threlly

hi again,
i have a mobile with orange pay as u go. i have read that it may work in oz, but i may have to get it unlocked. do i get it unlocked here or when i get to oz? do i then (after it has been unlocked) buy a new sim, get a new number and off i go making calls in oz
cheers for any help

spottydog

There shouldn't be any problem with the phone working in Oz once it has been unlocked. I personally would get it unlocked in the UK then if you have any problems you can sort it out here while you have easy access to other phones rather than waiting until you get to Oz when you only have that phone. If you get it unlocked here put in a friends non-orange sim card to check you can call out to confirm it has been unlocked.

Anne

threlly

hi spottydog, thansk for that. how and where do i go to get the mobile inlocked?
cheers

saraliz

You'd need to contact Orange - I tried having a look at their website to see if they charge to unlock (& if so, how much) but the page seems to be down for me.

Perthforme

My old orange phone was never locked have you tryed a sim from another network it might not need doing. I use my orange nokia in oz with a virgin sim in it and its fine

Briz-chick

I'd definitely do it in the UK. As perthforme says, it may be unlocked already, so try a sim from another network in it...if it works, it's unlocked.

I think that Orange UK would have 'ownership' of your unlocking code (if you know what I mean)...e.g. it was their phone, so they are the only ones who can request the unlock code from the manufacturer. You will need to know you IMEI number before you phone Orange. You can find this on the original phone box, or by removing the battery and looking on the barcode sticker (look for a 16? digit number - no letters). Another way is by keying *#06# into your phone, and the IMEI will magically appear on the screen!

A lot of companies charge around £30 to do it...some waive the fee if you have spent, say, over £30 on calls. Or you could go to a dodgy phone stall at the markets for a tenner! Doing it the proper way may take many weeks, so do it well in advance.
When in oz you will need to buy a new sim, and therefore will get a new number. In the UK you can 'port' your number i.e. when you change networks you can keep your number. I'd very much doubt this can be done internationally though.

The UK and Oz use dual band (900 & 1800 band) networks. In the USA, they use tri-band, therefore lots of UK and Oz phones don't work there.

Stormz

Most phones in the UK over the last couple of years have been tri-band afaik... even our old Nokia.

Neil&Di

i would definitely recommend getting it unocked in the UK we had no end of problems in trying to contact singlepoint after we arrived here to get mine unlocked (they don't give a number for international callers).
di

ken-6

HI THERE,
YOU CAN GET IT UNLOCKED THERE OR HERE IN OZ. IF YOU GO ON THE INTERNET AND SEARCH ON GOOGLE, THERE ARE LOT'S OF COMPANIES THAT DO IT. ONE COMPANY IS WWW.2U.CO.UK AND IT COSTS ABOUT 6 POUNDS. I UNLOCKED MINE OUT HERE IN MELBOURNE, SO IT DOSN'T MATER WHERE YOU ARE AND IT'S REALLY EASY.



GOOD LUCK KEN

JayDeee

Definately get it dont in the UK (much more expensive in OZ), DO not contact you mobile ohone supplier they will charge you the earth, most markets have a mobile ohone man and he will usually charge 10 quid.

Kala

Tass

Definately get it unlocked in UK . It is illegel to lock phones into networks over here so causes many problems trying to unlock it once you're here. You can pick up SIM cards over here from $2 upwards.
All the best,
Tass.

marco121068

If it's a Nokia phone try this http://unlock.nokiafree.org/download.php

I haven't done it myself as I found my phone wasn't locked - but take a look at www.moneysavingexpert.com. There's a great section on mobiles and how to get them unlocked - FOR FREE.

spottydog

I would also going to suggest this site for a Nokia phone, it worked for me.

Before worrying about getting it unlocked try putting in a Sim card from another network (other than Three) and see whether it works, if it does the phone is already unlocked.

If it's not a Nokia then I would suggest walking down your local high street and going into the independent stores and asking them, a lot of them will be able to do it for less than orange will charge.

Your final option would be to search in google for your phone & unlock or ask on a phone forum (whatmobile.net have one) or finally buy a remote unlock from someone on ebay.

HTH

Anne

threlly

thanks everyone for all your help. i will try and sort ulocking it soon. my only other ? is, i need to use my mobile till the day b4 we fly out of manchester (due to 4 hour drive from Boston my hometown, to manchester, bf place, and were we fly from) can i unlock it the day b4 i leave? if i can't i will just have to borow one of bf parents phones i suppose. thanks for any help.

RECAP- i just take my phone to the orange shop and they will unlock it for me/ or go on a website and do it that way
cheers

moneypenny20

Just cos it's unlocked doesn't mean you can't use your original sim, it just means you can use any sim so once unlocked, keep old sim in and use as normal. When you get to Aus get new sim and use as normal.