Will AT&T unlock my GSM phone?
May 7, 2004, 2:29 pm
#2
In Memoriam
Join Date: Feb 2000
Location: Easton, CT, USA
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If they don't there are certainly lots of other places that will, depending on the phone. Google unlock then your model number for places.
Howardforums also have much unlocking discussions.
Howardforums also have much unlocking discussions.
May 7, 2004, 2:32 pm
#3
Join Date: May 2002
Location: In the home of the "brave"?
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Posts: 3,748
I doubt it, unless you happened to have a 6-month contract and it is now over, which is unlikely.
Remember, you got the phone at a heavily-subsidized price because by having it you guarenteed AT&T a certain amount of business.
If you want to take the phone overseas, do you really want to only have a phone-number based in said country? If so, callers to you (from the USA) will have to pay for an overseas call.
What I have done in the past is to buy a phone in the country that I am going to. Prepaid phones are far more common and then I have both a US and a local number to give out. Also, the roaming rates for AT&T in Western Europe are not too bad.
See:
http://www.operationgadget.com/2004/...portance_.html
http://www.ricksteves.com/news/0205/mobilephones.htm
http://www.ricksteves.com/news/0207/phone.htm
for some ideas.
Remember, you got the phone at a heavily-subsidized price because by having it you guarenteed AT&T a certain amount of business.
If you want to take the phone overseas, do you really want to only have a phone-number based in said country? If so, callers to you (from the USA) will have to pay for an overseas call.
What I have done in the past is to buy a phone in the country that I am going to. Prepaid phones are far more common and then I have both a US and a local number to give out. Also, the roaming rates for AT&T in Western Europe are not too bad.
See:
http://www.operationgadget.com/2004/...portance_.html
http://www.ricksteves.com/news/0205/mobilephones.htm
http://www.ricksteves.com/news/0207/phone.htm
for some ideas.
May 7, 2004, 4:36 pm
#4
Join Date: May 2001
Location: San José, California
Posts: 792
I am an ATT customer for 7 years and they still won't unlock my phone. I just took my SE T68i to some place called "Mobile Kangaroo" and they unlocked it for $20.
If you have a Nokia, you can unlock it yourself for free. Just Google for Nokia DCT4 on the web and you'll find some tools.
If you have a Nokia, you can unlock it yourself for free. Just Google for Nokia DCT4 on the web and you'll find some tools.
May 7, 2004, 6:14 pm
#6
Join Date: Jan 2000
Location: SoCal to the rest of the world...
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Cingular is in theory supposed to reissue SIM's into the first year of the merger with ATTWS (if nothing holds it up). There is *NO* way a standard Cingular SIM will work with ATTWS locked handsets... I doubt Cingular will want to inventory SIM's for ex-ATTWS and pure Cingular customers for very long. So folks, I'm sure those ATTWS GSM handsets will find a way to get unlocked by virtue of Cingular having to unlock them... Too bad Cingular won't unlock there own handsets these days!
May 7, 2004, 6:51 pm
#7
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: Augusta, GA, USA
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Posts: 3,522
I bought a Motorola MXp200. I had to unblock it (from AT&T) then I had to do a SIM unlock. Got the program (unblock) and unlock codes from eBay. Total cost about $35. Both worked perfectly and now I can use with any SIM card in the world. Motorola and AT&T were not happy or friendly about it at all since Moto has a contract to block them to the AT&T network. I seriously doubt Cingular will totally unblock them. It will be easy for them to change over the SIM codes.
May 7, 2004, 8:32 pm
#9
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Join Date: Feb 2001
Location: Tampa, Florida, U.S.A.
Posts: 7,664
Originally Posted by juanvaldez
I am an ATT customer for 7 years and they still won't unlock my phone. I just took my SE T68i to some place called "Mobile Kangaroo" and they unlocked it for $20.
If you have a Nokia, you can unlock it yourself for free. Just Google for Nokia DCT4 on the web and you'll find some tools.
If you have a Nokia, you can unlock it yourself for free. Just Google for Nokia DCT4 on the web and you'll find some tools.
My t-mobile phone was unlocked one month after I signed up with them.
mike
May 7, 2004, 9:46 pm
#10
Join Date: May 2004
Location: NJ
Posts: 643
Originally Posted by dragonmp11a10
FYI, T-Mobile will provide you with a SIM unlock code free of charge after 6 months of service.
The current phone that I have (ericsson t-68m), I bought from the amazon.com website, just tossed in the card & it was all set.
May 10, 2004, 1:53 pm
#13
Join Date: Apr 2002
Location: Redwood Shores, CA
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Posts: 743
Originally Posted by Teacher49
Great thread. Thanks for the info! Going to try Mobile Kangaroo today.
Best wishes.
Teacher49
Best wishes.
Teacher49
I can do SE phones (and most Nokias) if anyone wants... PM me if interested.
Nokia's can be done via email... for SE phones, I need the unit.
May 10, 2004, 5:00 pm
#14
Join Date: Jul 1999
Programs: QF WP, AA EXP
Posts: 3,520
Yeah, AT&T are real jerks with their no-unlock policy. I used http://gsm.virtualdynamix.com/ here in Orange County, and were very happy with their services for my SE T616.
I'm leaving AT&T this month for many reasons, primarily crappy reception, and even worse customer service
I'm leaving AT&T this month for many reasons, primarily crappy reception, and even worse customer service
May 11, 2004, 3:08 pm
#15
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Join Date: Aug 2001
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Another 
on AT&T and unlocking. I had a fuzzbrain customer service rep actually tell me that "the FCC forbids them to unlock phones". 
I used jhunlock to get my mpx200 unlocked.
on AT&T and unlocking. I had a fuzzbrain customer service rep actually tell me that "the FCC forbids them to unlock phones". I used jhunlock to get my mpx200 unlocked.