NEWS

Warnings from Sony about Unlocking the Bootloader on Xperia Z3

Since 2008 the Sony Xperia (a name taken from the word experience) line of smart phones and tablets have been a mainstay of their mobile device line.  Growing with the new world of hand held, mobile computing, Xperia products first began incorporating the Android operating system in 2010.  Every new piece of technology released in the Sony Xperia line is a chance for users and techies alike to explore the possibilities offered by the continued improvement in functionality and processing capabilities.  The announcement about the newest addition to their smart phone line, the Xperia Z3, already has tech sites buzzing about the device while carefully examining its capabilities.

Bootloaders, Smart Phones and You

The world of DOS, Windows and now Android has always been about allowing users the freedom to customize their experience.  Open source code and the world of innovation allowed continuous improvements and changing.  Savvy smart phone users figured out that by unlocking a phone’s bootloader many major pieces of software could be modified and customized.  A bootloader is the instructions guiding a phone during start up.  Unlocking the bootloader allows for new operating systems to be installed and loaded that have been developed specifically for Android based phones such as Ubuntu or Cyanogen.  However, there are potential drawbacks if you decide to modify your smart phone.

Sony Warns Xperia Users Against Unlocking Bootloaders

Smart phone manufacturers are generally against users unlocking the bootloader on their device.  Obviously there are monetary reasons for this, as manufacturers contract with software companies to create the platform and related applications on any given device.  Furthermore companies warn that the integrity of security may be compromised by altering the configuration of a device.  Sony states on their website that unlocking the bootloader on their Xperia Z3 device will void the warranty due to these concerns.  Sony additionally warns users that unlocking the bootloader may cause certain preloaded applications to fail, prevent updates to software and cause users to be unable to purchase and download anything from Sony’s digital storefronts.

DRM Keys and Mobile Devices

The reason that unlocking the bootloader on the Sony Xperia Z3 may cause so many problems for users is the face that in doing so the device’s DRM keys will be deleted.  DRM (digital rights management) security keys allow a smart phone to prove that it has the right to use certain applications or online purchases related to the device.  When these keys are lost by unlocking the Xperia’s bootloader certain applications become unusable and users are unable to prove to Sony’s online storefronts that the device is compatible and secure.  The decision by Sony to make these DRM keys linked to the system’s bootloader leaves users with a difficult decision to make if they want greater customization options.

Sony Xperia Camera Algorithms Affected

The loss of the Xperia’s DRM security keys also reportedly affects the functionality of the device’s camera.  The camera on the Xperia Z3 has been billed as one of the smart phone’s major strengths, producing crisp, clear images.  The loss of the DRM keys due to unlocking the device’s bootloader apparently affects the camera’s image quality.  This is due to the fact that the camera’s advanced algorithms controlling image quality are controlled by the DRM keys.  While this type of result occurred in the past with other Sony devices, several sources that got their hands on the Xperia Z3 early have released images showing a significant reduction in quality.

Conclusion

Hopefully you can unlock your Sony without compromising the Bootloader. To avoid any issues, we recommend ordering the factory unlock code of your Sony Xperia Z3. Ultimately it is the user’s decision to modify their device or make major changes through unlocking the bootloader.  It is important to understand the positives and potential drawbacks before making a decision that could potentially affect your smart phone’s performance, software and warranty.  If you are thinking about purchasing the Sony Xperia Z3 be sure to look into all the possible consequences before making a decision about modifying your device.



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10 Most Frequently Asked Questions Answered Pertaining the FCC Guidelines on Mobile Device Unlocking

Here’s a quick look at 10 common questions and answers relating to the FCC and its unlocking guidelines.

1) Is the FCC okay with consumers unlocking their cell phones?

Yes.  There was a ban on unlocking phones, but it has been lifted.

2) What do the FCC guidelines mandate U.S. wireless carriers to do?

The guidelines instruct that five of the nation’s biggest US wireless carriers must inform their customers of the dates and stipulations related to when their phones can be unlocked.

3) Does the FCC implement a fee when a phone is unlocked?

No.  The FCC mandates that carriers not charge an unlock fee when a consumer has met all ‘unlocking’ requirements.  The providers themselves, however, may charge a fee if the consumer has not met the requirements, such as an Early Termination Fee.

