Unlocking a cell phone

Napoleon Plural · December 2011

I bought a cheap Nokia for my Dad, but he's over 80 and doesn't use it much. So, it packed up. If you don't use the phone within a few months, it just goes kaput and you have to fork out another £20 or so to get it running again.

Is there a way around this? Like, if I took it to one of those shady looking shops that unlock phones, could I just choose a number and then go to the 02 shop and start again? It's annoying to have to fork out more cash for them, it's getting to cost more than it did to buy the phone. It was on a Top Up arrangement, not a contract.

Lexi · December 2011

I'm pretty sure you can just choose a network, like Orange or O2 and get a pay as you go sim card (pop into a shop, or apply for one on line).... put the sim in the phone and it will work. The only prob is you have to keep the sim card active.... in other words you have to use it at least once in every 3 months (at least that's what is used to be) - you shouldn't need to unlock it... just apply for a free sim and then activate it.

I think the min you need to top up is around £5 a month, but it depends on which company you choose.

If you're not bothered with how many mins... or internet then take a look at Tesco mobile.... or look it up on google which company would be best to use for your dad's situtation.

Does that help?

Wilde · December 2011

Haha, 'shady looking shops that unlock phones'. I always think the same.

Go round the back or in the basement and you'll probably find rows of machines printing money or a huge chemistry set knocking out little tablets with pictures of birds on them.

)

toutbrun · December 2011

I think that some major cellphone companies will unlock it for you, but for more money than the scary shops.

Napoleon Plural · January 2012

Thanks guys, one thing I didn't make clear which makes me look dumb, I don' t think we have the phone number. We've done this once before with O2 and they changed the number, which then we seem to have lost. Is it possible to do all the above without knowing the telephone number of it?

welshboy78 · January 2012

I unlocked two phones the other day online, think it was about 5 quid each. It was a case of simply selecting your phone model on the list, giving them the IEMI number and then they generate the unlock code which they emailed to me within 3 hours along with instructions.

Lexi · January 2012

Napoleon Plural wrote:

Thanks guys, one thing I didn't make clear which makes me look dumb, I don' t think we have the phone number. We've done this once before with O2 and they changed the number, which then we seem to have lost. Is it possible to do all the above without knowing the telephone number of it?

1. So the phone is from 02 origionally yes? - If so, then you will just need to visit the 02 website (www.o2.co.uk

) and request a new sim card... which will come with a new number. You will want to choose a pay as you go deal... there will prob be a few to choose from

2. If it's with 02, but you want to change providers, to say orange, then you will need to get the phone unlocked (if it isn't already)

But I don't see why you would want too, o2 offers good monthly pay as you go tarrifs. Just check their website for more details. Or pop into a o2 shop.... that might be the best thing to do. You get all your answers right there... I don't think you can call their customer service until you have joined o2... as they ask for your number up front. I know you said you had one... and if you give them all of your details, they might be able to help.... but I would just get a new sim card... much simpler.

One thing to ask though, is once you phone is up and running, is there a min amount of calls you need to make each month, to keep the sim card active.... if you leave it unused for 3 months, it might go dead.... so you will need to check.

Hope that helps.

Napoleon Plural · February 2012

Erm, that's hard because I think we've lost the number.

What happened is, we changed it once cos we didn't use it, then lost the replacement number.

Now what?

kabilan · March 2012

What model mobile is yours? You can get a free unlock code for your mobile from www.Unlocking4free.com . This site provides free unlock codes for most of the international brand mobile phones. Once you unlock it for free, You can either keep it without use for any much of period or you can buy any GSM connection to use in it.

Napoleon Plural · March 2012

Okay, that's useful.

I have another query! Once the numbers get scratched on your phone thru overuse, can you replace the front or really does it mean just buying a new phone? I've only had mine over a year or so, maybe more, seems a bit early and yet it has lost its sheen.

Unlocking a cell phone

Comments