I have an unusual question that I am hoping soneone can help me with. I purchased a Sony Xperia Z mobile phone from a seller on eBay. He listed the phone as "ohne Vertrag" meaning off contract. Nowhere in the listing was it suggested it was branded or locked.
When I received the phone I discovered it is in fact locked to T-Mobile Germany. And not only that, it is also hard locked from too many unlock attempts.
The German T-Mobile web site has a place where customers can request unlock codes. When I enter this IMEI number it comes back as not SIM locked or not sold by t-mobile. Very odd.
Why would the phone not be shown as locked by T-Mobile when it clearly is, according to the service menu, and is branded with their splash screens?
I can't see why anyone would take an unlocked phone and then SIM lock it when it wasn't locked in the first place.
The seller I bought it from may have acquired it from "as good as new", a reputable seller of second hand phones in Germany. The box has their stickers on it. I doubt they would have sold a locked device without informing the buyer.
Any ideas? Obviously I have logged a dispute with the seller but so far he is ignoring all communication. I'm wondering if anything I can do to get this device unlocked?
Follow up: Maybe it's T-Mobile Austria. The phone's last weather location setting appears to have been Vienna...
BTW surely there must be a way to get the phone to show me WHICH provider it is locked to?
Related
Hi y'all - just want to let Telus customers know that I have successfully unlocked my TP2 for 3rd party sims. In case it was one of those "should be possible, but I'd like to wait to buy until I know..." questions for some of you.
You may have seen the youtube vid, but I can confirm its true.
Also - Telus would NOT give out the sim unlock code for free. They got all squirrelly and weird and said they DO NOT support this, and they dont even have the unlock code even if they wanted to give it. They also said that they're locked at the factory which I argued is completely false as before you activate the phone, it says "SIM unlocked", and locks immediately afterwards.
Strangely, the first guy I spoke to was understanding, pleasant and said that I had to contact HTC, that they didn't actually have the code but I could definitely get it from HTC, and that he used to work for HTC in Canada before the dollar rose and they had to move elsewhere. Called HTC and they were confused and said "no, you have to get it from your telco, or a 3rd party".
That's what I thought. Canadian cell companies are waaaay to tight-fisted to give an inch on their overpriced bs.
$35 with popular canadian cell unlocking site - took 2.5 days.
So what did you have to do exactly? I'd love to have the Telus version, but being in Mex I was dubious about the simlock. And you can do it all online, right?
yes what did you do, or give us a link, plz, People gonna be need this as I am.
wouldnt a custom ROM accomplish the same thing?
Perhaps if you bought it without activating it, you could put on a custom ROM and then keep the SIM unlocked. I think, however, that they will be unlikely to be inclined to sell the TP2 without attaching it to Telus first. Once its locked by Telus, I think its locked in a part of memory that flashing won't overwrite. I could be very wrong - someone please enlighten if they know better... When you bought your Fuze and then flashed a cust rom, did it unlock the phone?? I've always been a CDMA customer in NA, with the occasional GSM blackberry overseas - but I bought them unlocked too.
www.mobileincanada.com is where I got my code. They told me that the Touch Pro 2 takes much more time to create code than other phones, hence the almost 3 day wait.
Tested: prior to unlocking a soft reset after sim install would elicit "SIM detected, not a Telus SIM - phone switching to CDMA only" or something like that.
Afterwards, SIM detected, switching to Global. I double checked that it could read my Optus SIM and get phone numbers off of it. It didn't complain at all and even tried to connect to Rogers - couldn't, of course, with a deactivated Optus SIM...
Update
Found an unused Rogers SIM kicking around... Will detect the network manually, but will not register on it. HTC did say that they locked out the NA GSM service providers as a service to the NA CDMA companies. Perhaps a flashed ROM would fix this... obviously the radio bands are compatible or it wouldnt detect it at all, no?
Huh, if it's not working then it really isn't unlocked...
Wonder if a Mexican sim would work (technically it's part of North America though culturally and economically speaking it isn't).
