Hi guys, so I want to sell my vibrant, bought from tmobile 2 years ago on value/payment plan. It is paid off. Currently using it on tmo monthly 4g. I want to get it unlocked to sell. I know nothing about unlocking phones. Where do I start? Before I sell it, I will be restoring it to to factory, un-rooted state. If I call tmo and they unlock it, does that only work with the software currently on it, or is it permanent?
Call them or talk to them via their website. They well send you a code and the procedure to unlock it. It will be permanent.
Related
Hey I'm looking to buy an Atrix in the coming days and just doing some research for now.
I saw in a post that it is possible to SIM Unlock the Atrix without actually purchasing a code off the internet. I'm gonna call at&t anyways to see if they can do it, but just incase they don't, I wanna be prepaired.
I read this post:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showpost.php?p=14967210&postcount=583
The person claims that buy doing the following procedure it will SIM Unlock the phone
1. Flash to 1.5.7
2. GladRoot
3. OTA to 1.8.3
4. Gingerbreak
5. Phone is unlocked!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
There was another person that was saying that this will only root the phone and not SIM Unlock it, but I belive by his post that he did not actually try it.
I was wondering if there was anyone else who has tried this procedure and has failed/succeded to SIM Unlock the phone?
gingerbreak and gladroot are both rooting methods. Not unlock.
I did try calling AT&T. I bought the phone paying full price and I have a corporate connection with AT&T. Even then, they refused to give me the code saying its a brand new device and unlock code cannot be given for next 2 years!
Cellunlock did it for me in 4 days . LOL.
Like I said in that thread, sim lock is baked into hardware (or real rom/firmware) so android cannot remove it. There's a code you type in based off your imei that is passed to the hardware. After a few attempts it locks you out permanently from unsimlocking. I had a previously unlocked phone and that's how it works. (Nice chat with at&t)
Sent from my Motorola Atrix 4G on the network with the most backhaul, whatever that is. This post might have errors as I hate touchscreen keyboards.
i called att about last month and they said moto will give them the codes around august. i just used cellunlock, took 3 days.
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!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
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
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
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.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
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.
I recently bought a V10 via a friend in New York from ebay. The phone is locked to tmobile but i thought it can't be that hard to unlock for my UK EE sim,wrong.
I put in my sim and used the 'unlock' app,but it failed to work so i called tmobile in the U.S but was told they can only unlock the phone to the original purchaser!!!!!!! and it seems tmobile phones won't unlock with a code either.
Im tearing my hair out here. such a lovely phone and great camera,was so excited to get it and now im stuck.
Any help much appreciated.
if the phone exists in the t-mobile database(check here: http://www.t-mobile.com/verifyIMEI.aspx), then you should at least be able to use a paid service, which would force the device to be eligible to use the unlock app.
If your IMEI is eligible you can use this service from UnlockRadar:
https://www.unlockradar.com/service/t-mobile-usa-device-unlock-app-official-unlock
Read carefully the instructions.
I have the opportunity to purchase a Galaxy S9 + for T-mobile and would like to use it on ATT. Can someone tell me if this is possible?
As long as it's unlocked you can. I'm bringing my att s8's over to T-Mobile.
When you buy it from TMobile it is locked to them. You would have to go through the unlock process which I believe requires you to use it with TMobile for 45days and to fully pay off the device.
It will be locked to T-Mobile (you will have the Device Unlock App installed in the T-Mobile folder - which you will need to use it to unlock your phone).
However, I am not sure about the waiting period before unlocking. But once you are allowed to unlock it, you don't need to pay the full price. You will have to use an unlocking service to register your IMEI as unlocked.
Once you get your phone, ask them when can you unlock it and if you need to wait.
nuttsp said:
I have the opportunity to purchase a Galaxy S9 + for T-mobile and would like to use it on ATT. Can someone tell me if this is possible?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It will work if it is unlocked. But please if you are buying from a stranger and they are the original owner, go to the T-Mobile store with them to verify it's actually paid off. They should have a receipt of purchase since it was just released. Since it released on the 17th, it shouldn't even be unlocked as it usually takes 40 days of activation on the network to have it unlocked if it's through t-mobile. And it doesn't have to be paid off to have it unlocked so they can sell it to you even if they still owe than report it lost or stolen. Just be cautious, good luck.
If I buy a G power that's locked to say, Tracfone, US Cellular, or Straight Talk, how would I get it unlocked so I can use it on TMobile?
