Unlocking the phone... - XPERIA X10 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting

so let's say i have an x10i and i want to unlock it... what do i do?

I think its the same thing as debranding the phone. Its a sticky at the top.

popimp315 said:
I think its the same thing as debranding the phone. Its a sticky at the top.
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Unlock and debranding are 2 different things.
Debranding is on the stickies - involves installing the custom or SE ROMs. So let's say you have a Rogers or AT&T phone, instead of using their firmware, you install the Global Generic firmware instead or one of the custom ROMs. After install, your phone is now debranded and is no longer a Rogers or AT&T phone (from the firmware).
Unlocking the phone is carrier related. That is where your phone can only use SIM cards from a specific carrier. You will need to get an unlock code from the carrier or some 3rd party.
Debranding a locked phone won't unlock the phone. Unless the devs have done something new...

So is there anyway to unlock the x10a? with out paying or calling at&t?

aaronhiep said:
So is there anyway to unlock the x10a? with out paying or calling at&t?
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Nope....never seen it yet.
Sent from my X10a using XDA App

Unfortunately not, at the very least you'll have to call AT&T (or email them). If I remember correctly, by law, the US carriers are not allowed to deny you your request to unlock your phone provided you have met certain criteria, e.g. your bill is paid up to date, you had the phone for like 3 months or something, etc. But they can limit the number of unlock codes they provide within a certain period to prevent mass resellers of their retail phones, i.e. they don't want you buying 30 phones from them to sell it on e-bay unlocked. But as long as you meet those criteria, the unlock code is free.
So if you met the criteria, they should do it for you without too much hassle. They might give you some spiel of how they are not liable for any damage or whatever you do if you unlock your phone and put another carrier's SIM card in there but hey, in the end you'll have an unlocked phone...

Related

At&t won't unlock my Aria

I understand there are two ways to unlock your HTC aria.
One is to buy the unlock codes on some website.
The second, free way is to call AT&T after three months and they will unlock it for free.
However, I have called AT&T twice and they don't have the unlock code available even after giving them my IMEI number. I'm puzzled by this. Is anyone else having the same problem? They said the computer or database don't have the Aria unlock code in the system. What's going on here?
Big brother just tricked you. They are tracking you now. Throw the phone away. Use cash only. Don't use your real name.
Sent from my Liberty using XDA App
AT&T doesn't have to give you the unlock code for the Aria until the exclusivity for that device has expired. Your only choice for now is to unlock it using a third party website.
Get the unlock code through a website like the most of us did, its just $15 or $20 bucks and they send you an email with the code almost instantly..
fmac said:
Get the unlock code through a website like the most of us did, its just $15 or $20 bucks and they send you an email with the code almost instantly..
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be sure to search ebay first. i found an unlock code for my backflip for only 2 dollars, the same for a few other phones I've had!
!
You know...I'd be interested to find out how these unlock codes are generated...seems like people are robbing people of their money when they are selling these things...it probably isn't the easiest thing in the world to figure the algorithm out (if that's how they do it) but i can only imagine that once you do figure it out, it's a short process thereafter to generate unlock codes for people based on whatever information they need...
zervic said:
You know...I'd be interested to find out how these unlock codes are generated...seems like people are robbing people of their money when they are selling these things...it probably isn't the easiest thing in the world to figure the algorithm out (if that's how they do it) but i can only imagine that once you do figure it out, it's a short process thereafter to generate unlock codes for people based on whatever information they need...
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there is software that does this. unfortunately i think they require a USB Dongle to run the s/w and it is expensive.... until the Russians crack it anyway. LOL
anyone suggest a reliable unlocking site?? there are so many scams out there taking money and not producing a usable code.
Most of the unlock website I found are reliable as far as give me money back when they can't get it. ATT and quite a few inexpensive website can't unlock my Aria. Some on top of refund, give me free unlock code for future. I end up found someone said "doing it manually". Took him 3 day and $25 later, he gave me the code.
Sent from my HTC Liberty using XDA App
I have a noobish question. Does rooting unlock the phone?
nope. rooting does not unlock the phone.
powerchess said:
I have a noobish question. Does rooting unlock the phone?
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rooting just gives you the "ultimate-true-genuine" etc rights to modify the phone the way you want it
to unlock the phone it's a different story. You will only need to unlock it if you're traveling outside the US
Or to switch to T-mobile.
Sent from my Liberty using XDA App
Travel outside the US
profipix said:
rooting just gives you the "ultimate-true-genuine" etc rights to modify the phone the way you want it
to unlock the phone it's a different story. You will only need to unlock it if you're traveling outside the US
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Last sentence not quite correct; a clarification. You don't need to unlock if you travel outside the US. The Aria works just fine in other countries; you will incur additional costs as a result because you are roaming on foreign networks but AT&T has plans you can buy ahead of time and terminate when you get back home. Now the clarification part: if you do have an unlocked phone you can use a SIM card from other providers in other countries (which you will have to purchase or borrow from someone that lives there). Unlocking simply allows you to use another SIM cards, fore example, like Tmobile (a GSM network) in the US. If you don't unlock, your are limited to AT&T SIM cards. Unlocking is really not necessary unless you want to run on different networks in the US and outside the US.
Don't worry i will help you...You can get the Unlock code better from Online site,Basically network provider ask you to wait to get the code from them,they will give the code,it's available in Data base,So if you need Code immediately means you can get the unlock code from here www.Superunlockcodes.com and get the free unlocking instructions from here Mobileunlockguide.com and unlock it step by step.
Monkeyfeng said:
I understand there are two ways to unlock your HTC aria.
One is to buy the unlock codes on some website.
The second, free way is to call AT&T after three months and they will unlock it for free.
However, I have called AT&T twice and they don't have the unlock code available even after giving them my IMEI number. I'm puzzled by this. Is anyone else having the same problem? They said the computer or database don't have the Aria unlock code in the system. What's going on here?
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I travel quite a lot through Europe and since AT&T's roaming charges are quite high, I had to unlock my Aria so that I can use local GSM carriers over there. I used www.cellunlocker.net last year. Their "regular" service for $4.99 was not able to produce the code for my Aria and they gave me a refund. I then purchased their "advanced" service for $19.99 and had the unlock code in 3 hours.
One more note about the benefit of unlocking: Once your phone is unlocked, it stays unlocked. So you need to purchase and use the unlock code only once.
it's a maybe
i think you gain s-off you can unlock it ..
lateral18 said:
i think you gain s-off you can unlock it ..
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No
Sent from my Liberty using XDA App

