How to trick AT&T?
Ok, i've spent hours tonight on the phone with several ATT reps. Some gave me the "I don't know what the Network unlock code means" story, others gave me the "We don't provide that, call moto" and other straight up told me "NO". I even came one step from canceling my account unless they gave me the code, and they won't do it. Is there ANYTHING you can say to them that will make them give you the code?
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Well, I hate to tell you this, but I've learned that AT&T are bast***s. They will not give you the unlock code. Regarding their responses: Either they are stupid, or they've been trained to be stupid.
I recommend doing a search for the type of phone you have and/or searching for "unlock code" or "reverse engineer." Nokia phones are fairly easy to unlock (That's my phone), and from what I've read, Motorolla phones are quite difficult. Some phones require special software and cables. Delightful.
Cingular, however, gives you the unlock code for your phone after you've had the service for 90 days (I don't know this from experience, but it's what I've read.) Now might be a good time to jump ship if your contract is up.
http://www »...
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I recommend doing a search for the type of phone you have and/or searching for "unlock code" or "reverse engineer." Nokia phones are fairly easy to unlock (That's my phone), and from what I've read, Motorolla phones are quite difficult. Some phones require special software and cables. Delightful.
Cingular, however, gives you the unlock code for your phone after you've had the service for 90 days (I don't know this from experience, but it's what I've read.) Now might be a good time to jump ship if your contract is up.
http://www »...
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actually the reason is, quite simply. reps dont have the unlock codes, and it also in the terms and conditions that they do not unlock phones.
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Actually, the reason is that the reps aren't GIVEN the unlock codes. They are told NOT to give the unlock codes. Europe has very different phone standards. They pay much less for their monthly service and they get to keep their phones if they change carriers. The US companies are screwing the US consumers because generally, we don't know better. We haven't had the option so it's difficult to demand. Recently we were able to take our numbers with us (which the cell companies lobbied against for YEARS) but due to the "phone lock codes" we are unable to take our phones with us. For the exhorbitant rates they charge, they SHOULD give us the damn codes.
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Would you like some cheese to go along with that whine?
1) If you think the cellular service is so much better in Europe, go move there. I'm sure the US isn't holding you hostage.
2) When you get to Europe, don't come back here crying about how you get charged different rates depending on if you call a landline or cellular phone. Also, don't complain that you dished out extra cash to buy you're unlocked phone. Oh my god, no more free phone!
3) Even if the cellular phones came unlocked you're only giving yourself 2 other options to move to... Cingular and T-Mobile. Cingular and AWS will sooner or later finish the merger and then you're only down to TWO companies (National ones that is). It isn't like you'd be able to take an unlocked...
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1) If you think the cellular service is so much better in Europe, go move there. I'm sure the US isn't holding you hostage.
2) When you get to Europe, don't come back here crying about how you get charged different rates depending on if you call a landline or cellular phone. Also, don't complain that you dished out extra cash to buy you're unlocked phone. Oh my god, no more free phone!
3) Even if the cellular phones came unlocked you're only giving yourself 2 other options to move to... Cingular and T-Mobile. Cingular and AWS will sooner or later finish the merger and then you're only down to TWO companies (National ones that is). It isn't like you'd be able to take an unlocked...
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Personally aI would love to go with all unlocked phones, save me the trouble of having to credit accounts for equipment. I get tired of customers that have a sense of entitlement about being provided Subsidized equipment.
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Regarding never providing the subsidy unlock code- Why should a customer who has paid out his contract and in effect purchased the phone not be given the unlock code to take his personal property elsewhere. Also when I go to Germany next month and I have a GSM Quad-band phone, why should I not be able to use my fiance's spare Deutsche Telekom SIM in my phone to make cheaper local calls rather than pay for overseas usage?
And lastly - Why is AT&T the only wireless co. in the U.S. with GSM that is so hard-assed about giving their customers the option to unlock their phone? T-Mobile and Cingular will both unlock your phone for reasons as stated above!
