I ordered a Softbank Tytn for my buddy and i noticed the IMEI number on the box and on the device do not match. The seller was the one to unlock the phone, so my guess is once it was unlocked, the unlocker made a copy of an unlocked phone (of the firmware) on to the new softbank.
I've searched the forum only to find SIM Changing tools for other phones but ours. I know the IEMI number can be changed back, but does anyone have leads to how this can be done?
imasri29 said:
I ordered a Softbank Tytn for my buddy and i noticed the IMEI number on the box and on the device do not match. The seller was the one to unlock the phone, so my guess is once it was unlocked, the unlocker made a copy of an unlocked phone (of the firmware) on to the new softbank.
I've searched the forum only to find SIM Changing tools for other phones but ours. I know the IEMI number can be changed back, but does anyone have leads to how this can be done?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Changing an IMEI is possible, but illegal in many countries.
I'm trying to understand why you want to change it though. Are you having some kind of trouble with the device and/or service?
Look where your sim goes or the battery on your phone and the IMEI should be there, if it is different than the code actually on the phone or not (press '*#06#' and press go or send)
Worry about the phone not the box.
You need to be careful the IMEI number may be right on the phone and the box wrong. That is if your 'seller' opened 2 boxes and then unlocked them both and put them in the wrong box, the other person may have your box and their own IMEI (as is on your box). Or they just tossed the wrong box.
I have not heard of any unlocking that changes the IMEI only an IMEI hack.
Unless there is something else
imasri29 said:
I ordered a Softbank Tytn for my buddy and i noticed the IMEI number on the box and on the device do not match. The seller was the one to unlock the phone, so my guess is once it was unlocked, the unlocker made a copy of an unlocked phone (of the firmware) on to the new softbank.
I've searched the forum only to find SIM Changing tools for other phones but ours. I know the IMEI number can be changed back, but does anyone have leads to how this can be done?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Ibrahim, I sold you this phone and I bought it from CellularArena a few weeks earlier. There is no problem with using that phone with the changed IMEI. It is too bad that CellularArena buys their unlocked X01HT with that method of unlocking but there is no problem to use that phone.
Possible to change the IMEI number? Your Pooched
So if someone with one of these unlocked phones (all with the same IMEI),
has their phone stolen or lost reports the IMEI so it cannot be used too easily. The IMEI get's blacklisted, the users are all pooched.
All of them..
Bummer !
A good lesson to anyone looking to have their IMEI changed.
Be afraid.... very afraid !!
I also heard that many X01HT sold in the grey market don't have matching IMEI.... Don't know why but it's perhaps really due to their method of unlocking.
Just wondering what sort of trouble it will stir up if the same IMEI is being used on the same network.
mrinternet said:
So if someone with one of these unlocked phones (all with the same IMEI),
has their phone stolen or lost reports the IMEI so it cannot be used too easily. The IMEI get's blacklisted, the users are all pooched.
All of them..
Bummer !
A good lesson to anyone looking to have their IMEI changed.
Be afraid.... very afraid !!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yeah.. this is true but in Canada anyways, Rogers and Fido (now Rogers) do not blacklist IMEI. Blacklisting is risky business especially with blacklisting IMEI of devices that were not purchased through official channels. If it was so simple, a person could call in and blacklist random phones (albeit terribly random).
If the HongKong seller of these phones has done this same procedure with every X01HT they sold, there must be hundreds with the same IMEI, but have you seen anyone come here and say my new phone is blacklisted? No.
It's too bad that the unlock was done that way, but I don't think it will have any negative effect for any of these users, unless they go to a country where that IMEI has been blacklisted. It is also possible that the IMEI that *#06# returns is not actually the IMEI that is reported to the network either (as is the case with many sony ericsson phones where the IMEI is stored in 2 places on the device [OTP/GDFS]).
Would this not also impact the owner's ability to use BlackBerry Connect?
As part of the registration it asks for the PIN and IMEI. If someone has used the IMEI then that would preclude the second (or third, or fourth...) from using it with BBC.
