Unlock Blackberry 8900 Having Problems

Papshow · Thread Author #1 09-11-2011, 06:05 PM

I am not sure if I need to unlock my phone. I CAN use SMS and Phone calls but i cannot use data. When i turn on my phone it shows a T-moblie sign so im guessing its a T-mobile phone even though im not sure. I contacted my services and they said to unlock data they need to release my PIN. I contacted T-mobile and they said that they cannot unlock my pin. Do i still need to unlock my phone? Also when i try to go into Advanced Options>Sims and type in mepd, nothing happens no extra menu appears. i have also tried mep2 but it doesnt work. My phone is Curve 8900 and my service provider is Fido, Thanks for help in advanced!

mandony · #2 09-11-2011, 07:05 PM

Easy problem first. When you are checking if the phone is unlocked, MEPD must be typed in CAPS.
If all options say DISABLED then skip the next paragraph, the phone is already unlocked.

To use a BB phone on other than the original company that it was issued for, in this case TMobile, you must have it unlocked.
Unlocking services are many and you can search this forum for companies that are reliable.

Regarding the 'release of PIN' this is another matter.
If your phone was originally used on the TMobile network then it was registered with RIM as being done so. When a phone is moved from TMobile the phone's registration number called a PIN must be 'released' on the network it is used by the original or last owner of the phone. In your case the last carrier was likely TMobile, but it might have been another carrier (?) It allows TM, or the last carrier, to tell RIM that it is OK to have service installed by another carrier.

Therefore, how did you get the TM phone? Do you know how to contact the prior owner and ask them to 'release the PIN' from TM so that you can re-register it on your carrier. These steps are required by RIM as security that the phone was not reported lost or stolen, and, barred from use as a BB phone.

Papshow · Thread Author #3 09-12-2011, 02:11 PM

Thanks a lot for the help and turns out my phone is unlocked.
However Data is still locked and so is bbm even though i have a plan that allows both. I got the TM phone through a friend, it was a hand me down from his aunt and he used it for a while then he sold it to me. Would the aunt who originally bought the phone have to contact TM? or is it possible that my friend got the pin unlocked and then switched the phone to rodgers(His carrier) and the pin is now there and he has to call and release it?

lak611 · #4 09-12-2011, 02:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Papshow

Thanks a lot for the help and turns out my phone is unlocked.
However Data is still locked and so is bbm even though i have a plan that allows both. I got the TM phone through a friend, it was a hand me down from his aunt and he used it for a while then he sold it to me. Would the aunt who originally bought the phone have to contact TM? or is it possible that my friend got the pin unlocked and then switched the phone to rodgers(His carrier) and the pin is now there and he has to call and release it?

Did your friend have a BlackBerry data plan through Rogers? If so, then he needs to contact them to release the PIN.

If your friend was not using BIS, then his aunt probably needs to contact T-Mobile to release the PIN.