Cingular won't unlock my phone

I was told by TonyE in this forum that if you travel overseas, ask the Cingular rep to unlock your phone for use with a European SIM card.
Also, I have an old AT&T Wireless V600 that I would like unlocked for the same reason.
They wouldn't do either one. The Cingular rep said they don't have the 'equipment' to do it. It was as though I was the first one to ever ask that question.
Do you think he's just blowing me off? Do I have any chance of every useing my V600 for anything other than a paperweight?
-thanks

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He's bsing you, I've gotten mine unlocked from them, although you can unlock it from some online sites just beware of some, ask for some unlocking sites around this forum

Cingular does in fact unlock "THEIR" phones, but they won't unlock the AT&T phones. You can try calling the AT&T side of Cingular to see if they can do it, but the Orange side (Cingular), won't do it. More likely than not they just want to force you into getting a new phone and new contract with Cingular, and there really should be no reason that they can't unlock the phone, other than technically, AT&T would be a different company, and none of the carriers will unlock another companies phone.

Yeah it's cheap way to weasel out of unlocking the AT&T phones, but it's their out.

You can get your phone unlocked from a local company (to you), by checking for them on Ebay or Craig's List (www.craigslist.org). On Craig's list, check under ForSale/Wanted for "Cell Phone Unlocking Service". At most it should cost you $20.

Originally Posted by touringfool

The Cingular rep said they don't have the 'equipment' to do it. It was as though I was the first one to ever ask that question.

Try another store... perhaps the dude wasn't BSing you, but that branch/store doesn't have the equipment... Tony lives in a Metropolitan area where that kinda thing might be standard issue in Cingular stores, where it isn't oft called upon by someone who lives somewhere less accessible for international travel

I had no luck unlocking my V3 on line, but I do live in a large metropolitan area, I was able to locate 3 places in my area and it took less than 5 min. to unlock the phone, I to travel as part of my work. I have 4 sim cards from different carriers in different countries and pay the local rate. (pay as go) When it is unlocked you can pick up a local sim card and talk at the local rate.

Do you live in the NY area? Were these places Cingular stores, or some electronics place?

try customer service

Well, I'm happy to report that my AT&T Wireless V600 has been unlocked. It was surprisingly easy (thanks to the tips from this forum). A phone call and about 10 minutes wait for the service rep to 'fill out the request', 3 days later an e-mail with the magic number!
They gave me a hard time with the Razrs, though. It took 3 calls to get a rep that whould respect the fact that I've been a customer for 15 years and waive the 90-day policy.
I'm still waiting for the Razr unlock codes, but they should be here before I leave for Europe.
One question, unlocking the V600 was easy. I put my Razr's SIM card in and the opening screen asks for an unlock code. Since I don't have another company's SIM card, I won't get that screen with the Razr. How do I get to the unlock prompt?

touringfool are all your phones still on AT&T wireless side of Cingular? Or just the V600? If it's just the V600, you can pop in that SIM as the "other company SIM", if not borrow a friends SIM for a few mins.

You can get it unlocked once you get into that other country as well. If going to Europe every little outlet will do it for equivalent of $5. Then just pop in a local SIM card (they sell prepaid SIMs at kiosks etc) and you wont be roaming anymore.

Originally Posted by BlkBear

touringfool are all your phones still on AT&T wireless side of Cingular? Or just the V600? If it's just the V600, you can pop in that SIM as the "other company SIM", if not borrow a friends SIM for a few mins.

True. Stupid me. I can just pop in the old AT&T wireless card in the Cingular phone to get the 'unlock code' prompt.

Well... I hope I get this e-mail before I leave next week.

Does anyone know how much those SIMs sell for? I hear they are a bargain.