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Hello,
I just bought a new desire from an auction site like ebay, seller saying it is locked to Vodafone; I bought it since I have a sim card from Vodafone Romania and assumed stupidly that will work.
The phone seems to be from Vodafone Malta. I am saying this since there is a desktop shortcut on the phone desktop leading to the Vodafone website in Malta.
I called Vodafone in Romania and they provided the PUK code for my SIM card, but it didnt do the trick.
I got a code from one of the sites mentioned by many and it didnt work.
Then I went ahead and rooted the phone...got the gold card created, etc etc and in the end installed a new ROM (version 3.1 from MoDaCo). Even now the phone is still locked, hence I believe is something that I do not understand in terms of how phones can be locked by various operators.
Would really appreciate if somebody can help me understand how is this working?
As options, should I use a different baseband then, etc? I am a bit lost since I thought that if I am flashing the phone and install a new "neverlocked" ROM version then it will be fine. Or maybe try to flash the Vodafone UK original RUU file and then try again with the IMEI based codes as it seems like there are people getting unlocked for Vodafone in UK?
My current system looks like this:
- firmware: 2.1-update1
- baseband: 32.36.0028U_4.06.00.02_2
- kernel: 2.6.29-bravo-mck-r1
- build: 1.21.MCR.2
- software: MoDaCo custom ROM r3.1
Any clue on what is triggering the network/sim lock out of those elements? or nothing to do with this approach? What is the "part" of my phone that needs to unlock the sim card and connect to the network (maybe I can change that so it is able to connect to Vodafone Romania at least)
Thanks!
As far as I am aware the Network lock is independent of the firmware and as such this will have no effect on the lock status. The only way to unlock phones is with either the official code or a vulnerability in the firmware (as discovered in the iphone).
I have unlocked a load of iphones but when it came to the old motorola v50 I had to pay £5 to http://www.fonefunshop.co.uk/ for the code. I can only say that their codes worked for me and that there are many scam sites out there when it comes to unlocking, so maybe the first ones you tried for a code were not genuine.
Hope this helps
James
What happen though if one doesnt know what is the network that the phone is locked to? I was let's say lucky to assume that it is Vodafone Malta as there was this link on the phone's desktop.
Actually my question is more around how to unlock the phone with little or no dependency on the network where the phone is locked.
I red some articles that in some cases there is a big play for the baseband as this can "dictate" the way the phone is connecting to the network, however I am just starting to look into that and it might take some time, hence more opinions are very much welcomed.
Thanks!
If I was you I would try flashing the roms as posted earlier but if you can wait then I would email HTC with the IMEI and ask who it is locked too.
Thanks so much for the suggestion with contacting HTC for telling me where is it locked...not sure if they would know this based on the IMEI, but will give it a try for sure. The thing is that I already flashed the ROM and it is still locked, or maybe I missed your point on flashing the ROMs.
No I think you are right that the flashing wont help with a lock problem but HTC Should know who they locked their phones too. I could be wrong but I think HTC do all the programming pre shipment. If anyone knows different I am happy to be corrected?
Coming back with HTC's reply to my question about where is the phone locked (provided my IMEI)
Here is the answer:
"Dear Mr.Popescu, Thank you for contacting HTC. Kindly note that your device is not SIM locked and is not network branded. Your device is manufactured for Czech Republic and is HTC branded. S/N:HT05XPL08419 IMEI:xxxxxxxx. If you have any other inquiries, don’t hesitate to contact us again."
Funny part is that my phone looks to be branded by Vodafone Malta (just the soft not something on the case) as I mentioned about the Voda link leading to Malta's website and they mentioned that the phone left HTC without a lock and to the Czech Republic.
Anybody heard about gsm operators that are locking the phones themselves in HTC's case? If they know how to lock them, maybe someone knows how they do that and becomes easier to unlock?
Thanks for the help,
Sorin.
The IMEI could be blacklisted. You can check at this site: http://www.amta.org.au/pages/amta/Check.the.Status.of.your.Handset
Dunno how to see the IMEI on HTC phones though.. does anyone know?