[Q] Can Samsung Galaxy SII be unlocked

Well,
Sort of a noob question, but since I dont know how easy or hard could it be.
If I buy a SGS-II with a service plan in UK (Orange, Voda etc), then can it be unlocked to be used in other countries or other operators.
I know maybe it has got something to do with the gaining the root access to the handset or even a root access achieve the desired.
Thanks for suggestions.
HyperEscape said:
Well,
Sort of a noob question, but since I dont know how easy or hard could it be.
If I buy a SGS-II with a service plan in UK (Orange, Voda etc), then can it be unlocked to be used in other countries or other operators.
I know maybe it has got something to do with the gaining the root access to the handset or even a root access achieve the desired.
Thanks for suggestions.
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It's got nothing to do with root and everything to do with the carrier, some will deliver locked phones, some unlocked.. most usually contract phones are unlocked and PAYG phones are locked
I'm on O2 contract and the phones I've had have always been unlocked, but I've heard Orange do network lock their phone
Orange do always lock their phones but if you get it from an independent seller like the Carphone Warehouse or Phones4u the chances are it'll be unlocked.
Most networks will unlock your phone for a small fee (I think I paid £25 on Orange) but it's only a matter of time before sellers on eBay popup that will sell you an unlock code based on your IMEI.
You're right that you could unlock handsets with root access but that involved flashing another radio. Since no locked SGS2's have been released yet you're safe buying now and the phone hasn't been rooted so you may be waiting a while for that option if you get a locked handset in the future.
You could always use a Rebel SimCard. Its not the perfect solution but it works.
So we just have to wait basically. O2 are offering it for 399£ apparently on payg. It would be awesome to get it for that price and then unlock it.
bcam117 said:
So we just have to wait basically. O2 are offering it for 399£ apparently on payg. It would be awesome to get it for that price and then unlock it.
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Last year, o2 were selling the SGS1 on PAYG. I think the handsets were supposed to be locked but they weren't. If you're in luck then maybe same is true for SGS2. I've pulled the trigger on the SGS2 with contract from o2 as total cost works out cheaper that any PAYG or sim free offer currently available.
Sent from my GT-I9000 using XDA App
Does orange still exist over there?
Three took over Orange over here in Australia years ago
On three if you call them up they give you the unlock code for free
I asked a popular online unlocking firm what the likelihood of the SGS2 being unlocked was and this was his reply:
Hi Aaron,
This should be no problem at all. That's because there's one main database for all European Samsung Android handsets. We have unlocked the Samsung Galaxy S from all 6 main UK networks.
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Are you going to use them to unlock? When can they do it? & who are they?
AaronUK said:
I asked a popular online unlocking firm what the likelihood of the SGS2 being unlocked was and this was his reply:
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I will ask them to unlock if my SGS2 arrives locked. I found them doing a quick google search. I am not sure I am allowed to post links so mods please remove if that is the case. http://www.mobileunlocked.co.uk/
There are many more if you do a google search.

How to Unlock ATRIX for going abroad?

