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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 157880 times)

Offline cozmohoot

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Re: cell phone unlocking
« Reply #440 on: July 19, 2016, 01:15:56 PM »
I would think you need a sprint sim since those sims activate on sprint virgin and boost

Offline Cheesecake

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Re: cell phone unlocking
« Reply #441 on: July 19, 2016, 06:30:24 PM »
I would think you need a sprint sim since those sims activate on sprint virgin and boost
Boost says I can't, based on phone's IMEI.

Offline cozmohoot

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Re: cell phone unlocking
« Reply #442 on: July 19, 2016, 07:09:22 PM »
Interesting. Wonder if sprint allows it. I would think yes.
Maybe ask here http://www.prepaidphonenews.com/2016/07/prepaid-phones-on-sale-this-week-july_17.html?m=1

He is usually pretty accurate

Offline Cheesecake

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Re: cell phone unlocking
« Reply #443 on: July 19, 2016, 08:54:40 PM »
Interesting. Wonder if sprint allows it. I would think yes.
Maybe ask here http://www.prepaidphonenews.com/2016/07/prepaid-phones-on-sale-this-week-july_17.html?m=1

He is usually pretty accurate
Sprint will do it. Their family plans are actually very good, but they won't activate my wife's Boost phone, so I'll need to buy another phone, so I'll probably buy another Moto g4.

Offline chaimyankel

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Re: cell phone unlocking
« Reply #444 on: July 20, 2016, 04:52:55 PM »
I'm looking for a inexpensive phone to be used on T-Mobile. Is it possible to buy a AT&T prepaid and use it on T-Mobile? What else are my options?

Offline Cheesecake

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Re: cell phone unlocking
« Reply #445 on: July 20, 2016, 06:20:54 PM »
I'm looking for a inexpensive phone to be used on T-Mobile. Is it possible to buy a AT&T prepaid and use it on T-Mobile? What else are my options?
Only if it's unlocked.

Smartphone or not?

Offline Cheesecake

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Re: cell phone unlocking
« Reply #446 on: July 20, 2016, 06:32:45 PM »
Non smartphone:
Look at this on eBay http://www.ebay.com/itm/291812169552

Offline chaimyankel

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Re: cell phone unlocking
« Reply #447 on: July 20, 2016, 06:34:54 PM »
Only if it's unlocked.

Smartphone or not?
and if I buy a prepaid and dont activate would they give me the unlock code for free?
Smartphone

Offline Cheesecake

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Re: cell phone unlocking
« Reply #448 on: July 20, 2016, 06:59:36 PM »
and if I buy a prepaid and dont activate would they give me the unlock code for free?
Smartphone
Probably not. Is this in your budget?

BLU R1 HD - 16 GB - Black - Prime Exclusive - with Lockscreen Offers & Ads https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01H2E0J5M/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_-gaKxbAKPTBK4

Offline Live N Learn

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Re: cell phone unlocking
« Reply #449 on: July 20, 2016, 07:02:49 PM »
Probably not. Is this in your budget?

BLU R1 HD - 16 GB - Black - Prime Exclusive - with Lockscreen Offers & Ads https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01H2E0J5M/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_-gaKxbAKPTBK4

Standard Version - Without Offers & Ads is the same price.
".איזהו חכם, הלומד מכל אדם"

Offline David Smith

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Re: cell phone unlocking
« Reply #450 on: July 20, 2016, 07:03:26 PM »
and if I buy a prepaid and dont activate would they give me the unlock code for free?
Smartphone
You can buy unlock codes for many phones for a buck or two on eBay. Check before you buy.
Who do you think you are fooling? You think you are going to pull a quick one on your Creator? Good luck with that.
JTZ

Offline cozmohoot

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Re: cell phone unlocking
« Reply #451 on: July 20, 2016, 07:04:22 PM »
Probably not. Is this in your budget?

BLU R1 HD - 16 GB - Black - Prime Exclusive - with Lockscreen Offers & Ads https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01H2E0J5M/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_-gaKxbAKPTBK4
If you buy an att go phone they will unlock it for you. Pretty sure I gave steps up thread. Nice cheap phone is the zte zmax 2 for about 60 bux new. Large android and easily unlocked for free

Offline cozmohoot

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Re: cell phone unlocking
« Reply #452 on: July 20, 2016, 07:06:39 PM »
Just don't turn on the phone and go to att unlock site and click the non customer option . Done it a few times with the zmax 2

Offline chaimyankel

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Re: cell phone unlocking
« Reply #453 on: July 20, 2016, 07:14:21 PM »
Probably not. Is this in your budget?

BLU R1 HD - 16 GB - Black - Prime Exclusive - with Lockscreen Offers & Ads https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01H2E0J5M/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_-gaKxbAKPTBK4
Thanks.
The 8gb one is probably the most phone I can buy for 50 bucks. I was hoping to pay a bit less then that but that is probably gonna be what Im gonna end up with because its the best deal that I could find.

Offline chaimyankel

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Re: cell phone unlocking
« Reply #454 on: July 20, 2016, 07:16:09 PM »
If you buy an att go phone they will unlock it for you. Pretty sure I gave steps up thread. Nice cheap phone is the zte zmax 2 for about 60 bux new. Large android and easily unlocked for free
I didnt see prepaid mentioned. If att will unlock it for free then I found a zte for 30 for go phone that I was eyeing. Thanks.

Offline Cheesecake

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Re: cell phone unlocking
« Reply #455 on: July 20, 2016, 07:22:39 PM »
Standard Version - Without Offers & Ads is the same price.
It doesn't come up that way for me.

Offline Cheesecake

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Re: cell phone unlocking
« Reply #456 on: July 20, 2016, 07:32:17 PM »
Thanks.
The 8gb one is probably the most phone I can buy for 50 bucks. I was hoping to pay a bit less then that but that is probably gonna be what Im gonna end up with because its the best deal that I could find.
If you go this route I think you should spring for the $60 phone - not for the storage, for the extra 1g RAM.

Offline cozmohoot

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Re: cell phone unlocking
« Reply #457 on: July 20, 2016, 07:32:58 PM »

Offline David Smith

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Re: cell phone unlocking
« Reply #458 on: July 20, 2016, 07:39:38 PM »
If you go this route I think you should spring for the $60 phone - not for the storage, for the extra 1g RAM.
+1
2GB vs 1GB is a world of a difference.
Who do you think you are fooling? You think you are going to pull a quick one on your Creator? Good luck with that.
JTZ

Offline chaimyankel

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