Archive for January, 2016

Great Phones We Unlock: ZTE Avid PLUS from MetroPCS

This is another new phone making its debut at CES Las Vegas this month. It’s an entry level model from ZTE, a fast growing Chinese multinational telecommunications equipment and systems company headquartered in Shenzhen, Guangdong, China.

The all new ZTE Avid® PLUS is designed with comfort, convenience and the budget conscious in mind. It works quickly and efficiently enough, powered by a Qualcomm® 1.1 GHz quad-core processor matched with fast nationwide 4G LTE network. And if it’s affordability you’re after, the deal from MetroPCS doesn’t get any better. With an original price of $119, MetroPCS, after mail-in rebate MetroPCS are offering the phone at just $29.00!

The phone comes with an on-trend 5″ LCD screen with pixel density of 196 ppi, which allows you to enjoy pictures, play games and watch videos, while the screen is protected with Dragontrail™ scratch-resistant glass.

Camera technology on the Avid PLUS is a bit basic, nothing more, and nothing less than you would expect from a budget phone. There’s a 2MP front-facing camera and a 5MP rear-facing camera, with 720 pixel video recording which means you can easily capture what’s going on around you at short notice. There are effects including Color Effect, Scene Mode and Anti-Flicker to help you create quality photographs, but of course at this lvel of pixellation, you can expect some pictures to be grainy.

The ZTE Avid Plus was not designed as a high-end smartphone. Internal storage starts at 8GB upgradeable with a microSD slot to 32GB. The phone is made from an all-plastic build but still manages to have a quality feel when held. Unlike a lot of the newer generation phones, the Avid PLUS has a removable backing, allowing access to the replaceable battery, the SIM card slot, and the microSD card slot, which is much easier than trying to open the SD card and SIM card slots with the aid of a supplied pin to press into a tiny slot in the side.

The phone runs on Android Lollipop 5.1 and includes a built-in battery saver with additional security features and enhanced WiFi/Bluetooth controls

The resolution and pixel count is admittedly low as compared to more high end models, but with a MetroPCS price of just $29.00, it still represents outstanding value.

Unlock your Avid PLUS from MetroPCS with UnlockBase

If you love the phone but you want to be able to use extra SIM Card from a non compatible network, UnlockBase, the leading online remote unlock site, with the largest database of phones and service providers around the globe, can unlock this phone for you quickly, easily and cost efficiently. Our new, easy to use MetroPCS Android Mobile Device Unlock App supports ZTE Avid PLUS and the app can be yours for just $24.oo. Full step by step instructions are supplied and if you get stuck and you’re not sure what to do, our team are on hand 24/7 to answer your questions and sort out any possible problems. You can buy the app in seconds on the site and have your phone unlocked within just a few minutes, but don’t take our word for it, before you buy check out some of our genuine testimonials from satisfied customers.

ZTE Avid Plus Specifications:

  • 4G LTE enabled
  • 5″ FWVGA LCD Touchscreen Display
  • 5MP autofocus camera with LED flash + 2MP front-facing camera
  • 8GB ROM / 1GB RAM
  • Expandable to 32GB with microSD card (sold separately)

To Unlock your ZTE Avid Plus from MetroPCS, please follow this Link:
https://www.unlockbase.com/phone-unlocking-service/metropcs-device-unlock-app-official-unlock/



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.

Great Phones We Unlock: LG K7 From Metro PCS

UnlockBase unlocks more phones from more cellphone providers around the world than any other online remote unlock website. We’re known to thousands of satisfied customers for our efficiency, our speed of response and our fair, cost effective pricing, – so much so that we won’t be beaten on price. If you can find an unlock deal online for the exact same phone model and service provider that is better than what we are offering, we guaranteed to match it or better it.

One of the latest smartphones we can unlock for customers using MetroPCS as their service provider is the popular LG K7 from South Korean company LG. It’s the younger brother of the more powerful K10. Making its debut this month at CES in Las Vegas, it’s not surprising the K7 is expected to be such a popular choice. That’s because this smartphone is the complete package. With this phone you can tap into both your creative and practical sides and enjoy a great experience either way. It has outstanding camera features, and solid, speedy performance at a price that truly won’t break the bank.

