really like the Z3. I would keep it if I could sim unlock.
Is the unlocking app based off the Sim card? Cause I bought my tmo Z3 3 days ago. Used my Sim from my moto x. After I got everything set up I tried the permanent unlock which was successful.
Hi guys.
I won a phone from Samsung in a event they were hosting in downtown toronto. It took them a while but I finally got the phone!!!
Unfortunately its locked to a network im not a customer with - Im on contract with another.
I've paid 3 seperate websites (Canada GSM, Cellunlocker.net, and Unlock Genius) but nobody can find the IMEI in their database! I paid the carrier its locked with - but even they couldnt find it!!!
Do i have a ghost phone? Is there anyway to unlock it other than the unlock code?
Thanks.
try http://www.fastgsm.com/en
Thanks Tomerbi for the advice, but I doubt they'll be able to find it considering 3 other websites couldnt (Paypal is having a field day, freezing the refunds as they come in).
What's the model number of the phone? For example mine is an international unlocked SM-G920F. Perhaps there is a region lock on it? The unlock sites can't do anything about that.
SM-G920W8 - Im using a sim from the appropriate region of the world, and briefly used a sim from the network it is locked to!
Looks like its a Canadian phone. And you're using it in Canada. Strange.
And when you put in the sim card for the network it is locked to that doesn't work either? Then what network were they expecting you to use it on when they gave it to you?
Its locked to Telus - Telus connections do work in the phone. Only type that do work. Just that nothing else does, and Telus doesnt have the IMEI in their database.
Please post experience with S7 SIM (carrier) unlocking here, specifically third party websites that offer an unlocking service.
I bought my phone out right from T-mobile. And their unlock app that comes on the phone does not work
HTCMDA said:
I bought my phone out right from T-mobile. And their unlock app that comes on the phone does not work
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It works but you have to know what you're doing with it. Did you contact Tmobile for unlock code. We unlock and blacklist repair the Sprint, Tmobile, etc. The Tmobile ones have to go through that app during the process
supreme83 said:
It works but you have to know what you're doing with it. Did you contact Tmobile for unlock code. We unlock and blacklist repair the Sprint, Tmobile, etc. The Tmobile ones have to go through that app during the process
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yea man i called...they sent an email with instructions.. email stated this phone doesn't require an unlock code as it has a built in unlock app. follow the directions below blah blah balh
bottom line, it doesn't work. why? because there's hidden rules and crap that need to be met 1st by t-mobile. prepaid people need to spend at least 100 dollars in refills before the phone is eligible. post paid people need to have the phone active on t-mobile for a minimum of 45 days and your account cannot be cancelled during that time.
well seeing as how i'm on prepaid... i walked in, made a new customer purchase as a post paid user, then cancelled my line after i got my gear vr and netflix code... which wasn't even 30 days. I can't unlock my phone, So I'm now on prepaid gonna see if I can after 100 dollars in refills
Try to use UnlockRadar for any phone using Device Unlock App from T-Mobile, including the Galaxy S7. You can find more here: https://www.unlockradar.com/service/t-mobile-usa-device-unlock-app-official-unlock
Hello,
i need a help with a unlocking Samsung Galaxy S7 SIM (network) too. It is locked to Vodafone UK.
Does anyone know any reliable services to do it?
Thanks
merlooo said:
Hello,
i need a help with a unlocking Samsung Galaxy S7 SIM (network) too. It is locked to Vodafone UK.
Does anyone know any reliable services to do it?
Thanks
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I use ebay to get my unlock codes, unlocked maybe a dozen phones in the last few years and never had any issues with anyone.
A couple reliable sites I've used many times are www.unlockbase.com and www.cellunlocker.net . There's also a thread over on the s6 general forum of a member named stifilz that can unlock your device via USB cable, his service is free but a donation is always a nice gesture. Good luck!
Sent from the silver bullet 930F Running Superman Rom
kinda ridiculous you have to pay to get an unlock code still. My SM-G930FD i bought unlocked locks itself every time in install a T-mobile csc and the app wont even run on that phone
Hi can anyone help? I bought an At&t S7 Edge on amazon and got the unlock code from the vendor and it apparently worked. My only issue is that it'll only work with the sim that was in the phone when I entered the code. If I use another one the phone keeps displaying "insert sim". Thanks already for your replies
Thanks for the reply and there's 1 more things I need to mention: I'm using the phone overseas (Haiti) as it's still under At&t contract. Now to answer your questions no it doesn't ask for the unlock code anymore but like I said it only works with the non At&t
sim I used when entering the unlock code.
SamsungCodeSource said:
Hey there macphephe,
What network are you trying to use the phone with and does the phone ask for the unlock code still when you turn the phone on with a non AT&T simcard/
Let me know we can help
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s7 (sm-930f) lock to Austrian A1 was not able to be unlocked by unlockbase.com. However, the nck from cellunlocker.net worked well.