Just a thought.
Victor
vabiro said:
Would this not also impact the owner's ability to use BlackBerry Connect?
As part of the registration it asks for the PIN and IMEI. If someone has used the IMEI then that would preclude the second (or third, or fourth...) from using it with BBC.
Just a thought.
Victor
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
But this doesnt happen with blackberries.
I've verified the IMEI off my friend's phone and compared it to the sticker at the back and the numbers do not match. So is there a way to change this number to the one on the box?
imasri29 said:
I've verified the IMEI off my friend's phone and compared it to the sticker at the back and the numbers do not match. So is there a way to change this number to the one on the box?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
So does mine!
I just want to make the IEMI numbers same!
Sounds like you had purchased a stolen phone , if the number on the back of the phone doesnt match the number the phones software display's.
cannot see any reason including unlocking that the imei should change?
Karzi said:
cannot see any reason including unlocking that the imei should change?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Actually I though they explained it very well. Whom ever unlocked these phones is lazy, they cloned one unlocked phone and then copied it to the rest IEMI and all.
Quick Question: Does the IMEI when you press *#06# match either the box or the sticker inside the battery compartment of the phone?
If *#06# IMEI matches the sticker on the phone then why care about the sticker on the box, they just were stupid putting phones back in the boxes.
On the other hand, if you the *#06# IMEI doesn't match the sticker in the battery compartment then you do have a phone with a changed IMEI. If you live or use the phone in a country where changing the IMEI is illegal (who doesn't anymore) then I'd not want to use it simply because if there ever is an issue you will be held responsible.
imasri29 said:
I ordered a Softbank Tytn for my buddy and i noticed the IMEI number on the box and on the device do not match. The seller was the one to unlock the phone, so my guess is once it was unlocked, the unlocker made a copy of an unlocked phone (of the firmware) on to the new softbank.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
deathspal said:
Actually I though they explained it very well. Whom ever unlocked these phones is lazy, they cloned one unlocked phone and then copied it to the rest IEMI and all.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I wonder how a ROM can be cloned without the IMEI ... ?
The 0182 loader which is now not yet unlockable . A fail safe method is to clone a image from a unlocked DOPOD rom (of course , it still brick your X01HT if you smashed the IC) .
That explains why most of the X01HT sold in HK with a unmatch IMEI . The box and the phone itself has the matched IMEI (I consider it as a new , original one) , however , the *#06# will not show the matched IMEI .
I would like to know it possible to modifiy the IMEI as well , however , I can still accept my phone with a unmatched IMEI .
mkmonkey said:
I wonder how a ROM can be cloned without the IMEI ... ?
The 0182 loader which is now not yet unlockable . A fail safe method is to clone a image from a unlocked DOPOD rom (of course , it still brick your X01HT if you smashed the IC) .
That explains why most of the X01HT sold in HK with a unmatch IMEI . The box and the phone itself has the matched IMEI (I consider it as a new , original one) , however , the *#06# will not show the matched IMEI .
I would like to know it possible to modifiy the IMEI as well , however , I can still accept my phone with a unmatched IMEI .
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
As of now, its not possible to change the IMEI. It's also, in MOST countries of the world, illegal to do so.
The ROM itself is not cloned. It is the Qualcomm baseband chip that is cloned (it contains the IMEI and radio). When it is duplicated the IMEI is also cloned. The phone is now unlocked (in nvm) and is ready to take any rom.
Karzi said:
Sounds like you had purchased a stolen phone , if the number on the back of the phone doesnt match the number the phones software display's.
cannot see any reason including unlocking that the imei should change?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The reason is because the phone was not, at the time, unlockable any other way (that they knew of). Imei changes as result of above post.
Kevbodian said:
As of now, its not possible to change the IMEI. It's also, in MOST countries of the world, illegal to do so.
