unlock Verizon dual GSM/CDMA phone

I recently purchased a second-hand Verizon Motorola A840 dual mode
CDMA/GSM phone with international GSM900/1800 capability.

I inserted an old Voicestream SIM and toggled the International GSM
mode, and sure enough, it prompts for a Subsidy Unlock code.

Has anyone had any experience in obtaining the SIM Unlock code from
Verizon to enable the use of any GSM SIM card?

(I am NOT asking to unlock the CDMA mode, as I am fully aware that VZW
does not normally lock their phones in CDMA mode)

tks.

brian
http://www.bridog.net/cellular/

--
tired of paying interest on your credit cards?
check out http://www.zeropercentcards.com/

---

› See More: unlock Verizon dual GSM/CDMA phone

brian wrote:
> I recently purchased a second-hand Verizon Motorola A840 dual mode
> CDMA/GSM phone with international GSM900/1800 capability.
>
> I inserted an old Voicestream SIM and toggled the International GSM
> mode, and sure enough, it prompts for a Subsidy Unlock code.
>
> Has anyone had any experience in obtaining the SIM Unlock code from
> Verizon to enable the use of any GSM SIM card?
>
> (I am NOT asking to unlock the CDMA mode, as I am fully aware that VZW
> does not normally lock their phones in CDMA mode)
>
> tks.
>
> brian
> http://www.bridog.net/cellular/
>
> --
> tired of paying interest on your credit cards?
> check out http://www.zeropercentcards.com/
>
Verizon does not lock there phones. GSM Side is locked. As verizon is
not GSM Your going to have to deal with the GSM provider.

Kevin Weaver wrote:
> brian wrote:
> > I recently purchased a second-hand Verizon Motorola A840 dual mode
> > CDMA/GSM phone with international GSM900/1800 capability.
> >
> > I inserted an old Voicestream SIM and toggled the International GSM
> > mode, and sure enough, it prompts for a Subsidy Unlock code.
> >
> > Has anyone had any experience in obtaining the SIM Unlock code from
> > Verizon to enable the use of any GSM SIM card?
> >
> > (I am NOT asking to unlock the CDMA mode, as I am fully aware that VZW
> > does not normally lock their phones in CDMA mode)
> >
> > tks.
> >
> > brian
> > http://www.bridog.net/cellular/
> >
> > --
> > tired of paying interest on your credit cards?
> > check out http://www.zeropercentcards.com/
> >
> Verizon does not lock there phones. GSM Side is locked. As verizon is
> not GSM Your going to have to deal with the GSM provider.


The GSM side of the phone IS locked. The phone is labeled and was sold
as a Verizon phone, hence VZW has the unlock code. Now, has anyone had
any luck in getting the code?

brian
http://www.bridog.net/cellular/

--
tired of paying interest on your credit cards?
check out http://www.zeropercentcards.com/

Kevin Weaver wrote:
> brian wrote:
> > I recently purchased a second-hand Verizon Motorola A840 dual mode
> > CDMA/GSM phone with international GSM900/1800 capability.
> >
> > I inserted an old Voicestream SIM and toggled the International GSM
> > mode, and sure enough, it prompts for a Subsidy Unlock code.
> >
> > Has anyone had any experience in obtaining the SIM Unlock code from
> > Verizon to enable the use of any GSM SIM card?
> >
> > (I am NOT asking to unlock the CDMA mode, as I am fully aware that VZW
> > does not normally lock their phones in CDMA mode)
> >
> > tks.
> >
> > brian
> > http://www.bridog.net/cellular/
> >
> > --
> > tired of paying interest on your credit cards?
> > check out http://www.zeropercentcards.com/
> >
> Verizon does not lock there phones. GSM Side is locked. As verizon is
> not GSM Your going to have to deal with the GSM provider.


The GSM side of the phone IS locked. The phone is labeled and was sold
as a Verizon phone, hence VZW has the unlock code. Now, has anyone had
any luck in getting the code?

