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Locked GSM phones... How to unlock them? (pg. 2)
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| iliketrance |
| yeah thats what i meant:crazy: |
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| Jayx1 |
| quote: | Originally posted by iliketrance
i know someone that sells unlocked phones so i'm sure they can unlock it....the guy is in mississauga
thats where i got my phone...i have a vodaphone |
cool, how much? |
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| iLiptikalOrbitZ |
$100-$200?????? DONT EVER PAY THAT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
There are several kiosks/stores that will do it for around $40 in Woodbine mall, but there is a store close to my house in etobicoke that does it for $5-$15 depending on the model.
*note* depending on how new the phone, they will unlock it using several different methods.
1. flash the memory (harmless to the phone)
2. hard flash (open the phone, and short out the mainboard, so that the phone is then blank. Then they will re-load the GUI without the carrier lock) this also voids warrenty. |
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| 4-play |
| quote: | Originally posted by Jayx1
i think it's disgusting that you have to buy a phone through a phone company in Canada and that they then have the nerve to lock them. After spending hundreds of dollars on my phone they should have no right to do this. I could understand if it was a freebie phone but even then you are locked to their plan for X number of years in exchange.
I called Rogers and their reasoning is that they have agreements with many countries around the world so that they feel they are justified. meanwhile in most of these countries, coverage can be had for 10-15% of the expense of what Rogers charges.
First: i will be writing the CRTC and Consumers Affairs along with Rogers itself to express my disgust at what should clearly be an illegal practice.
Second: I want to know how I can go about unlocking my phone so I no longer have to be held hostage to these nitwits.
Some advice would be appreciated |
This is the case in most places around the world. If you buy a phone with a contract from a service provider (eg. O2, 3, Vodaphone, T-Mobile, etc.) the phone comes locked and can be used only with that provider. Reason behind that is that they get the phones at a discounted rate from the cell phone manufacturer. If you want an unlocked phone, get the service (SIM card) from the service provider and buy YOUR unlocked phone from an independant distributor / retailer.
Its something like that with cars too. If you buy a German car (those who signed the 'green'(or something like that) contract), the top speed is electronically limited. You could buy a USD 180k (SL65) car with your hard earned money and can only go so fast -250km/h (i.e. not reach the full potential top speed of the car). You could argue that you bought a bi-turbo V12, and yet can go only as fast a 3.5 V6 car. If you want to remove the limiter, you will have to pay. Just one of them things Jay. We have to live with it.
You want to play - you pay. |
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| Jayx1 |
I bought my phone at full price. And its not "just one of those things i have to live with."
Thats such a canadian mentality. |
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| Jayx1 |
| Im thinking of starting a petition. Hopefully you will all sign it. Too bad my MP is faaking no return calls Belinda Stronach. I think i will take it to a conservative in another riding. |
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| infinity HiGH |
check howardforums.com like digitalmp said...if you have a usb cable for your phone; there's a possibility that you can just download an unlocking program.
also, its not just a "canadian" thing and starting a petition won't do anything. its how cellphone business works. its locked because the provider has an exclusive agreement with the manufacturer. every provider in the world does business like this; the only difference is, that providers in europe will give you the absolute latest phone (which you wouldn't see here for another year) for $1 if you sign a 3-year contract, for example.
start a petition for better service :) |
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| iliketrance |
| quote: | Originally posted by Jayx1
cool, how much? |
i don't know how much he charges....i just bought my phone already unlocked |
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| tatgirl |
| quote: | Originally posted by iLiptikalOrbitZ
There are several kiosks/stores that will do it for around $40 in Woodbine mall, but there is a store close to my house in etobicoke that does it for $5-$15 depending on the model. |
Thats a GREAT price!! The lowest I've heard of is $50.
Phones in the US come locked too.
Hey Jay- why don't u petition them for the right to text message internationally (overseas)? We can receive international text messages, but can't send them. I was told it was cuz they couldnt decide what to charge. Europeans have much more freedom when it comes to the cell phones. |
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| iliketrance |
| quote: | Originally posted by tatgirl
Europeans have much more freedom when it comes to the cell phones. |
but it also costs them alot to have a cell phone then it does for us here |
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| iLiptikalOrbitZ |
| quote: | Originally posted by tatgirl
Hey Jay- why don't u petition them for the right to text message internationally (overseas)? We can receive international text messages, but can't send them. I was told it was cuz they couldnt decide what to charge. Europeans have much more freedom when it comes to the cell phones. |
Add that we also cant port our numbers to a different carrier, like they can everywhere else.:sadgreen:
Canada has one of the least developed wireless service in the world, as far as service plans, features, and support.
Take Sprint PCS in the states for example (I used to work for them). Their standard plan includes:
-$29.99/month fee
-200 daytime minutes
-unlimited evening and weekends starting at 9pm
-ALL long distance within the states is included
-Caller ID
-Call Waiting
-Voice Mail
-Call forwarding
-if you go over your 200 minutes sprint automatically adds 100 extra minutes for $5, up to 700 minutes. After that it's $0.10 per minute.
Now find me a canadian plan that comes even close to that.... *edit* that's not an employee, or corporate deal. I'm talking normal plan that is available to everybody. |
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| Tordan |
| quote: | Originally posted by tatgirl
Hey Jay- why don't u petition them for the right to text message internationally (overseas)? We can receive international text messages, but can't send them. I was told it was cuz they couldnt decide what to charge. Europeans have much more freedom when it comes to the cell phones. |
the only overseas location I txt msg is Hong Kong and it works just fine but it's 25 cents though. |
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