Develop Bugs

Unlock Legal Problems

Hi guys,
I'm thinking to unlock my Orange S100.
This is obviously unlegal, so, my question is: Are they able to find the illegal phone, and obviously the proprietary? I mean if they have technical resource to find it , using the imei for example.
thanks
Claudio

not sure about the rules where you live but most places it's not illegal at all

Unlocking a phone is comlpetely legal.
In fact id say the process of locking it in the first place is more dubious than unlocking it.
un-BLOCKING it however, is normally illegal. This is the process fo changing the EMEI/IMEI.
unlock without fear, reclaim your own phone from the evil network lockers!
unblocking is frowned upon on these forums because of the legality, and if you discuss it I expect you will get flamed/ban etc, so a friendly warning there.

Unlocking it may however be a breach of the contract made by yourself and your carrier..
This would make it "illegal"..
There is fortunately no way for them to know, unless you tell them.

Stupid Question #9845608234665
Forgive an ignorant question, I've been looking through the FAQs and other posts, but???
What exactly is to be gained from unlocking a phone?
-andrew

by unlocking your phone you are able to use other SIMs with your phone thus using it on other providers if you wish (useful when you travel and use prepaid SIMs)

as default phones are not locked
but when you buy a phone REALLY cheap along with a
phone subscription then they are locked because if you dont
stick with their subscription they will have lost money
selling the phone under the price it cost to make it

[Q] How does one come up with an unlock code for any carrier based on the imei??

Hi all,
I am well aware that this has been asked before, let me start off. I'm also aware that this hasn't been answered yet. I am trying to unlock 2 slides for use on any network but they are not activated so I cannot just call t-mobile for the unlock codes. I would rather not have to pay some website for something that may or may not be successful also, so I am reaching out to the brightest people I know over at XDA because hey, if anyone knows its you guys...
I guess the question is How do these sites, t-mobile, or anyone else for that matter calculate or "come up with" these unlock codes based on the phones IMEI number? There has to be some sort of mathematical equation or more likely, some program which makes this happen. I have asked for unlock codes before for going to Mexico and its always a PITA dealing with customer service reps. these are for sale so i doubt they would be very receptive anyway.
Thanks to everyone in advance.

Well I guess no one here knows or would rather not give out the secret. Honestly, the programs that a lot of those places use to determine the subsidary unlock code more or less just takes a 'guess'. It uses certain criteria to figure out the code, the imei number is most peoples guess but I've seen a program (actually listed on the front page of XDA) that can change the imei number - so I doubt it's that. Why would I say the software just takes a guess? Well...
When you look at the disclaimer on those sites it will say something to the effect that the codes are not guranteed to work, or that there is the "occasional" phone that can't be unlocked by them. There probably is no software, they just have a business contract with carriers to sell the codes so they both make profit off of something that's legally free. Also, call your carrier, they can't unlock every phone they carry - go ahead, ask them if they can. A smart tech will inform you that it's impossible because the manufacturer failed to provide them with the code. If you truly want the unlock code, you have to call the manufacturer, like HTC. Carriers only have to provide you with the subsidary unlock code if they have it, otherwise you're screwed, that law has no standing with the manufacturer.
I will say though, there is an equation used to generate the codes but it could vary model to model or company to company. If you can find a smart enough person with enough time on their hands you would be loved by everyone in the phone world.

Thanks
KCRic said:
Well I guess no one here knows or would rather not give out the secret. Honestly, the programs that a lot of those places use to determine the subsidary unlock code more or less just takes a 'guess'. It uses certain criteria to figure out the code, the imei number is most peoples guess but I've seen a program (actually listed on the front page of XDA) that can change the imei number - so I doubt it's that. Why would I say the software just takes a guess? Well...
When you look at the disclaimer on those sites it will say something to the effect that the codes are not guranteed to work, or that there is the "occasional" phone that can't be unlocked by them. There probably is no software, they just have a business contract with carriers to sell the codes so they both make profit off of something that's legally free. Also, call your carrier, they can't unlock every phone they carry - go ahead, ask them if they can. A smart tech will inform you that it's impossible because the manufacturer failed to provide them with the code. If you truly want the unlock code, you have to call the manufacturer, like HTC. Carriers only have to provide you with the subsidary unlock code if they have it, otherwise you're screwed, that law has no standing with the manufacturer.
I will say though, there is an equation used to generate the codes but it could vary model to model or company to company. If you can find a smart enough person with enough time on their hands you would be loved by everyone in the phone world.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
thank you for that explanation. i figured as much just from years of wanting to unlock my devices and only recently being able to demand it from the carrier. The new law stating that we may unlock and "jailbreak" our devices is a tweakers dream come true but it doesnt help much with unactivgated devices unless you wish to pay for it. I would still like to know how they do it, but rather I would like to meet some body with that free time, general know how and resources to find these unlock codes or even, better yet make a market app available for download for $20 bucks. im sure people would pay it.
How many times have i owed T-mobile money and wanted to slap a cingular chip or even att in there (now the same company)? somebody will simplify this. maybe this thread will get the ball rolling. Either way, inquiring minds need to know.
XDA - I'm calling you out. Who can do this?????

Question [CLOSED] How to restore original IMEI?

