Unlocking your Cingular GSM Treo 650

[asilva1987]

look guys i have a problem i have a att treo 650 but im trying to unlock it for tmobile can anyone help me please???????????????

[Slarti]

As discussed throughout the thread you need to either;

1. Get the original carrier to provide the unlock code.

Or

2. Pay a website or store to unlock the device.

[Constantine]

Just call TMobile customer technical support line and say you bought the thing on Ebay and the seller told you it was UNLOCKED.  But, when you got it, it was not unlocked and the seller won't answer your emails or refund you.  So now your stuck with a paper weight.

They will gladly provide you with not only the unlock code, but they will walk you through the steps to unlock it successfully.  They gladly welcome your service with them.  Just stick with the Ebay story and say nothing about the other company.  I have done several phone unlocks with various companies.

[j_terrial]

Yeah unlocking the 650 is possible I got mine last week and unlocked it the same day just by calling Cingular and they gave me the code with  no problem.

[j_terrial]

I got mine unlcoked because I have tmobile as well , as long as th Imei number is good then you should have no problem calling cingular for the unlock code.

[Capitain_Jack]

Yes, no problem since you have the original or the same carrier SIM card. My sister gaved me (as I like to call it) "half unlocked Cingular Treo" ( ) I call it this because: She bought it as unlocked (ROW, from palm one), the box says "unlocked GSM" (it have the IMEI printed, and it is the same), the phone was unbranded (splash screen from palm, no ATT apps) but with old 1.15-CNG ROM (cingular one) and, believe me, THE SIM LOCKED!!!!

Since she brought me the phone from USA without unboxing (I live on Brasil, using carrier 128k 3G SIM from TIM), she didn'n noticed the brand (she also is not tunned to tech things) neither tested it with a USA SIM, and neither it came with one (was bought as unlocked, no contracts).

Until then everything was ok, since I've only got to spend a lot of $$$ on an international "tool free" call and get the MSL code.

I made the call directly to the international customer (I guess) number (the one at ATT contact page) and ATT was very kind in not asking too much (As she picked the phone I start saying it was an international call from Brasil, and that I was actualy here) before she gaved me the code. She also instructed me to put the ATT SIM (we all know its impossible), but I've decided to move on.

Ok until now, inputted the code *#*#MSL# and then SEND (message saying its unlocked sucessfult). She instructed me to turn the phone off and on again...and (I already searched before calling ATT) I knew there is an issue with autosearch network on Brasil (the phone manufactured here works great, but is much more expensive to by a brazilian than an american imported paying all taxes....don't undestand why but...) so I have to dial #*1800# in order to bypass the network search menu (incredible how it stucks the phone for minutes over, but when you dial the network band, it almost imediatly change the network) and it worked ok.

Here is where trouble begin (as my SIM is from TIM Brasil, not ATT or Cingular).

Since I don't reset it (soft, hard or zero, nevermind) it saves the band setting and SIM unlock.  Even after saving preferences (some old prc file for it) or hotsync 3 times without changing a thing, every single time the palm resets I got to put the band code or search manualy the network in order to get the phone working and, believe me or not, the SIM lock was restored also (have you imagine that every reset I've got to turn on, unlock SIM, turn off, turn on, put band code to that be able to make and recieve calls...)....what an issue on my hand.....

Ok. I starded than to take a look at the lock token and how it changes when I unlocked the sim. I'm not sure why, but it was not changing the Token for ever.

Partial Solution:
Turn phone on, unlock using the described procidure than Imediatly (not sure if is needed to turn the phone off before, I've turnned off) enter the bootloader and edit lock token (you won't change nothing, only save it to make it definitive).
Great, the SIM unlock is now definitive and it worked with another carrier SIM (VIVO Brasil, other than the TIM used to unlock), but I still have to dial the band code because Treo won't automatcaly recognize (I've even updated the carrierDB to version 270) TIM 850/1800 network...somehow it says "no service, emg. only" and only finds a numbered like network (with the band code it shows the carrier name normaly).

I'm posting this solution (for the unlock with other SIM) and asking where can I make the manual 850/1800 band selection a default, so I can no longer have to dial #*1800# everytime I "restart" my Treo...
Thanks and let me know if anyone need more details...