Moto V551 Subsidy Code

I bought a phone on eBay that was advertised as a Cingular phone. The phone itself is even Cingular branded (internally and externally), but when I install my Cingular SIM chip, it asks for a "Subsidy Code".

Cingular will not give me one, and I'm afraid I am out $180 for this phone I can't use.

Would anyone recommend anyone that can remotely unlock a cell phone? I have seen websites online but I don't know who I can trust. I will gladly pay to get this phone unlocked.

Please contact me.

Thanks.
John Wright from Kentucky

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› See More: Moto V551 Subsidy Code

"jdwright" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
>
> I bought a phone on eBay that was advertised as a Cingular phone. The
> phone itself is even Cingular branded (internally and externally), but
> when I install my Cingular SIM chip, it asks for a "Subsidy Code".
>
> Cingular will not give me one, and I'm afraid I am out $180 for this
> phone I can't use.
>
> Would anyone recommend anyone that can remotely unlock a cell phone? I
> have seen websites online but I don't know who I can trust. I will
> gladly pay to get this phone unlocked.
>

E bay does have some buyer protections, contact the buyer,
ask him to correct the situation of refund, then contact e-bay and
start the process

http://pages.ebay.com/help/tp/using-...e-console.html

Good luck

Bernard

I don't think I will contact eBay. I am still in contact with the seller and he has been very helpful. It's Cingular I'm upset with because they think that my V551 isn't a Cingular phone when I know good and well that it is.

But thanks for your suggestion.

> I bought a phone on eBay that was advertised as a Cingular phone. The
> phone itself is even Cingular branded (internally and externally), but
> when I install my Cingular SIM chip, it asks for a "Subsidy Code".
>
> Cingular will not give me one, and I'm afraid I am out $180 for this
> phone I can't use.
>
> Would anyone recommend anyone that can remotely unlock a cell phone? I
> have seen websites online but I don't know who I can trust. I will
> gladly pay to get this phone unlocked.
>
> Please contact me.
>
> Thanks.
> John Wright from Kentucky

Before you get too upset, there may be a rational explanation.

Cingular, of course being formed by mergers of GSM carriers and TDMA
carriers migrating to GSM, has several "carrier codes". For example,
the two MAIN ones that Cingular has, I believe are 310-380 and 310-410.
310 indicates the carrier is inside the United States, and 380/410
represent a carrier number. These are MCC-MNC, where MCC stands for


Now, correct me if I'm wrong, this carrier number is an integral part of
the SIM card (as it will look for that network first). It is more than
likely that Cingular uses this for verification of the carrier. 310-380
represents the network from AT&T Wireless, and 310-410 represents
Cingular legacy network (southeast, including Florida). However,
Cingular operates regions basically autonomously, and some regions may
not be on the same network.

It is reported that Cingular uses the following codes:

310-380 (AT&T Wireless network)
310-410 (Cingular network, southeast)
310-370 (Cingular network, California/Nevada)
310-150 (Cingular network, ???)

Rumor has it that Cingular is going to retire 310-380, 310-370, and
310-150 for and migrate those systems to 310-410.

However, wireless phones are not smart enough to know that Cingular owns
all of those networks, and SIM cards provisioned on that particular
network code could be used with phones that were also provisioned/locked
on that network code.





So...most likely could be happening is that your SIM is provisioned on
one of the other MNC's (network codes) and the V551 is locked to the
310-410 network. Since your SIM would not day 310-410, the phone would
reject it.

How long have you had Cingular service, and in which area of the US do
you reside (where was your SIM issued and when?)

Will one of those codes unlock the phone? If so, I was told that only an eight-digit code would work.

I live in Kentucky, so I imagine I would be in the Southeast. My SIM was issued to me in Kentucky as well, about two years ago or so.

I've had several people refer me to Marcus Cellular in Oakland, CA. I'm contacting them to see if they can unlock my Moto.

Check them out. They might be able to help you. http://www.cellularpager.com.

Whenever I've unlocked Motorola's (V180's and V220's) i have used a cable and software. Most phones will let you enter the unlock codes with the keypad...but you only et about 5 tries before your only allowable method is to use the cable. I have yet to find the software i need to unlock the V551's...but i'm still lookin. the other moto's unlock fine

But what it seems is the case with your phone is that it truly is a cinular GSM phone...just from another part of the US, which is why its not accepting your cingular sim card...because it was meant for a different US Market (IE- made for Baltimore/Washinton market, but you are trying to put in a California sim card). Post on here again if the guy in Cali doesn't get it straightened out for ya. Once you get the phone unlocked...you will be quite pleased with it, so its worth unlocking.

it doesnt matter where you buy the phone, any cingular sim should work just
fine in a cingular phone..

