Ask HN: Bell Canada Galaxy S II has International Restriction on new customers

[samzhao]

Hello everyone,

I'm currently in Canada and I would like to bring my Galaxy S II (in 3-year contract with Bell Canada) with me to China. I had an online chat with a sales rep about what I need to do to have it working in China without paying for roaming. She told me that I need to unlock my phone for $75 in order to get rid of the International restrictions that comes with any new customer's plan. I thought a phone has to be unlocked in order to take foreign sim cards. However, from my understanding of the sales rep's explanation, I CAN use my phone with a foreign SIM card with no problem, but I need to pay roaming afterwards. So what do I have to actually unlock in order to have my phone working in China (with local a sim card) without having to pay roaming?

Thanks.

[kefs]

The information you have been told is incorrect. If you place a non-Bell SIM in your device, it will read Invalid SIM (try it with a friend's). If you unlock your device through Bell, it will cost you, but you can use it with any carrier's SIM card.. but you can also unlock it at various local cellphone repair shops for a < 75$ usually. Oh.. and be advised.. rooting is not the same as carrier unlocking.

[samzhao]

Thanks for your information. From my understanding, what you are saying is totally the case. It's just that the sales rep confused me by saying "the phone itself has some restrictions", which means there's probably some other locks/restrictions other than the sim/carrier lock. I'll probably try the unlocker app in the play store. And yes, my phone is rooted.

[kefs]

An unlocking app from the Play store will not do what you want. Also, it doesn't matter whether or not you are rooted. Remember, carrier unlock is completely different than rooting, so the two have no nothing to do with each other. Call a few cellphone repair shops in your area and ask them what they charge to carrier unlock your specific device.. that would be your best bet.

[samzhao]

Can I just purchase an unlock code from some website?

[samzhao]

Thanks a lot.