Hi everyone,
I'm a UK user and will be flying to Dubai in a few days. Is there a ROM I can download that will unlock the ATRIX for me? I want to be able to use it in Dubai using a local network/sim.
Would I have to get a specific unlock code or could I just root the phone instead which would unlock it?
Orange customer. I need it unlocked asap.
River T. said:
Hi everyone,
I'm a UK user and will be flying to Dubai in a few days. Is there a ROM I can download that will unlock the ATRIX for me? I want to be able to use it in Dubai using a local network/sim.
Would I have to get a specific unlock code or could I just root the phone instead which would unlock it?
Orange customer. I need it unlocked asap.
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No ROM/program. Rooting/bootloader unlocking are unrelated to sim unlocking.
You can try purchasing a sim unlock code from places online. I believe celluunlock or something is popular. But I remember seeing posts or threads that it doesn't always work or there long delays in getting the codes.
Other option is to call your carrier (guessing Orange), tell them your situation and ask if they can provide you an unlock code.
mysticdrew said:
No ROM/program. Rooting/bootloader unlocking are unrelated to sim unlocking.
You can try purchasing a sim unlock code from places online. I believe celluunlock or something is popular. But I remember seeing posts or threads that it doesn't always work or there long delays in getting the codes.
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My SIM unlock took about 15 minutes and cost $20.00. The Atrix has been out for a while now. I suspect that SIM unlocks are pretty routine these days. If your carrier won't do it, or is too expensive, ask the unlocking people how long it will take.

Unlocking bootloader on branded phone.

So, SE decided to let people unlock the bootloader. How ever for peope like me with a branded / sim-locked phone it is not possible. Atleast as far as i know.
My qustions are:
Can it be unlocked with a sim-locked phone?
What are the downsides to paying for the sim-unlock service provided by various groups, davinci beeing one of them. Will my provider notice?
After a year when i get the pin from my service provider to unlock my phone, will i then be able to unlock my bootloader?
And lastoy, if removing the simlock is such a simple thing, how come there isnt a software so people can do it them selfs?
Thanks for any replies
Sent from my LT18i using XDA App

Unlocked when paid in full off contract?

I will be in the US for vacation in about six weeks and planning to buy The One.
Can you please help me with some questions:
1. Assuming that by then stock would be plenty and they don't refuse off contract sales. My question is: will A&TT or T-Mobile sell me the phone without me getting any phone service. I have my SIM with international roaming and do not need any kind of US phone service. I just need the Hardware. Is it possible?
2. Because I would be paying the phone without any contract or subsidy (full price). Can you confirm it will be unlocked to use with a SIM from any operator? Is it something automatically or I have to request it in the store?
3. I'm ok if they can only be unlocked. But have to ask if The One bough from operators can also be customized with other ROMS.
3. Which carrier is prefered to do this (if can be done) AT&T or T-Mobile.
Thanks you!
Antiflash said:
I will be in the US for vacation in about six weeks and planning to buy The One.
Can you please help me with some questions:
1. Assuming that by then stock would be plenty and they don't refuse off contract sales. My question is: will A&TT or T-Mobile sell me the phone without me getting any phone service. I have my SIM with international roaming and do not need any kind of US phone service. I just need the Hardware. Is it possible?
2. Because I would be paying the phone without any contract or subsidy (full price). Can you confirm it will be unlocked to use with a SIM from any operator? Is it something automatically or I have to request it in the store?
3. I'm ok if they can only be unlocked. But have to ask if The One bough from operators can also be customized with other ROMS.
3. Which carrier is prefered to do this (if can be done) AT&T or T-Mobile.
Thanks you!
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You probably want to buy the unlocked version. It is cheaper, unlocked, and will be able to use custom roms after unlocking the bootloader http://shopamerica.htc.com/brands/HTC-mobile/homebrands/index.htm
If not to answer those questions
1. Yes you can buy off contract
2. It will not be unlocked. You probably can unlock it easily with something like cellular unlocker service
3. Right now the bootloader is unlockable. We do not know if they will lock in the future
3(again). AT&T has earlier release but it doesnt really matter
joshuadjohnson22 said:
You probably want to buy the unlocked version. It is cheaper, unlocked, and will be able to use custom roms after unlocking the bootloader http://shopamerica.htc.com/brands/HTC-mobile/homebrands/index.htm
If not to answer those questions
1. Yes you can buy off contract
2. It will not be unlocked. You probably can unlock it easily with something like cellular unlocker service
3. Right now the bootloader is unlockable. We do not know if they will lock in the future
3(again). AT&T has earlier release but it doesnt really matter
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Thanks for the prompt response. I would like to buy it from HTC directly but what I planning is a road trip and won't be staying more than a couple of days in any place. It is difficult to time processing and delivery times from HTC and I don't know how strict they are with billing address differing from shipping address.
Bummer they would not unlocked it even after paying it in full. What "unlocker" services do you recommend. I have never used one.
Antiflash said:
Thanks for the prompt response. I would like to buy it from HTC directly but what I planning is a road trip and won't be staying more than a couple of days in any place. It is difficult to time processing and delivery times from HTC and I don't know how strict they are with billing address differing from shipping address.
Bummer they would not unlocked it even after paying it in full. What "unlocker" services do you recommend. I have never used one.
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There are a lot out there like http://www.cellunlocker.net/ they will just send you a code that you can enter after putting a none AT&T sim in it. Now a disclaimer from me. I have heard of a lot of phones being unlocked by them but the HTC One has not been unlocked on AT&T yet as far as I know.
I just bought one from a employee on craigslist and trying to get it unlocked
Sent from my HTC One
If any carrier sells you a phone for off contract pricing you're eligible/entitled to have it unlocked when you walk out the door. Just call them.

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