I don't understand why they'd lock out all North American gsm providers. Wouldn't the gsm providers of the same country be enough? After all, who'd want to be roaming all the time in Canada with a US provider's sim, it'd be much more expensive than any local plan.
Well, the SIM I tried has never been activated. It doesn't even work in my ROgers BB, it turns out. So I need to try an activated one.
Anyway, I do remember reading that HTC's compromise to the NA CDMA carriers was that they would disable using NA GSM companies in order that you would have to use your provider's CDMA roaming services throughout NA, even on an unlocked phone. Will do my best to test.
My main concern was getting it to worked on a 3rd party sim in Oz and Europe.
It is definitely "unlocked" however. The Settings/Security screen says "This phone is SIM unlocked", and now it will read any sim card I install. Before unlocking it wouldnt let you go near a non-telus SIM.
I ordered my unlock code through the same site, too. But they refund my money the next day saying my IMEI isn't in their database, thus unable to provide an unlock code for my phone.
this is one of those "are you sure its plugged in" questions so I apologise, but did you make triple sure you gave them the right IMEI code? Sometimes there are more than 15 digits, although I've been told its only the first 15 that matter...
Ok. I'd love to have the Telus version, what with the added bands, the cdma mode, the 3.5mm jack, and case very faithful to the original, and even the nostalgia factor (I remember when Telus was only for home phones) But I am not going to risk looking for an importer, buying it and all that if there's a chance that I would be unable to get the unlock codes. That'd be TRULY frustrating and a waste of money.
well, there are more than 15 digits on the back of the phone behind the battery, while there are 17 digits in Device Information. And since they only asks for first 15 digits, I just gave them that. Asked them to double check, still came back with IMEI not found. I'm pretty frustrated now...because I paid the the full price for the phone as I'm not qualified for upgrade yet as I got the Diamond for free last Sept. And since I got it from Telus store and there's no return, I feel pretty much got rip-off as I was in hope of using it in HK, where I travel to every year.
Travelling to HK
B"H
I believe that these units are SIM-Unlocked for INTERNATIONAL use, like in HK -- so you shouldn't have a problem (according to what's been posted here).
-Dovid
www.htcphones.com
I purchased an unlock code from the site recommended by chopsxxx, but got a refund after 24 hours, saying they could not generate, after googling for sometime, purchase and unlock code from imeiunlock.info did receive the code its 8 digits in length. I try to enter the code after pressing ##778# but its only giving an option to key in 6 digits, can anyone help me with this?
This is for HTC Touch Pro 2 HTC TP2 from Sprint USA, its both CDMA and GSM version
Thanks
I asked sony mobile tech support today about how I can get a device with bootloader unlock status allowed: yes,
I asked him do all carriers lock the bootloader and he said carriers dont do anything to the bootloader status, carriers
only put the simlock on so it discourages you from switching to another carrier...
Then I asked why some have allowed: yes and some allowed: no, he just said some batches will have yes and some no,
when the shipment of phones goes to the carriers from the factory some are just factory bootloader locked allowed = no,
He said he knows different people with same sony device from same carrier and one guy will have allowed = yes and some allowed = no...
I dont know if what the guy said is true or not, what do you guys think?
For those of you that bought the device factory unlocked from amazon or some online retailer, can you chime in
what your batch number is?
I don't think that's true, why would Sony bother to make those type of changes without a request from carriers, but with android handset manufacturers, sometimes you just dont know.
It would make sense to flash the phones all the same.
I haven't heard of a carrier ZL with an unlocked boot loader, that's what I've been asking people.
Do you have one? Is it a carrier phone, and is the boot loader locked or unlocked?
I get mine Friday from Newegg, ill report back as soon as I can.
coilbio said:
I don't think that's true, why would Sony bother to make those type of changes without a request from carriers, but with android handset manufacturers, sometimes you just dont know.
It would make sense to flash the phones all the same.
I haven't heard of a carrier ZL with an unlocked boot loader, that's what I've been asking people.
Do you have one? Is it a carrier phone, and is the boot loader locked or unlocked?
I get mine Friday from Newegg, ill report back as soon as I can.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I get mine from Newegg tomorrow, I'll also check.