The LG K7 MS330, (or LG Tribute 5 as it is also known by some service providers), is a value for money Android phone with a slim arched screen and sleek back cover. Its 5-inch display is contained within a smart looking plastic design with a matte finish. MetroPCS will offer this phone as a pre-paid deal with an affordable price tag. In fact, the phone brand new costs $129.90, but with an after mail-in rebate you can have one shipped to you for just $49.00 online at MetroPCS.

LG like to describe their K Series as ‘glossy pebble design language’, so called due to the curved, modern finish of the phones, aimed squarely at a younger audience without a lot of budget to blow on a high-end smartphone. LG claim the design cues of the phone are borrowed from nature, and the phone certainly punches above its weight in terms of cost vs performance and looks.

The LG K7 is a 5-inch 854×480 resolution smartphone. It’s running on Android 5.1 Lollipop along with LG’s Optimus UI on top. It’s powered by a 1.3GHz quad-core processor, with 1GB or 1.5GB of RAM and 8GB of storage inside. There’s a microSD card slot inside, which can support an upgrade of up to 64GB of storage as well. LG has packed an 8MP camera in the back with a surprisingly good quality 5MP camera in the front. The phone is equipped with LG’s easy to use photo technology including Gesture Shot and Gesture Interval Shot, making the taking of selfies easy and hassle-free.

With Gesture Shot you can take photos simply by raising an open hand in front of the lens and then clenching it into a fist. When you close your hand twice the camera automatically goes into Gesture Interval Shot mode whereby it will run off four consecutive photos. There is also Flash for Selfie on the front to help capture moments on the fly, whenever, wherever the moment presents itself, even if it’s in the dark. The phone is powered by an 2125mAh battery that is non-removable, and therefore non-replaceable.

Get the UnlockBase Android Device Unlock App

Our new, easy to use MetroPCS Android Mobile Device Unlock App supports the LG K7 and the app can be yours for just $24.oo. Full step by step instructions are supplied and if you get stuck and you’re not sure what to do, our team are on hand 24/7 to answer your questions and sort out any possible problems. You can buy the app in seconds on the site and have your phone unlocked within just a few minutes, but don’t take our word for it, before you buy check out some of our genuine testimonials from satisfied customers.

LG K7 Specifications

  • 5-inch 854×480 display
  • 1.1GHz quad-core processor
  • 8-megapixel or 5-megapixel rear camera
  • 5-megapixel front camera
  • 1.5GB or 1GB of RAM
  • 16GB or 8GB of storage
  • 2125mAh non-removable battery
  • Android 5.1

To Unlock your LG K7 from MetroPCS, please follow this Link:
https://www.unlockbase.com/phone-unlocking-service/metropcs-device-unlock-app-official-unlock/



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.

Mobile Device Unlock App (Android) - Troubleshooting

Device Unlock is an Android app that allows you to request and apply a mobile device unlock directly from the device. This allows you to automatically apply Mobile Device Unlock to the device without using a manual code. When your phone is locked with “Mobile Device Unlock” it’s totally useless to order an unlock code.

Only supported devices (see below) may download the app or have it pre-installed. Supported devices may download the app from: Google Play.

