Searching around on the Web, I’ve found a lot of sites that will charge you between $25 and $35 to unlock your Samsung i607 Blackjack. However, I came across a post describing how to get your phone unlocked for free via Cingular. I decided to try it, since I’m legitimately headed to Europe this summer and need to unlock my phone.
I couldn’t find much on the Web about it, so I thought I’d write up a comprehensive post about my experience unlocking the phone.
I called Cingular’s International Care Center at (916) 843-4685 Tuesday morning and spoke with a customer service representative, who confirmed that I could unlock all my Cingular phones for international travel. To unlock my Blackjack, I read him my International Mobile Equipment Identity, or IMEI, number, which can be found on the product box or by entering the code *#06# on the Blackjack’s keypad.
After I read him the IMEI, he processed it through the computer and gave me an unlock code specific to my phone. He then instructed me to power down my phone, take out the Subscriber Identification Module, or SIM, card and power it back up. Once the phone rebooted, I entered in the code #7465625*638*, which brought up the prompt: Enter Network Control Key. I put in my unlock code, and the phone returned the message: Successfully Disable Locking Status.
I haven’t tested the phone with a SIM card from a different network, so I’m not sure if this actually worked. However, the screen prompts looked promising.
Afterward, I tried to unlock my old Motorola v551, however, the representative told me that I could not do it over the phone and had to wait seven to 10 business days for an e-mail with an unlock code and instructions. I went ahead and submitted a request.
The reason why all this is possible probably is because of the Library of Congress and the Register of Copyright, which made phone unlocking legal in November 2006. The governing bodies announced six exemptions to the Digital Millennium Copyright Act, the fifth of which was:
5. Computer programs in the form of firmware that enable wireless telephone handsets to connect to a wireless telephone communication network, when circumvention is accomplished for the sole purpose of lawfully connecting to a wireless telephone communication network.
The exemptions, according to the government, must be argued for every three years, so the legality of phone unlocking could go away in 2010. For now, I’m just glad I’ll have a phone when I travel this summer. Some good stories about these exemptions have appeared in Ars Technica, The Register and Wired News.
im gonna try this right now.
They are emailing me the code – guess the nokia 6682 cant be done over the phone either!
Nope, this was possible before that law. Any mobile phone company will do this for international travel. I unlocked both my wife’s and my phone last summer when I headed to Europe. I actually called the T-Mobile International help line through SkypeOut, but that’s another story. There, I bought a prepaid plan and simply swapped out the SIM cards. Since our phones work on GSM, we were able to use them just fine throughout our stay. When we left, we put our US SIM cards back in, and when we touched down on US soil, we were able to make calls as expected.
But, and this is important to keep in mind, if people abuse this by faking international travel, I suspect the phone companies will find ways to make it more difficult. And I’d hate to see that happen.
Nope, this was possible before that law. Any mobile phone company will do this for international travel. I unlocked both my wife’s and my phone last summer when I headed to Europe. I actually called the T-Mobile International help line through SkypeOut, from Europe, but that’s another story. There, I bought a prepaid plan and simply swapped out the SIM cards. Since our phones work on GSM, we were able to use them just fine throughout our stay. When we left, we put our US SIM cards back in, and when we touched down on US soil, we were able to make calls as expected.
But, and this is important to keep in mind, if people abuse this by faking international travel, I suspect the phone companies will find ways to make it more difficult. And I’d hate to see that happen.
Every PacBell/Cingular/AT&T phone that I”ve owned has been unlocked by the provider free of charge.
I didn’t even have to say I was travelling out of the country.
However, the last time I called, I was told that they would only unlock a phone, if you had all previous phones unlocked. :(
May be that has changed with the new law.
I need to call tomorrow, since I just got a Blackjack last week.
I live outside US (in Taiwan) and brough a cCngular BlackJack (Samsung brand) phone last week during my trip to U.S. Since I am not Cingular subscriber, wondering can anyone help to to call the Cingular and unlock my phone. I actually paid a full amount (US$450) for the phone without subscription from Cingular so not trying to cheating the Cingular here.
many thanks for whoever can help.
if no one help you than you have to purchase unlock code. here is a reliable website http://www.cheapunlock.com
cool
I tried this and it works like a charm in Singapore. Thanks!
