Free unlocking for V3xx?

[classof2011]

Heyy guys I have my V3xx here and I'm wanting to unlock it but I really don't wanna spend $10-$20 on it.

I requested an unlock code from AT&T but I was wondering, is there a way I can do this for free?

Help appreciated. Thanks

[rozzli]

It depends on who you know. Unfortunately, there isn't an algorithm for determining the unlock codes (like how some Nokia unlock codes were mathematically based on the IMEI). Motorola generates these codes randomly and stores them in a database. An moto employee can later search the database for an unlock code for a particular IMEI. Restated, unlock codes are stored in the databases with their corresponding IMEI's, but the unlock codes are not mathematically based on the IMEI's.

To add to the confusion, the Motorola database does not contain the unlock code lists for Cingy/AT&T motos (not sure why that is).

So, where you bought your phone dictates how you'd obtain your unlock code. When you purchase your unlock code online, you are paying someone who has inside access (probably an employee) to the Motorola (or Cingy/AT&T) database to lookup your code. Again, they aren't using software to generate a code.

With all that in mind, you can theoretically obtain your subsidy code if you know an AT&T employee that is willing to conduct a search for you for free. Otherwise, you're gonna have to pay.

Other methods for unlocking are still not available (i.e. scrubbing the PDS with GOT MOTO). Sorry.

If you want to obtain your code legit from AT&T, you have three options (since I last chatted with them):
1) If your account is less than 90 days old, you can pay the difference from what you actually paid, and what an unlocked version from Moto costs. Upon receipt of your payment, you'll receive your code.

2) You can request that International Roaming be added to your account. There's no guarantees that they'll give you the code, but the International Account Specialist at AT&T mentioned that they do consider it.

3) If your account is older than 90 days, you should get you code for free with little to no problems.

P.S. It's not free, but you can usually get unlock codes for pretty cheap on ebay.

[classof2011]

Thanks for the great amount of help, it helped explain a lot I didn't understand .

What I don't get is how all the millions of eBay sellers get the subsidy codes instantly, like they have access to the database as well?

Last time I requested the subsidy from AT&T [actually for the V3xx that this one replaced], I got the subsidy code the same night, but this is just incase something goes wrong. When I tried the eBay seller's method on my old V3xx, it came back with an error.


But again, thanks! I'll just have to be patient and wait on the text message from AT&T.

[rozzli]

Most "ebay" users selling subsidy codes are quick, but not instant. You'll notice that most state the code will arrive in a few days (and not on weekends). The faster ones probably have intranet/vpn access to moto or cingy so they can lookup the code remotely. I also remember reading on howardforums that a guy wrote an automatic script to fetch the info for customers. Moto and cingy, like most companies, constantly change intranet security; so those scripts won't work for long.

[dankif]

3 month account, just obtain from provider. unless paying for something free is ok to the buyer.

[classof2011]

Still waiting for the text message with the code from AT&T. Last time on my old V3xx it took less than 24 hours, WAY less. A bit worried that it didn't go through or something.

[tgfree1965]

when I got my code from at&t they emailed it to me.

[classof2011]

Yeah but I requested a text and the rep said she changed the notification method to "via text message" instead of "vie email". Hopefully they go through with that.