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49 Comments

Posted by gbates1989 Wednesday, Sep 30, 2009 863 days ago

Useful and interesting, but I bet it's not as useful and interesting as most people clicking on this link hope it will be haha.

 
 
Posted by falesq Wednesday, Sep 30, 2009 863 days ago

After unlocking my 9630, the Options/Advanced Options/SIM Card/MEPD says Network "Inactive" instead of Disabled. Is my phone unlocked?

 
 
Posted by spazn4u Wednesday, Sep 30, 2009 863 days ago

How did you get a code to unlock it?

 
 
Posted by Garz Wednesday, Sep 30, 2009 863 days ago

If would think Inactive and Disabled are the same. If it said Active, then it would definately be locked

 
 
Posted by BluePitBull Wednesday, Sep 30, 2009 863 days ago

I'm new to the BB world and are there any other benefits to unlocking your phone other then the ones stated above?

 
 
Posted by bogwart Wednesday, Sep 30, 2009 863 days ago

Your tour is CDMA...not GSM.

 
 
Posted by attmatt Wednesday, Sep 30, 2009 863 days ago

The tour is a world phone, meaning is has GSM harware inside. See that thing that looks like a SIM card in the back? Thats a SIM card! If you go into network options you can see the option for GSM/UMTS

 
 
Posted by gambier82 Wednesday, Sep 30, 2009 863 days ago

So how do you do it on a 9530???

 
 
Posted by collin16 Wednesday, Sep 30, 2009 863 days ago

When you type in MEPD it must be in LANDSCAPE mode, meaning the phone must be sideways

 
 
Posted by LoSt180 Wednesday, Sep 30, 2009 863 days ago

Same way, just at the SIM screen: BBKey > Show Keyboard

If you have Full Qwerty in Portrait, just type mepd, or turn to landscape.

 
 
Posted by bwrvt94 Wednesday, Sep 30, 2009 863 days ago

I tried getting it form my carrier (Rogers) - they will not do it? Any suggestions besides paying for it?

But good article.. Thanks. I was thinking about this.....

 
 
Posted by yangwu Wednesday, Sep 30, 2009 863 days ago

I'm a poor university student, please give me something free!!! :P

 
 
Posted by collin16 Wednesday, Sep 30, 2009 863 days ago

They have done many unlock code giveaways lately. And if you do spend the money to unlock it then you will switch to a probably cheaper GSM carrier thus saving you money. If you have a tour thou then you are probably already in contract. Correct?

 
 
Posted by amirnabilkamelsaad Wednesday, Sep 30, 2009 863 days ago

Got my Pearl 8100c unlocked first over a year ago and 2 days ago, I got my Bold unlocked for free just by calling ATT customer service after midnight Central Time..hehehe, that's the time when you can get it unlocked without any questions.

 
 
Posted by otaku2 Wednesday, Sep 30, 2009 863 days ago

+1 for gbates1989

 
 
Posted by jlb21 Wednesday, Sep 30, 2009 863 days ago

VZW often will provide a code if you are a long-time customer and will be going overseas.

But, even unlocked, it still may be more expensive with a short-term global plan update than to just buy a cheap GSM phone once you arrive in your location.

 
 
Posted by borderpatrol1987 Wednesday, Sep 30, 2009 863 days ago

Thats one reason to unlock it. You buy a cheap sim card and stick it in your phone. When you leave the country, you throw it away and your done.

The sim is often cheaper than the phone.

BTW either the coment system or IE6 blows. I think I know which.

 
 
Posted by tyspeed29 Wednesday, Sep 30, 2009 863 days ago

I went looking for a cheap way to unlock my bold with this posted instructions, and found this seller on ebay to do it cheap. Just pay, follow the directions and you get your unlock code within 15 minutes. Awesome. Just unlocked my bold.

My user ID on eBay is Sillywillykelly2007 if you want to verify my transaction.

http://cgi.ebay.ca/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=370264031316&ru=http%3...

 
 
Posted by tyspeed29 Wednesday, Sep 30, 2009 863 days ago

Here is the seller gsmphone-unlocking

 
 
Posted by esmooth Wednesday, Sep 30, 2009 863 days ago

this might be a stupid question idk, but can I buy the storm and unlock it for T-mobile. and if I can will the phone work good or no?

 
 
Posted by jazzejohn Wednesday, Sep 30, 2009 863 days ago

And yes you can. I'm currently using the Storm 9530 with T-Mobile and it works fine, data and everything else works as it should. The main drawback of doing this is 1) no carrier support so you can't take your phone into T-Mobile if you come across problems, 2) You are your own service center (downloading service books, OS updates, etc. all falls on you) and 3) no warranty for your really expensive phone (from T-Mobile or Verizon).

