Do you have an email to contact the sim unlock dept?

Thank you,

Charley:

I've never contacted the SIM Unlock department directly. If you work through Customer Care, the SIM Unlock department should simply provide the unlock instructions.

Did you try this already?

My experience with T-Mobile unlocking in the past week:

I called and asked for the unlock code, which they emailed me. It didn't work after 3 tries, so I stopped. Finally I called their SIM unlock dept. The guy told me to do it again. I explained to him that I was not the first owner of the phone, so I wasn't sure I had any more tries left. He said just do what I tell you to do. So I did what he said, step by step.

What happened? You guessed it... "Phone locked, return for servicing." His response? "Bummer." He then told me he didn't really know much about Samsung phones, and that it wasn't T-Mobile's fault that my phone was now locked. He then told me to go into a T-Mobile store and they would unlock it for me with no problem by hooking it up to a computer and using some software or other.

I do that, and they tell me there is no such thing. The store manager calls them up and tells them as much. They try to unlock it with their magic store SIM card, to no avail. I'm eventually told on the phone that my only recourse is to send the phone back to them after they send me a refurbished phone at my own expense, if I want it faster than 5 days. And if the phone I send back does not meet with their approval, they'll charge me a $400 "restocking fee."

This is AFTER they had already left me without service for three weeks in April/May, because of "impaired towers" in my area.

It's no wonder I have switched carriers. And they had better send me that refurbished phone regardless. I was still technically a customer when their idiot tech locked my phone, and I see no reason I should not be able to now sell a phone I paid for and they ruined. I refuse to accept that I am left with a $300 phone that I can't use or sell.

So everyone: BEWARE. It's not as easy as it all sounds.

This is an interesting story and you seem to know what the issues are with the handset manufacturer's typical implementation of locking. I guess my question is, if you were concerned with running out of unlock attempts because you weren't the first owner, why did you try three times to unlock the phone before calling T-Mobile's SIM unlock department for one-on-one help?

Exact same problem as Laurie, except I tried 4 times without assistance and the phone locked up. Called customer service and they said both the phone and sim are kaput. They sent me a new Samsung and SIM which i received in 3 days. Two problems: 3 days no phone and all addresses, text, and data cannot be retrieved from the locked phone.

Track record to date: First Samsung E105 unlocked without a problem and used in the Philippines for two trips, with a local SIM. Some phone features quit working about a month ago and phone replaced under warranty. Second phone failed the unlock, as above. Just put an unlock request in for 3rd Samsung E105, If I get an error on first try, I'm stopping and calling support.

-Jim

Jim:

I agree with your idea to stop if your first unlock attempt is unsuccessful. As the first email I received from T-Mobile said:

"If you receive an error message while performing the instructions below, stop."

All of the handset problems that have been pointed out in response to this article have related to Samsung phones. I'm going to go back to some of my contacts at T-Mobile and ask them if the Samsung handsets are more tempermental than others with respect to unlocking.

Hey guys.

I'm actually an employee with T-Mobile USA customer care, and just wanted to try and clarify some things. The most important thing when submitting an unlock request is to enter *#06# on the phone for the IMEI number. Even though the IMEI is printed on the label in the battery compartment of many phones, I have often times come across problems where the IMEI for the software and the IMEI printed on the phone are different, which may result in an incorrect Unlock code. Since it's the software we unlock I strongly recommend giving us the IMEI through the use of *#06#.

REQUIREMENTS:

90+ days of service
account current
only one Unlock code is able to be offered per mobile number per 12 mo period

In answer to the question of why I tried three times... in the instructions they do indeed say if you receive an error message, stop. THEN they go on to say "confirm the IMEI number and submit another request." I took that to mean "try again."

I emailed back and forth with the SIM Unlock dept., receiving conflicting advice, before I finally called. I was told you have five attempts before the phone locks up. (And yes, I did confirm the IMEI number by using the code *#06# . I didn't even know it was printed inside the phone at first!)

I was also told that you must do this with the T-Mobile SIM card in the phone... then I was told, no it must be the foreign card... then NO, it should be the T-Mobile card... it was during this period of confusion--when I thought I was dealing with unlock experts, albeit by email--that I made the 3 attempts and finally got fed up enough to call.

I was simply doing what I was told to do by T-Mobile's so-called SIM unlock experts. But they kept changing their story. THAT's why my phone ended up locked.

