Droid 3 SIM unlock discussion

[leobg]

Just got an email from the website....unable to generate an unlock code for you, although this model is typically un-lockable.....we are refunding your $8 and will send you the unlock code with our compliments as soon as we can generate it.

May I request everyone that gets a Droid 3 call the Verizon Global Traveler Desk and request a SIM unlock code when they get their new phones? Just want to make sure that this stays on their radar in whatever service desk system they track these calls in.

... especially the $8 website! Thanks

Sent from my DROID2 GLOBAL using Tapatalk

Alex, please let us know if the online unlocker sends you the complimentary code. It will be a good sign phone would be unlockable without Verizon's help. Genuinely good information for non-US potential users.

 

[opensystemfan]

hello,

i am from germany and i want to buy a Motorola Droid 3.
has the droid 3 a sim lock ? would it be possible to buy it in the us
and use it in germany/europe ?
know someone whihc way would be the best shipping ?
hope you can help me. sorry for my bad english.

 

[rweb]

As you can read in this thread, it is still not confirmed that SIM-unlocking with third party codes works.
So you cannot (at least not yet) buy any D3 and be able to use it in Germany. But if you find a seller on ebay.com or so who assures you to give you proper unlocking codes from Verizon, the phone will most likely work in Germany.
The seller either has to ship the phone to Germany or you use a service like borderlinx.com.


In diesem Thread steht doch, dass SIM-Unlocking bisher nur fuer Verizon Vertragskunden funktioniert, die seit mindestens 6 Monaten keine offenen Rechnungen mehr haben. Diese Kunden bekommen Codes direkt von Verizon, die auch funktionieren. Wenn Du einen Verkaeufer findest (bei ebay.com oder so), der Dir solch einen Code mitliefert, dann wird das D3 hoechstwahrscheinlich auch in Deutschland funktionieren.
Er muss aber bereit sein das Teil nach Deutschland zu senden, oder Du nutzt sowas wie borderlinx.com.
_Sobald_ es Bestaetigungen gibt, dass auch third party Codes funktionieren, kann man auch relativ bedenkenlos beliebige D3 kaufen -- hierfuer solltest Du diesen Thread noch weiter verfolgen.

 

[rweb]

I totally like the specs of D3 and seriously consider upgrading my D2G. For use in Canada primarily.

Just realized a GSM-only version is announced for Canada:

Motorola Mobility, Inc. - Media Center - Press Releases - Motorola Mobility Canada Introduces Motorola XT860 4G: World's Thinnest QWERTY Slider Smartphone

 

[adammhaile]

2 Interesting Details...

Just got my SIM unlock code! Really easy, took less than 2 minutes...
2 interesting things I was told though:
a) Rep said that most likely, only voice will work and no data. Though it's very possible that they are just covering their asses in case that for some reason another provider's network doesn't play nice with they phones GSM 3G stack...

b) Apparently, though I had read to the contrary earlier, the GSM unlock will work for USA domestic carriers (AT&T, T-Mobile) as well.

Not entirely sure why you would want to use it on a USA GSM carrier... but at least it is an option... maybe as a backup? Second phone number? Whatever, thought it was cool.

Anyone been able to test that GSM data works (if so or not, please state which carrier/country).

 

[neilrl79]

I don't have any plans to travel abroad, but if i ever decide to do so i would like to know my phone will work. So my question is, does it matter if i unlock it and then never use it? Will it cost me any $ to unlock it, either for them giving me the code or extra monthly charges? It won't change my plan will it?
Sorry for all the questions, this is my 1st global phone.

 

[adammhaile]

I don't have any plans to travel abroad, but if i ever decide to do so i would like to know my phone will work. So my question is, does it matter if i unlock it and then never use it? Will it cost me any $ to unlock it, either for them giving me the code or extra monthly charges? It won't change my plan will it?
Sorry for all the questions, this is my 1st global phone.

