I bought a Sprint M9 from a guy on eBay and had it shipped to me outside of the US.
The seller had it advertised as an unlocked phone that he got straight from HTC.
I got the phone.. booted up and saw that dreaded Hands Free Activation screen.. alerting me immediately that it was a Sprint phone.
It has no Sprint branding or software or apps on it though..
I asked the guy about it and he said he had a Sprint phone that was defective and Sprint told him to send it to HTC to be replaced and HTC sent him back that phone and he assumed it was unlocked.
Anyway.. after a few emails back and forth, he was able to contact Sprint and get the unlock codes.
First was the MSL code to reset the phone.. which worked fine.. and now it recognizes that there is a foreign sim card, but still says that the SIMLock is enabled.
There are a couple others codes he gave me, the PUK1 code, OTKSL code and SID code.
I tried going into the System updates and UICC unlock, but it attempts to get an update from the network.. which i am not connected to.. and it all fails from there.
Does anyone know of a way to get around that problem? is there anyway to unlock it if I am already outside of the US and not connected to the Sprint network in anyway?
Related
Hey everyone, what's up?
Recently I sold mt ATT 8525 to a buddy. He is currently with T-Mobile and the phone needed to be unlocked. I used this unlock process --> http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=293665
I followed the instructions for Vista and using the micro sd card. Once it was finished, I slipped in his T-Mobile sim and turned on the phone. It asked me to enter an unlock code still, so I entered in some random numbers and it worked. The phone stayed unlocked and worked on his T-Mobile network for about a week and a half. Then it just locked itself all over again. I'm no longer able to try and unlock it for him again because I am out of town for the next 3 months and he isn't too computer savvy.
Has this happened to anyone else? If so, what did you do to fix it?
Also, if an unlock code is entered too many times, will the phone be locked with the original provider (att) for good? We have tried entering the code a total of 4 times (including the time that it worked) I told him not to try entering anymore codes until I can figure this out.
Thanks for any help I may recieve!
Eric
ericc191 said:
Hey everyone, what's up?
Recently I sold mt ATT 8525 to a buddy. He is currently with T-Mobile and the phone needed to be unlocked. I used this unlock process --> http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=293665
I followed the instructions for Vista and using the micro sd card. Once it was finished, I slipped in his T-Mobile sim and turned on the phone. It asked me to enter an unlock code still, so I entered in some random numbers and it worked. The phone stayed unlocked and worked on his T-Mobile network for about a week and a half. Then it just locked itself all over again. I'm no longer able to try and unlock it for him again because I am out of town for the next 3 months and he isn't too computer savvy.
Has this happened to anyone else? If so, what did you do to fix it?
Also, if an unlock code is entered too many times, will the phone be locked with the original provider (att) for good? We have tried entering the code a total of 4 times (including the time that it worked) I told him not to try entering anymore codes until I can figure this out.
Thanks for any help I may recieve!
Eric
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Do you still have AT&T for your phone company? AT&T will give you the sim unlock code for the phone after you've owned it for 2 months (provided it's one of their phones and you still have their service). You just have to call them and tell them you are going over seas and need to use a foriegn sim while traveling. I did this with no problem - the only thing is it takes about a week for them to get you the code (they said they'd email it to me - I actually had to call back after a week and ask for it but they gave it to me.)
well, i purchased the phone on ebay..
Not sure what to say - I'd still probably try calling AT&T (assuming it's an AT&T branded phone and you are a customer of theirs still) it's worth a shot. Beyond that I don't know what to say since I haven't used the sim-unlock tool you spoke of.
well, I appreciate your help. I'll give them a call tomorrow. If they BS with me or whatever, then I think I'll just spring for an ebay sim unlock that's only about 15 bucks.
