do you have international roaming on your account right now?

No, I don't. But what the international roaming has to do with unlocking? The reason to unlock the phone is to use local sim-card overseas instead of roaming.

Yeah, but what do you think Cingular would rather have you do? Use a local SIM and not make a dime off of you, or charge you for roaming and make some bank off of you? 😉

Cingulas will lose business with me! I'll by $500 phone from somebody else 🙄

I don't think threatning them like that will persuade them to unlock it lol... But it's worth a shot! 😁

We (and by we I mean the majority of customer care reps) do not have the unlock codes available to us, and as a general policy, cingular does not provide the unlock codes for equipment purchsed directly through us. There are, however, some exceptions. If you purchased your equipment at FULL PRICE ($699, if you paid any less, we gave you a discount), or if you have completed your contract term, or if you have international roaming on your account, and it has been active and in good standing for at least 90 days, the code would be provided. Beyond that, there are people floating around the web who might be able to provide you with the code, but keep in mind, if you purchase your phone from another carrier with the idea that they will unlock it...
(continues)

As I said, I have completed my fith 2 year contract term and is eligible for upgrade!

you said you just ordered a new Treo, did you pay full retail or upgrade, b/c if you upgraded that means you're back under agreement.

No, I didn't order it yet. I just tried. I'll buy it when I'll be 100% sure that it will be unlocked. I need it for extensive use in Europe and can't afford international roaming.

Why not 1). buy an unlocked Treo 650 (there are a lot of online dealers that sell them), 2). check out your upgrade options, 3). see which of the phones Cingular is offering sells for the most on eBay, 4). upgrade, then sell the phone on eBay to cut the costs of buying an unlocked Treo.

It may seem like a lot of work - but at least you'll know that you can use it in Europe, and it may actually be less of a hassle than trying to get the unlock codes from Cingular.

Cingular doesn't want to lose money. 6 months of roaming charges is A LOT of money to cingular.

You can probably find an unlocked treo for way less than full retail on ebay. Or talk to treo and see if they will sell it to you unlocked.

We're not losing money... He's been with us for 10 years... Every monthly payment is profit for us.

You know what I mean though. This company is lokoing for future profit, and they see him unlocking his phone to get away from roaming charges a profit loss.

But either way, if you upgrade your phone trough cingular, you're still goign to have to pay your monthly service charges with cingular even though you wont' be using thep hone on the account.

I know what you mean... What I'm stating is overall we look at win/win situations... Sure we could make more with inter roam... But we're still making money and he stays loyal.

Nobody will deny him this on a manager level... Especially when CSP states he's eligible on a rep's level of authority.

well i mean if i was able to i would give it to him if i could. i think he's been loyal enough to at least get an unlock code for a few months in return for two more years of service, especially after 10 years already

Why don't he just buy an unlocked Treo on Ebay. stay month to month and build up roll over minutes while he's gone.

Thats what I have been doing for years with ATTWS and now Cingular. No reason or incentive to sign two year contracts.

He can buy Treos on Eaby for $500-$560 unlocked

People don't realize the phones can be less expensive or slightly more without having to sign a commitment for service.

Why dont you just sell yours on eBay and buy an unlocked one?...Or better yet just let me have yours then you can get an unlocked one off of ebay... 😁

Why? $300 difference 🙂

😁 you could go online and search on yahoo for unlock codes and there is sites that have all the lock codes for all the different providers, don’t know any off the top of my head but my buddy was successful in finding his lock code for the Motorola v505 😁

i understand the point of unlocking it is so that you don't have to pay the international roaming rates.. buts thats one of the requirements for unlocking, if you have had international roaming for 6 months they will unlock it for you,

👿 It's not fare...

It's the same policy for all.

I always love hearing that. If you are not going to be an active customer, why would you expect ANY company to give you several hundred dollars? No provider makes phones, we just sell what we buy from the manufacturers. So if it costs us $600 and we sell it to you for $200 we are giving you $400! Now, if you intend on taking $400 from us and want to work around the system so that we have zero chance of making the money back, you are attempting to commit fraud. If you don't want to be restricted, don't take the money! You can't have it both ways, this isn't a game. If you feel that the agreement is "not fair" then do not accept the offer! Pay full price and move on.

Cingular as well as other providers makes major profit on service not on selling phones. And speaking about phones... It's like car dealers selling you car at "invoice price", they still make profit on you 🙂

There is nothing illegal about what he is trying to do. GSM phones are unlockable. If Cingular didnt want you to use unlocked phones then they wouldnt have used GSM technology in the first place and wouldnt allow you to use locked phones on their network. There is no fraud involved in this situation.

DrDialtone said:
I always love hearing that. If you are not going to be an active customer, why would you expect ANY company to give you several hundred dollars? No provider makes phones, we just sell what we buy from the manufacturers. So if it costs us $600 and we sell it to you for $200 we are giving you $400! Now, if you intend on taking $400 from us and want to work around the system so that we have zero chance of making the money back, you are attempting to commit fraud. If you don't want to be restricted, don't take the money! You can't have it both ways, this isn't a game. If you feel that the agreement is "not fair" then do not accept the offer! Pay full price and move on.

