Topic Wiki

I think there is a big misunderstanding what locked/unlocked means.

All phones that are made are always assigned to a carrier (yes even the ones that say "Factory GSM Unlocked") to prove that just look up the model of the phone and you will see what carrier it was assigned to.

In order for a phone to have service the company has to know that you want service on this phone.

In the past company's like Sprint and Verizon did not work with a sim card they worked with the id of the phone to recognize what kind of phone / what carrier it was assigned to. This is know as CDMA. Yet company's like att/t-mobile did that too but the service was applied by using a sim.

Once LTE came out for what ever reason all company switched to the "Sim technology". There is still one thing that did not change, each carrier has their assigned bands that they have from the FCC that they are allowed to use.

Being that there are standard bands that every one uses (for international or the like) these are included in every phone. So.... All verizon phones will work on att, BUT will only have the bands for slower internet since those are standard bands.

Now verizon's LTE band is NOT a standard nor is their CDMA a standard so an att or a t-mobile phone will NOT be able to accept a Verizon sim.

Now lets go to sprint phones,

All other company's when they had the phones made for them all they do is have it customized for its own use (Read: their own LTE bands). Sprint on the other hand not only did they have them customize it they put a lock in the software blocking all local USA bands (Verizon ATT and Tmobile).

They even go a step farther and they still do the old way of checking the device ID to see if its a sprint phone or not.

Hope this explains a few things feel free to ask any questions.

Att has an easy way to ask for an unlock https://att.com/deviceunlock

How to check a Sprint iPhone (only): You cannot check it with an american sim you must put in a foreign sim. You DO NOT have to backup and restore as sprint sends in the email! Connect to wifi before starting this procedure.

When you put the sim in one of 3 things will happen.
1. It will say no service in the top right corner = Unlocked
2. It will do a soft restart and ask you for your apple id password = Almost unlocked, after putting in the password its unlocked
3. It will do a soft restart and say "Sim not valid" = Phone is locked

If you got number 2. and you dont know the password just put in your old sim and all will return. When you find out the password repeat the steps.

Willmyphonework.net Can check if the phone will work
« Last edited by yakov116 on June 29, 2016, 01:34:42 PM »

Author Topic: cell phone unlocking  (Read 157836 times)

Offline ae123

  • Dansdeals Lifetime Platinum Elite
  • *******
  • Join Date: Mar 2011
  • Posts: 2164
  • Total likes: 183
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 0
    • View Profile
  • Location: NJ
Re: cell phone unlocking
« Reply #360 on: June 08, 2016, 11:02:24 AM »
How can I unlock a GSM phone from Straight Talk to use with Cricket?
It seems like ST does not unlock phones unless you are with them for 12 months.

Offline yakov116

  • Dansdeals Lifetime Platinum Elite
  • *******
  • Join Date: May 2014
  • Posts: 1556
  • Total likes: 205
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 1
  • Gender: Male
    • View Profile
Re: cell phone unlocking
« Reply #361 on: June 08, 2016, 01:24:41 PM »
i pay for the phone in monthly installments, as long its not paid off a certain amount its locked...
Correct, But you can ask them for a 30 day unlock do you can use it internationally
Money talks...mine says goodbye!

Offline ae123

  • Dansdeals Lifetime Platinum Elite
  • *******
  • Join Date: Mar 2011
  • Posts: 2164
  • Total likes: 183
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 0
    • View Profile
  • Location: NJ
Re: cell phone unlocking
« Reply #362 on: June 08, 2016, 03:04:55 PM »
How can I unlock a GSM phone from Straight Talk to use with Cricket?
It seems like ST does not unlock phones unless you are with them for 12 months.

Or maybe it doesn't need to be unlocked at all, and if I just put in a Cricket Sim it'll work with Cricket?
(It runs on AT&T towers like Cricket).
« Last Edit: June 08, 2016, 03:29:43 PM by ae123 »

Offline yakov116

  • Dansdeals Lifetime Platinum Elite
  • *******
  • Join Date: May 2014
  • Posts: 1556
  • Total likes: 205
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 1
  • Gender: Male
    • View Profile
Re: cell phone unlocking
« Reply #363 on: June 08, 2016, 04:01:43 PM »
Or maybe it doesn't need to be unlocked at all, and if I just put in a Cricket Sim it'll work with Cricket?
(It runs on AT&T towers like Cricket).
Try it
Money talks...mine says goodbye!

