What are Unlocked Cell Phones?

Some cell phones are designed to use a Subscriber Identification Module (SIM) card, or microchip that stores subscriber data. The SIM card is issued by a carrier and provides cell service by activating any phone into which it is inserted. A locked phone, however, will only recognize a SIM card from a particular carrier. If the cell phone is unlocked, it will recognize a SIM card from any carrier. The “lock” is a software setting that keeps the cell phone “loyal” to one carrier.

Asus Cellular Unlocked

In areas like the United States where carriers offer free or deeply discounted phones with cell plans, the phones are commonly locked so that they will not work with other carriers. Carriers claim this is necessary to subsidize the cost of the phones. After a period of time cell unlocked, a carrier might agree to unlock the phone upon request, perhaps charging a fee. However, due to proprietary settings sometimes installed in locked handsets, the phones don’t always function correctly with other carriers, even once unlocked.

From the viewpoint of the consumer, the practice of carriers locking phones and using proprietary settings defeats many of the benefits of SIM handsets. Complaints led to a class action suit filed in California in June 2004 by American watchdog group Foundation for Taxpayer and Consumer Rights (FTCR). Ideally phones should be left unlocked, or at least unlocked after the initial contract expires.

The advantage is that the third party unlocked phone should work equally well with any carrier that uses SIM cards.

Unlocked cell phones are in such demand that third party services will unlock your cell phone for a fee. This doesn’t guarantee the phone will always work correctly, as proprietary settings might remain. There are also hacking instructions online to unlock many models of phones, but a phone that is unlocked improperly can be rendered inoperable.

Carriers operating on the GSM network use SIM cards. Carriers that use the competing CDMA network do not yet use card-enabled phones. These carriers include Sprint PCS, Verizon and Virgin Mobile.

How to Unlock Your Nokia Cell Phone

1. 

   Nokia E90 Unlocked Mobile Phone

   Before trying anything else, contact your service provider and ask for an unlock code. Usually, if you’ve been a customer of theirs for some time, they will provide you with an unlock code for free. This is, by far, the best way to get your phone unlocked.

2. Download software to generate the unlocking code. Software is available on some websites for free and some pay websites that also offer support if things go wrong. See external links below.
3. Find the Serial number of the cell phone, also known as your IMEI number. This can be done by either removing the back of your cell phone and looking underneath the battery, or simply by typing in *#06# into your cell phone. It should be something like: 010082321439976/07951780736
4. Using the software you have downloaded, enter in your Manufacturer (which is in this case Nokia), and sliding the card out. Put the battery back in and power the phone on.
5. You will see a message “Insert SIM Card”. Enter all of the characters you see in your code, including the # symbols. To get a ‘p’ press * 3 times, to get a ‘+’ press the * key 2 times, to get a ‘w’ press the * key 4 times. Disregard any spaces in the code.
6. In order to unlock your phone you generally need to enter only one code. Start with the first one. If your phone is not unlocked by typing the first code (MCC+MNC), use code “7″ (Multilock)
7. Once you have finished entering a code that works you should see a message that says “SIM is not restricted” or “Restriction off” message depending on your model. If not, try entering another code. Message “Cannot undo restrictions” means the phone is “hard-locked” and cannot be unlocked by code.

Tips

• Unlocking applies to all cellular phones. The steps provided above work for GSM phones. You CANNOT use the steps above to unlock a CDMA or TDMA phone. To “unlock” a CDMA or TDMA phones is known as reprogramming the phone. For CDMA phones, you need the Master Subsidary Lock or MSL, which you MAY be able to get from your service provider. Please note that you may not be able to get the MSL from your service provider, as it usually is against company policy to give these to customers.
• Switch off the phone. Hold the keys “3″, “*” and “Call” and switch the phone on. Keep the buttons held down till you see the word “Formatting…” on the screen. Make sure that the battery is full charged before you attempt this. This should reset the phone lock code.