brian
http://www.bridog.net/cellular/

--
tired of paying interest on your credit cards?
check out http://www.zeropercentcards.com/

brian wrote:
> Kevin Weaver wrote:
>> brian wrote:
>>> I recently purchased a second-hand Verizon Motorola A840 dual mode
>>> CDMA/GSM phone with international GSM900/1800 capability.
>>>
>>> I inserted an old Voicestream SIM and toggled the International GSM
>>> mode, and sure enough, it prompts for a Subsidy Unlock code.
>>>
>>> Has anyone had any experience in obtaining the SIM Unlock code from
>>> Verizon to enable the use of any GSM SIM card?
>>>
>>> (I am NOT asking to unlock the CDMA mode, as I am fully aware that VZW
>>> does not normally lock their phones in CDMA mode)
>>>
>>> tks.
>>>
>>> brian
>>> http://www.bridog.net/cellular/
>>>
>>> --
>>> tired of paying interest on your credit cards?
>>> check out http://www.zeropercentcards.com/
>>>
>> Verizon does not lock there phones. GSM Side is locked. As verizon is
>> not GSM Your going to have to deal with the GSM provider.
>
>
> The GSM side of the phone IS locked. The phone is labeled and was sold
> as a Verizon phone, hence VZW has the unlock code. Now, has anyone had
> any luck in getting the code?
>
> brian
> http://www.bridog.net/cellular/
>
> --
> tired of paying interest on your credit cards?
> check out http://www.zeropercentcards.com/
>
Call them and ask. You will see.

"brian" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...

> Has anyone had any experience in obtaining the SIM Unlock code from
> Verizon to enable the use of any GSM SIM card?

Sounds like an interesting academic exercise but one of little practical
value. You can buy unlocked 900/1800 phones for less than $30. That phone
might be of more value to someone who is interested in Verizon's GSM roaming
but who doesn't want to pay for the stupid device they now make you buy to
get it.

--
Donald R. Newcomb
DRNewcomb (at) attglobal (dot) net

Kevin Weaver wrote:
> brian wrote:
> > Kevin Weaver wrote:
> >> brian wrote:
> >>> I recently purchased a second-hand Verizon Motorola A840 dual mode
> >>> CDMA/GSM phone with international GSM900/1800 capability.
> >>>
> >>> I inserted an old Voicestream SIM and toggled the International GSM
> >>> mode, and sure enough, it prompts for a Subsidy Unlock code.
> >>>
> >>> Has anyone had any experience in obtaining the SIM Unlock code from
> >>> Verizon to enable the use of any GSM SIM card?
> >>>
> >>> (I am NOT asking to unlock the CDMA mode, as I am fully aware that VZW
> >>> does not normally lock their phones in CDMA mode)
> >>>
> >>> tks.
> >>>
> >>> brian
> >>> http://www.bridog.net/cellular/
> >>>
> >>> --
> >>> tired of paying interest on your credit cards?
> >>> check out http://www.zeropercentcards.com/
> >>>
> >> Verizon does not lock there phones. GSM Side is locked. As verizon is
> >> not GSM Your going to have to deal with the GSM provider.
> >
> >
> > The GSM side of the phone IS locked. The phone is labeled and was sold
> > as a Verizon phone, hence VZW has the unlock code. Now, has anyone had
> > any luck in getting the code?
> >
> > brian
> > http://www.bridog.net/cellular/
> >
> > --
> > tired of paying interest on your credit cards?
> > check out http://www.zeropercentcards.com/
> >
> Call them and ask. You will see.

I did call them. 800-711-8300.

I explained to them that I needed a Verizon SIM tied to my number. $37
shipped.

I also told them that I purchased the A840 secondhand, and that I
wanted the SIM unlock code for it; as I want to use my VZW SIM for
receiving calls, and a foreign SIM for making calls.

They had no problem giving me SIM Unlock Code A and SIM Unlock Code B.
FYI, SIM Unlock Code A was the one that I needed to unlock the phone.

brian
http://www.bridog.net/cellular/

--
tired of paying interest on your credit cards?
check out http://www.zeropercentcards.com/

Donald Newcomb wrote:
> "brian" <[email protected]> wrote in message
> news:[email protected]...
>
> > Has anyone had any experience in obtaining the SIM Unlock code from
> > Verizon to enable the use of any GSM SIM card?
>
> Sounds like an interesting academic exercise but one of little practical
> value. You can buy unlocked 900/1800 phones for less than $30. That phone
> might be of more value to someone who is interested in Verizon's GSM roaming
> but who doesn't want to pay for the stupid device they now make you buy to
> get it.

They had no problem giving me SIM Unlock Code A and SIM Unlock Code B,
but what is this stupid device that you need to buy? All they are
sending me is a SIM card to use in my phone.

brian
http://www.bridog.net/cellular/

--
tired of paying interest on your credit cards?
check out http://www.zeropercentcards.com/

"brian" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...

