Carphone warehouse phones... unlocked?

chunkymonkey2144

Someone once told me that all car phone warehouse phones come unlocked regardless if you have bought it on a specific network, is this true?
Thanks

Browntoa

they normally are

gjchester

Not quite.

CPW buy generic stock and if the phone is on all network then you'll probably get an unlocked phone, saved them having to stock 5 versions of the same phone.

However anything network exclusive, like the iPhone currently is for o2 or the Palm Pre will be, or the G1 on T-mobile, or the Magic on Vodafone will amost always be locked as thats ho CPW get them. They don't need to stock different variants as it's excluive to one provider so they will invariably be locked to the network. It also the same if there is a specific colour variant to a network.

It used to be o2 and Vodafone didn't lock there contract phones Orange and TM did, but now it more depends how exclusive that device is to a network.

samperry209

yep everything but iphones and alcatels and palms

movilogo

You can simply go to your nearest CPW store and ask them to show if the model you are interested works with a different SIM card. Usually they will help you to determine.

gjchester

movilogo wrote: »

You can simply go to your nearest CPW store and ask them to show if the model you are interested works with a different SIM card. Usually they will help you to determine.

You cna but as I said anything network exclusive, (iPhone, Palm Pre, Google G1) will always be locked.

Another way to tell is when they bring the box out, if the network has locked it they normally have network branded boxes, unlocked phones come in the makers unbranded box. Not always true but a good indicator.

gjchester

movilogo wrote: »

You can simply go to your nearest CPW store and ask them to show if the model you are interested works with a different SIM card. Usually they will help you to determine.

You cna but as I said anything network exclusive, (iPhone, Palm Pre, Google G1) will always be locked. Try asking to put a Vodafone sim in a iPhone (at the moment anyway) and they will just tell you it won't work.

Another way to tell is when they bring the box out, if the network has locked it or monkeyed with the branding / firmware they normally have network branded boxes, unlocked phones come in the makers unbranded box. Not always true but a good indicator.

Old_Gold

Is it the same for phones bought online as obviously you cannot check them as you can in the shop?

gjchester

Old_Gold wrote: »

Is it the same for phones bought online as obviously you cannot check them as you can in the shop?

All bets are off if bought on line, although the same rules usually apply, anything generic across network will probably be unlocked, again exclusives will always be locked.
However if buying online then the seller may just be drop shipping from the network, so they may be, as storage space may not be an issue.

Remember though for an online purchase under the DSR you can return it for any reason. Upgrades DO NOT automatically have this protection, as it's not a new contract, and you are down to the goodwill of the network.