Supported Models from T-Mobile USA Supported Models from MetroPCS USA
  • Alcatel OneTouch Evolve (OT-5024N),
  • Alcatel OneTouch Fierce 4 (OT-5056N),
  • Alcatel OneTouch Fierce XL (OT-5054W),
  • Alcatel OneTouch POP Astro (OT-5042T),
  • Coolpad Catalyst (3622A),
  • Coolpad Defiant,
  • Coolpad Rogue (3320A),
  • HTC 10,
  • HTC One M9,
  • HTC Desire 530,
  • HTC Desire 626s,
  • HTC U11 life,
  • Kyocera Hydro LIFE (C6530),
  • Kyocera Hydro Wave (C6740),
  • Kyocera DuraForce PRO,
  • Kyocera DuraForce XD (E6790),
  • LG Aristo (M210),
  • LG Aristo 2 Plus (X212TAL),
  • LG G Stylo (H631),
  • LG G4 (H811),
  • LG G5 (H830),
  • LG G6 (H872),
  • LG G7 ThinQ (LMG710TM),
  • LG K7 (K330),
  • LG K10 (K428SG),
  • LG K20 Plus (TP260),
  • LG K30 (X410TK),
  • LG Leon LTE (H345),
  • LG Q7+ (Q610TA),
  • LG Stylo 2 Plus (K550),
  • LG Stylo 3 PLUS (TP450),
  • LG Stylo 4 (Q710TS),
  • LG V10 (H901),
  • LG V20 (H918),
  • LG V30 (H932),
  • LG V30+ (H932U),
  • LG V40 ThinQ (V405TAB),
  • Motorola moto e4,
  • Motorola moto e5 Play (XT1921-3),
  • Motorola moto e5 Plus,
  • Motorola Moto Z Force,
  • Samsung Galaxy Avant (SM-G386T),
  • Samsung Galaxy J3 Prime (SM-J327T),
  • Samsung Galaxy J3 Star (SM-J337T),
  • Samsung Galaxy J7 (SM-J700T),
  • Samsung Galaxy J7 Prime (SM-J727T),
  • Samsung Galaxy J7 Star (SM-J737T),
  • Samsung Galaxy On5 (SM-G550T),
  • Samsung Galaxy S6 (SM-G920T),
  • Samsung Galaxy S6 Edge (SM-G925T),
  • Samsung Galaxy S6 Edge+ (SM-G928T),
  • Samsung Galaxy S7 (SM-G930T),
  • Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge (SM-G935T),
  • Samsung Galaxy S8 (SM-G950T),
  • Samsung Galaxy S8+ (SM-G955T),
  • Samsung Galaxy S8 Active (SM-G892U),
  • Samsung Galaxy S9 (SM-G960U),
  • Samsung Galaxy S9 Plus (SM-G965U),
  • Samsung Galaxy S10+ (SM-G975U),
  • Samsung Galaxy Note 5 (SM-N920T),
  • Samsung Galaxy Note 7 (SM-N930T),
  • Samsung Galaxy Note 8 (SM-N950T),
  • Samsung Galaxy Note 9 (SM-N960U),
  • Samsung Galaxy Grand Prime (SM-G530T),
  • Samsung Galaxy Core Prime (SM-G360T),
  • Sony Xperia Z3 (D6616),
  • T-Mobile REVVL,
  • T-Mobile REVVL Plus,
  • ZTE Avid Plus (Z828),
  • ZTE Avid Trio (Z833),
  • ZTE Obsidian (Z820),
  • ZTE Zinger (Z667T),
  • ZTE Zmax Pro (Z981).
  • Alcatel 1X Evolve,
  • Alcatel 7,
  • Alcatel A30 Fierce (OT-5049Z),
  • Alcatel One TouchFierce XL (OT-5054N),
  • Alcatel One TouchFierce 4 (OT-5056N),
  • Alcatel TRU (OT-5065N),
  • Coolpad Catalyst (3622A),
  • Coolpad Defiant (3632A),
  • Coolpad Legacy (CP3705A),
  • HTC Desire 530,
  • HTC Desire 626s,
  • Kyocera Hydro ELITE (C6740 & C6740N),
  • LG Aristo (MS210),
  • LG Aristo 2 (LMX210MA),
  • LG Aristo 3 (LMX220MA),
  • LG Aristo 3+ (LMX220MB),
  • LG Leon 4G LTE (MS345),
  • LG G Stylo (MS631),
  • LG K7 (MS330),
  • LG K10 (MS428),
  • LG K20 Plus (MP260),
  • LG K30 (LMX410MK),
  • LG K40 (LMX420MM),
  • LG Q7 Plus, Q7+ (Q610MA),
  • LG Stylo 2 Plus (MS550),
  • LG Stylo 3 PLUS (MP450),
  • LG Stylo 4 (Q710MS),
  • LG Stylo 5,
  • Motorola moto e4,
  • Motorola moto e5 Play (XT1921-3),
  • Motorola moto e5 Plus,
  • Motorola moto G7 Play,
  • Motorola moto G7 Power,
  • Samsung Galaxy A6 (SM-A600T1),
  • Samsung Galaxy A10e (SM-A102U),
  • Samsung Galaxy A20 (SM-A205U),
  • Samsung Galaxy J2 (SM-J260T1),
  • Samsung Galaxy J3 Prime (SM-J327T1),
  • Samsung Galaxy J7 (SM-J700T1),
  • Samsung Galaxy J7 Prime (SM-J727T1),
  • Samsung Galaxy J7 Star ( SM-J737T1),
  • Samsung Galaxy On5 (SM-G550T1),
  • Samsung Galaxy S7 (SM-G930T1),
  • Samsung Galaxy S8 (SM-G950T1),
  • Samsung Galaxy S8+ (SM-G955T1),
  • Samsung Galaxy S9 (SM-G960U),
  • Samsung Galaxy Core Prime (SM-G360T1),
  • Samsung Galaxy Grand Prime (SM-G530T1),
  • ZTE Avid 4 (Z855),
  • ZTE Avid Plus (Z828),
  • ZTE Avid Trio (Z833),
  • ZTE Blade Z Max (Z982),
  • ZTE Obsidian (Z820),
  • ZTE Zmax Pro (Z981).

