Techniques to Unlock Smart Phones by IMEI

The right way to Unlock Cell Phones via IMEI (in 3 straight forward steps)

By Lydia Magpali

When you get a cellphone from a network provider, it will be locked to that network's service. If the company provide you with a free or discounted phone, you normally have to agree to a 1- or 2-year plan as well. You can avoid this contract and freely change between networks, and also travel abroad and use other networks, easily by unlocking your handset using the IMEI code. In order to unlock your phone, simply follow the three steps below.

Step 1

Get the 15-digit IMEI code. This is typically printed on the phone under the battery. You can also typically find it on your smartphone's setting page or by entering a special code to get your phone to display the IMEI number on the screen. In most cases, this code is *#06#

Step 2

When you have found the IMEI number of your mobile phone, speak to your existing network carrier and find out if they can offer you an unlock code. Dependent on the circumstances, they may well grant your request. On the other hand, different providers often have thier own criteria that need to be met before they are willing to give you with an unlock code, and many could refuse. Generally, if you've finished your service contract, your phone provider may very well give you instructions on how to IMEI unlock your cellphone, but typically they'll insist you are the original owner of the smartphone (the contract on thier system is in your name). In the event that you are not, for instance, you purchased the cellphone second-hand, you must locate an alternative unlocking method to permanently unlock your mobile phone.

Step 3

If you are not the orginal owner of the smartphone, you are going to have to buy an unlock code from a third party supplier. Thankfully there are a great deal of on line providers selling services by simply giving them your phone's IMEI number, it's make and model and the network it's locked to. The price of the service and the time it takes to unlock your cell phone will depend upon the above mentioned factors, and can vary quite considerably for more obscure models or networks. Utilising a third party unlocking provider is frequently the quickest and the most straightforward way to unlock your smartphone, as it is performed remotely without your mobile phone ever having to leave your pocession. Once your phone's been sucessfully unlocked it can then be used on any network and in any country you chose.

If you have established your mobile phone isn't Blacklisted and you want to unlock it so you can use it on another carrier, then the best companies to find factory unlock your phone out there is Unlock.Zone - make sure you check them out.