Wanted: Locked Rogers Cell Phone Help

I’m headed to Croatia on Monday, I’ve got myself in a cell phone pickle, and I’m wondering if anyone in the readership can help with advice or pointers.

I’ve a borrowed Sony Ericsson T68i GSM cell phone. I originally thought it was unlocked — that is, not tied to a particular cell provider and thus capable of accepting SIM cards from any. I went ahead and purchased a SIM card from the Croatian VipMe provider (from the helpful folks at Telestial), a mobile charger, and a Bluetooth gizmo for my laptop.

It was only yesterday, when I was able to power on the phone for the first time and put all the pieces together, that I found that the phone was, indeed, locked to the Rogers network, and incapable of accepting SIM cards from other providers.

I spent a good part of the day on the phone to various parts of Rogers, and found only that (a) I could get the phone unlocked for a fee of $250, but only if (b) I have a Rogers account that’s been valid for a month or more. In other words, Rogers claims it’s impossible to help me by Monday, and even if it was would charge me $250 for the privilege.

I don’t have time to get an alternative phone, I don’t have access to a T68i “service cable” that would allow the phone to be unlocked via one of the various online services that advertise this.

It’s not vital that I have a phone while I’m away, and I do have the option of picking up a cheap phone in Europe or renting a phone once there.

But if any of the smart people in the readership have any suggestions, I’m open to them. Deadline is Monday at 2:00 p.m.

Comments

Lisa Howard's picture
Lisa Howard on October 2, 2004 - 10:37 Permalink

You might be better off to get a phone when you get there. I’ll see if I can get some advice from Mark our friend who spent time in the region.

Isaac Grant's picture
Isaac Grant on October 2, 2004 - 13:44 Permalink

I know there are plenty of shops in most big british cities that will unlock phones for a small fee — maybe you’ll be able to find the same in croatia?

Mitch's picture
Mitch on October 2, 2004 - 14:44 Permalink

Unfortunately, the news is usually bad in this scenario, unless you have more time than it appears you have, or a phonegeek in shining armour with the appropraite gear and expertise.

My limited understanding is that the 250 bucks Rogers extorts is simply for the code — no actual service on the unit. The unlock code is based on your IMEI (serialnumber), which you can determine yourself. There are some websites that might give possible codes if you submit an IMEI, but I didn’t see one specific to your phone though a more diligent search could be conducted. Seems a litttle dicey as well blindly submitting IMEI info to some unknown hole in cyberspace…

A website I reviewed (link at bottom), refers to a “policy” that may give an alternate route (though perhaps North America limited):

I should also mention here that there is a North American policy between GSM providers that they will, upon request, release the unlocking codes to another service provider if you wish to take your handset to another service provider. You make the request to the new service provider and then they request the unlocking codes from your old service provider so that the new provider may update the handset for their network. Note that you will not receive the unlocking codes”

Maybe (big maybe) your temporary provider in Croatia, or the middlepeople you consulted, could coax a code out of Rogers, as they could confirm the temporary international use, the fact that it is not an attempt to defeat Rogers service, and you wouldn’t actually get the code personally anyway.

Seems Rogers needs to be convinced that you are overseas with a legitimate temporary reason to need service outside of Rogers territory, and are not trying to defeat their service rules, which in turn appear to be the rationale for the crackerjack $250 fee.

You can check out this site for additonal info…very informative:

http://www.geckobeach.com/cell…

Good luck.

Nick Burka's picture
Nick Burka on October 2, 2004 - 16:46 Permalink

I took a British Nokia phone that was locked to the Orange phone network with me to Paris this September. I went into one of the cell phone shops near where I live (I’m sure in Croatia there will hundreds of them like here) and for 15 euros I got the phone unlocked, and for 40 euros I bought a new simcard.

Lisa Howard's picture
Lisa Howard on October 2, 2004 - 18:07 Permalink

I haven’t been in touch with our man on the ground yet because he’s moving, but phones are cheap here in Budapest (they’re cheap enough that every ten year old has one). The only problem I recall from our conversations with our friend was that due to animosity between various factions, it was hard to get one that would work everywhere. Now this may not apply to Croatia, but anyway if you bought a card phone in Croatia it probably wouldn’t cost very much.

foog's picture
foog on October 2, 2004 - 22:19 Permalink

The “card phone” thing is a pay-as-you go scheme. Dunno if you have them back in Canuckistan. Drug dealer’s best friend. No obligations and no I.D. hassles, just buy a phone and x amount of prepaid credits and yer off to the races. You can top-up your credits anytime, too.

Anyways, if you don’t mind foregoing bluetooth, fax, email, MMS, massager, and whatever other bells and buzzers your Sony has, I’m sure you could get a functional phone for well under 100 bucks. Then again, I’m sure that carrots are more fattening than pork lard, so there you have it.