Hi All,
First, I hope this is the right section & I hope I am not duplicating another thread. I have a odd situation I think and I don't know what to do. I picked up my Atrix 4G off of craigslist a few days back. The phone is great but it will not accept my ATT sim card. It asked to enter the unlock code for the sim. It's an ATT phone so I am not sure why my sim doesn't work (Same sim card works in unlocked Vibrant). So, I purchased the unlock codes from two separate places and the codes were the same and did not work when I enter them.
I am at a lost now. I don't know what to do.
Any ideas are appreciated?
Oh yeah, I am not sure what the previous did but before I even put my sim, I did use the bypass Motoblur method to use the phone with sim & blur. I did use aroot and glad enable also. After the sim would not work, I wiped data, created a blur account and tried sim again but no success.
Please help me, I want to use this awesome phone!
did you get this resolved? i am having the same issue
Nope. Still not fixed. I am not sure what to do at this point.
i have the same problem..maybe the case is that you entered the incorrect code more than 10 times?
Have you checked that the IMEI code printed under the battery matches the one displayed on screen?
I was under the impression that if you blow the 10 unlock attempts you will have to wait several hours to try again. In other words, it will not permanently lock.
I might be wrong though.
Sent from my Atrix using Tapatalk
How many numbers do you have in your unlock code which you are entering into the phone?
Op,
You might have ruined something software wise, did you try flashing a full sbf version 4.1.8.3 preferably ?
I think it should work for you.
there are 8 digits in my unlock code and the imei is the same in the box, under the battery and in the phone
Same issue - No solution
I have same issue with Atrix bought on local craigslist. I have tried restoring to multiple stock versions.
AT&T spent two hours figuring out the issue and they tried even entering correct unlock code.
They asked me to contact motorola as they feel it is software issue. I will Motorola on Tuesday and post the result.
Hi I have the Exact same issue. The Atrix that i got off Craigslist were sealed. And I tried unlock code for Tmobile network off three different sites and still no luck in the locking the phone. So i went and i got Att sims and said the same thing "Sim Network Unlock Pin"
Anywho, I went to Att store and they couldn't figured out and they dont have a phone in stock to trade in. So after many attempt with Att and their customer service, they advise me to contact Motorola.
The funny thing is that i've sent the phone to Motorola two times and clearly stated my issue with the phone and they did not fix it and just send the phone back to me. So i got piss after wasting 350$ on a phone that i can't use and another 30 Bucks for shipping the phone to Motorola. I contact directly to their tech and the tech support ask me to call ATT. LOL right? So one of the tech just offer me a free shipping so they can take A CLOSER LOOK into it.
Apparently Motorola doesn't do phone exchange all they do is repair it. Any exchange would have to deal with ATT and for that to happen you would have to sign up a warranty plan with them which is $5/month.
So i got one last shot at this. and I'll keep you guys post on update. Sorry for my poor English.
So strange as they are unlocked, im using an AT&T atrix in Australia without issue.
Perhaps the phones have been banned somehow?
BUMP.. Anyone find a solution to this yet??
i leave my phone with the error message and the screen on, for at least 2 weeks and nothing!!
i hope no damage my phone with that time with the screen on
I have the same issue. From AT&T explained me that after 5th wrong attempt, the phone will be permanently locked to AT&T. Anybody has a solution for this?
I tried it alll tooooooooooo !!!
My phone was locked to orange network UK. I wanted to use a VIRGIN network Sim card... SO I called the VIRGIN Network technical support team... and this Silly girl keep on giving me few codes till ......IT STOPPED RESPONDING to any code.. so the phone now will not take any codes. I bought many codes in hope from websites..none worked.
I called ORANGE ..but they had no clue tooooo...
I unlocked the bootlooger thing too. I flashed it few times in hope....and I DID what ever I could do but in vain......
I hope we get some smart ass genius to get the break to this problem....!!!
Very similar issue here. I was in Costa Rica for a month and requested the SIM network unlock from ATT and they provided as it had been 6 months after my purchase. The code did not work in Costa Rica and only used WIFI while over there. I got back to the States yesterday and it still doesn't work, and by now have definitely attempted to enter the code 10 or more times. Its supposedly locked to ATT after 10 unsuccessful attempts but it will not work even with my original ATT SIM.