4) Does the FCC decide when phones can be unlocked?

The FCC says that phones can be unlocked when the contract with the carrier has been fulfilled.  If the contract has not been fulfilled and the carrier charges an Early Termination Fee, this fee must first be paid before the phone can be unlocked.

5) What does the FCC say about unlocking prepaid phones?

All prepaid phones can be unlocked, but there may be delayed unlocking dates.  For example, some carriers will mandate that you cannot unlock a prepaid phone until after it has been activated for at least 60 days.  All carriers must allow prepaid phones to be unlocked at least one year after initial activation.

6) Does the FCC unlock all phones once the contract has ended?

No. The FCC itself does not unlock phones, however, some carriers automatically unlock them after a contract is up.

7) What does the FCC say about unlocking phones for military members?

There are exceptions in which the FCC mandates that military members who are deployed internationally will receive the right to have their phones unlocked before a contract has been fulfilled, and most times, the associated accounts must be in good standing.

8) If I owe money on my phone but not the service itself, can I get my phone unlocked?

If you purchased your phone through a network carrier and your contract has ended but you still owe money on the phone, you will most likely be required to pay off the balance on your phone before you can unlock it.

9) Can a lost or stolen phone be unlocked?

Yes, but not if it is reported lost or stolen before it gets unlocked.

10) Will an unlocked phone work on any carrier?

No. The technology on your phone must be compatible with the technology being used by the network carrier. GSM Cell Phone will only work on a GSM Carrier and will not work on CDMA Network Provider, and CDMA Cell Phone will not work on GSM Carrier but only CDMA Service Provider.

If you would like more information on unlocking your phone, contact UnlockBase today.



All products, and company names, logos, and service marks (collectively the "Trademarks") displayed are registered® and/or unregistered trademarks™ of their respective owners. The authors of this web site are not sponsored by or affiliated with any of the third-party trade mark or third-party registered trade mark owners, and make no representations about them, their owners, their products or services.

Understanding the Top US Carriers Unlocking Policies

If you have a cell phone that you would like to have unlocked, there’s a good chance that it is on a Sprint, AT&T, T-Mobile or Verizon network. Fortunately, unlocking a phone on any of these networks isn’t as difficult as you might think.

Sprint Unlock Policy

  • You must be current on all payments
  • You can’t have a write-off balance associated with the phone you want to unlock
  • Your contract has been fulfilled
  • If your contract isn’t fulfilled, you can pay an early termination fee
  • Phone cannot be associated with a bill sent to collections

AT&T Unlock Policy

  • Phone must be currently locked to AT&T network
  • Phone cannot be reported lost or stolen
  • Phone cannot be connected with any type of fraudulent activity
  • Contract must be fulfilled or an early termination fee must be paid
  • Phone must be associated with only one AT&T account

If phone was obtained through an early upgrade, the unlock cannot take place until 14 days have passed since the phone was activated. And finally if you own a prepaid/GoPhone AT&T phone, it must be active for 60+ days before it can be unlocked, and there can be no unpaid balance.

T-Mobile Unlock Policy

  • Phone must be a T-Mobile device
  • Phone cannot be reported lost or stolen
  • The account the phone is connected to must be in good standing
  • You can request only two unlock codes within 12 months
  • All postpaid and/or prepaid balances must be paid in full
  • The phone itself must be completely paid for
  • Early termination fees must be paid if the account is canceled early

Verizon Unlock Policy

Please keep in mind that most devices obtained through a postpay service account with Verizon are not normally locked.  Also, 4G LTE Verizon devices are not locked, meaning there is no unlock code needed to use them on a different carrier.  3G devices are not locked either, except for Global Ready 3G phones.  To unlock these phones, either of the following unlock codes will work:

  • 000000
  • 123456

If you do not know how to access the unlock menu on a Global Ready 3G phone, simply give us a call and we can walk you through the process.

*Bonus Tip

Almost all carriers have special processes you must go through to unlock a phone for Deployed Military Personnel reasons.  View the features of UnlockBase today and learn more about the cell phone unlocking services that we provide.