Sent from my HTC Desire using XDA App
Tried that link and the message is that there is no lock (reported by somebody so that the carrier goes ahead and blocks the IMEI)
Hi again mate. I am impressed HTC answered so promptly thats great news they gave too. Just so we can all be clear on the type of lock you are experiencing can you tell us or better still photograph the screen and show / tell us the lock wording. Word for word mate including all punctuation if not posting photo.
Hey, here is the sequence:
The following happens when I turn on the phone with my Vodafone Romania sim card in it:
- I am requested for the PIN code, I enter that and then move on as the PIN is accepted
- Message saying "Unlocking SIM card...", takes about 1-2 seconds
- Message on the screen: "Network locked"
- I "drag" on the screen and get to enter the code
- Keyboard is up now and message changed into "SIM Network unlock PIN"
That's all, then the code that I got from gsmliberty.net, providing my IMEI and the fact that the phone is locked to Vodafone in Malta, is not working hence here I am on the forum
found this for you mate
http://androidforums.com/all-things-root-hero/119257-huge-problem-sim-network-unlock-pin.html
I know it mentions orange but perhaps its the same problem
Will definitely try to reflash with different baseband versions just to see what happens; however dont think that it will do the trick as I was reading in multiple places about the radio problem specific to Orange phones only. Of course you never know, problem is that I cant try it now as I am travelling and dont have the required info with me, but will do that over the weekend when I am back home.
Anyways, thanks a ton for the suggestions and everything, still open for more though
Hi, new info on the situation.
Came back home and flashed various older radio versions going down as much as 32.26.00.24U_4.04.00.03_2.
Same problem with the network being locked and the IMEI based code that I got not working either.
I also got in touch with Vodafone Malta asking if they can provide some help. The answer back was that they are willing to unlock the network for 50 EUR. However, even though I said yes to it, they dont want to tell me what is the procedure; they just mentioned that I should give my credit card details by e-mail and then they will tell me how to do it. I double checked about not going to some service location or sending the phone over, etc and they said that it is not the case, bu then again I am not ok to send over my cc details just like that and asked for an account where I could send the money; they replied that they will come back with that.
Well, this paragraph is just for your fun regarding the way Vodafone Malta is considering this option...cc details over e-mail...these guys are joking
Anyways, back to the issue at hand, any other suggestions about getting past the network lock if the operator changed the "normal" codes available on IMEI based providers across the web? How to override this?
Thanks!
Hi, back to square 1. After providing the IMEI to Vodafone Malta to get my phone unlocked, they replied back that the phone is not locked by them; so the whole thing with having the Vodafone Malta link on the desktop didnt mean a thing apparently.
I continued on the path laid out by HTC directly (they said that they shipped the phone to the Czech Rep.). I have a friend that has a Vodafone Czech sim card and tried it now, but it doesnt work either, so the phone is not locked under Vodafone Czech Rep either.
Any suggestion on how to proceed? Now I am very lost as I dont even know where the bloody phone is locked, as in under what network...
Thanks!
I have the same problem
i bought my phone at Montenegro T-Mobile,
asked the HTC for information about the phone giving them IMEI
the answer was exactly as yours
Tried to flash, downgrade, still have "SIM network unlock PIN"
Any suggestions
Haven't you tried asking the seller wich Vodafone is locked to?
Android on HTC Pro 2
Hi all,
i buy a htc touch pro 2 from USA var. T-Mobile.I install android on it and everything work's great until :
1.without sim on it, when I try to connect on my wireless network the phone close.When I start it "Gen.Y DualBOOT" not work.I reinstal "Gen.Y DualBOOT" same problem.Can tell me somebody what is the problem?
2.with card on it doesn't recognize the pin number and say's "sim card is locked".What can be?
Now I am in a romanian network (cosmote).
Thank you!
ok popepope, but why you insist on malta and on vodafone?????
your device mabe have a costum rom installed before you buy it. and from there you see vodafone link and malta, but like htc said that phone it's locked in czek, but it's not nedeed to be on vodafone. can be other network...
