Cellnet (O2) Sim Tied to Phone

[deviat0r]

Hi,

I'm a bit of a newbie, so I apologise if this is in the wrong section, could find another section which was more relevant!

I have an old Cellnet sim and Phillips phone. The problem is, no other phone will take the sim. Irrelevant weather it's unlocked or not.

Reading around, it appears that some of the early Cellnet sims are locked to the IMEI of the phone.

Now this brings problems, I want to change the phone to a Nokia, but I want to keep my original sim. ('cos the tariff I am on is no longer available, if I want to change my phone, I need to change the tariff, I don't want that).

I am aware that changing IMEI's on phones is very dodgy (and illegal) and I don't want to do that. Is there anyway to change the IMEI stored on the SIM to match my new phone? I don't think that is illegal. But please correct me if I'm wrong.

Thanks in anticipation,


Dave

[Dinger3410]

contact o2 Customer Services.

Dinger :)

[typiod]

you shouldnt need to chage tarrif even on pay as you go but if the sim card is an old card i think its got something to do with different volts, if you buy a new pay as you go phone on o2 ring them and they should put you existing number onto the new card, i know that orange do that so cant see why o2 shouldnt

[Musicb0ffin]

Yeah, O2 have no problems with you moving numbers around.

[deviat0r]

hi,

Yes, you are right, O2 should allow me to move the sim, but they won't.

I am on the O2 package which gives me unlimited (well 500mins p/month) to a landline. This is all I need. I have spoken to O2 about this. The only way they will let me change the phone, is if I change tariff and the tariff I am on is no longer available!

So in other words they are forcing me to change to a tariff that would cost me double what I am paying now, if I want to change my phone. That to me seems unfair but they aren't willing to do anything else. Talk about short & curlys!

Dave

[typiod]

have you tried telling o2 the sim is knackerd and that you need a new one.

[Musicb0ffin]

Oh yeah, I see where you are coming from. Looks like your stuck then... Bit of a shame.

[deviat0r]

have you tried telling o2 the sim is knackerd and that you need a new one.


I haven't tried, but worth a try. The only problem is, if I say the sim is knackered and they 'yeah you can have a new sim and tariff', then I'm stuck again. I think they will say no because I am pretty certain they ain't making any money from me and as such they want to push me to a different tariff. The only reason I use this phone is to get my free calls to a landline, the rest of time I use my Voda to make all my calls on.

So I am left with 2 options.......

1. I modify the SIM to work with the new phone. Which may not be possible because I think the IMEI of the phone is recorded by the network (and/or SIM). As such it leads me to option 2.....

2. Change the IMEI of the destination phone to match the source phone. I don't like this option as it is illegal. However if this is my only choice then I will have to wait until I fly somewhere next. Then I can do it airbourne or at my destination (if the laws allow!), this way the laws of the UK don't matter! I am pretty certain there is no airway laws that covers changing IMEI's. Although I do understand that there are rules, possibly laws covering the use of mobile phones in aircraft. But then again there will be no SIM in the phone, so I don't think it will try and register anyway. (Please correct me if I'm wrong!)


dave

[cyclonite4]

So I am left with 2 options.......

1. I modify the SIM to work with the new phone. Which may not be possible because I think the IMEI of the phone is recorded by the network (and/or SIM). As such it leads me to option 2.....

2. Change the IMEI of the destination phone to match the source phone. I don't like this option as it is illegal. However if this is my only choice then I will have to wait until I fly somewhere next. Then I can do it airbourne or at my destination (if the laws allow!), this way the laws of the UK don't matter! I am pretty certain there is no airway laws that covers changing IMEI's. Although I do understand that there are rules, possibly laws covering the use of mobile phones in aircraft. But then again there will be no SIM in the phone, so I don't think it will try and register anyway. (Please correct me if I'm wrong!)


dave

yeah... i think that changing ur IMEI would be a good idea but maybe u should check if ur network can fix the problem first, then resort to changing ur IMEI.

[deviat0r]

I've found another solution.......


Canned the O2 sim and the dodgy Phillips phone and took a contract out with Three. Dodgy Motorola phone free, but hey £17.50 for 500 mins anytime. Who am I to argue??? That and I will replace the Motorola with a Nokia.

Dave

[Musicb0ffin]

Sounds like a pretty good comprimise to me.