Need Help with Basic Unlock

[Guest caneaddict]

So I have a new Samsung i617 Blackjack II that I got from AT&T. I want to sell it on Ebay but need to first unlock the phone. I called AT&T and they gave me my unlock code and instructions for unlocking but the instructions don't work.

I powered phone off. Removed SIM card. Powered On. Screen comes up indicating no SIM. I press OK and go to home screen. Enter #7465625*638*. The phone then tells me to enter my network key which I assume means the unlock code. I enter the unlock code and then press OK. The phone says locked SIM card failure.

The tech at AT&T said that after entering the unlock code, her instructions say to press LFK OK. I don't know what LFK is? She said that on the screen it should say LFKOK, but aftering entering the code the only thing on my screen is the word OK and I press the button below that. She didn't know anything beyond her instructions and sent a request to Samsung but that probably won't answer anything. Anyone here have any ideas?

I searched unlock on this forum but most of what I found was app unlocks whereas I need help with the basic unlock. Thanks in advance to anyone that can shed light on this.

[Guest theunoticeable]

So I have a new Samsung i617 Blackjack II that I got from AT&T. I want to sell it on Ebay but need to first unlock the phone. I called AT&T and they gave me my unlock code and instructions for unlocking but the instructions don't work.

I powered phone off. Removed SIM card. Powered On. Screen comes up indicating no SIM. I press OK and go to home screen. Enter #7465625*638*. The phone then tells me to enter my network key which I assume means the unlock code. I enter the unlock code and then press OK. The phone says locked SIM card failure.

The tech at AT&T said that after entering the unlock code, her instructions say to press LFK OK. I don't know what LFK is? She said that on the screen it should say LFKOK, but aftering entering the code the only thing on my screen is the word OK and I press the button below that. She didn't know anything beyond her instructions and sent a request to Samsung but that probably won't answer anything. Anyone here have any ideas?

I searched unlock on this forum but most of what I found was app unlocks whereas I need help with the basic unlock. Thanks in advance to anyone that can shed light on this.

First of all, LFK should mean your left soft key. If you don't see "ok" under your left soft key, then something isn't being done right.

Additionally, I'm not at all surprised at the amount of "knowledge" held in AT&T personell. I used to work for a call center FOR AT&T, and it's pretty much "here's the phone, a chair, and a computer....if anyone asks something you don't know or can't find, send them to the manufacturer".

That being said, Unlocking your phone can be a simple procedure and it can also be one the most difficult things you've ever done. Every phone is different and some are picky. I do have some ideas as to what you could try:

1. Go to AT&T's website (www.att.com/wireless) and look up your phone's specific manual. I found these to be incredibly helpful when dealing with customers as they include screenshots and pictures of what you should be pressing, etc. Instructions for unlocking your phone should be in there, step by step.

2. The internet, or google, should help out. Search something like "unlocking your-phone-model-here"

3. Try putting a different sim card in. T-mobile ones are my favorite and have never done me wrong. It can be activated or de-activated, it doesn't really matter. The trick is that when you put a sim card other than AT&T into your locked phone, it'll immediately ask for the unlock code.

4. Update your IMEI with AT&T. You'd be surprised at how much stuff this can fix. Most people don't realize when they phone in for an unlock code that AT&T staff just has the IMEI from the phone you purchased, and will go by whatever is on your account. Make absolutely sure that the IMEI you give is the one on the phone you want to unlock. Simple tip for getting the IMEI without turning your phone off: dial *#06#

***And if all of that doesn't work****

5. Try calling the manufacturer directly. This is exactly what AT&T does for newer models, to get the unlock code. You can cut out the middleman and speak directly with the folks who made your phone, though don't expect too much, most manufacturers won't give a single consumer the time of day.