Is this one of those deals where I can call Motorola and they give me the magic codes?
What if the ESN is locked? Is it hopeless? Is it only locked by a given carrier? How would I check that?
Quantumstate said:
If I buy a G power that's locked to say, Tracfone, US Cellular, or Straight Talk, how would I get it unlocked so I can use it on TMobile?
Is this one of those deals where I can call Motorola and they give me the magic codes?
What if the ESN is locked? Is it hopeless? Is it only locked by a given carrier? How would I check that?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Usually on US carriers, you can't unlock the phones. I know buying it on Verizon or AT&T definitely locks it. I'd talk to your specific carrier to find out if they lock it or not. If they do lock it, as far as I know you're SoL. Buy unlocked if you plan on switching carriers or installing a custom ROM.
Quantumstate said:
If I buy a G power that's locked to say, Tracfone, US Cellular, or Straight Talk, how would I get it unlocked so I can use it on TMobile?
Is this one of those deals where I can call Motorola and they give me the magic codes?
What if the ESN is locked? Is it hopeless? Is it only locked by a given carrier? How would I check that?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You'd probably have to contact the original provider for an unlock code. I know AT&T will give you the unlock code for your device after 60 days of purchase, but I can't comment on any others.
Thanks, just bought one after I confirmed it has a compass.
Does anyone have wifi calling working on this phone?
Quantumstate said:
Thanks, just bought one after I confirmed it has a compass.
Does anyone have wifi calling working on this phone?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The unlocked variant has WiFi calling on T-Mobile. I can't comment on other models.
If I may be allowed to piggyback off of this question, my Straight Talk variant should be allowed to be network unlocked after a year in service, which is great and I've been with Straight Talk for probably close to 10 years, but what I really need is the bootloader unlocked.
I'm grown accustomed to BYOP using an unlocked HTC Inspire phone, then an unlocked Nexus 5, then a Oneplus 3 Always doing a little bit in the way of unlocking and occasionally installing custom Roms. My Oneplus 3 was seeming a little unstable. Kept it up to date with a custom rom after it stopped receiving official updates (Although I had been quite happy with stock Rom up until then). Battery wasn't holding up. Being a new home owner, I sought out a value buy and thought I did my homework. I saw bootloader unlock instructions for the Moto G Power and did not read through them. Presuming that since there is a guide for unlocking the bootloader, I presumed I could unlock my bootloader no problem.
Now that I've brought my phone home and its now quite a bit past the 2 week return window, I now see that Bootloader unlocking requires a code that my phone is not likely to be eligible for. My question is, will this phone ever be allowed to have its bootloader unlocked? Will it be eligible for a bootloader unlock once Straight Talk has allowed me to do the Network unlock? Its hard to believe I just tossed $150 into the toilet for a phone I don't get to own. My phone is currently holding my Wifi Hotspot functionality hostage because Straight Talk deems it a feature I'm not entitled to (I am because its a hardware feature and I supposedly own the hardware but until there is a legal precedent I don't have a say in the matter). That is an absolute requirement of mine because I had to work 2 days at home on hotspot when my ISP fubar'd my home connection for 2 days. I lived off of that hotspot and got through.
Is my only hope to resell my Moto G Power, take a hit on whatever value I lost on resale, and go off and get an unlocked phone? I'm seriously considering popping the sim back into my Oneplus 3 and making it my daily driver again, but once again, the phone does show its age. It's about a 10% bump down in processing power and its heard to keep charged at this point. I really only need wifi hotspot and I'd be fine riding this phone for 2 years or so.
As a side note, will it matter if I activate the Sim that was preinstalled on the phone as far as accumulating time towards network unlock eligibility? I didn't want to risk being moved to a different Carrier so I just popped in my BYOP Sim.
tmsmith616 said:
If I may be allowed to piggyback off of this question, my Straight Talk variant should be allowed to be network unlocked after a year in service, which is great and I've been with Straight Talk for probably close to 10 years, but what I really need is the bootloader unlocked.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Just out of curiosity did you try to unlock the bootloader? What does it say under? "about phone/software channel"?
On the 24th I bought one at Amazon for $219. On the 29th they went on sale for $174 on Amazon's deal of the day so I bought one again, got it yesterday and did the return thing at Amazon with no problem. I have until the 31st of January (extended return time on all items) to return it... So I'm using it now to test custom ROMs and I'll send it back in a month or so.
If you're serious about selling it maybe you should buy one from Amazon (current price $179) so you can unlock the bootloader and do your thing.