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locked/unlocked mobile phone
02GF74 - 21/11/06 at 01:59 PM

my knowledge of mobile phones is limited so bear with me.

As I understand it, a phone can be locked to a network provider e.g. vodaphone, O2, orange etc and they have a SIM that contains some specific info.

Am I correct in thinking an unlocked phone is one that will work on any network?

So let's say I have a PAYG phone, on O2 and want to buy a funky new one, if the new one is unlocked and I fit my SIM, then for all intents and purposes all that has changed is my phone? I wil still have the same phone nuimber and credit on my PAYG account?

As an aside, if I put in my O2 PAYG SIM into a phone that is locked to a different network, what happens? Will the phone number that is in my SIM be that of the new phone and will I be able to make calls on it from my PAYG acount?

mookaloid - 21/11/06 at 02:08 PM

An unlocked phone should work on any network.

Your SIM card contains the phone number and if you put it in an unlocked phone it should just work and the number will be your number.

If you put your SIM in a locked phone which is not on the same network it won't work.

HTH

Mark

UncleFista - 21/11/06 at 02:08 PM

quote:
Originally posted by 02GF74
my knowledge of mobile phones is limited so bear with me.

As I understand it, a phone can be locked to a network provider e.g. vodaphone, O2, orange etc and they have a SIM that contains some specific info.

Am I correct in thinking an unlocked phone is one that will work on any network?


Yes


quote:
So let's say I have a PAYG phone, on O2 and want to buy a funky new one, if the new one is unlocked and I fit my SIM, then for all intents and purposes all that has changed is my phone? I wil still have the same phone nuimber and credit on my PAYG account?


Yes


quote:
As an aside, if I put in my O2 PAYG SIM into a phone that is locked to a different network, what happens? Will the phone number that is in my SIM be that of the new phone and will I be able to make calls on it from my PAYG acount?


If you put a SIM in the phone, and it's locked, but not to the same network, it just won't connect. The phone doesn't have a number of it's own, as you'll have removed the original SIM to fit your own

Pants On Fire - 21/11/06 at 02:09 PM

An unlocked' phone will indeed work with a SIM from any network operator inserted into it.

If you insert a SIM from O2 into a phone locked to Vodafone, the terminal will prompt you to 'Enter Unlock Code'. Many terminals have a code associated with the IMEI (International Mobile Equipment Identity) number of the terminal that will unlock the terminal and allow any SIM to be used.

You can buy these codes on the web, just Google 'unlock V3' or similar, usually about £5 a code or less. Word of warning though, some phones won't unlock in this manner and need to be firmware unlocked.

02GF74 - 21/11/06 at 02:15 PM

hey - that was quick - thanks; seems I know more than I think I know

so still on the subject, I have my beady eye on a Sony W310i or K750i; 2 Mp camera plus walkman & usual phone features - anyone have anything to say., good or bad, about these phones?

(not really inrterested in others so not a "which mobile phone should I buy" type of question.

Gav - 21/11/06 at 02:16 PM

If you have a O2 phone it shouldnt be locked, at least mine isnt and neither has the last 5 phones ive got from them.
That said all mine have been contract phones.

UncleFista - 21/11/06 at 02:22 PM

quote:
Originally posted by Gav
If you have a O2 phone it shouldnt be locked, at least mine isnt and neither has the last 5 phones ive got from them.
That said all mine have been contract phones.


The vast majority of contract phones aren't locked to any network.

BenB - 21/11/06 at 04:03 PM

As previously mentioned, lots of networks don't bother locking anymore because unlocking is so cheap and prevalent...
For Nokia models, you can even do it for free via the internet... Worked fine for the four models I've unlocked...

Ben

stevec - 21/11/06 at 04:58 PM

Watch out for Sagem phones, I had one locked to O2 and no amount of Indian chaps at markets and shops could unlock it.
Steve.

wilkingj - 21/11/06 at 05:30 PM

quote:
Originally posted by 02GF74
so still on the subject, I have my beady eye on a Sony W310i or K750i; 2 Mp camera plus walkman & usual phone features - anyone have anything to say., good or bad, about these phones?


Right, The W series Sony Erricsons are not that easy to unlock.
They have CID49 in them and this has not been broken by the phone boys.
To unlock it, take it to a shop you trust.

Or if you want to do it yourself, you need the correct cable . and NOT the data cable that comes with it (I think they are DCU 60 cables) you need an engineering one.

Also to unlock it you need to change it from Red Mode to Brown (Developer mode) make the changes and then set it back to Red Mode (user mode).
With the right cable, you need something like a MultiServer cable and a credit that you buy on line. The you can unlock it on line. Its not too hard, but not dead simple for CID 49 type phones ( Sony Erricson W series).

With the K750, I still think you need the same cable, but its easier to unlock, and you can also change the firmware to make it a W801 phone as the hardware is the same.

Also with the the std out of the box cable you can De Brand your phone, ie get rid of all the Orange etc Logo'ing, and have a std SE phone with no logo stuff cluttering it up.
K750's are not CID49, and are CID39 or similar, and are unlockable a bit easier.


Again with De Branding, you need a Credit from a phone dealer on the net.
I used DaVinci, and it worked well once I had worked out what to do. Phone seems to run a bit faster now.

Hope that Helps.

stevebubs - 21/11/06 at 06:57 PM

quote:
Originally posted by 02GF74
hey - that was quick - thanks; seems I know more than I think I know

so still on the subject, I have my beady eye on a Sony W310i or K750i; 2 Mp camera plus walkman & usual phone features - anyone have anything to say., good or bad, about these phones?

(not really inrterested in others so not a "which mobile phone should I buy" type of question.


Both myself & SWMBO'd had K750i before our current phones. Top piece of kit.