Atrix 4G unlocking SIM

[r.Huzar]

I'm getting a bit frustrated... I have unlocked and rooted the phone and now I"m trying to unlock the SIM so that I can give it to my wife to use with a European Sim Card. I've googled, read and read and so far I've done the following:
1. Placed the European SIM into the phone (that I used in my old TMobile phone to date)
2. Was presented with "Enter sim network unlock pin"
3. Called AT&T and obtained the "unlock code".

I tried that code 3 times so far. After spending a fair amount of time with ATT support on the phone they believe that the "pin" is different from the "code". Btw, the unlock number was confirmed to me by ATT support folks twice... I rechecked the IMEI number twice... and I"m stuck... what do I do? Is there a difference?

Btw, I tried it under CM7 and AOKP

Thanks

 

[tobnddl]

SIM vs Carrier Unlock

There is definitely a difference between Carrier unlocking and SIM unlocking. I was steered wrong by AT&T the first time I asked. Essentially, they gave me a code that would allow me to override being locked out of my SIM card (to access phone numbers, etc) as a result of entering the SIM password wrong. This was NOT what I wanted.

I called back, and specifically requested a Carrier Unlock (for using other companies' SIMs), and they then made good on this request. You will need an active SIM from another carrier to get the job done, but if you specify your request to them, hopefully they will get it together. Another option is to buy a code at the numerous online re-sellers, but like I said, AT&T gave me mine for no cost. Good luck to you!

 

[r.Huzar]

There is definitely a difference between Carrier unlocking and SIM unlocking. I was steered wrong by AT&T the first time I asked. Essentially, they gave me a code that would allow me to override being locked out of my SIM card (to access phone numbers, etc) as a result of entering the SIM password wrong. This was NOT what I wanted.

I called back, and specifically requested a Carrier Unlock (for using other companies' SIMs), and they then made good on this request. You will need an active SIM from another carrier to get the job done, but if you specify your request to them, hopefully they will get it together. Another option is to buy a code at the numerous online re-sellers, but like I said, AT&T gave me mine for no cost. Good luck to you!

Thanks, unfortunately they keep sticking by their guns and claiming that the code they're providing me with is the proper one.....

 

[chrism.brunner]

Don't try too many times, after maybe 5, not sure, you can permanently lock your phone. It is a security measure.
You nay already know, but hate for you to mess up your phone.

 

[nh777]

I'm still convinced that there's no way AT&T or anyone else would be able to tell you remotely what the code is.

When you buy new SIMs, they come inside a credit card-shaped piece of plastic. On that card itself (not the sim), there's two spots: one for a PIN and one for a PUK. The PIN is needed because the new SIM defaults to being locked as a security feature. Every time you turn off the phone, the SIM locks itself. Once unlocked, however, you can go into a phone's SIM settings and leave it unlocked permanently for any phone.

You need to find the card that originally came with the SIM.

Chrism suggested not to attempt the wrong pin too many times. It won't lock your phone, it will lock the sim and then require you to enter the PUK code.

 

[chrism.brunner]

I still wonder if it is the phone. When you enter the code, then you can use any sim card. He wants to unlock the phone to work with a different carriers sim I believe.
His problem is with the phone, not with the sim, is it?
Could be wrong.

 

[chrism.brunner]

There is definitely a difference between Carrier unlocking and SIM unlocking. I was steered wrong by AT&T the first time I asked. Essentially, they gave me a code that would allow me to override being locked out of my SIM card (to access phone numbers, etc) as a result of entering the SIM password wrong. This was NOT what I wanted.

I called back, and specifically requested a Carrier Unlock (for using other companies' SIMs), and they then made good on this request. You will need an active SIM from another carrier to get the job done, but if you specify your request to them, hopefully they will get it together. Another option is to buy a code at the numerous online re-sellers, but like I said, AT&T gave me mine for no cost. Good luck to you!

I believe this is correct. Also, if you are entering the carrier code, and enter it wrong a specified number of times,i'm pretty sure it can lock your phone. I have unlocked well over a dozen, and have always been warned about it....

 

[nh777]

I still wonder if it is the phone. When you enter the code, then you can use any sim card. He wants to unlock the phone to work with a different carriers sim I believe.
His problem is with the phone, not with the sim, is it?
Could be wrong.

