So I'm getting a Galaxy Nexus from Vodafone on a contract, for various reasons. But I'd like it unlocked. I read in a few places that Nexus phones are unlocked by default, does anyone know if it would be unlocked. If not, how would I get it unlocked as it's a new phone so I'm guessing it's difficult.
Also are the phones branded, so would there be a vodafone boot logo or any voda apps?
if you are getting it from UK, then yes, chances are it is going to be locked.
funny though, cuz I tried getting one from vodafone but they didn't even have a schedule for it (only yesterday) so I had mine at phones 4U which is only retailer who seem to have one in my area :S
...this one (as usual along with CPW) was unlocked
I got mine from three (on payngo) yesterday, and it is sim unlocked I have used it with my T-Mobile sim. (I am pretty sure that they are all sim unlocked, as has been the case with past nexus phones).
edit: Also no branding, apps from the carrier at all, again like previous nexus phones.
loudestsilence said:
if you are getting it from UK, then yes, chances are it is going to be locked.
funny though, cuz I tried getting one from vodafone but they didn't even have a schedule for it (only yesterday) so I had mine at phones 4U which is only retailer who seem to have one in my area :S
...this one (as usual along with CPW) was unlocked
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Sorry but your incorrect, galaxy nexus is sold unlocked weather you purchase it direct from your network, a third part phone store, on contract or pay as you go.
jms.flynn said:
Sorry but your incorrect, galaxy nexus is sold unlocked weather you purchase it direct from your network, a third part phone store, on contract or pay as you go.
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apparantly o2 ones are locked, read on here someone who got one from o2 is asking for a code when he puts in another sim.
Question about sim lock
Question here. Suppose the phone is sim locked, will it be unlocked by root or fastboot unlock? Or are they different things? Thanks.
luffyp said:
Question here. Suppose the phone is sim locked, will it be unlocked by root or fastboot unlock? Or are they different things? Thanks.
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Totally different. SIM-lock has nothing to do with bootloader lock. To my knowledge the only way to SIM-unlock any phone is with an unlock code (or some nasty hardware hacking). Unlock codes can usually be purchased online and many carriers will do it for a fee. I once bought an unlock code online for $5 for my old Nokia N95.
Since you're in the UK, see this thread for more info and a link to a legit ebay seller offering unlock codes.
i can confirm that the handsets bought from O2 are SIM locked to O2.
I can confirm Vodafone UK from p4u are sim unlocked.
Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using xda premium
All phones from Phones4U are unlocked.
I bought my GN from the 3 Store in the UK 2 days ago - They said it was locked but I put my Giffgaff sim in and it worked no problem.
oscillik said:
i can confirm that the handsets bought from O2 are SIM locked to O2.
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o2 simlock their phones, if you are on contract with them they will unlock it for free with a 1 week lead time. PAYG you need to spend some money (£10 if memory serves correct) to unlock the device.
Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using xda premium
lexarjump said:
I bought my GN from the 3 Store in the UK 2 days ago - They said it was locked but I put my Giffgaff sim in and it worked no problem.
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+1
Got my GN on three contract yesterday, popped my t-mobile sim in whilst waiting for a number port.
Related
just planning to get 1, but not sure about simlock thing, any1 knows? cheers!
There is a thread somewhere, might be on Voda eForum.
Device is unlocked, apparently Voda never lock their handsets.
Very true, Voda TP2 is unlocked.
I was using my O2 sim while waiting for the number transfer.
svyatko said:
Very true, Voda TP2 is unlocked.
I was using my O2 sim while waiting for the number transfer.
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thats what im doing at the moment - only thing no web or email at the mo as the phone has the vodaphone internet settings on it
hi there I got mine from mobiles direct on a vodafone and is has no branding on it not even sim lock but I dont know about vodafone themselfs though. sorry
stevencage7 said:
just planning to get 1, but not sure about simlock thing, any1 knows? cheers!
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Click to collapse
voda tp2 is unlocked as confirmed by ma mate stunno! phone is however voda branded to the hilt so its up to you if ya not bothered with their branding! due to demand for tp2 they had no time to simlock the device prior to release. they however simlock most of their handsets!
shingers5 said:
voda tp2 is unlocked as confirmed by ma mate stunno! phone is however voda branded to the hilt so its up to you if ya not bothered with their branding! due to demand for tp2 they had no time to simlock the device prior to release. they however simlock most of their handsets!
