Proven methods to Unlock Cell Phones by IMEI
Tips to Unlock Cellular Phones via IMEI
By Enriqueta Busico
When ever you purchase a mobile phone from a mobile phone provider, it's always locked into that network's service. If the company provide you with a free or reduced price mobile phone, you commonly have to consent to a one- or two-year contract as well. You can avoid this contract and freely change between providers, along with travel overseas and roam on other networks, easily by unlocking your cellphone using the IMEI number. Following the three simple steps below will enable you to unlock your cell phone permanently.
Step 1
Find the 15-digit IMEI number. This is generally written on the phone beneath the battery. You can also typically find it inside your cellphone's setting page or by keying in a unique code to get your phone to display the number on the screen. In many cases, the code is *#06#
Step 2
After you've located the IMEI code of your smartphone, get hold of your existing service provider and ask if they'll give you an unlock code. Based on your circumstances, they might grant your request. Unfortunately, different networks may have thier own conditions that need to be fulfilled before they will provide you with an unlock code, and many may well refuse. Normally, if you've completed your contract, your cell phone provider may well provide you guidelines on how to unlock your phone, but typically they will insist you are the original owner of the cellphone (the contract on thier system is in your name). In the event you are not, for instance, you bought the smartphone secondhand, you will have to locate an alternative unlocking technique to a factory unlock your cell phone.
Step 3
When you're not the orginal owner of the mobile phone, you'll have to acquire an unlock service from a third party service provider. Thankfully there are a great deal of online providers offering services merely by giving them your cell phone's IMEI code, it's model and make and the network its locked to. The cost of the service and the time it takes to IMEI unlock your mobile phone depends upon these factors, and will vary quite significantly for more obscure handsets or networks. Utilising a 3rd party unlocking provider is commonly the quickest and most hassle-free way to factory unlock your mobile phone, as it is executed remotely without your phone ever needing to leave your pocession. After your cellphone's been sucessfully unlocked it can then be used on any network and in any country you wish.