Greetings Fellow XDA Friends,
I have a family plan with my girlfriend we both have G2's running latest CM7Nightly and we use a 3rd MT4G running RoyalGinger 3.0.
I have called tmobile and had them "unlock" them for international calls as well will be going to the Europe this Fall in October.
They emailed us an unlock code.
Question 1. Do I need to purchase an intl sim card insert it then use the code they gave me before unlocking?
Question 2. Can I unlock them before going overseas and then replace my U.S. SIM card and continue to use this?
If you rooted your phone with gfree its already unlocked...
Sent from my HTC Desire Z using XDA Premium App
Sorry still learning,
Sorry for the ignorance. Just learning as fast as I can, If I rooted all 3 phones with visionary then they won't be unlocked?
My understanding and explanation would go like this.
Using the unlock code simply allows the phone to be used internationally with another carrier's SIM. Applying the unlock code simply opens up the functionality to read another SIM card.
Apply the unlock code, and you can put in any SIM card from a carrier that runs on the same frequencies as your phone. Put a T-mobile SIM card back in and the phone will work as it does now.
martonikaj said:
My understanding and explanation would go like this.
Using the unlock code simply allows the phone to be used internationally with another carrier's SIM. Applying the unlock code simply opens up the functionality to read another SIM card.
Apply the unlock code, and you can put in any SIM card from a carrier that runs on the same frequencies as your phone. Put a T-mobile SIM card back in and the phone will work as it does now.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
What he said is correct, and you'll only need to enter the code after inserting a different SIM card into your phone. When you get home, plug back in your other card and you're still good to go. (Or now you could go and switch carriers without breaking or signing contracts )
Or just unlock with gfree and never have to enter a code...
Sent from my HTC Desire Z using XDA Premium App
Visionary only gives you root, not S-Off. If you are on CM7, then you must have S-Off (in order to be able to flash any custom ROMs). Do you remember how you got S-Off? You probably did Visionary than gfree, and just don't remember doing gfree. Did you use ADB, and enter any terminal/command lines on your desktop computer? If so, you probably did gfree.
If you did gfree, then you have Subsidy Unlock, which means your phone is SIM-unlocked. Nothing else to do, just slip the new SIM into your phone and use it.
Some people have had an issue, where applying the T-Mobile SIM unlock code renders their phone unable to read any SIM. So I would stay away from the code, and do gfree, if you have not already.
Has anyone used Rebtel? http://gigaom.com/mobile/free-international-calls-android-rebtel/ My gf and I are moving to the UK
I am wondering should I just cancel my tmobile account? Is there a way out of the contract? What do I do?
Hello,
I bought a second hand HOX last week. It was sold to me as unlocked from operator SFR (Vodaphone France, or CID VODAP203).
I bought an unlocking code from an internet shop, tried it, didn't work... I went into a shop specialized in unlocking phones they could not make it provider free...
So I went on to this forum. Plenty of nice things, and as I already rooted an Android tablet from TOSHIBA (FOLIO100), I tried a few things.
It appears that my phone is rooted. When I boot in bootloader it says "UNLOCKED", and it is also S-OFF!!! I am able to change the CID as much as I want, and I have set it to "11111111". As such I was told on a french forum that any SIM Card from any provider should work, but it doesn't...
I have been able to install Jelly Bean from one of the ROM developpers, thinking (and this is where I am a noob) that I will clear the part of the system that tells it is locked to one provider... Of course it didn't do anything more, or different than telling me it doesn't work on any provider.
I went back to stock from Vodaphone France, and came to you in order to get some instructions or link to have on working on another network than the vodaphone one...
Thanks in advance for your help,
Alain
First off, it's great you have an S-OFF handset. You are lucky about that.:good:
On the other hand, unlocking bootloader doesn't have anything to do with SIM locks. So, whatever you did (as you experienced it yourself) doesn't work.
I suggest you search over here, because I know for sure there is a way to unlock SIM lock on HOX. I didn't have to do it, as mine was already unlocked (or SIM free, I can't tell now).
