Will I need to get my phone unlocked?

RedTiger

Just got my new phone delivered today - SE Z520i on O2 PAYG but I was planning to get a Tesco SIM to put in it as i've worked out that would be the cheapest option for me. Tried my orange SIM in the phone and got the message 'incorrect SIM' so i'm assuming this means the phone is locked to O2.

Am I right in assuming i'd still need to get the phone unlocked to use it on the Tesco network even though they use O2? I might just stick to O2 if this is the case, if I remember rightly there wasn't a huge difference in the overall cost for me between Tesco & O2.

Thanks!

RedTiger

*bump*

Anyone know if a Tesco sim will work in an O2 phone?

drahcir_2

i think you will still need it unlocking

RedTiger

bummer! Will look around for a local shop that can unlock my phone then - not noticed any before but then i've not been looking for them until now.

jem16

RedTiger wrote:

*bump*

Anyone know if a Tesco sim will work in an O2 phone?

I tried a Tesco sim in my aunt's locked O2 PAYG phone and it worked so it may be fine.

RedTiger

ooh thanks for that - I'll maybe buy a Tesco sim first to see if it works. Most of my calls are to other networks so 20p a minute is much better than 40p with O2. I can always get the phone unlocked if the sim doesn't work - will use up my £2.50 free credit with O2 first anyway

GlennTheBaker

Tesco Mobile 'piggybacks' onto O2's network so a phone locked to O2 should (in theory) also work with a Tesco SIM.

redux

Depending on your likely level of use of the O2 SIM ...

If you top-up the O2 SIM by £10 in a month, you'll get 100 free minutes to any network in that month, and the £10 remains. On another thread, it seems some people got the initial allowance without the £10. There is also a Joining Treats offer until end of March of 3 months of a free bolt-on, which could get you 50 minutes a month. So, don't throw that SIM away for 4 months at least.