So, I cannot guarantee the complete accuracy of the following, but it is correct as far as I have gathered...

a) No, it does not cost anything to unlock.
b) No, it will not change your plan or incur extra monthly charges.
c) Since this is not a GSM only phone (and they know they've still got you on the hook for the CDMA side) they don't really give you as much trouble about unlocking it as, for example, AT&T would.
d)Unlocking only requires that your line be active with no late payments for at least 6 months. This is not specific to the phone itself, just that particular number, so even though you just got the phone if you are a previous customer they will unlock it for you with no problems.
e) You do not have to "use it" right away. It's just a code that you will only ever have to use if you insert a non-VZW SIM card. I just got my unlock code so that it would be done whenever I travel to Europe next. Since I do not have a different SIM there was nothing I could do, though I did stick a small piece of masking tape under the back cover with the unlock code (it's 8 digits) on it. That way, I can get to europe and when I open the back to insert the new SIM, there's the code.
f) According to the rep I talked to, this will work on even USA carriers (my guess is that they made the phone this way so that they can actually release it anywhere in the world on any carrier without changing the hardware, just software, probably). So if you have a friend on a USA GSM carrier, you could probably borrow your SIM to test it out.
g) Once you DO have a new SIM and insert it, the phone will prompt you for the code. Once entered, it will be forever unlocked and the code will not have to be entered again. EVEN if you do a software or firmware update. From what I can gather the unlock status is stored in the SIM controller chip (or something else that will never be overwritten).
h) According to VZW, voice will work on any carrier, but data is not guaranteed... but MAY work. So, probably best to get a prepaid card where minutes and data use come out of the same pool of money... that way if data doesn't work, it won't go to waste.

Sorry for the long winded answer, but I thought I would get down all I knew in case anyone else is wondering.

 

[adammhaile]

Oh yeah, and if you go to Settings > Wireless & Networks > Mobile Networks > Network Mode, you can select between Global (Tries CDMA first, THEN GSM), CDMA Only or GSM Only. I set mine to CDMA only just because I'm OCD about such things, but this would be very important to remember since if you are out of the US and using a different SIM, you want to make sure you select GSM only in the case you are in a country that does have CDMA as well (I think Canada and some Asian countries still use it too) it won't try to roam on CDMA. Also, if you for some reason try to get it working in the USA on a GSM carrier, you MUST set it to GSM only, otherwise it will just connect to VZW and ignore the GSM side.

 

[neilrl79]

I don't have any plans to travel abroad, but if i ever decide to do so i would like to know my phone will work. So my question is, does it matter if i unlock it and then never use it? Will it cost me any $ to unlock it, either for them giving me the code or extra monthly charges? It won't change my plan will it?
Sorry for all the questions, this is my 1st global phone.

So, I cannot guarantee the complete accuracy of the following, but it is correct as far as I have gathered...

a) No, it does not cost anything to unlock.
b) No, it will not change your plan or incur extra monthly charges.
c) Since this is not a GSM only phone (and they know they've still got you on the hook for the CDMA side) they don't really give you as much trouble about unlocking it as, for example, AT&T would.
d)Unlocking only requires that your line be active with no late payments for at least 6 months. This is not specific to the phone itself, just that particular number, so even though you just got the phone if you are a previous customer they will unlock it for you with no problems.
e) You do not have to "use it" right away. It's just a code that you will only ever have to use if you insert a non-VZW SIM card. I just got my unlock code so that it would be done whenever I travel to Europe next. Since I do not have a different SIM there was nothing I could do, though I did stick a small piece of masking tape under the back cover with the unlock code (it's 8 digits) on it. That way, I can get to europe and when I open the back to insert the new SIM, there's the code.
f) According to the rep I talked to, this will work on even USA carriers (my guess is that they made the phone this way so that they can actually release it anywhere in the world on any carrier without changing the hardware, just software, probably). So if you have a friend on a USA GSM carrier, you could probably borrow your SIM to test it out.
g) Once you DO have a new SIM and insert it, the phone will prompt you for the code. Once entered, it will be forever unlocked and the code will not have to be entered again. EVEN if you do a software or firmware update. From what I can gather the unlock status is stored in the SIM controller chip (or something else that will never be overwritten).
h) According to VZW, voice will work on any carrier, but data is not guaranteed... but MAY work. So, probably best to get a prepaid card where minutes and data use come out of the same pool of money... that way if data doesn't work, it won't go to waste.

Sorry for the long winded answer, but I thought I would get down all I knew in case anyone else is wondering.

Thanks dude, very informative.

 

[bsweetness]

f) According to the rep I talked to, this will work on even USA carriers (my guess is that they made the phone this way so that they can actually release it anywhere in the world on any carrier without changing the hardware, just software, probably). So if you have a friend on a USA GSM carrier, you could probably borrow your SIM to test it out.

