unlocking a phone for dummies

Can someone explain to me exactly how unlocking a phone works. Here's
the scenerio. I recently purchased a new phone on my old carrier
(T-Mobile). I like the phone and just got out of my T-Mobile contract
and have switched to a Cingular plan. My sim card should be arriving
from Cingular in the next two days.

I know people that are T-Mobile customers, so getting the unlock code
won't be a problem.

But how does this work now? Do I just have to enter the code once the
Cingular sim is in the phone? Is it done before I put the sim in as
well? Do I have to enter this code each time I make a call or turn the
phone on/off? Also is there any chance that the T-Mobile phone is
already unlocked and I won't even have to deal with unlocking it once
the cingular sim comes?

Sorry if these seem like ridiculous questions, I'm clueless with this
stuff. Thanks for any and all help!

---

› See More: unlocking a phone for dummies

"Eddie" <[email protected]> wrote in message news:5bNGf.22$u%[email protected]...
> Can someone explain to me exactly how unlocking a phone works. Here's the
> scenerio. I recently purchased a new phone on my old carrier (T-Mobile). I
> like the phone and just got out of my T-Mobile contract and have switched
> to a Cingular plan. My sim card should be arriving from Cingular in the
> next two days.
>
> I know people that are T-Mobile customers, so getting the unlock code
> won't be a problem.
>
> But how does this work now? Do I just have to enter the code once the
> Cingular sim is in the phone? Is it done before I put the sim in as well?
> Do I have to enter this code each time I make a call or turn the phone
> on/off? Also is there any chance that the T-Mobile phone is already
> unlocked and I won't even have to deal with unlocking it once the cingular
> sim comes?
>
> Sorry if these seem like ridiculous questions, I'm clueless with this
> stuff. Thanks for any and all help!

Yes when you get the code from Tmobile, put the Cingular SIM in the phone,
it will ask for the code, enter it and if all the numbers are correct,
you're in business.
...
bamp

And if not your ****ed, do a search on GSM forums, and or google you
will find all your answers

bamp wrote:
> "Eddie" <[email protected]> wrote in message news:5bNGf.22$u%[email protected]...
>> Can someone explain to me exactly how unlocking a phone works. Here's the
>> scenerio. I recently purchased a new phone on my old carrier (T-Mobile). I
>> like the phone and just got out of my T-Mobile contract and have switched
>> to a Cingular plan. My sim card should be arriving from Cingular in the
>> next two days.
>>
>> I know people that are T-Mobile customers, so getting the unlock code
>> won't be a problem.
>>
>> But how does this work now? Do I just have to enter the code once the
>> Cingular sim is in the phone? Is it done before I put the sim in as well?
>> Do I have to enter this code each time I make a call or turn the phone
>> on/off? Also is there any chance that the T-Mobile phone is already
>> unlocked and I won't even have to deal with unlocking it once the cingular
>> sim comes?
>>
>> Sorry if these seem like ridiculous questions, I'm clueless with this
>> stuff. Thanks for any and all help!
>
> Yes when you get the code from Tmobile, put the Cingular SIM in the phone,
> it will ask for the code, enter it and if all the numbers are correct,
> you're in business.
> ..
> bamp
>
>

"Eddie" <[email protected]> wrote in message news:5bNGf.22$u%[email protected]...
> Can someone explain to me exactly how unlocking a phone works. Here's
> the scenerio. I recently purchased a new phone on my old carrier
> (T-Mobile). I like the phone and just got out of my T-Mobile contract
> and have switched to a Cingular plan. My sim card should be arriving
> from Cingular in the next two days.
>
> I know people that are T-Mobile customers, so getting the unlock code
> won't be a problem.
>
> But how does this work now? Do I just have to enter the code once the
> Cingular sim is in the phone? Is it done before I put the sim in as
> well? Do I have to enter this code each time I make a call or turn the
> phone on/off? Also is there any chance that the T-Mobile phone is
> already unlocked and I won't even have to deal with unlocking it once
> the cingular sim comes?
>
> Sorry if these seem like ridiculous questions, I'm clueless with this
> stuff. Thanks for any and all help!

what phone is it?