Just ordered from shopblt...
I want an unlockable bootloader......dont know how sony is "supporting the developer community" by allowing carriers
to hard lock the bootloader status...
Gotta assume the tech guy on the sony mobile canada support guy was just screwin with me since everyone on the
internet has same results of no unlocked bootloader from carrier unit...
Im forced to order from shopblt cuz I live in Canada and no where can you buy a factory oem mobile device in this country,
and they wont even sell you the carrier locked phones outright....you have to sign a three year contract or sign up a
month-to-month plan and you have to pay for the first time activation and first months fee......
Couldnt order from newegg cuz they dont ship to Canada...
Expansys has it for 700 while shopblt is 575.....
Is there anywhere else that sells c6506 at ~600 and can ship to Canada?
my only fear right now is Im praying I dont get exactly One (1) or Two (2) dead pixels since sony wont consider a device defective with 2 or less dead pixels.......shopblt also has no return or exchange policy on this phone =(
If I do get 1 or two dead pixels plz dont be in the middle of the screen lol =/
hardbrick123 said:
Just ordered from shopblt...
I want an unlockable bootloader......dont know how sony is "supporting the developer community" by allowing carriers
to hard lock the bootloader status...
Gotta assume the tech guy on the sony mobile canada support guy was just screwin with me since everyone on the
internet has same results of no unlocked bootloader from carrier unit...
Im forced to order from shopblt cuz I live in Canada and no where can you buy a factory oem mobile device in this country,
and they wont even sell you the carrier locked phones outright....you have to sign a three year contract or sign up a
month-to-month plan and you have to pay for the first time activation and first months fee......
Couldnt order from newegg cuz they dont ship to Canada...
Expansys has it for 700 while shopblt is 575.....
Is there anywhere else that sells c6506 at ~600 and can ship to Canada?
my only fear right now is Im praying I dont get exactly One (1) or Two (2) dead pixels since sony wont consider a device defective with 2 or less dead pixels.......shopblt also has no return or exchange policy on this phone =(
If I do get 1 or two dead pixels plz dont be in the middle of the screen lol =/
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I ship to Canada. Haha.
Sent from my C6506
Pretty sure all carrier locked versions come with permanently locked bootloaders.
If you want to please join this bounty to give developers extra incentive to crack the locked bootloaders:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2245293
it is possible to find the tool that the carriers use to no allow bootloader unlock? Why if Sony is development aware, the carriers don't??
My bootloader is unlockable White 6503 model from Germany
Hi guys!
I was one of the unfortunate people to buy a locked EE Google Pixel, I have unlocked the bootloader using dePixel, but when inserting my sim from another network it is still showing the SIM as un-compatible. I am wondering if anyone can help me out with this? Thanks!
An unlocked bootloader is different than unlocking a sim-locked phone. The first link below suggests your service provider sells sim-locked phones, so like you're describing, I would not expect the phone to work with another service's SIM. I'm not familiar with your service provider, so I would refer to something like the second link.
https://support.google.com/pixelphone/answer/7107188?hl=en
http://ee.co.uk/help/getting-started/joining-ee/unlocking-your-device
There are at least a couple threads on the subject.
http://forum.xda-developers.com/pixel-xl/help/google-pixel-xl-sim-lock-ee-uk-t3501733
http://forum.xda-developers.com/pixel-xl/how-to/ee-uk-sim-unlock-t3490134
For most of you this info will be redundant, however, if you are one of the odd people who may still find a deal on Ebay or swappa for an AT&T locked fire phone and want to buy it, please be advised that AT&T will not give you the unlock code because: "The device is no longer supported by the manufacturer and we cannot obtain an unlock code." and they tell you to contact the manufacturer. Then if you try to contact Amazon they will tell you that only AT&T can unlock the phone and they send you back to them and you can spend a good part of one week between the two companies and at the end you will likely have to go to a phone repair shop and pay them $$$ to unlock it for you or purchase a code online.
So be warned, don't buy a sim-locked amazon fire phone unless you are willing to stay with AT&T forever.
