Cingular Wireless LLC was a joint venture cellular phone company owned by AT&T and Bell South. Since the 2006 AT&T and Bell South merger, Cingular Wireless is now owned exclusively by AT&T. The company has been re-branded as AT&T wireless. Therefore, Cingular Sony Ericsson branded mobile phones are now supported by the AT&T wireless network. In order to use a Cingular Sony Ericsson mobile device on a GSM network carrier other than AT&T, the device's SIM lock feature must be unlocked.
Instructions
1. Turn on the Sony Ericsson mobile phone.
2. Dial *#06# (star, pound, zero, six, pound) to display the phone's IMEI number. IMEI is an acronym which stands for International Mobile Equipment Identity. IMEI numbers are used to uniquely identify specific mobile devices on the Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM), Wideband Code Division Multiple Access (W-CDMA) and Integrated Digital Enhanced Network (iDEN) networks. A mobile device's IMEI number is also printed on the label located inside the device's battery compartment.
3. Write down the IMEI number for your Cingular Sony Ericsson mobile device. You need to know this number to obtain the SIM unlock code specific to your particular Cingular Sony Ericsson mobile device.
4. Contact AT&T wireless customer support if you're currently an AT&T wireless subscriber or pre-paid customer who meets the following conditions:
AT&T WIRELESS SUBSCRIBERS
Your wireless service has been active for at least 90 days.
Your account is current and in good standing
Your phone is not sold exclusively by Cingular or AT&T
AT&T PRE-PAID CUSTOMERS
Your AT&T service has been active for six months or longer
If you do not satisfy the above conditions, proceed to Step 6.
5. Tell the AT&T wireless customer support representative that you would like to obtain the SIM unlock code for your phone. AT&T will provide you with the SIM unlock code for your mobile device at no additional extra charge as long as you satisfy the requirements outlined in Step 4. You will be asked to provide the IMEI number for your phone. This number is needed to calculate the SIM unlock code specific to your mobile device. After acquiring this code, proceed to Step 8.
6. Shop around on your own to find the SIM unlock code service you would like to use. To unlock a Cingular Sony Ericsson mobile device, you will need to obtain the phone's SIM unlock code. For a small fee, a SIM unlock service will provide you with the unlock code for your phone.
7. Enter the make (Sony Ericson), model number and current network carrier (AT&T) of your phone on the SIM unlock code service provider's website. Also enter the IMEI number for your phone. Then submit an order to purchase the phone's SIM unlock code.
8. Turn off the Sony Ericsson mobile device. Remove the battery cover from the back of the mobile device. Take out the battery. Remove the current SIM card (located within a sub-compartment of the phone's battery compartment) and insert a SIM card issued from a GSM network carrier other than AT&T. Put the device's battery back in and the battery cover back on.
9. Turn on the Sony Ericsson mobile device. Follow the instructions which came with your SIM unlock code to enter the SIM unlock code into the device and unlock it.
Tags: unlock code, mobile device, Sony Ericsson, Ericsson mobile, Sony Ericsson mobile