How To Carrier Unlock Virtually Any Smartphone
Should you factory unlock your smart-phone from home and is it illegal to do so?
So you've hopefully reached the end of your cellphone contract, you have done paying for your high priced smartphone and you're anxious to look for a cheaper pre paid deal. There's just one catch. Your device is locked to your current network provider and if you can't fix that, you aren't gonna be able to find a cheaper option offered by other networks. So, how do you get your mobile permanently unlocked and get your pick of the P-A-Y-G deals? Luckily, it's essentially pretty straightforward.
Am I permitted to carrier unlock a mobile phone?
Absolutely nothing is criminal about unlocking your smartphone. It is your phone and you're well within your legal rights to use it with any network you desire. Yet, there is a good chance permanently unlocking your phone could end your warranty, so it might be best to hold-off until you've reached the end of your contract before you decide to ditch your current network.
What options are there if my network will not unlock my cell phone?
- High street unlocking providers: You will commonly see signs in retail outlets, market stalls and even hairdressers offering mobile unlocking services and it's typical to pay around $35 or above for the service.
- Unlocking companies: There are many websites that offer to source IMEI unlocks for you, but it is a wise decision you read review sites to get an informed perspective of how honest they are before you part with your hard earned cash. Be warned there are a large number of fraudsters offering these products and services!
- D.I.Y.: Some technically-minded folks may very well be able to achieve this on their own but it isn't very easy and will have to have specialist computer software.
A handful of networks won't charge for unlocking support while some others can easily charge about $100. It's also worth taking into consideration that each networks has unique policies associated to how long you may have had your regular monthly or pay-as-you-go contract for and how to get your code. A large percentage of networks have online forms, but quite a few will need you to contact their helplines. How long it could take to unlock your cell phone again ranges broadly between each provider. In the UK, Vodafone for example, will unlock an iPhone in a week, while Sky Mobile declare it may well take up to 40 calendar days to unlock network locked handsets.
Who's the most reliable and cheapest 3rd-party unlocking company on line?
If you're uncertain which business you can trust, I highly recommend Unlock.Zone. They offer unlocks for all major brands and carriers, give a guaranteed price match promise, but primarily, offer a no questions asked refund policy in the unlikely event they can't unlock your cell phone. I have used them myself and was very happy with the service I received and ultimately that they successfully unlocked my phone.
Here's a link to their homepage: Mobile Phone Unlocker