It’s very important to order the unlock service of your Cell Phone using the correct service.

Mobile Device Unlock App for T-Mobile Mobile Device Unlock App for MetroPCS

How to apply a “Mobile Device Unlock”

  1. From that Application list, tap Device Unlock.
  2. Tap Continue.
  3. Choose the desired device unlock type: Permanent Unlock
  4. If successful, restart the device to apply the settings.

Note: If you do not restart the device, you will have a persistent alert in the notification tray.

 

Troubleshooting “Mobile Device Unlock” app

  1. Check that you have an active data connection.
  2. Clear the application cache.
  3. Check that the device memory is properly managed.
  4. Restart the device and try again.

If you receive an error, review the following table for troubleshooting:

Error Message Information / Troubleshooting
Device not recognized by your service provider. Please call customer care.
  • Rooting your device will disable the unlock application
  • Download the latest T-Mobile or MetroPCS software to continue
Data corrupted during transfer. Please try again.Error during data transfer. Please try again.
  • Ensure the device has stable mobile signal
  • Restart the device and try again
Server not responding. Please try again later.
  • No response is received from the server
  • Try using an alternate internet connection
Failure in processing the request. Please reboot device and try again.
  • Ensure that your device has sufficient memory
  • Restart the device and try again
Unlock Failed: Unlock Approved : Mobile Device is permanently unlocked
  • Solution 1: Perform a hard reset and attempt a second unlock.
  • Solution 2: Perform 2 consecutive hard reset without attempting the unlock and once the second hard reset has been performed attempt the unlock again.
  • Make sure phone has latest Android version available for that device.
No internet connection available. Please try again when internet connection is available.
  • No internet connection is available:
    • Device is not connected to 3G/4G LTE.
    • A non-compatible SIM card is being used,
Unable to connect to the server at this time. Please try back again later.
  • Update the app using the Play Store
  • Attempt the unlock using the mobile network.
Unlock Failed: This mobile wireless device is not eligible for unlock. For Device Unlock eligibility details, please go online or contact Customer Care.
  • The device is not eligible for unlock. (Order the Unlock Service from UnlockBase)
Unlock Failed : System maintenance error, try again later.
  • System Maintenance is currently underway
  • Wait and try again later
Failure in applying the unlock settings. Please try again.
  • The device must be connected to the mobile network (including domestic and international roaming)
  • Disconnect from Wi-Fi and try again.