One thing is for sure, you are far, far better off on your per-minute calling rates if you buy a phone (or at least a SIM card) in Croatia than if go with any roaming “partner network” crap.

You should also look into whether there is a cheap VOIP deal in Croatia. There’s one offered by Vodafone here in Hungary (dial three zeroes before the country code) that they downplay and fail to mention in all their ads. I guess that they’d rather have customers pay full rates on long distance. Imagine.

oliver's picture
oliver on October 3, 2004 - 02:38 Permalink

No, no, never. Animosity and factionalism in Croatia? Denmark, maybe, but Croatia?

mike's picture
mike on January 18, 2005 - 18:52 Permalink

i just farted

Joe's picture
Joe on June 21, 2005 - 02:49 Permalink

I have been trying to unlock my cell phone and i went to 3 guys here in toronto, Canada and no one was able to unlock it. So i found a guy (www.cellspeed.ca) through google and he did it with ease. Rogers wanted $250, for the same service. Rogers is trying to squeeze all of us that want to use our phones overseas.
Joe

david robertson's picture
david robertson on July 26, 2005 - 22:03 Permalink

Hi,

I unlocked my 6230 from www.cellspeed.ca too. It was a pleasure to do business with Vic. I highly recommend him for all your unlocking services.

Dave

joey's picture
joey on July 26, 2005 - 22:04 Permalink

I used www.fones.ca and the response was fast and the codes worked. i thought that it wouldnt but it did. Try www.fones.ca next time you need to unlock

george's picture
george on September 22, 2005 - 19:04 Permalink

Has anyone else have tried www.cellspeed.ca, cause i need to unlock my D500 and found 2 companies in Toronto. What do you guys think

Oopsy's picture
Oopsy on October 6, 2005 - 02:45 Permalink

Sorry I farted too.

Gilbert's picture
Gilbert on December 19, 2005 - 03:10 Permalink

HELP. i need to unlock my O2 X2silver cell phone, where can i get it done for free. give me a website.

jason wong's picture
jason wong on December 24, 2005 - 18:04 Permalink

Whom ever you chose to unlock your phone, but PLEASE DO NOT GO to cellular point to get it done. what crappy service and they take like 5 days to unlock a phone. Pacific mall busted my phone, and would not replace it(totally wrong). So I did a search for Toronto dealers that can unlock cell phones. i found:

www.cellspeed.ca (he is around Fairview mall)
www.bongowireless.com (they are on Hwy 7)
www.globalunlock.ca (no clue where they are, but i hear they are downtown)

I already went to the first 2 guys and am very satisfied. Very nice guys and quick service. Within 10 minutes i got my phones unlocked. Minutes! not days.
Just something that i had to get off my chest. i hate slow service.

Jason Wong
Dunpar Properties
Toronto

Lance787's picture
Lance787 on July 21, 2006 - 00:15 Permalink

Be careful when dealing with Cellspeed.ca! I bought a Treo 650 from them and the experience was bad. Start was OK but when it came time to actually ship the phone, no tracking number, no helpful email response. Ended up phoning and got a story about someone not doing there job and they would get it shipped right away with a tracking number. After a few days I called again and they said it was on its way and I should get the tracking number soon. I did get a courier envelope with the phone and parts wrapped up inside, apparently shipping a box is more expensive. Everything but the manual and software was shipped so another call and another story and it would be shipped right away. Months go by and nothing, now the only replies to my emails are the automated ones. Thankfully the phone worked as I would hate to deal with them on having the phone fixed. So be careful when dealing with Cellspeed over a distance bad service continues.

Vic's picture
Vic on July 27, 2006 - 02:57 Permalink

Mr. Lance did purchase a Brand New Treo 650, and yes it is true that the manual and cd were not in the package. So, as soon as i found out i sent the manual and cd “sealed” and sent it via Canada Post using regular mail. He then tells me that he never got it. Fine, I went and sent him another one the same way. Again he says he did not get it. So now i am confused! I send items using Canada post all the time, and out of 100 shipments maybe 1 or 2 would get lost. Then i contact him letting him know that if he could pay for FedEx shipping and of course he tells me no way. After losing 2 (atleast as he states) manual’s and CD’s i feel that i am getting ripped off. These are really hard to come by.

Mr. Lance its a few bucks we can split the costs and it will be there 100% FedEx overnight with Signature. There would be no way they could lose it and if they did $100 would come our way.

So lets be fair for both parties.

Vic

Glendon's picture
Glendon on July 29, 2006 - 00:59 Permalink

Can anyone here tell me if there’s someone who can unlock my Nokia 6101 (Rogers) in Winnipeg ? After researching a few online phone unlocking services , I’ve decided that the best thing to do would be to take my phone to an actual person instead of paying for a code that might not work (I wouldn’t put it beneath Rogers to hard-lock thier phones , and $250 to unlock it ?! Outrageous !).
Any info is greatly appreciated ; thanks in advance !

