Database Develop

when is an unlocked phone acyually locked?

I purchased my X1a on eBay more than a year ago from a Californian who claimed the phone was unlocked. I turned to Canada's Rogers for a GSM SIM, and it has worked beautifully since, ... except that Rogers' coverage is darn bad here in Newfoundland. Sick of it, finally I gave Rogers notice because Telsus looked up its ESN and claimed they'd be able to support it on their HSPA network.
However, come today ... Telus installs their SIM, and the ESN is rejected. The guy behind the desk makes a call, and Telus central states that the only reason can be that the phone is still locked(?) Is it possible that it could have been locked to ATT and it just happens to work with Rogers? The phone doesn't have any thing on it to imply it once belonged to any US carrier.
Please advise ...
TIA & cheerios from the Avalon Peninsula

Has Telus completely made the switch to GSM yet? I'm from the US, so sorry for my partial ignorance If they're still in the works, from what you said they're using ESN (which is a CDMA serial number); the Xperia doesn't have an ESN, it only has an IMEI (GSM standard).
One major reason it might not work is because each type of serial number has a different amount of numbers in them. ESN DEC (or MEID DEC) uses 18 numbers, ESN HEX (or MEID HEX) uses 14 letters and numbrs, and IMEI uses 18 numbers. ESN and IMEI are incompatible, while DEC and HEX are interchangable, since they're both CDMA standard. Maybe mention this to them and it'll jog their memories, and give you more specific information

Xenithflare said:
Has Telus completely made the switch to GSM yet? I'm from the US, so sorry for my partial ignorance If they're still in the works, from what you said they're using ESN (which is a CDMA serial number); the Xperia doesn't have an ESN, it only has an IMEI (GSM standard).
One major reason it might not work is because each type of serial number has a different amount of numbers in them. ESN DEC (or MEID DEC) uses 18 numbers, ESN HEX (or MEID HEX) uses 14 letters and numbrs, and IMEI uses 18 numbers. ESN and IMEI are incompatible, while DEC and HEX are interchangable, since they're both CDMA standard. Maybe mention this to them and it'll jog their memories, and give you more specific information
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Thanx for your response
The Telus guy I first talked with took the battery out and looked up the # in their database and stated it would work. Today's Telus guy used the Xperia's OS to find the # indicated. The number, referred to by the OS as IMEI, actually has 15 numbers in it. The only difference from what's reported behind the battery is 35774202-003213-8(?)

rarewolf said:
Thanx for your response
The Telus guy I first talked with took the battery out and looked up the # in their database and stated it would work. Today's Telus guy used the Xperia's OS to find the # indicated. The number, referred to by the OS as IMEI, actually has 15 numbers in it. The only difference from what's reported behind the battery is 35774202-003213-8(?)
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The serial number printed on the phones will occasionally have dashes or spaces interspaced in the numbers, because it makes it easier to input than having a long string of numbers.
So, they confirmed the IMEI, and yet it still doesn't work? And it worked for a Roger's SIM just recently... I could see an issue activating the phone on a new account, because their system won't have the X1 in it, but that shouldn't stop the SIM from reading. Hell, AT&T has no idea what the X1 is, and my account says I'm using a Motorola flip phone XD But the SIM works wonderfully. Assuming it's a brand-new account, see if they can enter a different IMEI in their system to start with (here in the States, I'd say you should just get a free subsidized phone from them, but put the SIM in the X1)? If the SIM is rejected, it can mean it isn't activated... so it could be just the initial set-up IMEI. Sorry if that was a little confusing, I had random ideas popping up everywhere
Well, that was my only guess. If that doesn't work, I'm stumped

