So i want a new phone. I'm on Cingular's network, and i want a Sony Ericsson T68i.

I DO NOT want to pay for the phone from Cingular and be locked into their stupid contracts. And i don't want to be locked into Cingulars web/mail settings on the phone.

SO... what do you folks know about these "unlocked" cell phones you can get on ebay and locally? I get the general premise... it's not locked to a network so any SIM card can be used in it. Anyone ever go that route?

My options are to buy a locked phone and figure out how to unlock it... (any of you know how to do this?)... or to risk buying an unlocked one on Ebay or locally and pop the SIM from my current phone in it.

Opinions? Answers?

I want to decide this weekend as i can no longer stand my current phone

Search alt.cellular.ericsson for "t68i unlock" - there's plenty for you to read there.

Bear in mind, if you didn't know already, that there are 2 types of unlocking: One is concerned with switching on a stolen handset that has been locked by a network operator, the other (what you are talking about) is concerned with simply removing ties to a particular network.

An unlocked handset is simply one that you can put any sim card into and make a call. SOME operators lock their handsets so that you can only use their sim card, but not all do this.

Its relatively cheap to get one unlocked - cheapest I've seen for the Ericsson here in UK is £4.99. You can do it yourself, but you'll need software and a data cable - its probaby cheaper to pay someone to do it locally, or just buy it already unlocked.

A brand new handset from anywhere should already be unlocked - if its in an Ericsson box, its probably ready to accept any sim. Be careful buying a phone on Ebay, if it ever gets reported stolen by the seller, the serial number will be blacklisted, and it'll be useless.

Is this at all like e.g. Sprint where the phone has a one-use subsidy lock code and a master subsidy lock code?

I'm not sure how the US and cell phone carriers work, but I think yes, thats the same. A master code from the carrier will unlock the phone to all networks, but they charge about £30 for the privilage. £4.99 is certainly cheaper.

Incidentally, I can do Nokias (remotely), but not Ericssons.

Well, the neat thing about the Sprint deal is the one-time code is just that. If you activate the phone again you get the real code.

So you use their web activation thing. When it gives you the first code, you click the "it didn't work" thing and it gives you the real code.

thanks for the info guys.

PhilipOHare... know anyone that CAN do Ericsson's? Or at least anyone that is trustworthy?

Go to the forums at http://www.howardchui.com. Tons of info there and you can find people & info on unlocking. If you are looking for new unlocked phones, here is a good reputable dealer.

http://www.gsmphonesource.com/index.html[/url]

On a side note; why would you want a T68i? It has the WORST RF. You may want to reconsider...

i have one and the rf does suck. It seems like the t68i is still difficult to unlock. The last I heard you needed a cable and then had to send the output to a person to give you an unlock code. Is it any different now?

If you dont mind switching providers, T-mobile is using cingulars service in CA, and they do have the t68i cheap with only a year contract.

Yes I know a few people. It may be possible to remote unlock it. i.e. you give me the serial number and I get you an unlock code. I'll find out and get back to you.

On a side note; why would you want a T68i? It has the WORST RF. You may want to reconsider...

Thanks for the info. I want a t68i to replace the monstrous T62z i've got. I HATE this phone due to it's size, and i want a smaller color phone that can do email, web, and most importantly bluetooth so i can actually use functions like the calander. I played with a buddy of mine's yesterday and fell in love. I've read a lot of people saying it has bad reception, but so far no one i know personally that has one has any complaints about it. I just read a lot of "don't get that phone, the reception sucks" from people who've never used it.

i have one and the rf does suck

could you elaborate on that a little? do you get lots of dropped calls or just lower reception than normal? What phones are you comparing it against?

Yes I know a few people. It may be possible to remote unlock it. i.e. you give me the serial number and I get you an unlock code. I'll find out and get back to you

Thanks!

I've just checked Ebay - the vast majority are already unlocked. Like I say.. if its out of an ericsson box, it'll most likely be unlocked.

If going down the ebay route, read the descriptions carefully... if it doesn't say its unlocked, then its probably not. If in doubt, ask them!

Edit: Friend of mine has one and has no problems with RF. It depends on the firmware revision. Early ones will be buggy.

What i think i'm going to end up doing is getting one from Cingular (they come with the camera free) for about $150 with a 1 year renewal contract since i'm not going anywhere soon. That way i don't run the risk of getting a stolen or grey market phone. Then i'll pay to get it unlocked or buy the cable and get the software. If you have hookups in that department, i'd greatly appreciate it! Cingular locks all kinds of crap on their phones and i wanna have full control over it if i pay for the thing.

I've got one, I'm on the AT&T network, some places the reception sucks, some places it's great. I bought it for the bluetooth, I wanted verizon, but those chuckleheads had NO bluetooth phones... unfortunate because their coverage is the best in my area. But I have to say I absolutely love my phone... it's the coolest, associating pictures with rings and what not, bluetooth so when I'm driving I just push the button on my headset wait for the beep, say the persons name and I'm talking to them, no wires, very cool. And I still haven't even figured out how to use all the web features. BTW mine was 45 bucks when I got it through AT&T, some kind of online 100 dollar rebate, the money never left my bank account, I like those kinds of rebates.

Sure, I'm just waiting an email about the remote unlocking. If thats not possible I'll source a reputable unlocker in your area. I know plenty, but they are UK based and you'd need to send your phone which would cost a fair bit. I'll email you with what I find.