I just got off the phone with Cingular. They will have to email the unlock codes for my V551 as well as my older ATT V600. No problems…
Thanks, Wayne! I called the Cingular International Care Center and got my phone unlocked in 2 minutes! They were very nice and helpful. The gave me the code for my Pantech phone and then emailed me the instructions. I put in an old sim card I had to try out the code and it worked. Hopefully it’ll work in Australia.
Thanks! I just got my unlock code. I don’t have another sim to try, but I’m assuming it will work when I get to my destination.
Just entered the code and it works perfect on the various euro networks… thanks for the hint you honestly saved me 30 bucks as I was going to buy it from either gsmliberty or imei-unlock….
hey i have a 6243 nokia nd i cant unlock the simlock
Called the international care number and they gave me the code for my Blackjack on the spot. I tested my phone by placing a call using a coworkers T-Mobile sim card. Glad to see ATT/Cingular has backed off the “We will not unlock your phone” stance.
hi there, and I lived in New York so I came to Brazil but my blackjack from Cingular has blocked to give you help me unlock? I do not have to call for international Cingular
Just tried this for my Treo 750. They said they would send me email with instructions within 5 business days. Let’s see what happens.
Hey…the blackjack did not work to unlock phone.
thanks,
Brad
Do you have to be a cingular customer to get the unlock code? I am with Tmobile but I want a blackjack. Can I call cingular and get the unlock code even though I do not use their services?
Thanks,
Scott
They told me to that because my account was less than 90 days old that I would have to enroll for International feature and then wait 5 to 7 business days for the unlock code. I told them to go fuck themselves and sold my Blackjack. They are making this as difficult as possible for some.
Yeah, I just got a brand new Blackjack with Cingular. I travel to Europe all the time – one week in three is in London, so I have a veritable collection of SIM cards. They gave me some B/S about them not unlocking a phone within 90 days, but guess what, 90 days is 4 weeks in London for me. I’m unclear whether this is legal under the new legislation or not. They’re essentially denying me the request to unlock the phone.
“Well, sir, you can certainly have Cingular as your international provider while you’re travelling.” What earthly use is that to me, the people calling me while I’m in the UK, or to my bank balance? You have to wonder why everyone treats you as guilty until you’ve proven (in this case by 90 days of paying your bill – what was that credit check about?) you’re innocent. Or adult and responsible.
I guess I’ll try the Blackjack for a bit, since I have 30 days to take it back, then back it goes.
Update – rather than send it back immediately as Trent did, I got them to submit the “5-7 days” request, and this morning I have an e-mail from Cingular with the unlock code for my phone.
So far, 50-50 service. I did have to call back to speak to someone more helpful, but it worked…
Thanks!
I called the number you gave, and they were very helpful. I was able to unlock my blackjack. For my wife’s LG CU500, it can only be done in the country she is planning to visit. She gave me elaborate instructions on the procedure.
My blackjack is now successfully unlocked. Great work!
may i have that code to unlock my black jack phone .
Hey this all looks good so far, but what is the network control key? no matter what i entered it didnt work…
thanks anyways
If you can email me back at madcow336@gmail.com
josh
Just called Cingular. They were really helpful and I got the code for my SonyEricsson right over the phone. THX for the article
Hi,
Thanks for the article Wayne! I have the same question as Scott, also posted on this page. I am not a Cingular customer but got a BlackJack from a friend and would like to use it while traveling in Europe. I called Cingular and they said that if you’re not a cingular customer you have to call Samsung to get the unlock code. I have not called Samsung yet. Does anyone have any suggestions about this?
Thanks a bunch!
i HAVE JUST PURCHASED A BLACK JACK FROM MIAMI
I AM IN THE CARRIBEAN AND NEED THE UNLOCK CODE SO
THAT I CAN USE CABLE AND WIRELESS.
DOES ANYONE HAVE THE TEL NUMBER FOR THE INTERNATIONAL
CINGULAR CARE CENTRE I AM UNABLE TO SOURCE
ANY COMMENTS WOULD BE HELPFUL
THANKS
Thanks for sharing. Based on prev. posts, I called the Int’l Care Center and was told that I would receive unlock code in 5-7 bus. days. 2 days later recd an email saying request declined due to contract being less than 90 days old, discounted phone price, and not signing up for Int’l Roaming. After one hr of back and forth w/3 diff reps, they signed me up for Int’l Roaming and gave me the unlock code over the phone. Leaving for India shortly…let’s see if it works!
