vB Easy Archive - Treo Tribulation!

Pages: 1

Treo Tribulation!
(Click here to view the original thread with full colors/images)

Posted by: Nosnibor

I have a Treo 650 that was purchased through verizon, However I live in Canada now and would like to transfer the service to a Canadian provider. It was recommended that I come to this forum and find out how to "unlock" the phone before I can continue to the next step. How do I go about unlocking my Treo. Another thing is the phone section seems to be locked and my password does not work. is there a way to override that or reset my password. Thanx.

Posted by: n2jtx

If you purchased it through Verizon it will be a CDMA phone and technically doesn't need to be unlocked. The compatible providers in Canada would be Bell and Telus.

Posted by: Nosnibor

I called Telus and they said that it was not possible for me to use my current handset with their system. I'll give Bell a try. If I'm denied by Bell as well Do you have any other suggestions or recommendations?

Posted by: n2jtx

Not really as you need a CDMA based carrier (Rogers is GSM) and those are the only two I am aware of that run CDMA in Canada. Mike is iDEN like Nextel here in the U.S. and Fido is a division of Rogers and is also GSM.

Posted by: AngelJo008

sell your phone on ebay and get a GSM version is the only way you're going to be able to do it that is, if you're denied by the 2 CDMA carriers in Canada.

Posted by: Kevin Michaels

Hello Nosnibor,

This is Kevin from Palm. I can't add anything to n2jtx's suggestions but, as far as the password is concerned, it sounds as though you will need to hard reset. But, take a look at all of the links in the Palm Knowledge Library article "Resetting your password when the handheld is locked".

Sincerely
Kevin

Posted by: maceyr

Er, Kevin Michaels. He meant he wanted to be able to use a different CDMA carrier branded Treo (eg. Sprint) on another carrier (Verizon, Telus, Bell, etc) and not the autolock or protection lock that you're referring to. As far as I know, no CDMA carrier in North America will will accept a competitor's CDMA phone on their network (or course, I'm sure it can be done if you speak to the right people). They want to force you to get "their" CDMA phone so that every CDMA carrier will get the benefit of keeping their customers or at least forcing them to get their own phone. With GSM it's different. Once you "unlock" the subsidy "lock" that the carrier has put in the phone, you can put any competitors' SIM card in it and use it on a competitor's network.

It all comes down to force the customer to sticking with them rather than seek out the competition. I'm quite sure they have made some kind of agreement amongst themselves (the CDMA carriers of North America) to not accept a competitors' phone so that they all benefit. Allowing a competitor's phone on their network means they don't get the revenue of the sale of the phone (or the contract). So why would they do that if they don't get anything out of it?

That's one main reason why I would never go to a CDMA carrier. Besides I absolutely HATE Telus.

Posted by: Kevin Michaels

I may have misunderstood, it looked like he was asking about two different issues: "Another thing is the phone section seems to be locked and my password does not work. is there a way to override that or reset my password."
The term "lock" is also used when referring to a phone that is locked or unlocked and you've lost your password. This is unrelated to the term as it applies to GSM "subsidy" locks. Maybe Nosnibor will come back and clarify.

Kevin

Posted by: maceyr

I agree. I think he was asking for two things without trying to separate them into two issues. Looks like we both saw the other "lock" issue. So, now he has answers to both issues.