"Tropical Haven" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> > I bought a phone on eBay that was advertised as a Cingular phone. The
> > phone itself is even Cingular branded (internally and externally), but
> > when I install my Cingular SIM chip, it asks for a "Subsidy Code".
> >
> > Cingular will not give me one, and I'm afraid I am out $180 for this
> > phone I can't use.
> >
> > Would anyone recommend anyone that can remotely unlock a cell phone? I
> > have seen websites online but I don't know who I can trust. I will
> > gladly pay to get this phone unlocked.
> >
> > Please contact me.
> >
> > Thanks.
> > John Wright from Kentucky
>
> Before you get too upset, there may be a rational explanation.
>
> Cingular, of course being formed by mergers of GSM carriers and TDMA
> carriers migrating to GSM, has several "carrier codes". For example,
> the two MAIN ones that Cingular has, I believe are 310-380 and 310-410.
> 310 indicates the carrier is inside the United States, and 380/410
> represent a carrier number. These are MCC-MNC, where MCC stands for
>
>
> Now, correct me if I'm wrong, this carrier number is an integral part of
> the SIM card (as it will look for that network first). It is more than
> likely that Cingular uses this for verification of the carrier. 310-380
> represents the network from AT&T Wireless, and 310-410 represents
> Cingular legacy network (southeast, including Florida). However,
> Cingular operates regions basically autonomously, and some regions may
> not be on the same network.
>
> It is reported that Cingular uses the following codes:
>
> 310-380 (AT&T Wireless network)
> 310-410 (Cingular network, southeast)
> 310-370 (Cingular network, California/Nevada)
> 310-150 (Cingular network, ???)
>
> Rumor has it that Cingular is going to retire 310-380, 310-370, and
> 310-150 for and migrate those systems to 310-410.
>
> However, wireless phones are not smart enough to know that Cingular owns
> all of those networks, and SIM cards provisioned on that particular
> network code could be used with phones that were also provisioned/locked
> on that network code.
>
>
>
>
>
> So...most likely could be happening is that your SIM is provisioned on
> one of the other MNC's (network codes) and the V551 is locked to the
> 310-410 network. Since your SIM would not day 310-410, the phone would
> reject it.
>
> How long have you had Cingular service, and in which area of the US do
> you reside (where was your SIM issued and when?)
>
>

"jdwright" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
>
> I don't think I will contact eBay. I am still in contact with the seller
> and he has been very helpful. It's Cingular I'm upset with because they
> think that my V551 isn't a Cingular phone when I know good and well
> that it is.
>
> But thanks for your suggestion.
>
>
> --
> jdwright
> ------------------------------------------------------------------------
> Cell Phone Forums: http://cellphoneforums.net
> View this thread: http://cellphoneforums.net/t171216.html
>

its not cingulars fault, you didnt get the phone from them.. dont enter
codes you only get 5 times or so and it will say contact provider..
if you enter too many codes, the only way to unlock it is with a clip.
you can check ebay for people selling codes. read their feedback before you
buy, it will tell alot.
stay away from those 2.99 programs that unlocks every motorola phone, they
dont work on new ones.
it might be an over seas phone flashed with cingular software. perhaps that
is why the guy is selling it.
did he say it was unlocked or just a cingular phone?

It SHOULD, but I have heard of some Cingular customers with PacBell SIMs
having problems with SOME but NOT ALL Cingular branded phones. The fix
was to unlock the phone.

Aaron wrote:
> it doesnt matter where you buy the phone, any cingular sim should work just
> fine in a cingular phone..
>
> "Tropical Haven" <[email protected]> wrote in message
> news:[email protected]...
>
>>>I bought a phone on eBay that was advertised as a Cingular phone. The
>>>phone itself is even Cingular branded (internally and externally), but
>>>when I install my Cingular SIM chip, it asks for a "Subsidy Code".
>>>
>>>Cingular will not give me one, and I'm afraid I am out $180 for this
>>>phone I can't use.
>>>
>>>Would anyone recommend anyone that can remotely unlock a cell phone? I
>>>have seen websites online but I don't know who I can trust. I will
>>>gladly pay to get this phone unlocked.
>>>
>>>Please contact me.
>>>
>>>Thanks.
>>>John Wright from Kentucky
>>
>>Before you get too upset, there may be a rational explanation.
>>
>>Cingular, of course being formed by mergers of GSM carriers and TDMA
>>carriers migrating to GSM, has several "carrier codes". For example,
>>the two MAIN ones that Cingular has, I believe are 310-380 and 310-410.
>> 310 indicates the carrier is inside the United States, and 380/410
>>represent a carrier number. These are MCC-MNC, where MCC stands for
>>
>>
>>Now, correct me if I'm wrong, this carrier number is an integral part of
>>the SIM card (as it will look for that network first). It is more than
>>likely that Cingular uses this for verification of the carrier. 310-380
>>represents the network from AT&T Wireless, and 310-410 represents
>>Cingular legacy network (southeast, including Florida). However,
>>Cingular operates regions basically autonomously, and some regions may
>>not be on the same network.
>>
>>It is reported that Cingular uses the following codes:
>>
>>310-380 (AT&T Wireless network)
>>310-410 (Cingular network, southeast)
>>310-370 (Cingular network, California/Nevada)
>>310-150 (Cingular network, ???)
>>
>>Rumor has it that Cingular is going to retire 310-380, 310-370, and
>>310-150 for and migrate those systems to 310-410.
>>
>>However, wireless phones are not smart enough to know that Cingular owns
>>all of those networks, and SIM cards provisioned on that particular
>>network code could be used with phones that were also provisioned/locked
>>on that network code.
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>So...most likely could be happening is that your SIM is provisioned on
>>one of the other MNC's (network codes) and the V551 is locked to the
>>310-410 network. Since your SIM would not day 310-410, the phone would
>>reject it.
>>
>>How long have you had Cingular service, and in which area of the US do
>>you reside (where was your SIM issued and when?)
>>
>>
>
>
>

No, the guy on eBay said that it was a Cingular phone. It came in a Cingular box with all of the labels on the box and on the phone (under the battery).