The ROM itself is not cloned. It is the Qualcomm baseband chip that is cloned (it contains the IMEI and radio). When it is duplicated the IMEI is also cloned. The phone is now unlocked (in nvm) and is ready to take any rom.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks very much for your update ... So , they are actually taking out the Qualcomm chip out from the PCB ?
If so , isn't that a good chance to reconnect the GPS connection ? (I remember that in the HERMES GPS project it mentioned that the GPS switch is grounded so the GPS is malfunction) Is it possible to connect the pin the enable it ? Or still lack of the related components ?
Thanks very much for your update !
mkmonkey said:
Thanks very much for your update ... So , they are actually taking out the Qualcomm chip out from the PCB ?
If so , isn't that a good chance to reconnect the GPS connection ? (I remember that in the HERMES GPS project it mentioned that the GPS switch is grounded so the GPS is malfunction) Is it possible to connect the pin the enable it ? Or still lack of the related components ?
Thanks very much for your update !
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I dont know... You should ask them.
Related
I don't know why changing IMEI means the machine is stolen from someone.
I live in Hong Kong. The official product at the area is Dopod 838pro. It cost around HK$5700.
We can also buy Softbank X01HT here at only HK$3000(black) or $3400(white). At this price, the shop already help you unlock the machine and flasth the rom to the dopod rom.
The problem is...... when I get the machine, the IMEI of the label and the IMEI I get from *#06# are not the same while the "void" label is still there.
My friends get 2 more machine from shop, same problem happen, IMEI not match, label still perfect =.="
The shop claim that they have use a special way to flash the rom so all machine have the same IMEI =.="
That why I wanna change the IMEI.
takaki said:
I don't know why changing IMEI means the machine is stolen from someone.
I live in Hong Kong. The official product at the area is Dopod 838pro. It cost around HK$5700.
We can also buy Softbank X01HT here at only HK$3000(black) or $3400(white). At this price, the shop already help you unlock the machine and flasth the rom to the dopod rom.
The problem is...... when I get the machine, the IMEI of the label and the IMEI I get from *#06# are not the same while the "void" label is still there.
My friends get 2 more machine from shop, same problem happen, IMEI not match, label still perfect =.="
The shop claim that they have use a special way to flash the rom so all machine have the same IMEI =.="
That why I wanna change the IMEI.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Lets start by saying, changing your IMEI is illegal. And second; I dont know what your problem is, because what you are looking for, can be find by using "search" or just surf to google and search there.
just google it out, you will get it..
takaki said:
The shop claim that they have use a special way to flash the rom so all machine have the same IMEI =.="
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You need to find a new, honest shop that sells products that are not modified illegally. Maybe there is a reason their phones are available at such a good price....Hmmmmmm
You also have the option of searching this forum and answering your question using the knowledge and wisdom that has already been documented here.
takaki said:
I don't know why changing IMEI means the machine is stolen from someone.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It is like buying a car, from a shop, which the car's car-body serial number (eg. the number stamped on a plate on the car's body) is scratched off. Does it mean that the car is stolen? You tell me the answer.
ANYWAY, if HK law is to be still inline with UK's, you can report to police regarding the modified IMEI as it is definately illegal. Again, as above example, you can report the car you've just bought to the police if you've noticed that the serial number has been scratched off.
Flashing the ROM in whatever ways, does not modify the IMEI. AND, chances are, once you had your IMEI changed back to the originals stated in the label, your phone might not be usagable (e.g. if the phone has been reported lost, and the IMEI blocked).
Bram87 said:
Lets start by saying, changing your IMEI is illegal.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
One of the reasons why changing the IMEI is illegal is that multiple devices on the same network with the same IMEI can cause major technical problems for the network operator. An IMEI is just like a MAC address in the IP world, it is used for location registers and other routing information. Definitely not a good idea to change this if you want to stay in your network operator's good books.
John
probably not to hard to swap mainboards and obtain new void stickers
in fact it is not a really problem to me
the machine woks fine. I can upgrade rom/ radio as I like......