But Cingular is going to...
(continues)

I would also like to add, per Cingular's policy on the Subsidy Unlock Code this customer does qualify to recieve the unlock code... So the argument is futile.

speck said:
I would also like to add, per Cingular's policy on the Subsidy Unlock Code this customer does qualify to recieve the unlock code... So the argument is futile.

But if he buys the phone at a discount, doesn't that put him back under contract, or does he just have to fulfill his contract once?

The "clock" restarts when he buys a phone at a discount. So it doesn't really matter how long a customer has been with Cingular, it's how long the phone has been with the customer. Sadly, just because a customer pays a provider $100 a month, that provider is NOT making $100 profit. A $200 discount means that the customer needs to generate over $8 a month in profit for a company to break even. That's not going to be easy if he's on a low plan or roams off-network a lot. There's a reason the $19.99 plans all went away, companies were losing money. Oh yeah, want all of those NEW towers put up so your signal gets better? Guess where that money come from - what little profit we get! Amazing how that works.

Are you feeling okay? 😕

It does renew his contract, yes. But the policy itself states the Account itself must be in good standing for at least 90 days.

Regardless of the contract renewal this customer due to his tenure would qualify for both International Roam and the Subsidy Unlock...

you must have fulfilled either of the following:

- completed the 2 year contract on the line associated with the discount for the device

or

- purchased the phone full price and have had service on it for 90 consecutive days.

otherwise, the unlock code won't come from Cingular, you'll have to look around on the internet for it.

They will do it sometimes if the customer is still under contract as long as they have had international roaming on their account for six months

I have completed my fifth 2 year contract and I'm eligible for upgrade ☹️

As long as you do not purchase the phone at a discounted price, we will provide the unlock code. The price, again from my previous post, is roughly $700 This is one of those situations where you can not have your cake and eat it too, I'm afraid. 😕

For this price I can by it unlocked directly from the PalmOne. I though faithful customers (10 years, four lines) mean something to Cingular 🙄

lol, didnt we already have a post like this awhile back, something about we should get a free t.v. since i've been a loyal cable customer for the past ten years.... 🙄

In this case Cingular's obstinacy will cost $500. I'll by it from somebody else 🙂

But in your place there will be someone who will buy it from Cingular... Which is why I don't think Cingular is too worried.

No offense to you.

I agree Cingular should give you the unlock codes, its kind of cheap of them not too. But in all reality I dont think its costing them anything not to.

or heres a better question, why not just buy an unlocked Treo? Because it was too much money, so basically he was just trying to find a way to skirt the system and save some cash, and for some odd reason, Cingular won't help him do it, the madness of it all!

Whats wrong with trying to save some cash? ($300 to be exact).
Cingular made on me much more already 🙂 And I'm not peeking in their pocket. I mean they can do small compliment 🙂

i understand trying to save money, im just saying, one small credit here, help out someone there, credit somebody here, and you end up with AT&T 😁

You guys have no idea what you're talking about... None of this situation is complicated. Through protocol this customer will be able to save $300, get the subsidy unlock, and not endure the headaches you're all imposing on him.

You don't just say no... You find the facts first... Then make the decision.

You have no clue do you? Cingular doesnt just give out the subsidy unlock code, you have to meet requirments, i.e. buying phone full retail, out of contract on phone, or have international roaming for 6 months, get the facts straight before correcting someone 👿

🤣 🤣 🤣 🤣

"The handset was purchased at a discounted (subsidized) price and the contract period is not complete but the customer has qualified for and has an International Roaming feature on their account which is in good standing and has been active for 90 continuous days."

You're not ammusing... I just couldn't believe you actually challenged me on this. That's funny.

"... Walk and ye shall reach..."
Hope I will succed 🙂

I hope so too, good luck! 😎

My advice is to go ahead and get the discounted Treo thru Cingular. You said you have a couple of weeks until you leave so I guarantee you, you will find a way to unlock it. Just do some google searches and ask people in forums. There will be someone to help you. If you want to pay a little bit then go to www.wirelessimports.com and you can pay like $25 and they will send you the codes. Hey , its cheaper than buying it at retail.

Thanks! I'll try 🙂

There is a user on this site (I believe his username is justinwilliams) who got me the unlock code for a Nokia that I had. And he did it free of charge. You might want to try searching him down and sending him a private message.

Thanks! Will try! 🙂

No prob... Update us and let us know how it went. 😎

Sure!!! 🙂

You know you guys have had me wondering about the Int'l stuff. I just noticed it this last bill and was curious, but it has said it on the last several bills. Is this the International things everyone is talking about to be able to Roam in other countries and stuff? Or is this just something different?

My v551 was Activated approx Dec 12, 2004 at Best Buy.

I see:
Cingular Domestic LD
Includes:
International LD
Toll Domestic

Cingular Roam LD
Includes:
International LD
Toll Domestic

Text Msg PPU
Includes:
Int'l Text Messaging

It would be the International codes, but I would double check with customer care just to verify the feature are or are not on your account. 😉

Ah ok. I was just curious. The only use I might get out of the Int'l LD is if my brother gets sent to Iraq for a year.

Most people don't use it... I treat the feature as 'it's better to have and not need than need and not have.'