Best ways to Unlock Mobiles via IMEI

By Jeni Frasch

Every time you obtain a cellphone via a cellphone provider, its locked to that company's service. If the company gives you a free or reduced price mobile phone, you normally have to agree to a one- or two-year agreement as well. You can avoid this contract and freely switch between providers, along with travel overseas and roam on other networks, easily by unlocking your phone using the IMEI number. Permanently unlock your handset by following the 3 simple steps below.

Step 1

Get the 15-digit IMEI code. This is typically printed on the cellphone under the battery. You can also sometimes find it inside your cellphone's setting page or by entering a unique code to get your cell phone to show the number on the screen. In many cases, the code is *#06#

Step 2

When you've located the IMEI number of your cell phone, contact your current network carrier and inquire if they will supply you with an unlock code. Based on the circumstances, they could very well grant your request. Nonetheless, many networks have thier own set of guidelines that need to be met before they will supply you with an unlock code, and many could refuse. Normally, if you've finished your contract, your smartphone provider should supply you instructions on how to permanently unlock your smartphone, but in most cases they will insist you're the original owner of the smartphone (the contract on thier system is in your name). When you are not, for instance, you bought the phone pre-owned, you'll have to locate an alternative unlocking technique to IMEI unlock your cellphone.

Step 3

If you are not the orginal owner of the cell phone, you are going to have to purchase an unlock code from a 3rd party service provider. Luckily there are lots of online suppliers offering services merely by giving them your phone's IMEI code, it's model and make and the network its locked to. The price of the service and the time it will take to IMEI unlock your mobile phone will depend upon the above factors, and can vary quite significantly for more obscure handsets or networks. Working with a 3rd party unlocking provider is normally the fastest and the most straightforward method to IMEI unlock your smartphone, as it will be conducted remotely without your mobile phone ever having to leave your pocession. As soon as cell phone has been sucessfully unlocked it can then be used on any network and in any country you want.