Hey ya'll.
is there a good way to determine which phones are unlockable before buying them? Especially with Brand new phones, I just cant ask the seller to open the box and enter the code to check root status., although things like IMEI or Serial Numbers are on the box afaik. Is there a pattern or a code in these numbers which can indicate it?
It really feels like an expensive gamble which I lost one time already with a Xperia10
Generally, if the phone is from a provider, like Vodafone, or O2 or somesuch, it will be locked.
Phones bought through Amazon and most online retailers with be unlockable.
Providers request that phones can't be unlocked as they don't want the headache of "waaahh, I unlocked my phone and now it's broke"
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I'm amazed by the number of people who don't know this...
All US carriers to sell LOCKED handsets are REQUIRED by LAW to provide unlock codes upon request.
All you need to do is call the carrier the handset is locked to hand request the unlock code. They will ask you for the IMEI and provied you with the code. If they give you any heat or static about it, just tell them that you KNOW they are required by law to give you the code.
The only way they can refuse is if the IMEI for the handset is tied to an account that still owes money, but if you purchased at retail pricing and never had an account, or currently have an account in good standing, they cannot refuse.
STOP PAYING FOR SIM UNLOCKING AND CALL THE CARRIER!
I have NEVER paid for a SIM unlocking service and am currently using the latest NRG energy rom on my unlocked AT&T FUZE.
SIM Unlock
I don't think what you're saying is true. I have searched for any trace of a US law requiring SIM unlocks an haven't found one. I did find this on wikipedia:
Singapore is the only country that forbid outright SIM locking and contract/phone bundling.
The US and UK don't have any SIM locking laws, but American and British carriers usually offer unlocking codes voluntarily.
Many countries listed below have some form of simlocking laws specifying the period of simlocking and the cost of obtaining unlocking codes. However their effectiveness may be questioned when we look at the iPhone's worldwide distribution practices. The worldwide launch of the iPhone has definitively shattered numerous myths about whether some country has laws against SIM locking.
(from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SIM_lock )
~cp
risc193 said:
I'm amazed by the number of people who don't know this...
All US carriers to sell LOCKED handsets are REQUIRED by LAW to provide unlock codes upon request.
All you need to do is call the carrier the handset is locked to hand request the unlock code. They will ask you for the IMEI and provied you with the code. If they give you any heat or static about it, just tell them that you KNOW they are required by law to give you the code.
The only way they can refuse is if the IMEI for the handset is tied to an account that still owes money, but if you purchased at retail pricing and never had an account, or currently have an account in good standing, they cannot refuse.
STOP PAYING FOR SIM UNLOCKING AND CALL THE CARRIER!
I have NEVER paid for a SIM unlocking service and am currently using the latest NRG energy rom on my unlocked AT&T FUZE.
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Yeah but I don't mind paying for a security unlocker
seeps said:
I don't think what you're saying is true.
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I second the OP here. It's true but you can only ask your cell phone provider to unlock a phone you bought from them (and not from a friend or fleebay), you have an active contract in good standing, you are atleast 2-3 months into the contract and so on. Basically if they sold u a locked phone, you can demand an unlock.
It sucks to run the whole nine yards, and then pay the same amount of money for the security unlocker. I really wish Olipro could have a security unlock only service.
If you get your carrier to unlock your phone is that when you can flash a Radio from a different device?
X2D said:
If you get your carrier to unlock your phone is that when you can flash a Radio from a different device?
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Nope...subsidy unlocking is NOT the same as security unlocking.
actually US carriers are required to give you the subsidary unlock code for your device (excluding iPhone and cdma/gsm hybrids although technically, not offerring it for the iPhone is illegal) but only if you are going out of the country and don't to want to use their service or pay their fees since it does not directly interfere with their service.
ATT will give you the code in a couple days if you lie and say your going away for a week or two.
Also that wikipedia article is wrong because phones in Belguim cannot be opertor locked either. Caused a fiasco with the iPhone.
leaving the country
tmobile has unlocked a few phones for me that i didnt even buy from them
i'm on att but my sister has tmobile so i use her account to request unlocked codes for phones i've purchased on ebay or craigslist
i just always tell them that i'm going over seas and would like to be able to use a pre paid sim over there
hello guys,
I have bought i blocked touch pro here in the Czech republic... Pleeease, wouldn´t you be so great and call AT&T and provide the code for me?