 

  1. Make sure you use the original Stock ROM (no custom Firmware like CyanogenMod, or Unbranded ROM).
  2. Make sure you’re using the latest version of Firmware for your Cell Phone.
  3. Finally (after upgrade) perform a Hard Reset on your Cell Phone.
  4. Turn off 3G/LTE and force the use of a local WiFi Hotspot.
  5. Make sure you use home Wifi (and not a public/company WiFi since they might limit somehow your internet usage).

 

Select one of these two services below to unlock with “Mobile Device Unlock

Mobile Device Unlock App for MetroPCS   Mobile Device Unlock Service for T-Mobile



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.

Great Phones We Unlock: Vodafone Smart Ultra 6

This is an occasional series that reviews some exceptional cellphones that represent either the latest in cutting edge features, or all round great value for money. Available in the UK, the 4G Vodafone Smart Ultra 6 falls into the latter category. In fact, it offers specs that might cost you £300 or more in a Samsung handset, but costs £125. That’s without a contract, with no obligation beyond the phone being locked to Vodafone – but more about that later.

Designed by Vodafone and manufactured by telecoms giant ZTE, one of the top five largest smartphone manufacturers in its home market,and in the top ten, worldwide. The cellphone features a 5.5-inch Full HD screen, 3000mAh battery, Snapdragon 615 processor and a 13MP rear-facing camera, the device has formidable specifications. At 5.5” it’s a big phone and it’s quite simply the highest-spec budget phone you can get without importing something cheap and dubious from China.

With the Vodafone Smart Ultra 6 you have a well-known name, with a phone made by a cellphone world leader.

Some of the major players such as Samsung, LG and HTC do offer handsets in the same price range but these are usually with significantly lower specs than the Smart Ultra 6. Alternatively carriers often offer better specs but then add large amounts of bloatware resulting in a poorer experience. Vodafone has avoided this and as a result, delivers the Android experience as Google designed it to be enjoyed.

The Vodafone Smart Ultra 6 has very little bloatware, and a generous 16GB. The internal storage is 16GB of which around 10 GB is available to use, plus there’s a microSD card slot so you can expand the storage up to 64GB.

Vodafone Smart Ultra 6 Unlock

Sprightly performance includes speeds of up to 150Mbps and upload speeds of up to 50Mbps when connected to a compatible network. The handset remains lost locked to LTE well and has a strong antenna. The handset offers rich sound while on a call or listening to music.

The handset sports a 13MP rear camera and uses the stock camera app to deliver an easy-to-use feature-rich interface. With a simple swipe next to the shutter button, you can switch between Manual, Auto and the various modes, which include the useful Filters, Multi-Exposure and HDR modes.

The overall look of the phone isn’t really going to scoop any design awards, with no really distinguishing style features that you would find on the likes of a Samsung Edge, an Apple iPhone 6 + or just about any top spec Blackberry, but then it is literally two thirds less expensive than these premium priced cellphones.

Unlock your Vodafone Smart Ultra 6 with UnlockBase

When you buy the cell phone it comes locked to – no prizes for guessing – Vodafone, and this can be a disadvantage. Vodafone’s service can leave a lot to be desired, you nearly always have to pay to speak to a customer service advisor, even if the problem is Voadafone’s, and their Pay As You Go rates are somewhat uninspiring, starting at £10 a month for 300 minutes of calls (Giff Gaff offers 250 minutes for just £7.50) unlimited texts and 250 MB of data. Fortunately UnlockBase, the web’s largest remote cellphone unlock website can quickly and efficiently unlock the Vodafone Smart Ultra 6, and with our Price Match Promise we will unlock it for less than the £20 charged by Vodafone for the same service.

We also supply Vodafone unlock codes for 115 Vodafone cell phone models. Since launching this phone unlocking service, over 2,051 customers have already received Vodafone unlock codes. It doesn’t matter if it’s an old Vodafone, or, like the Smart Ultra 6, one of the latest releases, with UnlockBase you will find a solution to successfully unlock your Vodafone, fast. Unlock it here



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.

