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English Matt
Joined: 12 Oct 2008
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 Posted: Thu Jun 03, 2010 7:59 pm Post subject: Getting a cell phone chipped |
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Has anybody ever had a cell phone 'chipped' here in Korea? That is to say, have it enabled for use with SIM cards from other companies and on other networks in other countries. I have an old Sony phone from back home that I was hoping to get chipped before I went back home to Europe.....does anybody know somewhere (preferably in Seoul.....Yongsan / Itaewon) would be good) that does this.
Many thanks  |
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kinerry
Joined: 01 Jun 2009
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| Posted: Thu Jun 03, 2010 8:20 pm Post subject: Re: Getting a cell phone chipped |
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| English Matt wrote: |
Has anybody ever had a cell phone 'chipped' here in Korea? That is to say, have it enabled for use with SIM cards from other companies and on other networks in other countries. I have an old Sony phone from back home that I was hoping to get chipped before I went back home to Europe.....does anybody know somewhere (preferably in Seoul.....Yongsan / Itaewon) would be good) that does this.
Many thanks |
You're looking for a European SIM card?
This isn't some magical thing, the whole purpose of SIM phones is the ability to change the SIM card and not have to worry about switching carriers or roaming fees. |
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English Matt
Joined: 12 Oct 2008
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| Posted: Thu Jun 03, 2010 8:31 pm Post subject: Re: Getting a cell phone chipped |
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| kinerry wrote: |
| English Matt wrote: |
Has anybody ever had a cell phone 'chipped' here in Korea? That is to say, have it enabled for use with SIM cards from other companies and on other networks in other countries. I have an old Sony phone from back home that I was hoping to get chipped before I went back home to Europe.....does anybody know somewhere (preferably in Seoul.....Yongsan / Itaewon) would be good) that does this.
Many thanks |
You're looking for a European SIM card?
This isn't some magical thing, the whole purpose of SIM phones is the ability to change the SIM card and not have to worry about switching carriers or roaming fees. |
No, I'm not looking for a European SIM card. Cell phones in many countries are prevented from being used with SIM cards from another network....particularly contract phones. I have a Sony phone that is blocked from being used with any network other than Orange in the UK.
Now, I know it's usually something to do with the software on the phone and that a patch needs to be uploaded to the phone's OS in order to get around this block, sometimes all that's needed is to press a sequence of keys on the dialpad as if you were executing a fatality move in Mortal Kombat.
Thing is, I don't know and so was wondering if somebody on this site could point me to a store that does. I am assuming Techno Mart or Yongsan station are the places to go.....but they are big places, so if anybody has more specific info. it would be much appreciated. |
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kinerry
Joined: 01 Jun 2009
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| Posted: Thu Jun 03, 2010 8:36 pm Post subject: Re: Getting a cell phone chipped |
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| English Matt wrote: |
| kinerry wrote: |
| English Matt wrote: |
Has anybody ever had a cell phone 'chipped' here in Korea? That is to say, have it enabled for use with SIM cards from other companies and on other networks in other countries. I have an old Sony phone from back home that I was hoping to get chipped before I went back home to Europe.....does anybody know somewhere (preferably in Seoul.....Yongsan / Itaewon) would be good) that does this.
Many thanks |
You're looking for a European SIM card?
This isn't some magical thing, the whole purpose of SIM phones is the ability to change the SIM card and not have to worry about switching carriers or roaming fees. |
No, I'm not looking for a European SIM card. Cell phones in many countries are prevented from being used with SIM cards from another network....particularly contract phones. I have a Sony phone that is blocked from being used with any network other than Orange in the UK.
Now, I know it's usually something to do with the software on the phone and that a patch needs to be uploaded to the phone's OS in order to get around this block, sometimes all that's needed is to press a sequence of keys on the dialpad as if you were executing a fatality move in Mortal Kombat.
Thing is, I don't know and so was wondering if somebody on this site could point me to a store that does. I am assuming Techno Mart or Yongsan station are the places to go.....but they are big places, so if anybody has more specific info. it would be much appreciated. |
You're better off researching the model # online. If it's locked, you can usually update the software yourself.
Whether it's locked or not, someone will find a way to charge you a fee if you head directly to market with those big eyes of yours. |
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English Matt
Joined: 12 Oct 2008
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| Posted: Thu Jun 03, 2010 8:42 pm Post subject: Re: Getting a cell phone chipped |
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| kinerry wrote: |
| English Matt wrote: |
| kinerry wrote: |
| English Matt wrote: |
Has anybody ever had a cell phone 'chipped' here in Korea? That is to say, have it enabled for use with SIM cards from other companies and on other networks in other countries. I have an old Sony phone from back home that I was hoping to get chipped before I went back home to Europe.....does anybody know somewhere (preferably in Seoul.....Yongsan / Itaewon) would be good) that does this.
