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Thread: Unlock mobile while overseas

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    Default Unlock mobile while overseas

    I got a mate who bought his 1st smartphone before going overseas, it was supposed to be unlocked but overseas sim will not work.

    It works with Telstra sim in oz but I was wondering if you can unlock a phone without being connected to Telstra network or to the internet through wifi?


    It's a Samsung S5 mini
    Last edited by knowabit1; 22-03-17 at 11:29 PM. Reason: model of phone



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    Different phones have varying methods of unlocking them.... some use just a keypad sequence, no connection necessary.

    It would help if you posted make/model of phone.

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    Also, Samsung phones are region locked. I found out about it when I bought an S5 through Kogan. I received the European model SM-G900F instead of the SM-G900I Asian Model. The phone is unlocked to different networks, but will not work in some countries, and their networks. The SM-G900F will work in Australia, but from memory a couple of bands weren't able to be used. Luckily the phone had a screen problem anyway, and I returned it for a full refund.

    The region lock can be removed by making a 5 minute phone call, to a number in the region it is locked to, using a SIM from that region.

    Here's a bit about region locking:
    Last edited by bob_m_54; 23-03-17 at 11:08 AM.

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    Quote Originally Posted by bob_m_54 View Post
    Also, Samsung phones are region locked.
    I have never found that with the Samsung S3 or S5*
    Both my partner and I have each handset, travel to the same countries, also get a country of origin SIM at airport, never had a problem ever.
    And my S3 is a Telstra phone Never been unlocked, you just don't need to, as they dont come locked (region or sim)
    Which will work on any Australian SIM card you toss in it

    My S3 is Australian (Telstra) handset
    My partners is a Taiwan Samsung S5 (which works on all Aust Bands)

    Not sure about Kogan, everytime i've looked, they import/sell a model that isn't even fully supported in AU
    When questioned they agreed.

    * This may have been your case bob
    European Samsung smartphones are region-locked, but only to the UK and countries within Europe (Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Czech, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and Croatia), plus a few non-EU countries (Albania, Andorra, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Monaco, Montenegro, San Marino, Serbia and Vatican City).
    Last edited by ol' boy; 23-03-17 at 11:44 AM.
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    Quote Originally Posted by knowabit1 View Post
    It's a Samsung S5 mini
    Do you know which model?

    SM-G800F, SM-G800H, SM-G800H/DS, SM-G800M, SM-G800Y

    This may be helpful:
    Last edited by ol' boy; 23-03-17 at 11:40 AM.
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    Quote Originally Posted by oceanboy View Post
    I have never found that with the Samsung S3 or S5*
    Both my partner and I have each handset, travel to the same countries, also get a country of origin SIM at airport, never had a problem ever.
    And my S3 is a Telstra phone
    Which will work on any Australian SIM card you toss in it

    My S3 is Australian (Telstra) handset
    My partners is a Taiwan Samsung S5 (which works on all Aust Bands)

    Not sure about Kogan, everytime i've looked, they import/sell a model that isn't even fully supported in AU
    When questioned they agreed.

    * This may have been you case bob
    Yes, post paid or bought outright phones are network unlocked, but pre-paid are locked to the network you buy it from.
    Your Taiwan S5 is probably a SG-M900I is it? which is the same as you buy in Australia.

    And yes, my phone, as I said, was a SG-M900F European Model. Which Kogan don't mention, so unless you know what the different models are, it's not obvious. There is also an American region lock as well. I'm pretty sure all Samsung Galaxy phones after S3, or S4 are region locked.

    Here is a pic of the sticker that was on my phone. It's not my pic, just one I lifted of the WWW, and is a bit hard to read.

    Last edited by bob_m_54; 23-03-17 at 11:54 AM.

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    Quote Originally Posted by bob_m_54 View Post
    Your Taiwan S5 is probably a SG-M900I is it? which is the same as you buy in Australia.
    Yes, it is the reason i purchased that exact one
    I posted the link in my Samsung S5 thread here years ago, the seller had sold 1000's and 1000's of them.

    Anyway, this is not helping the OP with his Samsung S5mini much.
    Shame that is locked, i wonder what region handset it is and where it was purchased from?

    Does the owner understand if it is SIM locked or a Region locked problem?
    Or perhaps both?
    Last edited by ol' boy; 23-03-17 at 12:06 PM.
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    Just an update, now he told me he bought the sim at an unofficial store (side of the road or something) & got invalid sim type message (the sim is a dud & he has been scammed) & the seller told him the phone was locked.

    While in oz I told him to buy it at the airport when he arrives & they will ask for a passport but he is a bit of a idiot at times.

    Will wait for the next installment
    Last edited by knowabit1; 24-03-17 at 07:15 PM. Reason: missed a few words

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