Unlock a phone for dummies

[cbrunny]

Hello,

I apologize for this question - I know it will be painful for some of you to read...

I'm looking to upgrade my phone but I live in Canada and am stuck in the middle of a 3 year contract with my provider. If I were to purchase a phone outright (yes, expensive...) from a provider but not purchase a subscription plan, then unlock that phone (SIM unlock, I believe?), will I be able to use my current plan on the unlocked phone?

I'm confused about the difference between a SIM lock and a device lock, if there is such a thing.

Of course, assume that the phone meets all tech requirements to work on the network.

 

[s44]

As long as the frequencies match, you should be fine. I believe all Canadian carriers use GSM/HSPA (though some have LTE as well) so they're SIM based.

Google's $350 Galaxy Nexus direct is probably the best current deal -- not sure if it's available in Canada too.

 

[cbrunny]

Thanks for the reply. To be more specific, I have my eye on the Droid Razr M, or the Razr HD Maxx. Those are both exclusive to Verizon - that doesn't matter, does it?

I'm on Bell, and the tech specs check out, so long as what is on gsmarena.com is accurate.

 

[s44]

Thanks for the reply. To be more specific, I have my eye on the Droid Razr M, or the Razr HD Maxx. Those are both exclusive to Verizon - that doesn't matter, does it?

I'm on Bell, and the tech specs check out, so long as what is on gsmarena.com is accurate.

It matters a lot. Verizon uses CDMA as a base and not GSM. So its phones won't be compatible with anything else. Bell used to use CDMA, but current 3g service is mostly/all HSPA, so you'll want an AT&T-compatible device, not a Verizon one.

What's your current phone? Does it have a SIM card? If not, you'll need to transition your plan to 3g HSPA, which may be easy or hard depending.

Assuming this isn't a hurdle, don't look at any Droid branded handsets. The Atrix versions of those Moto phones are the ones that will work. But frankly... you should get the Nexus.

 

[cbrunny]

It matters a lot. Verizon uses CDMA as a base and not GSM. So its phones won't be compatible with anything else. Bell used to use CDMA, but current 3g service is mostly/all HSPA, so you'll want an AT&T-compatible device, not a Verizon one.

Hmm... see that was the knowledge I needed. I currently have a Blackberry Torch 9800, which is a SIM device. It uses the "regular" sized SIM cards, not the smaller ones. I'm already on Bell's 3G HSPA.

So then, if I can piece this together, a SIM unlock only unlocks the ability to use the phone on a different network with the same tech requirements, but does not unlock the full spectrum of techs that are built into the device but not enabled (due to the lock to a carrier).

Assuming what I said both makes sense and is accurate, is there such a thing as a full device unlock?

 

[s44]

No, it's not the unlocking. It's that CDMA is an entirely different protocol requiring a different radio and that doesn't use SIM cards at all.

So your original theory about unlocking was fine. It just has to be appropriate devices -- those supporting GSM/HSPA on the 850/1900 bands. For US devices, that's stuff on AT&T (some US T-Mobile phones, like the S3, also fit). Most Euro/"international" smartphone models will also support those protocols on those bands.

 

[s44]

I should point out that the best off-contract deal is on a phone that's not locked to begin with: the Galaxy Nexus (international edition) direct from Google for US$350. Problem is, this deal doesn't exist in Canada, and Canadian Expansys wants CA$430 for it. But even at that price it's light-years ahead of your Torch. Plus you might be able to find someone in the US to help you self-import one.

 

[bearxor]

I should point out that the best off-contract deal is on a phone that's not locked to begin with: the Galaxy Nexus (international edition) direct from Google for US$350. Problem is, this deal doesn't exist in Canada, and Canadian Expansys wants CA$430 for it. But even at that price it's light-years ahead of your Torch. Plus you might be able to find someone in the US to help you self-import one.

To OP, if you can wait another week and a half or so, I'd be happy to sell you mine pretty cheap. If a GNex intrests you...

 

[shabby]

Thanks for the reply. To be more specific, I have my eye on the Droid Razr M, or the Razr HD Maxx. Those are both exclusive to Verizon - that doesn't matter, does it?

I'm on Bell, and the tech specs check out, so long as what is on gsmarena.com is accurate.

Rogers is bringing the razr hd to canada, perhaps they'll bring the m too. Whether you'll be able to unlock it to work on bell is another story.

 

[Suspicious-Teach8788]

To OP, if you can wait another week and a half or so, I'd be happy to sell you mine pretty cheap. If a GNex intrests you...

sorry to threadjack but why are you selling your gnex?

 

[cbrunny]

No, it's not the unlocking. It's that CDMA is an entirely different protocol requiring a different radio and that doesn't use SIM cards at all.

So your original theory about unlocking was fine. It just has to be appropriate devices -- those supporting GSM/HSPA on the 850/1900 bands. For US devices, that's stuff on AT&T (some US T-Mobile phones, like the S3, also fit). Most Euro/"international" smartphone models will also support those protocols on those bands.

Ok, so what you're saying is that Bell does not use CDMA, so it would not work. Got it.

But when I look at the tech specs of this phone (http://www.gsmarena.com/motorola_droid_razr_m-4973.php and http://www.gsmarena.com/motorola_razr_m-4974.php) I see that the DROID version has the CDMA for 2G and 3G, but it also has HSDPA listed as 3G with the 850/1900 bands. Is what you are saying the DROID version will not be SIM compatible at all? Or is what I see on gsmarena misleading?

As a side note, interesting that gsmarena has both the Verizon version and the non-Verizon version, as I have not been able to find any indication that this phone will be released on any other carrier worldwide.

 

[s44]

Oh, some Verizon phones have GSM radios for world roaming. But I believe there are restrictions on them (Verizon SIM only!?), and I've never heard of anyone doing a full unlock to use one of these as their main phone.

I'm also not sure why you'd want to, in this case... The big battery on the MAXX is nice, but at that price you should get the S3.

 

[cbrunny]

Interesting.

A quick google search revealed this: http://techtips.salon.com/can-unlock-verizon-droid-20089.html

No idea if it is credible or not, but enough for me to not take the risk.

 

[aylafan]

Oh, some Verizon phones have GSM radios for world roaming. But I believe there are restrictions on them (Verizon SIM only!?), and I've never heard of anyone doing a full unlock to use one of these as their main phone.

You are correct. Verizon phones are locked to Verizon's CDMA network. Verizon has blocked all U.S. local GSM networks (probably even different CDMA networks). They do this by whitelisting the MEID on the mobile phone in their database or through the serial number on the SIM card you insert into the mobile phone.

You'll still be able to unlock your Verizon phone for international SIM cards as long you call Verizon and tell them to unlock it for you. The Verizon phones will even work on international GSM networks because Verizon did not block those international GSM networks/international GSM SIM cards. However, any U.S. local GSM SIM card like AT&T will be blocked.

In short, Verizon phones don't use SIM cards because it is on a CDMA network; if you are able to use a SIM card then it'll probably go straight to "roaming" and it'll be expensive.