Hey Guys,
I got a t-mobile connection and got a Motorola V300 phone. I am visiting India right now for some official work. I got the unlock code, it worked fine. The only problem i am facing is that my new call provider Airtel is not able to use the setting for WAP and MMS. I mean i have removed the T-Mobile sim from my phone, and still i have an option of T-Zones. This Airtel company also has a MMS and WAP thing called "Airtel Fun Services", it's something like T-Zones i guess(whr u download ring tones n games n stuff).

The Customer Care of Airtel told me to go to WebAccess and select new Connection. But instead of New Connection, i see T-Zones. I think t-mobile's T-Zones has to be removed first in order for me to use Airtel Fun Servies and WAP on my phone.

And the worst part is that i cannot contact T-Mobile's 1800 number cause it's gonna be long distance for me.

Can Nyone help me out with this?
If i can have the e-mail of the customer care of T-Mobile, maybe they could help me out to remove T-Zones setting from my Motorola V300.

Cheers!

i will like to shop at ur store. am john raldolph who leave in the united state, pls help me out.

Sohrab,
I do not know if this helps you now, but the T-Mobile International Customer Care # is 505.998.3793 or 505.998.3792.
These are toll free numbers for use while traveling.
Hope this helps for future travels.
Cheers!
Christie

i want to know all these products you have in store bcoz i love to buy some for my customers here in nigeria i hear english languages okay

Is anybody around give me the prices of used and refurbished mobile phones mostly European specs, that is not locked. The prefered handsets are Samsung and Nokia. I am from Nigeria, and send the payment details to me.

Is there any value to an unregistered T-Mobile SIM? That is, if I have a new (shrinkwrapped, never used, not registered) SIM, can I go to T-Mobile and set up an account using that SIM and my T-Mobile Pocket PC (currently sans SIM) any cheaper than setting up an account and buying a SIM?

I've gone to the T-Mobile store with my phone and they won't activate it without a two year contract and a $200 deposit (either in cash or virtually on my credit card) on a phone. "I've already got a phone, I dont want another one". "You don't have to actually take this phone, but you have to pay for it". *AUGH*

I was wondering if somebody could help me. I just got a new T-Mobile phone (Samsung R225) if that matters. And you can use AIM from this phone. Today I was signed onto AIM from my computer, but I was gone and I also tried to sign onto AIM from my phone. I have done this before and it has always worked. But this time it didn't let me. Then when I came home the AIM on my computer was not working right, and it was saying I was signed onto my phone, when I wasn't. Even when my phone was off. Also when I try to sign onto AIM from my phone it now says, 'There is no SMS Center Number' I have know idea what that even means. I don't know why this is happening but if somebody could please help me I would really really appreciate it.

--Thank you.

recently I bought Sony ericsson T610 T-mobile through amazon.com.but without service plan.I would like to unlock this mobile and want to know how/where to do that.Its brand new phone without any service plan.
any info related to thos would be highly appriciated.
thanks

Mohan:

Regarding the T610 you bought from Amazon.com, if you did not sign up for a service plan, how could the phone be locked?

nice way to check for model:
http://www.mobile.progative.com/tools/

HI Guys:

I just called Tmobile, I have samsung sgh105, and the customer service rep walked me through number of steps:

Every thing worked fine, I got message "Personalization cancelled"

My concern is, I did it with t mobile sim card in, SO could I be able to use GSM service in india just by putting their sim card.

Even after unlocking I am still using t mobile, Is this gonna lock my phone again to T Mobile, if not then it means I can switch sims as many times as I want to.

Some body told me that I must have to unlock phone with Other service SIm card in, Please let me know if any body knows baout it.

Also the unlock code which is provided by T mobile will remain the same forever or its gonna be different if I try to unlock with SIM card in India.

thanks

Response to "Posted by: jad at August 23, 2004 10:03 PM"

I presume Locking refers to Locking the phone to a given service provider, such as T-Mobile. That means the phone will not recognize any SIM Card other that T-Mobile. Once the phone is Unlocked, it will not (or should not, shall we say) look for any specific service provider's SIM Card. That means the phone should work with ANY SIM Card whatsoever, including the original service provider's.

Thanks
Ram Bhagwat

I am being dished out severe mental harassment by T-Mobile, because they are not sending me the SIM unlock code although I purchased their pocket PC more then three months ago.

Their sales representative misinformed me about the unlock policy, saying that the phone would be Sim-unlocked for Asia after 60 days.