Hello. I live in Turkey. In Turkey, there is no official sale of Oneplus. Therefore, we need to buy them from people (who illegally import the phone). The government don't let us use this phone unlimited, therefore, IMEI number need to be changed.
I have LE2123 model which has changed IMEI number. Now I need the original IMEI numbers to register the device on Oneplus Care. Is there any way to get back to original IMEI numbers?
Thanks for your concern..

y.emrecicek said:
Hello. I live in Turkey. In Turkey, there is no official sale of Oneplus. Therefore, we need to buy them from people (who illegally import the phone). The government don't let us use this phone unlimited, therefore, IMEI number need to be changed.
I have LE2123 model which has changed IMEI number. Now I need the original IMEI numbers to register the device on Oneplus Care. Is there any way to get back to original IMEI numbers?
Thanks for your concern..
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
@y.emrecicek
Edit or change of IMEI is illegal in quite a few of countries. For this reason, I've closed your thread! XDA doesn't allow and doesn't accept discussions about or support for such an edit or change.
XDA Forum Rules (excerpt):
...
9. Don't get us into trouble.
Don't post copyrighted materials or do other things which will obviously lead to legal trouble. If you wouldn't do it on your own homepage, you probably shouldn't do it here either. This does not mean that we agree with everything that the software piracy lobby try to impose on us. It simply means that you cannot break any laws here, since we'll end up dealing with the legal hassle caused by you. Please use common sense: respect the forum, its users and those that write great code.
...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Regards
Oswald Boelcke
Senior Moderator

Question Can anyone help? T-Mobile unlock

I got a T-Mobile on pre paid and somehow they put me on post pay and charged me a ton more . They won't unlock it and I need my phone. Im not paying for their mistakes and I grabbed a straight talk service that was going to b ported phone and all. I got service and no unlock. Anyway to unlock the tmobile revvl+5? Not in the useless unlock app that won't work ?

MQ1979 said:
I got a T-Mobile on pre paid and somehow they put me on post pay and charged me a ton more . They won't unlock it and I need my phone. Im not paying for their mistakes and I grabbed a straight talk service that was going to b ported phone and all. I got service and no unlock. Anyway to unlock the tmobile revvl+5? Not in the useless unlock app that won't work ?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
While I appreciate your dilemma, XDA is not the place to ask for carrier circumvention as per XDA Rule #9:
9. Don't get us into trouble.
Don't post copyrighted materials or do other things which will obviously lead to legal trouble. If you wouldn't do it on your own homepage, you probably shouldn't do it here either. This does not mean that we agree with everything that the software piracy lobby try to impose on us. It simply means that you cannot break any laws here, since we'll end up dealing with the legal hassle caused by you. Please use common sense: respect the forum, its users and those that write great code.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thread closed.
-Regards: Badger50

Question [CLOSED] How to change IMEI on LE2127?

Hi, due to the high prices in my country I have bought an TMO version of one plus 9 pro LE2127. But to keep use my sim in my country I have to pay huge amount or I have to replace the IMEI number with one of my old phones. I have been looking for how to do but I couldn't find a valid guide for this. My phone is in Android12 now and 13 is just came today. I didn't do update yet. Can anyone help me out this issue?
Regards.

mvollstagg said:
Hi, due to the high prices in my country I have bought an TMO version of one plus 9 pro LE2127. But to keep use my sim in my country I have to pay huge amount or I have to replace the IMEI number with one of my old phones. I have been looking for how to do but I couldn't find a valid guide for this. My phone is in Android12 now and 13 is just came today. I didn't do update yet. Can anyone help me out this issue?
Regards.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Changing the imei is forbidden in most countries and is not supported here as far as I know

ChrisFeiveel84 said:
Changing the imei is forbidden in most countries and is not supported here as far as I know
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I didn't know that it's forbidden here. My fault then. I apologise.

mvollstagg said:
Hi, due to the high prices in my country I have bought an TMO version of one plus 9 pro LE2127. But to keep use my sim in my country I have to pay huge amount or I have to replace the IMEI number with one of my old phones. I have been looking for how to do but I couldn't find a valid guide for this. My phone is in Android12 now and 13 is just came today. I didn't do update yet. Can anyone help me out this issue?
Regards.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Altering the IMEI of your phone is against the law in most countries and is not something that can be discussed on XDA. Instead of trying to alter the IMEI, next time you buy a phone, make sure it's sim unlocked and doesn't have a blacklisted IMEI.

mvollstagg said:
Hi, due to the high prices in my country I have bought an TMO version of one plus 9 pro LE2127. But to keep use my sim in my country I have to pay huge amount or I have to replace the IMEI number with one of my old phones. I have been looking for how to do but I couldn't find a valid guide for this. My phone is in Android12 now and 13 is just came today. I didn't do update yet. Can anyone help me out this issue?
Regards.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
mvollstagg said:
I didn't know that it's forbidden here. My fault then. I apologise.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
@mvollstagg I've closed this thread!
As already above indicated by @ChrisFeiveel84 and @Masterchief87, edit or change of IMEI is illegal in quite a few of countries. For this reason, I've closed the thread! XDA doesn't allow and doesn't accept discussions about or support for such an edit or change.
XDA Forum Rules (excerpt):
...
9. Don't get us into trouble.
Don't post copyrighted materials or do other things which will obviously lead to legal trouble. If you wouldn't do it on your own homepage, you probably shouldn't do it here either. This does not mean that we agree with everything that the software piracy lobby try to impose on us. It simply means that you cannot break any laws here, since we'll end up dealing with the legal hassle caused by you. Please use common sense: respect the forum, its users and those that write great code.
...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Please refrain from such support requests on XDA in future. Thanks for your cooperation!
Regards
Oswald Boelcke
Senior Moderator