From: "madodel" <os2-wireless_users@2rosenthals.com>
Message-ID: <4AC7EFFB.7010401@ptdprolog.net>
Date: Sat, 03 Oct 2009 20:44:43 -0400
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To: OS/2 Wireless Users Mailing List <os2-wireless_users@2rosenthals.com>
Subject: Re: [OS2Wireless] Re: OT?? cell phones
References: <list-3000897@2rosenthals.com>
In-Reply-To: <list-3000897@2rosenthals.com>
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Ed Durrant wrote:
> Ray Davison wrote:
>> Hey, it is wireless, and I couldn't find any place else to take the 
>> question.
>>
>> When a cell phone is locked to a carrier, what is locked, the phone or 
>> the SIM.  I always thought it was the phone because they are sold as 
>> locked or unlocked.  If so, then what is this?
>> http://www.b2cshop24.com/en/turbo-sim-unlock-card-for-gsm-cell-mobile-no-need-to-cut.html 
>>
>>
>> I have several Motorola, GSM that I want to unlock from AT&T.  I own 
>> them.  And I have extra SIMs.  Is AT&T required to unlock them if I 
>> request?
>>
>> Ray
>>
> Generally Cell providers will unlock phones from their network, often 
> for a fee, if the phone is out of contract (i.e. you have paid off its 
> value over a period of time, often 2 years). Whether AT&T are "forced" 
> to do this for you may depend upon the contract that you signed with them.
> 
> I believe the "lock" is related to the phone itself, not the SIM as 
> otherwise you could simply change the SIM and use the phone on another 
> network - it may be that the SIM referred to at this site has an 
> application on it to unlock phones. The legality of that and if after 
> the action the phone will still work with the original or any carrier is 
> a risk. Better to get the carrier to give you the unlock code if possible.
> 
> 

You are correct at least in regard to the phone I bought to use in Europe 
at the airport in Paris.  The phone itself was locked to the French carrier 
(SFR) and the process to activate the phone required a phone call that was 
only in French.  Never did get it activated and when we were in Italy the 
phone gave a message saying the phone only worked within the area covered 
by the French carrier.  I tried a borrowed Italian SIM card and the phone 
gave a message saying it was locked to only use SIM cards from the SFR  A 
complete waste of 39 Euros.

Mark