If the IMEI matched, it will be perfect
but now it isn't, I still ok with that lol
takaki said:
in fact it is not a really problem to me
the machine woks fine. I can upgrade rom/ radio as I like......
If the IMEI matched, it will be perfect
but now it isn't, I still ok with that lol
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Your unit is most likely a refurbished unit that has had a mainboard replacement. The internal IMEI is the one that matters. I would write it down since it doesn't match the externally printed one in case you have any issues and need the # for something. As long as the phone works on the network and you can make and receive calls there isn't any reason to worry.
Zzan said:
Your unit is most likely a refurbished unit that has had a mainboard replacement.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I have sold two such phones as trade-ins. These were the JAMin and JASJAM. Both had mainboard replacements due to mishaps during ROM flashing. And both got the replacements done under warranty
With my current phone, the concept of ROM cooking doesn't really exist so life has become safe, but a bit dull.
takaki said:
I don't know why changing IMEI means the machine is stolen from someone.
I live in Hong Kong. The official product at the area is Dopod 838pro. It cost around HK$5700.
We can also buy Softbank X01HT here at only HK$3000(black) or $3400(white). At this price, the shop already help you unlock the machine and flasth the rom to the dopod rom.
The problem is...... when I get the machine, the IMEI of the label and the IMEI I get from *#06# are not the same while the "void" label is still there.
My friends get 2 more machine from shop, same problem happen, IMEI not match, label still perfect =.="
The shop claim that they have use a special way to flash the rom so all machine have the same IMEI =.="
That why I wanna change the IMEI.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
i'm HK mobilephone sales.
haha....
the IMIE doesn't match with the IMEI label
but the void sticker still have.
becoz they can make the void sticker non- borken
and change your mother board from can't unlock one
to a second hand(someone will got some problems...) unlocked one.
and then re-stick the sticker on the phone
so...the *#06# number dosen't match with the IMEI label...
so...becareful when u buy the mobilephone...!!
Hello guys,
new to this forum and feel awkward asking for help straightaway. Recently my friend bought a SGS3 from someone, the phone was security locked (using pin security) so searched the net and found that hard resetting the phone would do the job and unlock the phone. Now the problem comes with simlock but i cant figure out how to disable it, its not like i didn't try but this problem is unusual.
I read the guides on this forum for removing simlocks and tried the *#7465625# which returns with "Not registered on network" i tried insertig a sim and it wouldn't accept the sim but it wouldn't ask for any sim code either. I found this thread http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2023709 and after i reach the [6] Network Lock option it says menu doesnt exist. Also read this thread http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1683348 but to no avail. I used esexplorer the first time to go through the files after rooting and dont know if it wasnt rooted correctly or what but it showed efs folder empty. So i reset the phone again and this time used another app and now i can see the files in efs folder.
model: gt-i9300
android version: 4.1.2
baseband: I9300XXELLA
kernel version:3.0.31-742798, [email protected] #1, SMP PREEMPT Sat Dec 22 17:04:04 KST 2012
Build number: JZO54K
please help me.
Was the phone bought subsidized by a carrier? If so, they would need to release it, or unlock it.
ecbnks guard
bodh said:
Was the phone bought subsidized by a carrier? If so, they would need to release it, or unlock it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The phone was bought used. I am not sure if it was subsidized or not as i cannot see any marking on the body of the phone nor their is any operator logo at the startup but i think that would be because i performed the hard reset.
Im not that familiar with simlocks, but perhaps a bump would help to find others that might be. I would think that it would have some kind of carrier info at boot, but then again i guess im only used to US devices... In about phone, the imei is listed, which matches the sticker inside the battery cover? And it is not a generic imei?
bodh said:
Im not that familiar with simlocks, but perhaps a bump would help to find others that might be. I would think that it would have some kind of carrier info at boot, but then again i guess im only used to US devices... In about phone, the imei is listed, which matches the sticker inside the battery cover? And it is not a generic imei?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
the IMEi obtained from *#06# is same as the sticker behind the battery apart from one last (or two) digits which i think are the IMEI SV. I am assuming its not a generic IMEI. Also the sticker is unbranded, i dont know if service provider mark the stickers or not.
