Anyone have any knowledge about “Subsidy Pass" codes for cellphones when moving from one phone to another? My wife got a new cellphone recently so I wanted to take her old one and use it to replace the one I’ve been using. I inserted my SIM care into her old/my new phone (Motorola VT220) and turned it on. It first tells me to “Contact Service Provider” and then a short while later to “Enter Subsidy Pass…” I spent a long time on the phone with support at *both* Cingular and AT&T and neither one of these companies say they can help me. Just on a long shot, does anyone here have any insight to the way this works or tell me who I can call to get this info? I’m sure this is just a scam to in an attempt to make us continue to shell out more $$$ to buy yet one more phone. The phone I’m trying to use is perfectly good and there’s no blankety-blank reason I should have to buy another one.
You could always just take the phone to your local Cingular store, hand it across the counter and say "I need this phone to work on my number...." They'll probably do it immediately and for free...
You and her both need to be on the same provider. I know ATT & Cingular mergered, but you can not use a Cingular Sim in an ATT phone or an ATT Sim in a Cingular phone. I've tried this a few times to know
I had already taken both phones to the local Cingular store and asked them to 'make it happen' but they just tried to make me think the phone was 'broken' and that I needed to buy another on. BS of course. I then called Cingular support who pawned me off to ATT support. Even though it's technically one company, it's still being run as two separate businesses - different software, infrastructure, etc. Both of these support reps gave me the runaround. I then called Cingular again. This time I reached a technical rep who explained what the problem was: The unlock codes can only be provided by the manufacturer (Motorola). Their contract specifies that they can only provide the codes to AT&T - not to Cingular. The problem is that - from Motorola's perspective - the party with whom they had the agreement no longer exists and they won't give the information to Cingular (because their contract was not with Cingular). Anyway, bottom line is that the tech support guy said he would submit a request to Motorola to have them provide the unlock code. He also said they would probably deny the request too. It's obviously a scam perpetuated by the wireless providers under the false pretense of providing additional security or some such nonsense. Actually, it's just a blatant attempt to get us to buy more of their stupid phones. Either way, I've found an internet resource who comes well recommended and will do it for $25.00 if I have to...
25 bucks? I have a few utilities and resources that can unlock it as well. I don't think I'll charge you 25 bucks for it. drop me a pm and I'll try to locate the little apps you need.
Its a sim lock. The phone is locked to the provider. I know that with T-mobile, once you;ve been with them for 90 days, they will gladly unlock your phone. I believe it is true that the manufacturer provides the unlock code but I think its BS that they will "deny the request". Motorola simply gives the code to the phones owner. If the owner is AT&T then only they could ever deny the request. They subsidize the cost of the phone, so that $400 phone that you for for $99 with a 1 year plan will take a year for them to get their ROI. If they unlock it, you can go with another carrier, so its not always in their interest to do so. You should ask what period of time you must be with them before they will issue an unlock code, and if that length of time has passed (even if you closed the account since) you should demand the unlock code and keep going up the chain until you get it. I also am pretty sure there are a couple of ways the phones can be locked. One way can use a piece of software you run on the PC with the phone connected to the USB cable and it will unlock it. Another type requires the phone to be in the hands of the unlocker. Most likely they pop it open and reflash a ROM chip or something, but I know one kind of unlocking does require the phone be sent somewhere. Good luck!
brother that V220 you have is not even worth the trouble, I have alot of Unlocked phones, (T-mobile Dealer) if you need a phone PM me I will gladdly help you out...I have a barely used Blue RAZOR (unlocked, free just pay for shipping) I can send to you that you can use on Cingular, or whoever...it's unlocked
