Off-topic Chat For everything unrelated to car audio. Jokes, stories, videos etc within.

Unlocking Cell Phones

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old 01-17-2005, 02:30 PM
  #1  
1000 Watt CAFz'r
Thread Starter
 
coulter's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2004
Posts: 1,024
Post

Anybody here know much about unlocking cell phones? where do i get it done? how much does it cost?

The plan im on now ends in march, but i dont like my phone and im thinking of getting a new one. however, im on a bell plan, and the new phone i want to buy is from rogers. (i want to keep my same bell number)

so would be able to buy the new phone at rogers, unlock it, then use it with my bell number and the remainder of the plan? is that even what unlocking means?
coulter is offline  
Old 01-17-2005, 02:34 PM
  #2  
4000 Watt CAFz'r
 
ZachCHartwell's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2000
Posts: 5,498
Post

Radioshack has always done ours. The manufacturers of the phone can always help point you in the right direction too. My Seimens was a pain to unlock, the manual never gave a phone number needed to unlock the phone.
ZachCHartwell is offline  
Old 01-17-2005, 02:42 PM
  #3  
2000 Watt CAFz'r
 
Tim Baillie.'s Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2000
Posts: 2,406
Post

What brand phone is it ?
Tim Baillie. is offline  
Old 01-17-2005, 03:34 PM
  #4  
1000 Watt CAFz'r
Thread Starter
 
coulter's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2004
Posts: 1,024
Post

The phone i would like to get is the motorola v551m much music edition. this one here:

http://www.shoprogers.com/store/wire...551M&summary=1
coulter is offline  
Old 01-17-2005, 04:10 PM
  #5  
1000 Watt CAFz'r
 
Probeman's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2000
Posts: 1,020
Post

check out www.howardfoums.com

I guarentee that your question will already have been asked and answered several times there, just do a search. I also recomend that you join, it's a forum dedicated to cell phones with mostly Canadian users.
Probeman is offline  
Old 01-17-2005, 04:39 PM
  #6  
500 Watt CAFz'r
iTrader: (1)
 
goofball2k's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2002
Posts: 536
Post

you can't unlock a GSM phone and use it on Bell's network, they don't use GSM. Basically, in Canada, you are going to go with Rogers or Fido if you unlock your phone. Bell uses CDMA. You may be able to find a phone in the US that uses CDMA, unlock it and use it but you'll be stuck with Bell as your provider in Canada only.
goofball2k is offline  
Old 01-17-2005, 05:25 PM
  #7  
1000 Watt CAFz'r
Thread Starter
 
coulter's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2004
Posts: 1,024
Post

thanks for the help people. i may just not worry about the hassle, and just get a rogers plan/pay as you go, and just get a whole new number all together. i guess it wouldnt be that big a deal really.
coulter is offline  
Old 01-17-2005, 05:48 PM
  #8  
1000 Watt CAFz'r
Thread Starter
 
coulter's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2004
Posts: 1,024
Post

that howard forums has tons of info on cell phones there, ill probly find everything there is to know about the cell phone i want to get and a whole lot more about cell phones in general.
coulter is offline  
Old 01-17-2005, 07:45 PM
  #9  
2000 Watt CAFz'r
 
ChizzerZ24's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2003
Posts: 2,417
Post

Rogers and Fido now use the same network.. Bell uses there own networks CDMA only... Rogers/Fido just use there towers when they get out or range for there own towers.
ChizzerZ24 is offline  
Old 01-17-2005, 09:34 PM
  #10  
50 Watt CAFz'r
 
noid_19's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2004
Posts: 192
Post

Originally posted by coulter:
Anybody here know much about unlocking cell phones? where do i get it done? how much does it cost?

The plan im on now ends in march, but i dont like my phone and im thinking of getting a new one. however, im on a bell plan, and the new phone i want to buy is from rogers. (i want to keep my same bell number)

so would be able to buy the new phone at rogers, unlock it, then use it with my bell number and the remainder of the plan? is that even what unlocking means?
You cant switch numbers between networks. also rogers and bell dont use compatible digital technology. Bell uses CDMA like Telus, Rogers uses GSM, and TDMA their older setup. Even if phones run on the same technology there can still be differences in software design thet keep them from being able to switch networks.
The lock code is a security password that is entered before being allowed to program the phone NAM (tel #)
noid_19 is offline  


Quick Reply: Unlocking Cell Phones



All times are GMT -5. The time now is 11:14 PM.