Whats a Locked phone. Why unlock them

Forums › Mobile handsets › Whats a Locked phone. Why unlock them

Possum

240 posts

Master Geek

#41269 13-Sep-2009 01:50

Hi

I read post like this one

http://www.geekzone.co.nz/forums.asp?forumid=11&topicid=40807

And I wonder what a locked phone is. Is it an overseas model tied into their system or has it had some of its capabilities reduced?

How do you unlock them

Thank You..

uDoPage

GeekGuy

565 posts

Ultimate Geek

#255287 13-Sep-2009 02:18

They are usually mobiles from overseas that are locked to a particular network ... they will not allow another networks sim card to work in it.
Most are unlocked by using a hardware dongle connected to the mobile and a pc and running specific software.

Mighty Ape

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BrentR

1315 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

#255301 13-Sep-2009 08:39

They are usually locked to the network purchased from to stop people going and getting the phone on a cheap deal and then using another providers SIM card in them, thus taking any revenue the original seller of the handset would have made by enticing the purchaser to take up the cheap offer.

Kyanar

3874 posts

Uber Geek

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Subscriber

#255315 13-Sep-2009 09:47

FYI, New Zealand phones (at least on XT and Vodafone) are not locked. 2degrees phones might not be, but I haven't seen any statement on it yet.

vinnieg

2260 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

#256739 18-Sep-2009 09:04

Kyanar: FYI, New Zealand phones (at least on XT and Vodafone) are not locked. 2degrees phones might not be, but I haven't seen any statement on it yet.

He's right :) no NZ phones are locked, well at least not SIM locked apart from the ones that roam on both telecoms old CDMA and overseas GSM networks(easy as to unlock with a code though)

Some are branded though, but that's easy to change. A lot have vodafone firmware or telecom firmware installed with Telecom and vodafone mobile settings and home pages. These ones you can usually upgrade with the USB cable that came with your phone, just by going to the manufacturers website. Most of the new Sonys work this way. Just be careful that you definitely choose the right firmware or you can brick your phone

I have moved across the ditch. Now residing in Melbourne as a VOIP/Video Technical Trainer/Engineer.

vinnieg

2260 posts

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#256740 18-Sep-2009 09:05

Whoops, by NZ phones, i mean't phones bought in NZ from reputable dealers and not parallel imported :)

I have moved across the ditch. Now residing in Melbourne as a VOIP/Video Technical Trainer/Engineer.