That's why I'm a Cingular and T-Mobile customer.
The only question is whether Congres...
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And lastly - Why is AT&T the only wireless co. in the U.S. with GSM that is so hard-assed about giving their customers the option to unlock their phone? T-Mobile and Cingular will both unlock your phone for reasons as stated above!
That's why I'm a Cingular and T-Mobile customer.
The only question is whether Congres...
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So what your saying is that you should get the equipment and be able to go with any company you want right? If they did pass that law your dumba$$ would be paying twice as much if not more for your phones. Europe started out were you buy the phone then come to start the service. No FREE phone and the manufactors make good money. The US did the one stop shopping and they regulate what network you can use and in turn give a very cheap price for your phone. So if the US has two major types of service what makes you think that your gonna be able to just jump ship and use whatever company you want? And why should a company give you a free phone or discounted one for you to leave and use it with another carrier? If you pay full price that is a und...
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My, My you guys sound a little upset. Don't by chance have a vested interest in this discussion by chance? Such as selling the phones for AWS and seeing your customers walk away in droves: highest churn rate in the U.S. and getting worse by the month!
So what the hell is the legal contract for? You know, the one with the early termination fee!
And when both T-Mobile AND Cingular will unlock your phone well before the end of the contract and AWS won't unlock it even after they have grubbed up all of your money, then logically gentlemen, I don't think you have a leg to stand on in this discussion!
So what the hell is the legal contract for? You know, the one with the early termination fee!
And when both T-Mobile AND Cingular will unlock your phone well before the end of the contract and AWS won't unlock it even after they have grubbed up all of your money, then logically gentlemen, I don't think you have a leg to stand on in this discussion!
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Dont say you guys Im the one who responded. The only interest I have is setting you straight on your comment. You are upset thats why your bit Ching on this website about how unfair it is 😢. Go cry to Congress maybe you can get one of them to listen to you wine. As for Tmobile and Cingular thats the way they run their business so buy your phones with them and be happy. Dont be get perturb because you can't change ATT policy. I want you to show me this so called "highest churn rate" BS your pulling. Your Legal CONRACT is for the discount on your phone and the promos on your plan genuis. With that monthly service you pay for. Sounds like your new to this. 🙄
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Miguelito said:
Sounds like you're new to the English language, moron.
End of discussion!
Good to see you cant respond to what I said...senorita. Go cry in some other forum.
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Well I don't agree with all that has been said. It is true that AT&T's churn is the highest read any trade mags, rcr, wireless week, any of them. Face it AT&T Wireless is not the best by far if they were they would still be AT&T the end of next year and not Cingular. Sorry but has to be said!!!
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not really true. the bottom line was the sale was all about money and nothing more. and attws's recent high churn was from late last year when there was the huge fiasco when they were trying to update the customer service system for gsm. uptil that point attws churn rate overall was generally lower then everyone else, especially in the business sector which is what the wireless carriers care most (hence why everyone was wanting to buy attws when it went up for sale).
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Siebel really messed us up. Most churn came from 3G customers or migrated customers who could not activate their phones. Cingular wasn't doing to hot the 3 days their GSM network went out.
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(CorporateShill)
Addressing the SOC lock issue, yep, in the T&Cs. Plus, we CustCare really have no idea. We're not told anything about it in training, and we're not given the materials to locate it when on the floor.
Some third-party phone stores have the unlock codes. Perhaps you should speak with them.
(/CorporateShill)
As for the churn issue, you may want to add in the problems that we had with LNP as well. See the FCC.gov website for the letter that was sent to AWS concerning the reports the FCC was getting about porting capability with AWS.
Although I never did hear the final word on why that occured. The scuttlebutt I received from Tech was that it had something to do with protocol choice in the Nightfire sy...