I am in India and am not receiving the Unlock codes from the Sim-Unlock department. Each time I send them an e-mail, it bounces back.

I have filed a web-complaint (http://www.thesqueakywheel.com/complaints/complaint5229.cfm) about this matter.

Thanks for the heartburn, T-Mobile.

Hey everyone,

Just want to let you know that last year I had contacted T-Mobile for the unlock code for two of my phones. I asked for it because I was traveling to Philippines and wanted to use the local sim rather than paying 2.99 per minute with T-Mobile. The rep gave me the code except when I asked for the other code for my other phone, she gave me the same code. At that time I didn't know that each phone had a unique code. The rep told me to keep trying 'till..."Phone Locked Return for Servicing" The rep told me to return the phone and they'll send me another one, since the phone was still under warranty. At that point, I was already in the Philippines. I thought all my addresses, ph#s stored in ph memory, pictures, task list, calendar memos, etc. were all gone. I tried calling T-Mobile again and asked them if there's any way the phone can be unlocked. The rep said to call Samsung and gave me the #. So I did. The Samsung rep told me to contact T-Mobile. So that didn't help me at all. So I decided to figure it out myself. Thanks to the internet, I found a code to get rid of the "Phone Lock" message. Everything that I needed in that phone was still there. Nothing got deleted. I just went back to Philippines last month and used the phone with a local sim card and came back and switched to T-Mobile sim. As of now I'm happy.

I bought I TREO 180 with a T mobile carrier. I now live in the Philippines and wanted to activate my phone with a local carrier. T-Mobile gave me the unlocking codes but it doesn't work. T-Mobile told me that they gave me the 8 digit unlocking codes and they confirmed it. I need help on what to do next...do I need another software to unlock it? Anyone who knows, pls. give me a side where I can download the software to unlock a TREo 180.

Hi guys...
I found a website which contains unlock codes. I followed t-mobile's instruction and my phone was permanently locked. I called T-mobile again and they told me there is no other way to unlock the phone. They told me to buy and new handset or use my warranty. Well... those retards are wrong. I found a website and unlock my phone in 5 sec. If anyone needs info about the site, post it on the forum. I am not going to post the site since it is written in Chinese. Anyways, good luck.

Hi Al, Jake

Can you forward me the directions to unlock the phone when it gets to the "phone locked return for servicing" message please?

Thanks!

1). I purchase the T-Mobile Pocket PC in USA, after the T-Mobile representative lies to me that the phone will function in India and that T-Mobile will send me an Unlock code for my Indian Sim after 60 days of purchase.
2). Both these lies are confirmed upon 4 calls to T-Mobile Customer Care from India, overall lasting 2 hours. Still no Unlock codes after 98 days of purchase.

3). I purchase an Unlock procedure (software) from www.unlockitnow.com for 45 US$. Doesn't work. Later, I find they've sold me freeware. They ask me to download a special ROM (also freeware) and to flash the ROM on my Pocket PC, a procedure which shows no sign of working, reporting the error: gettingDeviceData connection closed by remote host ..... as I try and send data from PC to Pocket PC.

4).Then the UnlockItNow fellows to tell me to purchase a storage card and to paste the data there in the Pocket PC and to commence operations from the Pocket PC after this. I purchase a SD Memory card for the Pocket PC for 40 US$. The technique they describe doesn't work.

5). Then UnlockItNow acts as if nothing has happened, and tells me that their procedure will work only if I transfer data from the PC to the Pocket PC. Doesn't work, same error reported.

6). After 101 days of purchase and some more e-mailing, telephoning and complaints to the US, the SimUlock department of T-Mobile sends me an Unlock code for my Indian Sim, which I am able to unlock.

7). Then I discover that I get no signal, because India is a 1800 MHz zone, and the Pocket PC has been software programmed to function on 900/1900.

8). I spend a whole Sunday with a friend trying to find a remedy on the net to flash the ROM. We are still working on this, without success.

WHAT A NIGHTMARE, AND EXPENSIVE TOO!!!!!!! HOPE THIS DOESN'T HAPPEN TO ANYBODY ELSE

Uday:

What a litany. I don't know where to begin. First of all, every international market I've ever been in has service in 900 mHz as well as 1800. My Treo 180 runs in Europe on the 900 mHz band. I have been to Asia before, but I didn't have a GSM phone back then. I'm assuming the phone I have now would work there too.

