What does M-S-L mean?

If I'm about to activate a phone, should I write down all the numbers
they tell me to enter? What advantage does that have?

---

› See More: What does M-S-L mean?

"putty" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:090320041250028673%[email protected]...
> If I'm about to activate a phone, should I write down all the numbers
> they tell me to enter? What advantage does that have?

It's the Master Subsidy Lock for your phone. It's allows the phone to be
programmed with your phone number, and to change settings. (Don't change any
settings)

What advantage? Some people think that by having the MSL, they can use the
phone on other providers. Only thing is that unless the ESN is in the other
provider's databank, they probably won't activate the phone on their system.

Some people have reported that they were able to move a SPCS phone to Alltel
or Verizon, but it's very rare indeed to. Why should those other providers
prove support on a phone which isn't sold through their system, and which
isn't a model they offer to begin with.

Having the MSL is really not all that important to have ...

Bob

"MSL" is "Mobile Subsidy Lock"; it's done to keep you from using
the phone on another carrier. I'll leave others to tell you what
else you can do should you know your MSL.

-Kenny

--
Kenneth R. Crudup Sr. SW Engineer, Scott County Consulting, Los Angeles
H: 3630 S. Sepulveda Blvd. #138, L.A., CA 90034-6809 (310) 391-1898
W: 26601 Agoura Road, Calabasas, CA 91302-1959 (818) 444-3685

Bob Smith <[email protected]> wrote:

> Some people have reported that they were able to move a SPCS phone to Alltel
> or Verizon, but it's very rare indeed to. Why should those other providers
> prove support on a phone which isn't sold through their system, and which
> isn't a model they offer to begin with.

That's the thing. I know you can move a subsidy-locked phone to Verizon if
you have the MSL *and* it's a phone Verizon has firmware for. If they don't
already sell it and therefore don't have firmware for it (e.g. any Sanyo)
you're probably screwed, but with the Samsungs and the Nokias (especially
the 3588, which is essentially the same thing as the Verizon 3589 but with
different firmware) you're probably ok.

> Having the MSL is really not all that important to have ...

Sure it is. It's just not the only thing to have. The other provider still
has to get in to program the phone.

--
JustThe.net Internet & New Media Services, Apple Valley, CA
Steven J. Sobol, Geek In Charge / 888.480.4NET (4638) / [email protected]
PGP: C57E 8B25 F994 D6D0 5F6B B961 EA08 9410 E3AE 35ED
Domain Names, $9.95/yr, 24x7 service: http://DomainNames.JustThe.net/

putty <[email protected]> wrote in news:090320041250028673%[email protected]:

> If I'm about to activate a phone, should I write down all the numbers
> they tell me to enter? What advantage does that have?


Master
Subsidy
Lock

The hardware cost is offset by the retailer because you are signing up
for their service with a contract. So a phone with a MSRP of $500 can be
had for $150. The MSL is supposed to prevent you from then taking the
hardware subsidized by SPCS and moving it to another carrier that using
the same technology.

There are some other reasons to have the MSL, one of which it adds
slightly to the value of the handset should you opt to resell later (see
above). It also let's you access options in the phones software not
normally available.

Most of the time these options might as well be left alone, as the
system you operate on knows what ability your phone has been provisioned
for (you cannot activate MO-SMS and instantly have that feature for
example).

Being a tinkerer I like having the MSL for my phones, unfortunately once
they start replacing the handset at the service counter it is gone, the
MSL is tied to each individual ESN.

The easiest way to obtain it is activate over the telephone or web and
claim the first code did not work (the one-time activation), the second
code they give will be the keys.

Kmon that is an easy one!

