How do I tell if T Mobile Motorola HS850 is Locked or Unlocked?

[SanDiegoShaun]

I am on my way to Europe in a couple days and need some help. My friend is letting me use his extra T Mobile Motorola V300 with no Sim card. I was going to go into a T Mobile store and get a Sim card and add it to his account.

What I really want to do is activate with T Mobile so it works, then when I get to Europe and find a store buy a pre Paid local Sim card. My problem is I am not sure if this phone is locked or unlocked, how do I tell?

If it is unlocked will going into T mobile and getting their sim card lock it?

I am a CDMA user so I am in need of some help here.

Thanks!

[Jay2TheRescue]

I'm confused. A Motorola HS850 is a bluetooth headset and requires no SIM card. Can you recheck the model # of the phone please? Anyway, the phone is probably locked, unless your friend unlocked it.

Thanks, Jay

[SanDiegoShaun]

Originally Posted by Jay2TheRescue

I'm confused. A Motorola HS850 is a bluetooth headset and requires no SIM card. Can you recheck the model # of the phone please? Anyway, the phone is probably locked, unless your friend unlocked it.

Thanks, Jay

Sorry about that the correct model is the V300

[Scrumhalf]

If it is a T-Mobile branded V300, it will be locked unless your friend unlocked it. Just going in to T-Mobile and getting a SIM and putting it in the phone will not impact the locked/unlocked status of the phone one way or the other. If it is locked, it will stay locked and if it is unlocked, it will stay unlocked.

The only way to say for sure whether the phone is locked or unlocked is to put a Cingular SIM into the phone. If it asks you to enter the subsidy unlock code, you know that it is locked. If it works just fine with a Cingular SIM, it is unlocked.

If the phone is locked, with only 2 days to go, your best bet is going to be to contact an unlocking service that can give you a code over the web. YMMV on whether it will work or not.

[SanDiegoShaun]

Originally Posted by Scrumhalf

If it is a T-Mobile branded V300, it will be locked unless your friend unlocked it. Just going in to T-Mobile and getting a SIM and putting it in the phone will not impact the locked/unlocked status of the phone one way or the other. If it is locked, it will stay locked and if it is unlocked, it will stay unlocked.

The only way to say for sure whether the phone is locked or unlocked is to put a Cingular SIM into the phone. If it asks you to enter the subsidy unlock code, you know that it is locked. If it works just fine with a Cingular SIM, it is unlocked.

If the phone is locked, with only 2 days to go, your best bet is going to be to contact an unlocking service that can give you a code over the web. YMMV on whether it will work or not.

I am not sure what the YMMV means? I leave this week so I would be looking for the quickest solution. I tried doing so reading on this, can you unlock the V300 with just a code or do I need to get a USB cable and plug it in to do it?
Can anyone point me in the right direction?

[Scrumhalf]

YMMV = Your mileage may vary.

Do a google search on phone unlocking - there are many companies that offer the service. Some of them require the phone to be connected to the PC (and they supply a program that does it), others mail you the code if you supply them with the phone's IMEI number.

[SanDiegoShaun]

Can I have my friend call T Mobile and get an unlocking code?


What's the best way to do it?

[MOTOhooligan]

If your friend has been on service for at least 90 days and hasn't had any phones unlocked within the last 90 days, if he calls them they will provide him with the unlock code for free, as long as it is a T-Mobile-branded v300. It usually takes 2-3 business days via e-mail and the e-mail will include instructions on how to unlock the phone. I have had five phones unlocked by T-Mobile this way so far, including a v300. The codes are specific to the IMEI (serial number) of the phone, so even if I give you the code that unlocked my v300, it won't unlock yours.

Here is a sample of the e-mail you will get:

T-Mobile Sim Unlock Request
Sim Unlock Reference: XXXXXXXXX
IMEI: XXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Unlock Code: XXXXXXXX

Thank you for taking the time to contact T-Mobile. Below you will see the Instructions for unlocking your Motorola device.

Before you start you must have a foreign (non-T Mobile) SIM card entered into the handset. If the display reads "Enter Special Code", enter the unlock code and press "OK". If the display does not ask for Special code, please enter the instructions below.

1.Press the Menu key on the keypad, and then quickly press 073887*.You should see the Enter Security Code screen.
2.Enter 000000 and select OK.
3.Scroll to Unlock SIM select it.
4.Enter the SIM unlock code and select OK.
5.Press the End key to return to the main screen.

NOTE: If the phone displays, "Please wait to enter special code" or "Contact service provider," you will have to wait for it to change back. Please be aware that the phone must stay powered on to do this. If the battery is low, be sure to plug it in. It could take 15 minutes to an hour to change back. If the phone does not change back, the handset will need to be replaced.