I'm sure you had a good reason to buy your phone here in the United States, but if your primary purpose for buying was to take it back to India, isn't the onus for picking a compatible handset on you?

Hello Charlie,

Perhaps a little belated for you, but the only way I could contact the SimUnlock Department of T-Mobile was to go through Customer Care (1-877-778-2106, 1-800-937-8997)and get the representative to file a request for Sim Unlocking. I don't think they are directly contactable through e-mail.

Regards,

Uday.

Hello Dave,

I was in the US for 6 weeks, after which I returned to India. At that time I didn't know too much about MHz and GSM. I specifically asked the representative at the time of purchase that I wanted to purchase a phone that would function in India. The T-Mobile representative replied very confidently that the Pocket PC Phone was a world phone, and that it would definitely function in India. I swallowed what he said and made the purchase. One of those things.

In India, providers switch from 900 to 1800 when there is too much load on the network, so I lose signal, specifically while travelling, and this is very irritating for my family, who start worrying about me!

Uday.

Uday:

I think the T-Mobile representative gave you correct advice. If networks in India are not robust enough to support the device load contending for each frequency, there's no way a T-Mobile USA person would know this.

The working definition of "world phone" in the U.S. is a handset that can work on at least one non-U.S. frequency.

Well,

Have been in touch with customer care T-Mobile, and it is they who used the terminology that I had been lied to so that I would buy the phone. They were sorry, and they took down my details, but haven't contacted me a week now.

Meanwhile, have read a lot of posttings on the web that the Pocket PCs are actually Triband, but they are often software programmed by providers to function as dual-band phones. If one can flash their ROM, one can actually get them to function as Triband again. My friend Andrew and I are working on this and have started a forum discussion for help :

http://forum.xda-developers.com/viewtopic.php?t=12196&sid=118414672fbed0a721af80ff94d3e736

Do have a look, and any help will be greatly appreciated.

Another reason I am quite vehement against the T-Mobile sales representative is that he misinformed me about the T-Mobile unlock policy too, another fact confirmed thrrough Customer Care (http://www.thesqueakywheel.com/complaints/complaint5229.cfm)

Best Regards, and thanks for the interest,

Uday

Hello Dave,

All the people I've spoken to define a "World Phone" as something that functions in the 900, 1800 and 1900 GSM bands.

If in the US you define a "World Phone" as one that functions in at least one non-US frequency, and in the rest of the world one defines a world phone as one that functions in 900/1800/1900,this is a discrepancy that needs to be sorted out.

Best Regards,

Uday

Hi Every one,
I am going through terrible time with Tmobile. I used to live in US 8 months back. We bought 2 E105 samsung mobiles from Tmobile services for a family sharing plan. My husband passed away few months back and I had to come back to my home country India, as my visa does not permit me to live there in US. After coming here I wantd to use the same phones, so I requested Tmobile customer support to send me the sim unlock code, so that I can use it here. The answer I got from them is: The requester name and the account holder name does not match and hence refusing to send the sim unlock code.
How can some once expect the account holders name as a requester when he is dead.
What can I say, IT IS TMOBILE...

Pallavi:

I'm sincerely sorry that your husband passed away. Looking at a situation like this as an outsider, I'd be worried if a mobile carrier provided unlock codes to someone who they did not think was the subscriber, especially if the request came from another country.

I think problems like this are solvable by dealing with most U.S. carriers at their local stores. You'd probably still have to prove that the customer died and that you are the heir.

With due regards to your official duty.I hereby appeal to the authority concerned to send to me some printed catalogs on the circuit diagrams for repairs of GSM sets.This is my address stated below:P.O.20389,UI Post office,Ibadan,Nigeria.234.
I look forward to hearing from you soonest.
Your sincerely,
Samuel Magmus.

I was successfully able to unlock the iPaQ 6315 with one attempt. T-mobile customer service said they were going to email me the unlock code within 38 hours but they replied within 24 hours. So far so good!

Hi Jake,
Could you post the site for unlocking phones

Please can you tell me how to unlock all different types of phones

I am seeing on Amazon.com about unlocked phones. Is it advisable to buy unlocked phone. Will any cellphone service provider support unlocked phones. Please tell asap.

Jake,

Please send me information on the site that aided you in unlocking your cell phone. I have a V300 that I need to unlock for my wife who is visiting in Asia.

Thanks!

Tracy