Many thanks |
You're looking for a European SIM card?
This isn't some magical thing, the whole purpose of SIM phones is the ability to change the SIM card and not have to worry about switching carriers or roaming fees. |
No, I'm not looking for a European SIM card. Cell phones in many countries are prevented from being used with SIM cards from another network....particularly contract phones. I have a Sony phone that is blocked from being used with any network other than Orange in the UK.
Now, I know it's usually something to do with the software on the phone and that a patch needs to be uploaded to the phone's OS in order to get around this block, sometimes all that's needed is to press a sequence of keys on the dialpad as if you were executing a fatality move in Mortal Kombat.
Thing is, I don't know and so was wondering if somebody on this site could point me to a store that does. I am assuming Techno Mart or Yongsan station are the places to go.....but they are big places, so if anybody has more specific info. it would be much appreciated. |
You're better off researching the model # online. If it's locked, you can usually update the software yourself.
Whether it's locked or not, someone will find a way to charge you a fee if you head directly to market with those big eyes of yours. |
I'm expecting them to charge a fee. I know that my cell phone needs a patch and it's not exactly on the Sony website.......I am also expecting a fee, but I expect it to be less than the cost of a new cell phone. I am hoping to get this cell phone unblocked so that I only have to buy a new SIM card when I move to Germany at the end of this month.
Anything to save a few Euros
Here's what I'm looking for,
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/1966381.stm
I'm sure somebody in Seoul has one of these machines. |
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pkang0202
Joined: 09 Mar 2007
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| Posted: Thu Jun 03, 2010 8:44 pm Post subject: |
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There is a "SuperSIM" that lets you use phones on any network. I think that is what you mean to get it chipped.What it does is it "tricks" your phone to thinking its still connected to the original network.
I haven't seen any in Korea though. |
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kinerry
Joined: 01 Jun 2009
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| Posted: Thu Jun 03, 2010 8:53 pm Post subject: Re: Getting a cell phone chipped |
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| English Matt wrote: |
| kinerry wrote: |
| English Matt wrote: |
| kinerry wrote: |
| English Matt wrote: |
Has anybody ever had a cell phone 'chipped' here in Korea? That is to say, have it enabled for use with SIM cards from other companies and on other networks in other countries. I have an old Sony phone from back home that I was hoping to get chipped before I went back home to Europe.....does anybody know somewhere (preferably in Seoul.....Yongsan / Itaewon) would be good) that does this.
Many thanks |
You're looking for a European SIM card?
This isn't some magical thing, the whole purpose of SIM phones is the ability to change the SIM card and not have to worry about switching carriers or roaming fees. |
No, I'm not looking for a European SIM card. Cell phones in many countries are prevented from being used with SIM cards from another network....particularly contract phones. I have a Sony phone that is blocked from being used with any network other than Orange in the UK.
Now, I know it's usually something to do with the software on the phone and that a patch needs to be uploaded to the phone's OS in order to get around this block, sometimes all that's needed is to press a sequence of keys on the dialpad as if you were executing a fatality move in Mortal Kombat.
Thing is, I don't know and so was wondering if somebody on this site could point me to a store that does. I am assuming Techno Mart or Yongsan station are the places to go.....but they are big places, so if anybody has more specific info. it would be much appreciated. |
You're better off researching the model # online. If it's locked, you can usually update the software yourself.
Whether it's locked or not, someone will find a way to charge you a fee if you head directly to market with those big eyes of yours. |
I'm expecting them to charge a fee. I know that my cell phone needs a patch and it's not exactly on the Sony website.......I am also expecting a fee, but I expect it to be less than the cost of a new cell phone. I am hoping to get this cell phone unblocked so that I only have to buy a new SIM card when I move to Germany at the end of this month.
Anything to save a few Euros
Here's what I'm looking for,
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/1966381.stm
I'm sure somebody in Seoul has one of these machines. |
You're using a news website for gray market information?
*facepalm
Just do some research so you don't end up like a soccer mom and paying for the wrong thing. |
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English Matt
Joined: 12 Oct 2008
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| Posted: Thu Jun 03, 2010 8:55 pm Post subject: |
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| pkang0202 wrote: |
There is a "SuperSIM" that lets you use phones on any network. I think that is what you mean to get it chipped.What it does is it "tricks" your phone to thinking its still connected to the original network.
