Are all O2 phones unlocked?

thor

I heard from a friend that any O2 phone you buy is always unlocked to all networks. Is this true? I have just recently got an O2 phone from mobileshop and it was indeed unlocked but I put that down to good luck.

superjaggybunnet

In my experience all O2 contract phones are always unlocked.

I have sold scores of them on ebay.

[Deleted User]

I've had O2 phones for 6 years, never found a locked one yet

turbodiesel

As a general "rule of thumb" -

all O2 (and Vodafone) handsets that are bought on a pay monthly connection are unlocked.
All PAYG handsets (on any network including O2 and Vodafone) are locked.

Rogerb_2

I bought two PAYG nokia 1100s from carphone warehouse on O2 and both were unlocked, and when getting another two 1100's for the family but on t mobile found they were also unlocked, so possibly to do with the phone more than the network.

reelcrazy

Contract phones from O2, Mobileshop and Dialaphone are almost always unlocked.

misskool

Must be that's unlucky then, my last phone on O2 was locked and my 2 previous phones on Voda were locked as well!!

drahcir_2

Rogerb wrote:

I bought two PAYG nokia 1100s from carphone warehouse on O2 and both were unlocked, and when getting another two 1100's for the family but on t mobile found they were also unlocked, so possibly to do with the phone more than the network.

i think cpw use sim free stock for their phones which is why they are unlocked

fiish

As far as I know, excepting the O2-brand handsets (xda, mini s etc.) handsets sold by O2 are SIM-free, even if there is some branding. I know for sure that their N70 units were unlocked.

Since around last year, I think Voda have started locking their contract handsets as well. My mate bought an N80 in May and it was locked and branded, but Phones4u (who sold him the phone) were willing to foot the unlocking charge.

I think generally, if you see the operator's stickers plastered all over the phone and very pervasive branding, there's a very high chance the handphone is locked.

rogerramjet

Had a Nokia 3100 (refurb) from them mid 2005 which was not locked to them, but a Sony Erricson w550i bought in Jan 2006 from a O2 store was locked, so it maybe hit and miss