Related
So i've just signed up for a cell phone plan, they said is unlimited social networking browsing, didn't look at the fine print and they said is just for non-smart phone only...
I talked to their technical support and it looks like they check the phone's IMEI to determine what phone/model i am running... so i'm wondering if there is a way i could either change/hide my IMEI so that i can browse facebook and twitter with my current plan.
I asked the technical support what's the different between a regular phone browsing and a smart phone browsing, they said it has to do with the data compression and such... if that's the case, is there an app out there that i could use to simulate non-smart phone browser?
Changing your IMEI is illegal. It's your mobile's ID. International ID. Stolen mobiles have a 00000 etc IMEI, for instance. Some phones when wiped lose their IMEI. You can change it, but you could get in trouble. It's also very hard. Normally, only certain operator shops can reflash your phone and RESTORE your IMEI. I know this since I had an issue with that. 0'ed IMEI due to reset.
If they check your IMEI I don't think any app will solve that. But I'm not the best person to point you in the right direction.
Hum... i also have my old Samsung F488, if is possible i could use that one's IMEI, since i own both phone.
You'd be passing one phone as another. As a rule, tampering with your IMEI is illegal and operators only rarely restore it, if you have documentation proving the phone is yours. They don't change it.
When a phone is stolen, the IMEI is wiped so it can't be traced. That's why they won't change it nor restore it just like that... I doubt you'll have any luck asking for IMEI transfer...
sucks... ok thanks
You can try... I just wouldn't expect it to work. My experience comes from Portuguese operators, but it's probably the same all around.
From what i read, is legal to change it in North America. Is just lame that i'm paying for 50$ plan, but can't do zero browsing with this ****. I think i will have to roll back to some 30$ plan and only do text messaging with my smart phone lol..
Well, then you could try. Good luck then!
Yea, well the question remain, how. LOL
At least here, you need specialized shops, not all operator shops can do that, ask the nearest where your phone can be flashed to change the IMEI
codenamezero said:
From what i read, is legal to change it in North America. Is just lame that i'm paying for 50$ plan, but can't do zero browsing with this ****. I think i will have to roll back to some 30$ plan and only do text messaging with my smart phone lol..
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Disclaimer: I'm not from the U.S. so I might be wrong.
After some reading, there's no law in the U.S. that even talks about IMEIs, so technically it is legal to change it, however, since most if not all carriers changer certain things based on your IMEI I think that changing your IMEI would effectively violate your service contract (if they found out), so instead of trying to change your IMEI I'd go to your carrier and ask for an unlimited smartphone plan.
codenamezero said:
is there an app out there that i could use to simulate non-smart phone browser
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The problem here is not the app, it's the internet protocols that are used by different types of cellphones, see, dumb-phones use WAP as the internet protocol, whereas smartphones use plain HTTP.
Boy, I am sick of ignorant goofballs spewing 'It's illegal' with no facts whatsoever to back their opinion up.
IF IT IS ILLEGAL, TELL ME WHAT LAW IT VIOLATES OR SHUT UP!
Seriously, this is a valid question that goes to a host of privacy and fair use issues, and I cannot believe that no one has any facts to share. I could give a hoot less if you think that just because it is a serial number it is somehow forbidden by God that you should mess with it. Personally, I would love to have a smartphone without having to pay for wireless data. The country would be up in arms if the cable company decided to charge you extra because your TV is capable of receiving HD signal, so why are we such sheep that we all pony up for data plans we don't really need? Nearly everywhere I go with my phone, even in a rural state, has WiFi. I need a data plan like I need silk boxers.
OwenW71 said:
Boy, I am sick of ignorant goofballs spewing 'It's illegal' with no facts whatsoever to back their opinion up.
IF IT IS ILLEGAL, TELL ME WHAT LAW IT VIOLATES OR SHUT UP!
Seriously, this is a valid question that goes to a host of privacy and fair use issues, and I cannot believe that no one has any facts to share. I could give a hoot less if you think that just because it is a serial number it is somehow forbidden by God that you should mess with it. Personally, I would love to have a smartphone without having to pay for wireless data. The country would be up in arms if the cable company decided to charge you extra because your TV is capable of receiving HD signal, so why are we such sheep that we all pony up for data plans we don't really need? Nearly everywhere I go with my phone, even in a rural state, has WiFi. I need a data plan like I need silk boxers.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Two things:
1) Since nobody's been anything but a nice person trying to help I think your reaction is way out of line, no need to YELL or BOLD your opinion in order to be heard.