I haven't seen any in Korea though. |
Not sure about that, but no not what I had in mind. I'm looking for a vendor that owns a machine that can change the International Mobile Equipment Identity (IMEI) number of my phone. These numbers are country and network specific and can tell the phone to only allow the phone to work with a particular network in a particular country. Changing the number can unlock the phone and allow it to be used with any network in any country.....this is often referred to as chipping.
However, you do need the equipment to do this. Once you have the equipment it is very easy to chip a phone so I would have thought that it would make a nice little money earner and somebody in Seoul might have realised this, bought one and be offering this'chipping' service. |
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English Matt
Joined: 12 Oct 2008
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| Posted: Thu Jun 03, 2010 8:57 pm Post subject: Re: Getting a cell phone chipped |
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| kinerry wrote: |
| English Matt wrote: |
| kinerry wrote: |
| English Matt wrote: |
| kinerry wrote: |
| English Matt wrote: |
Has anybody ever had a cell phone 'chipped' here in Korea? That is to say, have it enabled for use with SIM cards from other companies and on other networks in other countries. I have an old Sony phone from back home that I was hoping to get chipped before I went back home to Europe.....does anybody know somewhere (preferably in Seoul.....Yongsan / Itaewon) would be good) that does this.
Many thanks |
You're looking for a European SIM card?
This isn't some magical thing, the whole purpose of SIM phones is the ability to change the SIM card and not have to worry about switching carriers or roaming fees. |
No, I'm not looking for a European SIM card. Cell phones in many countries are prevented from being used with SIM cards from another network....particularly contract phones. I have a Sony phone that is blocked from being used with any network other than Orange in the UK.
Now, I know it's usually something to do with the software on the phone and that a patch needs to be uploaded to the phone's OS in order to get around this block, sometimes all that's needed is to press a sequence of keys on the dialpad as if you were executing a fatality move in Mortal Kombat.
Thing is, I don't know and so was wondering if somebody on this site could point me to a store that does. I am assuming Techno Mart or Yongsan station are the places to go.....but they are big places, so if anybody has more specific info. it would be much appreciated. |
You're better off researching the model # online. If it's locked, you can usually update the software yourself.
Whether it's locked or not, someone will find a way to charge you a fee if you head directly to market with those big eyes of yours. |
I'm expecting them to charge a fee. I know that my cell phone needs a patch and it's not exactly on the Sony website.......I am also expecting a fee, but I expect it to be less than the cost of a new cell phone. I am hoping to get this cell phone unblocked so that I only have to buy a new SIM card when I move to Germany at the end of this month.
Anything to save a few Euros
Here's what I'm looking for,
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/1966381.stm
I'm sure somebody in Seoul has one of these machines. |
You're using a news website for gray market information?
*facepalm
Just do some research so you don't end up like a soccer mom and paying for the wrong thing. |
Yes, well I thought the best research might be to ask other people in Korea if they have had this done themselves and where I should go. |
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crossmr
Joined: 22 Nov 2008
Location: Hwayangdong, Seoul
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| Posted: Thu Jun 03, 2010 9:56 pm Post subject: |
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Last I checked the Korean cell phone market is CDMA. Not GSM.
The phones with sim cards in them are "international" phones. The sim is for use outside the country. |
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Troglodyte
Joined: 06 Dec 2009
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| Posted: Fri Jun 04, 2010 8:24 am Post subject: |
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| crossmr wrote: |
Last I checked the Korean cell phone market is CDMA. Not GSM.
The phones with sim cards in them are "international" phones. The sim is for use outside the country. |
The international aspect of it is that they are 3G enabled. So if you go to most cities in the developed world (where there is 3G) then you can use it. If you go outside the 3G coverage area, then you're out of luck. You won't be able to access the old GSM (or North American CDMA) towers.
Without having GSM capability (European bands if that's where you want to use it) then i don't think it's worth exporting them. No amount of software is going to make them capable of communicating with the European GSM towers. That's a hardware limitation.
China on the other hand, that's a different story. China uses European band GSM. If you buy a cell phone in China, it's completely compatible with a European SIM card and European frequencies. I can say that from first hand experience. I've used a European phone in China (with a Chinese SIM card) and I've used Chinese phones (that a friend bought and used in China) in a couple of European countries with European SIM cards. |
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crossmr
Joined: 22 Nov 2008
Location: Hwayangdong, Seoul
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| Posted: Fri Jun 04, 2010 3:37 pm Post subject: |
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| Troglodyte wrote: |
| crossmr wrote: |
Last I checked the Korean cell phone market is CDMA. Not GSM.