Offline ae123

  • Dansdeals Lifetime Platinum Elite
  • *******
  • Join Date: Mar 2011
  • Posts: 2164
  • Total likes: 183
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 0
    • View Profile
  • Location: NJ
Re: cell phone unlocking
« Reply #364 on: June 08, 2016, 05:04:05 PM »
Try it
:)
I don't have it yet.
I don't want to sign up with ST and get the phone until I know I can use it for Cricket in the future.

Offline myi

  • Dansdeals Lifetime 20K Presidential Platinum Elite
  • ********
  • Join Date: Feb 2015
  • Posts: 23540
  • Total likes: 2427
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 356
  • Gender: Male
    • View Profile
  • Location: InMyPants! 🙈
  • Programs: 2Many2List!
Re: cell phone unlocking
« Reply #365 on: June 09, 2016, 02:15:49 AM »
I skimmed through a bunch of the post here! But I'm a bit curios,about unlocking your phn, is there no online sites which you pay a 1-2$ and get it unlocked or for free have it done?!
Quote
Need your LG Exalt fixed? Cracked in half? Water damage? Or parts to repair yourself. 347.201.2501

Offline Live N Learn

  • Dansdeals Presidential Platinum Elite
  • ********
  • Join Date: Mar 2015
  • Posts: 3799
  • Total likes: 332
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 3
  • Gender: Male
    • View Profile
Re: cell phone unlocking
« Reply #366 on: June 10, 2016, 04:36:41 AM »
is there no online sites which you pay a 1-2$ and get it unlocked or for free have it done?!

I've had sucess in the past on eBay, even when the company (AT&T) didn't want to do it.
".איזהו חכם, הלומד מכל אדם"

Offline myi

  • Dansdeals Lifetime 20K Presidential Platinum Elite
  • ********
  • Join Date: Feb 2015
  • Posts: 23540
  • Total likes: 2427
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 356
  • Gender: Male
    • View Profile
  • Location: InMyPants! 🙈
  • Programs: 2Many2List!
Re: cell phone unlocking
« Reply #367 on: June 10, 2016, 04:52:21 AM »
I've had sucess in the past on eBay, even when the company (AT&T) didn't want to do it.
what did you pay .99 ¢ or the like? Because I remember having heard someone buys unlocking codes online, so it makes sense. (they have codes for the basic androids or even small flip phns?
Quote
Need your LG Exalt fixed? Cracked in half? Water damage? Or parts to repair yourself. 347.201.2501

Offline ae123

  • Dansdeals Lifetime Platinum Elite
  • *******
  • Join Date: Mar 2011
  • Posts: 2164
  • Total likes: 183
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 0
    • View Profile
  • Location: NJ
Re: cell phone unlocking
« Reply #368 on: June 10, 2016, 05:32:44 PM »
So, any locked phone can be unlocked for about a dollar?
If so, why all the ruckus about getting phones unlocked?
Confused.... ???

Offline myi

  • Dansdeals Lifetime 20K Presidential Platinum Elite
  • ********
  • Join Date: Feb 2015
  • Posts: 23540
  • Total likes: 2427
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 356
  • Gender: Male
    • View Profile
  • Location: InMyPants! 🙈
  • Programs: 2Many2List!
Re: cell phone unlocking
« Reply #369 on: June 10, 2016, 05:38:56 PM »
So, any locked phone can be unlocked for about a dollar?
If so, why all the ruckus about getting phones unlocked?
Confused.... ???
not every phn, seems like the older phns and yes there are people out there which have access to the codes to almost any phn! (the ppl who would give it to you from any wireless retail store have an open opportunity flipping and selling codes )
Quote
Need your LG Exalt fixed? Cracked in half? Water damage? Or parts to repair yourself. 347.201.2501

Offline myi

  • Dansdeals Lifetime 20K Presidential Platinum Elite
  • ********
  • Join Date: Feb 2015
  • Posts: 23540
  • Total likes: 2427
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 356
  • Gender: Male
    • View Profile
  • Location: InMyPants! 🙈
  • Programs: 2Many2List!
Re: cell phone unlocking
« Reply #370 on: June 10, 2016, 05:40:30 PM »
What I never understood is if I take a t-mobile or sprint /verizon(if they have a sim spot) and they say unlocked(for ex a BlackBerry 9900+ series ,does that mean it would work with my at&t plan? Slide in my at&t sim in it?
Quote
Need your LG Exalt fixed? Cracked in half? Water damage? Or parts to repair yourself. 347.201.2501

Offline ae123

  • Dansdeals Lifetime Platinum Elite
  • *******
  • Join Date: Mar 2011
  • Posts: 2164
  • Total likes: 183
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 0
    • View Profile
  • Location: NJ
Re: cell phone unlocking
« Reply #371 on: June 10, 2016, 05:40:56 PM »
not every phn, seems like the older phns and yes there are people out there which have access to the codes to almost any phn! (the ppl who would give it to you from any wireless retail store have an open opportunity flipping and selling codes )
Where can I get a code to unlock my phone?

