Sidekick 3 On A Non-Sidekick/HipTop Network

[absolut_ian]

I have been waiting for a while to get the Sidekick 3. Unfortunatly, I live in Canada and I am with Rogers Wireless. Only Fido Wireless supports Hiptops. I have heard that you can get it unlocked and then you can use it on the network, but if it runs out of battery, it will loose all information because it's not being backed up through the data service.

Does anyone know what happens if the SKIII is used on a non-hiptop network such as Rogers in Canada, Cingular in the States or even Vodafone for UK (for example)?


Also, is there even a way to unlock a Sidekick III? I dont see places that unlock Sidekicks.


Thanks: Ian

[jervin123]

the sidekick3 wont work right with vodafone because 95% of there networks infastructure is 900 1800mhz is overlay for major citys for extra capacity. and also it is very hard to get them unlocked almost impossible

[voodoofish]

do they come locked on T-Mobile USA? On T-Mobile UK they are unlocked but USA could be different. If you do manage to get it working on another network, only calls and text messages will work, and yes, it your phone's battery dies you will loose all info apart from the odd text message (why this happened i have no idea - when i let my sidekick die a few texts survived but all the others where lost as these are not backed up - obviously all the SIM saved text messages servived) as this would normally be restored over the network. i think installed applications will stay though. Even if you used a sidekick on another sidekick-supporting network (eg. Fido) than the one it was originally designed to work on, sidekick data reliant features won't work as apparantly they are fixed operator specific settings on the phone you cannot change, even after changing the network APN.

[absolut_ian]

Does the T-Mobile USA Sidekick come unlocked?


Also, please disregard the european stuff. This is reference for North American users...sorry to all Europeans, but you can have any phone you want and get great reception...I NEED THIS lol

[jervin123]

that would have to be a big nopers. they sell it locked and its gonna be hard to get it unlocked for a long time

[mpapple10]

The sidekick itself is impossible to fully unlock. You can unlock the voice portion of the phone, but the data part is coded into the operating system and is coded to a specific carrier.

[terryjohnson16]

If someone that had the Sidekick device change the APN, and entered the APN of the other carrier, would it still work?

[cali_kid2k]

what about suncom? which part is locked and unlocked? suncom reps keep telling me it will have the same access to data servers and service that t-mobile does. I'm guessing this is true since they have a roaming contract wit t-mobile and t-mobile is planning to buy them or someone said they are the same company? sounds kinda true since only place where t-mobile isnt is where suncom is(carolinas).

[absolut_ian]

What is the APN??? also i dont understand. When its unlocked, I realize that you cant use data with it. I'm willing to except that. I just like its form factor, its features and its design.

[terryjohnson16]

The APN is hiptop.t-mobile.com.

[absolut_ian]

Does anyone then know when to maybe expect the Sidekick 3 unlocking?

Also for the battery situation, is it if it COMPLETELY dies out....to the point of the phone not even turning on its that low, will it only then loose all the data? Or are we talking as soon as it even says "low battery" will it loose info?


Ian

[Extazy]

When it dies out 100%..won't turn on etc...

[mpapple10]

what about suncom? which part is locked and unlocked? suncom reps keep telling me it will have the same access to data servers and service that t-mobile does. I'm guessing this is true since they have a roaming contract wit t-mobile and t-mobile is planning to buy them or someone said they are the same company? sounds kinda true since only place where t-mobile isnt is where suncom is(carolinas).

The operating system is locked. Each carrier has their own version of the OS and there are no programs to flash one version to another.

[absolut_ian]

Can someone list all the issues/problems that might be incountered by using a HipTop/Sidekick on a non-hiptop network???

Be through with the issues. Name EVERYTHING you can think of. I need a Sidekick expert for this one?


And basically...is it worth it to try and use a Hiptop on a non Hiptop network (realizing that data could not be used).

Thanks: Ian

[cali_kid2k]

The operating system is locked. Each carrier has their own version of the OS and there are no programs to flash one version to another.

can someone explain to me what exactly the operating system or what danger's data server is, so i cannot get access from it through suncom? i'm looking for someone to tell me exactly what the differences would be and what i could and couldnt do in contrast with t-mobile. thanks