All products, and company names, logos, and service marks (collectively the "Trademarks") displayed are registered® and/or unregistered trademarks™ of their respective owners. The authors of this web site are not sponsored by or affiliated with any of the third-party trade mark or third-party registered trade mark owners, and make no representations about them, their owners, their products or services.

The cost of roaming is overwhelming and confusing. If you’re with AT&T, it remains one of the most expensive carriers for using a cellphone internationally. Learn more about how much you’re paying in AT&T roaming fees, and two solutions to help avoid these costs by unlocking your phone.

Infographic | Avoid AT&T Roaming Costs by Unlocking Cell Phone

Infographic | Avoid AT&T Roaming Costs by Unlocking Cell Phone

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All products, and company names, logos, and service marks (collectively the "Trademarks") displayed are registered® and/or unregistered trademarks™ of their respective owners. The authors of this web site are not sponsored by or affiliated with any of the third-party trade mark or third-party registered trade mark owners, and make no representations about them, their owners, their products or services.

New Services to unlock Samsung cell phones

All our services to Unlock Samsung Cell Phones are now back to normal but with new names, new pricing, and new turnaround of delivery. We are now offering not less than 19 services to unlock absolutely all Samsung by code, including the latest SM & EK Serie. All we need is some time and the IMEI (Serial Number) of the Samsung cell phone you need to Unlock. You’ll find below the list of the services we’re offering today:

Samsung Argentina – All Levels [1<>3 Days]
Samsung Australia / New Zealand – All Levels [1<>2 Days]
Samsung Canada – All Levels [1<>2 Days]
Samsung Canada – NCK Only [1<>5 Hours]
Samsung Europe – All Levels [1<>3 Days]
Samsung Europe Limited Country #1 – All Levels [1<>2 Days] *
Samsung Europe Limited Country #2 – All Levels [1<>3 Hours] **
Samsung Mexico – All Levels [1<>2 Days]
Samsung Paraguay – All Levels [1<>3 Days]
Samsung South America – All Levels [1<>2 Days]
Samsung Uruguay – All Levels [1<>3 Days]
Samsung USA – All Levels [1<>2 Days] *** <- The fastest option to get code for Samsung USA !
Samsung USA – All Levels [1<>3 Days] ***
Samsung USA – All Levels [1<>4 Days] *** <- Price start at $15 (Gold Price)
Samsung USA – All Levels [2<>3 Days] ***
Samsung WorldWide – All Levels [1<>2 Days]
Samsung WorldWide (“Made in China”)
Samsung WorldWide (“Made in Vietnam”) <- This service is down until the 20th February

* Samsung Europe Limited Country #1 service is limited to Samsung coming from any networks from these European country: Albania, Austria, Bosnia, Bulgaria, Croatia, Germany, Hungary, Montenegro, Romania, Serbia. Code delivered in less than 2 business days !

** Samsung Europe Limited Country #2 service is limited to Samsung coming from any networks from these European country: Austria, Bulgaria, Croatia, Hungary, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, Slowenia, Switzerland. Code delivered in 1<>3 Hours from Monday to Friday

WARNING: WHEN USING THE TWO SERVICE “SAMSUNG EUROPE LIMITED COUNTRY” AS IF YOU SUBMIT A SAMSUNG NOT FROM ANY OF THE SUPPORTED COUNTRY USING THIS SERVICE, YOU’LL BE CHARGED AT FULL PRICE WITHOUT ANY REFUND ! So If you don’t know what’s the Country of your Samsung, please use this service “Samsung # Manufacturer & Network Check #“. we’ll deliver result like this :

Serial Number: R38FB05VPDN Model: SM-G870F Product Code: SM-G870FDGAFTM Division: Mobile Phone (HHP) Sold To: France Carrier: Orange Production Date: November 03, 2014 Ship Date: November 13, 2014 Phone Age: 0 Year(s), 3 Month(s), 3 Day(s) Factory Warranty Coverage: February 03, 2016

*** WARNING Samsung USA Services : Please note that the Samsung T669 & T919 Behold does not accept the Defreeze (MCK) code so please DO NOT submit order with any of these four services if the defreeze code is required. Also here is the official list of unsupported Networks : Cricket, Sprint, Tracfone, Net10 and Straight Talk. The Samsung Avant SM-G386T from T-Mobile USA is also unsupported as well as any Samsung with IMEIs starting with 9900 and Verizon Devices (Unless the phone prompts for a code). You will not be refunded if you order unlock code for any of these cell phone and complaint about a wrong code or code entry issue.

