Got a Locked Cellphone? As of Monday it will be UNLOCKED!

[JackBurton]

Very nice!

 

[thehstrybean]

So since I have Sprint, I can buy a Verizon phone and it will work on the Sprint network, since both are non-GSM?

 

[JackRipper]

Originally posted by: thehstrybean
So since I have Sprint, I can buy a Verizon phone and it will work on the Sprint network, since both are non-GSM?

Neither are GSM. Altho they may be CDMA/TDMA , they cannot be unlocked to work with the other... some info here

Originally posted by: RagingBITCH

Originally posted by: intogamer
That sucks ballz for unlocking companies

ROFL. I like how they made money unlocking phones when all the consumer had to do was call up their service provider or bring it into their respective branch and ask them to unlock it (for free). Besides...I don't think most people know what unlocking is, much less think that a Cingular phone will work on TMobile and vice versa. The providers sure as hell won't be advertising this, just b/c why bring or buy a phone from another provider when they can rape you by extending your contract 1/2 years and buy a phone through them?

In the beginning, none of the carriers would unlock your cell phone for free unless you stated that you were in the military or had to do work overseas. Then it took about 72hours and often times weeks to get an unlock code that had a chance of not working. Some cases the unlock codes actually put the phone in a different lock mode that rendered it useless until serviced.

I have been unlocking phones for over 3 years now. Back then there was no bluetooth/usb/mini-usb connection ports, and phone companies were not really friendly in supporting phone-pc connections. Some of the unlocking equipment i have range from $250-$499 a piece that allows for engineering level access (aside from just unlocking the phone). So yeah, when a customer wants to unlock a cellphone and use it immediately, I have no qualms charging $10-$40 to unlock the phones.

Phones are not made to last. The only way a phone company can give you a good deal on a phone is if they have you sign a contract to be bound to them. Anyone is more than welcome to pay MSRP (typically no less than $100 even for "free" phones) on a phone and then go month to month. Month to month prices are usually higher + less perks.

-JR

BTW, article says that it is legal for consumers to unlock cellphones... doesn't necessarily mean service providers have to unlock these phones. Also, don't expect to bring a phone from one carrier and ask the new carrier to give you an unlock code, they are only capable of unlocking their own phones.

 

[Suspicious-Teach8788]

Or if you're smart, you wouldnt even go to your local Cingular store to buy phones, you go to Asian stores and buy UNLOCKED PHONES. Who wants branded sh!t anyways?

 

[JackRipper]

Originally posted by: DLeRium
Or if you're smart, you wouldnt even go to your local Cingular store to buy phones, you go to Asian stores and buy UNLOCKED PHONES. Who wants branded sh!t anyways?

Cost more....

 

[intogamer]

Dude Asian stores ripp you off

 

[JackRipper]

Originally posted by: intogamer
Dude Asian stores ripp you off

only if ur dumb.

most asian stores take a hit on their own commission to give u the phones at a lower price compared to corporate stores/kiosks... so you are actually getting a better deal, but ONLY if you get a contract... otherwise unbranded/unlocked phones w/ no contracts usually cost more...

-JR

 

[50cent1228]

Originally posted by: spacejamz
so how does this work?

I have an old Sony Ericsson T68 GSM phone I had while I was on Voicestream (now TMobile)...will it magically work on Cingular's network on Monday if put my existing Cingular sim card in this phone?

yes you tmobile phone will work with cungular

 

[JackRipper]

Originally posted by: 50cent1228

Originally posted by: spacejamz
so how does this work?

I have an old Sony Ericsson T68 GSM phone I had while I was on Voicestream (now TMobile)...will it magically work on Cingular's network on Monday if put my existing Cingular sim card in this phone?

yes you tmobile phone will work with cungular

but it will not "magically" work with cingular. a phone that old, goodluck if any service provider will be able to give u a magical code to unlock the phone.

that's where unlockers come into play

 

[FrustratedUser]

You've always been able to unlock a phone from T-Mobile. Just give them a call and ask for it.

