Are three mobile phone SIMS compatible with unlocked phones?

Elsie_saver

I have a three phone and sim, unfortunately I have managed to break the phone and need to replace it. I am on a really good contract (although have completed minimum contract period) with 3 and want to stay with it. I have looked at their website and that says for the best deal I should go to a 3 store, which I did. I wasn't thrilled with the prices for the phones, the cheapest was £50. I told the assistant that I thought the phones were expensive compared to their competitors and suggested buying a new phone from one of the competitors and unlocking it. He told me that three mobile SIM's will not (now?) work in unlocked phones. Before I go to the expense of a new phone and unlocking it, does anyone know if 3 SIMS work in unlocked phones? or can someone help with the best way to get a new 3 phone?

thanks

jebervic

Elsie_saver wrote: »

I have a three phone and sim, unfortunately I have managed to break the phone and need to replace it. I am on a really good contract (although have completed minimum contract period) with 3 and want to stay with it. I have looked at their website and that says for the best deal I should go to a 3 store, which I did. I wasn't thrilled with the prices for the phones, the cheapest was £50. I told the assistant that I thought the phones were expensive compared to their competitors and suggested buying a new phone from one of the competitors and unlocking it. He told me that three mobile SIM's will not (now?) work in unlocked phones. Before I go to the expense of a new phone and unlocking it, does anyone know if 3 SIMS work in unlocked phones? or can someone help with the best way to get a new 3 phone?

thanks

The assistant was correct, 3 sims don't work in unlocked phone.

M_Ryan

Hi

We had a 3 phone and we managed to drop it down the toilet! Anyway long story short, we went to Carphone Warehouse to buy a sony ericsson k800i to use the 3 sim in!

The lady at Carphone warehouse said that 3 didn't like people doing that and have now tied their sims to the phones they sell.

Not believing her, we decided to try anyway! We put the sim in and everything worked fine, we could call out and receive calls and texts no problem!

THEN......we got out bill through and it had gone from £35 a month to £160 a month! I called 3 to ask why and was informed that their system was showing that we were not using the original motorola phone that came with the sim and that by putting our sim in another (non 3) phone we were no longer entitled to the free minutes and texts we used to receive and that all future calls and texts would be charged for until we put the sim in a 3 phone!

Hope this helps?

Matt

BarGin

I've been using a 3 sim in an unlocked Orange SPV M700 for the past 6 months without problems.

M_Ryan

BarGin wrote: »

I've been using a 3 sim in an unlocked Orange SPV M700 for the past 6 months without problems.

PAYG or Contract??

I think PAYG will work it's the contract ones they block!

BarGin

On a contract which I just a couple of weeks ago ended early because they changed the conditions.

jebervic

Well i've got 4 unlocked phones and not one of them accept a 3 mobile sim, so I guess the phone has to be a 3g phone.

M_Ryan

Ooooh! Lucky you! lol! They cancelled all our free calls and texts when we used a non 3 phone!

Elsie_saver

Thanks for all replies, decided that I would phone 3 (free from my phone of course!) and ask what sort of upgrade they would give me. I spoke to a very helpful man who offered me a Nokia 6500 slide. This would be free if I extended my contract for another 18 months which I did. Nice new FREE phone on it's way to me.

It doesn't say very much for their shop assistants lack of knowledge that they wanted me to pay for a new phone.

M_Ryan

Elsie_saver wrote: »

Thanks for all replies, decided that I would phone 3 (free from my phone of course!) and ask what sort of upgrade they would give me. I spoke to a very helpful man who offered me a Nokia 6500 slide. This would be free if I extended my contract for another 18 months which I did. Nice new FREE phone on it's way to me.

It doesn't say very much for their shop assistants lack of knowledge that they wanted me to pay for a new phone.

I just got my 6500 slide yesterday It's really nice loads of features

Mines on Orange though

Matt