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I've had several Voda handsets, none of them have ever been locked
TP2, Samsung's, Sony Ericsson's, Nokia's, none of them locked.
There is a post somewhere on their eForum somewhere that says they have a policy of not locking their handsets, couldn't find it but did find this:
'Except for the BlackBerry Storm, we will supply a Network Unlock Code (NUC) for you if you've bought a phone from us on either pay monthly or pay as you go. A NUC allows you to use non-Vodafone SIM cards with your Vodafone phone.'
So even if it was locked they would provide you with the code
Philio25 said:
I've had several Voda handsets, none of them have ever been locked
TP2, Samsung's, Sony Ericsson's, Nokia's, none of them locked.
There is a post somewhere on their eForum somewhere that says they have a policy of not locking their handsets, couldn't find it but did find this:
'Except for the BlackBerry Storm, we will supply a Network Unlock Code (NUC) for you if you've bought a phone from us on either pay monthly or pay as you go. A NUC allows you to use non-Vodafone SIM cards with your Vodafone phone.'
So even if it was locked they would provide you with the code
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mate ring them again............NUC(network unlock codes) cost £20 so you get what you paid for! not all voda phones come unlocked as i am sure they will confirm. i have had many many phones from voda and all locked...........n95 8gig being a popular one, f490, s700 to name a few! i know what i am talking about mate as i own a phone shop!
why do you think mobile shops make so much money from unlocking................... some handsets do come unlocked but only a few and will defo be on contract and not pay and go!
I've never asked them, just read the info from their forum
I like the fact they 'accidental' left out the part about it costing £20 though!
Excuse the newb question...
If I get an HTC Desire locked to the 3 network, will rooting/new rom free me from the carrier's lock?
eesmm said:
Excuse the newb question...
If I get an HTC Desire locked to the 3 network, will rooting/new rom free me from the carrier's lock?
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No. You need a SIM code. Depending on laws in your country, you might get one free from that cell provider it's locked to. If not, they're always available for sale online, about $25 USD or so.
My 3 Desire wasn't locked. It was bought from a 3 Store.
TheOriginalKi said:
My 3 Desire wasn't locked. It was bought from a 3 Store.
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That's great news. Can anybody confirm that the 3/payg Desires are unlocked?
(TheOriginalKi, please forgive my asking this but I am having it sent abroad and need to be 200% certain before I fork out the cash - your logo here implies you are on the 3 network, so which other carrier did you try it on?)
My Desire from the merry Hill 3 store was also unlocked.
I went into Solihull originally and they told me that it might be locked or it might not be locked :S and there is no returns on the phone.
After phoning Merry Hill, where they had me an unlocked one reserved, I was told that they received a batch of unlocked ones and aren't sure if the next batch would be unlocked.
Not sure how much of that is true, but that's what I was told by the 3 staff. Mine works fine though , £350 too, great price.
can also confirm my desire from 3uk is unlocked
3 stated that becuase of high demand, they started shipping out unbranded and unlocked devices while they finished tweaking their custom, branded ROM. I've no idea if they've started shipping the ones with the 3 ROM yet.
WillyVWade said:
3 stated that becuase of high demand, they started shipping out unbranded and unlocked devices while they finished tweaking their custom, branded ROM. I've no idea if they've started shipping the ones with the 3 ROM yet.
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So I'm going to call the 3 shop ahead to make sure.
Is there a way for them to know the locked/unlocked status of a device without powering up (something on the packaging)? I can only assume the staff will be a bit clueless when i ask...
(Big thankyou to all who replied, btw)
Do they have a 3 logo on the back?
They might have 3 branded boxes, but I've never had a branded box with 3.
If they have them on display in store, it's a bad sign. IIRC, They were only sending out the generic devices over the phone and to web pre-orderers.
WillyVWade said:
Do they have a 3 logo on the back?
They might have 3 branded boxes, but I've never had a branded box with 3.
If they have them on display in store, it's a bad sign. IIRC, They were only sending out the generic devices over the phone and to web pre-orderers.
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They had a phone on display when I went in to the store and mine was a generic phone.
No idea if the 3 branded ones will have a 3 logo on the box, mine was a generic htc box though.
Psy-Blade said:
They had a phone on display when I went in to the store and mine was a generic phone.
No idea if the 3 branded ones will have a 3 logo on the box, mine was a generic htc box though.
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I went in to my local 3 store and asked if I could use one, they told me they wouldn't have any generic stock or display models.
eesmm said:
That's great news. Can anybody confirm that the 3/payg Desires are unlocked?
