Unlocking Motorolla V551 - possible for a "regular" person?

hey everyone.

i was wondering if it's possible for a "regular" person to
unlock a V551? by regular, i guess i mean if it's simple
to unlock it..

i've been googling it for a couple of hours, but came up with
absolutely nothing. i've seen people saying (on forums) that
you need the usb cable to unlock it and other people saying
that you can only unlock it with a code -- but no one would
go into detail on how to go about doing either. and, after
going through here, someone mentioned that you'd have to find
someone with a smartclip..

there are also numerous ads for an unlocking service, but i'm
wondering if i can just do it myself.

is it possible to unlock it with the usb cable? with hexediting
or something? or is the only way really with a smartclip or
one of the online unlocking services?

thanks.

No, you have to get it done by someone with the proper equipment and access
to Motos servers.
It is not expensive, I got my V551 unlocked for 20 bucks CAD
"trial" <@.@> wrote in message news:bJWdnd2pgpQOARvfRVn-pQ@rogers.com...
> hey everyone.
>
> i was wondering if it's possible for a "regular" person to
> unlock a V551? by regular, i guess i mean if it's simple
> to unlock it..
>
> i've been googling it for a couple of hours, but came up with
> absolutely nothing. i've seen people saying (on forums) that
> you need the usb cable to unlock it and other people saying
> that you can only unlock it with a code -- but no one would
> go into detail on how to go about doing either. and, after
> going through here, someone mentioned that you'd have to find
> someone with a smartclip..
>
> there are also numerous ads for an unlocking service, but i'm
> wondering if i can just do it myself.
>
> is it possible to unlock it with the usb cable? with hexediting
> or something? or is the only way really with a smartclip or
> one of the online unlocking services?
>
> thanks.

ah, alright. thanks for the reply. i just wasn't sure how
it was done since no one in any of the forums i went through
ever elaborated on what needed to be done.

"CJD" <newsgroupmail@rogers.com> wrote in
news:87KdnV2cuKMzJxvfRVn-tA@rogers.com:
> No, you have to get it done by someone with the proper equipment and
> access to Motos servers.
> It is not expensive, I got my V551 unlocked for 20 bucks CAD
>
> "trial" <@.@> wrote in message
> news:bJWdnd2pgpQOARvfRVn-pQ@rogers.com...
>> hey everyone.
>>
>> i was wondering if it's possible for a "regular" person to
>> unlock a V551? by regular, i guess i mean if it's simple
>> to unlock it..
>>
>> i've been googling it for a couple of hours, but came up with
>> absolutely nothing. i've seen people saying (on forums) that
>> you need the usb cable to unlock it and other people saying
>> that you can only unlock it with a code -- but no one would
>> go into detail on how to go about doing either. and, after
>> going through here, someone mentioned that you'd have to find
>> someone with a smartclip..
>>
>> there are also numerous ads for an unlocking service, but i'm
>> wondering if i can just do it myself.
>>
>> is it possible to unlock it with the usb cable? with hexediting
>> or something? or is the only way really with a smartclip or
>> one of the online unlocking services?
>>
>> thanks.
>
>

If they couldn't tell that, you may want to look for better informed forums,
otherwise you don't know what bad info you may get.
Which forum was it anyway?
"trial" <@.@> wrote in message news:jfGdnfASItZcIRvfRVn-qw@rogers.com...
> ah, alright. thanks for the reply. i just wasn't sure how
> it was done since no one in any of the forums i went through
> ever elaborated on what needed to be done.
>
> "CJD" <newsgroupmail@rogers.com> wrote in
> news:87KdnV2cuKMzJxvfRVn-tA@rogers.com:
> > No, you have to get it done by someone with the proper equipment and
> > access to Motos servers.
> > It is not expensive, I got my V551 unlocked for 20 bucks CAD
> >
> > "trial" <@.@> wrote in message
> > news:bJWdnd2pgpQOARvfRVn-pQ@rogers.com...
> >> hey everyone.
> >>
> >> i was wondering if it's possible for a "regular" person to
> >> unlock a V551? by regular, i guess i mean if it's simple
> >> to unlock it..
> >>
> >> i've been googling it for a couple of hours, but came up with
> >> absolutely nothing. i've seen people saying (on forums) that
> >> you need the usb cable to unlock it and other people saying
> >> that you can only unlock it with a code -- but no one would
> >> go into detail on how to go about doing either. and, after
> >> going through here, someone mentioned that you'd have to find
> >> someone with a smartclip..
> >>
> >> there are also numerous ads for an unlocking service, but i'm
> >> wondering if i can just do it myself.
> >>
> >> is it possible to unlock it with the usb cable? with hexediting
> >> or something? or is the only way really with a smartclip or
> >> one of the online unlocking services?
> >>
> >> thanks.
> >
> >
>

