[wout000]

This is my issue:

I bought a blackberry in the USA but I live and work in Belgium. The Blackberry was AT&T branded and locked to their network so i paid for it to have it unlocked.
Been using it for 2 years now without any problems.

Recently I have loaded the 7.1 OS on it and tried to use the hotspot functionality, no go.
Popup informed me i needed to contact AT&T for a data plan.
I emailed them with the issue at hand and that's when the brilliance of their support came to light....care to read?

My first email signaling the issue.

Hello,

I am using a Blackberry Torch 2 (model 9810, PIN: 28138C0F) that I
purchased from my former employer in the USA over 2 years ago.
I myself live and work in Belgium.

I recently upgraded my phone to the new OS 7.1 but found that when I
tried to use the mobile hotspot feature, I got a popup requesting me
to contact AT&T for an appropriate plan.
My carrier however is Belgian (Mobistar, part of Orange) and not AT&T since AT&T does not offer their carrier service in Belgium.

Is there any way this limitation can be lifted so I can use this feature
on my current carrier?

Thank you
Wout

Their (automated?) response.

Dear Customer,

Thank you for contacting AT&T Customer Care about unlocking your
BlackBerry device. Unfortunately, we are unable to assist you with this
issue via email. Please contact Customer Care at 1-800-331-0500 or if
you are out of the U.S. you may call us at +1 916 843 4685.

Please do not reply to this message. All replies are automatically
deleted.


Sincerely,

AT&T Customer Care

My response.

Hello,

I am not and have never been a customer of AT&T.

My device is unlocked since I'm using it with my current carrier in Belgium (Europe).
The only issue I have, since it's an AT&T branded phone, is that the hotspot functionality has been disabled (need to have a tethering plan from AT&T) this is rather impossible since I LIVE and WORK in Belgium and do not in anyway use AT&T.
Therefore I would like to ask to remove the hotspot restriction, so I can use my current carrier's APN settings for it.

As I said before, the phone is unlocked so I only need the hotspot
restriction removed.

Thank you.
Wout

Their brilliant and borderline majestic response.

Dear Customer,

Thank you for contacting AT&T Customer Care about unlocking your iPhone.
In order to request iPhone unlock, you must first log in to your myAT&T
account.

Please review AT&T's general eligibility requirements for unlocking
iPhone.

If you are traveling internationally, you'll be glad to know that your
iPhone works in many countries across the globe. Check out our
information on traveling abroad with iPhone for further help.

Please do not reply to this message. All replies are automatically
deleted.

Sincerely,


AT&T Customer Care

Anyone out there that can help me with these idiots?

[blueyestm]

Contat them via twitter @attcustomercare. Youll get a response that way.

[wout000]

Thanks will try that.

[boss_hog]

The 9810 hasn't been out for 2 years . Just saying

[wout000]

The 9810 hasn't been out for 2 years . Just saying

I ballparked it.

[Mister Xiado]

Why in your chosen creator's name would you buy a locked phone in the US if you had no intention of starting service with that provider?

You CAN buy phones semi-directly from RIM.

Also if a phone is exclusive to AT&T in the US, there are no unlock codes for it. If the phone is available to T-Mobile as well, the unlock codes tend to be available after a limited exclusivity agreement expires.

[marcho11]

You might try to install a different 7.1 version. There are a few leaks that allow the hotspot feature to work even on ATT.

I use .378, and have ATT, and am able to use the hotspot feature. There is a download link in this thread... remember to delete the vendor file before trying to install


Official OS 7.1.0.378 for the Torch 9810 from Mobilicity


Good luck!!!

[bestbuddy1986]

yes AT&T has better customer care of all networks..

[eve6er69]

Maybe its because you loaded 7.1 on your device and att doesn't have a 7.1 released.

Sent from my Bold using Tapatalk

[mnm2012]

Yea might want to try and load another carriers 7.1 on the device. This isnt really AT&T issue since you aren't using their service.

[troshs]

The email responses the OP received are definite proof that automated systems absolutely CANNOT replace human beings in certain situations...

[MobileMadness002]

The OS reads the carrier code and decides if the user is supposed to be able to activate the feature or not. If the service requires a data addon, the message will advise as such and advise you to contact the Vendor that the device was originally registered to. In this case ATT. ATT cannot remove the restriction as it is imposed at the OS level.

[wout000]

The OS reads the carrier code and decides if the user is supposed to be able to activate the feature or not. If the service requires a data addon, the message will advise as such and advise you to contact the Vendor that the device was originally registered to. In this case ATT. ATT cannot remove the restriction as it is imposed at the OS level.

Would changing my VENDOR ID remedy this?
If i were to hardcode another vendor to my Blackberry (Vodafone, Rogers, etc...) would it still give the popup or would it work?

[MobileMadness002]

There is no way possible for the general public to change the vendor id, it is burned into the eeprom. RIM can change it using internal tools, but the likelyhood they would do this for you is extremely slim if at all.

Sent from my BlackBerry 9810 using Tapatalk

[wout000]

There is no way possible for the general public to change the vendor id, it is burned into the eeprom. RIM can change it using internal tools, but the likelyhood they would do this for you is extremely slim if at all.

Sent from my BlackBerry 9810 using Tapatalk

While I appreciate your concern, let's assume I do have access to those tools.
Would it work?

[boss_hog]

I ballparked it.

More like doubled the time it's been on the market

[boss_hog]

While I appreciate your concern, let's assume I do have access to those tools.
Would it work?

If you had access to those tools you wouldn't be on here asking these questions. Unless you stole them.

[wout000]

If you had access to those tools you wouldn't be on here asking these questions. Unless you stole them.

I put on my little black outfit, snuck into RIM's headquarters and snatched them /queue evil laughter MUHAHAHAHA.

I was speaking hypothetically as I wasn't given an answer to my original question.

IF the device was rebranded to an other carrier would it work or does this have nothing to do with it?

Just trying to learn here.

[eve6er69]

i think on all att devices you will get that popup since it is branded. what 7.1 are you running?

i am running the 523 and i get the same popup but when i was running the tmobile 284 i could use hotspot and i dont even have it on my plan.

i believe they cracked down after the 3xx os's on the hotspot blocking.

let me know if this helps or if you need any more info

[YourMobileGuru]

Is there a reason you haven't contacted RIM directly?

[Mister Xiado]

Because he doesn't have a carrier code to get free support.

[bunky1971]

Woot000 -
My suggestion is to read up on Hybrid OSes a little bit - find the .384? atthotspot_.cod inject it into your current OS, launch loader or BBSAK and see if that helps.