Peace
Glendon

ankit's picture
ankit on August 10, 2006 - 00:15 Permalink

Glendon,
were u able to find anyone in Winnipeg who could unlock your phone? I have the same Nokia 6101 and would like to get it unlocked. Thanks,

Jared Gray's picture
Jared Gray on August 30, 2006 - 13:49 Permalink

Id advise people to look around wahts all this about needing hardware etc to unlock your phone.. I know for a fact this isnt true…. Technology is :) people im currently looking at a torrent right now with tons of cellular tools (unlocking etc\managers\etc etc etc)

Bit Torrent :)

Hector Urra's picture
Hector Urra on February 20, 2007 - 22:27 Permalink

I have an HP 6515 with Rogers and I can not find some one to unlock this phone.
Any one knows who can do this job?

Thank you

Hector

Joe's picture
Joe on February 27, 2007 - 00:09 Permalink

I need the same thing Hector!!! for my 6515

Baloo94's picture
Baloo94 on March 19, 2007 - 17:24 Permalink

I’m coming back to Canada after a three year stint in Australia, and I have a Nokia N70 locked to one of the networks here. I’m wondering if it would be possible to get it unlocked somewhere in Toronto. I don’t mind people experimenting with the phone, cuz I know it’s not available in Canada, so I’m guessing people might not have experience with it, but as long as those people are knowledgable about this sort of thing…

jerry's picture
jerry on June 10, 2007 - 18:12 Permalink

Won a Rogers locked Nokia 5300 while working in Canada. Now back in the USA. Can I get it unlocked and use it with Cingular?

Joel's picture
Joel on June 23, 2007 - 13:57 Permalink

Hey I have a Treo 600 Locked by a Rogers wireless code In British Columbia Canada.
The unlcok code goes something like *#*#xxxxxxxx# then dial x= numbers (some configuration or rearangement of IMEI code?) Anyone know anything about this?

Gheefee's picture
Gheefee on August 22, 2007 - 07:00 Permalink

I just bought the Nokia 5300 XpressMusic with Rogers, I was wondering where could I unlock the phone..? And I mean unlock not just unbrand. If the phone is unlocked is it also debranded (Does it go back to the Nokia Music Player and not the Rogers one..) If anyone could help me it would be greatly appreciated.. Tnx

If possible cheap unlocking..

Oscar's picture
Oscar on October 12, 2007 - 18:11 Permalink

I went go get my Iphone unlock in mississsauga dixie and dundas
in mississauga. www.kmaster.net did it for me with no problem and I recommended so many friends to this guy kevin. He knows his stuff.

Mike's picture
Mike on October 12, 2007 - 18:14 Permalink

I got my phone unlock from www.kmaster.net treo 680 This guy is amazing it took only 2 minutes and he unlocked it for me. Very friendly staff and excellent service.

jelrek's picture
jelrek on December 1, 2007 - 18:05 Permalink

hey i used the website http://cellulargsm.net they unlocked my phone in a few hours — i even got a discount code — CGSM10

Jelrek

david's picture
david on December 31, 2007 - 20:58 Permalink

Hi people, i wanted to let you know i just tried Jelrek’s suggestion of http://cellulargsm.net, it’s true! They unlocked my LG SHINE TU720 in about 8 minutes. Really fast service, and it was only $22 with Jelrek’s code…

GSM arena's picture
GSM arena on August 15, 2008 - 20:13 Permalink

Hi guys,

You can Unlock any GSM cellphone at www.FreeYourCellphone.com

I recommend them, We’ve Unlocked about 20 phones through them now, they are very quick and there price is quite competitive.

Very reliable compared to other unlockers.

hope this helps,

Cheers,

jeff cousser's picture
jeff cousser on September 1, 2008 - 05:55 Permalink

we can provide true permanent unlock codes for all roger and fido models
we spealize in providing unlock codes for any gsm blackberries
visit our website
www.unlockblackberry.com

dave's picture
dave on September 24, 2008 - 01:03 Permalink

Try www.how-to-unlock.com

very cheap and fast codes for all Rogers and Fido phones. I used them and it worked.

Joe's picture
Joe on May 14, 2010 - 04:24 Permalink

I needed to unlock my brand spanking new Blackberry Pearl 9100, I talked to a few cellphone shops in Los Angeles to see if they could unlock it, they recommended I use www.FreeYourCellphone.com or www.CellphoneUnlockingOnline.c…

I searched FreeYourCellphone.com through google and they had a good reputation so I went with them and they did it with ease. :)

My network wanted $100, for the same service.

FreeYourCellphone.com did it for $11.99

Now I can use my new Blackberry Pearl 9100 overseas.

Cheers!

Joe