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Addressing the SOC lock issue, yep, in the T&Cs. Plus, we CustCare really have no idea. We're not told anything about it in training, and we're not given the materials to locate it when on the floor.
Some third-party phone stores have the unlock codes. Perhaps you should speak with them.
(/CorporateShill)
As for the churn issue, you may want to add in the problems that we had with LNP as well. See the FCC.gov website for the letter that was sent to AWS concerning the reports the FCC was getting about porting capability with AWS.
Although I never did hear the final word on why that occured. The scuttlebutt I received from Tech was that it had something to do with protocol choice in the Nightfire sy...
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Getting back to the initial complaint of subsidy unlock codes, these come from the phone manufacturer and are different from phone to phone, sometimes different codes for the same MODEL of phone. All carriers I am aware of that release the codes do so by contacting the manufacturer and giving them certain information on the phone itself.
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oh jeez where to begin. i could start with the whole sentence "Don't by chance have a vested interest in this discussion by chance?" Seems someone failed english. 😳 The contracts are anywhere you go Tmobile, Cingular, Etc. The EARLY TERMINATION FEE you speak of is actually cheaper than most. Tmobile is $200 regardless. It's great the other carriers will unlock your phones. Gee wouldn't it be great if everyone had the same policies. In a perfect world... just not ours. Logically, simple minded, you don't know sh*t. Lets break it on down for you. Lets take playstation, an decent comparison, not the best but it will work. When you buy one you know you can only play PS games. Now theres a way to alter it to play others but SONY won't give you ...
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i understand att policy (lame but i understand it) they wont give the unlock codes b/c they sold the phones at a lower price but my question is i bought my t616 at full price from a retail store so they didn't give me any discount they didn't subsidies my price i paid $219 would they give a unlock code if its still the same they wont give it out i've seen the unlock codes on ebay
just a question
just a question
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If you paid THAT much for it, you should've just put the few extra bucks and bought an already unlocked version off of eBay. You're decision though.
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a unlock code is about $25 if i get screwed i'm just out $25 if i were to spend $250 and get jipped i would be hurtin people i don't think it would be worth it
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They aren't hiding anything.
Yah, i agree, if you complete your contract you *SHOULD* be able to keep the equipment. But the ToC state that they will NEVER unlock the phone. If you asked, every employee would tell you that they would NEVER unlock the phone. You really can't complain about it if they TELL you they won't. I mean, you KNOW T-Mobile will unlock your phone after contract, if you want, you can go through that service. It's really dumb to use a service which you KNOW will NOT unlock your phone, then expect them to unlock it.
Also, as another person noted. If they DID pass a law to force phones to stay unlocked then the prices would be MUCH MUCH higher. Not FREE as everyone expects them to be.
Yah, i agree, if you complete your contract you *SHOULD* be able to keep the equipment. But the ToC state that they will NEVER unlock the phone. If you asked, every employee would tell you that they would NEVER unlock the phone. You really can't complain about it if they TELL you they won't. I mean, you KNOW T-Mobile will unlock your phone after contract, if you want, you can go through that service. It's really dumb to use a service which you KNOW will NOT unlock your phone, then expect them to unlock it.
Also, as another person noted. If they DID pass a law to force phones to stay unlocked then the prices would be MUCH MUCH higher. Not FREE as everyone expects them to be.
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What is the big deal everyone? Just unlock the phone! T-Mobile customer care will give it to you for free..I've been able to do it within 24 hours of an activation. If you're an AT&T Wireless customer, go to eBay, get the code..that simple. I bought a Nokia software on there for $2.00 and started charging customers $20/pop to do it. Forget all this talk about laws, threats to cancel service, etc.. Just unlock it yourself.
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shhh, stop taking away their reason to bitch and whine. Leave it for them (it's in their nature)
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Your wrong 😢 Reps ARE NOT GIVEN the unlock codes!! Educate yourself before you accuse please.