I recommend you do some homework before diving in.

 
 
Posted by hadi224 Wednesday, May 19, 2010 632 days ago

hey john,

I know I am reviving an old thread here, but I am wondering how you got your Storm data services working with T-Mobile. For the hell of me I have been trying to get data to work with a GSM provider, but I have been unsuccessful. Calls and SMS work fine.

Any hints would be helpful.

Thanks!

 
 
Posted by tyspeed29 Wednesday, Sep 30, 2009 863 days ago

Once you unlock, you can use it on any gsm carrier. You will need to go into the forums to find the correct wap settings, etc to get the other functions to work with your carrier.

 
 
Posted by dakarges Wednesday, Sep 30, 2009 863 days ago

This may come as a dumb question to the people who know the answer BUT once I unlock my phone will it still be active? Like am I still going to have a plan with Telus and still be able to use my phone as I am? Or will this somehow cancel that and make my phone unactivated? Sorry for the dumb question, I just want to be 100% sure what I'm doing before I do it.

Thanks,

 
 
Posted by cletis Wednesday, Sep 30, 2009 863 days ago

My understanding is that, at least in the US, all carriers are required to provide an unlock code upon request after 90 days of service.

 
 
Posted by sajanNOPPIX Wednesday, Sep 30, 2009 863 days ago

I don't think this is true. If it is a subsidized phone, the carrier can choose not to give it to you for years.

 
 
Posted by cletis Wednesday, Sep 30, 2009 863 days ago

I was basing my recollection on managing a bunch of T-Mobile phones, and that's their policy; 90 days if you pay your bill. Got the impression from them that it was the law, but it's not.

 
 
Posted by pgrtag Wednesday, Sep 30, 2009 863 days ago

I used this thread on my Tour and it worked.

http://forums.crackberry.com/f157/sprint-unlocking-tour-free-276073/

 
 
Posted by Renegade Angel Wednesday, Sep 30, 2009 863 days ago

I called att at 12:30pm eastern time, told them i was going away on business for a few weeks they gave me the unlock code no problem...my bold is now unlocked!

 
 
Posted by jhimebau Wednesday, Sep 30, 2009 863 days ago

I unlocked mine about 4 months ago but recently I tried to check the SIM and I get SIM Card: No Valid SIM Card.

I something wrong?

 
 
Posted by otaku2 Wednesday, Sep 30, 2009 863 days ago

I used his link and got my Pearl unlocked in about 10 minutes for less than $4US.

 
 
Posted by angelm1249 Wednesday, Sep 30, 2009 863 days ago

this will no doubtly come in handy one day....thanks a bunch:)

 
 
Posted by djearl Wednesday, Sep 30, 2009 863 days ago

I have a cincinnati bell blackberry 8300 and I want to use it with att, and I am having trouble getting a code to unlock phone. Could somebody help? I am waiting on refunds from remote unlock and another company.

 
 
Posted by njzfinest101 Wednesday, Sep 30, 2009 863 days ago

wow easiest process ever!!! i just called sprint international customer care and they gave me my code without any hassle.. great post guys thanks! at&t is now wrking in my tour!!! woot woot!!

 
 
Posted by CeluGeek Wednesday, Sep 30, 2009 863 days ago

This was good info. I just checked that my 8900 is locked to T-Mobile. Sometimes you get lucky and get an unlocked phone out-of-the-box, but this wasn't one of those times.

 
 
Posted by dmb311 Wednesday, Sep 30, 2009 863 days ago

I forget the number, but I just googled verizon blackberry unlock code and found a number in a forum to call and get an unlock code from Verizon. It's really simple and the lady on the phone tells you how to do it. I just told her I was going out of the country, which I was, and wanted to use my Tour overseas. Then she told me the steps and texted me the code.

Note: In order for Verizon to send you a code, you have to be in good standing for 10 months (I believe), which means you never had a late or unpaid bill, and you can only get 1 lock code every 12 months.

PS - the Tour worked great overseas in South Africa. I put a Vodacom sim card in it and it ran seamlessly on their GSM/EDGE/3G network. I also tested my Verizon sim over there and that too worked receiving data and voice.

Have fun

 
 
Posted by Bristolian Wednesday, Sep 30, 2009 863 days ago

I just checked my UK VF Bold only to find everything already disabled. Excellent!!!!!

 
 
Posted by thatboiwes Wednesday, Sep 30, 2009 863 days ago

This will come in handy once I win one of the unlock codes from the contest! :)

 
 
Posted by RaynotRoy Wednesday, Sep 30, 2009 863 days ago

For those that are having trouble with this, or want more information on where exactly to get the codes see my other post here:

http://forums.crackberry.com/f157/trouble-unlocking-tour-read-324720

 
 
Posted by Mattio150 Wednesday, Sep 30, 2009 863 days ago

Verizon users,

Call 611 to connect with a rep. Explain to them that you would like to unlock your phone for travel reasons. They will try and talk you out of it by saying it could be bad, the reception could change, etc. Be diligent by saying that all you want is the code and you will be prepared to handle the consequences.

