Official unlock thread: Bell Canada - Samsung Galaxy S "Vibrant" NAM 3G

[cmstlist]

Edit #6: I'm no longer subscribed to this thread as it has fulfilled its purpose. This top post will not be kept up to date anymore.

Edit #5: Do it yourself! Bell's gonna love this.
There is an overall guide posted at XDA:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/show...55#post7776555
It requires you to root your phone (at your own risk!), copy a file to your computer and then either launch a Windows .exe or examine it with a Hex Editor. This will produce an unlock code which you then bring back to the phone. Several posters have confirmed this works for the Bell Vibrant.

Edit #4: Success! http://forum.xda-developers.com/show...&postcount=588
The user rhcp0112345 on xda-developers (also the guy behind mrcellphoneunlocker.com) has developed an experimental method. It requires you to root your phone (at your own risk!), copy a file and send it to him. For a $35 fee he will use the information in the file to generate you an unlock code which will permanently SIM-unlock your phone (even if you later lose root access). Several posters have confirmed that this method works. He is also planning to release an on-device app to hasten the process but it isn't ready yet. More to come...

Edit #3: DO NOT give money to UnlockGenie for an unlock code to the i9000m. They have promised (and accepted money for) unlock codes, but nobody has actually received a code for the Bell Vibrant. It is reported that some customers are getting refunds.

Edit #1: I must emphasize that I don't actually own a Galaxy S and probably won't be buying one for reasons of the almighty dollar, but I started this thread to help everyone keep all the SIM-unlocking facts together. If you send me a private message about this phone I probably won't have any answers for you. Happy unlocking!

Edit #2: If you purchased an unlocked version from a source other than Bell Canada, please look at the box or the seller's web site for the 3G/UMTS/HSPA bands. If it says 850/1900/2100 then your phone will work fully on Bell/Telus/Rogers/Fido 3G and it's applicable to this thread. If it says 900/1900/2100 then your phone is the international edition which doesn't have both 3G frequencies you need for full coverage in Canada - and it's not applicable to this thread.

There seems to be some concern over in an xda-developers thread that the Bell Galaxy S Vibrant (which is actually a NAM 3G version of the international edition with front-facing camera) will be very difficult to find SIM unlock codes for.

So let's start this thread as a place to report:
1) Whether you were able to successfully obtain an unlock code - or not - and from which dealer.
2) Which non-Bell SIM you tried in the phone after unlocking, and how well the phone worked on that network.

I hope it's not out of line for people to name the vendors here, but it would be useful knowledge for lots of forum users. If it reaches the point that Bell Vibrant codes are easy to obtain, then clearly this thread won't be needed anymore.

Update August 10th: No successful unlocks reported, but you can use a Virgin Mobile Canada SIM successfully.

You can use it with a virgin sim card. No unlocking required, I am currently using my virgin sim with this phone no problems at all.

Also Croak over at XDA reports:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/show...2&postcount=21

I'm a Bell customer now, I own the 9000M, and was told when I called 611 that it was 30 days from my date of purchase, IF, and only if I had service with Bell for that entire 30 days, prepaid or postpaid.

My "unlock SIM" from UnlockItNow.com came in today.

It works, Telus and AT&T (prepaid) and Vodaphone Australia (prepaid) SIM work in in my 9000M, and both my Telus and Bell SIMS work in my Captivate. Incoming, outgoing, call forwarding, 3G/HSPA data all work on the Bell and Telus networks, obviously can't test the Vodaphone, and the AT&T only lets me use voice since it's a prepaid.

I got this SIM card after sending them my IMEI unlock request for my Captivate a few weeks ago (on July 22nd) and paying $14.00. They didn't have codes, sent me this instead.

[kapurar]

I am anxiously awaiting feedback as well. I want to buy the phone. I contacted Bell to see if they would match the plan I have with Rogers, as I was willing to switch carriers to get this phone but Bell would not match my Rogers Plan. I like the front facing camera version of the Galaxy S. I hope that Rogers gets this version or an unlocking solution come out as I am interested in buying the phone without contract.

[Redth]

I'm curious too... NCIX sells an unlocked version of this but for $729! Bell's no term is $500 so I'd love to buy a bell phone and use it on rogers...

[dansni]

One thing to note: I called bell customer service and a bell store and they both told me they won't sell the Galexy S Vibrant unless it has a bell service that it goes onto.

They WILL sell you an unlock code, they told me on, but only after 30 days of bell service and at a cost of 75$

If those unlock websites actually do work, then what I would do is purchase the galexy, have them put it onto a friend's bell cell phone plan to bypass the activation fee (would that work?) then use an unlock site and and my friend could put his number and service back on his old service in the same day.

Main question: do those unlock websites work?

[cmstlist]

I'm curious too... NCIX sells an unlocked version of this but for $729! Bell's no term is $500 so I'd love to buy a bell phone and use it on rogers...

The unlocked phone sold by NCIX is not this phone - it's the international version with UMTS 900/1900/2100. It will only get 3G in parts of Canada that have 1900 deployed, such as major cities.

[spike98]

I have tried unlock2go.com with no success.

I am pending on the following sites:

http://unlockcellphonecode.com/
http://theunlockdepot.com
http://CellUnlockingCodes.com

I heard www.unlockcodegenerator.com is suppose to work.

[Astralmind]

I have tried unlock2go.com with no success.

I am pending on the following sites:

http://unlockcellphonecode.com/
http://theunlockdepot.com
http://CellUnlockingCodes.com

I heard www.unlockcodegenerator.com is suppose to work.

Just had a live chat with unlockedgenerator.com and they said No.. so did unlock2go and cellunlockingcodes. My guess is that they are all pulling their information from the same serve anyways..

[mafiaboy01]

This isn't look to promissing, I might have to settle for a Desire

[spike98]

The phone has been released for a few hours. Its frustrating but expected.

[mafiaboy01]

Ya, I might just get one and return it if it can't be unlocked.

[spike98]

unlockgenie.com just replied this when i asked about the bell vibrant:

Hello,
Thanks for contacting us. Yes, we can unlock your mobile phone. To generate the unlock code we should be provided with the correct - "Make - Model number - The name of Country and Netwrok to which the phone is locked to.

Please note that the network IMEI combination is generated from the details that is provided while the placement of order.

--
Danny Mathew
Customer Support
The UnlockGenie Team

I have a few that i am trying already. Does someone wanna try this one? Its got a money back promise if they cant do it.

[Astralmind]

unlockgenie.com just replied this when i asked about the bell vibrant:

Hello,
Thanks for contacting us. Yes, we can unlock your mobile phone. To generate the unlock code we should be provided with the correct - "Make - Model number - The name of Country and Netwrok to which the phone is locked to.

Please note that the network IMEI combination is generated from the details that is provided while the placement of order.

--
Danny Mathew
Customer Support
The UnlockGenie Team

I have a few that i am trying already. Does someone wanna try this one? Its got a money back promise if they cant do it.

Somehow looks better than others. Unfortunately, I don't have the phone... anyone willing to try, I would be extremely grateful.

[mafiaboy01]

Ya if someone could find an unlocker it would be great.

Went into FS to buy a Desire but they didn't have any so I guess I'm waiting to see which one I can get first.

[spike98]

I also got a hit from CellUnlockingCodes.com

The guy said that he has to calculate it manually and i will have a code within 24 hrs. I dont know if that holds any truth or he is just trying to buy some time. But still, the situation doesnt look as bleek.

[mafiaboy01]

That does look promising, that is a long time for codes though. How much did it cost?