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"The US companies are screwing the US consumers..." That might be the biggest load I've ever heard. Take trip up to Canada, or anywhere else other then Europe and get a cell phone. How does $40 for 300 mins and unlimited NW sound?? Yup thats a good plan in Canada! Meanwhile you sit here and complain while you get a free phone every year and a $40 plan with like 1000 mins, unlimited NW, Free Long Distance and whole crap load of other stuff!! Yeah, sounds like you're getting screwed to me. I think you should take that to the FCC.
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Umm, Europe isn't any better.
You pay all sorts of fees depending on the TYPE of call.
Cell to landline
Cell to cell
Incoming
etc. etc.
Also, they don't have the type of bucket minutes we have here. Yah, you heard me, no UNLIM N&W.
Why do so many people SMS there? Because SMS is cheaper than making a call.
Why don't people SMS as much in the US? Because the average SMS is 10c per message, which is WAYYYYYYYYY too much for our pockets since we're already being robbed of our $40 each month for a plan that includes 600 minutes and free nights and weekends and free long distance and a free phone too!
You pay all sorts of fees depending on the TYPE of call.
Cell to landline
Cell to cell
Incoming
etc. etc.
Also, they don't have the type of bucket minutes we have here. Yah, you heard me, no UNLIM N&W.
Why do so many people SMS there? Because SMS is cheaper than making a call.
Why don't people SMS as much in the US? Because the average SMS is 10c per message, which is WAYYYYYYYYY too much for our pockets since we're already being robbed of our $40 each month for a plan that includes 600 minutes and free nights and weekends and free long distance and a free phone too!
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ragnarok79 said:
Actually, the reason is that the reps aren't GIVEN the unlock codes. They are told NOT to give the unlock codes. Europe has very different phone standards. They pay much less for their monthly service and they get to keep their phones if they change carriers.
Euopeons pay a LOT more than we do for cel service. Their average cost per min. is 2-3 times or more what ours is.
As for unlocking phones, the other GSM carriers here both do it. T-M (and its forebearers) always have. PacBell/Cingular always gave out codes until about 18 months ago when T-M came into Ca. and they saw they were losing customers to the much lower T-M rates. Recently, tho, I got an unlock code for an o...
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Reality check we are the wireless provider, we are provided limited informaiton about the phones and do not make them ourselves, so before calling aws reps stupid, call Nokia or whatever the manufacturer of your phone is because basically its not our problem when it comes to that.
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ie: you do not call your landline provider if your GE or Sanyo phone suddenly needs something like that or your television needs to have a password entered on it to power it on(if it did)
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i may have a solution for you. i tried doing this for my sister in law who wanted to try to activate a cell one phn for cingular. here is what i did. i needed the code to unlock to manually program the phn so i called several local cell one stores until i got an unsuspecting rep. what i did was called and claimed to be a rep for cell one and gave them a fake name. i claimed i was processing a change for a customer and needed his rep id and name. he gave it to me without any questions. next i called cell one cust svc and claimed to be this store rep and gave them the id and asked to get the phone unlock code. the service rep gave that to me without any problems. after all was said and done i went through all that and the phone wouldnt work on...
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You can have an AWS dealer code and it still won't help you. Heck, I still remember a lot of store codes that were in a large list we were given. And even if I called in to unlock the phone with that dealer code, AWS policy is not to give out the unlock code.
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ripley said:...
i may have a solution for you. i tried doing this for my sister in law who wanted to try to activate a cell one phn for cingular. here is what i did. i needed the code to unlock to manually program the phn so i called several local cell one stores until i got an unsuspecting rep. what i did was called and claimed to be a rep for cell one and gave them a fake name. i claimed i was processing a change for a customer and needed his rep id and name. he gave it to me without any questions. next i called cell one cust svc and claimed to be this store rep and gave them the id and asked to get the phone unlock code. the service rep gave that to me without any problems. after all was said and done i went through all t
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defeat...it dont matter what u say to attws cust care..if u were talkin to me on the phone and wanted the unlock code it wouldnt matter what u say..i wouldnt give it to ya....not that i dont want to or not that i even care about it....ITS IN THE TERMS AND CONTDITONS THAT WE DONT GIVE THE CODE....i aint losin my job for dumbasses who dont understand why we cant give it out....we are told not to so we dont.....do u do things at your job that u arent allowed to???? doubt it
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You aren't going to get any code calling AT&T Wireless, so give up already.