Stepping back and looking at the first couple posts of each thread, as well as yours, "tried the *#7465625# which returns with 'Not registered on network'" looks like the phone is NOT simlocked... What do you mean by "the phone wouldn't accept a sim"? It would not read it? Have you tried to send sms or a call? Or is it just data that does not work?
Hi dude I had the same problem and I downloaded the play store app Galaxysim unlock. It's from chain fire I think, and it's free. But in order to unlock all the features and what not, then one has to pay. Hope this helps.
Sent from my GT-I9300 using xda app-developers app
bodh said:
Stepping back and looking at the first couple posts of each thread, as well as yours, "tried the *#7465625# which returns with 'Not registered on network'" looks like the phone is NOT simlocked... What do you mean by "the phone wouldn't accept a sim"? It would not read it? Have you tried to send sms or a call? Or is it just data that does not work?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The "phone not registered on network" also gave me the impression that it was not simlocked nor does it have any operator branding. But when i inserted the sim it would not connect to the operator and dialing *#7465625# would return the same message, i have tried both 3 and orange sims. This is what is confusing me. I also saw a thread on XDA checking your phones IMEI against blocked or stolen IMEIs and no red flags their either so i am assuming its not stolen phone which my friend bought.
If not simlock what could it be.
Have you checked apn settings, to see if they show up when you insert the sim? Honestly, I dont know how much help I could really offer, since this is uncharted territory for me, but again, maybe a bump and somebody will see this.. Have you tried to PM Odia? He was in the first thread you linked, offering help for people with sim lock problems, even though this doesn't seem to be that. He seems to know alot more than me, that's for sure!
Bought phone that was pin locked .
Surely the seller would have the Pin or unlock it before sale .
Sim / network locked problems .
This has all the appearance of a stolen phone ..
Hard reset will not remove operator logo it is more like the a previous user has flashed a stock rom on it .
jje
So you bought a phone used that had a passcode protecting it that you removed by wiping the phone and can't get it to register on the network. Why would anyone buy a phone that is pass code protected and the seller didn't know the pass code? It would seem you have a stolen or lost phone that has been imei barred by the networks to prevent criminals profiting on crime. Take it to your local police station, they can tell you if it is stolen property
Sent from my ARHD S3
Guess i was overlooking the main evidence: buying a phone that is still code locked. But it brings up another point: Can a phone actually be 'turned off' or barred from the networks?
bodh said:
Guess i was overlooking the main evidence: buying a phone that is still code locked. But it brings up another point: Can a phone actually be 'turned off' or barred from the networks?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
In the UK it can yes, once the imei is blacklisted it can never connect to any UK network. Unfortunately though it can still be used outside the UK but I think there is some progress being made on countries sharing blacklist databases
Sent from my ARHD S3
I started to look this up for US circumstances. It seems that our carriers cannot lock it down, nor can they track it. I actually read that they expect the consumer to be in charge of evidence gathering, such as setting up a tracking app, acquiring carrier records for usage after the device is missing, and taking this info to your local police, who probably know much less and can do much less. Guess they figure its finders keepers, idk.
bodh said:
Guess they figure its finders keepers, idk.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Theft_by_finding
I don't think so
Mods, I think it may be prudent to close this thread
Sent from my ARHD S3
JJEgan said:
Bought phone that was pin locked .
Surely the seller would have the Pin or unlock it before sale .
Sim / network locked problems .
This has all the appearance of a stolen phone ..