> They had no problem giving me SIM Unlock Code A and SIM Unlock Code B,
> but what is this stupid device that you need to buy? All they are
> sending me is a SIM card to use in my phone.

The stupid device is that dual mode phone. If you have Verizon and they are
sending a SIM, that's great. The point is that Verizon used to just send a
SIM. Last I heard they had changed their policy and required you to buy that
GSM/CDMA phone. All the customer needs is a SIM. He can buy a GSM phone
anywhere. If Verizon has changed their policy and now will send just the
SIM, that's a move for the better.

--
Donald R. Newcomb
DRNewcomb (at) attglobal (dot) net

Donald Newcomb wrote:
> "brian" <[email protected]> wrote in message
> news:[email protected]...
>
> > They had no problem giving me SIM Unlock Code A and SIM Unlock Code B,
> > but what is this stupid device that you need to buy? All they are
> > sending me is a SIM card to use in my phone.
>
> The stupid device is that dual mode phone. If you have Verizon and they are
> sending a SIM, that's great. The point is that Verizon used to just send a
> SIM. Last I heard they had changed their policy and required you to buy that
> GSM/CDMA phone. All the customer needs is a SIM. He can buy a GSM phone
> anywhere. If Verizon has changed their policy and now will send just the
> SIM, that's a move for the better.

Cool, then all I need is the SIM. Perhaps they are only sending a SIM
because I told them that I already have the VZW branded dual-mode
phone. If this is the case, then that would be an interesting social
engineering trick if they usually make you buy the dual-mode phone...
just tell them that you already bought one on eBay!

Also, the Global Services rep seemed to be under the impression that in
order for me to use the VZW SIM in the dual-mode phone, that I also
needed to change the ESN in my account to reflect the CDMA ESN of the
dual-mode phone.

Is this really necessary??? My gut feeling says no. I'd rather just
use the VZW SIM in the dual-mode phone abroad (or any unlocked 900/1800
GSM phone for that matter), and then leave the ESN in my account
pointed to my 6700 PDA phone.

tks again.

- brian

In message <[email protected]>
"brian" <[email protected]> wrote:

>Cool, then all I need is the SIM. Perhaps they are only sending a SIM
>because I told them that I already have the VZW branded dual-mode
>phone. If this is the case, then that would be an interesting social
>engineering trick if they usually make you buy the dual-mode phone...
>just tell them that you already bought one on eBay!

They'd probably want the ESN or something else you can't provide without
the phone in your hand.

--
You can get more with a kind word and a 2x4 than just a kind word.

"brian" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> Also, the Global Services rep seemed to be under the impression that in
> order for me to use the VZW SIM in the dual-mode phone, that I also
> needed to change the ESN in my account to reflect the CDMA ESN of the
> dual-mode phone.
>
> Is this really necessary??? My gut feeling says no. I'd rather just
> use the VZW SIM in the dual-mode phone abroad (or any unlocked 900/1800
> GSM phone for that matter), and then leave the ESN in my account
> pointed to my 6700 PDA phone.

If you give them the ESN, they will probably switch your service over to the
CDMA side of that phone and your old CDMA phone will stop working. Before
they came out with the dual mode (CDMA/GSM) phone, they would just send you
the SIM and tell you to turn off your CDMA phone when using GSM. Now they
have tried to idiot-proof the system by using just one device. Really,
Verizon's GSM roaming system is very good. Why they thought they had to do
it with just one device is beyond me. I wouldn't give them the ESN if you
can avoid it.