You can check our prices on our Wholesale Unlock Pricing page.



All products, and company names, logos, and service marks (collectively the "Trademarks") displayed are registered® and/or unregistered trademarks™ of their respective owners. The authors of this web site are not sponsored by or affiliated with any of the third-party trade mark or third-party registered trade mark owners, and make no representations about them, their owners, their products or services.

AT&T Premium Unlocking Service

Today we have just added a new and exciting service for Unlocking all Generic Cell Phones from AT&T USA. This new service is available from Monday to Friday with an advertised turnaround of delivery of up to 3 Business days. This new Unlock Service even supports the latest following cell phones from AT&T USA (but not limited to) that require a network code:

  • Amazon Fire,
  • Asus PadFone X,
  • Blackberry Z10, Q10,
  • Garmin G60,
  • HTC M8, Desire 610, Desire Eye
  • Kyocera DuraForce,
  • NEC Terrain,
  • Nokia Lumia 520, 635, 820, 830, 900, 920 1520, 2520.

To make it simpler, if you get a “Not Available” result with any of these (cheaper) service below:

– AT&T USA – Generic “Out of Contract & Clean” (ZTE, Samsung, Sony, etc…)
– AT&T USA – Nokia Lumia 520, 635, 820, 900, 920, 925, 1020, 1520 (Express)
– AT&T USA – Nokia Lumia 520, 635, 820, 900, 920, 925, 1020, 1520 (Regular)
– AT&T USA – Nokia Lumia 520, 635, 820, 900, 920, 925, 1020, 1520 (Slow)
– AT&T USA – Nokia Lumia 520, 820, 900, 920, 1020, 1520 (Low Success Rate)

Then you can use this new service :

Service Name: AT&T USA – Generic “Premium” (Nokia, Amazon Fire, Kyocera, etc..) – [Tool ID: 198]

This service also support all AT&T Lumia Models. Even Lumia 520 IMEI starting with 353045 & IMEI starting 359208, Lumia 635 IMEI starting 353047, Lumia 820, Lumia 900, Lumia 920 all IMEI including IMEI starting 354149, Lumia 925 IMEI starting 357260, Lumia 1020 and Lumia 1520 IMEI starting 358341 model. This is an exclusive service from us. Make sure your phone is not hardlocked as there is no refund for hardlocked Lumia.

You can check our prices on our Wholesale Unlock Pricing page.



All products, and company names, logos, and service marks (collectively the "Trademarks") displayed are registered® and/or unregistered trademarks™ of their respective owners. The authors of this web site are not sponsored by or affiliated with any of the third-party trade mark or third-party registered trade mark owners, and make no representations about them, their owners, their products or services.

The hot button issue of unlocking and jailbreaking phones continues to be a driving force behind the decision to sign up for service with a specific cellphone carrier. Before you find yourself pulling out hairs and arguing with your service provider, you need to know what happens to the millions of devices that have been unlocked and the steps you can take for having your device unlocked. You never really know what happens to your cellphone once it’s gone, but it could very well change another person’s life.

Locked VS. Unlocked Phones – the eBook

Locked VS Unlocked Phones - Download eBook

Unlock your Cell Phone today with UnlockBase



All products, and company names, logos, and service marks (collectively the "Trademarks") displayed are registered® and/or unregistered trademarks™ of their respective owners. The authors of this web site are not sponsored by or affiliated with any of the third-party trade mark or third-party registered trade mark owners, and make no representations about them, their owners, their products or services.

This Blog post is outdated, please check this link instead 
https://www.unlockbase.com/blog/services-to-unlock-samsung-cell-phone/

Unlock Samsung from Europe

We have just updated our list of services to order Unlocking Code for Samsung Europe and have also reduced the price of all existing services. In total we now offer no less than 3 services for Unlocking absolutely all Samsung locked to any European Networks Provider, including the latest Galaxy S5.  Unlock your Samsung cell phone with us today.