Aaron wrote:

>
> what phone is it?
>
>

It's a Samsung E335. Will I need to use the unlock code that I get from
T-Mobile every time I turn the phone on or is it a one-shot deal?

You first need to read about your phone on www.phonescoop.com. That website
will tell you which bands the phone supports.

Most T-mobile phones support 900 MHz and only a handfull support 850. To
use Cingular effectively, you are going to need support for 850MHz.

After you verify that, then go to www.howardforums.com and search for
information on how to unlock your model of phone. Some of them cannot be
unlocked by entering in a code, and must be unlocked with a data cable
conneted to a computer. There are some phones that require different
sequences as far as whether you want to put the Cingular SIM in beforehand
or not.





"Eddie" <[email protected]> wrote in message news:5bNGf.22$u%[email protected]...
> Can someone explain to me exactly how unlocking a phone works. Here's
> the scenerio. I recently purchased a new phone on my old carrier
> (T-Mobile). I like the phone and just got out of my T-Mobile contract
> and have switched to a Cingular plan. My sim card should be arriving
> from Cingular in the next two days.
>
> I know people that are T-Mobile customers, so getting the unlock code
> won't be a problem.
>
> But how does this work now? Do I just have to enter the code once the
> Cingular sim is in the phone? Is it done before I put the sim in as
> well? Do I have to enter this code each time I make a call or turn the
> phone on/off? Also is there any chance that the T-Mobile phone is
> already unlocked and I won't even have to deal with unlocking it once
> the cingular sim comes?
>
> Sorry if these seem like ridiculous questions, I'm clueless with this
> stuff. Thanks for any and all help!

[POSTED TO alt.cellular.cingular - REPLY ON USENET PLEASE]

In <[email protected]> on Fri, 10 Feb 2006 09:36:03
-0500, "jay" <[email protected]> wrote:

>Most T-mobile phones support 900 MHz and only a handfull support 850. To
>use Cingular effectively, you are going to need support for 850MHz.

That depends on the area. In certain areas, 1900 alone is enough.

--
Best regards, SEE THE FAQ FOR CINGULAR WIRELESS AT
John Navas <http://en.wikibooks.org/wiki/Cingular_Wireless_FAQ>

You have to put the unlock code only once after you insert the Cingular sim
in it. That would unlock your phone. You don't have to enter the code again.
I don't think, there is any chance of your T-Mobile phone being unlocked
already. US carriers don't sell unlock phones.
Hope this helps.

www.mobileisgood.com

"Eddie" <[email protected]> wrote in message news:5bNGf.22$u%[email protected]...
> Can someone explain to me exactly how unlocking a phone works. Here's
> the scenerio. I recently purchased a new phone on my old carrier
> (T-Mobile). I like the phone and just got out of my T-Mobile contract
> and have switched to a Cingular plan. My sim card should be arriving
> from Cingular in the next two days.
>
> I know people that are T-Mobile customers, so getting the unlock code
> won't be a problem.
>
> But how does this work now? Do I just have to enter the code once the
> Cingular sim is in the phone? Is it done before I put the sim in as
> well? Do I have to enter this code each time I make a call or turn the
> phone on/off? Also is there any chance that the T-Mobile phone is
> already unlocked and I won't even have to deal with unlocking it once
> the cingular sim comes?
>
> Sorry if these seem like ridiculous questions, I'm clueless with this
> stuff. Thanks for any and all help!

[POSTED TO alt.cellular.cingular - REPLY ON USENET PLEASE]

In <[email protected]> on Mon, 13 Feb 2006 15:40:39 -0600,
"Imran Rafi" <[email protected]> wrote:

>You have to put the unlock code only once after you insert the Cingular sim
>in it. That would unlock your phone. You don't have to enter the code again.
>I don't think, there is any chance of your T-Mobile phone being unlocked
>already. US carriers don't sell unlock phones.

While that's generally true, US carriers have sold unlocked phones from time
to time.

--
Best regards, SEE THE FAQ FOR CINGULAR WIRELESS AT
John Navas <http://en.wikibooks.org/wiki/Cingular_Wireless_FAQ>