When you buy a Motorola cell phone from a carrier like AT&T or T-Mobile, it usually comes at a discounted price. The catch is that the network carrier locks the phone to prevent the user from using it on any other cellular network. If you try inserting a SIM card from any other network, you will get a message like "Enter Subsidy Code." To get the phone unlocked, you have to get this "subsidy code" from a professional unlocking company.
Instructions
1. Find the Motorola phone's International Mobile Equipment Identity Number (IMEI), also known as "serial number." Every Motorola handset has a unique 15-digit code assigned to it, which is used for generating its subsidy password. You can find it out by pressing "*#06#" on the phone keypad.
2. Purchase a subsidy code from an online unlock specialist like Unlock All Cellular, Cell Unlock or GSM Unlock. (See Resources for their website links.) On these websites, select your Motorola handset or network carrier, and enter the IMEI number in the respective fields. Depending on the provided information, the website will calculate the fee, which usually varies between $10 and $25, as of 2010. You have to make the payment online using your credit or debit card. Within two to three business days, the code will be emailed to you by the website.
3. Insert a SIM card into your Motorola phone. This SIM card should be from a network provider currently not supported by the phone. Then, switch the phone on.
4. Wait for the phone to prompt "Enter Special or Subsidy Code."
5. Enter the unlock code you purchased. Once the phone recognizes this code, the phone will be unlocked from the network provider.
Tags: code from, from network, from network provider, Motorola handset, Motorola phone, network carrier, network provider