Motorola V975 £49.95 including £30 top up!

Johntea

Browntoa wrote:

bear this in mind

http://www.mobileburn.com/news.jsp?Id=2096

SIM Cards to be Glued Into 3 UK Pre-Pay Handsets

3, the UK's largest 3G network provider, is planning to glue its sim cards into entry-level prepay handsets in a bid to hamper phone exporters that have diverted hundreds of thousands of 3 handsets from the UK market to be sold abroad for profit. The move, starting this month, will see SIMs glued into new handsets as well as new and refurbished Motorola C975 handsets.

3 sales director Marc Allera said that the move would guarantee that "the person buying the phone will be a genuine customer and won't be selling it abroad." He also said the move followed a test launch in selected 3 stores, which he described as successful. "We've done a trial pre-Christmas in our own stores, taken feedback from staff and customers, and we think it's a practical solution."

The SIM cards are being permanently bonded into handsets using epoxy resin. The process is being handled by an external logistics company. "We will be doing this on our entry-level handsets and those that aren't secure," said Allera, adding that other handsets would be assessed on a 'case-by-case' basis.

Retail stores across the UK are in two minds about the move. On one hand, it's just an extension of the SIM lock that is applied to prepay handsets in order to retain revenue and custom. On the other hand, if the handset develops a fault, what happens to the user's contact list or personal information? Three and retailers are reported to be rolling out a free sim back up to customers who purchase a phone.

That is absolutely mad! I'll be returning my phone straight away if my SIM is glued in!

rizla01

I reserved one at southport but changed my mind, now.

let me know and I'll give you the reservation number.

kronen

There's one at Corby, a bit too far for me to travel. My daughter's set her heart on a pink one so unless I spray it there's not really any point, but I couldn't help myself from checking I just can't resist the bargains.

Hope This Helps Someone.

jim1606

Johntea wrote:

That is absolutely mad! I'll be returning my phone straight away if my SIM is glued in!

I picked up two of the phones today. Just make sure all parts are in box as one of the ones I got was missing battery, although managed to exchange.
The sims are not glued in the only glue is on the envelope they are sealed in, just waiting for ther kids to show me how they work and how to use they £30 top up!!! lots of free 3g stuff available to use on phone as well.

I have checked and these phones can be unlocked locally in mobile / repair type shops for under a tenner, apparantly it takes about twenty minutes.

FloFlo

What happens when you get it unlocked, do you need to buy a sim for your chosen network and will the 3g features still work.
Is it a nice phone.

debs626

Has anyone got one of these unlocked??

infor on how would be appreciated.

thanks in advance

Debs

Searcher

debs626 wrote:

Has anyone got one of these unlocked??

infor on how would be appreciated.

thanks in advance

Debs

Yes funnily enough I did mine last night :j
I've had this phone for 6 months now on a 3 contract and to be honest the last time I tried it couldnt be done.
I did it from home last night with the supplied usb cable.
It involves the download of a small application and buying a credit via paypal for 25 USD (£14). They send you a username and password immediately via email.
You can actually download the software first to check if the phone is unlockable and then purchase the credit if everything goes ok.
I did it last night and it went like a dream.
It doesn't remove the 3 menus though but it does now accept a sim from any network

It's a pretty good phone and definitely worth 50 quid although the battery life isn't all it could be

This is the link to the website If it's not ok to post this then Mods please edit the post and if anyone needs more details then feel free to PM me

http://www.cell-unlock.com/other-vxxx.htm

EDIT: Just noticed that executiverocker posted pretty much the same url, this link goes directly to the website rather than via the 3g forum

Searcher

Just a word of caution for anyone wanting to download games/ ringtones etc. or want to use the phone for web browsing.
3 operate a "walled garden" system which basically means that any downloads have to come from them.
The same applies to web browsing, they have recently started to offer a web add on but it costs around £5 a month.
You can make your own ringtones though. The motorola phone tools allow you to edit mp3's and upload them to your phone :j

debs626

Thanks for that searcher, thats exactly how I was going to do it but didnt want to commit my money until I knew it would work, you have put my mind at rest.

I used to have the old Nokia 7600 (funny shape) and that was locked on three and had no way of putting on new games unless u went via 3 and downloaded them but some clever ppl developed some software to enable this. I also used to own the motorola v550 and used some simular software to do the same, so if its not possible now I am sure it will be soon................. watch this space ... LOL

Searcher

debs626 wrote:

Thanks for that searcher, thats exactly how I was going to do it but didnt want to commit my money until I knew it would work, you have put my mind at rest.

I used to have the old Nokia 7600 (funny shape) and that was locked on three and had no way of putting on new games unless u went via 3 and downloaded them but some clever ppl developed some software to enable this. I also used to own the motorola v550 and used some simular software to do the same, so if its not possible now I am sure it will be soon................. watch this space ... LOL

You're welcome
I must admit tho i did sort of click the "pay now" button at arms length with one eye closed lmao.
Probably not the best strategy for a money saver but nothing ventured and all that
I've been looking at the 3g forums and there are software hacks to allow you to install java apps on the phone ... I'll probably get round to it one day when I'm bored LOL