Unlocking Blackberry Q10

[ayabrea38]

I'm getting my daughter one of these,but we have a tight budget,so she said she didn't mind a used one.She does not want to leave her network provider,Tesco,because she has a plan she loves and cannot get anything like it anywhere else.

I don't mind having a go at unlocking it,but I was wondering if anyone here has done it,or can recommend a site,as it looks a bit of a minefield out there!!

I would just take it to the market and get someone to do it there,but I am housebound at the mo,and would feel bad asking her to take it (and I know she would start messing with it!)

Any advice would be great,thanks :)
Aya

[hc4361]

Has she already got a BlackBerry? To get the full BlackBerry service on my Torch I have to a data plan specifically for BlackBerry.

[hc4361]

How much are you prepared to pay?

[ayabrea38]

She does already have a Blackberry,and I bought the Q10 for £124,which I thought was not bad considering it comes with box and original charger.

[hc4361]

So you already have the phone? Excellent price, by the way.

It is really easy to unlock this phone, which network is it locked to?

[ayabrea38]

Well.....I dont actually have it yet,I bought it before from Cash Generator.Their prices for the Q10 where much more my thing,elsewhere I was looking at nearer £200!!!!

It is locked to o2 by the way,will I have to contact them do you think,or just go straight on in with the code?I'm glad you said it is easy,that gives me hope,thanks.

[hc4361]

It really is very easy to access the screen to put the code in.
http://n4bb.com/unlock-blackberry-z10-q10-2/

The hard part is deciding where to buy the code from. I really don't want to recommend a particular company but this firm has good information about what to do before you buy, to make sure the phone can be unlocked.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/UNLOCK-CODE-FOR-BLACKBERRY-Z10-Z30-Q10-Q5-ANY-NETWORK-WORLDWIDE-UNDER-24-HOURS-/231254398998?pt=UK_Phones_Software_RL&;hash=item35d7d61816

(If it can't be unlocked send it straight back to where you bought it from - you have every right to a full refund under the Distance Selling Regulations).

I would prefer to buy from eBay and pay with PayPal for extra protection. Make sure the seller has a high number of sales with an excellent feedback score.

Before all that, though, try ringing 02. You never know, they might do it for free or for a small charge. That would have to be the best bet.

[stoofur]

I am pretty sure that you won't need to unlock an O2 Phone if you are using a Tesco Sim. I am pretty sure they are compatible.

[stoofur]

Can you try the Tesco sim in the "new" phone?

[whiskeryron]

It is true that Tesco use the O2 network, but that does not mean that the two are compatible. Have a word with Tesco they may unlock the phone for you.

[ayabrea38]

That has to be worth a try,since she knows what she is getting anyway,the trying her sim and phoning Tesco and O2 I mean.I did pay with Paypal for the phone,so I know what you mean,a little re assurance in that respect means a lot,but I am fairly sure I also stumbled onto that site,hc4369,so coincidence or fate,I have them bookmarked!
So now I just have to wait for the phone to get here,then first I'll ring Tesco and O2 and hope they take pity on me,but I will keep everyone up to date,I just hope the phone is here and OK soon.

Thanks everyone,your answers are a great help and much appreciated :)

[stoofur]

I know that a GiffGaff sim works on a locked O2 phone. I just put it in and it worked. There is no harm in trying the sim in the phone. You probably won't need to phone either Tesco or O2

[ayabrea38]

And now I know why it was so cheap....they got the advert wrong and it was a Z10.Yeah thats right,they mistook the phone with a qwerty keyboard for one....without.Oh not only that,they decided to wait until just past 5 O'clock FRIDAY to let me know.I am so angry I am going to pop.Now I have two days to get one sent out and there be no hitches.The only way I can do this is with Amazon Prime,but they do not sell the used (ie cheaper)version.
Not that my poor daughter is that bothered,she has such a nasty cold she said if this is what it is like to be a grown up,her getting the worst cold of her life then she would rather remain forever 17.(till she starts to feel a bit better anyway )
And no,I have not told her yet,I am waiting for a lotto win. :(

[Zacs-Master]

How disappointing. Was there no picture?

[ayabrea38]

It was one of those 'display coming soon' adverts on their site...Never again...OH is going to try a few different shops tomorrow,but I feel it was my responsibility and I should be the one to put it right,but I cannot even get down the stairs properly at the mo,never mind go out and take on the best (or should that be worst)of the Emo's in CEX!

And I don't even want to think about the 'remember when you .....' comments there are to come. Next year I am buying in the first week in July.

So come tomorrow our plan is to raid the nearest 4 towns (well 2 are cities) and see what the cheapest one,with a charger of somekind is,and if no joy then its one of the expensive ones from Amazon.

I just hope after all this bother and expense the blooming thing is better than her Blackberry curve and manages to stay on all day.

Sorry to of wasted your time with the unlocking,but thanks for replying the advice given may come in useful one day,crikey I might even get a Q5 myself!

[ayabrea38]

OK,back in business!!Hubby came back with a Q10,but it is not unlocked,so going to phone o2 (yes this one is with them too) and see what they say,then have a go at unlocking.

Wish me luck,I'll let you know how I go.

[hc4361]

What a palaver! Good luck.

[stoofur]

Did you try the Tesco Sim Card before unlocking?

[ayabrea38]

One stubborn daughter later.....
Q10 uses micro sim-that was news to me and did not have a sim to try,you know,just to see if 100% sure the phone could be unlocked.
I ordered a new sim from Tesco cos daughter said her old phone had just a 'normal' sim,but wouldnt show me (I know what sim my phone has)
When it arrived,I was amazed to see the sim could be used as a large or micro!
'Look what Tesco do now' I says to daughter.
'Yeah,thats what my sim is' she says......
Long story short,the phone was already unlocked.
I'm happy that I don't have to try and do it,but all the time I put into learning how/if etc,if she had just let me see the sim she had,the bloomin phone could of been working on her actual birthday.
Kids.....
phones......
Drive anyone to drink when mixed together!

Thanks you again for your time though,I'll put the £15 I saved from not unlocking the phone behind the bar for you :)

[hc4361]

Yay! Now the phone is working, what do you think of it? Good as expected?
Can it use all the android apps?