Does "unactivated" mean "unlocked?"

Purchased a new, Cingular-branded, Sony-Ericsson z520a "unactivated"
from Radio Shack.

Put my Cingular SIM in from the old phone and it works fine. The phone
was sent overseas and a local SIM was used there, and the phone keeps
saying "Insert Smart Chip" - doesn't recognize the local SIM card at
all. The phone is quad-band, and should work in that area.

So now I'm wondering, does "unactivated" mean "unlocked" - or is the
phone not unlocked yet?

--
Himanshu

In article <kxmzg.6128$L31.1902@trndny06>,
Himanshu <gohel@babbage.csee.usf.eduXXX> wrote:

> Purchased a new, Cingular-branded, Sony-Ericsson z520a "unactivated"
> from Radio Shack.
>
> Put my Cingular SIM in from the old phone and it works fine. The phone
> was sent overseas and a local SIM was used there, and the phone keeps
> saying "Insert Smart Chip" - doesn't recognize the local SIM card at
> all. The phone is quad-band, and should work in that area.
>
> So now I'm wondering, does "unactivated" mean "unlocked" - or is the
> phone not unlocked yet?

IF IT IS UNLOCKED IT SHOULD WORK WITH OTHER SIM. CINGULAR NOW ONLY SELLS
LOCKED PHONES.

On Mon, 31 Jul 2006 12:17:20 GMT, Himanshu
<gohel@babbage.csee.usf.eduXXX> wrote in <kxmzg.6128$L31.1902@trndny06>:

>Purchased a new, Cingular-branded, Sony-Ericsson z520a "unactivated"
>from Radio Shack.
>
>Put my Cingular SIM in from the old phone and it works fine. The phone
>was sent overseas and a local SIM was used there, and the phone keeps
>saying "Insert Smart Chip" - doesn't recognize the local SIM card at
>all. The phone is quad-band, and should work in that area.
>
>So now I'm wondering, does "unactivated" mean "unlocked" - or is the
>phone not unlocked yet?

Not unlocked. Ask Cingular for the unlock code.

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

John Navas wrote:
> On Mon, 31 Jul 2006 12:17:20 GMT, Himanshu wrote in <kxmzg.6128$L31.1902@trndny06>:
>
>> Purchased a new, Cingular-branded, Sony-Ericsson z520a "unactivated"
>>from Radio Shack.
>> Put my Cingular SIM in from the old phone and it works fine. The phone
>> was sent overseas and a local SIM was used there, and the phone keeps
>> saying "Insert Smart Chip" - doesn't recognize the local SIM card at
>> all. The phone is quad-band, and should work in that area.
>>
>> So now I'm wondering, does "unactivated" mean "unlocked" - or is the
>> phone not unlocked yet?
>
> Not unlocked. Ask Cingular for the unlock code.

Thanks. I called them today and they will process the request for the
unlock code.

--
Himanshu

"Himanshu" <gohel@babbage.csee.usf.eduXXX> wrote in message
news:kxmzg.6128$L31.1902@trndny06...
> Purchased a new, Cingular-branded, Sony-Ericsson z520a "unactivated" from
> Radio Shack.
>
> Put my Cingular SIM in from the old phone and it works fine. The phone
> was sent overseas and a local SIM was used there, and the phone keeps
> saying "Insert Smart Chip" - doesn't recognize the local SIM card at all.
> The phone is quad-band, and should work in that area.
>
> So now I'm wondering, does "unactivated" mean "unlocked" - or is the phone
> not unlocked yet?
>
> --
> Himanshu

I am assuming you purchased from one of your local Radio Shack stores that
were closing due to the realignment. I purchased 3 SLVR's myself (couldn't
pass them up at 70% off)
Anyway they are 'unactivated', but branded Cingular phones.

A visit to your local Cingular corporate store and they should be able to
unlock them for you.

On Mon, 31 Jul 2006 20:08:49 -0400, "PC Medic" <pcmedic2@gmail.com>
wrote in <lYwzg.2562$W93.2306@dukeread05>:

>"Himanshu" <gohel@babbage.csee.usf.eduXXX> wrote in message
>news:kxmzg.6128$L31.1902@trndny06...
>> Purchased a new, Cingular-branded, Sony-Ericsson z520a "unactivated" from
>> Radio Shack.
>>
>> Put my Cingular SIM in from the old phone and it works fine. The phone
>> was sent overseas and a local SIM was used there, and the phone keeps
>> saying "Insert Smart Chip" - doesn't recognize the local SIM card at all.
>> The phone is quad-band, and should work in that area.
>>
>> So now I'm wondering, does "unactivated" mean "unlocked" - or is the phone
>> not unlocked yet?

>I am assuming you purchased from one of your local Radio Shack stores that
>were closing due to the realignment. I purchased 3 SLVR's myself (couldn't
>pass them up at 70% off)
>Anyway they are 'unactivated', but branded Cingular phones.

