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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 157910 times)

Offline Dan

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Offline Aben

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Re: cell phone unlocking
« Reply #61 on: May 01, 2011, 04:29:22 PM »
http://www.dc-unlocker.com/forum/showthread.php?t=3723
It will cost 10 credits which is 10 euro, has anyone tried it recently?
Or does anyone have credits that can test it out and if it works I will pay you for it.

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Re: cell phone unlocking
« Reply #62 on: May 02, 2011, 08:44:14 PM »
It will cost 10 credits which is 10 euro, has anyone tried it recently?
Or does anyone have credits that can test it out and if it works I will pay you for it.
It works beautifully!    I have the ZTE F160 GoPhone that two dealers could not unlock, but a few minutes ago I was able to unlock it using the DC-Unlocker for 10 Euro, which is a little bit above $15
 

Offline isac

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unlock att f160
« Reply #63 on: May 04, 2011, 07:39:39 AM »
anyone have the unlock code for ATT F160 (just bought it through the Dan link)?

Offline Monsey

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Re: unlock att f160
« Reply #64 on: May 04, 2011, 09:41:07 AM »
anyone have the unlock code for ATT F160 (just bought it through the Dan link)?
Each phone has a unique code

Offline kivabb

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Re: unlock att f160
« Reply #65 on: May 04, 2011, 09:47:26 AM »
I'n on my 3rd online unlock store because first 2 couldn't do for this phone. My other two opions is to go to ATT store and beg or swallow the $15 loss.

Offline Dan

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Re: cell phone unlocking
« Reply #66 on: May 04, 2011, 11:30:21 AM »
anyone have the unlock code for ATT F160 (just bought it through the Dan link)?
It works beautifully!    I have the ZTE F160 GoPhone that two dealers could not unlock, but a few minutes ago I was able to unlock it using the DC-Unlocker for 10 Euro, which is a little bit above $15
 
Save your time, I don't answer PM. Post it in the forum and a dedicated DDF'er will get back to you as soon as possible.

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Re: cell phone unlocking
« Reply #67 on: May 04, 2011, 09:46:07 PM »
Interestingly enough, I was blocked from running the DC-Unlocker program until I uninstalled WINPCAP - a "packet sniffer" that was loaded on my machine (from an "Ethical Hacking" course I once took :) ).   I guess they don't want people knowing the unlock codes that they send to your phone, but if every phone is different - why would they care?

Offline elikay

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Re: cell phone unlocking
« Reply #68 on: May 04, 2011, 10:43:44 PM »
Interestingly enough, I was blocked from running the DC-Unlocker program until I uninstalled WINPCAP - a "packet sniffer" that was loaded on my machine (from an "Ethical Hacking" course I once took :) ).   I guess they don't want people knowing the unlock codes that they send to your phone, but if every phone is different - why would they care?
Interesting... because if a different computer in the room had winpcap and you were wirelessly connected they would still be able to sniff your packets.

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Re: cell phone unlocking
« Reply #69 on: May 04, 2011, 11:26:56 PM »
Interesting... because if a different computer in the room had winpcap and you were wirelessly connected they would still be able to sniff your packets.
I guess they are smart - but not smart enough   :)

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Re: cell phone unlocking
« Reply #70 on: May 06, 2011, 12:59:29 PM »
It works beautifully!    I have the ZTE F160 GoPhone that two dealers could not unlock, but a few minutes ago I was able to unlock it using the DC-Unlocker for 10 Euro, which is a little bit above $15
 

How do you do it? WHat do you click when you get onto site? I'm lost.

I just bought 10 credits. Now what do I do?
« Last Edit: May 06, 2011, 01:12:05 PM by kivabb »

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Re: cell phone unlocking
« Reply #71 on: May 06, 2011, 02:08:29 PM »
How do you do it? WHat do you click when you get onto site? I'm lost.

I just bought 10 credits. Now what do I do?
You have to download & install their program, run it, sign on, connect your phone to your computer, and then go to the unlocking menu

Offline yid

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Re: cell phone unlocking
« Reply #72 on: July 20, 2011, 09:35:02 PM »
I downloaded this program but it is not recognizing my phone. anyone have a link for a driver for this phone?

Offline 123ablack

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Re: cell phone unlocking
« Reply #73 on: November 21, 2011, 06:51:29 PM »
Question:
friend of mine has a great priced Sprint plan (Free & Clear 1000 for $50 per month with 5 additional lines sharing the minutes at $0.00. Data service on 3 lines)

These plans are no longer available but he can still hold it as long as he doesn't upgrade the plan.

The only problem is that (unlike SERO-P,) this plan doesn’t support and won’t work with any of the newer Smartphones or blackberries. The best devices that can get activate under this plan are  the HTC Touch Pro 2 and Blackberry Tour 9630.

So he's kinda stuck with this plan by loving the price but hating the limitations and restrictions..

Was wondering if i purchase let’s say a Sprint iPhone at retail price (they won’t let him upgrade to this device unless he changes the plan) if there is a way of changing (read cloning) the ESN and other phone identifications to the ESN and others codes of an LG Rumor Touch which he currently has and is supported under the free & clear plan.

So basically have the sprint network detect the iPhone as an LG Rumor Touch?

Or is it an hardware issue and un-accomplishable?

Online AsherO

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Re: cell phone unlocking
« Reply #74 on: January 14, 2012, 11:35:35 PM »
Anyone know where I can unlock the AT&T ZTE u2800a for cheap ($5 or less)? Does AT&T freely give out GoPhone unlock codes to their postpaid customers?
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Offline elikay

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Re: cell phone unlocking
« Reply #75 on: January 14, 2012, 11:53:53 PM »

Online AsherO

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Re: cell phone unlocking
« Reply #76 on: January 14, 2012, 11:56:09 PM »
try www.unlockusa.com

I didn't see ZTE listed there, have you?

Edit: they have a ZTE section, but for $9.99 with my phone not listed.
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Re: cell phone unlocking
« Reply #77 on: January 15, 2012, 05:52:07 PM »
Anyone know where I can unlock the AT&T ZTE u2800a for cheap ($5 or less)? Does AT&T freely give out GoPhone unlock codes to their postpaid customers?
i had the nokia 2330 (Go phone) and when i went to israel i asked att for the unlock code and they sent me the wrong one and i tried it 5 times and it permanently locked it. but they usually do give out codes if you ask them in the right way.

Offline Wolf

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Re: cell phone unlocking
« Reply #78 on: January 15, 2012, 08:05:19 PM »
I have a sprint bb bold, it has a Sim slot, can I put in an Israeli Sim when i'm in Israel, I once heard that is only locked in the USA.

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Re: cell phone unlocking
« Reply #79 on: January 15, 2012, 08:07:56 PM »
I have a sprint bb bold, it has a Sim slot, can I put in an Israeli Sim when i'm in Israel, I once heard that is only locked in the USA.

True, I had a Sprint Bold and worked in Israel with no need to unlock

Either way I have purchased unlock code on ebay for only $0.99