Hard reset will not remove operator logo it is more like the a previous user has flashed a stock rom on it .
jje
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
jmpmjmpm said:
So you bought a phone used that had a passcode protecting it that you removed by wiping the phone and can't get it to register on the network. Why would anyone buy a phone that is pass code protected and the seller didn't know the pass code? It would seem you have a stolen or lost phone that has been imei barred by the networks to prevent criminals profiting on crime. Take it to your local police station, they can tell you if it is stolen property
Sent from my ARHD S3
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Like i mentioned in my first post, its not my phone, though i am not expert in android but this doesnt mean i would be stupid enough to buy a phone that is locked and shows signs of a stolen phone.
Secondly, i had the same suspicion that this phone was either lost or stolen, the guy who bought it told me that the seller told him this phone was a taken from original owner instead of money owed so the original owner must have got this one blocked.
I checked on multiple websites and none of them flagged the IMEI as reported stolen or blocked. Are these websites unreliable or update after a long time.
Due to the new revelations of how this phone was acquired, i will no longer offer any assistance. In my mind, this phone qualifies as stolen.
bodh said:
Due to the new revelations of "how this phone was acquired", i will no longer offer any assistance. In my mind, this phone qualifies as stolen.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
To me it seems like you are implying that i was the one who stole it. Read my previous post and if you can answer that question i would appreciate that. Thanks.
AbdulW87 said:
Secondly, i had the same suspicion that this phone was either lost or stolen, the guy who bought it told me that the seller told him this phone was a taken from original owner instead of money owed so the original owner must have got this one blocked.
I checked on multiple websites and none of them flagged the IMEI as reported stolen or blocked. Are these websites unreliable or update after a long time.
The only sure way is to contact the network that blocked the phone .
Simlocked the network that the phone is locked to will unlock .Test is by putting the original network sim in the phone .
I would pass this information on to the owner and then stay clear of this phone .
jje
jje
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hi,
I did a job for a Singaporean guy. As payment he gave me a Samsung i9300. The device was brand new, original packed, factory seal. The guy is dealing in mobile phones as far as I know and it was a good deal so I thought its alright.
The only problem we had was that the device showed device modified. We tried to look up the IMEI on imei.info and it says it is a Nokia 1600. Now after having a closer look at the packing I saw that there is a sticker over the sticker with the original IMEI. As it was still possible to figure out the old IMEI we looked it up on imei.info and it shows the right model & specs. The device is as well not reported stolen.
If I look up the both numbers on numberingplans there are no records for both numbers.
Everything looks alright. Even the sticker in the phone is showing the actual IMEI. Its not a fake phone too. The quality is to good. Its working too.
Anybody heard of something before?
How sure it is that the the info on imei.info is correct?
Could a imei get faked?
If the imei is fake, what to do with it? is it safe to use it? Virus ...? I am a totally newbie. Sorry.
Thanks for your advice. I am not really into this.
IMEI can get faked even though it is illegal to do so.
Fake IMEI may not connect to a network.
Fake IMEI can be due to a stolen blacklisted phone .
The phone is not a genuine product you should return it .
It is connecting to the network. This is not really the problem.
My problem is more that the guy is back in Singapore.
Ok, at the end of the day this means I should not use it and I definitely should not sell it too.
What a piece of junk
knuthein said:
Ok, at the end of the day this means I should not use it and I definitely should not sell it too.
What a piece of junk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Donate it to a poor person like me
Dear xda-community,
some months ago I dared myself to root my Samsung SHW-M250S (Korean Version of Galaxy S2) and lost my IMEI on that phone. I couldn't find it and forgot to make a backup of my efs partition because of stupidity and not really reading the manuals properly (I used to have a HTC Desire S which didn't have the efs partition so it's a bad habit thing). Today I found out that I luckily registered my phone with the original IMEI in my google Settings and the developer IMEI on my current Galaxy S2.
My question is: Is there any possibility to insert my old IMEI into my rooted Galaxy S2?
IMEI is device specific.....by law.
Sorry mate, but nobody here is going to help you break the law......
Sent from my GT-I9100 using xda app-developers app
Take it to a local mobile repair shop, some have the same equipment as Samsung service centres that can write the IMEI back to the device. Normally isn't very expensive (much cheaper than replacing a motherboard for example).