 

[Suspicious-Teach8788]

Originally posted by: JackRipper

Originally posted by: DLeRium
Or if you're smart, you wouldnt even go to your local Cingular store to buy phones, you go to Asian stores and buy UNLOCKED PHONES. Who wants branded sh!t anyways?

Cost more....

Wrong. I remember when I got my Moto V600 back in summer 2004, the place I went to offered an unbranded V600 for free and a branded one for $40. Yes, and the T-Mobile store offered it for $199.99. Laff.

But then again it's cuz T-Mobile pays hella commission.

Originally posted by: JackRipper

Originally posted by: intogamer
Dude Asian stores ripp you off

only if ur dumb.

most asian stores take a hit on their own commission to give u the phones at a lower price compared to corporate stores/kiosks... so you are actually getting a better deal, but ONLY if you get a contract... otherwise unbranded/unlocked phones w/ no contracts usually cost more...

-JR

Yah I guess, but why would you just go there to buy phones? In that case ebay is cheaper. Asian stores rock for contracts + phones. Esp. T-Mobile. Cingular is not so hot.

 

[JackRipper]

Originally posted by: DLeRium

Originally posted by: JackRipper

Originally posted by: DLeRium
Or if you're smart, you wouldnt even go to your local Cingular store to buy phones, you go to Asian stores and buy UNLOCKED PHONES. Who wants branded sh!t anyways?

Cost more....

Wrong. I remember when I got my Moto V600 back in summer 2004, the place I went to offered an unbranded V600 for free and a branded one for $40. Yes, and the T-Mobile store offered it for $199.99. Laff.

But then again it's cuz T-Mobile pays hella commission.

Originally posted by: JackRipper

Originally posted by: intogamer
Dude Asian stores ripp you off

only if ur dumb.

most asian stores take a hit on their own commission to give u the phones at a lower price compared to corporate stores/kiosks... so you are actually getting a better deal, but ONLY if you get a contract... otherwise unbranded/unlocked phones w/ no contracts usually cost more...

-JR

Yah I guess, but why would you just go there to buy phones? In that case ebay is cheaper. Asian stores rock for contracts + phones. Esp. T-Mobile. Cingular is not so hot.

I was speaking about non contract phones costing more. Asian stores carry the latest phones on the market, shipped in from overseas. Try getting Samsung e900's, Nokia N90's, through either Cingular or Tmobile. Non GSm carriers have the ugliest phones, and when they do get nice ones, they are 1 year behind.

-JR

 

[50cent1228]

Originally posted by: JackRipper

Originally posted by: 50cent1228

Originally posted by: spacejamz
so how does this work?

I have an old Sony Ericsson T68 GSM phone I had while I was on Voicestream (now TMobile)...will it magically work on Cingular's network on Monday if put my existing Cingular sim card in this phone?

yes you tmobile phone will work with cungular

but it will not "magically" work with cingular. a phone that old, goodluck if any service provider will be able to give u a magical code to unlock the phone.

that's where unlockers come into play

ni meant if you get it unlocked

 

[JackRipper]

Originally posted by: 50cent1228

Originally posted by: JackRipper

Originally posted by: 50cent1228

Originally posted by: spacejamz
so how does this work?

I have an old Sony Ericsson T68 GSM phone I had while I was on Voicestream (now TMobile)...will it magically work on Cingular's network on Monday if put my existing Cingular sim card in this phone?

yes you tmobile phone will work with cungular

but it will not "magically" work with cingular. a phone that old, goodluck if any service provider will be able to give u a magical code to unlock the phone.

that's where unlockers come into play

ni meant if you get it unlocked

even so, it might not work 100% since cingular still operates on only 850mhz zones.

 

[Yossarian]

Originally posted by: mercanucaribe

Originally posted by: DigitalCancer
i used an unlocked Nokia on my cingular service w/ no problems, then i bought my sony and still haven't had any trouble. As far as i know, when you get a new phone, at least with cingular, you don't have to tell them, just have to have your SIM card.

That has nothing to do with anything. The issue is when you buy a phone from Cingular.

I bought a cingular phone and had no problem getting an unlock code when I called them and told them I wanted to use it overseas. They emailed the code to me in two days.