Medium
Small
Large

"Steph" <[email protected]_CUT> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> putty <[email protected]> wrote in news:090320041250028673%[email protected]:
>
> > If I'm about to activate a phone, should I write down all the numbers
> > they tell me to enter? What advantage does that have?
>
>
> Master
> Subsidy
> Lock
>
> The hardware cost is offset by the retailer because you are signing up
> for their service with a contract. So a phone with a MSRP of $500 can be
> had for $150. The MSL is supposed to prevent you from then taking the
> hardware subsidized by SPCS and moving it to another carrier that using
> the same technology.
>
> There are some other reasons to have the MSL, one of which it adds
> slightly to the value of the handset should you opt to resell later (see
> above). It also let's you access options in the phones software not
> normally available.
>
> Most of the time these options might as well be left alone, as the
> system you operate on knows what ability your phone has been provisioned
> for (you cannot activate MO-SMS and instantly have that feature for
> example).
>
> Being a tinkerer I like having the MSL for my phones, unfortunately once
> they start replacing the handset at the service counter it is gone, the
> MSL is tied to each individual ESN.
>
> The easiest way to obtain it is activate over the telephone or web and
> claim the first code did not work (the one-time activation), the second
> code they give will be the keys.
>

Silly: Master Lock Code
"I.T." <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> Kmon that is an easy one!
>
> Medium
> Small
> Large
>
> "Steph" <[email protected]_CUT> wrote in message
> news:[email protected]...
> > putty <[email protected]> wrote in news:090320041250028673%[email protected]:
> >
> > > If I'm about to activate a phone, should I write down all the numbers
> > > they tell me to enter? What advantage does that have?
> >
> >
> > Master
> > Subsidy
> > Lock
> >
> > The hardware cost is offset by the retailer because you are signing up
> > for their service with a contract. So a phone with a MSRP of $500 can be
> > had for $150. The MSL is supposed to prevent you from then taking the
> > hardware subsidized by SPCS and moving it to another carrier that using
> > the same technology.
> >
> > There are some other reasons to have the MSL, one of which it adds
> > slightly to the value of the handset should you opt to resell later (see
> > above). It also let's you access options in the phones software not
> > normally available.
> >
> > Most of the time these options might as well be left alone, as the
> > system you operate on knows what ability your phone has been provisioned
> > for (you cannot activate MO-SMS and instantly have that feature for
> > example).
> >
> > Being a tinkerer I like having the MSL for my phones, unfortunately once
> > they start replacing the handset at the service counter it is gone, the
> > MSL is tied to each individual ESN.
> >
> > The easiest way to obtain it is activate over the telephone or web and
> > claim the first code did not work (the one-time activation), the second
> > code they give will be the keys.
> >
>
>

Hmmm, maybe you are confused about what an acronym is.
Perhaps you meant M-S-L stood for Master [Silly] Lock-Code ? <g>


"INTELLER2" <[email protected]> wrote in
news:[email protected]:

> Silly: Master Lock Code
> "I.T." <[email protected]> wrote in message
> news:[email protected]...
>> Kmon that is an easy one!
>>
>> Medium
>> Small
>> Large
>>
>> > putty <[email protected]> wrote in news:090320041250028673%[email protected]:
>> >
>> > > If I'm about to activate a phone, should I write down all the
>> > > numbers they tell me to enter? What advantage does that have?
>> >
>> >
>> > Master
>> > Subsidy
>> > Lock
>> >
[SNIP]

[QUOTE]Originally posted by INTELLER2
[B]Silly: Master Lock Code
"I.T." <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...[color=blue]
> Kmon that is an easy one!
>
> Medium
> Small
> Large
>




Where did i post this, don't remember it????????????

Originally posted by INTELLER2
[B]Silly: Master Lock Code
"I.T." <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...[color=blue]
> Kmon that is an easy one!
>
> Medium
> Small
> Large
>

Where did i post this, don't remember it?????????

Actually, it stands for Master Subsidy Lock



"inteller2" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...[color=blue]
>
> INTELLER2 wrote:
> > [B]Silly: Master Lock Code
> > "I.T." <[email protected]> wrote in message
> > news:[email protected]...
> > > Kmon that is an easy one!
> > >
> > > Medium
> > > Small
> > > Large
> > >
>
>
> Where did i post this, don't remember it?????????
>
>
> --
> inteller2
>
> [image: http://www.kijk.info/sigtekst/pig.gif]
> ------------------------------------------------------------------------
> http://cellphoneforums.netView this thread:
http://cellphoneforums.net/t112814.html
>