I know it's a Cingular phone... that has been verified by Cingular. But Cingular will not provide me with the subsidy code. Like I said in a post above, I sent the phone to Marcus Cellular in Oakland CA for clip unlocking. They charge $20, but it cost nearly $35 to ship it UPS Overnight to Oakland and back to me when he's done.

I will post as soon as I hear from them as to whether unlocking worked or not.

Okay. It's been about a week, so I thought I would post and let everyone know what's going on with my V551. I sent the phone to Marcus Cellular via UPS 2nd Day Air. They got it on Monday, 4/4.

That same day when I got home from work, I had a message from Cingular on my machine telling me that they had approved my request for the subsidy code. I called customer service and they gave me the code over the phone.

I then called Marcus Cellular and told them what happened. The guy I spoke with (Will) said he was busy and hadn't been able to unlock the phone yet. He also said that he would try the code they gave me, and if it unlocks it, he'll send the phone back to me and refund the $20 unlocking fee.

Sure enough, the code worked, and he sent the phone back PLUS my $20.

If you contact Cingular for the subsidy code for your phone, and they say it'll take 3-5 days for them to get back to you on it, give them atleast 7 business days. By then you'll definately know whether you're going to get the code or not. In my case, I got the code and it works great.

If you need help with unlocking a phone, try Marcus Cellular in Oakland. Their URL is http://www.marcuscellular.com. Tell them that John Wright from Kentucky sent you.

> Rumor has it that Cingular is going to retire 310-380, 310-370, and
> 310-150 for and migrate those systems to 310-410.

What about the formerly-SunCom network in Virginia (310-490)? Will
Cingular be cutting those towers and users to 310-410, and on what time
frame? SunCom in the Carolinas will continue to use 310-490, so there
must be some transition plan.

What sources do you have for your rumor?

thanks,
tg.

>>Rumor has it that Cingular is going to retire 310-380, 310-370, and
>>310-150 for and migrate those systems to 310-410.
>
> What about the formerly-SunCom network in Virginia (310-490)? Will
> Cingular be cutting those towers and users to 310-410, and on what time
> frame? SunCom in the Carolinas will continue to use 310-490, so there
> must be some transition plan.

IMO, I would think that this would also be transitioned to 310-410. In
reality, that network is no longer part of SunCom, and therefore it
would make sense for Cingular to assign it as native network as it is
integrated.

> What sources do you have for your rumor?

Like I say, it is RUMOR. I have no documentation. I have heard from a
former Cingular employee that Cingular is working hard to "unify" the
network, some of which is legacy from the companies that were brought
together to form Cingular, or were acquired later.

Here are some websites I ran into:
http://www.howardforums.com/archive/topic/492681-1.html

In my own speculation, I think it would make more sense for roaming
agreements with international carriers who could just use "310-410"
instead of the conglamerate that's currently in place (although the
inverse would be true of AWS raoming affiliates). But it would make
sense, especially if all 310-380 becomes 310-410, otherwise 310-380
would have to be divied up between the current Cingular systems in
place, for the network would not be as seamless as its potential if
Cingular uses 310-410 AND one of the older legacy networks in the same
area (which is a moot point in CA/NV since the infrastructure and some
spectrum will be sold to T-Mo.)

> thanks,
> tg.

Any other ideas on this? I would love to hear them.

TH

> IMO, I would think that this would also be transitioned to 310-410.
In
> reality, that network is no longer part of SunCom, and therefore it
> would make sense for Cingular to assign it as native network as it is

> integrated.

That's pretty much what I figured, but the target network is a
question. The GSM-850 network in DC is 310-410, so that would be the
easiest path.

> In my own speculation, I think it would make more sense for roaming
> agreements with international carriers who could just use "310-410"

I'm on the 310-150 network, and that's the one recognized in the oldest
roaming agreements. I suppose -410 is old enough now that there's no
issue about it being recognized by foreign carriers. IIRC AT&T had more
extensive roaming agreements, so there's a big incentive to move
everything to -380.

> But it would make sense, especially if all 310-380 becomes 310-410,
> otherwise 310-380 would have to be divied up

I suspect it's going to be a question of which existing network has the
largest number of handsets and towers (mostly handsets). Changing tower
IDs isn't too bad since Cingular knows where they are. Sending an
update to every SIM/handset is going to be fun, especially for the
"emergency" phones that rarely see a signal. Even then there will be a
lot of misses, causing many calls to customer disservice.

My wife and I have our phones on every day with reboots every day or
two (both phones are Cingular-provisioned, not third party) and
Cingular still can't keep us current on SIM updates :-(

tg.