Unlocking a SE W910I to use on 2D (locked to VF)

Forums › 2degrees (including Slingshot, Orcon, Flip, Stuff Fibre, MyRepublic, 2talk and Vocus) › Unlocking a SE W910I to use on 2D (locked to VF)

lchiu7

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#85016 11-Jun-2011 13:57

I picked up a SE W910I from Noel Leeming today on sale for my son to use. It's VF branded but no plan was offered with the phone.

To my son's disappointment when we got home and put in his 2D SIM card, the phone rejected it and it appears it's locked to VF.

While NL are happy to refund my money I was wondering if 2D might be able to unlock it? It's not that we are doing anything untoward since the phone was sold to us as a phone and with no contract option.

Or do people know of an unlock process that isn't too complicated?

Thanks

Staying in Wellington. Check out my AirBnB in the Wellington CBD. https://www.airbnb.co.nz/h/wellycbd PM me and mention GZ to get a 15% discount and no AirBnB charges.

billgates

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#480051 11-Jun-2011 14:03

VF does not locks their handset. They did it for a very short period like 2 years ago.

Do whatever you want to do man.

lchiu7

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#480053 11-Jun-2011 14:20

Welll this one is apparentl locked since when we put in the 2D SIM card it says insert correcrt SIM card

Staying in Wellington. Check out my AirBnB in the Wellington CBD. https://www.airbnb.co.nz/h/wellycbd PM me and mention GZ to get a 15% discount and no AirBnB charges.

billgates

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#480056 11-Jun-2011 14:32

Is this the model you are talking about?

http://www.gsmarena.com/sony_ericsson_w910-2007.php

I cannot even locate this on Noel Leeming's website and if it is the model above then that's well over 3 years old and chances are Noel Leeming had it lying around hiding somewhere in their stock room which they located recently and must have sold it to you at a discounted price. It's possible that you have bought the model which was locked by VF when they started locking handsets couple of years ago for a short while.

They did provide a phone number to ring to get the phones unlocked for free when they announced that they will not be locking handsets anymore and existing locked handsets sold can get the unlock codes for free.

Do whatever you want to do man.

lchiu7

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#480057 11-Jun-2011 14:34

That's the one. It was on special and the last unit.

I guess I am going to have to take it back since I didn't get a phone number to call to get an unlock code.

Staying in Wellington. Check out my AirBnB in the Wellington CBD. https://www.airbnb.co.nz/h/wellycbd PM me and mention GZ to get a 15% discount and no AirBnB charges.

ajw

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#480066 11-Jun-2011 15:16

Or you could try this.

http://www.vodafone.co.nz/help/unlocking-your-mobile.jsp?q=unlocking

Unlocking your Vodafone mobile
Prior to May 2008, a limited number of locked Vodafone mobiles were released via a number of official Vodafone channels.

If you have purchased a locked mobile and wish to use another provider's SIM, you'll need to request your mobile's unlock code. A charge of $30.00 plus GST will be levied for each unlock code issued.

This doesn't affect Vodafone NZ global roaming at all. You can still roam with your mobile as usual. However, if you wish to put another network provider's SIM card into your Vodafone NZ mobile whilst travelling overseas, you may need to unlock the mobile first. This includes Vodafone SIM cards from other countries.

Requesting an unlock code
Vodafone New Zealand's official unlocking supplier Brightpoint can be contacted on the following numbers to request an unlock code.

From within New Zealand, call 0800 VF UNLOCK (0800 838 656)

From overseas, call +64 9 368 7069

Brightpoint operates Monday to Friday 8am to 6pm. If you call out of these hours, please leave a message and Brightpoint will return your call.

Brightpoint will charge $30.00 plus GST to your credit card before issuing the unlock code.

How to enter the code
Instructions to do this vary, depending on the mobile model you are using. When you put the new SIM card into your mobile, you should be asked for the code to unlock this mobile. Enter the unlock code you were given by Brightpoint.

Should you experience any problems unlocking your phone, please contact Vodafone's official unlocking supplier Brightpoint on the above numbers.

lchiu7

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#480067 11-Jun-2011 15:28

Tried that - number is disconnected.

Staying in Wellington. Check out my AirBnB in the Wellington CBD. https://www.airbnb.co.nz/h/wellycbd PM me and mention GZ to get a 15% discount and no AirBnB charges.

johnr

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#480068 11-Jun-2011 15:29

Amazing what a quick search of the Vodafone NZ site will find ' Unlock '

You even posted in the 2Degrees section and it's not even related to 2Degrees

2Degrees will not hold onto unlocking codes for Vodafone NZ handsets

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ajw

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#480069 11-Jun-2011 15:30

Perhaps JohnR could help.

johnr

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#480071 11-Jun-2011 15:33

lchiu7: Tried that - number is disconnected.

I just called the 0800 number and it worked fine, Someone even answered straight away to help

John

johnr

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#480072 11-Jun-2011 15:35

ajw: Perhaps JohnR could help.

I tested the 0800 number and there is nothing wrong

lchiu7

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#480075 11-Jun-2011 15:48

Thanks I must have dialled it incorrectly a few times. I called again after seeing this posting and got somebody who is emailing somebody to get back to me on Monday.

I only posted in the 2D forum thinking that perhaps 2D could help out a customer and know how to unlock those phones.

[EDIT]

I also found some unlockint software for the phone but decided not to go down that way in case I trashed the phone in the process!

Staying in Wellington. Check out my AirBnB in the Wellington CBD. https://www.airbnb.co.nz/h/wellycbd PM me and mention GZ to get a 15% discount and no AirBnB charges.

lchiu7

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#480524 13-Jun-2011 09:27

Well managed to get hold of Brightpoint and they can unlock the phone but it's going to cost $30+GST. So it's going back to NL. That's pretty disappointing.

Staying in Wellington. Check out my AirBnB in the Wellington CBD. https://www.airbnb.co.nz/h/wellycbd PM me and mention GZ to get a 15% discount and no AirBnB charges.

2degreesCare

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#480537 13-Jun-2011 10:02

We can help you get the settings to your phone and with the set up process but are unable to help with unlocking codes, sorry.

^POB

dolsen

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#480541 13-Jun-2011 10:07

My understanding was that for the handsets that Vodafone had locked, Vodafone would unlock them for free.

Have a look at this pdf from Vodafone to the Commerce Commission,

http://www.comcom.govt.nz/assets/Imported-from-old-site/industryregulation/Telecommunications/MonitoringandReporting/ContentFiles/Documents/Vodafone-letter-on-handset-locking0.pdf

Even so, if the handset is that old to be locked, I'm not sure I'd want it due to any issues with the life of the battery (I'm assuming a lithium battery that will degrade over time regardless of use).

lchiu7

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#480568 13-Jun-2011 11:24

That letter is quite clear but nobody told Brightpoint I guess.

Staying in Wellington. Check out my AirBnB in the Wellington CBD. https://www.airbnb.co.nz/h/wellycbd PM me and mention GZ to get a 15% discount and no AirBnB charges.