2) If you had taken a moment to read the entire post you would've read this:
Akath19 said:
After some reading, there's no law in the U.S. that even talks about IMEIs, so technically it is legal to change it, however, since most if not all carriers change certain things based on your IMEI I think that changing your IMEI would effectively violate your service contract (if they found out), so instead of trying to change your IMEI I'd go to your carrier and ask for an unlimited smartphone plan.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
So that answers your question in a very civil and decent way, but since you might not get it that way, here's the answer in your own style:
THERE IS NO F-ING LAW THAT EVEN TALKS ABOUT IMEI, SO NO LAW = LEGAL
I was just stating an opinion regarding the fact that changing your IMEI is kinda immoral considering that that practice is done mostly on stolen phones in order to use them on any network after they've been reported.
So to put it plainly there is no law that forbids it and it'd be nice if you read posts before attacking the posters.
While I agree that yelling is normally in bad taste, I feel strongly that someone needs to be yelling about this. In every forum I go to, every time this question is asked we get flooded with meaningless opinions, nearly every one of them saying that even thinking it is illegal. Rubbish. Up until very recently, IMEI numbers stood a good chance of not even being unique, and even now many may not be, since phone manufacturers are assigned blocks of numbers, and it is up to them to govern the assignment of the IMEI to the hardware.
As it stands, GSM operators in the US are using your IMEI number to make sure you are being charged for a data plan if you use a smartphone, even if you don't want a data plan.
I, for one, would like my provider to think I'm using a RAZR or any other dumbphone, and the only way to do it is to spoof my IMEI. I don't believe it is illegal to do so, although my provider would surely be peeved. iPhone users can do this with a bit of software.
Here is what I'd like to see from this conversaation:
1. Establish conclusively that IMEI changes are legal.
2. Discuss methods by which a new IMEI could be entered in software.
3. Avoid discussing how the carriers may feel about it. We already rooted, right?
Again, I apologize for ruffling feathers by shouting. I hope the message came across to those with opinions but no facts. This is a legitimate question of fair-use, and I'd love to hear from someone who has facts regarding the legality of this idea. Even better, I'd welcome a way to actually accomplish the change.
Thank you for your answer, I honestly thought that you were just flaming for flaming's sake.
Sadly there's not much info anywhere besides a lawyer's office, after some serious digging, most people seem to think that changing an IMEI in the US is a Class C felony, however no one knows exactly where is that law written.
I'd also advise you on asking these kinds of things in the forum 'cause I know people have been banned for asking these kinds of things. I know that's stupid but some mods in the forum think that just asking a question about something illegal in certain countries constitutes a felony in an of itself.
So, to sum things up:
1) Apparently it's illegal to change your IMEI, but I'd consult with a lawyer to know exactly where is that written.
2) People in general think that just talking about illegal activities is a felony so I'd expect much hate towards you for asking.
3) IMEI's in smartphones are not software based, meaning if you want to change it you'd need to isolate the chip on which they're located and change it with dongles and flasher tools (not software)
Sorry that I can't say anymore but I'm not from the US so that's all the info I can gather.
I do know in the uk it is a arrestable offense to change a phones imei no., dont know about anywere else.
I found a seller on eBay that changed my IMEI for $50. I bet he can give you any IMEI you want. He claims to change the mother board with that of a different IMEI but im sure he is just using the flash tools I read about wile doing google searches. The flash tools are physical items that connect into the phones usb port and or directly to the chip on the motherboard. They cost about $500. There are also ways to do it via software on some phones especially androids but there is more risk involved for the do it your selfer.
I am such a do it your selfer and after reading about it for 12 hours I decided that id have to read about it for 3 more before I felt comfortable and even then the risk of bricking was greater then having the pros do it for me. This high risk level is why you dont see much talk of the processes in the forums online. The pros know its best to use the hardware so they buy it and protect the process by not disclosing it online. The talk of its process that I did find on line involves so many abbreviations and new terms that I was heavily burdened with not understanding.
The bottom line is unless you plan on doing it for an income its not worth learning how to do.
Now back to the original question. Will the internet work on a smart phone if you change the IMEI to that of a none smart phone? Will you be stuck using the carriers dumbed down WAP internet or have no internet at all? Maybe you could run some sort of dumb phone simulator to gain access to a dumb phones web browser program?
For those of you that want to rag on me for reviving an old thread. Know that many people like my self searching google for knowledge end up here and will see my post. Thats how I got here so this thread is not so dead after all. Threads that start with a real question need more real answers.
---------- Post added at 01:26 PM ---------- Previous post was at 01:20 PM ----------
Here is a software example of how to change the IMEI of a cretin android.