(TheOriginalKi, please forgive my asking this but I am having it sent abroad and need to be 200% certain before I fork out the cash - your logo here implies you are on the 3 network, so which other carrier did you try it on?)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
They handed me a HTC Desire in a HTC Desire box, no 3 branding of any kind, then they handed me a PAYG sim card pack. I'm actually using my 3 contract sim in the phone, but just to check I popped in my brothers o2 Sim and it turned on and displayed the o2 carrier logo. Do not let them know you are not planning to use it on their network or they will refuse to sell it on PAYG. Another thing, they also made me buy a £10 top-voucher, which I was able to sell to a 3 PAYG user.
That's great news. Can anybody confirm that the 3/payg Desires are unlocked
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Click to collapse
Definately not locked as brought one on Friday on payg on 3, no branding at all and works on o2 (which is what I wanted it for).
I can confirm that as well, Got mine in leeds although with a contract, but popped my t-mob PAYG in and it worked fine
Mine was unlocked aswell, got it from the retention team, box had 3 sticker but phone had none. Tested with other sim and worked fine. This all might change when they get more out, and have time to brand it. Usually they would have the 3 on the phone. good luck
Hi any news of unlockin sim carriers in uk? Any1 used sgs2 unlock tool from this website? it was awsome so something like that?
i have o2 just bought want to run orange sim card.
and yes i dont want to pay 20 quid or even 15 to any website thanks rather i would donte to the devs ;D
The Nexus line of phones come unlocked
Dark lord me said:
The Nexus line of phones come unlocked
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Click to collapse
tell it my phone...locked to 3(three)
Dark lord me said:
The Nexus line of phones come unlocked
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Nexus phones do not come sim unlocked they can be locked by the carriers and most of them do.
muddassar001 said:
Hi any news of unlockin sim carriers in uk? Any1 used sgs2 unlock tool from this website? it was awsome so something like that?
i have o2 just bought want to run orange sim card.
and yes i dont want to pay 20 quid or even 15 to any website thanks rather i would donte to the devs ;D
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
There is currently no 'free' way of sim unlocking your device if you hang around long enough someone may write a program to do it but you may be waiting a while. Quite a few members have stated the unlock code can be obtained over ebay within 2 hours for around £9 which is a good price. You could also contact your carrier and tell them you want to take your phone abroad and use a different sim card in it while you are away to save costs. Sometimes they will unlock it for free.
Mark.
JohnnyTrue said:
tell it my phone...locked to 3(three)
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Click to collapse
I read something on twitter from three uk which said only their first batch of gn were unlocked and all others will be carrier locked. Three charge to unlock their phones whether still in contract with them or not.
Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using Tapatalk
My one is locked to o2
well my one is locked it says something to enter password and its on o2 who never give out their phone as unlocked well thanks for telling me about ebay its cheap but still i want to suport any dev out here as i did when i had galaxy s2 and had a very easy way to unlock it... well then m gna try ebay
muddassar001 said:
well my one is locked it says something to enter password and its on o2 who never give out their phone as unlocked well thanks for telling me about ebay its cheap but still i want to suport any dev out here as i did when i had galaxy s2 and had a very easy way to unlock it... well then m gna try ebay
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Click to collapse
UPDATE:got my phone unlocked in no time from ebay for just £8.75 thats reasonable. some named theunlockguru
muddassar001 said:
UPDATE:got my phone unlocked in no time from ebay for just £8.75 thats reasonable. some named theunlockguru
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Click to collapse
Nice job and good price
Mark.
muddassar001 said:
UPDATE:got my phone unlocked in no time from ebay for just £8.75 thats reasonable. some named theunlockguru
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Click to collapse
Could you tell us how to, please? THank you.
Its from ebay
JohnnyTrue said:
Could you tell us how to, please? THank you.
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goto ebay.co.uk and search unlock galaxy nexus and there would be two people having the code one with £8.75 price and other with £8.95 i think i used £8.75 one with the store name theunlockguru and it was perfect it just only took 10 mins and got my code hope that helps
muddassar001 said:
well my one is locked it says something to enter password and its on o2 who never give out their phone as unlocked well thanks for telling me about ebay its cheap but still i want to suport any dev out here as i did when i had galaxy s2 and had a very easy way to unlock it... well then m gna try ebay
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
got mine unlocked from o2 for free, filled in a form on their site and they emailed me the unlock code
just bought a SIM unlock code from here for £5
instant delivery, works perfectly. awesome
a warning about sim unlock: I got my nexus today from vodafone spain and as expected it was locked. I got an unlock code from ebay and it worked like a charm.