You would be soooo nice! please, please, please
my IMEI is: 353142027737330
Please, anybody...
It must be PPC from AT&T...
Maybe you are rigth but.
maybe you are right about it but let me tell you , I got a locket at&t phone , i buy a code with a internet compay the code never works they send my information to htc and verify the unlock code , any way it never works , i needed buy the olipro services , everything was fine his program unlock my phone forever i did not type a code or something like that , now my htc fuze is unlocked and i am happy , conclusions be carefull unlock codes not always works , choose olipro software its 100% safe
risc193 said:
I'm amazed by the number of people who don't know this...
All US carriers to sell LOCKED handsets are REQUIRED by LAW to provide unlock codes upon request.
All you need to do is call the carrier the handset is locked to hand request the unlock code. They will ask you for the IMEI and provied you with the code. If they give you any heat or static about it, just tell them that you KNOW they are required by law to give you the code.
The only way they can refuse is if the IMEI for the handset is tied to an account that still owes money, but if you purchased at retail pricing and never had an account, or currently have an account in good standing, they cannot refuse.
STOP PAYING FOR SIM UNLOCKING AND CALL THE CARRIER!
I have NEVER paid for a SIM unlocking service and am currently using the latest NRG energy rom on my unlocked AT&T FUZE.
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Click to collapse
I got the UNLOCK CODE
I called the carrier and asked for my phone sim-unlock code and they took my IMEI number and gave me unlockcode. simple
thanks OP
unlock sim
how to unlock sim card free without calling carrier
Hi guys,
Whats the best and easiest way to simunlock the At&t samsung focus?
I won this from @benthepcguy from Microsoft, but I live in the Netherlands.
therefor I have no use of a at&t simlocked phone, unless I get it unlocked.
Any ideas?
Well, in the US you could take it to a AT&T store and they'd do it for you. Outside the US, you could try calling AT&T, or your could try calling Samsung directly. I think there are also sites that will sell unlock codes online, which sounds shady but apparently works, and is like $30 or something.
Why don't you tweet Ben stating your problem? He should be able to help you.
gremsems said:
Hi guys,
Whats the best and easiest way to simunlock the At&t samsung focus?
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Have you test the phone to see if it's already carrier unlocked? I can't imagine why they would give away a phone that's locked to AT&T...
If you're the original owner: Call AT&T and ask the customer rep for unlock code. Use the AT&T phone number listed on your Focus's people hub. They'll ask you for the phone IMEI number.
If you are not the original owner it's unlikely that AT&T will give you unlock code (eg. your phone is locked to another account). Or you can't call them for some other reasons. In that case you can always buy the unlock code from various websites or ebay.
I have used this web site twice (http://www.cellunlocker.net/samsung-unlock.php) to unlock my 2 Focus bought from Craigslist. The unlock code cost about $8 USD each and deliver to your email instantly. Please note: that website is not based in the USA, so my credit card got charged an extra $1 fee.
From what I heard these type of sites pay Samsung/AT&T a fee for special access to their IMEI unlock code database. Either that or they have software that can crack unlock code based on IMEI. I don't know, the codes I bought from them work.
By the way, if you do decided to use that web site make sure you choose AT&T under United State of American as the network that the phone is locked to.
I've got a relative in China, and the prices on Taobao for many phones are simply unmatched. I'd like her to order a ZTE and a Lenovo phone and mail it to me. Problem is, these sellers claim that it's locked to a particular Chinese carrier.
This got me researching whether and how I can unlock a phone on my own. Useful information is quite scarce, so I am reaching out to the amazing XDA crowd, hoping that I can pick somebody's brain.
My hope is that the fact that so many paid services exist already and seemingly proliferate means that SIM unlocking smartphones isn't impossible, even if you're simply a power user. Are they using one of these hack boxes, a special algorithm? Can you learn how to do it with any phone, and are all locks created equal?
Cheers for having a read!