This isn't true. At least not for me, I unlocked mine today via ATT request site and had it in least then 10 minutes.
https://www.att.com/deviceunlock/
maxinfo said:
This isn't true. At least not for me, I unlocked mine today via ATT request site and had it in least then 10 minutes.
https://www.att.com/deviceunlock/
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I also couldn't get an unlock code from AT&T a few months back. After multiple calls to both AT&T and Amazon, what I found out was that Fire phones were sold through multiple third-party companies other than Amazon and AT&T. AT&T is willing to provide unlock code if the phone was directly bought from AT&T but if an AT&T branded phone was bought from a third-party (like mine), they were not allowed to give out unlock codes. Your phone was probably originally sold by AT&T directly and this is why you were able to get the unlock code. In my case I even tried unlock services on eBay but they also refunded my money saying they can't get the code. Recently, I bought another Fire phone on eBay for $20 (which was sold for parts but was almost new, nothing wrong with it) but it turned out it was locked to AT&T, and I was unable to get it unlocked so just been using it as a media player.
I also wouldn't recommend anyone intending to use the phone on carriers other than AT&T to not buy the locked version because more than likely you will not be able to get it unlocked (this is why AT&T locked Fire phones on eBay are considerably cheaper than the unlocked versions).
Mine was bought from some eBay reseller 2 years ago to get something for upgrading prime for another year.
I suddenly needed to use it as a backup up phone for a short bit and tested the site above and it worked fine.
I believe you that ATT won't bother with some phones. Just sharing my experience. I would steer anyone away from buying a Fire Phone without any bootloader unlock.
However, if you're like me and have one then might as well plug the IMEI in on the ATT form and see what happens.
Somebody knows a fix for fire phone? Mine is stucked at black amazon logo, can't reach fire logo, reboots continously and can t get into recovery. I am from Romania and i bought fire phone 1 year ago(i have 2 year warranty), so i send it in warranty and they said that my phone have touchscreen broken and liquid sign near usb charging port. I claimed the reseller to consumer protection. I want to say that my phone looks like a new one, and they lie about borken touchscreen and liquid sign. Btw, i can't fix this phone, pc doesn;t recognize fire phone. Fire os 4.6.6.1 all stock. Knows somebody a fix,please...?
maxinfo said:
This isn't true. At least not for me, I unlocked mine today via ATT request site and had it in least then 10 minutes.
https://www.att.com/deviceunlock/
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
@Android# is right. If the AT&T branded phone is originally purchased from any outlet other than AT&T then they don't have the unlock code to give you. In your case the original owner had probably got it from AT&T directly and that is why you could get the unlock code from their website.
Somehow amazon offloaded at&t branded phones onto third party vendors without giving them the unlock codes, and now if you are in the unfortunate position of owning one of those phones no one can give you the unlock could. The people who sell you the codes on ebay likely have an insider at AT&T to obtain the codes and as I said AT&T doesn't have those codes. So the only entity in the world who has those codes is amazon, which is being an a$$ and not giving you the code. I don't understand why they are doing this.
Hello,
Bought Razr 5g at&t, have unpaid case lock USA.
live outside usa, so if unlock no problem for me or operator.
have bought unlock service several times on ebay, on some websites but they can not unlock.
what can i do? find another services to unlock or wait maybe after some time it will be more easy to get codes? which trusted websites or ebay service you know?
I know I'm replying pretty late to this however we are not the only ones that have looked into this subject. If the Motorola RAZR 5g is from att and you just got it att will not let you sim unlock until after a year of service with the device ce. After a year you can request a sim unlock and will email you a code for free to unlock it. I've done it yesterday without a hitch. If you purchased the device from somebody from online then you may try calling att customer service explaining that you want to unlock the sim for a different service and they may or may not unlock. If the device is reported lost or stolen then obviously they will deny the request. When I bought my RAZR 5g I also tried unlocking websites and failed. I received a code however the code did not work at all. Remember to many attempts and it will lock you out. Unfortunately their is no website that can unlock it without the carrier permission