But, I like to play with new phones first, then restore defaults and set everything up the way I want it. The thing is, the galaxy nexus doesn't remember the network unlock code between factory resets, at least mine doesn't (yakju, came with ITL41F).
The codes work, but you may need yours again, so don't throw the number away
any code for three? im waiting the three to give me the code, about 2 weeks now
Hello Mark, is the Samsung Galaxy Nexus an universal phone? Can I use the unlocked version with LTE carriers in the future? I am in US and Verizon is the only LTE carrier I was wondering about using T-Mobile (HSPS technology) or wait for Sprint (my current carrier). I live in USA but I am thinking about moving to Japan so I wonder if I should just wait and maybe I will need to get one in Japan with one of their carriers... Also I love the forums and it is all great, but is there an IRC room for this questions as well?
Thank you in advance,
jairu said:
Hello Mark, is the Samsung Galaxy Nexus an universal phone? Can I use the unlocked version with LTE carriers in the future? I am in US and Verizon is the only LTE carrier I was wondering about using T-Mobile (HSPS technology) or wait for Sprint (my current carrier). I live in USA but I am thinking about moving to Japan so I wonder if I should just wait and maybe I will need to get one in Japan with one of their carriers... Also I love the forums and it is all great, but is there an IRC room for this questions as well?
Thank you in advance,
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
IRC channel, freenode @ #gn - http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?p=20396301
The GSM version can be purchased unlocked and used on any GSM carrier with their supplied SIM card. The GSM frequencies are listed for the Galaxy Nexus and they cover the majority of GSM international and US domestic carriers.
The LTE version, as far as we've heard, is only for Verizon in the US. Not sure what LTE technologies other carriers in other countries are using.
If you're interested in having an international capable version of the deivce, the GSM version is currently your best option.
Hope that helps!
Hi,
I would also like to purchase such a code, but how ist it with OTA updates? Still avialable?
How would it be if I later root my phone and put on a custom rom? Will it be still unlocked.
or
cant I just put on a custom rom, to sim-unlock the phone and save those costs?
Sorry for the noob questions.
Thanks
abcls said:
Hi,
I would also like to purchase such a code, but how ist it with OTA updates? Still avialable?
How would it be if I later root my phone and put on a custom rom? Will it be still unlocked.
or
cant I just put on a custom rom, to sim-unlock the phone and save those costs?
Sorry for the noob questions.
Thanks
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Custom Roms cannot sim unlock your phone as it isnt part of the system.
Flashing an OTA update or a custom rom will not affect your phone if you have sim unlocked it with a code.
MArk.
Hi,
Thanks for the reply.
I have contacted my carrier (A1 Austria) and complained about the simlock. To make a long story short, they finally gave me the simunlock pin.
But recently I unlocked the bootlader and the unlock was wiped so I needed to reenter the pin. After I reflashed the original rom (back to stock) the sim was locked again.
And the most strange thing happened today. I just restarted the phone today (as every day) and the sim was locked again. So reentered the pin to unlock.
My question now, can it be that the simumlock pin they have provided me is not correctly working or is this a normal behaviour or a bug?
Br, Avi
Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using xda premium
That appears to be normal behaviour.
So im thinking of getting a Galaxy Nexus on craigslist but I am wondering whether there is simple way to unlock atm. Im located in Canada and will have to get the device to work with my carrier Rogers.
Thanks
All nexus phones come factory unlocked from Samsung
isinisterx said:
All nexus phones come factory unlocked from Samsung
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Click to collapse
You are talk bout bootloader unlock, OP is talk bout SIM unlock.
xGary said:
So im thinking of getting a Galaxy Nexus on craigslist but I am wondering whether there is simple way to unlock atm. Im located in Canada and will have to get the device to work with my carrier Rogers.
Thanks
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I have never used Craigslist. It is for second-hand stuff, right? Can't you ask the seller if it is sim locked to any carrier and if so could he unlock it before selling it?
I am on contract with O2 but I called them as soon as I received the phone and they were able to send me the unlock code for no charge. I told them I was on assignment in Korea and needed to use a Korean sim.
xGary said:
So im thinking of getting a Galaxy Nexus on craigslist but I am wondering whether there is simple way to unlock atm. Im located in Canada and will have to get the device to work with my carrier Rogers.
