Thread: Why unlock Storm?

What is the benefit of unlocking the Storm? Other than being able to swap SIM cards. Is it like the competition where I can install more apps?

Inquiring minds want to know.

When you unlock your device, it is letting you move to another carrier. Your device comes locked to your carrier. CDMA (phones that end with xx30) can be unlocked to work on GSM and CDMA carriers, GSM (phones that end with xx00, xx10 or xx20) are not able to work on CDMA networks only GSM. Hope this sums it up lol

Originally Posted by Spidersweb

What is the benefit of unlocking the Storm? Other than being able to swap SIM cards. Is it like the competition where I can install more apps?

Inquiring minds want to know.

The biggest upside for me is when I travel internationally. That way I can use a local sim card and not get stuck with an outrageous bill. The only other thought that crosses my mind is perhaps if you live in an area where vzw does not have coverage. Besides that I don't see an obvious upside.

Originally Posted by Stiefler07

When you unlock your device, it is letting you move to another carrier. Your device comes locked to your carrier. CDMA (phones that end with xx30) can be unlocked to work on GSM and CDMA carriers, GSM (phones that end with xx10 or xx20) are not able to work on CDMA networks only GSM. Hope this sums it up lol

Thanks Stief I did not know that. Kind of like interstates that end in an even number run east/west and those with odd run north/south lol

Originally Posted by jlevy73

Thanks Stief I did not know that. Kind of like interstates that end in an even number run east/west and those with odd run north/south lol

Yes like that lol and i missed the xx00 devices, here is a neat rundown

xx00 are GSM devices

xx10 are GSM, with GPS

xx20 are GSM with WiFi

xx30 are CDMA devices

xx50 iDEN Direct Connect + GPS + WiFi

And that's what I mean..., I see all these sites that charge to give you the unlock code. But I've seen what you can do with an unlocked Itoy. It's gives them room to explore. But what gives with our beloved Storm. Unless you are an International player.

Originally Posted by Spidersweb

And that's what I mean..., I see all these sites that charge to give you the unlock code. But I've seen what you can do with an unlocked Itoy. It's gives them room to explore. But what gives with our beloved Storm. Unless you are an International player.

For me nothing. I use Verizon and I do not even have my SIM card in, I have the best coverage with VZW and Sprint doesnt allow people to bring phones on their plans unless it is their phone.

Originally Posted by Stiefler07

When you unlock your device, it is letting you move to another carrier. Your device comes locked to your carrier. CDMA (phones that end with xx30) can be unlocked to work on GSM and CDMA carriers, GSM (phones that end with xx00, xx10 or xx20) are not able to work on CDMA networks only GSM. Hope this sums it up lol

Wow Stiefler I am impressed my man

Originally Posted by Stiefler07

When you unlock your device, it is letting you move to another carrier. Your device comes locked to your carrier. CDMA (phones that end with xx30) can be unlocked to work on GSM and CDMA carriers, GSM (phones that end with xx00, xx10 or xx20) are not able to work on CDMA networks only GSM. Hope this sums it up lol

HUH? :eek2:

LOL!

Originally Posted by Stiefler07

For me nothing. I use Verizon and I do not even have my SIM card in.

I did not know you could do that. Here I am thinking that at least some carrier's SIM had to be in the phone for it to operate. Wow.

Originally Posted by Bryan

Wow Stiefler I am impressed my man

Thanks! See I can help

Originally Posted by tamara

HUH? :eek2:

LOL!

did i lose you?

Originally Posted by Spidersweb

I did not know you could do that. Here I am thinking that at least some carrier's SIM had to be in the phone for it to operate. Wow.

Nope since the phone is programmed into VZW, so the only reason I would use VZW SIM card is if they had towers over sea which they dont lol, so i can give my SIM to a GSM user and they can pick up VZW signal

Are there any other resources being freed up by not having the SIM card in?

Originally Posted by Spidersweb

Are there any other resources being freed up by not having the SIM card in?

to my knowledge no, but there is a click fix putting the card on top of your battery lol

Originally Posted by Spidersweb

And that's what I mean..., I see all these sites that charge to give you the unlock code. But I've seen what you can do with an unlocked Itoy. It's gives them room to explore. But what gives with our beloved Storm. Unless you are an International player.

Spider if you have your account with VZW for 3 months and call international customer support and tell them you're traveling to a country not supported by them they will give you the unlock code free of charge. That is how I did and now my Storm is fully unlocked.

Nice you should post this somewhere very helpful info!!!

Originally Posted by Stiefler07

Yes like that lol and i missed the xx00 devices, here is a neat rundown

xx00 are GSM devices

xx10 are GSM, with GPS

xx20 are GSM with WiFi

xx30 are CDMA devices

xx50 iDEN Direct Connect + GPS + WiFi

Originally Posted by jlevy73

Spider if you have your account with VZW for 3 months and call international customer support and tell them you're traveling to a country not supported by them they will give you the unlock code free of charge. That is how I did and now my Storm is fully unlocked.

Stief - you funny! :chairfall:

I thought about doing that, just because. I just didn't know what country to use as an excuse. I might pick one with extradition laws.
:burnout:

Originally Posted by Spidersweb

Stief - you funny! :chairfall:

I thought about doing that, just because. I just didn't know what country to use as an excuse. I might pick one with extradition laws.
:burnout:

You can check out the list of countries they support here:

International Services

[QUOTE=Stiefler07;43749]did i lose you?


ha ha........you lost me at hello..........

Originally Posted by Spidersweb

And that's what I mean..., I see all these sites that charge to give you the unlock code. But I've seen what you can do with an unlocked Itoy. It's gives them room to explore. But what gives with our beloved Storm. Unless you are an International player.

See thats whats great about the beloved storm, RIM doesnt tie your hands and tell you what you can run on the phone, so any compatible program or app will run. Apple wants a piece of everything, thats why they cripple the phone to only allow certain things that they have to approve first, thats why you need to unlock an I-Brick, and not a storm. Unless like others have mentioned, if your traveling internationally. The storm has "room to explore" already, lol.