Don't worry, you'll find the way, just be patient.
A bientot!
Yeah everyone told me it was great to have it S-OFF, although I don't know what it can do for me... I guess this would be great for developpers ?
I hope I won't have to go through several unlock code providers...
S-OFF is giving you advantage in being able to flash any ROM, any RUU, any HBOOT, any radio... Good not only for developers.
Back to topic - I suggest you visit some mobile phone service, and pay ONLY after they finish the work. I guess there are whole lot of frauds online,, that would take you money for the "unlock code", and not care if it doesn't work.
I repeat, be patient, and keep searching. Here's what I found (you can do the same search yourself):
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1654075
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showpost.php?p=25341694&postcount=71
it cost me a whole £2.79 to get mine unlocked.
I bought the code from ebay inserted an un supported sim and entered the code when asked. That's the main reason actually why I've stuck with HTC they are so easy to un lock
huxleypig said:
That's the main reason actually why I've stuck with HTC they are so easy to un lock
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Mate, nowadays most phones are unlocked through pw.... code. Usually, you get it for specific handset (IMEI and operator), and just type it in as you did.
BTW, Samsung Galaxy SIII is even easier to unlock - by an apk from Google Play Store.
Hello,
I went through one of Unlock Code providers that [email protected]|-|oR provided me through his links...
I had the exact same unlock code as the one I got in France... that doesn't work. But the guys were really professional, in reimbursing my money as they could not unlock my phone.
The strangest thing is that they asked me if the phone is rooted, and said that this is why I cannot SIM Unlock, because it is rooted... I reverted by to stock, and re-locked the phone but the result is still the same, it stays stuck to SFR...
I hope a solution will come out in the form of an application such as the one for Galaxy III, it looks so easy to do.
Have a good evening,
Alain
Hi my phone was branded by orange and obviously had a simlock what did with my hox and many others before is:root the phone ,get recovery,then flash custom rom and all that branded garbage with simlock is gone.I've done it before with galaxy S,S2,now with my hox. Don't never ever buy any codes online.
budensik said:
Hi my phone was branded by orange and obviously had a simlock what did with my hox and many others before is:root the phone ,get recovery,then flash custom rom and all that branded garbage with simlock is gone.I've done it before with galaxy S,S2,now with my hox. Don't never ever buy any codes online.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hello,
I already did that, (root, flash customer ROM), but simlock is still here... only thing I didn't change is recovery, but it is 5.8.xxx (aka I think it is the latest).
Can you guide me rapidly in return ?
Al1
SIM unlock is totally separate from rooting.
Can I flash a different RUU ? Or is there any option ? I am going away and wouldn't want to sell my HOX
Yes, you can use your phone in another county with S-ON! However, your phone must be carrier unlocked (if it isn't)
Why do you want to run a RUU?? You want to go full stock?
If your phone is bought from a carrier, it is probably simlocked. This means it will only accept sim cards from that particular provider, and neither an RUU or S-OFF by themselves would change that. If you want to use a sim from another operator, you need to sim-unlock your phone and, currently, your only option is to obtain an unlock code from your provider or a third-party vendor. When you have the code, just insert the new sim card, it will prompt you to type the unlock code, and then you'll be able to use any sim you like.
Hey all...
I used sunshine to unlock and s-off immediately after purchase of my Unlocked HTC 10 and changed the CID/MID to make it a Verizon phone and flash ViperRom.
Now that I'm traveling for work I need to change the phone back to Unlocked to use the LTE bands in another country (buying a SIM card in Japan), and also for it to to work back on VZN when I return.
I'd really appreciate it if someone can point me in the right direction of the steps I need to take to perform this? Hoping I only need to change/flash a couple things to pop in a new SIM in Japan and pop back in the VZN SIM when I'm back.
Thanks all! Hopefully this could be useful for someone else in my situation. I'd venture to guess it's somewhat common...
-Josh
finger11 said:
Hey all...