I doubt this app works on any other model.
http://changemtkimei.blogspot.com/
As I remember, I lost the IMEI (actually it was replaced by something like 00499010640000) on my Samsung Galaxy i9000 and Galaxy Tab P6200 when I SIM unlocked them, so at least on Samsung this is possible, the IMEI was stored in the EFS files.
hi people of xda.....
iv got a chance to buy a galaxy s3 that has been blocked through the network t-mobile is it possible for it to unblocked using odin or some other software??
I heard that it's possible using an app called voodoo.
Though i'm not so sure.
But it might be possible.
Search the forums
IF the phone is blocked by provider (not SIM-locked) - that usually means that it was claimed as stolen.
I have no idea how'r you, but I'd never bought the item marked as stolen...
doesnt unblocking involve change of imei and that is very illegal which will attract the police
just try a different network and them sell the phone abroad untill its fully locked
The word blocked means someone has reported it lost or stolen the IMEI has had a block on and it will not work on any network.
Changing your IMEI is illegal and we cannot discuss it on XDA.
However if you mean locked it can be unlocked from t-mobile to work on any network, that is a SIM lock.
Sent from my GT-I9300 using xda premium
i do mean blocked but i dnt wanna do owt illegal i.e change imei i dnt know how you do that anyway... reason asking is a friend of mine was cleaning his loft out and his fone died and he cudnt remember were he left it so he rang t-mobile who i presume blocked it through insurance and he got another one.... a few days later he found his fone... so thats the reason for asking bout unblocking etc.....
You ask the network to unblock it and return the new phone if asked to .
The IMEI is blocked by the network and XDA cannot help in any illegal practice as trying to change an IMEI .
Do not buy it as you are buying a stolen phone that belongs to the insurance company .
jje
So, in other words: you and your friend made a deal:
HE will claim it as missing/stolen, HE will take money from insurance, YOU will pay him some % of the price, right?
Well, I can assure you that this is illegal as well.
spamtrash said:
So, in other words: you and your friend made a deal:
HE will claim it as missing/stolen, HE will take money from insurance, YOU will pay him some % of the price, right?
Well, I can assure you that this is illegal as well.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
no the phone was advertised on a facebook buy and sell site am not into illegal crap i just wanted to know if it was possible for it to be done
You need a court order for that. The block is not in the hardware or firmware, but in the network, and since you have no control of the network, there is nothing you can do.
If you want to play fair, your only choice now is to return the phone to your friend so he can give it to the real owners now: the insurance company. Only they can request the carrier to unblock the phone.
You may keep the USB cable, power supply and headphones!
---- side note:
BTW, your friend is a dimwit, isn't him? Not being able to find a phone - that features SamsungDive - is a very dumb argument.
And, since it is a S III it does have SamsungDive, so both the carrier and insurance company can easily find out where the phone is. Since the phone has been reported as stolen, don't be surprised if the cops knock on your door in a few hours.
galaxygaz said:
no the phone was advertised on a facebook buy and sell site am not into illegal crap i just wanted to know if it was possible for it to be done
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That conflicts with your story about the friends, doesn't it?
Dear XDA fellows,
i requested a provider unlock code for my simlocked samsung s2
Unfortunately the code does not work at all.
Now i wonder why,
i have rooted the phone with the old ICS and used the galaxy s unlock app on it to use other providers cards.
A few months later (now) i updated Android to 4.12 and tried to use the provider unlock code on it but it did not work.
Rooted the phone again and tried various unlock apps, but none of them work.
Now i wonder why the phone has become so defiant to my attempts to unlock it, after all i treated it good for all the time that i used it.
Maybe someone has any suggestions on how to unlock the phone after all?
IMEI blocked
Hello Everyone,
I don't know if this is the right place to post my issue. Briefly.... After having a Samsung Galaxy s II, GT-I9100, with a contract in Italy (VODAFONE), having paid the phone in full, suddenly after two years, I decide to close contract,
The Vodafone bastards tell me that I must pay 380.00 € (threehundredeigthy) because of some invoices. This obviously according to them. I always paid everything. I refuse to pay this sum and open a controversy with them demonstrating with facts and papers at hand that it is not right I pay this amount. Anyway, after a week, they block my IMEI.
I think this is absurd. I PAID THE PHONE IN FULL!!! They want 380.00 € of telephone calls related to the SIM card. I don't want to pay this money. The phone is no brand.
I went to a lawyer, and he told me it's not worth the hassle to go to court for such sum.
What I want to know is:
Why should I have a phone that doesn't work after I have paid for it?
You need to contact a guy called "gaston" on here.
He works for vodafone italy in the customer service dept.