sorry, i don't remember any names since i just passed through
google hits pretty quickly. the only one i remember is "howardforums"
or something, but they had a rule that people couldn't ask for
unlocking help so threads that asked for it were locked.

>"CJD" <newsgroupmail@rogers.com> wrote in
>news:d6adnRRlr46GbBvfRVn-2g@rogers.com:
>
> If they couldn't tell that, you may want to look for better informed
> forums, otherwise you don't know what bad info you may get.
> Which forum was it anyway?
>
> "trial" <@.@> wrote in message
> news:jfGdnfASItZcIRvfRVn-qw@rogers.com...
>> ah, alright. thanks for the reply. i just wasn't sure how
>> it was done since no one in any of the forums i went through
>> ever elaborated on what needed to be done.
>>
>> "CJD" <newsgroupmail@rogers.com> wrote in
>> news:87KdnV2cuKMzJxvfRVn-tA@rogers.com:
>> > No, you have to get it done by someone with the proper equipment
>> > and access to Motos servers.
>> > It is not expensive, I got my V551 unlocked for 20 bucks CAD
>> >
>> > "trial" <@.@> wrote in message
>> > news:bJWdnd2pgpQOARvfRVn-pQ@rogers.com...
>> >> hey everyone.
>> >>
>> >> i was wondering if it's possible for a "regular" person to
>> >> unlock a V551? by regular, i guess i mean if it's simple
>> >> to unlock it..
>> >>
>> >> i've been googling it for a couple of hours, but came up with
>> >> absolutely nothing. i've seen people saying (on forums) that
>> >> you need the usb cable to unlock it and other people saying
>> >> that you can only unlock it with a code -- but no one would
>> >> go into detail on how to go about doing either. and, after
>> >> going through here, someone mentioned that you'd have to find
>> >> someone with a smartclip..
>> >>
>> >> there are also numerous ads for an unlocking service, but i'm
>> >> wondering if i can just do it myself.
>> >>
>> >> is it possible to unlock it with the usb cable? with hexediting
>> >> or something? or is the only way really with a smartclip or
>> >> one of the online unlocking services?
>> >>
>> >> thanks.
>> >
>> >
>>
>
>
>

"trial" <@.@> wrote in message news:bJWdnd2pgpQOARvfRVn-pQ@rogers.com...
> hey everyone.
>
> i was wondering if it's possible for a "regular" person to
> unlock a V551? by regular, i guess i mean if it's simple
> to unlock it..
>
> i've been googling it for a couple of hours, but came up with
> absolutely nothing. i've seen people saying (on forums) that
> you need the usb cable to unlock it and other people saying
> that you can only unlock it with a code -- but no one would
> go into detail on how to go about doing either. and, after
> going through here, someone mentioned that you'd have to find
> someone with a smartclip..
>
> there are also numerous ads for an unlocking service, but i'm
> wondering if i can just do it myself.
>
> is it possible to unlock it with the usb cable? with hexediting
> or something? or is the only way really with a smartclip or
> one of the online unlocking services?

It can be unlocked remotely, by sending your details to someone like
www.remoteunlocker.com but you'll find that remote unlocking for Motorola's
can be very expensive and time consuming depending on how reliable the
logging server is at the time you need the unlock code.

The easiest way to unlock it is to take it or send it to someone with access
to decent unlocking equipment (in this case I'd recommend SmartClip) where
all that needs doing is that the phone would be connected to the clip for a
few seconds, a button pressed and your phone would be unlocked.