Thank You,

Sim Unlock Department
T-Mobile USA, Inc.

Hope this helps!

[SanDiegoShaun]

Originally Posted by MOTOhooligan

If your friend has been on service for at least 90 days and hasn't had any phones unlocked within the last 90 days, if he calls them they will provide him with the unlock code for free, as long as it is a T-Mobile-branded v300. It usually takes 2-3 business days via e-mail and the e-mail will include instructions on how to unlock the phone. I have had five phones unlocked by T-Mobile this way so far, including a v300. The codes are specific to the IMEI (serial number) of the phone, so even if I give you the code that unlocked my v300, it won't unlock yours.

Here is a sample of the e-mail you will get:

T-Mobile Sim Unlock Request
Sim Unlock Reference: XXXXXXXXX
IMEI: XXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Unlock Code: XXXXXXXX

Thank you for taking the time to contact T-Mobile. Below you will see the Instructions for unlocking your Motorola device.

Before you start you must have a foreign (non-T Mobile) SIM card entered into the handset. If the display reads "Enter Special Code", enter the unlock code and press "OK". If the display does not ask for Special code, please enter the instructions below.

1.Press the Menu key on the keypad, and then quickly press 073887*.You should see the Enter Security Code screen.
2.Enter 000000 and select OK.
3.Scroll to Unlock SIM select it.
4.Enter the SIM unlock code and select OK.
5.Press the End key to return to the main screen.

NOTE: If the phone displays, "Please wait to enter special code" or "Contact service provider," you will have to wait for it to change back. Please be aware that the phone must stay powered on to do this. If the battery is low, be sure to plug it in. It could take 15 minutes to an hour to change back. If the phone does not change back, the handset will need to be replaced.


Thank You,

Sim Unlock Department
T-Mobile USA, Inc.

Hope this helps!

Thanks you!

Is there a special e-mail address or web form that I should use to send them a request? It looks like I can't try to unlock it until I get to Europe and put in a Pre Paid sim card, is that true?

[Matt]

Originally Posted by SanDiegoShaun

Thanks you!

Is there a special e-mail address or web form that I should use to send them a request? It looks like I can't try to unlock it until I get to Europe and put in a Pre Paid sim card, is that true?

Your friend can do it after loggin into my.t-mobile.com to view his account, or call customer care.

[SanDiegoShaun]

Thanks, I got on a three way call going with my friend and T Mobile and they took the request and said I should get an e-mail in 24 hours with the code...

Thanks Again

[Telekom]

Originally Posted by MOTOhooligan

If your friend has been on service for at least 90 days and hasn't had any phones unlocked within the last 90 days, if he calls them they will provide him with the unlock code for free, as long as it is a T-Mobile-branded v300. It usually takes 2-3 business days via e-mail and the e-mail will include instructions on how to unlock the phone. I have had five phones unlocked by T-Mobile this way so far, including a v300. The codes are specific to the IMEI (serial number) of the phone, so even if I give you the code that unlocked my v300, it won't unlock yours.

Here is a sample of the e-mail you will get:

T-Mobile Sim Unlock Request
Sim Unlock Reference: XXXXXXXXX
IMEI: XXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Unlock Code: XXXXXXXX

Thank you for taking the time to contact T-Mobile. Below you will see the Instructions for unlocking your Motorola device.

Before you start you must have a foreign (non-T Mobile) SIM card entered into the handset. If the display reads "Enter Special Code", enter the unlock code and press "OK". If the display does not ask for Special code, please enter the instructions below.

1.Press the Menu key on the keypad, and then quickly press 073887*.You should see the Enter Security Code screen.
2.Enter 000000 and select OK.
3.Scroll to Unlock SIM select it.
4.Enter the SIM unlock code and select OK.
5.Press the End key to return to the main screen.

NOTE: If the phone displays, "Please wait to enter special code" or "Contact service provider," you will have to wait for it to change back. Please be aware that the phone must stay powered on to do this. If the battery is low, be sure to plug it in. It could take 15 minutes to an hour to change back. If the phone does not change back, the handset will need to be replaced.


Thank You,

Sim Unlock Department
T-Mobile USA, Inc.

Hope this helps!

This instruction will work whether you have a foreign SIM or not in your handset.

However, there are simpler instructions if you have a foreign SIM:

To unlock Motorola handsets you must insert a SIM
other than the carrier that the handset is locked to.
Any Motorola with foreign SIM in the handset should
display "enter special code now." Key in the unlock code
provided and press the 'ok' button.

[nebz]

my phone goes between saying contact service provider and enter subsidy password!! even after I put in the subsidy password it goes back to contact service provider!!! Any help would be appreciated thanks. My sim card that I have placed in the t-mobile phone is Rogers!!