That part is not true, but the rest is spot-on. Verizon completely locks out the US GSM bands on their global Android phones, so it can't be used with AT&T or T-Mobile at all. You probably could use a US SIM card to get the unlock prompt though.

 

[adammhaile]

That part is not true, but the rest is spot-on. Verizon completely locks out the US GSM bands on their global Android phones, so it can't be used with AT&T or T-Mobile at all. You probably could use a US SIM card to get the unlock prompt though.

That's what I thought.... but then the Rep. told me otherwise, but having US carriers totally locked out (though, technically the hardware is capable of it right?) makes way more sense.

 

[jon_bennett]

d)Unlocking only requires that your line be active with no late payments for at least 6 months. This is not specific to the phone itself, just that particular number, so even though you just got the phone if you are a previous customer they will unlock it for you with no problems.
.

It is specific to this phone. For a droid 3 had to have 2 months criteria met, however when I realised I couldnt buy this I asked about the droid 2 and they said they could give me the code straight away.

Im from the UK, just went to the US to visit my girlfriend and wanted to pick up this phone as there is no chance of UK release.

Spent about 2 hrs in the Verizon wall st store with a really helpful guy. But in the end I couldnt get the phone, due verizon head office stating that I had to have a contract for 2 months before they would give me the code. They wouldnt even accept my offer of paying 6 months contract up front!

Im now devestated as having been a droid 1 user for a few years now and playing around on the D3 I desperately want one and to use it in the UK only.

 

[bsweetness]

d)Unlocking only requires that your line be active with no late payments for at least 6 months. This is not specific to the phone itself, just that particular number, so even though you just got the phone if you are a previous customer they will unlock it for you with no problems.
.

It is specific to this phone. For a droid 3 had to have 2 months criteria met, however when I realised I couldnt buy this I asked about the droid 2 and they said they could give me the code straight away.

Im from the UK, just went to the US to visit my girlfriend and wanted to pick up this phone as there is no chance of UK release.

Spent about 2 hrs in the Verizon wall st store with a really helpful guy. But in the end I couldnt get the phone, due verizon head office stating that I had to have a contract for 2 months before they would give me the code. They wouldnt even accept my offer of paying 6 months contract up front!

Im now devestated as having been a droid 1 user for a few years now and playing around on the D3 I desperately want one and to use it in the UK only.

If you're a Verizon customer in the US, it isn't specific to any particular phone. It's all tied to the phone number and the account. They were probably willing to give you the code for the Droid 2 Global straight away because they're going to have trouble selling that one now that the Droid 3 is out. It would be worth it for them to forgo the whole "being a customer in good standing" bit of it just to move one of the older units. With the Droid 3 however, they won't see the need to disregard the policy since it's so new. But it's definitely the same no matter what phone you're using if you're a Verizon customer.

Online vendors may eventually get Droid 3 SIM unlock codes so a contract with Verizon may not be necessary. If not, keep a look out for an unlocked Milestone 3 (whenever those might drop).

 

[yastern]

I also received an unlock code immediately, but have been a longterm Verizon customer. One other thing to be aware of. If you think you might want to use the GSM simcard that Verizon provides with the phone, make sure to get someone at Verizon to enable the sim. I am now in Paris and had to phone customer support back in the US to get it enabled. No one had warned me about this. It's convenient to have the card enabled in case you need to make a call or two before you can get your hands on a local providor simcard.

 

[NickC]

DROID 3 Unlock Code works, but...

I upgraded to a D3 today from an original Droid(well, the replacement for that one)....

I need to use this phone in Germany with a non-Verizon Vodafone SIM at the beginning of September.

I was able to get Verizon to unlock the phone for the generic SIM.

That's the good news.

HOWEVER...

You can't TEST the GSM access while physically within the US.

Verizon won't allow GSM service on the phone domestically.

I know the SIM works(it works in a regular GSM phone), so I'm not worried about using it.

I WAS annoyed that it took two calls and a wasted 90 minutes to find this out.

In their defense, it is a new phone, etc.

Just got an email from the website....unable to generate an unlock code for you, although this model is typically un-lockable.....we are refunding your $8 and will send you the unlock code with our compliments as soon as we can generate it.

May I request everyone that gets a Droid 3 call the Verizon Global Traveler Desk and request a SIM unlock code when they get their new phones? Just want to make sure that this stays on their radar in whatever service desk system they track these calls in.

... especially the $8 website! Thanks

Sent from my DROID2 GLOBAL using Tapatalk