Do an Internet search and pay someone to do it.
Do an Internet search and pay someone to do it.
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Agreed, there is remote unlocking services being sold on eBay all the time! Dish out the cash and do it there.
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I'm sure it does, but this topic has become a dog beaten to death. Let the damn guy just get his phone unlocked and hopefully motopaulie will stop flooding this forum with misleading information... maybe he'll just drift away.
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motopaulie is just one of those ignorant people that should be banned from society, fat, lazy and stinky sitting in front of his PC all day long not having anything else better to do other than criticize people on their grammar mistakes, and their questions. dude, seriously, have you got nothing else better to than get on other people's cases? lose some weight, shave your beard, return to society, get a woman (or a man, depending on your preference), and life will be so much better for you
canadianguy, i myself work as a nextel customer care rep. overall, its all the same job. don't tell me that your job is so important, and that listening to people bitch at you and call you names because they are too stupid and irresponsible to pay t...
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canadianguy, i myself work as a nextel customer care rep. overall, its all the same job. don't tell me that your job is so important, and that listening to people bitch at you and call you names because they are too stupid and irresponsible to pay t...
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Hey motopaulie.. sorry man, i missread a thread. I take that stuff I said in the other post back. Didn't mean to talk ****. I read a post that I thought was from you to me, and I got a bit defensive. Sorry again. 😡
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There is no magical backdoor.
I don't personally work for AWS anymore, but I have friends who do. It is pushed and pushed again that their policy is NOT to release the subsidy lock to customers. NO EXCEPTIONS. As mentioned, it COULD [and most likely would] cost the rep his job (something he is probably not willing to risk, regardless of how great it is). It is in the ToC and a company-wide policy, hence NOONE CAN GIVE IT OUT.
www.ebay.com - it costs about $10 to get it remotely done, problem solved. Is $10 really too much? Is hours and hours of talking to reps and frustration worth the $10? Not all of them are $10, but there are some out there that cheap.
Good luck, hope this helps you and closes this subject.
I don't personally work for AWS anymore, but I have friends who do. It is pushed and pushed again that their policy is NOT to release the subsidy lock to customers. NO EXCEPTIONS. As mentioned, it COULD [and most likely would] cost the rep his job (something he is probably not willing to risk, regardless of how great it is). It is in the ToC and a company-wide policy, hence NOONE CAN GIVE IT OUT.
www.ebay.com - it costs about $10 to get it remotely done, problem solved. Is $10 really too much? Is hours and hours of talking to reps and frustration worth the $10? Not all of them are $10, but there are some out there that cheap.
Good luck, hope this helps you and closes this subject.
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I got the point by now that AT&T will not give out the code since it could cost them their job. That is understandable. BTW.. badspawn, ATTWS reps DO have access to the codes, whether its the regular reps or the tech support reps, they DO have access to them.
Mycool: You are right, remote unlocking seems to be the only way to go, and I have taken that approach a couple days ago. Having that said, one questions remains: "Why am I still bugging people about this?" The answer is simple. For some time now, a lot of remote unlocking websites and/or ebay sellers have had bad luck in providing customers with the code due to the fact that the servers providing them with this unlock code are currently not working and/or have been shut down...
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Mycool: You are right, remote unlocking seems to be the only way to go, and I have taken that approach a couple days ago. Having that said, one questions remains: "Why am I still bugging people about this?" The answer is simple. For some time now, a lot of remote unlocking websites and/or ebay sellers have had bad luck in providing customers with the code due to the fact that the servers providing them with this unlock code are currently not working and/or have been shut down...
