On Sun, 04 Oct 2009 15:13:54 -0400, Lewis G Rosenthal wrote:
>Disclaimer:
>
>I use a toothbrush, but I'm not a dentist.
>I can sometimes fix an electric toothbrush, but I'm still not a dentist
>(or an electrical engineer).
>I try to obey the laws of the United States, but I'm not an attorney.
>I have *never* personally unlocked a cell phone - any cell phone - nor
>have I obtained nor distributed the tools or information necessary to
>accomplish such a task.
>Where there's a will, there's usually a way.
>and finally...
WADR, to my good friend Lewis, I fit all but one of his disclaimers:
* I DO own an unlocked phone - A GSM Palm Treo 650.
* The phone was purchased locked from Cingular.
* Cingular is now AT&T and, honestly as soon as I
can get a Palm Pre from other than:
- AT&T because there support and attitude stinks.
- Sprint, only because of what I have heard from
others about their support.
I will be off of AT&T.
Here is MY experience with unlocking my Treo:
* When I first looked into the Treo, it was because I was
planning a trip to Europe and wanted to buy a prepaid
SIM to avoid the high cost of roaming in Europe.
* My agreement [verbal, but written into my customer record]
was that the phone would be locked for the first four
months of my 1-year contract; just before leaving the country.
* After the agreed to time, I called Cingular Customer Service
I gave them the phone ID info and they sent me a message with
the instructions [rather convoluted] to unlock the phone. It
worked as intended.
* I have not changed any of the Treo software, so it became
an 'AT&T logo' phone when the purchase occurred. But, the
difference in support was like day and night after the
change.
* I tried to buy another phone from AT&T under the same terms
where I would sign a NEW contract and after some period,
the phone would be unlocked, but I was told:
"AT&T never unlocks phone purchased originally
from AT&T. The phones are permanently, hard-wired
to NEVER be unlocked."
I have also been told this same story by Cincinnati Bell
who [or so I was told by a CBW Rep - True? I cannot say
for sure.] used to get their phones, support and bandwidth
from AT&T prior to the AT&T purchase by SW Bell. So, it
seems to fit the pattern.
* I am unable to use some of the new functions offered by AT&T,
even the 'free' ones because they claim, on the one hand that
"all you need is an internet enabled phone" but then telling
me that the "Treos are no longer supported." Thus, my attitude
about AT&T. They still think they are a monopoly and the
customer does not matter. So, even if Sprint is the only
source of the Pre, I will probably go to Sprint. [My son
just purchased a Pre that he really likes. And, at least
so far, he is happy with Sprint service and support.]
So, as usual: YMMV, but this is MY experience with one vendor,
one phone that started locked and is now unlocked.
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