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When there comes a new device, there come hackers who want to use all of its capabilities. We saw this last summer with the unlocking on the original iPhone. The BlackBerry Storm presents an excellent hacking opportunity because of its dual radios. Get the GSM radio working, and you might be able to get it up on T-Mobile or AT&T in the U.S. It appears that one Howard Forum member was able to get it done. A little description after the jump.
It actually doesn’t sound all that complicated. Verizon hands out unlock codes if you’re headed to Europe and want to use another carrier’s SIM, so you just call them up and tell them that. They’ll send you an email trying to dissuade you, but you can just say “that’s okay, I want my unlock code,” and they’ll give it to you.
After you get the code, you have to download the T-Mobile (or AT&T, I guess) service books. There are three additional steps as well. You can find instructions here. After you follow them, you should be up and running on T-Mobile’s 2G network (sorry, no 3G). The Howard user even says his VZNavigator works when he’s on T-Mobile. He also notes that you can switch between networks.
As of now I have no Storm, thus no way of confirming this. Anyone give it a try? If you do, leave a comment and let us know how it goes.
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67 Comments ↓
Important note- 2G *only*.
I’ve found T-Mobile’s 2G network (GPRS) to be near-unusable. Quite often, I can’t get a BIS connection over their GPRS network, so only apps that can use a direct TCP connection will function. And very slowly.
This is cool from a pure techie perspective, but I wouldn’t call this a practical solution. Especially since Verizon won’t allow WiFi on their devices to mitigate this problem.
Since it’s dual band will it work with sprint if unlocked? Also i heard the vondafone version would be easier to accomplish the at&t t-mobile sim swap.
If the storm runs on T-mobile’s 2G network is it going to have the same speeds as the curve? or is it going to be slower? is it still EDGE?
Twenty: From what I’ve read/heard, Sprint will not let you activate any phone that isn’t Sprint branded. So, no, even if you get the Storm unlocked you will not be successful trying to get Storm working on Sprint. Sorry.
Weston: 2G is EDGE so it’ll be just as fast as your Curve. Keep in mind T-Mobile’s been working on converting some of their bigger markets to 3G, some of them already are 3G. The Storm is 3G capable so if you’re in one of T-Mobile’s big markets you should have 3G connection… If you’re as unlucky as I am and live in the boondocks, you will not get to enjoy T-Mobile’s 3G for YEARS to come. Yup.
MII and Twenty,
I’m a sprint user and have called tech support recently asking if it were possible to use an unlocked phone on there network. The technician explained that the phone I wanted to try was not compatible with there network, but offered to try if I wanted to. I did not have the phone so I did not try. He was willing to try for me though. I’ve been thinking about trying to get a strom to try it but it’s a bit expensive to simply “try” to see if it works.
if you switch it to att can you use the 3g internet like if i took a iphone 3gs sim card and put it in the blackberry would it have the 3g internet
Okay the even if you unlock the storm to work on tmobiles 2g edge network it will NOT work on their 3g since the storm does not have the correct frequency bands (1700/2100)but will work as fast as the curve on edge.
ANY ONE HAVE VERIZONS EMAIL??
I just got my Storm Unlocked for T-mobile today and it doesnt have any internet connection on it…Does anyone know where can I download the service book for t-mobile?
Andy, here you go.
http://images.crackberry.com/files/kevin/101/stormunlock/tmo_servicebooks.zip
Question for you guys…How can the storm work on t-mobile if it only has the dual international frequencies? Thanks in advance
Unlock Your Verizon Blackberry Storm at http://www.Cellphoneunlockingonline.com
If you can’t get the code from Verizon, your best bet is to contact these guys, they
can unlock anything,
Hi Will,
The Verizon Blackberry Storm 9530 is a CDMA phone, but is also has Quad Band GSM Coverage built in.
This, when the phone is unlocked will allow you to use it on any GSM network in the world
just get an unlock code from verizon, if they refuse to give you one, you can buy one from us.
enter it and your phone will be permanently unlocked to work with any GSM network including T-mobile.
Regards,
Alen
Andy,
I am curious to know how things are working for you…?
I just chatted with someone on the Verizon website and they told me that the storm would work on other networks. I was specifically asking if it would work if I just put my sim card from my t mobile phone into the storm. And I asked her 2 times and both times she told me yes it will work and yes the storm will work on other networks. I would like to know if this is true before I purchase the storm.
Andy how did u get your storm unlocked
I really need to know!!!!!!!! well, can the Storm become prepaid with T-Mobile?
Alen - thanks for the info. I was under the impression it only had dual gsm. I will give it a try.
I just got the storm and called verizon for the unlock coad and I just found out they don’t give out unlock coads is there any other way it can be unlocked ?