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Defeat, get it through your thick skull. we DO NOT have access to the frigging unlock code!
The reason is simple:
PEOPLE LIKE YOU CALL UP AND REP SHOP TO GET IT!
Whoa, hard to understand, isn't it?
You get your phone for free from us, we're not going to allow you to take your phone from us. Name another company other then T-Mobile (who btw is a small company compared to AWS) that does it? Cingular DOES NOT. Verizon can't, nor can Sprint 'cause they got CDMA. We're not ripping our customers off, you're on crack. If you want to rip /AT&T/ off, then go spend $10 bucks for the unlock code.
Btw I think you're an idiot.
The reason is simple:
PEOPLE LIKE YOU CALL UP AND REP SHOP TO GET IT!
Whoa, hard to understand, isn't it?
You get your phone for free from us, we're not going to allow you to take your phone from us. Name another company other then T-Mobile (who btw is a small company compared to AWS) that does it? Cingular DOES NOT. Verizon can't, nor can Sprint 'cause they got CDMA. We're not ripping our customers off, you're on crack. If you want to rip /AT&T/ off, then go spend $10 bucks for the unlock code.
Btw I think you're an idiot.
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moobak said:
Defeat, get it through your thick skull. we DO NOT have access to the frigging unlock code!
The reason is simple:
PEOPLE LIKE YOU CALL UP AND REP SHOP TO GET IT!
Whoa, hard to understand, isn't it?
You get your phone for free from us, we're not going to allow you to take your phone from us. Name another company other then T-Mobile (who btw is a small company compared to AWS) that does it? Cingular DOES NOT.
Btw I think you're an idiot.
That last line could apply to you. I got an unlock code from Cingular in two hours last month by emailing the following info to: simunlockcode@cingular.com.
Name:
Billing Account Number:
Phone Model: Nokia 5190
Phone Number: 213-591-
IEM...
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Smartphones in general are difficult to unlock. Even Nokia phones (ex: 3650). It is a daunting task.
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If the phone wasn't on locked by Nokia then you void your Warrenty plus doing that can screw the software in the phone then it like you have tossed away money
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Yah, so what?
I can, and many others can, unlock Nokias for free without altering ANY software.
Remote unlocking DTC3/4, 3650, etc. is as simple as putting in your IMEI number, your country and the service you use. Push a button and bam! 7 different codes.
I can, and many others can, unlock Nokias for free without altering ANY software.
Remote unlocking DTC3/4, 3650, etc. is as simple as putting in your IMEI number, your country and the service you use. Push a button and bam! 7 different codes.
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Basically phones are locked for particular carriers and no not all carriers have or can provide that information and that is fine, we have no reason to give our customers this as they are aws phones, we are not the equipment provider, we are a service provider and make specific equipment to be used on our service only, if you dont like that, then tough luck basically.. It does not matter if you're happy with this or not, its the way in which the wireless industry works and I can understand ATT Wireless policy. and like someone said how would you like it if soemone aked ID's and went in and like changed your plan or cancelled your service? that is immature and not necessary.
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Forgot to mention we DO NOT support unlocked phones and if you call in with technical issues we cannot assist you in any way mostly because that phone is 99% unlikely to be on our system to look at and it does void warranty.
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Most reps dont know the unlock codes. They just go to work and leave, they dont bust a nut over nerdy tech stuff like most of the people on this board do (including myself). If they do know the unlock code they are not suppost to give it out, why because they can't and they will get introuble. Wireless companies do not want you to unlock your phone because it means you can take the phone elsewhere. If you want the unlock code, you can go to any mom & pop dealer and they will give one to you (for a small fee of course) or you can find them on various websites or newsgroups.
hope that helps.
hope that helps.
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