A complete guide to blacklsited cell phones

Buying a used cellphone can be a great idea: you can save money, obtain an already unlocked phone, or buy a brand or a particular model you couldn’t otherwise afford. It sounds ideal, but unfortunately, buying a cellphone that is blacklisted can mean not only is your phone completely useless to you, you could potentially end up with a knock at the door from the police asking some difficult questions.

Think it can’t happen to you? In 2013 over 3.2 million cellphones were stolen in the United States alone, double the amount stolen in the previous year, so this is a fast growing problem. It means millions of cellphones are out there being advertised daily on online auction sites and listing sites around the world that could well be stolen, and you won’t know anything about it until you arm yourself with what to look for and what questions to ask.

Understanding your IMEI

Every mobile device in the world, whether it’s a cell phone or a tablet, has a unique serial number known as the IMEI (International Mobile Equipment Identifier). In a growing number of countries, operators enable consumers to report a mobile phone or device as lost or stolen using the device’s unique identity number, the IMEI.  The operator can block the phone from their mobile network, which is called IMEI blacklisting. Participating operators have an up to date Device Check database which contains the IMEI for devices reported as stolen or lost, as well as the device model and capabilities.

Groupe Speciale Mobile (GSM), established in 1982, defines the GSM standard as the internationally accepted digital cellular telephony standard. Global mobile connections now exceed some 10 billion connections, and as of 2015, exceeds the total population of the globe.

As a means of controlling this vast number of global connections, which is increasingly important in an age of international organized crime and terrorism, blacklisted IMEIs are provided to the GSMA central IMEI Database which allows operators to exchange data and to block devices on multiple networks both nationally and internationally.

How your IMEI is broadcast to the network

Each time you make a call your SIM card immediately identifies you as a subscriber to that particular carrier. If your account is in order, then you can make the call and use the services of your service provider. Before that can happen, however, the network will check your phone’s IMEI, which is a number that is unique to every GSM handset.

Like IMEI, Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA) devices also use something similar called an Electronic Serial number, or ESN. The IMEI or ESN identifies the phone to your carrier and it checks that the handset is valid to use. If the phone is locked to another carrier or if it’s lost or stolen your service provider can use the IMEI to “blacklist” a device which means you won’t be able to make calls.

So for example, it’s the IMEI, and not your customer profile that lets a large carrier such as AT&T know that you are using an iPhone. Even if you switch to a different type of phone, a BlackBerry or an Android, your service provider will know which phone you are using. Even when you jailbreak a phone, your IMEI will still give your chosen service provider the information they need to know.

What happens when you discover you have a Blacklisted Phone?

Each time you switch your phone on or attempt to make a call, the network systems check the IMEI number of the handset you are using as soon as you insert a SIM card.

In the USA, the cellphone blacklist is operated by the CTIA, which works with leading cellphone providers including AT&T, Cellcom, Nex-Tech Wireless, Sprint, T-Mobile USA, and Verizon Wireless to provide a vast database of blacklisted phones. They are also linked to the GSM IMEI database.

In the UK, when the SIM card is inserted, the IMEI number of your handset is cross referenced with the Central Equipment Identity Register (CEIR), which is also known as the IMEI database. If the IMEI number of your handset is on the CEIR/IMEI blacklist then the network will either refuse to send a signal to your phone (No signal strength at all or will supply a signal but will not allow any outgoing or incoming calls.

If your IMEI number is on the CEIR your handset is blacklisted and therefore of no use to you or anyone else except for spare parts.

Why are blacklisted phones still so prevalent?

Despite huge efforts by service providers and international cellphone network organizations to clamp down on stolen cellphones, inevitably the system has its shortcomings and criminals can still get around the blacklist database by sending blacklisted handsets overseas, which is why cellphone theft still tops the list of stolen items. It’s a crime worth billions every year to international organized crime syndicates. The so called petty criminal who pickpockets your handset while you gaze into a shop window could be passing the phone on as his part in a global crime syndicate. Also, IMEI’s can in some circumstances be changed or rewritten. Don’t be tempted to try it, it’s against the law and will result in a jail term, but it still goes on.