Thanks
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Unless they got the phone from Japan or a few carriers in Europe, the phone should be SIM unlocked.
Actually a lot of them are carrier locked here in Canada (or as far as I can tell from the Craigslist postings). The reason I don't get a unlocked one is because locked ones are cheaper so if there is a simple way to unlock then I could save some money.
If the phone is sim locked to a carrier then you can easily get it unlocked either at a phone shop or online. They range from around 15-25GBP.
Unfortunately there is no free way of doing it.
Mark.
There is (although I didn't try it), but you'll lose your IMEI with the permanent solution.
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1548210
Hi people.
Just bought myself a HTC One X locked onto T-Mobile network.
I want to use it on Orange UK.
Anyone know if the SIM unlock codes are available?
Every site I go to advise me that the codes aren't available yet.
Is there another way of being able to use my orange SIM with the HTC One X?
Thanks
There are people selling the codes on Ebay, and there is a Tread (closed though) of people who have successfully used these services: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1613613&highlight=unlock+code
Check ebay though as they are some for as cheap as £4.
Nice one gaiden, I'll give it a go.
Thanks for help.
A novice like me needs all that I can get!!
Aaaah, just realised why I'm struggling. Apparently the phone has to be at least one month old for IMEI to be registered on server. That means the waiting game......
Cant you just phone tMobile and ask them for a subsidy pin ?
ermmm tmobile and orange are the same company.... is the card being rejected out right?, i can switch between orange and tmobile with no problems with my tmobile card, and my wife has a locked wildfire s to tmobile that happily runs a orange card.
Yeah tmo and orange are now the same network. You shouldnt need to unlock for this.
Sent from my LG-P920 using xda premium
That is the exact reason why I bought the phone, thinking Orange & T-Mobile have merged into one.
The thing is they share their network coverage but they are still two seperate companies.This was confirmed by Orange UK. And T-Mobile won't deal with me because I don't have an account with them.
So I need to find someone who does have one, or set one up (which I don't want to do).
All the official HTC Unlock sites don't seem to have code available and give me a refund straight away. I'm going to try a couple from EBay this morning to see if they're any better.
umerio said:
That is the exact reason why I bought the phone, thinking Orange & T-Mobile have merged into one.
The thing is they share their network coverage but they are still two seperate companies.This was confirmed by Orange UK. And T-Mobile won't deal with me because I don't have an account with them.
So I need to find someone who does have one, or set one up (which I don't want to do).
All the official HTC Unlock sites don't seem to have code available and give me a refund straight away. I'm going to try a couple from EBay this morning to see if they're any better.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
T-Mobile will only unlock a handset that is registered to the account. I.e purchased with the number at the same time, as imei's are linked.
Sent from my HTC One X using Tapatalk 2
What method did you try ?
the ebay unlocking method worked fine for my t-mobile phone,
Unlock codes!?
Am I missing something,
If you flash an RUU rom surely that will unlock it?
I presume using Ebay Unlocking techniques also risk voiding warrenty?
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1543604
deanfarnaby said:
Unlock codes!?
Am I missing something,
If you flash an RUU rom surely that will unlock it?
I presume using Ebay Unlocking techniques also risk voiding warrenty?
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1543604
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Flashing a custom ROM does NOT SIM unlock the phone. Unlike unlocking/rooting, SIM unlocking does not void your warranty.
I've used HTC SIM Unlock before and they always been to work. They have a money back guarantee as well. Never trust those unlockers on eBay. I've been scammed too many times. http://www.htcsimunlock.com/#oid=1096_1
Your other option could be to get a PAYG sim card and call them from that. They might unlock it for you as you would have an account with them then?
I never thought of that, ie, getting a PAYG SIM card. Should have done that! Anyways, after many unsuccessful attempts in getting the phone unlocked (the number of refunds I got on my Paypal, I had numerous security checks on my card!), I eventually got hold of the person I bought the phone off. He's kindly got in touch with T-Mobile UK, and for £15-32, they'll unlock it for me. It will take between 10-28 days, so I'm expecting it to come through some time this week at the earliest. I know it may be dear, but I also know they will be able to unlock it, as its their network.
Anyways, thanks for all the help guys!
I just unlocked my one x at unlockcode4u.com and as I made a video they just refunded me, so eventually I didnt pay anything.
My HTC one X is the best phone ever