http://www.cell-unlock.com/faq.html
Frequently Asked Questions
What is unlocking?
Many cellular service providers will provide phones at a discounted price when bought with a contract. However, most of these phones are "locked" to the network from which they were purchase; this means that you can't use the phone with any other network provider's SIM card.
Unlocking your phone removes this barrier and allows you to use your phone on all the networks it is compatible with. Unlocking increases the resale value of your phone and allows you the flexibility of using alternative network providers - this is particularly useful if you wish to avoid roaming charges while traveling abroad.
Why do networks lock their phones?
Some networks that lock their phones in order to try to "protect their investment." When you purchase a cell phone, it is usually subsidized by a particular network's service. This price subsidy is made up for by the contract that you sign with the network provider. However, since all contracts include a hefty "cancellation fee," the subsidy lock is very unnecessary. In reality, the lock is simply intended to prevent you from using your phone on a different network, forcing you to buy a new phone for travelling or for moving to a new network.
Is unlocking legal?
Yes, unlocking your phone is completely legal in the USA, UK, Canada, and the majority of Europe (but not including Italy). You should check to make sure that the unlocking method you are chosing is legal in your country before purchasing.
In the USA, a recent recommendation by the comission set up to monitor and update the DMCA exempts the reverse engineering of firmware for unlocking purposes from the stringent copyright language of the DMCA. This has effectively made unlocking software completely legal in the USA for a duration of 3 years, after which the decision will be reviewed. The DMCA's report exempting unlock software can be found at this document from the US Copyright Office.
What are the advantages of unlocking my phone?
Unlocking your phone has a number of advantages:
- You can use your GSM phone with a SIM card from any other GSM network in the world.
- The resale value of your phone is increased.
- Instead of paying for a new phone when you switch network, you can keep your old phone (as long as both networks use GSM technology).
- You can purchase a phone locked to a different network and use it with your own SIM card and service.
- You no longer need to pay extortionate roaming charges when you go abroad. Simply unlock your phone and then purchase a prepaid domestic SIM card at your destination and receive the same low call rates as locals.
What is the difference between Software and IMEI Unlocking?
The two main types of unlocking services that we provide are Software unlocking and IMEI Unlocking. Software unlocking servics use a USB cable to connect your phone to your computer and reprogram the firmware to make your card SIM free. These solutions, including the MotoBlaze software, will instantly unlock your phone. However, you will need a phone-compatible USB cable and Windows computer in order to use these services.
IMEI Unlocking services are based on manufacturer or network. Instead of using software to unlock your phone, these solutions retrieve the unlock code from the manufacturer or network databases. Your phone's IMEI is a unique identification number for your phone, and can be found by pressing *#067# on your phone's keypad. By sending us this IMEI and purchasing an IMEI Unlock solution, we can provide you with the 8-digit unlock code for your phone. To unlock your phone, you simply insert the new SIM card, and enter the unlock subsidy code at the prompt and your phone will be unlcoked.
Will unlocking remove network branding?
No, our software and IMEI solutions do not affect your phone's operation in any way other than allowing all GSM SIM cards to work with your phone. Once your phone is unlocked, the interface will look exactly the same as before, with all the network branding it had before unlocking. The only difference will be when you try to enter a different SIM card into your phone - instead of getting an error message, your newly unlocked phone will accept the new SIM card.
How can I tell if my phone is locked?
Almost all cell phones that are sold by cellular networks (such as Cingular, T-Mobile, Vodafone, Rogers, Orange, O2, 3, etc) are locked. The only way to test whether you phone is locked is to insert a different SIM card into the phone. If your phone is locked, you will receive an "Enter Subsidy Password," "Enter Unlock Code," "Contact Service Provider," or similar message.
What is the "Contact Service Provider" message?
On Motorola phones, if you enter an incorrect unlocking code too many times the phone will display a "Contact Service Provider" message. If this happens, simply leave your phone displaying this message for 3-4 hours and it should disappear, leaving the normal "Enter Subsidy Password" prompt. Our unlocking software will work on your phone even if it is displaying the "Contact Service Provider" message.
What is the difference between GSM and CDMA technologies?
GSM and CDMA are two competing cellular technologies. The GSM technology is the more popular of the two internationally. All networks in Europe use GSM technology, as do most networks in Africa, Central and South America, and the Middle East.
In the USA, Sprint PCS, Verizon Wireless and Alltel are all CDMA carriers, while T-Mobile, Cingular (AT&T), and Cellular One are all GSM carriers. In Canada, Telus Mobility and Bell Mobility are both CDMA carriers, while Rogers and Fido are GSM carriers. GSM phones can be unlocked and used on other GSM networks with different SIM cards. CDMA phones cannot be unlocked, and GSM phones cannot be used on CDMA networks.
So, for example, you could unlock a Cingular (GSM) phone and use it on the T-Mobile network in America or the Vodafone network in the UK (both GSM networks), but you couldn't use your unlocked GSM phone with a CDMA carrier such as Verizon Wireless or Sprint PCS. Any phone unlocked in Europe can be used on any other European network, since all use GSM technology.
Why is my model not listed?
The phones that we have listed in the menu to the left are popular phones that are either supported by our software, or which we plan on adding in the future. The best way to test whether your phone is supported by our software is to use the Try Before You Buy feature to test our unlocking software for your phone.
Our IMEI unlocking solutions can be used for any phone from the network/manufacturer, unless otherwise stated.
My phone is barred, will your service work?
The only way to unbar a phone is through the network operator or by changing the IMEI. Changing a phone IMEI is illegal in most countries, and we do not provide this service with our software.
What should I do if I'm having problems with your unlock service?
First, check to make sure you are following the instructions exactly. If you continue to have problems, check our Support Forum for common problems and solutions. If you are still having issues, you can use our Contact Fform to send us the details of the issue you are having.
What is your 100% unlocking guarantee?
We are so sure of our unlocking services that we guarantee we can help you unlock your phone. To find out more information, click for our service guarantee information page.