ATT sent me a new Atrix but I would like to get this one working as well. I have a few questions.
If I root is there any apps designed for root to unlock?
If not will a custom Rom bypass the need to unlock or be unlocked already?
If neither of these work is the phone basically bricked simply because the code (provided by ATT) was entered incorrectly 10 times?
THANKS!
i have the exact same issue the phone was from att but the seller say its unlocked for any company,not rooted , not unlocked, only upgrade via ota from froyo to gingerbread,i wish a solution for that,if anyone find a solution please post!! thanks
alberto
well I went ahead and rooted and unlocked. Going to flash a custom and see what happens. Ill keep you updated.
UPDATE: Tried CM7, Didnt fix. :/
I have exactly the same problem. I have tried unlock the boot loader. My phone already show unlocked on top left screen when power on.
Idk why It still ask for Sim network unlock code when I put my T-mobile Sim in and power up.
It seems hopeless to me after trying to search for someday.
I have tried many some rom.
Please anyone help us..
Thank you very much
FYI, Press #073887* on atrix will bring you to the screen which ask:
"Sim network unlock PIN:"
Hello everyone, gave this phone, but I do not use AT & T. Advise how and where can unlock the phone.
In order to get AT&T to unlock this phone you must maintain 6 months of GoPhone service on it. Then unlocking is handled via a request on their website.
Other methods are, the phone is in Russia.
Other methods of what? Unlocking?
Yes, another mode of unlock.
i just called them up and put in a unlock ticket as a non att mobility customer, and a few days later i had my unlock code.
Sent from my ASUS PadFone X mini using XDA Free mobile app
This was my experience yesterday...
What I was told by the at&t customer support rep I called yesterday was that the phone is sold unlocked, but it comes with it's own GoPhone SIM card. According to her if you install that GoPhone card and activate it through the phone or even activate it online it will "SIM-LOCK" to your phone's IMEI number. That means if you activate the SIM card that comes with the phone then you lock your padfone to at&t for 6 months before you can request an unlock via the web form on their site. She then told me to instead simply take the SIM card to my local at&t store and swap it with a postpaid one. The representative then said that they could not have legally sold me a phone that was locked. Since none of this sounded like it was exactly correct or that either one knew for sure I went to the at&t store after I got off the phone. The woman I talked to there said she would take care of the SIM card, but looked confused when I was talking about it being unlocked and just nodded her head like she agreed. She tossed my GoPhone SIM and gave me a postpaid one. I had her activate it and pick out a number. That way if it turns out that it is not unlocked I'll have more ammo to get it refunded and cancelled. I will be stopping back by the store this afternoon to have someone verify everything because I really don't believe that it isn't sold already locked. An article in prepaidphonenews.com also suggested it was the GoPhone SIM, but it did not state anything besides to switch it out for a postpaid one at the store. I will post what I find out as soon as I can.
the rep lied to you. the phone comes locked from the factory. gophonephones work on any at&t mnvo (cricket,etc) and postpaid out of the box. i seemed to get lucky requesting my unlock by calling customer service because my padfone x minis imei wouldnt come up on the device unlock request website.
But the phones definently locked out of the box regardless of what sim is initially put in first.
Sent from my ASUS PadFone X mini using XDA Free mobile app
idahodude said:
the rep lied to you. the phone comes locked from the factory. gophonephones work on any at&t mnvo (cricket,etc) and postpaid out of the box. i seemed to get lucky requesting my unlock by calling customer service because my padfone x minis imei wouldnt come up on the device unlock request website.
But the phones definently locked out of the box regardless of what sim is initially put in first.
Sent from my ASUS PadFone X mini using XDA Free mobile app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
this is true... anyway is there no other way unlocking it except contacting the customer service..??
unlocked AT&T Asus padfone x min successfully ?
have any unlocked AT&T Asus padfone x min successfully ? i m looking for unlock code. i m not able to request unlock code from at&t . third party source are legit ? are they able to unlock phones ? i found this attunlockcode.com ? have anyone ever tried them service ? waiting for reply .