Offline myi

  • Dansdeals Lifetime 20K Presidential Platinum Elite
  • ********
  • Join Date: Feb 2015
  • Posts: 23540
  • Total likes: 2427
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 356
  • Gender: Male
    • View Profile
  • Location: InMyPants! 🙈
  • Programs: 2Many2List!
Re: cell phone unlocking
« Reply #372 on: June 10, 2016, 05:43:34 PM »
Where can I get a code to unlock my phone?
I personally never purchased an unlocking code, but a uncle of mine which I know has bought many codes from a specific guy, will have to ask him if it's still around to get from that guy and for which types or models. So maybe a one of the ddf members have some more knowledge or have actually purchased themselves a code!   
Quote
Need your LG Exalt fixed? Cracked in half? Water damage? Or parts to repair yourself. 347.201.2501

Offline talmid chuchem

  • Dansdeals Lifetime Platinum Elite
  • *******
  • Join Date: Oct 2014
  • Posts: 1130
  • Total likes: 67
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 5
    • View Profile
Re: cell phone unlocking
« Reply #373 on: June 14, 2016, 12:45:29 AM »
Purchased ton of unlock codes on ebay

Offline Shauly101

  • Dansdeals Platinum Elite + Lifetime Silver Elite
  • *****
  • Join Date: Feb 2015
  • Posts: 602
  • Total likes: 49
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 1
  • Gender: Male
    • View Profile
  • Location: לבי במזרח
  • Programs: Dirshu!
Re: cell phone unlocking
« Reply #374 on: June 14, 2016, 10:52:01 AM »
thanks to u all. i HUCA'd and they unlocked it

Offline sag95

  • Dansdeals Platinum Elite
  • ****
  • Join Date: Jun 2015
  • Posts: 433
  • Total likes: 15
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 1
    • View Profile
Re: cell phone unlocking
« Reply #375 on: June 15, 2016, 03:32:43 PM »
Is it possible to unlock a straight talk phone to be used on a postpaid Verizon plan?

Offline ae123

  • Dansdeals Lifetime Platinum Elite
  • *******
  • Join Date: Mar 2011
  • Posts: 2164
  • Total likes: 183
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 0
    • View Profile
  • Location: NJ
Re: cell phone unlocking
« Reply #376 on: June 16, 2016, 05:20:23 PM »
Anyone know how (or where) to unlock a Net10 ZTE Whirl 2?

Thank you.

Offline ae123

  • Dansdeals Lifetime Platinum Elite
  • *******
  • Join Date: Mar 2011
  • Posts: 2164
  • Total likes: 183
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 0
    • View Profile
  • Location: NJ
Re: cell phone unlocking
« Reply #377 on: June 17, 2016, 06:09:47 PM »
Anyone know how (or where) to unlock a Net10 ZTE Whirl 2?

Thank you.

It's also called ZTE Z667G

It would be greatly appreciated if someone can help or let me know who or where to get it unlocked.

Thanks a lot!

Offline ae123

  • Dansdeals Lifetime Platinum Elite
  • *******
  • Join Date: Mar 2011
  • Posts: 2164
  • Total likes: 183
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 0
    • View Profile
  • Location: NJ
Re: cell phone unlocking
« Reply #378 on: June 18, 2016, 10:34:16 PM »
I paid someone on Ebay for an unlock code and received this message from him:

"Unfortunately the server has rejected your IMEI number .......
If the above IMEI is correct then I will have to offer you full refund.
"

What does this mean (why couldn't he get the code)?
Is it worth trying another person on Ebay or if one can person can't get the code no one can?

Offline talmid chuchem

  • Dansdeals Lifetime Platinum Elite
  • *******
  • Join Date: Oct 2014
  • Posts: 1130
  • Total likes: 67
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 5
    • View Profile
Re: cell phone unlocking
« Reply #379 on: June 19, 2016, 08:07:44 PM »
I paid someone on Ebay for an unlock code and received this message from him:

"Unfortunately the server has rejected your IMEI number .......
If the above IMEI is correct then I will have to offer you full refund.
"

What does this mean (why couldn't he get the code)?
Is it worth trying another person on Ebay or if one can person can't get the code no one can?
Try another