If all else fails -

6. Speak to AT&T again. Tell them you need an unlock code, they'll of course want to do it for you, say no. Tell the nice call center person that you'd like to speak with tech support. Once you've waited the hour to speak with tech, wow them with your knowledge: Tell them to open up a program called snooper, and under the SIM UNLOCK tab to enter in your IMEI (provide the IMEI to your phone). Chances are if your phone is older than a year you will be given an unlock code immediately. Then simply go through the steps with the tech person on the line.

Of course alternatively you could always overpay some "professional" to unlock it for you.

Hope this helps out or at least gives out some ideas for you.

[Guest caneaddict]

First of all, LFK should mean your left soft key. If you don't see "ok" under your left soft key, then something isn't being done right.

Additionally, I'm not at all surprised at the amount of "knowledge" held in AT&T personell. I used to work for a call center FOR AT&T, and it's pretty much "here's the phone, a chair, and a computer....if anyone asks something you don't know or can't find, send them to the manufacturer".

That being said, Unlocking your phone can be a simple procedure and it can also be one the most difficult things you've ever done. Every phone is different and some are picky. I do have some ideas as to what you could try:

1. Go to AT&T's website (www.att.com/wireless) and look up your phone's specific manual. I found these to be incredibly helpful when dealing with customers as they include screenshots and pictures of what you should be pressing, etc. Instructions for unlocking your phone should be in there, step by step.

2. The internet, or google, should help out. Search something like "unlocking your-phone-model-here"

3. Try putting a different sim card in. T-mobile ones are my favorite and have never done me wrong. It can be activated or de-activated, it doesn't really matter. The trick is that when you put a sim card other than AT&T into your locked phone, it'll immediately ask for the unlock code.

4. Update your IMEI with AT&T. You'd be surprised at how much stuff this can fix. Most people don't realize when they phone in for an unlock code that AT&T staff just has the IMEI from the phone you purchased, and will go by whatever is on your account. Make absolutely sure that the IMEI you give is the one on the phone you want to unlock. Simple tip for getting the IMEI without turning your phone off: dial *#06#

***And if all of that doesn't work****

5. Try calling the manufacturer directly. This is exactly what AT&T does for newer models, to get the unlock code. You can cut out the middleman and speak directly with the folks who made your phone, though don't expect too much, most manufacturers won't give a single consumer the time of day.

If all else fails -

6. Speak to AT&T again. Tell them you need an unlock code, they'll of course want to do it for you, say no. Tell the nice call center person that you'd like to speak with tech support. Once you've waited the hour to speak with tech, wow them with your knowledge: Tell them to open up a program called snooper, and under the SIM UNLOCK tab to enter in your IMEI (provide the IMEI to your phone). Chances are if your phone is older than a year you will be given an unlock code immediately. Then simply go through the steps with the tech person on the line.

Of course alternatively you could always overpay some "professional" to unlock it for you.

Hope this helps out or at least gives out some ideas for you.

Wow!! THANK YOU!

That was just great of you to write all that up. You are right about everything. I knew AT&T tech knew nothing.

Earlier when I talked to them they DID initially have my IMEI# wrong.Then after getting the right one they gave me the instructions that I followed. When it didn't work, i asked the lady to put me through to a different tech support person because they may have personal knowledge of the phone that is not written in their script. She said no. She said that she has unlocked many phones like mine and that the instructions were right. On my screen it should say somewhere LFK OK. And that the fact that it instead just said OK meant there was a problem with the phone. She assured me that she had unlocked phones where the screen said LFK OK.

Well you were right, LFK simply meant the left soft key. I looked it up in the manual like you said. Above the left soft key is the word OK. That's why their instructions say to press LFK OK. So she flat lied because there is no way ANY screen has ever said that.

Then I used your advice to google but every link had the same instructions that I was trying and it didn't work. Finally I found a link where someone wrote that on the blackjack II you HAVE to leave the SIM card in the phone during unlock. He said even AT&T didn't know this. He was right. When unlocking a blackjack II, the sim card needs to be in the phone. Now it unlocked.

Thank you for your help.