Thanks for the review Brett. Do you have the handsfree advanced car kit thing? That looks VERY slick! You just leave the phone in your pocket and it's all done via bluetooth. All sounds go through the stereo and an installed mike. I'm gonna probably pick one of those up when i get the new car... expensive little kit though.

And thanks for checking that out Philip. I really appreciate it!

I've got an AT&T t68i in the bay area, and the reception is far worse than AT&T TDMA. While outside, the coverage is pretty good, the moment you go inside the coverage drops off to nothing. Sometimes I get calls in my appartment, sometimes I don't. I bought a bluetooth headset so I could leave it by the window, but lost the headset within three days. Still haven't brought myself to replace it. The bluetooth is great however, and if I drove every day I'd definitly have a bluetooth car kit.

My real problem with the phone is that it doesn't tell you if you've got reception or not. On my nokia TDMA phone, if I had one bar, the phone would ring. It might not be clear, but I'd know if I was getting a call, and I'd get voicemail notifications. With my t68i with one bar, the phone may but probably won't ring, and voicemail notifications could take hours to arrive even after I've walked around in good reception areas. This is what will come day cause me to throw my phone accross a room and through a window, as an ex-boss of mine once did.

So, I've had issues with mine. I'm not sure if they're AT&T GSM issues, or T68i issues, however. It still is a great phone feature list wise, however, and the features do work.

Matthew

Thanks Matthew. Hrmm... anyone else have problems with reception inside? That's a big downer if it's really that bad. I don't know if the Cingular GSM is any better that ATT's... But the phone i have now is on Cingulars GSM network and i get good reception inside work and home.

Hey, as long as we are on the subject of unlocking phones does anybody know if the Treos are locked? A while back I bought a Treo 180 through Handspring and signed up for service with Cingular at the same time. I'd like to dump Cingular when the contract expires, but keep the phone. Since I bought the phone from Handspring I wonder if they bothered locking it to a carrier?

-Mike

http://216.239.57.104/search?q=cache:rXS7fbZD7x0C:www.darwinsys.com/theories/treo-blog.html+"Treo+180"+unlock&hl=en&ie=UTF-8
Look near the bottom.

Look near the bottom

Thanks! Now all I need is one of the GSM providers to offer an affordable data plan

-Mike

You may want to consider the successor to the T68i. The T610.
http://64.78.31.105/gallery/sonyericssont610new/

You may want to consider the successor to the T68i. The T610

yeah... that't the phone i really want... but i'm just so sick of mine right now. By the time Cingular carries that model i'll probably be ready to get it anyhow. what is the release date on it in the US?

"The model is holding a T610. The screen inside is her face."

Ouch

Should be out May 15th......You should be able to buy it unlocked....

Place to buy:
http://www.expansys.us/product.asp?code=T610

I got the t68i this morning. it's sweet! I talked to the rep and he said i could just call Cingular and tell them i'm going out of the country and they'll give me the unlock code for the phone no problem. Only cavaet was that i'd have to wait 3 weeks to do so.

Sooo.. bluetooth. Is there a simple bluetooth adaptor for PC's so i can sync this puppy? Anyone have one or could recommend one?

Yeah - I got mine from eBay. They mostly call them USB Bluetooth 'dongles'.

I don't really use much of the calendar functions, etc but I can get pictures across just fine. I waited around and picked one up for about £12 - much cheaper than the £70 for the same thing in The Link!

With regards to unlocking... I can find pleny of people willing to do it, but its a case of "send it to me with cash and I'll send it right back to you". Yeah, right, where do I sign up!

I seem to be having problems finding a reputable shop, but if singular will do it for free in 3 weeks, I'd go for that. Let me know!

actually any bluetooth headset will do the trick... I got a plantronic with a basestation before I got the phone for use with my xbox... mated nicely with the t68i my only complaint with that one was that the volume was a bit too low and couldn't really use it while on the highway... then I upgraded to the nokia HDW-2, (btw you can definately find that cheaper on ebay got mine for around 70 bucks?) that works nicely although you have to be VERY careful removing the little earpiece thing or it will break... but once it's fitted its sturdy works well, looks cool and everything..

the way both headsets work is they ship with a code, you use the code to mate it with your cell phone. if the headset is on, your phone knows it. both (most) devices have a button, basically you set your phone for bluetooth hands free. When the phone rings, you push the button on the headset to answer it. If you want to make a call, when the phone isn't in use, you push the button, you will hear a tone, you then say the name (you have to set that up) it will then send another tone (if your contact has more then one phone number... work, mobile, home) you say either "work" "mobile" or "phone" (or what ever you set your commands for) and whalla... your speaking in seconds. Once you get it all set up it's truly a beautiful thing.

I haven't used the kit so I have no idea what extra functionality that would give you. All I know is what I have works and works well...

Also, my reception varies, it's never dropped a call however it has gotten very garbled but move somewhere else and it's good (I know that kind of sucks, but it happens rarley) with bluetooth when I'm in the house I normally leave the phone someplace with good reception and as long as I'm within 15ft or so... I'm good. Actually did my laundry last night while having a real conversation, it was great!

I seem to be having problems finding a reputable shop, but if singular will do it for free in 3 weeks, I'd go for that. Let me know!

Thanks again for checking it out man. i really appreciate it. I'll post when/if Cingular lets me unlock this puppy. I think i'm gonna try tonight just for the hell of it. =]