Nokia:
Early Nokia's can often be unlocked via a calculator. This can be a little hit and miss because one needs to know exactly what operator the phone is locked to and in some cases whether the phone is contract or pre-pay. Using this route gives you five attempts and entering the correct unlock code!
New Nokia's post 2004 have a complex SIM locking system. It is all but pointless looking on Google for free unlocking tools - There are some but these usually require hardware and special cables and the cost of these for one phone is pointless!
The very latest Nokia's use what is referred to a SL3 SIM lock (SL1 and SL2 can be unlocked with the appropriate and expensive hardware) and as yet this (SL3) has not been cracked for a direct unlock. A few SL3 handsets can be unlocked however, this requires (again) expensive hardware and the purchase of server credits. In some cases it is cheaper to pay your service provider for the unlock code!
Sony Ericsson:
Many SE handsets pre-2004 can be unlocked with free software using either a Serial Cable or in some cases the USB cable that came with the phone.
All later SE handsets require expensive specialist hardware. Attempting to unlock newer handsets using older free software will usually result in a dead handset that will require specialist repair.
There are no code calculators for SE handsets.
Note that less expensive SE handsets are not SE manufactured but are made by a third party. These are a hit and miss affair when it comes to unlocking.
Motorola:
There are some free tools to unlock older Motorola handsets for example, the V550 and V600. It's important to verify exactly the your model and version is supported. Unlocking is done using the USB cable in most cases.
As with most other brands a bad (read incorrect) unlock can lead to a dead handset!
There are no code calculators for Motorola handsets.
Note that less expensive Motorola handsets are not Motorola manufactured but are made by a third party. These are a hit and miss affair when it comes to unlocking.
Samsung:
Anything pre-2004 can usually be unlocked by free code. In most cases the handset will be Factory Reset but will be unlocked to accept any SIM card.
Warning! Newer Samsung handsets should not be unlocked with so called free or universal codes!!! Doing so will often result in your erasing the IMEI of the handset to that of fifteen zero's!
There are some free tools to be found for handsets like the E250 or D900 etc. But you will at least require a powered serial cable.
There are some unlock methods that require manipulation of the SIM card while the phone is powered on. These do sometimes work but you must give full attention to the procedure as any errors could end up in the IMEI being reset to all zero's!
By and large new Samsung's require specialist hardware to unlock them or at least read the unlock codes from them.
There are no true Samsung unlock code calculators.
Siemens:
Pre-BenQ handsets can usually be unlocked quite easily using a Serial cable and free software. It's important to ensure that the correct model has been selected when using free tools.
Anything Siemens-BenQ will require specialist hardware to unlock the handset.
LG:
There are some free tools to unlock earlier LG handsets, probably fair to say anything pre-2004 can be unlock with free tools.
Any handsets later than 2004 will usually require specialist tools.
There are no true LG unlock code calculators.
Other Brands:
Most other brands like Blackberry, HTC, Huawei, NEC, VK etc... etc... Will usually require specialist unlocking.
If the handset is your pride and joy, then I would suggest strongly on taking it to an independent dealer for unlocking. If the handset is just a "spare" and you don't mind taking a risk that you might kill it then using free tools might be a good option for you.
In many cases free software is actually commercial software that has been cracked. Sometimes it has been cracked well and sometimes it hasn't! In addition to this if it's cracked commercial software - Hitting the unlock button without looking closely at the program settings and options could send your handset to the great cellular graveyard in one click!
Some generalisations have been used I am fully aware but by and large what is written here covers 99% of unlocking queries.
If you can add anything constructive to this thread please feel welcome to do so.
Please no "how do I unlock" posts in this thread, they will be ignored!
Early Nokia's can often be unlocked via a calculator. This can be a little hit and miss because one needs to know exactly what operator the phone is locked to and in some cases whether the phone is contract or pre-pay. Using this route gives you five attempts and entering the correct unlock code!
New Nokia's post 2004 have a complex SIM locking system. It is all but pointless looking on Google for free unlocking tools - There are some but these usually require hardware and special cables and the cost of these for one phone is pointless!
The very latest Nokia's use what is referred to a SL3 SIM lock (SL1 and SL2 can be unlocked with the appropriate and expensive hardware) and as yet this (SL3) has not been cracked for a direct unlock. A few SL3 handsets can be unlocked however, this requires (again) expensive hardware and the purchase of server credits. In some cases it is cheaper to pay your service provider for the unlock code!
Sony Ericsson:
Many SE handsets pre-2004 can be unlocked with free software using either a Serial Cable or in some cases the USB cable that came with the phone.
All later SE handsets require expensive specialist hardware. Attempting to unlock newer handsets using older free software will usually result in a dead handset that will require specialist repair.
There are no code calculators for SE handsets.
Note that less expensive SE handsets are not SE manufactured but are made by a third party. These are a hit and miss affair when it comes to unlocking.
Motorola:
There are some free tools to unlock older Motorola handsets for example, the V550 and V600. It's important to verify exactly the your model and version is supported. Unlocking is done using the USB cable in most cases.
As with most other brands a bad (read incorrect) unlock can lead to a dead handset!
There are no code calculators for Motorola handsets.
Note that less expensive Motorola handsets are not Motorola manufactured but are made by a third party. These are a hit and miss affair when it comes to unlocking.
Samsung:
Anything pre-2004 can usually be unlocked by free code. In most cases the handset will be Factory Reset but will be unlocked to accept any SIM card.
Warning! Newer Samsung handsets should not be unlocked with so called free or universal codes!!! Doing so will often result in your erasing the IMEI of the handset to that of fifteen zero's!
There are some free tools to be found for handsets like the E250 or D900 etc. But you will at least require a powered serial cable.
There are some unlock methods that require manipulation of the SIM card while the phone is powered on. These do sometimes work but you must give full attention to the procedure as any errors could end up in the IMEI being reset to all zero's!
By and large new Samsung's require specialist hardware to unlock them or at least read the unlock codes from them.
There are no true Samsung unlock code calculators.
Siemens:
Pre-BenQ handsets can usually be unlocked quite easily using a Serial cable and free software. It's important to ensure that the correct model has been selected when using free tools.
Anything Siemens-BenQ will require specialist hardware to unlock the handset.
LG:
There are some free tools to unlock earlier LG handsets, probably fair to say anything pre-2004 can be unlock with free tools.
Any handsets later than 2004 will usually require specialist tools.
There are no true LG unlock code calculators.
Other Brands:
Most other brands like Blackberry, HTC, Huawei, NEC, VK etc... etc... Will usually require specialist unlocking.
If the handset is your pride and joy, then I would suggest strongly on taking it to an independent dealer for unlocking. If the handset is just a "spare" and you don't mind taking a risk that you might kill it then using free tools might be a good option for you.
In many cases free software is actually commercial software that has been cracked. Sometimes it has been cracked well and sometimes it hasn't! In addition to this if it's cracked commercial software - Hitting the unlock button without looking closely at the program settings and options could send your handset to the great cellular graveyard in one click!
Some generalisations have been used I am fully aware but by and large what is written here covers 99% of unlocking queries.
If you can add anything constructive to this thread please feel welcome to do so.
Please no "how do I unlock" posts in this thread, they will be ignored!
Comment