Unlocking your BlackBerry

Posted by Joe on March 25, 2008 | 10 comments | Filed under : Quick Tips

Ever since the iPhone was introduced, there has been a lot said about the practice of unlocking phones. Since AT&T runs on a GSM network, and thus uses a SIM card, the phones can be unlocked — though it wasn’t easy at first. If you have a BlackBerry on the T-Mobile or AT&T network in America, you too can practice the art of unlocking.

The only problem is that it might not be free. See, you need an unlock code, and unless your carrier is nice enough to give it away for free. Depending on how long you’ve had your BlackBerry and how long you’ve been under contract. If you paid full price, without subsidy, you can probably persuade your carrier to give you the unlock code.

If that’s not the case, you can head over to a site like GSM Liberty, which sells not only unlock codes, but unlocked BlackBerrys.

After you have an unlock code, you can then begin the procedure. I’ll point you to unwir3d which actually posted procedures this morning. I guess it saves me the trouble of hunting down specific instructions. But for those of you with the 8800/8300, 8100, 8700, or a GSM BlackBerry of the 6xxx or 7xxx line, you’ll be able to find your unlocking procedure. I do not know, however, if the 8100 unlock procedure will work with the 8120. I guess there’s only one way to find out…

Any questions?

BlackBerry Accessories

1 Cooper March 17, 2010 at 11:22 am: @Maggie – I do not have a code for you specifically but you can head over to http://www.carrierunlock.com and get one – use the code “BBGeeks” to get 25% off!
2 Maggie Brogan March 17, 2010 at 8:19 am: I need instructions (fast) to unlock an AT&T Blackberry 8310 (before 11:00 EST today). Any help? I have an unlock code from AT&T.

Thanks,
3 jason December 26, 2009 at 9:07 pm: I don’t think unlocking will effect your current plan. I downloaded my code from here http://www.newmobilefreedom.com/blackberry-imei-unlock-p-99.html
it wasn’t free but it worked and I got it quickly.
that’s all that counts with me.
4 Citka December 21, 2009 at 1:38 pm: didn’t have to unlock my blackberry storm 2 cuz i got it from gsmallover.com so it came already unlocked. definitely the way to go!
5 Jess September 27, 2008 at 11:01 am: Im thinking about unlocking my Blackberry Bold/ But im worried because i am on a 3 year plan, with Rogers and I cant figure out how to make my darn GPS work. Im on the 6G data plan, now if i unlock it what happens to my plan? and can i use the GPS?
6 Johny Cage August 29, 2008 at 2:18 am: try FreeYourCellphone.com

I have unlocked a few phones through them.

including a new Rogers Blackberry bold
a Blackberry 8310 and an old 8700
7 Alfgar July 29, 2008 at 1:36 pm: See, I got my BB for 99 bucks when I signed up for a 2-year with T-Mobile; but I have to go to Europe, and T-Mobile wants a buck a minute for international talky-talky.

But, as I explained to the rep, if I can use a prepaid SIM while I’m taking lessons in how to be snotty and intolerant, in France; before attending to my father’s cancer surgery in the UK, and after visiting our very large and costly family in Sicily and Corsica; then we only have to pay local charges, plus 30 T-Mobile cents a minute for me to talk with my wife, back in the states–less than a buck a minute, to be sure.

Our budget will be saved!

So, Ms. T-Mobile rep, you can see my dilemma; and what is a 4 year, loyal, and in good standing, customer–who is *so* happy with T-Mobile–to do. Can you help me? Is it even possible?

Unlocking? I’ve never heard of that? Are you certain that it won’t ruing my phone, or make it unusable with the T-Mobile network and/or services? I don’t want to do anything that would make the phone unusable with T-Mobile, you know.

Well, ok, if you’re sure this will work….

The phone is unlocked now…for free.
8 BB_Junkie March 26, 2008 at 8:43 am: dgsinclair, you would only want to unlock your BB if you were thinking about taking your BB to another carrier… or of you wanted to buy a new BB from another carrier that your carrier doesn’t have.

For instance, I bought an unlocked BB 8310 because it featured GPS but was only available though Cingular, I have T-Mobile. Hence I have a cool BB and am bound to no contracts!

P.S. I would advise anyone who is considering buying an unlocked BB via Ebay to consider the fact that there may be firewalls installed from the corporate use of the BB they are purchasing. I had firewalls on my phone which prevented me from downloading applications and it took me about 2 days to figure out how to remove them. Ugh.
9 Magnus March 25, 2008 at 10:07 pm: Remember this is a problem only in some parts of the world. Like here in the Middle East all phones sold are unlocked. The practice of buying subsidized phone with a plan doesn’t exist. Here you buy plan and phone separately, and that’s true for Blackberry too.
10 dgsinclair March 25, 2008 at 7:35 pm: Why would I want to unlock my blackberry if i am staying with my carrier?