Once you get your code, follow the above steps, and you're good to go!! Happy traveling. Remember, be careful about the data plan that other carriers offer.

 
 
Posted by aledc78 Wednesday, Sep 30, 2009 863 days ago

If your Sprint Tour was manufactured after Aug 25th, 2009. The phone should come unlocked already. You can confirm this by following steps 1 and 2 from the original post and you will see that everything shows Disable, meaning is unlocked!!!

Good job Sprint!

 
 
Posted by olschool Wednesday, Sep 30, 2009 863 days ago

I just bought a used BB8830 world edition yesterday. I dont think the traveling story is going to work for me. I am thinking of telling Sprint that I just want it unlocked because its mine! The previous owner paid his bill and thus the subsidies for two years and now I own it and want it to be unlocked. Anyone think that will work? Also am I right in thinking that I may have access to any kind of other features that might not have been offered on the Sprint version. Thanks for your help, GREAT website!!! Cant wait to be the owner of a crackberry. : )

 
 
Posted by timrosenfeld Thursday, Oct 01, 2009 863 days ago

I had someone call me today to ask for an unlock code. He said "I just need the unlock code. I've already got all of the instructions." Then I said... "oh, you must have read the article on Crackberry today." He laughed and said yes. Anyway... I would like to add my bit of knowledge here. The requirements to get an unlock code from Verizon Wireless are the following:

1) Verizon Wireless customer for at least 60 days
2) Bill is current
3) No suspensions or disconnects for non-payment within the last 60 days
4) Only 1 unlock code is provided per line per 10 months

You'll find that not every rep knows these requirements, so your mileage may vary. We do try to discourage using your Blackberry unlocked while traveling overseas. I know the rates for calling are higher most of the time, but you've got the Global Support Team to back you up if you run into any problems and more than likely you'll find that a local SIM either won't offer data services or their rates will be a high per KB or per MB charge whereas VZW offers unlimited data at 64.99 or 69.98 with the Global Value Plan.

 
 
Posted by wallywest Thursday, Oct 01, 2009 862 days ago

CB has become such an Corporate leech, they are no longer the place to go for an average joe to work around the system be, deleting all the debranding forums ( alteast at first) and why the hell should people pay to get it unlocked when anyone can google and do it for themselves. CB is just trying to promote their Cell Unlocking Advertisers and this was a horrible attempt

 
 
Posted by BlackBerry Dave B Thursday, Oct 01, 2009 862 days ago

Once its unlocked, how do you get another carrier to activate it?

 
 
Posted by napleskahuna Thursday, Oct 01, 2009 862 days ago

I did this earlier this year when I upgraded to the 8900 from my 8320. I gave my GF my 8320 after having it unlocked this same way. The phone that was unlocked was through T-Mobile and her carrier is AT&T. After about 1 month, her phone started acting batty and in general just shut down and died. I ended up getting a replacement and just selling it on ebay.
I was told that "unlocking" your phone is only good if you are to travel to Europe as many carriers "share" the same networks there for better coverage and to cut costs of cell towers and that in the US,carriers are in competition and your unlocked phone will experience buggy and faults as there will be a conflict of jumping on numerous carriers?
Kind of makes sense, however has anyone else experienced this?

 
 
Posted by eligundry Sunday, Oct 04, 2009 859 days ago

I just called AT&T up and told them I am traveling and I need the unlock code. They said I have international roaming and I said that I'd rather buy a prepaid sim card. They emailed me the unlock code. I spent ten minutes on phone. It was quite easy.

If you want extra leverage when doing this, while they are typing on their computers, tell them that you would like to talk to a customer service rep so that you can tell them how good of a job they are doing. Companies take the negative customer service complaints very seriously, so positive comments on their file are very helpful. With the prospect of this, they will do everything in their power to help you get to the customer service rep.

 
 
Posted by chri5z Tuesday, Jan 12, 2010 759 days ago

alrite now i tried puttin the unlock code but when i put in mep2 nun comes up..... alrite i see if it all says disable that means that its already unlocked cause the way the phone is at the topthats how my phone is but im unable to access the internet and such could somebody tell me why

 
 
Posted by megloman Tuesday, Jan 26, 2010 745 days ago

I got blackberry bold 9700 unlocked here http://www.unlockingblackberry.com
they just sent me a code and the instructions and now I'm using my att sim card.
very kool.