I used sunshine to unlock and s-off immediately after purchase of my Unlocked HTC 10 and changed the CID/MID to make it a Verizon phone and flash ViperRom.
Now that I'm traveling for work I need to change the phone back to Unlocked to use the LTE bands in another country (buying a SIM card in Japan), and also for it to to work back on VZN when I return.
I'd really appreciate it if someone can point me in the right direction of the steps I need to take to perform this? Hoping I only need to change/flash a couple things to pop in a new SIM in Japan and pop back in the VZN SIM when I'm back.
Thanks all! Hopefully this could be useful for someone else in my situation. I'd venture to guess it's somewhat common...
-Josh
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I've used my VZW 10 in Japan with a local data sim card without issues. Check the operator you're interested in over there and make sure your VZW 10 covers those bands. Else choose a different operator. Also your network settings need to be set to Global instead of CDMA, if I remember correctly.
With that said if you still want to convert back to Unlocked to be safe, just change your CID to Unlocked (or even superCID) and run an unlocked ruu from htc.com. This will wipe your phone so back everything up. Then once you're back home, do the reverse using one of the no-wipe ruus on xda. I would have thought you'd be comfortable with this already since you've done it once before. Am I misreading your question?
One piece of advice, if you chose a data-only simcard there from the provider Docomo (largest one in Japan I think) or one of their subtiers, you will likely have battery drain issues due to your phone constantly looking for a cell/voice call connection with the towers. There is a fix for it but only if you have Xposed installed.
http://www.japanmobiletech.com/2013/08/improved-fix-for-docomo-mvno-data-only.html?m=1
Tarima said:
I've used my VZW 10 in Japan with a local data sim card without issues. Check the operator you're interested in over there and make sure your VZW 10 covers those bands. Else choose a different operator. Also your network settings need to be set to Global instead of CDMA, if I remember correctly.
With that said if you still want to convert back to Unlocked to be safe, just change your CID to Unlocked (or even superCID) and run an unlocked ruu from htc.com. This will wipe your phone so back everything up. Then once you're back home, do the reverse using one of the no-wipe ruus on xda. I would have thought you'd be comfortable with this already since you've done it once before. Am I misreading your question?
One piece of advice, if you chose a data-only simcard there from the provider Docomo (largest one in Japan I think) or one of their subtiers, you will likely have battery drain issues due to your phone constantly looking for a cell/voice call connection with the towers. There is a fix for it but only if you have Xposed installed.
http://www.japanmobiletech.com/2013/08/improved-fix-for-docomo-mvno-data-only.html?m=1
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Fantastic info, I appreciate it. I was looking at b-mobile (http://www.bmobile.ne.jp/english/index.html) because it would fit what I need (5GB/21 days/$30) but noticed the bands for them aren't supported by the VZW 10.
What company did you use?
Running an unlocked ruu from htc.com will basically make it a stock unlocked htc 10?
Another option is just getting a mobile hotspot for a bit more money and then can use my current rom... (http://www.globaladvancedcomm.com/pocketwifi.html)
finger11 said:
Fantastic info, I appreciate it. I was looking at b-mobile (http://www.bmobile.ne.jp/english/index.html) because it would fit what I need (5GB/21 days/$30) but noticed the bands for them aren't supported by the VZW 10.
What company did you use?
Running an unlocked ruu from htc.com will basically make it a stock unlocked htc 10?
Another option is just getting a mobile hotspot for a bit more money and then can use my current rom... (http://www.globaladvancedcomm.com/pocketwifi.html)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I bought it from some stand at Narita airport called Telecomsquare. I just shopped around the many stands until I found a package I liked and which worked. Oddly enough the shop specifically said they don't support HTC phones, because of bands I think, but I still went with it and it worked.
Yes if your device is originally U.S Unlocked then changing your cid and mid back to unlocked and flashing ruu will work. You may need to wipe your radios after flashing the ruu as well to get rid of any Verizon radio settings.
Mobile hotspot is probably the simplest option if you're willing to pay for it. No need to fiddle around activating a sim card in a foreign airport