talkmagic.co.uk

This has NOTHING to do with magic, and I hope it doesn't cause a torrent of young'uns spouting useless information, but does anyone know anything about mobile phone unlocking, and whether it's safe or not?

Basically, I'm on a different network to my other half, and I've just found out that Orange sell a SIM card for just £1... She's on Orange, I'm on Vodafone, so I thought it'd make things easier if I get that SIM card for £1 and unlock my phone for about a £5 (some websites out there can supply this service, apparently).

I'd like to know if anyone has unlocked their phone, or if anyone knows of any stories, good or bad, with regards to phone unlocking.

I'd ask Vodafone, but I'm certain they wouldn't condone this sort of thing as it means they miss out on a bit of income.

I own a Nokia 6230i, if that's any help.

Your help is appreciated. I'll buy you a Christmas drink.

Yes, all the phones I have ever owned (OK, 2) have been unlocked as usually the cheapest phones tend to come with expensive minutes, and the cheapest minutes are on SIM-only deals.

You can unlock them at a stand in the Cambridge market for £15, and that's always worked for us. I don't know whether the websites you have found are legit or not though...

Kati

alot of nokia phones can be unlocked with a code, i'll ask my mate for you, if I can help I will PM you.

Can you not take it to the shop where you are going to get the SIM from, they might be able to do it

Ususaly you can unlock the Phone with a "clip" this is a physical device and is what they would have use down the market like Kati suggested.

You can sometimes use a code to unlock the phone, are you tied into a contract with O2? if you contract has ended on the handset then it is your property and O2 will supply you with a code. Failing that purchase one from the internet, it will be dependant on the IMEI of your SIM card.

Lucky for you Nokia's are generaly easy to do... you shouldnt have have much trouble.

15 quid is a little excesive, i know a handful of local places that'll do it for 5.

Rob

are you tied into a contract with O2?

I wrote:She's on Orange, I'm on Vodafone

I've found a whole host of websites offering unlocking services - mostly charging around £5 either via text messages or card payment.

I suppose I just want to know that once I've unlocked it, and set my new SIM up, am I likely to have any problems with the phone? Also, to set up GPRS etc, will my new service provider still help me out?

Questions, questions, questions...

If it's a bog standard phone then almost any SIM should work OK. I'm on O2 and recently had a free upgrade phone but the old one is now fitted with a Tesco Pay As You Go SIM (£4.77!) and a tenner's worth of top up so I have an emergency phone available in case the newer one gets lost/nicked/damaged/dropped down the toilet - oops, far too much information there .

Oh vodaphone ... i didnt realize they were still around, thougt they went bust when everyone realized they were terrible and transfered away. eheh

The new service provider should help you with GPRS and such like ... to check whether it can be unlocked by a code stick the new orange SIM into the phone and turn it on, you will then be prompted for the code.

If you dont want to waste the 1 pound then O2 were offering Free SIM's last week.

I've not used a website so not sure whether i would trust it or not, but as i say if you not tied into a contract your best best is to contact your service provider (Voda) and they will probably give you a release code.

Rob

SirRawlins wrote:If you dont want to waste the 1 pound then O2 were offering Free SIM's last week.

I wrote:She's on Orange, I'm on Vodafone

Excellent. Free SIM, and the calls will be just as expensive. Clearly you don't have a girlfriend.

And what does 'eheh' actually mean?

You're right ... i dont have a girlfriend ... but if it did then it would be her that was changing service provider ... clearly she has you whipped bud .... well and truly under the thumb!

I guess we all know who wears the trousers in your relationship!

"ehehe" is a chuckle!

Rob

Rob wrote "I guess we all know who wears the trousers in your relationship! " - ha ha ha lol, that was a good one Rob

zach you put yourself in that one..lol


Jags

I wasn't going to rise to it, but what the hell...

Ever considered why you're single Rob? Maybe it's because you're not willing to do anything for your other half . Maybe it's your uneven facial hair growth . Or maybe it's because you're spending too much time with your computer .

Whatever the reason, good luck with everything. You'll find yourself a lovely man one day.

An internet argument! So public, and so amusing!

grah. i recently lost my unlocked cellphone... its somewhere around the house for certian, but I CANT FIND IT

i tend to usally buy a unlocked phone first, then swap it with a sim card.

Why not just do what me n my missus do......

Shop around on the good ol' internet and you'll find some good deals if u can be arsed signing up for a contract. The deal I'm on atm is a 12 month contract - I get 500 cross-network mins and 100 texts every month.
Cost £3.99 per month for the 1st 11 months then £30 for the last month.
Then when my contract runs out I'll do what I did last time - just cancel the contract, the phone is now mine to do with whatever I please and just look around to see what deals r on and sign up to a new contract.

I honestly don't know how they make any money on offers like this lol

My missus has got an uber deal atm - 600 cross network mins, 400 texts and £10 of downloadable content per month . Cost £1.99 per month for 12 months and it's only a 12 month contract. After that she can cancel the contract and look for another deal and the phone is hers to keep.

Dialaphone r usually quite good for deals like this