--
>>> Unlock Your Phone's Potential <<<
>>> www.uselessinfo.org.uk <<<
>>> www.thephonelocker.co.uk <<<
>>> www.gsm-solutions.co.uk <<<

"trial" <@.@> wrote in message news:bJWdnd2pgpQOARvfRVn-pQ@rogers.com...
> hey everyone.
>
> i was wondering if it's possible for a "regular" person to
> unlock a V551? by regular, i guess i mean if it's simple
> to unlock it..
>

Depends how badly you want it unlocked and how enterprising you are!

A mate of mine who runs a market stall bought SmartClip off of eBay for
£139, unlocked both his Motorolas and now offers an unlocking service at £7
a throw.

He reckons he unlocks on average 10 Motorolas a week - £70 for about 35
minutes work.

CJD wrote:
> No, you have to get it done by someone with the proper equipment and access
> to Motos servers.
> It is not expensive, I got my V551 unlocked for 20 bucks CAD
> "trial" <@.@> wrote in message news:bJWdnd2pgpQOARvfRVn-pQ@rogers.com...
>
>>hey everyone.
>>
>>i was wondering if it's possible for a "regular" person to
>>unlock a V551? by regular, i guess i mean if it's simple
>>to unlock it..
>>
>>i've been googling it for a couple of hours, but came up with
>>absolutely nothing. i've seen people saying (on forums) that
>>you need the usb cable to unlock it and other people saying
>>that you can only unlock it with a code -- but no one would
>>go into detail on how to go about doing either. and, after
>>going through here, someone mentioned that you'd have to find
>>someone with a smartclip..
>>
>>there are also numerous ads for an unlocking service, but i'm
>>wondering if i can just do it myself.
>>
>>is it possible to unlock it with the usb cable? with hexediting
>>or something? or is the only way really with a smartclip or
>>one of the online unlocking services?
>>
>>thanks.
>
>
>
CJD, did you get your V551 unlocked in Toronto? If yes, please tell me
where. Thanks!

davidT

Richard Colton wrote:
> "trial" <@.@> wrote in message news:bJWdnd2pgpQOARvfRVn-pQ@rogers.com...
>
>>hey everyone.
>>
>>i was wondering if it's possible for a "regular" person to
>>unlock a V551? by regular, i guess i mean if it's simple
>>to unlock it..
>>
>>i've been googling it for a couple of hours, but came up with
>>absolutely nothing. i've seen people saying (on forums) that
>>you need the usb cable to unlock it and other people saying
>>that you can only unlock it with a code -- but no one would
>>go into detail on how to go about doing either. and, after
>>going through here, someone mentioned that you'd have to find
>>someone with a smartclip..
>>
>>there are also numerous ads for an unlocking service, but i'm
>>wondering if i can just do it myself.
>>
>>is it possible to unlock it with the usb cable? with hexediting
>>or something? or is the only way really with a smartclip or
>>one of the online unlocking services?
>
>
> It can be unlocked remotely, by sending your details to someone like
> www.remoteunlocker.com but you'll find that remote unlocking for Motorola's
> can be very expensive and time consuming depending on how reliable the
> logging server is at the time you need the unlock code.
>
> The easiest way to unlock it is to take it or send it to someone with access
> to decent unlocking equipment (in this case I'd recommend SmartClip) where
> all that needs doing is that the phone would be connected to the clip for a
> few seconds, a button pressed and your phone would be unlocked.
>
I wish to add, from my own unhappy experience, that getting an unlock
code online by providing the IMEI to the seller is not recommended. The
reason was that my V551 kept saying that the subsidy code was incorrect.
Although I was later asked to send my phone to the U.S. for it to be
unlocked for free, I did not do it because I found it too costly (and
might incur Canadian Customs import tax upon return) and inconvenient to
mail it all the way there from Toronto, Canada. I am now thinking of
getting someone to do it here with an equipment such as SmartClip.
Could you please tell me where I can go to in the Greater Toronto Area
for doing it? Thanks!