--
Donald R. Newcomb
DRNewcomb (at) attglobal (dot) net

I will chime in on this. VZW GSM policy is not good at all. Very costly and
their reps don't have a clue what a SIM is. I went through this with a VZW
store rep recentlly. We were going to Europe and I wanted a single #. Went
to VZW shop, they said oh yeah I think we can do that. Showed me a Samsung
the size of a brick World Phone. I asked about the Motorola 840 "no we don't
have that" maybe can get it. Who supplies the SIM? Reply....What's a SIM? At
that between the bad service, poor attitude of store reps, ignorant
treatment of a VERY high paying customer wiling to spend even MORE I threw
my hands up and drove to a Cingular store. Within 45 minutes I had a quad
band GSM Razr, World Connect (with MUCH MUCH better roaming rates thean
VZW), much more courteous and knowledgeable store reps, VERY attractive
Intl. long distance rates (in some cases WAY cheaper than my VOIP account,
and of course WAY WAY cheaper than VZW rates, I could go on but won't.
Incidentally the CIngular with WC feature worked flawlessly and seemlessly
throughout my journey throughout Europe. So I am down to 4 VZW lines and
will soon be down to 0 as quickly as my times expire with them hell I may
even eat the ETF. Oh and BTW no dropped calls so far with Cingular (even
though I am NOT in a prime covg. area like I am with VZW) and much better
voice quality.
Now I do have a couple small areas with little or no covg. but the overall
cost and customer experience is so much better than VZW I can overlook a
couple little dead spots.
"Donald Newcomb" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:44fe23e5@kcnews01...
>
> "brian" <[email protected]> wrote in message
> news:[email protected]...
>> Also, the Global Services rep seemed to be under the impression that in
>> order for me to use the VZW SIM in the dual-mode phone, that I also
>> needed to change the ESN in my account to reflect the CDMA ESN of the
>> dual-mode phone.
>>
>> Is this really necessary??? My gut feeling says no. I'd rather just
>> use the VZW SIM in the dual-mode phone abroad (or any unlocked 900/1800
>> GSM phone for that matter), and then leave the ESN in my account
>> pointed to my 6700 PDA phone.
>
> If you give them the ESN, they will probably switch your service over to
> the
> CDMA side of that phone and your old CDMA phone will stop working. Before
> they came out with the dual mode (CDMA/GSM) phone, they would just send
> you
> the SIM and tell you to turn off your CDMA phone when using GSM. Now they
> have tried to idiot-proof the system by using just one device. Really,
> Verizon's GSM roaming system is very good. Why they thought they had to do
> it with just one device is beyond me. I wouldn't give them the ESN if you
> can avoid it.
>
> --
> Donald R. Newcomb
> DRNewcomb (at) attglobal (dot) net
>
>

"jdoe" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news[email protected]...
> I will chime in on this. VZW GSM policy is not good at all. Very costly
and
> their reps don't have a clue what a SIM is. I went through this with a VZW
> store rep recentlly.

I once saw a break-down of VZW's roaming vs other carriers' and it all
depended on where you were going. Some places they were more than the
others', some places they were less. And, I didn't say their reps were
experts on GSM roaming. Most Verizon customers don't even know they have a
GSM roaming capability. And the dual-mode phone is just stupid; every bit as
stupid as the dual-mode Iridium/GSM phones were.

However, one thing I will add is that right now I wouldn't do much
international roaming with ANY of the US carriers' plans. They are all
rip-offs when compared with some of the prepaid international SIMs like UM,
O9 & TravelSIM. If you want to save money on international roaming, before
you go check out www.prepaidgsm.net.

--
Donald R. Newcomb
DRNewcomb (at) attglobal (dot) net

That's all fine and dandy if you don't care about poeple needing to reach
YOU. I used the Cingular World Connect feature. It worked FLAWLESSLY and for
about the same $$ as using T-Mobile Debitel. People here could call me when
needed and there was no hiccups. I could SMS basically everything. Also I
now gave that Cing phone to my kid because she will want to call her friends
across the globe and intl. ld rates are VERY cheap .06 to .08! On VZW the
BEST rates were .59 to $1.29 per min.
FWIW the best intl roaming rates IF I bought that stupid Samsung Dual phone
were $1.29 per min. +intl. LD! On Cingular it was a FLAT .99 no matter what.
I know you can get some prepaid stuff cheaper but cheaper ain't always
better. For me it worked, was simple and affordable period.
"Donald Newcomb" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:44ff7b34@kcnews01...
> "jdoe" <[email protected]> wrote in message
> news[email protected]...
>> I will chime in on this. VZW GSM policy is not good at all. Very costly
> and
>> their reps don't have a clue what a SIM is. I went through this with a
>> VZW
>> store rep recentlly.
>
> I once saw a break-down of VZW's roaming vs other carriers' and it all
> depended on where you were going. Some places they were more than the
> others', some places they were less. And, I didn't say their reps were
> experts on GSM roaming. Most Verizon customers don't even know they have a
> GSM roaming capability. And the dual-mode phone is just stupid; every bit
> as
> stupid as the dual-mode Iridium/GSM phones were.
>
> However, one thing I will add is that right now I wouldn't do much
> international roaming with ANY of the US carriers' plans. They are all
> rip-offs when compared with some of the prepaid international SIMs like
> UM,
> O9 & TravelSIM. If you want to save money on international roaming, before
> you go check out www.prepaidgsm.net.
>
> --
> Donald R. Newcomb
> DRNewcomb (at) attglobal (dot) net
>
>