I'll need to get a 4G-capable dumb phone to replace the 3G one I've
been using before 3G is turned off mid next year. I just need it
for voice calls and receiving SMSs.
Optus and Telstra are selling the same model phone as their "lite"
model, both normally $59. Coles currently have the Optus one on
special for $19: https://www.coles.com.au/product/optus-x-lite-4g-1-each-3910840
I want to use it with the Telstra network. Optus' unlocking fee is
too high to make a saving. I looked around the web for unlocking
methods but nothing looked legit except maybe taking it to a repair
store which would be so far away it would cost lots in time and
petrol (there's one local-ish one, but they don't advertise phone
unlocking).
Any unlocking gurus here know whether this is actually really easy?
I unlocked a mobile broadband modem once by flashing a different
firmware image, but I can't see anything like that available for
this phone (actually an Alcatel 3080T).
Computer Nerd Kev wrote on 27/10/23 3:33 pm:
I'll need to get a 4G-capable dumb phone to replace the 3G one I'veIsn't the phone just a dumb bit of electronics?? If you put your Telstra sim/chip in it, shouldn't it connect to the Telstra Network??
been using before 3G is turned off mid next year. I just need it
for voice calls and receiving SMSs.
Optus and Telstra are selling the same model phone as their "lite"
model, both normally $59. Coles currently have the Optus one on
special for $19:
https://www.coles.com.au/product/optus-x-lite-4g-1-each-3910840
I want to use it with the Telstra network. Optus' unlocking fee is
too high to make a saving. I looked around the web for unlocking
methods but nothing looked legit except maybe taking it to a repair
store which would be so far away it would cost lots in time and
petrol (there's one local-ish one, but they don't advertise phone
unlocking).
Any unlocking gurus here know whether this is actually really easy?
I unlocked a mobile broadband modem once by flashing a different
firmware image, but I can't see anything like that available for
this phone (actually an Alcatel 3080T).
On 27-Oct-23 6:57 pm, Daniel65 wrote:
Computer Nerd Kev wrote on 27/10/23 3:33 pm:
I'll need to get a 4G-capable dumb phone to replace the 3G oneIsn't the phone just a dumb bit of electronics?? If you put your
I've been using before 3G is turned off mid next year. I just
need it for voice calls and receiving SMSs.
Optus and Telstra are selling the same model phone as their
"lite" model, both normally $59. Coles currently have the Optus
one on special for $19:
https://www.coles.com.au/product/optus-x-lite-4g-1-each-3910840
I want to use it with the Telstra network. Optus' unlocking fee
is too high to make a saving. I looked around the web for
unlocking methods but nothing looked legit except maybe taking it
to a repair store which would be so far away it would cost lots
in time and petrol (there's one local-ish one, but they don't
advertise phone unlocking).
Any unlocking gurus here know whether this is actually really
easy? I unlocked a mobile broadband modem once by flashing a
different firmware image, but I can't see anything like that
available for this phone (actually an Alcatel 3080T).
Telstra sim/chip in it, shouldn't it connect to the Telstra
Network??
No, manufacturers include the ability for a telco to lock the phone
to their network, to support the cheap-upfront-expensive-later
business model.
Sylvia.
Computer Nerd Kev wrote on 27/10/23 3:33 pm:
I'll need to get a 4G-capable dumb phone to replace the 3G one I've
been using before 3G is turned off mid next year. I just need it
for voice calls and receiving SMSs.
Optus and Telstra are selling the same model phone as their "lite"
model, both normally $59. Coles currently have the Optus one on
special for $19:
https://www.coles.com.au/product/optus-x-lite-4g-1-each-3910840
I want to use it with the Telstra network. Optus' unlocking fee is
too high to make a saving. I looked around the web for unlocking
methods but nothing looked legit except maybe taking it to a repair
store which would be so far away it would cost lots in time and
petrol (there's one local-ish one, but they don't advertise phone
unlocking).
Any unlocking gurus here know whether this is actually really easy?
I unlocked a mobile broadband modem once by flashing a different
firmware image, but I can't see anything like that available for
this phone (actually an Alcatel 3080T).
Isn't the phone just a dumb bit of electronics?? If you put your Telstra sim/chip in it, shouldn't it connect to the Telstra Network??
Sylvia Else wrote
Daniel65 wrote
Computer Nerd Kev
No, manufacturers include the ability for a telco to lock the phoneI'll need to get a 4G-capable dumb phone to replace the 3G oneIsn't the phone just a dumb bit of electronics?? If you put your
I've been using before 3G is turned off mid next year. I just
need it for voice calls and receiving SMSs.