I dodn't get it done in Toronto, but in Ottawa through Dr Dave at
www.unlockingcanada.com
Check out Howard Forums again, there are alot of dealers there from TO in
the Marketplace section that do unlocking, actually, here is the direct
link. Just contact one of the guys from TO and they will set you up...
http://www.howardforums.com/forumdisplay.php?f=63

"davidT" <tdavid@removethisfirst.rogers.com> wrote in message
news:z5GdnSEk0K4zqxrfRVn-3w@rogers.com...
> CJD wrote:
> > No, you have to get it done by someone with the proper equipment and
access
> > to Motos servers.
> > It is not expensive, I got my V551 unlocked for 20 bucks CAD
> > "trial" <@.@> wrote in message news:bJWdnd2pgpQOARvfRVn-pQ@rogers.com...
> >
> >>hey everyone.
> >>
> >>i was wondering if it's possible for a "regular" person to
> >>unlock a V551? by regular, i guess i mean if it's simple
> >>to unlock it..
> >>
> >>i've been googling it for a couple of hours, but came up with
> >>absolutely nothing. i've seen people saying (on forums) that
> >>you need the usb cable to unlock it and other people saying
> >>that you can only unlock it with a code -- but no one would
> >>go into detail on how to go about doing either. and, after
> >>going through here, someone mentioned that you'd have to find
> >>someone with a smartclip..
> >>
> >>there are also numerous ads for an unlocking service, but i'm
> >>wondering if i can just do it myself.
> >>
> >>is it possible to unlock it with the usb cable? with hexediting
> >>or something? or is the only way really with a smartclip or
> >>one of the online unlocking services?
> >>
> >>thanks.
> >
> >
> >
> CJD, did you get your V551 unlocked in Toronto? If yes, please tell me
> where. Thanks!
>
> davidT

Just curious, I understand your other points but is it more convenient
to send something a shorter distance than a longer distance? I've
always found that the distance between me and the mailbox remains
constant regardless of the destination of the parcel.

From:davidT
tdavid@removethisfirst.rogers.com

<snip>
> I did not do it because I found it
> too costly (and might incur Canadian Customs import tax upon return)
> and inconvenient to mail it all the way there from Toronto, Canada.

BruceR wrote:
> Just curious, I understand your other points but is it more convenient
> to send something a shorter distance than a longer distance? I've
> always found that the distance between me and the mailbox remains
> constant regardless of the destination of the parcel.
>
> From:davidT
> tdavid@removethisfirst.rogers.com
>
> <snip>
>
>>I did not do it because I found it
>>too costly (and might incur Canadian Customs import tax upon return)
>>and inconvenient to mail it all the way there from Toronto, Canada.
>
>
>
>
I agree that it is indeed more convenient to send something to a shorter
distance than to send it farther away, but at that time I could only
find that shop there able to do the job for as cheap as US$20.

If you have had your account at Cingular for more than 6 months, and have a
valid reason for needing to unlock your phone, then Cingular will give you
the unlock code. I did this on my V551 only three weeks ago, just before
taking a trip to China. I also found out that you first have to insert a
non-Cingular SIM and wait for it to prompt for the unlock code before
entering the code. Since I didn't have my new SIM yet, I dropped in to a
local T-Mobile store and borrowed an old T-Mobile SIM for the two minutes.
Once I had my phone unlocked, I put my Cingular SIM back in and handed the
T-Mobile SIM back to the clerk. Truly, it was just that easy, and a few
days later when I inserted my SIM from China-Unicom, everything worked just
fine.
-Dick, in Seattle


"CJD" <newsgroupmail@rogers.com> wrote in message
news:87KdnV2cuKMzJxvfRVn-tA@rogers.com...
> No, you have to get it done by someone with the proper equipment and
> access
> to Motos servers.
> It is not expensive, I got my V551 unlocked for 20 bucks CAD
> "trial" <@.@> wrote in message news:bJWdnd2pgpQOARvfRVn-pQ@rogers.com...
>> hey everyone.
>>
>> i was wondering if it's possible for a "regular" person to
>> unlock a V551? by regular, i guess i mean if it's simple
>> to unlock it..
>>
>> i've been googling it for a couple of hours, but came up with
>> absolutely nothing. i've seen people saying (on forums) that
>> you need the usb cable to unlock it and other people saying
>> that you can only unlock it with a code -- but no one would
>> go into detail on how to go about doing either. and, after
>> going through here, someone mentioned that you'd have to find
>> someone with a smartclip..
>>
>> there are also numerous ads for an unlocking service, but i'm
>> wondering if i can just do it myself.
>>
>> is it possible to unlock it with the usb cable? with hexediting
>> or something? or is the only way really with a smartclip or
>> one of the online unlocking services?
>>
>> thanks.
>
>