New phone, old sim - screen says subsidy code???

fatpiggy

Please forgive me for being dumb where technology is concerned. My mobile phone is to make calls and texts, and take the occasional photo - that's all I'm interested in so I know lickety spit about them.

Several years ago I went on the Virgin Plan via Orange - basically a contract phone that charges only for calls/texts made with no line rental or free texts or whatever, and dd billing at month end, so hassle-free and perfect for a low user like me. At the time I was warned that under that deal I could only choose from a very limited range of handsets (3 I think) but that wasn't a problem. Now my current Motorola razr is feeling its age, but Orange have been trying to get people off the Virgin Plan (probably because they lost loads of money on it!) and it hasn't been sold as a call plan for at least 2 years. I asked in a couple of shops about the problem of not being able to just buy any new phone but was told by both, that as the plan is defunct, I could stick my sim in any phone body and carry on as normal. I particularly wanted another Motorola (clam shell type) as that is what I'm used to but apparently Motorola are going to go to the wall any day now. Hmm. Off I went to Argos and managed to find a cheap Motorola (PAYG on T-mobile) which was just what I wanted. Stuck my old sim in, put in my usual sim-code and the screen then asked for a 6 digit subsidy code. I tried the usual set of zeros and 123456 but as attempts are limited, I didn't want to jam the thing up completely. I don't want to go onto a PAYG and despite what they tell you, passing over a phone number from one supplier to another isn't quick and easy. Is my sim-card locked in some way, and how do I get it unlocked please?

Sorry this has been a long one - reward yourselves with a choccy biccy.

ACDeag

fatpiggy wrote: »

Please forgive me for being dumb where technology is concerned. My mobile phone is to make calls and texts, and take the occasional photo - that's all I'm interested in so I know lickety spit about them.

Several years ago I went on the Virgin Plan via Orange - basically a contract phone that charges only for calls/texts made with no line rental or free texts or whatever, and dd billing at month end, so hassle-free and perfect for a low user like me. At the time I was warned that under that deal I could only choose from a very limited range of handsets (3 I think) but that wasn't a problem. Now my current Motorola razr is feeling its age, but Orange have been trying to get people off the Virgin Plan (probably because they lost loads of money on it!) and it hasn't been sold as a call plan for at least 2 years. I asked in a couple of shops about the problem of not being able to just buy any new phone but was told by both, that as the plan is defunct, I could stick my sim in any phone body and carry on as normal. I particularly wanted another Motorola (clam shell type) as that is what I'm used to but apparently Motorola are going to go to the wall any day now. Hmm. Off I went to Argos and managed to find a cheap Motorola (PAYG on T-mobile) which was just what I wanted. Stuck my old sim in, put in my usual sim-code and the screen then asked for a 6 digit subsidy code. I tried the usual set of zeros and 123456 but as attempts are limited, I didn't want to jam the thing up completely. I don't want to go onto a PAYG and despite what they tell you, passing over a phone number from one supplier to another isn't quick and easy. Is my sim-card locked in some way, and how do I get it unlocked please?

Sorry this has been a long one - reward yourselves with a choccy biccy.

Subsidy code is because the phone is locked to only work with T-Mobile SIM cards. To use another SIM card you have to enter a code. I doubt your SIM card is locked (try it in another Orange phone), if you have managed to lock then Orange will give you a PUK code to unlock it if you ask them.

Sometimes some of the small independent mobile phone shops or shops that sell cases etc. will unlock handsets for a small fee (£10-£15)

fatpiggy

Thanks ACDeag, very helpful.