Xenithflare said:
...
Well, that was my only guess. If that doesn't work, I'm stumped
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You should be confused!
I printed your 1st response and thought I'd swing by the Telus store on my way home. As it turned out, another Telus store was closer and was not affiliated with the previous. I told the woman my story, showed her your message ... and then she immediately took the SIM out of her phone and put it mine ... fired it up, and then reports "It works OK with my SIM(?)"
The previous Telus store had given me the SIM originally tried, so this woman puts it in and reports "It works OK with your SIM(?)" ... and then proceeds to sell me my month-to-month plan.
The moral ... well, I don't know what to make of it, except to believe that the 1st Telus store did not really need to check with Telus central (or their affiliated central) to see if my SIM would work. IE, it simply works! ... go figure ...
Thanx again

Software and printed IMEI numbers are not matching

I just purchased a used H811 Tmobile LG G4. Popped in a Tmobile SIM and it's working fine.
However, to my great surprise, the IMEI number displayed from Settings or by dialing *#06# does not match the one printed on the label behind the battery.
Tmobile rep actually said that this might be due to CDMA support on G4, which requires a different IMEI.
I am not so sure this makes sense.
Does anyone's IMEI number not match like mine?
Thanks in advance.

Can't check right now but I believe the one in software is the one that cell companies see and block if needed. The printed one is for hardware repairs and such. Though they should be the same number. I'll check later and report back.

Phone was blacklisted and someone changed imei so it would work. Both numbers should match unless the phone has been tampered with. Sorry

Having two different imei numbers!! Like really!

Hi guys, recently i bought a T-mobile galaxy s6 from craigslist, i checked the imei and it was clean nothing wrong with it at all.
The phone is completely stock not even rooted. But the thing is the imei number under the settings is different than the one underneath the glass cover in the back. Both imei numbers are clean. The phone is locked right now and i can't use it for my at&t number. I talked to T-mobile customer service and they said that the phone should be unlocked with the imei number on the back of the phone. But when i gave them the imei number from the settings they said that it is invalid and won't show up in their system or data. So, I called Samsung and they said they won't be able to do anything at all, i just have to call T-mobile, but T-mobile is telling me to call samsung, and its just going through a cycle a stupid one. Both are knows for bad customer satisfaction and it is true.
Please, anyone have any idea how to unlock the phone? or overwite the imei number to return it back to the original one! Both companies won't help as they don't know what to do. I am sick to the bones of being a customer for both. BTW the device unlock app thing by t-mobile did not help the issue. it says can't recognize the device

hammy88 said:
Hi guys, recently i bought a T-mobile galaxy s6 from craigslist, i checked the imei and it was clean nothing wrong with it at all.
The phone is completely stock not even rooted. But the thing is the imei number under the settings is different than the one underneath the glass cover in the back. Both imei numbers are clean. The phone is locked right now and i can't use it for my at&t number. I talked to T-mobile customer service and they said that the phone should be unlocked with the imei number on the back of the phone. But when i gave them the imei number from the settings they said that it is invalid and won't show up in their system or data. So, I called Samsung and they said they won't be able to do anything at all, i just have to call T-mobile, but T-mobile is telling me to call samsung, and its just going through a cycle a stupid one. Both are knows for bad customer satisfaction and it is true.
Please, anyone have any idea how to unlock the phone? or overwite the imei number to return it back to the original one! Both companies won't help as they don't know what to do. I am sick to the bones of being a customer for both. BTW the device unlock app thing by t-mobile did not help the issue. it says can't recognize the device
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There was a guy on here named Stilfilz i think was his name. Maybe ask him.
Possibly the IMEI tmobile cant find in their system can be a metropcs galaxy s6 IMEI which is also sm-g920T hardware.
good luck

tyrone1 said:
There was a guy on here named Stilfilz i think was his name. Maybe ask him.
Possibly the IMEI tmobile cant find in their system can be a metropcs galaxy s6 IMEI which is also sm-g920T hardware.
good luck
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yeah i was in touch with the guy last night, but sadly the flexihub did not work on my computer we tried many times but no luck i always get no internet connection even though the internet is working . Do you think if i flash a metropcs stock rom it would help unlocking it? i think the phone is refurbished thats why i have a different imei number.

when i looked up the imei under the settings, i checked online for the imei and it says for model number SM-G920F ? should i flash a stock rom for that model number or what

Quick update ....
So I flashed a galaxy s6 AT&T stock rom 6.0.1 and its working fine. No longer need the t-mobile device unlock app, but now i am to the point where it asks for the unlocking code.
Should I purchase an unlock code online using the imei number the one from the settings?