Most zte phones can be unlocked for fairly cheap price,but are some models that can not be unlocked specially if locked to a Chinese network (codes to western countries are more easily to find).The best thing would be to decide on a certain model then ask about the unlock and could give an exact answer
onlineunlocks said:
Most zte phones can be unlocked for fairly cheap price,but are some models that can not be unlocked specially if locked to a Chinese network (codes to western countries are more easily to find).The best thing would be to decide on a certain model then ask about the unlock and could give an exact answer
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ZTE V967s and Lenovo A760, and cheers for responding.
This 2 are fairly new phones and for now there isn't a way to get unlocked,depending how popular are in a few month a solution might be available,but until then if you get one of those and is locked you will probably not be able to use it.So for now would recommend if you want this models better to get directly unlocked
Hi all,
I bought a BAD IMEI Z3 Tmobile on craigslist. Is there any way to get it unlocked and use it on ATT or use it internationally?
Thanks for your help!
You mean it's blacklisted? Changing the imei is illegal and hard to do dependable if there is tools for it.
Most likely u bought a stolen device.
There are tools for some devices for IMEI but it's illegal.
Always check IMEI or buy from a reputed seller, I believe T-Mobile has an IMEI check tool online. In most cases a payment despute, early contract termination or a stolen device is what you are dealing with. You better return the device.
Yes the phone is blacklisted due to early termination, I just checked on t-mobile's website. Can I still get an Unlock Code, unlock it and use it in europe and outside USA?
Yes you probably could, just not in the US, but unlocking may be hard as it's done over the air by T-Mobile which they won't for a blocked/non customer device. I don't think the regular unlock services online will work but feel free to try....
Quite a few people actually do insurance fraud by claiming lost device and sell on eBay internationally, kind of sad thing though.....
Also just an FYI, the T-mobile variant only has 3 LTE bands and that 700Mhz band differs from the one on AT&T. Basically the phone will be crippled LTE wise on AT&T and certainly abroad as well.
Hi just purchased my idol 3 from koodo in Canada it was locked and was wondering if anyone has a good place for unlocking? Thanks
If it's showing sim locked you should return it. Alcatel would have no reason to lock it since they are not selling the phone via a carrier....if you ended up getting one someone fiddled with previously it's possible they managed to lock it....you won't find any place setup to unlock the idol 3 since it's intended to be sold unlocked.
In Canada they only sell with carriers. Telus koodo and bell. I put my wife's rogers sim in my koodo phone and asked for a unlock code. Even when you go to purchase a phone on alcatel website you can only purchase from the cell companies in Canada that offer the phone. We cannot purchase from Alcatel.
There might be an unlocking company online that will charge to unlock it. Or a company that will ship a US version to CA.
Romman0 said:
There might be an unlocking company online that will charge to unlock it. Or a company that will ship a US version to CA.
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Other canadians here have identified their phones as the 6045i (when everyone was uploading their stock firmware) so it's the same model as USA.
If the Canadian is locked, then it would still be beneficial to get a US version or paying for an unlock code or service.
Thanks for the help guys. Sucks that the Canadian model is locked. But not surprised. Lol
Def locked when bought from a Canadian carrier. They lock everything except the nexus phones...even when bought at full price.
I'd try cell unlocker or some other 3rd party unlock service. Telus/Koodo charges $50 for an unlock code.
scatoclysm said:
Def locked when bought from a Canadian carrier. They lock everything except the nexus phones...even when bought at full price.
I'd try cell unlocker or some other 3rd party unlock service. Telus/Koodo charges $50 for an unlock code.
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For that much would be cheaper to purchase in usa...have shipped to friend in usa then reshipped to canada....can then flash the stock canadian firmware we have online.
Yeah, Canada's wireless is borked... The CRTC did change all the rules and did force the carriers to provide a way to unlock in a contract and immediately unlock when you purchase the device in full, the only problem is, the morons forgot to add the part where the carriers should have to do it for free, when you own the device. So, now they can still charge... looks a lot like it did before, with just more pointless words in the act.
The free part was unlikely to be an oversight. It was probably the most requested part of the code of conduct. They stopped short of free and price controls when it came to unlocks.
Bit of a shame, I think if a contract has been fulfilled, they should do it for free.
At least there's a trend lately of affordable high performance phones... Hopefully that leads to fewer phones bought on contract up here. Many normal customers just aren't aware if the "device balance" mark up, and plan mark ups. Better off paying outright.