GSM phones don't get activated, only GSM SIMs.

>A visit to your local Cingular corporate store and they should be able to
>unlock them for you.

Not in a store -- contact Cingular Customer Care.

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

In article <LUwzg.23582$RI1.8685@trndny04>,
Himanshu <gohel@babbage.csee.usf.eduXXX> wrote:

> John Navas wrote:
> > On Mon, 31 Jul 2006 12:17:20 GMT, Himanshu wrote in
> > <kxmzg.6128$L31.1902@trndny06>:
> >
> >> Purchased a new, Cingular-branded, Sony-Ericsson z520a "unactivated"
> >>from Radio Shack.
> >> Put my Cingular SIM in from the old phone and it works fine. The phone
> >> was sent overseas and a local SIM was used there, and the phone keeps
> >> saying "Insert Smart Chip" - doesn't recognize the local SIM card at
> >> all. The phone is quad-band, and should work in that area.
> >>
> >> So now I'm wondering, does "unactivated" mean "unlocked" - or is the
> >> phone not unlocked yet?
> >
> > Not unlocked. Ask Cingular for the unlock code.
>
> Thanks. I called them today and they will process the request for the
> unlock code.

If its a new phone likely in 3 weeks you'll get a letter stating they
decline to unlock.

Jack Zwick wrote:
> In article <LUwzg.23582$RI1.8685@trndny04>,
> Himanshu <gohel@babbage.csee.usf.eduXXX> wrote:
>
>> John Navas wrote:
>>> On Mon, 31 Jul 2006 12:17:20 GMT, Himanshu wrote in
>>> <kxmzg.6128$L31.1902@trndny06>:
>>>
>>>> Purchased a new, Cingular-branded, Sony-Ericsson z520a "unactivated"
>>> >from Radio Shack.
>>>> Put my Cingular SIM in from the old phone and it works fine. The phone
>>>> was sent overseas and a local SIM was used there, and the phone keeps
>>>> saying "Insert Smart Chip" - doesn't recognize the local SIM card at
>>>> all. The phone is quad-band, and should work in that area.
>>>>
>>>> So now I'm wondering, does "unactivated" mean "unlocked" - or is the
>>>> phone not unlocked yet?
>>> Not unlocked. Ask Cingular for the unlock code.
>> Thanks. I called them today and they will process the request for the
>> unlock code.
>
> If its a new phone likely in 3 weeks you'll get a letter stating they
> decline to unlock.

Thank you all for your replies. I got unlock codes for both z520a
phones by calling Cingular customer support in just one day, even though
the rep told me it could take upto 5 to 7 business days.

--
Himanshu

In article <nLUzg.3539$Th2.561@trndny02>,
Himanshu <gohel@babbage.csee.usf.eduXXX> wrote:

> Jack Zwick wrote:
> > In article <LUwzg.23582$RI1.8685@trndny04>,
> > Himanshu <gohel@babbage.csee.usf.eduXXX> wrote:
> >
> >> John Navas wrote:
> >>> On Mon, 31 Jul 2006 12:17:20 GMT, Himanshu wrote in
> >>> <kxmzg.6128$L31.1902@trndny06>:
> >>>
> >>>> Purchased a new, Cingular-branded, Sony-Ericsson z520a "unactivated"
> >>> >from Radio Shack.
> >>>> Put my Cingular SIM in from the old phone and it works fine. The phone
> >>>> was sent overseas and a local SIM was used there, and the phone keeps
> >>>> saying "Insert Smart Chip" - doesn't recognize the local SIM card at
> >>>> all. The phone is quad-band, and should work in that area.
> >>>>
> >>>> So now I'm wondering, does "unactivated" mean "unlocked" - or is the
> >>>> phone not unlocked yet?
> >>> Not unlocked. Ask Cingular for the unlock code.
> >> Thanks. I called them today and they will process the request for the
> >> unlock code.
> >
> > If its a new phone likely in 3 weeks you'll get a letter stating they
> > decline to unlock.
>
> Thank you all for your replies. I got unlock codes for both z520a
> phones by calling Cingular customer support in just one day, even though
> the rep told me it could take upto 5 to 7 business days.

EXCELLENT RESULT. Although with a new invention (Computer), they should
be able to instantly provide unlock code.

Or if they so readily give out the unlock code now, why even lock the
phone, especially if many customers will now no longer get
discount/subsidy on their phone.

On Wed, 02 Aug 2006 13:01:32 GMT, Jack Zwick <jackzwick@yahoo.com> wrote
in <jackzwick-C567E2.08015502082006@newsclstr02.news.prodigy.com >:

>Or if they so readily give out the unlock code now, why even lock the
>phone, especially if many customers will now no longer get
>discount/subsidy on their phone.

Most new customers do get the subsidy/discount.

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