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My friend thinks he bought a phone from an E-Bay seller that has a blocked IMEI number. I have never personally dealt with a blocked IMEI number, so I don't know what it looks like. I have only dealt with Inactive SIM cards and deactivated ones. Here is the majority of our conversation. Any help would be greatly appreciated!!!

CrackHitler77: I bought an Ericsson T610 from Ebay. I was informed that it was open to all networks. But when I put a different Sim card in.. all i get is 'Invalid Mobile' appearing on screen
rdnymllnsktr: Hm, there are several different possibilities to answer that.
rdnymllnsktr: Let's start with the basics.
rdnymllnsktr: Was it a personal seller or a store that you bought from?
CrackHitler77: another thing.. when I try to ring out with the supplied sim card.. I just hear some silly beeps. It was a personal seller
rdnymllnsktr: Wait, a SIM card came with the phone?
CrackHitler77: yes
rdnymllnsktr: Well, that's the problem right there man!
CrackHitler77: enlighten me!
rdnymllnsktr: That card isn't activated!
rdnymllnsktr: Do you currently have cellular service?
CrackHitler77: Yes, but on a different network
rdnymllnsktr: What carrier?
CrackHitler77: Orange is my network.. T Mobile is the supplied sim
rdnymllnsktr: Okay, try this.
rdnymllnsktr: Take your Orange SIM card out of your current phone and put it into the T610.
rdnymllnsktr: See if the T610 works then.
CrackHitler77: invalid mobile
rdnymllnsktr: That is what you get?
CrackHitler77: yes
CrackHitler77: hang on
rdnymllnsktr: Okay, is your T610 still on?
rdnymllnsktr: Okay.
CrackHitler77: oh.. hang on.. the invalid mobile message has gone.. it said welcome to Orange
rdnymllnsktr: See?
rdnymllnsktr: THERE YOU GO!
CrackHitler77: cant get a signal now though lol
rdnymllnsktr: :-D:-D
rdnymllnsktr: Oh.
CrackHitler77: let me stick a vodafone one in
rdnymllnsktr: Where are you located?
CrackHitler77: uk
rdnymllnsktr: GEEZ!!! How many SIM cards do you have!
rdnymllnsktr: With service, that is.
CrackHitler77: three with service 02, Vodafone and Orange
rdnymllnsktr: YEES! Do you pay for them all?!?!?!
CrackHitler77: the voda and the orange.. the 02 one is too expensive
rdnymllnsktr: Who pays for Orange, then?
CrackHitler77: me
rdnymllnsktr: Wait, I meant, who pays for the 02?
rdnymllnsktr: Sorry.
CrackHitler77: i used to.. but i dont anymore
rdnymllnsktr: But that still has service?
CrackHitler77: ah.. i just put the vodaphone in.. and it says 'SOS CALLS ONLY'
rdnymllnsktr: Huh. That is odd.
CrackHitler77: orange said 'welcome to orange'.. but I had no signal
rdnymllnsktr: Sounds like the phone has some crummy reception.
CrackHitler77: its my area
rdnymllnsktr: Well, if it did indeed say "Welcome to Orange", then it is unlocked.
rdnymllnsktr: No, I meant the phone itself.
CrackHitler77: hang on.. its saying vodafone UK now
rdnymllnsktr: As in the antennae or something.
rdnymllnsktr: Okay.
CrackHitler77: signal is poor though
CrackHitler77: does SOS Calls only mean lousy signal?
rdnymllnsktr: No, are you sure that SIM card is active?
CrackHitler77: yes... its from an active fone
rdnymllnsktr: Huh.
rdnymllnsktr: That is very odd.
rdnymllnsktr: Um, hmm, some of the settings might be a little flooie.
rdnymllnsktr: You should change the reception it gets.
CrackHitler77: it just gives 3 beeps when i try to call out
CrackHitler77: 4 signal bars.. still SOS calls
rdnymllnsktr: Hm.
CrackHitler77: some searches ive done indicate a possible stolen phone
rdnymllnsktr: Why do you say that?
rdnymllnsktr: If you get reception in the other SIM card, it isn't blocked, at least.
CrackHitler77: i was reading a guys problem which was very similar.. and there was all this talk of IEMI blocking and stuff
rdnymllnsktr: But you got your other SIM card to work, right? The Orange?
CrackHitler77: im putting it back in now..
CrackHitler77: it says welcome to orange. and now 'Invalid Mobile
rdnymllnsktr: Huh.
rdnymllnsktr: So it won't dial?
CrackHitler77: no
rdnymllnsktr: Okay, do me something.
CrackHitler77: ok
rdnymllnsktr: Go to the Stand-By screen.
rdnymllnsktr: Where you make calls from.
rdnymllnsktr: Then, push "Right, Star, Left, Left, Star, Left, Star".
CrackHitler77: Service?
rdnymllnsktr: Um, Service Info >> SIMlock
CrackHitler77: ok
rdnymllnsktr: Tell me what you see.
CrackHitler77: network (open padlock) 5
CrackHitler77: network subset (open lock) 5
CrackHitler77: servive provider (open lock) 5
CrackHitler77: corprate (open lock) 5
rdnymllnsktr: Hm, well, it is definitely unlocked. No doubt about that.
rdnymllnsktr: I personally have never come across a IMEI blocked phone. It's possible though, that that is what might be the problem.
CrackHitler77: so, You think its worth getting back in touch with the seller
rdnymllnsktr: Yes, definitely. Though I'm not sure what he'd do. Probably say that "A sales a sale", and refuse to refund you.
CrackHitler77: heh.. so im f**ked then basically
rdnymllnsktr: Possibly.
CrackHitler77: its obvious the telephone is blocked somehow
rdnymllnsktr: You could also call Orange, Vodaphone and 02 and give them the IMEI number to check and see if the phone is legit, or if it's been blocked.
CrackHitler77: its going to be tough trying to convince them im not the phone theif if it is blocked
rdnymllnsktr: To convince them what?
CrackHitler77: well if its a stolen phone. how will they know that im not the person who stole it?
rdnymllnsktr: Tell them that you are considering buying it from a seller, and you were informed by friends to obtain the IMEI number and check.
rdnymllnsktr: It's fine.
CrackHitler77: that sounds fair enough. and if it is blocked, then is there any other workaround?
CrackHitler77: because its a damn nice phone!!