UPDATE:
Thanks to Stilfilz , i flashed the stock rom then rooted it, then Stilfilz got it unlocked. Took only 3 minutes. now it is working with an AT&T sim card with no issues.

Hi, i have the same problem with my galaxy S6 edge, the IMEI number under setting is different from the one in the back plate. if you have a way to fix this please please email me at [email protected]
Thank you.

Please help me with this issue, i tried to flash it with original ROM using Odin, but no success. Any input would be appreciated. Thank you

IMEI problem - can someone explain/advise?

Short version: who can fix IMEI on my (legally bought) phone?
Long story: I bought a new G870A phone around XMAS from an ebay-like store (I live in Poland). It seems to be an American phone (I get an ATT logo). It worked fine in Poland for two weeks I was using it (Polish SIM, T-mobile operator), but then I left for my work in South Korea, where I have a Korean SIM (SKT op.) it had connectivity issues: phone/SMS/wifi work, but mobile data doesn't work if the phone displays LTE 4G on the top. If it shows just 4G it works. I took it too SKT shops (three), all swear it's not an operator problem. Took it to the Samsung service center, they couldn't figure things out, sent it to the factory. I got a call from them (well, I don't speak Korean, so it's handled by my Korean gf). She said: "the number of INEI on the phone does not match the manufacturer’s serial number on the phone. Based on my understanding from his explanations, the manufactures finds for the serial number with INEI numbers, two numbers need to be the same. If another person is using a phone with the same INEI numbers with yours, your phone might not work properly. Your phone is not in the process for A/S since ur phone itself has the problem. So, they suggested you to contact the distributor what happens." I did some research on IMEI, and I am confused. I am reasonably sure that the place I bought in Poland is legit (I got the box, warranty card, proof of purchase; the business has official government registration, and 99% satisfaction ratio for its ~2,000 sales). The mobile data worked in Poland, which would suggest IMEI was fine - until the flight/SIM change? What could have messed it up? And if it is, who can fix it for me? Seems like the Samsung rep wants me to take the phone halfway through the world and complain to the Polish seller? Should I try to get if fixed in Korea? Whose fault is it? It also seems like it is possible to get the IMEI changed without root, could it be that someone "stole" my IMEI number? Could IMEI numbers work in one country but not the other? Should I try to change the IMEI myself - and if so, are there any good guides for that? I also read that changing IMEI is not legal in many countries, but presumably the vendor/service center can do it? But who is the party that should fix my phone? The original vendor? Are IMEI problems covered through warranty?

Question Serial Number in Status different from box and phone sticker

Hello everyone, I recently bought RN10 PRO (Indian version) and I've noticed that the Serial Number in the settings and when dialing *#06# is different from the box, however the two IMEI numbers are identical on both the device and the box
I ran CIT (dialed *#*#6484#*#*) and the Serial Number there was identical to the one on the box.
Should I be concerned or return the device? or is it something common and normal?
thank you for your time.

It's not uncommon for the software to be misreporting the serial number sometimes. Xiaomi has some bugs, but as long as it's not breaking, it's fine. My phone doesn't report the correct serial number either after update, and I know it's a genuine device since I bought it sealed and in person at an official Xiaomi store. The important thing is the IMEI, as the IMEI is unique to each network device. Though the IMEI can be spoofed, each IMEI is registered to a specific device, so if you ran a check on a spoofed IMEI, it will return a different device as a result.
Here's what you can do to check for authenticity. Visit this website and enter the IMEI (first one, then the other): https://www.mi.com/global/verify/#/en/tab/imei
Both IMEIs should show your correct phone model.