Ya, just buy a code
from Freeyourcellphon.com
Just Buy a code
after i get the phone unlocked where do i go from there? how do i use the phone after its unlocked?
does have a slot for a sim card on the back
I found a company that unlocks the Blackberry Storm so you can use it on any network. http://www.cellularunlockcodes.com
Does tmobile sim cards fit in the STORM or do the STORM need a sim card at all?
I unlocked at http://www.cellphoneunlockingonline.com
They were good
Does any body has a blackberry storm unlocking code? thank’s//Cintron.
Blackberry Storm has already been unlocked and I am talking about factory unlocked not just by hackers but by the Rim factory themselves. Here is a link for it:
http://invicta.myshopify.com/products/verizon-blackberry-storm-unlocking-service
I got my phone unlocked at http://www.unlockingservices.com and I received the code within one hour.
To get a blackberry storm unlocked just find some unlocking services near you. Like some call phone shops. I got my blackberry storm 9530 unlocked. So it’s possbile don’t go through like verizon they lie about everything lol. It’s possible. O and make sure if you do get you storm unlocked that it’s permante becuz some people unlock it and when you update it the storm goes back to normal settings then you have to redo the whole unlocking. So be sure that the unlocking will last forever.
Can you access internet if you unlock Black Berry Storm from verizon?
can i find a storm less than $300 anywhere
Does the Storm’s internet work with T-Mobile edge? I am a T-Mobile customer using a 3G iPhone right now, but I can use the internet over the edge with the $5.99 T-Zones package. So I need to know if this phone has similar feature(s).
Thanks
Anyone know if I can use an unlocked Storm on Cricket communications or any cool phones I can Use…. please H.E.L.P stuck wit a crappy cricket phone…
help please.. i want a storm my self.. but one question.. what internet services would i have to use from tmobile in order for me to text.internet. etc???
please let me know
thanks thanks!!!
You would just need to call them up and get “push email” thats gona give you all the functionality of the BB Storm no matter what network you are on.
try http://www.thephoneunlockers.com they unlocked mine
there is an easy how to at http://www.berryology.com/info I have my browser and AIM now!
Hey guys I got my new unlocked BB Storm but the internet does work on it. I contacted T-mobile they said they can’t provide the internet service to the storm because they dont have the software for it…Any ideas on how to solve this issue?
Thanks very much
@Ant You most likely need to input your TCP/APN settings to get your phone to access the internet. Check here for all the known settings listed by carrier: http://forums.pinstack.com/showthread.php?t=360
Ant, go to the link I posted. Everything will work!
Can I use 3g on another country uf I already unlocked my storm
And yes, my network carrier does support it
JUST WANT TO KNOW IF THE STORM IS UNLOCKED WILL THE EMAIL AND ALL THE APPS WORK? WILL I BE ABLE TO HAVE THE BLACKBERRY EMAIL ADDRESS ASLO?
im with dena i am set to buy an un locked strom tomorrow but if my email wont work then ill stay with the BB world phone
I have an unlocked BB Storm 9530. I am not able to use email. Can someone help me so that I am able to access my yahoo mail.
Also when making a phone call it shows a number that is not mine. I have changed the owner information on the phone, but it doesn’t display.
Help.
Patricia
hi! i just bought a blackberry storn 9530 which was already unlocked but when i put in my sim card it still tells me to “insert sim card” or “invalid sim card”. what should i do?
i also just got the storm from my cousin, and when i put my card in it says “invalid sim card” do you have to pay for a code everywhere?
the storm is locked to a network other than the one the sim card is tied to or your sim card is defective.
Check with your local provider to see if the phone is compatible. If it is not, you will have to have it unlocked before you can use that sim card in it.
I HAVE THE 9530, AND I HAVE EVERYTHING WORKING ON IT, IF YOU HAVE AN UNLOCKED STORM, MAKE SURE YOU CHANGE YOUR SETTINGS.
1ST CHANGE MOBILE NETWORK SETTINGS TO EITHER 3G &2G OR TO GLOBAL (USES MORE BATTERY) DO NOT SET IT TO 2G ONLY, YOUR EDGE SIGNAL WILL SUCK.
YOU WANT YOUR PHONE TO SAY “EDGE” ALL CAPS, NOT edge, ALSO MAKE SURE YOU HAVE A T-MOBILE/ATT BB DATA PLAN BIS, BECAUSE OF NOT, THE STORM WILL NOT PICK UP THE INTERNET FOR YOU, IT ONLY PICKS UP IF YOU HAVE A BB DATA PLAN (ONLY)AND YOU WILL NOT SEE THE BROWSER ICON AT ALL.
2. YOUR APN SETTINGS SHOULD BE WAP.VOICESTREAM.COM
3. TO CHANGE THE NUMBER YOU NEED TO DIAL ##000000, THEN PUT YOUR NUMBER AT THE TOP LINE HIT THE MENU KEY AND SAVE IT, YOUR PHONE WILL REBOOT ON ITS OWN.
IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS EMAIL ME DIRECTLY awilliams924 at gmail dot com
correction: APN SETTINGS WAS FOR T-MOBILE ONLY, GOOGLE FOR AT&T APN SETTINGS, ALSO IF YOU HAVE T-MOBILE, GO TO THE T-MO WEBSITE, REQUEST THE SERVICE BOOKS TO BE PUSHED TO YOUR DEVICE, REQUEST SERVICE BOOKS FOR THE 8900, THEY WORK PERFECT FOR MY PHONE, NO ISSUES, YOU CAN ALSO USE GENERIC T-MO SERVICE BOOKS, JUST A LOT OF READING IS NEEDED, IF YOU WANT YOUR PHONE TO WORK PROPERLY.
READ MY COMMENTS, THEY SHOULD HELP YOU
TMOBILE ON BLACKBERRY STORM:
Thank You so much for the information! It is greatly appreciated.
The BlackBerry Storm Is CDMA and works with the GSM network, but you cannot unlock a CDMA phone, you can just get it activated! the only problem with that is actually getting the phone activated. Mosy companies will terminate their employees for doing this. Also the phone will work with the 3G. It’ll say “3G” or “3GSM” on the GSM networks and “1XEV” on the CDMA networks. This is not really that complicated. You don’t even have to go through the complicated process of getting it “unlocked”. There is no such thing on CDMA phones, Only on GSM phones.
I got the unlock code from a website, then put it in the phone. The phone accepted the code but the calls are being routed to verizon. I think i missed a step. I didn’t turn of the wireless connection before the phone accepted the code. Would that be a problem and how to fix it?
Blackberry storm is not only a CDMA. Its a CDMA and GSM phone. You can also use gsm network providers sim card. It has the option to use for it. I have done this for my phone to use when i went for my vacations. I tried many sites to unlock the phone. But most of them failed. I finaly got it form http://www.unlock-zone.com and used it with the local network. If you need any unlocking instructions for storm i can able to forward the instructions to your email address. Just check and see you can able to follow the instructions and able to enter the code
Hey, i have dis unlocked Blackberry Storm dat uses a prepaid Tmobile SIM card and i wanted to knw if anyone knws what i have to do to access my remaining minutes. Plz email me back at kingkamrule@yahoo.com
Thank You, in advance
hey,i need help. i wanted to send the service books to my new storm which is unlocked. when i go online it asks me for the pin and imei and wont except my storms pin and imei.what pin and imei do i use?
hello. i have a BB Storm and want to have it unlocked… I’m reading all of these comments and they are awesome! I just wanted to know if I can still keep my number if I have it unlocked, and I want mine to go back to my Tmobile account - what do I tell TMobile when they ask about the type of phone that I have>>>>
msbooberry. I am not sure if its ok to post other websites on here but i unlocked mine for tmo and it works fine.
http://forums.crackberry.com/f135/howto-get-all-features-browser-mms-working-t-mobile-w-unlocked-storm-95xx-106023/
Does the Blackberry storm have a sim card place to insert being that it is verizon and they don’t use chips??
msbooberry i got my storm unlocked through verizon. i just told them that i was going out of the country and my job was going to be supplying us with sims cards for our phones … then the rest is like everyone in here is saying … everything works even vz navigator all on t mobile.. i dont know about keeping of the number .. you might want to ask t mobile before you change so you have all of the answers … hope this helps …
2009 … yes the storm uses a sims card and once unlocked it can be used on other networks .. i use mine on t mobile …
The Blackberry Storm sold by Verizon Wireless will work on T-Mobile and AT&T in the US, but not sure if 3G is available.
Here are the instructions to unlock the device:
http://www.mobileslate.com/blog/2009/06/16/how-to-unlock-the-rim-blackberry-9530-storm/
Hey guys,
my unlocked BB Storm from Verizon just stopped working with T-Mobile, Ddont know why. Looks like it doesnt find an IP address anymore, phone itself is working, BB service and Internet is not working. Reset it already, also didnt help.
Whenever I want to go into the web, or to Email set ups or Service Books, it goes from EDGE to edge and tell me I cant connect, anybody out there who can help me ?
Thanks a lot
Check out this post - you can dl the service books for Tmobile to your pc and install them with desktop manager.
Hope it helps - good luck
http://tinyurl.com/4zw63w
I got the storm unlocked and working, but i cant get the EDGE to come up in all caps… any suggestions???
ok lets say that i get the storm from a X’s store and i have t-mobile service what do i do next?
@fercho you would need to contact an unlocking service and have them perform the unlock.
After that process is complete you will be able to hook up your storm on Tmobile
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