How to request unlock code:

This is an excellent guide. Its a really quick process, just waiting for the unlock code from the manufacturer. This deserves a sticky. Thanks MP!

 

Re: How to request unlock code: STILL DOESN'T WORK!!!!

MP, that is an AWESOME post!!! Can you assist me with another similar issue???

I purchased a phone from a guy in Canada that was on Rogers network provider. He stated it was unlocked. It appeared to be for a day then all the sudden it won't work. I got a new sim card for my T-Mobile network and it said invalid.

I figured, well, maybe it's not unlocked. Contacted rogers, they said no to unlock, contacted a company and paid for an unlock code, waste of money, contacted T-Mobile, they said cool will get it for you, withing 24 hours I had the code emailed to me. Tried the code, no help. Still no sim card or damaged sim card. Tried 2 other sims of family members, still no luck. Called T-Mobile, they sent me to Palm Treo (Palm Treo 680 Cellphone) where I talked to the tech junkie. She said, it's already unlocked.

No matter what I do, it says the sim card is invalid and I can only make a 911 call. I'm thinking of opening it up and seeing if it's getting a good contact on the sim card, what do you think?

I'm desperate.

 

Re: How to request unlock code: STILL DOESN'T WORK!!!!

Go ahead and open it up -- the SIM goes under the battery, and it's a very accessible place (you won't void the warranty, etc.). A lot of SIM cards have locking mechanisms. Some you have to slide the SIM in all the way, some you have to close a latch, some you have to diddle a switch. "Invalid SIM" usually means "I can't see your SIM", not "you have a locked phone".

Another possibility is that you have an old SIM -- the Treo needs a 64k SIM and I'll bet you have a 32k SIM. It may cost you $25 to get a new SIM but hey, that's not a bad price for a nice phone that works.

Try the SIM positioning first, obviously -- and, I'm sorry if this sounds arrogant, but do make sure the SIM is not upside-down; the contacts on the SIM must physically touch the contacts on the Treo.

 

Re: How to request unlock code: STILL DOESN'T WORK!!!!

Depends on the phone... the error-message is controlled by the phone, not the SIM card, so it will appear however the manufacturer wants it to appear. I've definitely seen "Invalid SIM", especially on Motorolas. I have zero experience with GSM Treos so it was an educated guess.

 

Some phones require not only an unlock code, but hooking it up to a computer via usb cable before the unlock codes will work. This was the case when I unlocked a motorola iden phone from Boost mobile for my cousin who uses nextel.

 

Apparently, the process must have gotten more streamlined. I just called the regular customer care line (before I saw this post) and asked them for an unlock code. They asked which line (I have a family plan) and asked for the IMEI. They told me they will be emailing the code within 24-48 hours.

 

The system generally works just fine if you are already a customer of the cell phone provider and you're trying to unlock one of their phones. Things usually get a little sticky when you're either not a customer or you're trying to unlock a competitors phone to use with their service.

 

Curious - will this unlock process also hold 'GENERALLY' true with other carriers and/or other phones (AT&T/RAZR)?

 

Generally not, in my experience. Tmobile seems to be the most generous. Cellular One (owned by Dobson) used provide their phones already unlocked, except for the more expensive models.

Some phone manufacturers are relatively easy to unlock on your own, though. There is a web site (gsmliberty.net) that provides unlock codes. Nokias are the easiest. Enter the IEMI on the above web site and it will provide the code. gsmliberty provides unlock codes for free for most Nokias.

 

It has been real easy for me with At&T/cingular. Their requirements being - my account be in good standing for 90 days, international roaming & long distance activated on my account & a reason (mine is need it unlocked for overseas travel to use with a local SIM).

 

I have a T-Mobile prepaid chip active for 9 months

I plan on buying a new prepaid T mobile phone, then putting the active chip in it

Will qualify to request the unlock code immediately?

In a few weeks I will be taking it to Brazil

Thanks

 

ok when you say you need the account password do you mean the password to my mytmobile.com account?

 

Anyone know how to unlock once I get the code?

Thanks so much for your time either way...

 

It depends on what kind of phone you have. Some phones just require you to punch in the code right on the key pad, others require you to plug your phone into the computer via usb (this is usually the case with the higher end phones as carriers really don't like playing ball with each other and want customers to buy THEIR high end LOCKED phones). You do have to be careful if you're doing it yourself..if you don't punch the code in properly, some phones will freeze up and require that you take it back to the carrier or send it back to manufacturer to get it to function again.

 

Asking you for a reason and having to activate international roaming on your account is not very cool...Tmobile unlocks a customer's phone so long as your account is in good standing for 90 days period. Most customers who bother to get their phones unlocked do it for the very reason you mentioned, but tmobile doesn't require you to give them a reason. They'll even unlock phones from other carriers for you, as long as you meet the 90 day requirement and you pay a 50 dollar unlocking fee.

 

Thanks so much. Hopefully that's not the case because my phone is pretty non-highend.

It's a Nokia 2610

 

Usually your unlock code will come with the instructions on the how to,since they are different for different manufacturers. Typically all phones except Nokias need you to put another GSM providers SIM in and the phone will ask you to enter the unlock code and once you do that you will be all set. Most Nokias until recently required you to take the SIM out and enter the code.

I have never had to pay $50 unlocking fee to a provider, at&t or T-Mobile to get an unlock code for one of their phones. They have always provider it for free. Heck, I can buy unlock code for less than that from any online unlocker.

As for T-Mobile not asking for a reason, I don't know about that. It seems the requirements given in the sticky specifically say yes you need one.

 

The 50 dollar fee is for tmobile to unlock ANOTHER carriers phone, not theirs. The sticky thingee may be a corporate policy or something...but the guys in the stores (the ones doing the unlocking) don't ask you for any reasons at all. They just tell you to bring your phone with you to the store and they will take care of the rest. I've done it for all three of the phones under my tmobile family plan. if you're trying to unlock your own tmobile phone by filling out the online form then that's an entirely different issue. that would be when doing something online is more of a hassle instead of just finding your local tmobile or whatever store and walk in with the phone.

 

Maybe that is what the difference is. The provider's stores around here do not do the unlocking, you have to request the unlock code from the provider and it is typically sent to you by E-Mail.

 

Guess you better come to Hawaii...they do it ALL THE TIME.

 

What, you would rather get a free unlock code by email vs an opportunity to go to a beautiful island like Hawaii when winter is coming? Geez I would Jump on the chance to go to Hawaii.

 

That's what I said in my post 6 posts prior, but thanks for reinforcing it .