Thanks for this site!
hifue.info
Shouldn’t this law (or whatever) also apply to the new iPhone?
WATCH OUT – if U try to unlock Blackjack 5x your phone will be frozen so your phone will not ever be unlockable! I called Cingular ATT and the first person “helped me” for like an hour! We tried 3 times, unsuccessfully. Note: with this unlock process, you type stuff in with no characters showing up on the display.
I plugged in a t-mobile sim to see if it was shipped unlocked- and a simple menu came up!
NOTE THE EASIER WAY:
1. Put in a t-mobile sim card. A prompt asks for the unlock code with a text box
2. type in the 8 digit unlock code
3. Hit the key under “OK” on the screen
4. The phone will tell you it is unlocked
5. Make a call- it will say t-mobile. :)
4th time’s a charm. :)
For the record I like ATT/Cingular and are happy they helped me out… even though they don’t have windows mobile 6 upgrade yet :(
Please, Help me! A have a BlackJack phone. I am now in Ukraine, the Europe, I have unblocked my BlackJack phone under this card GSM, phone works normally. But I cannot use the Internet as in phone the password of an input in a network is blocked. How it is possible to unblock the password? Problem in that at input of structure GPRS it is impossible to keep the password of the new operator.
Worked for me.
Thanks for the info.
Yeap just got this done, tried with a T-Mobile sim, worked as a charm.
Thanks !!!
thanks for this info, was really helpful!
amazing. worked like a charm, called and they gave me the unlock code for my l6 slvr in less than a minute! didn’t even have to suffer on hold to speak to a person! thanks!
I just tried this with a Blackjack I bought on Craig’s list.
I’m am not a cingular customer.
They wouldn’t do it. They said I’d need to go back to the retailer (clearly not possible) with some form that the retailer would state that I bought it from them at full retail. Then I’d have to fax in a form which would then kick off the code assignment process.
What are you guys saying when you get to the support person?
This is for Weird Ed, did you ever get your TREO 750 unlocked? I’m going to Italy and want to do the same. Thanks.
I just did it for my TREO 750. I called AT&T and they gave me the code right over the phone. You need to have a SIM card for another service to put in the phone to do it.
please give me subsidy password for motorola v303
Does anyone know how long it takes to unlock a black jack? Is it days or more like immediately?
Thanks.
Hi all!
Very interesting information! Thanks!
Bye
i would like to have a blackjack in my hands right now
Strange I will have to find someone with another sim chip Mine said it was unlocked after the buttons were pushed as the Cingular guy said but when I put in a nextel chip in it would not work. I wonder if it is just with nextel sim chips.
I think that is the case because Nextel is now under the Sprint coverage. Sprint uses I believe the GDMA system, not a GSM system. Verizon Wireless is GDMA as well but does not use SIM cards. That is most likely the reason that that is the reason why it is not working.
Cheers,
Mitch
Thanks, worked great for me today. Unlocked my blackjack. The support person at AT&T thought I wouldn’t see some of the numbers before the network control code, but it worked just typing them all in. I tested it out with my mobal.com global sim card (O2) and once I went to the O2 settings it connected and I was able to make a call. And, I also asked them to unlock my Nokia 6126 but I will have to wait for the code and instructions over email.
Thanks a lot for this. I found the people to be much more competent at the international care center than at the regular Cingular/ATT helpline; they had to email me the code for my Motorola v180, but it came in about 10 days, I think it was, and it worked perfectly. Thanks again.
I unlocked my phone with great help from Cingular -the new ATT and it ‘Successfully disabled locking system’
I have placed another sim in and does not like it at all?
any ideas?
Thank you very much. It worked! I was able to unlock my Blackjack. If you want the toll-free number for Cingular/AT&T’s International Care Center, you can try (800) 335-4685.
I unlocked my Blackjack but when I put in my T-Mobile SIM, it says NO SERVICE.
Then I put back my ATT SIM, it also displayed NO SERVICE, however I’m in both carrier’s metro service area and I get service if I put back my T-Mobile SIM to my T-Mobile phone.
Any suggestions/ideas?
is there any way i cant my new blackjack (less than 90 days old) unlocked in the US without international travel?