vB Easy Archive - A717 unlocking instructions

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A717 unlocking instructions
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Posted by: ebusch

I'm a new AT&T subscriber (just ported over from Sprint last week) and will be traveling to Europe later this year. I asked customer service for my subsidy unlock code so that I will be able to use a pre-paid SIM and they sent it to me no questions asked. However now that I have it I'm not sure how to actually use it to unlock the phone.

Their instructions stated:
1. Power off device and remove the SIM card
2. Power on the handset
3. Enter: # 0 1 1 1 * unlock code #
4. Press the SEND key
Result:
Display should read "Personalization Cancelled"
If the display reads "Not Yet Personalized" the handset was already unlocked

When I power on I get a "Please Insert SIM card" prompt and when I try to enter the numbers in step 3 all I get is a "Emergency Calls Only" prompt. Am I missing something obvious, or do I actually need to have a non-AT&T SIM in the phone before I can enter the code?

Posted by: Heavy Fluid

I was under the impression that you had to be a customer for at least 90 days before you could get an unlock code from AT&T? Maybe I am wrong, but I am pretty sure that is what I read here.

Posted by: jyalexop2003

Quote:

Originally Posted by ebusch

I'm a new AT&T subscriber (just ported over from Sprint last week) and will be traveling to Europe later this year. I asked customer service for my subsidy unlock code so that I will be able to use a pre-paid SIM and they sent it to me no questions asked. However now that I have it I'm not sure how to actually use it to unlock the phone.

Their instructions stated:
1. Power off device and remove the SIM card
2. Power on the handset
3. Enter: # 0 1 1 1 * unlock code #
4. Press the SEND key
Result:
Display should read "Personalization Cancelled"
If the display reads "Not Yet Personalized" the handset was already unlocked

When I power on I get a "Please Insert SIM card" prompt and when I try to enter the numbers in step 3 all I get is a "Emergency Calls Only" prompt. Am I missing something obvious, or do I actually need to have a non-AT&T SIM in the phone before I can enter the code?

I'm pretty sure you need to power the phone on with a foreign, non-
ATT/Cingualr SIM.
I simply put in a friends T-mobile SIM when I unlocked my V3.
and the phone prompted me to enter a Subsidy Code upon startup.
I went to Greece and Italy last summer, bought a prepaid SIM
from a T-mobile Kiosk in Athens and Rome and no problems.

Posted by: IdioTech

Quote:

Originally Posted by ebusch

What the heck did you say to them? I also have a new account and they're making me jump through tons of hoops to even get the code.

ugh.

Posted by: ebusch

Quote:

Originally Posted by IdioTech

What the heck did you say to them? I also have a new account and they're making me jump through tons of hoops to even get the code.

I sent them the following email through the Contact Us link on the OLAM site:

"I would like to add the no fee international roaming feature EXPANDEDINTLROAM to my account so that I will be able to use my phone when traveling throughout Europe later this year. I also would like to request the subsidy unlock code for my phone so that I can switch to a prepaid SIM if necessary."

I'm still waiting on EXPANDEDINTLROAM (initially they only added STANDARDINTLROAM), but I got the unlock code without any additional work.

Posted by: ebusch

In case anyone else was wondering about this, the instructions supplied by customer care were not correct for the A717. The actual code to enter in Step 3 should be: #7465625*638*UnlockCode#

Posted by: aharben

Wow, ebusch....... I am on my last attempt to unlock this thing & big blue is still to get back to me with the correct procedure!

I guess I'll nut-up & try your "actual code". Any final words of encouragement?

Posted by: aharben

networked locked....... damn!

Posted by: mbranscum

Quote:

Originally Posted by aharben

networked locked....... damn!

You cannot use his code on your phone.

Posted by: mbranscum

Quote:

Originally Posted by jyalexop2003

I'm pretty sure you need to power the phone on with a foreign, non-ATT/Cingualr SIM.

That's correct.

Posted by: quillhill

Yeah, I ended up going to a T Mobile store and borrowing a dead SIM from them to unlock mine.

I got my unlock code from an ebay dealer and his instructions weren't right, either.