You could buy this equipment yourself, but it would cost twice as much (or more) as paying someone who knows what they're doing to fix it properly, you'd probably never use it again, and if you mess it up, your phone is probably a bin job.
keithross39 said:
IMEI is device specific.....by law.
Sorry mate, but nobody here is going to help you break the law......
Sent from my GT-I9100 using xda app-developers app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well... Since I didn't backup my EFS and got the develeoper one, does it mean I am owning an illegal phone?
MistahBungle said:
Take it to a local mobile repair shop, some have the same equipment as Samsung service centres that can write the IMEI back to the device. Normally isn't very expensive (much cheaper than replacing a motherboard for example).
You could buy this equipment yourself, but it would cost twice as much (or more) as paying someone who knows what they're doing to fix it properly, you'd probably never use it again, and if you mess it up, your phone is probably a bin job.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Gonna try that in the next weeks, see if it works
No, the device having the generic IMEI is not illegal, it's just in many countries these phones are essentially useless & have no connectivity (they will work in some countries with providers who use outdated telco equipment, though).
Most good phone repairs shops should be able to fix this for you, if not, service centre definitely will.
Edit to add - However, writing a different IMEI into a device is very much illegal in most countries (the EU in particular) and will result in both your device & the device the IMEI came from being blacklisted (rendered permanently useless). The only way you can legitimately get a different IMEI & use the phone OK is if you swap the motherboard with a 2nd hand board from a 'donor' device. When Samsung service centres replace motherboards to fix a whole host of things, in most countries they write the existing IMEI to the new board.
MistahBungle said:
No, the device having the generic IMEI is not illegal, it's just in many countries these phones are essentially useless & have no connectivity (they will work in some countries with providers who use outdated telco equipment, though).
Most good phone repairs shops should be able to fix this for you, if not, service centre definitely will.
Edit to add - However, writing a different IMEI into a device is very much illegal in most countries (the EU in particular) and will result in both your device & the device the IMEI came from being blacklisted (rendered permanently useless). The only way you can legitimately get a different IMEI & use the phone OK is if you swap the motherboard with a 2nd hand board from a 'donor' device. When Samsung service centres replace motherboards to fix a whole host of things, in most countries they write the existing IMEI to the new board.
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But what if I can prove that the IMEI I wanted to recover is stored e.g. in my google account? Is it still illegal then?
You didn't comprehend what I said to you.
The original IMEI can definitely be written back to the phone by a Samsung service centre & likely many mobile repair shops; this is OK.
You cannot write a different IMEI to a device, this is illegal.
The end.
MistahBungle said:
You didn't comprehend what I said to you.
The original IMEI can definitely be written back to the phone by a Samsung service centre & likely many mobile repair shops; this is OK.
You cannot write a different IMEI to a device, this is illegal.
The end.
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Ok, that's what I wanted to know. Gonna search for a repair center in around me then... Thanks!
this is straight from a pageplus chat
nothing special just standard procedure for activating an "unknown device" that...well read below.
4G LTE devices (with MEIDs starting with 256 or 99000) are not compatible with our system.
They are able to be activated by dropping the last digit of the IMEI (99000)
they are not able to be programmed with OTA (*22890 or *228) and unable to be manually programmed.
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i might have chopped it i cant remember but i always keep the good parts
so are you saying a verizon network is breaking the law because it is their policy that dictates pageplus and straight talk in this procedure heck even verizon prepaid
dropping the last digit like they are telling me to do is what?
i dont think its illegal like you say.
no way they would tell 1000's of people to do it
i just tried to ota *22890 my note 3 after they gave me those directions along with my mdn/min/sid and "normally" i get voice/text/mms and data at this point
i just tried without successsfully changing mine and it wont OTA
the step in the directions above is REQUIRED i believe
Changing imei talk is not done on xda. :thumbdown: We all know what can be done with this but we can't talk about it here. Illegal or not info is out there, software is out there. but like I said on xda we don't talk about changing imei or modding it.
andrewwright said:
Changing imei talk is not done on xda. :thumbdown: We all know what can be done with this but we can't talk about it here. Illegal or not info is out there, software is out there. but like I said on xda we don't talk about changing imei or modding it.