Reread the OP. The phone is already unlocked and rooted. That means that technically yes, he can use any sim card on his phone.

However, not all sims are sold unlocked. As I mentioned before, it's not uncommon to buy a prepaid sim outside of the US (like the OP's Euro sim) and be asked to enter the sim pin upon start up.

If you reread the OP, you'll see that he's describing exactly what I'm talking about. I've had to do this a handful of times on a handful of unlocked phones.

Regarding locking the device, again, the OP phone is already unlocked so locking the actual phone due to entering the incorrect pin is impossible. It would be the sim that would be locked (since the phone is asking for the sim pin) and could only be restored by entering the PUK. I've had to do this a couple of times myself for people who had forgotten their sim pin but still had their original card info at home. Once you enter the PUK, it works again.

 

[ltdanno360]

i would Spend the 20 or 30 buck online and get a diifferent code

Sent from my MB860 using Tapatalk

 

[chrism.brunner]

Regarding post #8
I agree with post #9 as well.


Maybe so, not my experience though. He has unlocked the bootloader and rooted. He has not carrier unlocked. I don't think that they are the same, but you could very well be right. Thanks. At least we are all trying to help him out.
That sim seems to already be unlocked if he has been using it in a T-Mobile phone to date. His ATRIX is still network locked.



OP. Let us know please. Now I am curious.
Thanks.

 

[nh777]

He has unlocked the bootloader and rooted. He has not carrier unlocked.

I still haven't read where the OP stated he unlocked the bootloader. Rooted, yes. When I read "unlocked," I take that as "Carrier unlocked" the way that googling "unlocked cell phone" would bring up unrestricted/debranded/etc. cell phones, not necessarily having anything to do with the status of the bootloader.

That said, the bit about him using the sim on his older tmobile phone made me assume one of two things: he either forgot the code he used for that phone or it's a bad sim.

Granted, not every carrier unlock code works but given that he was getting it directly from AT&T (and it was on their servers), it should work. My Atrix, for example, required a code off Motorola's servers and even then the first code worked perfectly.

Trust me, if the OP has gone through all this trouble and the only thing left is to try the SIM pin then... 1+1=?

 

[chrism.brunner]

With the ATRIX you usually unlock the bootloader first, but that would explain some confusion.
Hey, I'm not trying to argue or anything.



OP, what unlock did you perform?

 

[exwannabe]

This thread is seriously non reality based.

Neither rooting nor unlocking has anything to do with getting the subsidy unlock code that allows non-ATT sims to be used.

ATT can cerrtainly provide the vaild code, and has always done so for me (albeit after possibly a await time).

3rd parties MIGHT be able to provide the same code. YMWV.

There have been some reports (search) that with the wrong radio the unlock code does not take. So ithat might be a way to go.

 

[chrism.brunner]

Wow, we are going round and round. Good luck.

 

[getyroks]

Use search!!

I'm getting a bit frustrated... I have unlocked and rooted the phone and now I"m trying to unlock the SIM so that I can give it to my wife to use with a European Sim Card. I've googled, read and read and so far I've done the following:
1. Placed the European SIM into the phone (that I used in my old TMobile phone to date)
2. Was presented with "Enter sim network unlock pin"
3. Called AT&T and obtained the "unlock code".

I tried that code 3 times so far. After spending a fair amount of time with ATT support on the phone they believe that the "pin" is different from the "code". Btw, the unlock number was confirmed to me by ATT support folks twice... I rechecked the IMEI number twice... and I"m stuck... what do I do? Is there a difference?

Btw, I tried it under CM7 and AOKP

Thanks

Try THIS Thread---->Solved: Sim Unlock Fails With Valid Code

 

[r.Huzar]

Sorry for taking so long to reply but for whatever reason I missed the email saying that there are replies. Anyways, lets recap

Phone is rooted and unlocked. I can run any ROM that I want and bootloader is unlocked.

The sim cards I am testing on (yes, plural) are not locked (as in they do not require a code).

I am trying to use a non ATT sim card (specifically I am trying TMobile EU) so that when I go traveling to EU again I can use the ATRIX with my local number that I keep rather then the ancient HTC windows phone that I have used to date....

I have made 4 attempts at unlocking so that means I am down to last one.....