-------------------------------------------
maybe your an iphone expert
------------------------------------------
If they IMEI block the phone, you're boned. Nothing anyone here can do to help. If they block it, the phone is blocked at the carriers end & in many countries on all networks in that country.
And further talk about changing the IMEI will likely see the thread closed, given this is illegal in most countries & talk of same is against XDA rules. Go see a local mobile repair shop, some might be able to 'help'.
Re:
arsy82 said:
Why should I have a phone that doesn't work after I have paid for it?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Why should we care ?
MistahBungle said:
If they IMEI block the phone, you're boned. Nothing anyone here can do to help. If they block it, the phone is blocked at the carriers end & in many countries on all networks in that country.
And further talk about changing the IMEI will likely see the thread closed, given this is illegal in most countries & talk of same is against XDA rules. Go see a local mobile repair shop, some might be able to 'help'.
Re:
Why should we care ?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I've asked for help..If you come up with "What should we care", then I guess you shouldn't care of anything and not be on the site. I think this site other than an educational point of view, can also offer expertise and technical assistence as it is a really important internet forum. I really don't understand your rude answer..honestly it has no sense or help to me.
Why should he care.....hes not getting paid.You are involved in a civil dispute with vodafone or whoever,so this isnt the carriers complaints dept.
Then you start talking about an illegal method to help you out which is against xda rules.
So dont pay then,sell the phone and use the money towards buying another phone.Make sure it isnt a vodafone one......lol
-------------------------------------------
maybe your an iphone expert
------------------------------------------
bahmonkeys said:
Go on Ebay and look for faulty phones. Basically ones with broken screens. Stay away from water damaged ones and ones with the same problem you are having. Once you get it, you could swap out the motherboards and sell yours on Ebay. Sell yours outside of the country as it might work. This would be the easy way. It might cost you about 50 bucks but you could sell your motherboard and make it back.
Remember Google is your friend for changing IMEI. I would choose the option above.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I just have 1 technical question: if i get a ****ty alcatel phone i have home and get my imei blocked samsung galaxy s2. CAN I TAKE THE ALCATELS IMEI E SHOVE IT IN THE SAMSUNG GALAXY S2?
I DON'T THINK IT IS ILLEGAL TO TRY TO HAVE A PHONE I PAID FOR WORK.,
I JUST WANT TO KNOW IF IT IS POSSIBLE.
And which part of changing an IMEI is both illegal, and more importantly, discussion of same is against XDA rules aren't you clever enough to understand ? I've reported this thread, hopefully your posts are removed (because the OP had legitimate queries about unlocking it until you hijacked it).
MistahBungle said:
And which part of changing an IMEI is both illegal, and more importantly, discussion of same is against XDA rules aren't you clever enough to understand ? I've reported this thread, hopefully your posts are removed (because the OP had legitimate queries about unlocking it until you hijacked it).
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm really sorry if I caused any sort of trouble to any member of the forum. Honestly it was the last of my intents. I will obviously put a stop to my curiosity, thoughts & problems regarding the IMEI related issue to avoid any sort of problems. Sorry once again.
Regardless of the circumstances changing the IMEI, discussing how to change the IMEI, and I believe in the UK even possessing tools capable of doing so, is all illegal and can get the site in trouble. This is an issue you would need to take up with your local representative or vodaphone and should not be discussed in anyway here.
This is non-negotiable.
Thank you for your understanding and cooperation.
Hi
I have an S2 which is hard bricked, it is not stolen or barred.
I have bought a replacement motherboard and a shop will fit it for me as I lack the technical skill.
My question is will my IMEI be lost?
If so how do I recover it, assuming the phone is then working?
Many thanks in advance
Mark
Generally speaking, if it's a new MB by a Samsung service centre you'll get the same IMEI (but not in all countries). If you/someone else puts a 2nd hand board in, yes, the IMEI will change. Either way it makes no difference to you as a user, your phone will still have a unique IMEI & work as it should with either scenario.
You messing around with the IMEI in order to try to 'recover' your old one should it change will lead to a busted phone (again). Don't attempt this because it just isn't necessary.
MistahBungle said:
Generally speaking, if it's a new MB by a Samsung service centre you'll get the same IMEI (but not in all countries). If you/someone else puts a 2nd hand board in, yes, the IMEI will change. Either way it makes no difference to you as a user, your phone will still have a unique IMEI & work as it should with either scenario.
You messing around with the IMEI in order to try to 'recover' your old one should it change will lead to a busted phone (again). Don't attempt this because it just isn't necessary.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Many thanks for the reply, great information.
I will leave it as it is.
Thanks
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.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
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.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
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.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
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.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
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.