What is unlocking?

By using our unlocking service you'll be able to use any network providers SIM card in your phone. Typically this involves unlock codes which are a series of numbers which can be entered into your mobile phone via the phones key pad to remove the network restriction and allow the use of other SIM cards. There are also other solutions which involve software and other ways to unlock your phone, so check that you are ordering the right solution for you.

What are the advantages of unlocking my phone?

With your phone unlocked you can swap SIM cards at different times to get the best value of the different tariffs from the providers, you can choose which network and which tariff you want at various times.

Mobile phones which are unlocked tend to have a greater second hand value, the value of your handset could be increased. Many people will unlock their mobiles so they can use a local prepaid SIM card when in a different country instead of using the costly 'roaming' feature provided by their current network provider.
 

How will I know if my phone is locked?

To find out if your phone is locked, simply place a different SIM card in the phone and turn the phone on. Ensure you use a different SIM and not the SIM that the phone was supplied with. If the phone does not allow you to view the menu and displays an error message such as "SIM not valid", "Phone Restricted", "SIM not accepted" then your phone is most likely to be locked. If the phone does allow you to view the menu then the phone in unlocked

Is mobile phone unlocking legal?

We would like to assure all of our website visitors that we would never provide an illegal service. Before starting our service, extensive research was carried out into the current international laws regarding mobile devices.

Unlocking a mobile phone so that it will accept alternative network SIM cards is legal. All mobile phones are manufactured to accept any SIM card. It is consumers legal right to have their phone unlocked!

Please see this notice from the UK police (this site is based in the UK):
http://www.met.police.uk/../unlocking.htm

In the USA, a recent recommendation by the comission set up to monitor and update the DMCA exempts the reverse engineering of firmware for unlocking purposes from the stringent copyright language of the DMCA. This has effectively made unlocking software completely legal in the USA for a duration of 3 years, after which the decision will be reviewed. The DMCA's report exempting unlock software can be found at this document from the US Copyright Office:
http://www.copyright.gov/../..tion.pdf

The networks have to provide you with an unlock code if you request it, but they do charge approximately £35!

Will unlocking my phone affect my contract?

If you obtained your phone on a contract, you should consider that the phone remains the property of the network until you have completed your 12 month contract. Unlocking your phone while under contract may be a breach of your contract. You may wish to check with your contract supplier to see if unlocking is prohibited before purchasing unlock codes from Mr Unlock.
 

Will the unlock codes damage my phone?

Removing the network restriction on your mobile phone with unlock codes is the safest form of unlocking available. You simply enter the necessary codes directly into your phone via the keypad to remove the network restriction.