What's the difference between an regual cell and UNLOCKED cell phone?

[Techie333]

I have some surplus BRAND NEW Motorola T720 I wanted to ebay off, but I see some ebayers put UNLOCKED out of nowhere even though it is still Alltel phone. What does this mean? Are mines unlocked? I have programming instructions if that what it means?

 

[PoPPeR]

unlockable phones are ones that can be activated on another carrier that supports that phone. ie ATT & Cingular both operate on GSM network, thus an unlocked ATT phone can be activated and used on the Cingular network. Your phone isn't unlocked unless someone unlocked it for you. I dont know how to unlock phones but it's not something you do by accident

 

[Techie333]

Well, if I can get into the programming of the phones, can I unlock them?

 

[brtspears2]

Not necesarry activiated, but orignally the phone was LOCKED to one carrier, so you can't use another carrier's SIM in it. Unlocking allows for use of any sim in your phone.

Unlocking Nokia's and Samsungs piece of cake. Unsure about Motos, never did those.

 

[isekii]

Originally posted by: Techie333
Well, if I can get into the programming of the phones, can I unlock them?

You either need to reflash with the provider free firmware, or get the provider to give you the unlock code.

 

[PoPPeR]

i dont know the process one goes through to unlock a phone, but maybe someone else knows.

 

[brtspears2]

T720 is a remote unlock if I remember correctly, ask the provider of the phone, perhaps they will give it out.

 

[Mark R]

If you ask your provider they will give out the unlock code (assuming that your phone is fully paid for, your minimum term contract has expired, etc.). Some will charge a token fee to give you the code.

Many phones can be unlocked in alternative ways - either reflashing the firmware with a cracked version, reprogramming the configuration memory, or by calculating the unlock code.

Nokias can be unlocked by code very easily. The software to do it is readily available on the web.

 

[Techie333]

well I think I might already have the unlock code because I was a former Alltel dealer, but my dealership got shut down since we were not making enough activations per month. I have the code to enter the programming. If you enter the unlock code, does it just unlock the phone, or are you supposed to go under a certain setting of the phone and change it?
I just have these phones (4) new because they are excess stock and just want the most money for them since Alltel made us pay $235 for these phones.

 

[isekii]

what phones are they ?