Another major reason criminals want to get hold of your cellphone is not just to sell it on the international market, it’s the chilling fact that while 77% of users use their cellphones for online banking transactions, less than a quarter of these have any type of security on their phones! Accessing sensitive banking details on an unprotected cellphone is much easier than robbing a bank!

There are also several examples of incomplete data with all of the blacklist databases because the submitting of details is still voluntary. For example, a handset that is barred in the USA could still work in Mexico and vice versa, and a cellphone bought or stolen in the UK can work in a different country. A large number of UK barred handsets find their way to Italy, Spain and France.

Unlocking VS Unblocking a Cell Phone

There is an important difference between unlocking and unblocking a cell phone. Unlocking a cellphone from a service provider to be able to choose another is perfectly legal, but when a mobile phone is “unblocked” criminals can change the IMEI number and make the cellphone operational again. This practice is illegal and only the manufacturers are allowed to alter it.

Unblocking mobile phones is a criminal offence and carries custodial sentences. It is even an offence to simply offer to unblock or reprogram a phone.

Select your seller wisely!

If you are buying a phone online, and amazingly, 74% of consumers do, and you see one you want to buy on an auction site or a listing site, first determine whether the phone in the picture is the exact same phone you are actually being offered. No matter what site you are on you should expect to be able to glean some basic stats about the phone: the color, the correct model number, its storage capacity; all these are vital details in the device description.

The next step is to see if you can contact the seller to ask for the IMEI, if he or she refuses to give you this important piece of information, be wary and walk away. It could mean they have something to hide, and the fact is, there are so many other options you could explore rather than running the risk of a blacklisted phone. For example, Amazon and eBay have a safeguard of profiles and seller reviews that make them more trustworthy than buying from unmonitored websites. Also, Swappa and Glyde, have policies and safeguards in place for buyers. For example, Glyde holds the seller’s payment in escrow until the buyer has checked the device and confirmed that it’s clean and offers a full refund policy if not satisfied.
If you pay for your phone through PayPal or with a credit card you should be able to obtain a refund if the phone proves to be blacklisted.

If you are buying an iDevice, Apple now has a service on iCloud.com called Check Activation Lock Status. This enables you to quickly see if a device was obtained illegally. If you have managed to obtain the IMEI serial number from your seller, you can tell if someone used ‘Find My iPhone’ to switch on Activation Lock.

Activation Lock was introduced in iOS 7. It locks down the device, making it unusable until the correct Apple ID and password have been entered. So if you do purchase a bad Apple so to speak, you won’t be able to use it. You can also check how much warranty is left on the device by checking the serial number too.

Buying a cellphone online is always a case of ‘buyer beware’, which is essential for any major purchase from a complete stranger on the internet.

How to check if your IMEI is Blacklisted

IMEI stands for International Mobile Station Equipment Identity. It’s the key identifier of each and every cellphone around the world. You can check your phone’s IMEI quickly and easily on a number of free sites:

For Canada you can check here: http://www.protectyourdata.ca

In USA, you can check on the T-Mobile Website as well as Verizon, Ringplus, and Ting.

In Australia you can check for free on Australian Mobile Telecommunications Association Website:
http://www.lost.amta.org.au/IMEI or http://www.amta.org.au/pages/amta/Check.the.Status.of.your.Handset.

There are also some well-known free Check Services such as: https://swappa.com/esn
(ESN Check FAQ: https://swappa.com/faq/esn)

So it really is very easy to do some basic homework before you allow yourself to become stuck with a blacklisted mobile phone. If in doubt you can also check with the service provider that is hosting the phone or even your own current provider. You can quickly look for free IMEI services in your own country by checking on the internet.

There is also a paid for service called Checkmend but beware, if you use this site and the IMEI is blacklisted, you might just be approached by your local Law Enforcement agency who have direct access to the searches made on the Checkmend website. This could result in an unwanted visit to the police station at an unsociable hour of the day.

