Unlocking Mobile Phones

**hughdman** · 17-02-11, 02:43 PM

I've been in the business for a few years now and for what it's worth wish to help people with their choices.

If i was going to buy a phone which was locked and I wanted it unlocked, I'd choose LG or Samsung as atm they are quite easy to unlock.

Nokia has beefed up it's security with alot of the newer phones impossible to unlock atm or if it's possible it'll cost you.

There are some newer nokias which can still be unlocked without to much fuss.

I'm always happy to assist members with their questions.

**weirdo** · 17-02-11, 04:53 PM

Very generous of you hughdman.
I'm possibly looking at a Nokia N8 when my contract expires in a couple of months.
Are they unlockable?

**hughdman** · 17-02-11, 05:13 PM

Usually when it's a contract phone they are already unlocked. It's mainly the prepaid phones which are locked. FWIW I've heard alot of bad things about the N8 in regards to freezing/dropping out etc.

**weirdo** · 17-02-11, 05:28 PM

Originally Posted by hughdman

Usually when it's a contract phone they are already unlocked. It's mainly the prepaid phones which are locked. FWIW I've heard alot of bad things about the N8 in regards to freezing/dropping out etc.

Thanks mate, might go for something else instead then

Any recommendations?

**Don Benosee** · 17-02-11, 05:40 PM

Always liked nokias, but they've lost it in the last few yer I reckon. Android all tthe way, plenty of choice of models

**freakee1** · 17-02-11, 05:41 PM

Originally Posted by hughdman

Usually when it's a contract phone they are already unlocked. It's mainly the prepaid phones which are locked. FWIW I've heard alot of bad things about the N8 in regards to freezing/dropping out etc.

Hey Guys

I have had a lot of Nokia N8's and some N97's that have had black screens in for repair and when you search for info about it - there is alot...............

just my findings

f

**hughdman** · 17-02-11, 06:07 PM

I'm an Iphone person myself, I change my phone every 3 months or so but keep going back to the Iphone.

**kcsoft** · 17-02-11, 06:13 PM

so the lg's easy to unlock?? where can i get a nck calculator for a TU500S?

**freakee1** · 17-02-11, 08:37 PM

I must admit when the iPhone first came out I couldn't believe the rar rar about them, a phone is a phone and that was all, but after getting a 3gs, wouldn't have anything else at the moment. The 4g is no different to the 3gs as per operating system and I wont be updating to the 4g because I can't see the value. All the symbian / android phones have struggled to catch up. But they have caught up - the issue is they have only caught up. I'm with hughdman - why get another type of smartphone when the apple has released a fantastic product.

I would love to see another phone make a product as innovative as the first iphone out on the market - but I think it will be a while

f

**hughdman** · 17-02-11, 09:35 PM

Originally Posted by kcsoft

so the lg's easy to unlock?? where can i get a nck calculator for a TU500S?

It's easy with the required hardware/software. I've purchased a box that does the lgs. I've also purchased a box for the samsungs. The boxes came with approx 20 cables each which between them do all the lg and samsungs to date, I so far have 126 cables for nokias and keep purchasing more and I still can't unlock them all. The boxes cost around $200-$500 depending on which ones you get.

**kcsoft** · 17-02-11, 10:10 PM

Originally Posted by hughdman

It's easy with the required hardware/software. I've purchased a box that does the lgs. I've also purchased a box for the samsungs. The boxes came with approx 20 cables each which between them do all the lg and samsungs to date, I so far have 126 cables for nokias and keep purchasing more and I still can't unlock them all. The boxes cost around $200-$500 depending on which ones you get.

so no calculator??? how is it that telstra etc can just give out a code but we need a furiousgold, infinity etc?

**hughdman** · 18-02-11, 10:18 AM

The providers often subsidise the cost of the phone hoping they'll receive dividends when the person buys the credit. I've seem some places selling brand new phones with $10 credit for $19. To answer your question it's not in there interest. I also believe the manufacturers of these boxes (furious gold infinity etc) all like this fact.

**Ma_Baker** · 20-02-11, 05:22 AM

Thanks for the info.

So what is the point or purpose in unlocking a phone when the sim card determines the network?

**freakee1** · 20-02-11, 06:55 AM

unlocking allows the owner to choose which provider they would like to have.

You are correct when saying the sim is provider specific, but it is annoying that your phone can be locked to provider with a shit service

f

**hughdman** · 20-02-11, 12:24 PM

WHS

It also allows you to take your phone overseas and use an overseas sim card. It also helps when selling your phone. Also the phones which offer a below par service often sell the cheapest prepaid phones.

**Walfra** · 24-02-11, 11:48 AM

Could anyone advise me as to what the problem may be with this situation.
My wife broke her old LG mobile and so her sister gave her an old Samsung SGH-M300. My wife is with '3' network.
I don't think it is locked to any network, because when you turn it on it says to insert 'sim', after doing that it asks for the 'pin'.
But it doesn't accept the 'pin'.
Am I wrong in my assumption about not being locked, or doesn't this phone recognise the '3' network.
Please help.

**oceanboy** · 24-02-11, 12:31 PM

G'day Hughdman,

Whats the story with Virgin Pre Paid handsets... Sony Ericsson mainly.
They say for a $80 recharge, they give you the unlock code, plus of course you get the $80 bundle amount to.

I have a few W959's and a T707.

If its just as simple as a code, can't be too hard? or is it?

Cheers

**hughdman** · 24-02-11, 01:19 PM

It is just a code but getting the code is the tricky part. There are online code providers for a fee and also people who have unlocking boxes. The boxes are a few hundred each and then with some phones you have to buy credits/activations/logs to unlock each model. Most people don't want to pay $80 but if you're happy to then after spending the $80 credit you get a free unlock.

**oceanboy** · 24-02-11, 02:17 PM

Well i normally at around $45, so it is kinda of double.... It just has me interested in how its done.

Do they need your IEMI number?
They don't seem to need your phone physically.... so there isn't much other info left i would of thought.

As in, do they have a Calc they put your IEMI through, or is there just a separate unlock code for each handset sold, which they just look up... Obviously it isn't a master code,or it would be all over the net.

Or do they send a data message that unlocks it... I have no idea, never done it... i'm too busy drowning them.

**kcsoft** · 25-02-11, 02:38 AM

Originally Posted by oceanboy

Well i normally at around $45, so it is kinda of double.... It just has me interested in how its done.

Do they need your IEMI number?
They don't seem to need your phone physically.... so there isn't much other info left i would of thought.

As in, do they have a Calc they put your IEMI through, or is there just a separate unlock code for each handset sold, which they just look up... Obviously it isn't a master code,or it would be all over the net.

Or do they send a data message that unlocks it... I have no idea, never done it... i'm too busy drowning them.

they usually get your imei from you (*#06#) and put it into their computer, verify your details and then they'll tell you what to do on the phone to get to the nck prompt than their system generates the nck (unlocking) code based on your phones imei. well thats how telstra do it anyway.