Thanks,
alixa
I have code from requestion on att site as non mobility user but code is not correct, any assistance will be appreciated
raymondtita said:
I have code from requestion on att site as non mobility user but code is not correct, any assistance will be appreciated
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
What happens when you use the unlock code? You need to have a working non-AT&T SIM card installed in the device or it won't work.
shifuimam said:
What happens when you use the unlock code? You need to have a working non-AT&T SIM card installed in the device or it won't work.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The same situation, at&t have sent the code, but it does not fit, when typing writes the wrong code
Buck this Duck!
I got it taken care of by simply calling att and had the unlock code in about 10min. I gotta admit i worked for Bellsouth doing internal tech support for years so i knew what to say and what department to ask for. That experience with the company did have something to do with my results from a phone call. Whats funny and interesting is after that my request from the ATT website went through and i was sent a different code completely .. I thought it was device specific? So yes i can verify this as being fishy and a mystery to me as to if the IMEI was needed at all. Is it a ruse?
Perhaps its a bot that that handles the request from the site?
This is interesting so anyone please if you had a similar experience please post about it. So we can nail down this bootloader. I use mine as a stereo/map in my car and the phone as a emergency SIP device (plus i use the same towers so if my regular phone has any issues i have a quick backup). Plus i just like this phone once i got it bloat free it was actually serviceable!
Is there a functional rom link left please that would be awesome! Thanks a lot...
About 2 months ago I cancelled my T-Mobile account after some bad experiences with them. I had my LG V10 on lease with them, not yet fully paid. At the same time I convinced the representative to unlock my phone so I could switch to another carrier. I asked her if I needed to do anything and she said no, she can do it remotely, then told me it was all done. My phone was under some old guarantee that I could continue paying off the phone monthly instead of all at once (apparently that's since vanished, and they have no record of that guarantee ever existing. Figures.)
Anyway, I was happy to have an unlocked phone. But a few weeks ago I got a letter asking me to pay up the remaining balance or be sent to a collection agency. I couldn't, so they did. Yesterday I called T-Mobile to find out if my phone was unlocked and they said that since my account was closed and in collection, they couldn't check or tell me, and to call the agency. I did, and the collection rep didn't seem to want to give me a straight answer. His answers were (paraphrasing): "There's some things T-Mobile doesn't want us telling you (the consumer); "I'm going to choose my words carefully"; and, If you pay off your balance T-Mobile may unlock your phone." He repeated the last one whenever I asked additional questions. I figure he could've just said no, your phone is not unlocked.
So I'm thinking that since my phone was remotely unlocked by T-Mobile just before closing my account, that it's still unlocked and they just don't want to confirm it to me for fear that I may not pay them back as fast. My question is, if T-Mobile unlocked my phone before closing my account, could they re-lock it, wven without an active account? Also, could the rep have lied to me about having unlocked my phone?
By the way, I can't do the SIM swap trick because everyone I know uses micro sim and my phone uses a nano sim. Also there isn't a cell store anywhere near me.
Oh, I did an IMEI check online on Swappa and it said Activation Status: Clear, not blacklisted, and identified my phone as either LG V10 (T-Mobile) or LG V10 (Unlocked). Not sure what that means. Did a check on another site and under carrier code it said T-Mobile, and carrier code TMO.
Did you get your phone from tmobile? Aka model h901? It should have the tmobile unlock app already installed which will tell you if it's unlocked or eligible to be unlocked. They would have told you to use it to unlock it in the first place.
Also, a collection agency isn't going to know anything about tmobile services, they'll say anything to get your money. It's a completely separate company.
I'd be more worried that tmobile blacklisted your imei rather than having it locked since you didn't pay off your lease.