rdnymllnsktr: Um, if it's blocked, the only thing to do is to change the IMEI number, but that can get complicated.
CrackHitler77: is that possible without the aid of dongles?
rdnymllnsktr: I know it's a nice phone. I've got the US version.
rdnymllnsktr: Nope.
CrackHitler77: but theres nothing else it can be really is there. it must be blocked
rdnymllnsktr: Um, not sure.
rdnymllnsktr: I think that's it, though.
CrackHitler77: Ok no problem. I apprciate you giving your time to help
rdnymllnsktr: Of course.
rdnymllnsktr: Keep me updated!
CrackHitler77: I shall sir.. my google quest continues!

Ethan
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Posted: 2004-03-10 20:37:13
Edit : Quote



an IMEI blocked phone can behave in a few different way depending on the provider... but the three beeps are the easiest way to identify a phone as stolen (in some cases it can be related to hardware problem in the phone or network problem though). This means it can't gain access to the network for an outgoing call.

A stolen phone is either grey (it can access the network and recieve calls, but you can't make calls) or black listed (the phone is not allowed access to the network at all). Some providers does allow grey listed phones access to their network, but some block these phones so it doesn't get any reception at all (or the message "Invalide mobile").

You can always call a network provider and tell them the IMEI number so they can check if it's reported stolen/lost.
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Posted: 2004-03-10 21:11:43
Edit : Quote


does he ever get passed the 'pincode' screen? (assuming his SIM has a pincode)


if he does, have him go to connection, select network, manual to see what ahppens.


'sos calls' typically means you have signal on another network than your own and you cannot roam. Try and select your own network and see what it does.


The invalid mobile message has been said to be connected t a number of thing (such as lousy coverage, dirty pins and indeed IMEI blocking) I'm sorry to say that i am by no means sure what it really does mean

_________________
If at first you don't succeed,
look in the trash for the instructions.



[ This Message was edited by: Vlammetje on 2004-03-10 20:15 ]
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Posted: 2004-03-10 21:14:32
Edit : Quote


ok, new phones such as the t610 can tell whether they have been tampered with and block themselves. however the only block that i have heard of is the sp block, in the world of phone unlocking we call it "4 locks closed".

the sympton for this problem the message "insert correct sim card"
(note correct).
when the imei is changed the phone automatically initiates the "4 locks closed"

hope this helps.
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Posted: 2004-03-10 21:53:04
Edit : Quote


well i guess the simple and best solution is to get the phone reloaded with software, maybe its a software fault..the other day when i went to pick my Z 600 from the SE service center, there was this lady who was facing the same problem she could get a weak signal in her AIRTEL card but when shifting to IDEA she got invalid mobile, I helped buy providing an old SIM which was still active from another third netwrok HUTCH but met with no success " SOS Calls Only" the service engineer says that it had something to do with antenne and will replace the antenne and reload with the latest firmware...
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Posted: 2004-03-11 20:02:57
Edit : Quote

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