Wholesale price for Gold User start at $9.9 for Slow and $15 for Express

Unlock Service available to Unlock Samsung from Europe :

Samsung Europe – All Models with S5 Support (All Level) [Express] – NEW
Samsung Europe – All Models with S5 Support (All Levels) [6<>48 Hours] – NEW
Samsung Europe – All Models with S5 Support (NCK+MCK) [1<>30 Minutes]

The [6<>48 Hours] & [1<>30 Minutes] service work as advertised, however for the new [Express] you need to make sure the Supplier is Online if you want to receive your code in less than 15 minutes as show in the screenshot below :

Samsung Supplier Online

You can check our prices on our Wholesale Unlock Pricing page.



All products, and company names, logos, and service marks (collectively the "Trademarks") displayed are registered® and/or unregistered trademarks™ of their respective owners. The authors of this web site are not sponsored by or affiliated with any of the third-party trade mark or third-party registered trade mark owners, and make no representations about them, their owners, their products or services.

Unlock iPhone from AT&T USA

Christmas Sales season begin, and as usual competition is fierce to Unlock all the iPhone models from AT&T USA  – as of today we have just updated our list of services and have also reduced the price of all existing services. In total we now offer no less than 7 services for Unlocking absolutely all iPhone from AT&T USA, including the iPhone 6 and 6 Plus. Regardless of whether they are “Out of Contract” or “Still in Contract” (Premium),  unlock your cell phone with us today.

Wholesale price for Gold User start at $3
and are still negotiable if you find cheaper with one of our competitor !

Unlock the iPhone from AT&T USA – Premium Services:

AT&T USA – Apple iPhone 2G, 3G, 3GS, 4, 4S, 5, 5S & 5C “Premium” (2<>5 days)
AT&T USA – Apple iPhone 2G, 3G, 3GS, 4, 4S, 5, 5S & 5C “Premium” (5<>15 days)
AT&T USA – Apple iPhone 6 and 6 Plus “Premium” (2<>5 days)

Unlock the iPhone from AT&T USA – Clean IMEI & Out of Contract Services:

AT&T USA – All iPhone Including 6/6+ “Out of Contract & Clean” (Express)
AT&T USA – iPhone 2G, 3G, 3GS, 4 and 4S “Out of Contract & Clean” (3<>4 days)
AT&T USA – iPhone 5, 5C and 5S “Out of Contract & Clean” (3<>4 days)
AT&T USA – iPhone 6 and 6 Plus “Out of Contract & Clean” (3<>4 days)

You can check our prices on our Wholesale Unlock Pricing page.



All products, and company names, logos, and service marks (collectively the "Trademarks") displayed are registered® and/or unregistered trademarks™ of their respective owners. The authors of this web site are not sponsored by or affiliated with any of the third-party trade mark or third-party registered trade mark owners, and make no representations about them, their owners, their products or services.

Unlock Alcatel POP D5, Idol X+, and Vodafone Smart 4 FUN

Today we have updated the “Alcatel (New Provider #2 – 2014)”  & “Alcatel (New Provider 2013)” services. Now seven newly supported models of Alcatel One Touch can be unlocked in real time by code simply with the IMEI & the Provider ID of your Alcatel Cell Phone. Including these new models there are now 13 powerful services to unlock Alcatel Instantly 24/7 and supporting more than 460 models!

Service : Alcatel (New Provider 2013)

Alcatel OT-V685 (Vodafone Smart 4 Fun)
Alcatel OT-5038, OT-5038D (Alcatel POP D5)

Service : Alcatel (New Provider-2 2014)

Alcatel OT-S960, OT-S960T (TCL Idol X+)
Alcatel OT-6043, OT-6043A (Alcatel One Touch Idol X)

Price: Please check pricing in the Wholesale Unlock Pricing section.

-> Please check the video below to find out how to find the Provider ID of any Alcatel <-

Just look at the sticker located under the battery.
The Provider ID must be exactly 13 chars long as show in the picture below:

Alcatel Label/Sticker showing Provider ID & IMEI



All products, and company names, logos, and service marks (collectively the "Trademarks") displayed are registered® and/or unregistered trademarks™ of their respective owners. The authors of this web site are not sponsored by or affiliated with any of the third-party trade mark or third-party registered trade mark owners, and make no representations about them, their owners, their products or services.
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