Are all phones network locked?

[Slime101]

My phone got broken at the zoo the other day!

I'm looking for a cheap replacement as im in the middle of a contract and the orange replacement offered "might not be new" - so im off to tesco to buy a phone, but are they all network locked or can i put my orange sim in any??

 

[antijoke]

AFAIK Tesco phones are locked to the Tesco network.

 

[Slime101]

But tesco sell phones on all networks, so are all networks locked or can i use o2/temobile/vodaphone etc instead?

 

[ShakenNstirred]

if they sell orange phones see if you can get one without a sim and put yours in
or buy a simfree unlocked phone

 

[Slime101]

So what networks sell unlocked phones?

 

[osc89er]

Three were selling a few upgrade Desires that were unlocked. But that was purely because they sourced some sim-free phones so they could get some sales before their branded phones come in from HTC. They have sold all their currently allocated stock.

 

[Yas786]

So what networks sell unlocked phones?

Vodafone and O2 as far as im aware...tmobile phones are locked and same with Orange i think as well.

 

[osc89er]

Vodafone and O2 as far as im aware...tmobile phones are locked and same with Orange i think as well.

Without checking my facts, I doubt any network sells unlocked phones as standard. It is a simple, legal, way of protecting your investment with 90% of consumers.

Some resellers like cpw, mobilesdirect, etc. sell unlocked phones because they are buying sim-free phones wholesale, then resell them with a mobile phone contract attached.

 

[Yas786]

Without checking my facts, I doubt any network sells unlocked phones as standard. It is a simple, legal, way of protecting your investment with 90% of consumers.

Some resellers like cpw, mobilesdirect, etc. sell unlocked phones because they are buying sim-free phones wholesale, then resell them with a mobile phone contract attached.

Well unless O2 and Voda have started locking their handsets then i dont know either but as far as im aware only those 2 sell unlocked but branded handsets.

 

[osc89er]

Well unless O2 and Voda have started locking their handsets then i dont know either but as far as im aware only those 2 sell unlocked but branded handsets.

A cursory look online suggests that you are right. They don't lock contract handsets because the contract protects their commercial interest - you can do what you like with the handset as long as you pay your line rental which is a fair way of looking at it.

 

[insane200]

I think 02 payg are locked, but the contract ones arnt.

 

[mame]

My o2 phones have been unlocked, the last being my c902 which I upgraded from about 2 months ago. Someone else is now using it with a virgin SIM. Also tested it with Orange and it was fine.

 

[trentlad]

Ask and you shall receive!

I wanted to get my T-Mobile phone unlocked and was looking online see if I could do it myself. I found a post from a guy who served in the Army, he simply told T-Mobile that he needed his phone 'unlock code' because he goes to countries that don't provide T-Mobile service or a handshake network provider. They gave him the unlock code over the phone there and then.

So I called T-Mobile and told them I travel a lot (because I actually do) and gave the same explanation. They also gave me the unlock code over the phone,. You simply key in a series of numbers that are specific to your IMEI number and hit the call button, then after restarting your phone it will accept all SIM cards.

 

[johnerz]

Virgin has a few unlocked phones the HDC HD2 I can confirm is unlocked, and think the desire is as well