Optus and Telstra are selling the same model phone as their
"lite" model, both normally $59. Coles currently have the Optus
one on special for $19:
https://www.coles.com.au/product/optus-x-lite-4g-1-each-3910840
I want to use it with the Telstra network. Optus' unlocking fee
is too high to make a saving. I looked around the web for
unlocking methods but nothing looked legit except maybe taking it
to a repair store which would be so far away it would cost lots
in time and petrol (there's one local-ish one, but they don't
advertise phone unlocking).
Any unlocking gurus here know whether this is actually really
easy? I unlocked a mobile broadband modem once by flashing a
different firmware image, but I can't see anything like that
available for this phone (actually an Alcatel 3080T).
Telstra sim/chip in it, shouldn't it connect to the Telstra
Network??
to their network, to support the cheap-upfront-expensive-later
business model.
That makes sense, I suppose. ;-(
I'll need to get a 4G-capable dumb phone to replace the 3G one I've
been using before 3G is turned off mid next year. I just need it
for voice calls and receiving SMSs.
Optus and Telstra are selling the same model phone as their "lite"
model, both normally $59. Coles currently have the Optus one on
special for $19: https://www.coles.com.au/product/optus-x-lite-4g-1-each-3910840
I want to use it with the Telstra network.
In aus.electronics Computer Nerd Kev <not@telling.you.invalid> wrote:
I want to use it with the Telstra network.
It turns out that good things come to those who wait. Coles now
have the Telstra version discounted too, for $29. So I'll get one
of them.
https://www.coles.com.au/product/telstra-lite-3-1-each-5142421
In aus.electronics Computer Nerd Kev <not@telling.you.invalid> wrote:
In aus.electronics Computer Nerd Kev <not@telling.you.invalid> wrote:
I want to use it with the Telstra network.
It turns out that good things come to those who wait. Coles now
have the Telstra version discounted too, for $29. So I'll get one
of them.
https://www.coles.com.au/product/telstra-lite-3-1-each-5142421
Well that was a mistake. It turns out that even though old 3G
Telstra-locked phones, and my Telstra 4G USB modem, work fine with
my ALDI Mobile SIM because it uses the Telstra network, this damn
thing won't have a bar of it! So apparantly Telstra have been busy
moving the goalposts since they sold the earlier models, and this
thing's useless to me locked.
I wonder if Optus do the same thing now? I used to use an Optus 3G
USB modem with an Amaysim SIM because again they used the same
physical network.
On 11-Nov-23 7:30 am, Computer Nerd Kev wrote:
Well that was a mistake. It turns out that even though old 3G
Telstra-locked phones, and my Telstra 4G USB modem, work fine with
my ALDI Mobile SIM because it uses the Telstra network, this damn
thing won't have a bar of it! So apparantly Telstra have been busy
moving the goalposts since they sold the earlier models, and this
thing's useless to me locked.
I wonder if Optus do the same thing now? I used to use an Optus 3G
USB modem with an Amaysim SIM because again they used the same
physical network.
In earlier days, telco resellers weren't a thing, so the locking was probably just to a network. With advent of resellers it's not surprising that telcos and resellers would want to lock the phone that they'd subsidised to their specific brand
In aus.electronics Sylvia Else <sylvia@email.invalid> wrote:
On 11-Nov-23 7:30 am, Computer Nerd Kev wrote:
Well that was a mistake. It turns out that even though old 3G
Telstra-locked phones, and my Telstra 4G USB modem, work fine with
my ALDI Mobile SIM because it uses the Telstra network, this damn
thing won't have a bar of it! So apparantly Telstra have been busy
moving the goalposts since they sold the earlier models, and this
thing's useless to me locked.
I wonder if Optus do the same thing now? I used to use an Optus 3G
USB modem with an Amaysim SIM because again they used the same
physical network.
In earlier days, telco resellers weren't a thing, so the locking was
probably just to a network. With advent of resellers it's not surprising
that telcos and resellers would want to lock the phone that they'd
subsidised to their specific brand
It seems so, although it clearly took them longer to do that
than right after they started accepting resellers (in 2013
according to Wikipedia). I'd assumed that ensuring they made some
money off the phone customer, either directly or via a reseller
buying network capacity off them, was enough.
Apparantly they're too greedy for that.
| Sysop: | Amessyroom |
|---|---|
| Location: | Fayetteville, NC |
| Users: | 65 |
| Nodes: | 6 (0 / 6) |
| Uptime: | 01:45:19 |
| Calls: | 862 |
| Files: | 1,311 |
| D/L today: |
10 files (20,373K bytes) |
| Messages: | 264,188 |