How to Unlock a BlackBerry Cell Phone

BlackBerry phones were one of the most high-tech and desirable phones before a viable competitor, the iPhone, came along. However, some people may want to use the phone with another service, or internationally. If this is the case then the person owning the phone must unlock it so that it can be used in a different way with a different service. Unlocking a BlackBerry phone can take up to eight weeks to complete.

Things You'll Need

• BlackBerry phone Postal service Box Tape Internet

Instructions

1. Determine which BlackBerry you have and if it is already unlocked. The easiest way to do this is place the SIM card of a friend's phone in your phone and turn it on. If the phone works as your friend's number, then the phone is unlocked. Otherwise you will need to unlock it. The only kinds of BlackBerry phones that can be unlocked are GSM BlackBerry phones. This is because other services use a different way to lock the phone.

2. Find an unlocking company that will unlock your GSM BlackBerry phone. Some companies only unlock certain kinds of phones, so it is important to ask around or look online. BlackBerry phones have to be unlocked through hardware, so they cannot be unlocked through a code like some other phones.

3. Ask about pricing from each company that you contact. Some will unlock phones for a low fee, such as around $10, while others charge a lot more.

4. Follow the directions that the company gives for mailing the phone to its customer service center. If the company that you found is local, you might be able to drop off the phone. Otherwise you will have to mail it using whatever service the company prefers.

5. Wait until the BlackBerry comes back. This can take up to eight weeks in most cases. The company will handle everything involved in unlocking the BlackBerry, so there is nothing that you have to worry about. However, if the phone does end up not working, then make sure that the company offers a warranty on its services.

6. Test the phone after it has been mailed back to you. Insert another SIM card and turn the phone on. If the phone works normally, but just with a different service and number, then the phone has been unlocked successfully. If it does not work, contact the company that was used to unlock it.

Tips & Warnings

• Make sure that your phone contract with your current company states that you own the phone and that you are able to modify it before trying this procedure.

• If you unlock a phone illegally it is possible for your original phone company to prosecute you for breaking the contract.