The Samsung W531 Cellphone is currently being marketed and sold through phone provider Telecom New Zealand. Telecom currently runs on a CDMA network, while the only other competitor Vodafone NZ runs on a GSM Network.
The Samsung W531 is marketed as a world phone. As the world leans towards abandoning CDMA for GSM (Telstra in Australia is a big roaming partner with Telecom NZ which is due to drop the CDMA network completely), Telecom have released this phone with dual CDMA and GSM capabilities. Telecom is due to change it's network topology to GSM in the future.
This dual network type connectivity allows Telecom to have roaming agreements with GSM partners overseas without the end user requiring a different handset each time they travel abroad.
Telecom engages a "Sim Lock" on the phone so that it can not be used on the Vodafone NZ GSM network. Telecom allows it only to be used for roaming with it's overseas partners.
All is not lost. I have successfully removed the Sim Lock on my Samsung W531 with ease, and I can switch between Telecom NZ CDMA and Vodafone NZ GSM without any issues.
Before You Begin
Put your GSM Sim Card into the Samsung W531
How to disable the Sim Lock
1. Press the "Menu OK" button on your handset
2. Press # (hash/pound key)
3. Press 1
4. Press 0 (number zero)
5. In the presented window, enter code 123580 [Update 01-Aug-08: If this code fails please try 159753. thanks dwanhalla]
6. Press OK
7. Press * (star key) to select the menu labeled "Sim Lock"
8. Change the option from "On" to "Off"
9. Your Samsung W531 will restart automatically and attempt to connect to the GSM network for the Sim Card you have inserted.
Notes: Some sources report that if you firmware upgrade your Samsung W531 at any stage, it will reset the Sim Lock settings and may change the code required to enter the service menu. You may wish to consider this as there have been firmware bugs reported on the Samsung W531.
Some sources also report that a different service code may be required and that the method of accessing the service menu differs from that described in this guide.
When the phone is in GSM mode it is not capable of sending or receiving Vodafone PXT/MMS messages.
The service code and procedure were performed on a Samsung W531 with the following version information:
PRL: 01031
S:SCH-W531 AJ05
H:W531.04
MCL:5.1.23
REFERENCES
Sim Lock code information adapted from reader comments posted by Hamish and GreeZe at:
Sprint's SCH-W531 from Samsung in the flesh
http://tinyurl.com/2ktt9z
Additional field service code provided by dwanhalla.
Tuesday, January 22, 2008
Switching Off Sim Lock on the Samsung W531 Cell Phone
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17 comments:
Hey, Great Work!
Should I call you Hayden "Locker"?
hey, this worked great, and I'm using my Vodafone sim now. Thanks mate.
Is it possible to change the PXT settings also?
If so, could you tell me how?
Cheeeers
PXT/MMS is not supported by this phone in GSM mode. Sorry.
do u Know of any instructions to do the same to the new telecom 'OKTA MONDO'????
advise would be hugely appreciated.
Damn, so just to confirm, I´m currently in mexico for 2 months, i´ll need to buy a new phone while i´m here? rather than using a local SIM?
Not the end of the world really. I left the world mode sim card they sent out at home :(
Im sure you will be able to use a local SIM purchased in Mexico while there as long as you remove any GMS Sim-locking on the phone. If your phone is the Samsung W531 then this is the guide for you!
Thanks so much for the Sim lock info, my sim card stoped working in my other phone. But yet it works in my 027 phone once it is unlocked.
thanksa heap i wont loose all my phone credit, though i cannot veiw my 021 contacts.. i think must be due to my somewhat temperamental sim card (wont work in any vodaphone mobile)
thanks a heap
^^ i can hold out till vodaphone mangages to get their act together and get some more blue sim cards .. not impressed by vodaphone
Hi, i have w531 unlocked, and an okta mondo, wanting to know if it can be unlocked for 021?? can anyone help???
Hi there, I'm also wondering if anyone has the same unlocking information for the Okta.
Any information would be greatly appreciated =)
Hi, To check your contacts when you are in Vodafone mode, go to contacts, scroll up to phone, press right arrow and card will show with your contacts if you have saved them on your card. Also this number didn't work for me but 159753 did. Good luck.
Hi could this stop the phone from functioning properly on the telecom network?
I have been using this for about 3 months and no problems with either network
Hi just wondering if some-one could help me?
You said: When the phone is in GSM mode it is not capable of sending or receiving Vodafone PXT/MMS messages.
Does this mean I can not send/receive txts from 021 at all?
When it is in 021 mode you use it exactly as a vodafone for normal txting, only pxt/mms don't work. I swap between 021 and 027 several times a day as I have contacts on both networks.
i have just switched of the sim lock on my phone but in vodafone mode is says limited service and i cant send or recievce message. any help would be muchly appreciated
Hey thanks for info, does this charge your telecom accont and can you have it on vodafon full time?
Thanks
Daniel
Hey, - I tried doing it but it doesn't work does anyone know if there is another code?
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