SP unlocking the P800

Why not just buy an unlocked phone!

Because it's not available SIM free, or on Voda or O2 yet, i've waited godknows how long for it and really don't want to wait any longer when i can buy it tommorrow, and it'd cost me �100-200 more to buy like that!

Oh... Sorry.
I got one a couple of weeks ago here in the US but was ONLY able to get it unlocked as no one carries it here yet. For what it's worth; it was worth every penny, hope you enjoy yours too.
Good luck
N

Sorry, didn't mean to bite at ya - should've left a smilie on the end of my post! 😊

I'm really hoping i'll like it - it's got to take the place of my 7650 and 6310i (keeping 7210 as small carry phone) - still have some misgivings about the lack of T9, but then i can't text that fast on my 7650 anyhow due to the small recessed keys - and writing emails is a right pain - so once i get upto speed with multitap again, or even the stylus with handwrite recog/qwerty then speed-wise it should certainly be no slower. I know there'll be nokia-type features that i'll really miss, but the fact that it combines the speakerphone AND bluetooth audio together, plus everything the 7650 is, means it beats any nokia i could get, featurewise.

No worries, no offense taken.
I've found the Handwriting recognition to be pretty fast and accurate, definitely faster that key entry. I too am keeping my old phone, the smaller T68 may come in handy. As far as the features, the P800 IS loaded, I've been waiting for a small smartphone like this one for a few years now and am loving mine. Yet, as thrilled as I may be about this one, when I consider that R&D usually runs 2 years ahead of current production models, I can only imagine how exciting the next generation of smartphone will be!
...Ever feel like we're chasing something we will never catch up to? LOL.
Enjoy and good luck.

Get the unlock code the proper way, from orange. Its only �20 now

Really, so they don't want the rest of the line rental when you ask for the codes?

That's great - i'd much prefer to get it unlocked the 'official' way! 😊

So has anyone done this yet?

If we were to call Orange and ask them to do it, they'd be able to talk you through doing it on the phone??

if you have had the phone for less than 12 months then i'm sure orange are going to want their subsidy back. in other words, i don't think you're gonna be able to unlock it for just the �20.

after all, they don't want to subsidise your phone only for you do take your business elsewhere...

Ok

I just phoned Orange and they are very happy to unlock the phone for �20 plus the rest of the line rental for the year. I went onto one at �70 per month to get the phone for free so that really isnt an option!

Does anyone know how to 'unoficially' unlock the phone, I've searched arround and cannot find anything usefull.

depends where you are.

Do a search for mobile repair centre if you are in london - they did mine (see my posts from last month earlier up the list) for �30 although I did hear they should be cheaper now.

There is plenty of information about this scattered about the forums.. Hope you get lucky.

Mike, first of all u need a T28 data cable (RS-232) not the sync station supplied with the phone, then email this guy, <[email protected]> he will guide u through the process, its pretty straight forward, and the guy that will guide u through is very experienced in this, shouldnt cost u more that a tenner, tell him i sent u

good luck 😉

Thanks for that mate!! I have emailed him and am just waiting a response. I'll post back if it works (and if it doesn't!!)

Cheers 😃

Thanks for that mate!! I have emailed him and am just waiting a response. I'll post back if it works (and if it doesn't!!)

Cheers 😃

Thanks for that mate!! I have emailed him and am just waiting a response. I'll post back if it works (and if it doesn't!!)

Cheers 😃

Thanks for that mate!! I have emailed him and am just waiting a response. I'll post back if it works (and if it doesn't!!)

Cheers 😃

Thanks for that mate!! I have emailed him and am just waiting a response. I'll post back if it works (and if it doesn't!!)

Cheers 😃

I think that might be a record...

5 posts of the same thing!

Very well done sir. 😊

He's just very very very very very grateful 😊

Ok, ok so my internet was a little unresponsive and I may have hit the submit button a couple of times 😮ops:

Yeah, but did he do the biz for you?

Any news...??? :roll: 😉

Yes,i'm interested in this too.
I really dont have the money right now for a SIM free device.
Want to know the price here? 1000 Euros.
So this way i can ask one of my foreign friends to get me a locked device for a lower price(No subsiding here you know).

BTW: what is the lowest contract price for the p800 and are there any special requirements you have to meet in order the get a device on contract.

BTW2: is this unlocking procedure legal?

No one? Come on guys,two simple questions.

BTW: what is the lowest contract price for the p800 and are there any special requirements you have to meet in order the get a device on contract.

BTW2: is this unlocking procedure legal?

Well, it's not exactly legal, thats for sure...

It's 110% legal in the UK of course - phones are not part of contracts, despite the misinformation many people will give you. The phone is NOT the property of the networks once you've purchased it, it is YOURS!!!

http://www.whatmobile.net/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=9152

Read my first reply there for a full explanation of this (example - article 14, Orange T & C's, but same for all normal contracts with any UK network.) Since the phone is YOUR property, you are free to do what the hell you like with it, short of changing the IMEI (separately illegal), or bludgeoning someone to death with it (murder, illegal).

Unlocking a phone is legal anyhow under oftel regulations, which allow networks to lock contract phones, yet specify they must allow customers to have them unlocked at any time either on payment of a fee to the network, or through a third party method. While a hard unlock may invalidate your phone's warranty (i.e. partially flashing the handset), a soft unlock (entering the unlock codes in the menu specifically designed for that purpose) cannot void said warranty - and in any case, either method is legal, it's just that one way may allow SE to refuse you service in future if anything goes wrong.

That is great,so what you are saying is that i can take a locked device take it to an SE service center ask them to flash the latest firmware and i have a brand new unlocked P800? Right? 😊

Flashing the phone to the latest firmware won't remove the SP lock - you'll either have to pay Orange the �20 plus the years line rental in advance, and they'll then give you the unlock codes - or else take it to a third party and have them unlock it - meant to be a few places in london that do this, plus some places you can send the phone off to get it unlocked - but the only place i know is still my local phone shop, www.fonefixers.com who do it in 5minutes for �25.

Either of the above options is legal in Britain, yes.

Alternatively, if you buy the phone on O2 or Vodafone, you'd probably find that it comes unlocked already - almost all contract phones are on those two networks; just that Vodafone have started locking some phones, which they brand with their 'Live!' service - i don't know if the P800 has yet been added to this.

Most places that advertise unlocking will now do the P800
for �10-15 (Eur20-25) in central London. I use a place
in Goodge St. ("we do cheapest price"😉.

Any SE service centre will upgrade the
firmware free of charge if the phone is in warranty.
I've had �15 quoted if it was out of warranty but the
P800 is so new that this can only apply to foreign imports.

If the phone has come from Orange or the like then
the process of upgrading the firmware removes all
the modifcations that Orange make to the system
(Good news for some of us) and returns it to the
Sony Ericsson default.