So in May of 2015 i purchased on Amazon a new Volt 2 to be used on Virgin Mobile with a yet to be established accoung. The next day my Mom surprised me by giving me her old Samsung and added me to her phone plan. The following week when The Volt 2 arrived, it got lost in the shuffle and instead of returning the phone, it got tossed in a closet... unopened... never activated... And no account opened with Virgin.
4 years later, a friend who is down on his luck just lost his cell phone. He doesnt have the money to replace it because he was laid off 2 weeks ago. I offered to put him on my plan with sprint becuase the plan i have is so cheap to add a line and figured i would give him my stashed Volt 2 since it's a CDMA phone and should work on Sprints network.... If life was only that easy.
When i went to check the IMEI number on Sprints site, it came back with a message that said something to the effect that the phone qualified but i had to bring in to a Sprint store to activate it. Just to protect myself i called Virgin and asked if the phone was locked and explained the whole situation to her. She looked up my IMEI and claimed there were no holds on the phone and shouldnt have a problem bringing it to sprint. i asked her to triple check that information which she did and assured me all would be ok with Sprint...
i go to Sprint the next day to add my line and though they didnt say it was locked, i was told i just couldnt use the device on their network. So before i esculate this issue with Sprint I decided when I got home to call virgin again and make 100% sure my device has no holds are on it anwhewre.... carrier hold, sim hold, device hold, any hold.. The tell me nothings wrong with it. In all honesty, I never told them on the phone that I never activated activated the device, as I assumed they would of seen that.
I put a request in with sprint to provision the phone to its network and the rep didn't seem to see why she couldn't they said it would take 72 hours and I'd get am email with the outcome. It's been 8 days no email.
I'm sure the problem is that I didn't have service on the phone for the required 12 months in order to get the carrier unlock restriction.... Obviously the fact that the phone hasn't been activated is what's messing up everyone's view if the device. It has no phone number, no account to tie it too and under the system under bootloader there's nothing there it blank. The phone starts up fine, i can connect to my wifi and use it just fine. But under settings there's no network associated to it and most everything is blank. I put a correct sim sprint card in and it says invalid sim. It tries authorizing and fails. It on every reboot it tries to activate and eventually fails. It will download update, but fails with an authentication error when rebooting and installing. Phones not rooted or hacked (yet). And I've looked into the unlock companies out there and told if I can't get the phone yo ask for an unlock code when putting another sim card in, then there's nothing they can do... I can't get it to do that, no matter what shortcut / hidden menu option I try. In fact even *#06# (or variation thereof) won't pull um the imei number. It's listed in the settings. But I wonder if the fact that it's not asking for an unlock code when changing SIMS is because it's not activated anywhere. But if I activate it, will a lock be put on it immediately? And why are they locking phones 4 years old... Come on.
So is this phone just junk unless I want to pay $40 a month to Virgin for a year? On a phone that's 4 years old?
For the record I posted a message on vigin communities message board not giving IMEI number and said I'd supply it through an PM if requested and I was simply replied to with the staple "phone must be activated on our network for 12 months" line.
i hate throwing away any electronics especially ones ive never used. Is that my only option if I want to use the phone anywhere else other than virgin?
Sorry for the long winded posting...i couldn't find a decent answer anywhere on Google when searching if can you unlock a phone that's never been activated.
Help.
not oe reply? ok maybe it was too long and boring tro read so ill just condense it to one line...
is there a way to unlock a prepaid phone form Virgin that i bought 4 years ago but never activated it on any network?
When i asked Virgin they claimed there was no lock on it, in fact they didnt even see the device. But when i tried activating it on Sprint, they showed a lock and said they could provision the phone and it would be available to move in 72 hours... that was 2 weeks ago and i still can't get the phone on Sprint.
So do i need to activate a 4 year old phone on Virgin and keep it for 12 months before it will get released? I tried an unlock service and they said if it doesnt ask to enter a unlock code, they cant help... i cant get it to ask for this code.... its a Volt 2
any suggestions?>