Ok so what im mentioning is something im still not getting quite well, but i saw before many samsung phones S6, S7, Note... etc that have the international firmware 9XXF/FD even when the phone is actually a T-Mobile version or AT&T, in download mode you will be shown the real phone model but the firmware isn't. Of course through Odin with a PC you won't be able to flash the phone with a firmware besides the one designed for it. If you actually wanna flash the phone you'll need the original firmware, i tried it before and flashed a Verizon S6 that had the international 6.0 firmware on it through Odin and as you might guess i got an error as the device didn't match the firmware, when i actually flashed it with the correct Verizon 7.0 firmware it worked and the phone booted and worked alright, except that now the phone is network locked! downgrade isn't possible unless i use a repair firmware and a pit file (not sure if still works with nougat). Then i got the idea of actually using the repair firmware and the pit of the 9XXF version as its network free, and ended up breaking the phone completely. The jig didn't work so couldn't access odin. So i work for a friend of mine in a repair workshop PC, Consoles, Mobiles... blablabla and we have the Z3x box, it did unbrick the phone, and then i started playing with it to see what it can do, and there is an option to actually flash and mix different parts of the firmware, so i went an flashed the bootloader of the Verizon firmware with the rest from the international firmware, it didn't boot at first but somehow i got it into recovery mode and after a format it did boot, and the network was actually unlocked after.
I do not think this method would work on all versions, as some samsung phones uses the snapdragon soc while others uses the exynos soc, and i don't think you can mix those firmwares, but an unlocked exynos model might be unlockable with the international firmware, of course considering the risk of breaking the phone, but if you're lucky as i was and have one of those boxes you shouldn't be much afraid.
Something else i'd like to mention, is that the Z3x can actually fully backup the phone, and i don't mean a nandroid backup like TWRP but like a full partitions backup, and the idea i got but didn't test is if you have for example a locked S7 and an unlocked one and same model so let's say 930P, you can actually copy the raw partitions from the unlocked one to the locked one and i don't know, maybe ending up unlocking it too, again didn't test this one as i only have one S7 and its already unlocked (930FD).
Hi,
Looking in this forum but can't see how to SIM unlock my S+. Phone was locked so I re-flashed with Odin but can't find guide to unlock SIM.
Phone is locked to UK Vodafone.
Can you send me please guide if there is some? Thanks
What is the message your phone displays when you insert a SIM card other than Vodafone UK (ie, a non-accepted SIM card) and try to place a phone call?
If the phone is locked, it will ask you for unlocking codes.
Yes, it's asking for unlock code. I could fix this with odin and some flash on my S7 Edge but how can I do this on S8+?
As far as I know you should buy the unlock code on eBay. Actually it depends on operator (each operator has its own way to lock it). For example Verizon doesn't lock GSM part on the modem for their phones at all. Sometimes remote unlock procedure is required (you will pay to third party and they will do it through the Teamview). The price depends on operator. There are 99% that you will not do it for free by yourself.
There is one chance to do it yourself only if your provider made some calling time lock. For example you have to insert Vodafone SIM card and make a phone call for some 5-10 minutes (but it shlould be done inside the country of phone's origin, UK in your case). Try to ask someone with a same Vodafone UK phone.
You can do it with Odin only if it was not really locked from the beginning but just had some carriers bloat, that was asking for that unlock.
What is exact model of your S8+? What does it says in Bootloader mode?
But actually I could do this with S7 edge. So S8 has some protection?
Ganibal_Lector said:
As far as I know you should buy the unlock code on eBay. Actually it depends on operator (each operator has its own way to lock it). For example Verizon doesn't lock GSM part on the modem for their phones at all. Sometimes remote unlock procedure is required (you will pay to third party and they will do it through the Teamview). The price depends on operator. There are 99% that you will not do it for free by yourself.
There is one chance to do it yourself only if your provider made some calling time lock. For example you have to insert Vodafone SIM card and make a phone call for some 5-10 minutes. Try to ask someone with a same Vodafone UK phone.
You can do it with Odin only if it was not really locked from the beginning but just had some carriers bloat, that was asking for that unlock.
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lew1s said:
But actually I could do this with S7 edge. So S8 has some protection?
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Was it the same Vodafone UK? What is exact model number of your S8+? What was original firmware and firmware you have feflashed with?
Ganibal_Lector said:
Was it the same Vodafone UK? What is exact model number of your S8+? What was original firmware and firmware you have feflashed with?
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no was Irish. Model: G955F and I used this guide: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9qcBBQ4rwis
lew1s said:
no was Irish. Model: G955F and I used this guide:
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Based on other operators experience I would say you cannot do it by yourself as usually simple flashing will not unlock the phone. You will really need one of paid methods to unlock it. It is still better to ask someone with a same Vodafone phone. As unlockers on ebay etc. make money with those methods I don't really believe that someone here will tell you how to do that by your own.
There was a thread where the guy was discussing unlock for his Austrian locked phone. Finally he paid twice as first seller sold him some wrong unlock code and phone became network blocked completely. However he bought some "unfreeze" code from different seller and that worked for him. If it would be so easy to unlock operators phones they will never sell them cheaper than unlocked.
Another option is still to perform call with original Verizon UK SIM card for 10 minutes. After that you should reboot your phone and it should be unlocked. If it will not work you can approach Vodafone UK and ask them for unlock code. If there was no any financial issues for that phone and it is registered more than 6 months in the network they should provide you with unlock code for free.
Sorry if I didn't help you too much.