What to do once you are certain your phone is not blacklisted

This is the easy bit. If you obtain a clean cellphone but you are not happy with the service provider that is hosting it, or you simply want an unlocked phone, UnlockBase offers the web’s largest database of service providers and cellphone models that can be safely, quickly and economically unlocked via remote unlocking, and it can all be done in a matter of minutes. Also, UnlockBase won’t be beaten on price, so if you find a genuine deal elsewhere that unlocks the same model for less, UnlockBase will match it or beat it for price, and you can’t say fairer than that!

Buying a new cellphone can be a fun and rewarding experience provided you exercise caution and know your facts prior to purchase. Study this article well, ask questions, don’t be fobbed off and walk away if you are in the least bit suspicious. Also, let your friends know about this article by sharing it.

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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.

5 signs you could be addicted to your cellphone

Psychologists say it takes as little as seven repetitions of a certain activity such as smoking or imbibing alcohol on a daily basis for it to become habit forming. Now there is a new temptation which has become more potently addictive than even cigarettes or alcohol for people of all walks of life all around the world. Not only that, many of the addicts are children under the age of ten. The new addiction is the constant checking and playing with smartphone devices.

In recent research conducted by the Center for Internet and Technology Addiction, researchers found that 91% of respondents could be classified as overusing, abusing, and overly dedicating themselves to the use of their smartphones.

The first signs to determine smartphone device abuse is whether or not the respondent checks the phone right before they go to bed, if they habitually play video games on their device late into the night, and if the smartphone is the first thing they check in the morning when they open their eyes. It’s the same hard to break habit that many nicotine addicted smokers have. Research has also shown that stimulating the brain late at night when it is preparing for sleep can create restlessness and persistent insomnia.

One only has to walk the streets or wait in a subway of any city in any part of the world to witness the face down, eyes glued to the smartphone problem first hand. People now use their smartphone very much like a drug. They are bored so they play with the phone. They’re tired, so they pick up the phone. They feel anxious they haven’t heard from someone so they absent mindedly check the phone. They’re angry, so they soothe themselves with a video game on the phone.

Cell Phone Addiction - Subway

They want to find something out, so the first resort is the phone. Apps have quickly rushed to bolster this addiction by offering easy to use solutions for every possible human need from where to eat, to fall in love, and to unlock a cellphone. (That at least, is simple, just visit UnlockBase for the web’s largest database of cellphone models and internet providers, for fast, fuss-free cellphone unlocking.)

Back to cellphone addiction, and there is no question that the smartphone has replaced the need for human social interaction in many instances. It’s easy to avoid and deflect uncomfortable social situations by pretending to be consulting your smartphone. It’s also becoming easier and less inhibiting for hundreds of thousands of people around the world to converse not via the spoken word but via Wattsapp or Viber or one of the other many instant free messaging apps that are readily available. As a direct result of the power of these apps, network providers have been forced to offer what was once one of their biggest profit earners, the text message, as a free unlimited option.

The second more serious phase of cellphone addiction is when it starts to impact on day to day life, whether it be in the car, at the office or at home. 98% of respondents to the research conducted by the Center for Internet and Technology Addiction admitted that texting while driving is dangerous, however nearly 75% admit to having done it. It’s a fineable offence in many countries, but every year several horrific accidents are caused by drivers driving and consulting their cell phone, with an inevitable lack of attention to the road.

Cell Phone Addiction - Driving

At the office too much time on your smartphone can mean you miss deadlines or fail to pick up on instructions given to you, while at home, you know the smartphone is ruling your life when you just want to come home, flop in a chair and play a game rather than talk to your partner or your kids.

Are you addicted to your cellphone? Do you have any of these compulsive cellphone habits? The first step to a cure is admitting to them.

  1. You take a photo of every meal you eat and post it on Facebook
  2. You check the LED light on your mobile for messages dozens of times an hour
  3.  You drop the phone on your face because you have dozed off
  4.  You choose clothes based on their suitability for carrying your cellphone
  5.  Your cellphone holder takes pride of place on your car windscreen


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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