Question How long would it take for a cell store employee to unlock a phone?

[billdz]

This may be a silly question, but I'd sure like to know the answer. I bought a Huawei phone at a T-Mobile store. The employee who sold me the phone said it was unlocked. When I got home, I tried it with SIM cards for 4 different operators, one was T-Mobile and the others were from competing providers. It only worked with the T-Mo SIM. I called and complained the device appeared to be locked to T-Mo, even though I had been assured it was unlocked. The employee said that was not possible, they only sell unlocked devices.

I went back to the store and asked for a refund because the phone was not working with the SIM of my preferred operator, Orange. The Orange SIM was in the device. The employee looked at the device and typed something into his computer. He then turned on the device and it worked with the Orange SIM. He claims he just turned it on, he didn't unlock it or do anything else. I'm glad the phone is now working with the Orange SIM, but I can't help feeling that he lied to me, that the device was locked and he typed something on his computer to unlock it. He was typing for about one minute. Is it possible that he unlocked it? I can't think of any other reason why it did not work for me at home with SIMs from 3 different T-Mo competitors.

Thanks much for any thoughts!

 

[VidJunky]

While most devices are "unlocked" these days each carrier has terms and conditions that have to be met before you're able to just slap a SIM in a device and go.

As far as physically how long does it take? I think you saw that for yourself. It is literally just flipping a switch on the IMEI but it also has to be done by someone with the authority to flip that switch, who is also going to verify those terms and conditions we talked about. I suppose it could be possible that your store level clerk did it but more than likely they were chatting with someone at a service center who collected information from the clerk to perform the unlock. At least that would be my guess based on service I've received from Verizon. Unlocking devices used to be something they had to do on the device, used to have to update the firmware on a device to change carriers, but anymore it's all tide to the account the device is on and it can be done OTA, over the air, which is why they didn't have to physically unlock/open the phone.

 

[billdz]

As far as physically how long does it take? I think you saw that for yourself. It is literally just flipping a switch on the IMEI but it also has to be done by someone with the authority to flip that switch, who is also going to verify those terms and conditions we talked about. I suppose it could be possible that your store level clerk did it but more than likely they were chatting with someone at a service center who collected information from the clerk to perform the unlock.

Thanks for the reply. The guy did not chat with anyone, so either he had authority or it never was locked.

 

[belodion]

In the UK, there are stores where you can buy pure, unadulterated phones, with no added or subtracted software, no locks, no disabled hardware, nothing. You then use them as you choose. Not so in the US?

I imagine, but don’t know since I’ve never done it, that buying outright from a UK carrier, rather than an independent store, might include some of the things mentioned above, and the requirement to use that carrier for a certain time or pay for early termination of contract.

 

[gomezz]

It would seem to be a good idea to take the SIM card you intend to use in with you when buying a new phone like this. Unless in this case it was a spontaneous purchase?

 

[mustang7757]

This is not a T-Mobile store in the US? Because they don't sell Huawei phones.

 

[joeldf]

This is not a T-Mobile store in the US? Because they don't sell Huawei phones.

If the OP's intention is to use Orange, then this is not in the U.S. Orange operates in France, Germany, Northern and Eastern Europe and parts of Africa.

T-Mobile (the German side of the company) covers most of the same European countries, and also covers the U.K., but not any of Africa.

Since Orange left the U.K. several years ago (selling off, or really transitioned to EE), the OP must not be there either.

 

[Madd62]

A fruit and veg store?

 

[mustang7757]

If the OP's intention is to use Orange, then this is not in the U.S. Orange operates in France, Germany, Northern and Eastern Europe and parts of Africa.

T-Mobile (the German side of the company) covers most of the same European countries, and also covers the U.K., but not any of Africa.

Since Orange left the U.K. several years ago (selling off, or really transitioned to EE), the OP must not be there either.

Yeah when I saw Orange I figured international but always like to confirm

 

[joeldf]

Yeah when I saw Orange I figured international but always like to confirm

Agreed.

 

[billdz]

This is not a T-Mobile store in the US? Because they don't sell Huawei phones.

Correct, this was in Slovakia.

 

[billdz]

If the OP's intention is to use Orange, then this is not in the U.S. Orange operates in France, Germany, Northern and Eastern Europe and parts of Africa.

T-Mobile (the German side of the company) covers most of the same European countries, and also covers the U.K., but not any of Africa.

"T-Mobile (the German side of the company)"
Interesting, I did not know that Orange and T-Mo are related. They appear to be competitors here in Slovakia.

 

[mustang7757]

Correct, this was in Slovakia.

Thanks