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agreed
BTW at op. Don't go to a service Centre mate. If I go to a local shop they would only charge me £20 in the UK. Have a look as its much cheaper than ss.
So back in febuary I went from ATT to T-Mobile. With a galaxy s4 ATT provided me an unlock pin popped in my tmobile sim and it was unlocked. Later I had to send in my phone because my camera was malfunctioning.. I asked the rep before sending in my device if I will lose my unlock.. They said no. They repaired the phone.. Replaced the camera and PBA (motherboard) because it was also power cycling. So when I got the phone back I popped in my T-Mobile Sim and it was asking me to enter in the unlock pin.. Luckily I had the same unlock pin from febuary I entered that in and nothing happened I tried it again nothing. so I called Samsung and they said I need to call att and request a new unlock.. Called att requested a new unlock and they provided me with the same unlock pin like the first time. and they said only one unlock pin can be assigned to one IMEI number. called Samsung back and said they can't do anything which is B.S... just paid for this phone.. anyways now my phone is acting up again.. Running slow.. Some of the apps show "unavailable" or not responding. I went to the service menu by doing the *#0011# to try doing an unlock another way but it won't work for me.. one thing I caught was the IMEI CERTI: NA.. Idk if tht has something to do with it? any one have any tips? Or that can help?
Is there any way to confirm that the IMEI is the same? It's possible they might have had to swap out the motherboard if it was easier. Check to see if all the #s match between the sticker behind the battery, in the Settings, and when you dial *#06# then see if that's what ATT has on record.
es0tericcha0s said:
Is there any way to confirm that the IMEI is the same? It's possible they might have had to swap out the motherboard if it was easier. Check to see if all the #s match between the sticker behind the battery, in the Settings, and when you dial *#06# then see if that's what ATT has on record.
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Thanks for your reply... I triple checked the IMEI #'s and they are exactly the same.. behind the battery.. settings and dialing all the same exact IMEI prior to sending in the UNIT for repair.. what strikes me the most is trying to do the unlock by going into the service mode and it says IMEI CERTI: NA
mo_k23 said:
Thanks for your reply... I triple checked the IMEI #'s and they are exactly the same.. behind the battery.. settings and dialing all the same exact IMEI prior to sending in the UNIT for repair.. what strikes me the most is trying to do the unlock by going into the service mode and it says IMEI CERTI: NA
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Hmm. I wondering if they didn't swap the motherboard and write your IMEI to it, but for some reason it didn't transfer the whole EFS (not just the folder, but the stuff in the modem too) contents which include the IMEI Certificate. If that didn't transfer over or have the right permissions then that could explain it... Haven't had to deal with an issue like that though, so can't really say.
You're probably better served maybe asking some questions @ forum.gsmhosting.com as they deal with issues like this more often than most people on XDA. Either way, you're in for a tough fix if that is what happened because not many people know much about this since it is a fairly rare issue.
es0tericcha0s said:
Hmm. I wondering if they didn't swap the motherboard and write your IMEI to it, but for some reason it didn't transfer the whole EFS (not just the folder, but the stuff in the modem too) contents which include the IMEI Certificate. If that didn't transfer over or have the right permissions then that could explain it... Haven't had to deal with an issue like that though, so can't really say.
You're probably better served maybe asking some questions @ forum.gsmhosting.com as they deal with issues like this more often than most people on XDA. Either way, you're in for a tough fix if that is what happened because not many people know much about this since it is a fairly rare issue.
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I was wondering that too.. I mean could that be the problem that the IMEI CERTI says : NA? I actually sent my phone back again today.. i wrote a letter along with it explaining my whole situation actually attached a picture of that service mode so they know. I also posted onto gsmhosting.