vB Easy Archive - Shouldn't Cingular unlock my phone?

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Shouldn't Cingular unlock my phone?
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Posted by: jlongjr

If I have a phone that is not in a contract and I own it outright shouldn't they unlock it with no questions asked? I have a blackberry 7290 that is locked to them and I want to use T-Mobile.

Posted by: cingtd

If you are not in contract, just call customer support. They can file a request and you should get a response with the unlock code and instructions in 24-48 hours.

Keep in mind, customer service doesn't have the codes, they send a request to tech support.

Posted by: scforth

why should they do this again? i must have missed something...

and i dont believe they even have the codes in their possession to unlock anyways, but i may be wrong.

Posted by: irelynx

I thought, if you wanted to switch to a different carrier, that the future carrier was supposed to unlock the phone for you, not the current one. I probably have this all backwards though.

Posted by: Omega2008

Carriers are not obligated to unlock phones....if you switch to another GSM carrier guess what...your previous carrier is not going to unlock it for you for the reason that your switching. If you have a quad band phone Cingular will probably unlock it for you because its a world phone and some people like to get pre paid SIM's to use over seas.

If you want your phone unlocked, pony up the cash and get it done.

Posted by: Nick94

Quote:

Originally Posted by cingtd

If you are not in contract, just call customer support. They can file a request and you should get a response with the unlock code and instructions in 24-48 hours.

Keep in mind, customer service doesn't have the codes, they send a request to tech support.

THis is the way it apparently should work, but in my experience (rather limited), you sit and wait for weeks for them to get back to you with the code. So don't count on it unless you have a lot of time.

Posted by: .7

Quote:

Originally Posted by Omega2008

Carriers are not obligated to unlock phones....if you switch to another GSM carrier guess what...your previous carrier is not going to unlock it for you for the reason that your switching. If you have a quad band phone Cingular will probably unlock it for you because its a world phone and some people like to get pre paid SIM's to use over seas.

If you want your phone unlocked, pony up the cash and get it done.

This is correct...

Posted by: jlongjr

Quote:

Originally Posted by Omega2008

Yeah but I am not switching carriers I am with t-mobile. I have a friend that is with cingular that bought an extra one because he did not want to wait for a replacement phone that was back ordered. He will sell the phone to me for $100 if I can unlock it. I am getting SO many different stories it is making my head spin. I have unlocked Nokia phones (very easy) and Motorola phones (harder and cost me $25) and this blackberry seams almost impossible. I have people telling me that cingular should unlock the phone for free. I have other people telling me it absolutely can not be done. And I have other people telling me it will cost $40 or $100 or $250!!!

I will pay to have it unlocked just not more than $40. It is ridiculous to pay any more than that. I seriously will just go out and buy one that has all of the branding, a warranty and all of the accessories before I will pay more than $40 to get it unlocked.

Can it really be done for $40 because I will just drop it off with someone local and have it done.

Thanks for all of the replies

Posted by: aaadock

unlocking will allow the phone to accept the mobile sim...

but what are you goign to do about all the settings that are needed for the data to work on the tmobile networks.. ?

wow dumb question.. i guess you can find them on the net.. hmm

guess you better make sure the data features will work with tmobile after its unlocked for 2 reasons..

who wants a blackberry you cant use email on..

and .. to make sure you dont piss away 40 bucks...

get your friend to reguest the codes under his cingular number.. that would be the cheapest way..

Posted by: is_that_clear

If you Google search hard enough, you'll find some software to get the unlock code from your phone. There is no need to pay for something that can be obtained for free.

God Bless,
Arch

Posted by: jlongjr

Quote:

Originally Posted by is_that_clear

If you Google search hard enough, you'll find some software to get the unlock code from your phone. There is no need to pay for something that can be obtained for free.

God Bless,
Arch

Ok here is another suggestion. Who do I believe?

I don't think they will charge me if they can't unlock it so I am just going to drop it off with one of these independent dealers. I wish they would just do an even trade.

I wonder, do the dealers call the carrier to get the unlock code? I sat there with my friend who tried to get cingular to give us the code over the phone and they just gave us the run around. Is there some "industry lingo" that we could throw at them to make them give us the code. Remember this phone is completely paid for and not in a contract.

In my many google searches to unlock this phone I have read about many people in the opposite situation that I am in (have a locked t-mobile phone) have simply sent T-Mobile support an e-mail request for the unlock code.

Here is a good one that I found. I wonder if it will work, my friend e-mailing cingular for the unlock code?
----------------------------------------------------
It's simple. Send an e-mail to T-Mo through their website at http://support.t-mobile.com/caseSubmitForm.html

The instructions are as follows:
Thank you for taking the time to contact T-Mobile.

We understand you needed a SIM unlock code and would be happy to help you with your request. All phones sold by T-Mobile are locked for use by T-Mobile SIM cards only. To unlock your handset, you must meet the following criteria:

· Customers must have at least 90 days of continuous active monthly service.
· The account must not be delinquent.
· Only one unlock code per active line of service.
· The name on the request must match the billed party name.
· Handsets purchased through e-bay, garage sales, pawnshops, etc. must still meet these requirements.

Upon meeting these conditions, please provide us with the following and we can make a request for this code:

· IMEI number (dial *#06# to show on phones display)
· Mobile number
· Account Password or the last 4 digits of your SSN

Once again, thank you for taking the time to contact T-Mobile.

If you have any other comments, questions, or concerns, please feel free to contact us.

You are a valued customer and we want you to know that T-Mobile appreciates your business. Our goal is to provide World Class customer service and we hope that we have provided you with that today.

Sincerely,
T-Mobile USA, Inc.
Customer Service Specialist
-----------------------------------------------

Thanks

Posted by: jlongjr

I just dropped off the phone. We will see if it can be unlocked for $40. I will pick it up Monday. I will keep everyone posted. If they can't unlock it I will not be charged.

John

Posted by: jlongjr

They can not unlock this phone. I will just give up and buy a new one.

Posted by: Shadowless127

it should be illegal for carriers to lock phones.

You're paying for the phone and should be allowed to use it with any carrier.

Posted by: atog

my dad has a AT&T cingular BB - 7280. We switched to t-mobile because when AT&T merged with cingular, they wanted my dad to drop another $400 for a new black berry - which didn't make sense to us. so we switched to tmobile. Now he has a tmobile blackberry. (at&t's coverage was bad too) so now we are on tmobile - i have a data plan with my v635, and our tmobile rep is very cooperative with us in what we want/need, he's helped us alot so he could use his resources as well. (he sent my v635 to get revived - this was before i knew how to flash)

so my question is (after all the babble) will I be able to unlock the 7280 from at&t and use it with tmobile? I'll find my own way to unlock it (google, the tmobile rep, etc.) I just want to know if it's possible. The BB in conjunction with my new laptop (dell 700m) with microsoft outlook would help me tremendously in my planning and scheduling of my days. It would be like an electronic planner (i need this - just started college)

SO is it possible?(to unlock at&t 7280 and use it with tmobile) I hope it is

thanks in advance

*edit* Could tmobile have access to the unlock code for an at&t blackberry??