The phones with sim cards in them are "international" phones. The sim is for use outside the country. |
The international aspect of it is that they are 3G enabled. So if you go to most cities in the developed world (where there is 3G) then you can use it. If you go outside the 3G coverage area, then you're out of luck. You won't be able to access the old GSM (or North American CDMA) towers.
Without having GSM capability (European bands if that's where you want to use it) then i don't think it's worth exporting them. No amount of software is going to make them capable of communicating with the European GSM towers. That's a hardware limitation.
China on the other hand, that's a different story. China uses European band GSM. If you buy a cell phone in China, it's completely compatible with a European SIM card and European frequencies. I can say that from first hand experience. I've used a European phone in China (with a Chinese SIM card) and I've used Chinese phones (that a friend bought and used in China) in a couple of European countries with European SIM cards. |
Right. What I was pointing out was that I didn't think there was any point in doing what the OP wanted to do. Changing your Sim card wouldn't do anything for you in Korea. It's not like north america where you can just buy any phone, switch the sim and start using it. |
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English Matt
Joined: 12 Oct 2008
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| Posted: Sat Jun 05, 2010 9:07 am Post subject: |
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| crossmr wrote: |
| Troglodyte wrote: |
| crossmr wrote: |
Last I checked the Korean cell phone market is CDMA. Not GSM.
The phones with sim cards in them are "international" phones. The sim is for use outside the country. |
The international aspect of it is that they are 3G enabled. So if you go to most cities in the developed world (where there is 3G) then you can use it. If you go outside the 3G coverage area, then you're out of luck. You won't be able to access the old GSM (or North American CDMA) towers.
Without having GSM capability (European bands if that's where you want to use it) then i don't think it's worth exporting them. No amount of software is going to make them capable of communicating with the European GSM towers. That's a hardware limitation.
China on the other hand, that's a different story. China uses European band GSM. If you buy a cell phone in China, it's completely compatible with a European SIM card and European frequencies. I can say that from first hand experience. I've used a European phone in China (with a Chinese SIM card) and I've used Chinese phones (that a friend bought and used in China) in a couple of European countries with European SIM cards. |
Right. What I was pointing out was that I didn't think there was any point in doing what the OP wanted to do. Changing your Sim card wouldn't do anything for you in Korea. It's not like north america where you can just buy any phone, switch the sim and start using it. |
However, I did mention that it was a European phone and that I was going back to Europe and wanted to get the phone chipped before I did so. Anyway, solved it myself this weekend.
And for the record Koreans do use SIM card phones....they're just not that common, but I know at least two people that do have them here - although no idea why this was even brought up as I did mention it was for use back in Europe. |
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crossmr
Joined: 22 Nov 2008
Location: Hwayangdong, Seoul
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| Posted: Sat Jun 05, 2010 4:00 pm Post subject: |
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| English Matt wrote: |
However, I did mention that it was a European phone and that I was going back to Europe and wanted to get the phone chipped before I did so. Anyway, solved it myself this weekend.
And for the record Koreans do use SIM card phones....they're just not that common, but I know at least two people that do have them here - although no idea why this was even brought up as I did mention it was for use back in Europe. |
| Quote: |
| That is to say, have it enabled for use with SIM cards from other companies and on other networks in other countries |
because you asked about it. As I pointed out Korea doesn't use GSM. They use CDMA. They have some dual mode phones. I have one. They are called "international phones" they use CDMA in Korea and GSM when roaming in other countries. They're not exactly like a regular GSM phone that you'd pick up in other countries.
There wouldn't be a big market in Korea for unlocking the Sim card part of it. |
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Troglodyte
Joined: 06 Dec 2009
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| Posted: Sat Jun 05, 2010 10:48 pm Post subject: |
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| crossmr wrote: |
As I pointed out Korea doesn't use GSM. They use CDMA. They have some dual mode phones. I have one. They are called "international phones" they use CDMA in Korea and GSM when roaming in other countries. They're not exactly like a regular GSM phone that you'd pick up in other countries.
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Are you sure that it's GSM? Not 3G? If it really is GSM, is it dual band (Euro or American?) or quad band? Was it much more expensive than a regular Korean phone?
If they really are GSM compatible, I'd be interested in getting one. |
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