Home  ›  Phones  ›

Nokia

Phones & Info News Forums  

all discussions

show all 6 replies

Unlocking a Tracfone 2600 or 1100?

japhy

Nov 30, 2005, 2:34 AM
...nevermind the details why, but I am suddenly one GSM phone short (alas, my poor 3595, I knew him well). I was thinking a cheap, easy solution would be picking up a Tracfone Nokia 2600 or 1100 & unlocking it - I have the unlock software for Nokia phones, it's available here:

http://unlock.nokiafree.org/ »

The only problem is that both the program & the website specify a network the phone is locked to, but Tracfone isn't on the list. . . ? What do I do? Is there another name they operate under?

Any other suggestions for getting a usable & unlockable GSM fon cheap & quick? (I have options, but they take time & I kinda need a phone today).
...
japhy

Dec 2, 2005, 12:06 PM
Well, I went to Wally world & saw an 1100 for $20, and I figured it'd be a great phone if it worked, and a cheap experiment if it didn't. Well, after a long & arduous journey through many an unlock code, I finally saw that beautiful "SIM restriction removed" message that told me I had entered the promised land. . .

Alas, shortly afterwards, I ran out of Tracfone minutes & was unable to make a call. Even though I had my AT&T SIM in the phone, the programming of the device would not allow it to work unless there was minutes available in the Tracfone system. I've deduced that I'll have to getthe phone reflashed with either Nokia firmware or Cingular (in which case, I can just unlock it again). Any idea where/how this might be done?

An...
(continues)
...
longsleeves

Dec 3, 2005, 4:12 PM
You could just buy a go phone from Cingular they have Nokias for 29.99 no contract visit the web site
...
japhy

Dec 5, 2005, 10:52 AM
I'm guessing they have the same issue as the Tracfone one, though - if there's no prepaid minutes, doesn't matter what sim card is in there, the phone won't work. I might give it a try, just to see if it will work, but I'm guessing I'd run into the same problem - the prepaid firmware would put a stop to using another SIM in there. But I dunno.

Has anyone tried unlocking a T-mobile or Cingular Nokia prepaid & had this problem?

Thankfully, my 3595 decided it was only resting, so it's not a pressing issue for me, but I'm curious to know if the firmware is different.
...
littlefuzzbear

Dec 9, 2005, 9:35 AM
japhy said:
...nevermind the details why, but I am suddenly one GSM phone short (alas, my poor 3595, I knew him well). I was thinking a cheap, easy solution would be picking up a Tracfone Nokia 2600 or 1100 & unlocking it - I have the unlock software for Nokia phones, it's available here:

http://unlock.nokiafree.org/ »

The only problem is that both the program & the website specify a network the phone is locked to, but Tracfone isn't on the list. . . ? What do I do? Is there another name they operate under?

Any other suggestions for getting a usable & unlockable GSM fon cheap & quick? (I have options, but they take time & I kinda need a phone today).


Part of a problem you're going to deal with ...
(continues)
...
japhy

Dec 9, 2005, 3:31 PM
Wait, you said that other prepaid services use an airtiem subscription that's network based? Hmm... So I COULD theoretically buy a Cingular GoPhone 3120 (or a 6010 from T-Mobile), unlock it, and it's ready to go? That would be my preferred method of replacing my not-quite-dead-yet 3595.

Can anyone else confirm that? Does anyone know if Prepaid GSM phones through Cingular or T-Mobile or others (not Tracfone or net 10) use extra prepaid firmware or simply lock the airtime?
...
littlefuzzbear

Dec 9, 2005, 5:28 PM
japhy said:
Wait, you said that other prepaid services use an airtiem subscription that's network based? Hmm... So I COULD theoretically buy a Cingular GoPhone 3120 (or a 6010 from T-Mobile), unlock it, and it's ready to go? That would be my preferred method of replacing my not-quite-dead-yet 3595.

Can anyone else confirm that? Does anyone know if Prepaid GSM phones through Cingular or T-Mobile or others (not Tracfone or net 10) use extra prepaid firmware or simply lock the airtime?


TracFone and Net10 are the only GSM prepaid operators that use special firmware in the phone to meter their prepaid subscribers. All others a phone used on prepaid can be used on billed accounts and vice versa. The onl...
(continues)
...

You must log in to reply.

Please log in to report a message to the moderator.


all discussions

Subscribe to Phone Scoop News with RSS Follow @phonescoop on Threads Follow @phonescoop on Mastodon Phone Scoop on Facebook Follow on Instagram

 

Playwire

All content Copyright 2001-2024 Phone Factor, LLC. All Rights Reserved.
Content on this site may not be copied or republished without formal permission.