3G K800i - will it work with Vodafone SIM?

coolpran

I am going to buy K800i on 3 network (http://threestore.three.co.uk/offerdetails.aspx?offercode=18VT7D004&tariffid=513).
I wanted to know if I can use that phone sometimes with my wife's Vodafone pay-as-you-go SIM card?

coolpran

just found out from another website that I cannot do this as the phone will be locked to 3 network.
Which leads to new questions -
How to unlock the phone? Is it safe? Is it legal? How much will it cost? Can I do it within my contract period? Will 3-network take any action against me if I unlock it?

hambrook

I have just bought the K800i on Orange (free and £19 a month). They said for a fee of £20 they could unlock it at any time, even in contract. I would assume Three is the same.

hambrook

Actually yuk thats a nasty 18 month contract, Sure £17.50 for 10 months then £35 for the last 8 months, total cost £455

K800i Free on Orange Dolphin £19pm
Over 12 months £228 - 50 mins 75 texts
Over 18 months £342 - 75 mins 225 texts a month

http://shop.orange.co.uk/shop/show/handset/sony_ericsson_k800i/detail/pay_monthly

coolpran

thanks hambrook
but i was looking for 250-300 mins
and i hardly ever use texts.
will take a look at other orange deals, but they don't do discounted line rentals

hambrook

Dolphin £30 - 12 months
200 anytime mins 50 texts
Total cost £360

or
Dolphin £30 - 18 months
300 anytime mins 850 texts
Total cost £540

Thats the only way Three is cheaper on the last one. Dont forget with orange you get MAGIC NUMBER - 3000 mins per month to one phone number. And you get YOUR GRROUP - put all your phones on one account and its 600 mins a month free between Orange phones

Mr_Mister

I want to get a K800i and my 12 month contract is about to expire on Orange. I dont want to pay more than £25 and want at least 200 mins on 12 months.
Any good deals?

jamstaruk

coolpran wrote:

just found out from another website that I cannot do this as the phone will be locked to 3 network.
Which leads to new questions -
How to unlock the phone? Is it safe? Is it legal? How much will it cost? Can I do it within my contract period? Will 3-network take any action against me if I unlock it?

check with internet sometime you can unlock phone yourself tho most of time with 3 it requires a lead and software there will be loads of places in your town that can do it i wouldnt pay more than £10 tho thats the going rate most towns have a weekend market and generally there will be a stall that will do it for you only takes minutes

its not ilegal to unlock a phone tho you may be breaching your contract but when contract expires 3 cannot do anything

turbodiesel

coolpran wrote:

just found out from another website that I cannot do this as the phone will be locked to 3 network.
Which leads to new questions -
How to unlock the phone? Is it safe? Is it legal? How much will it cost? Can I do it within my contract period? Will 3-network take any action against me if I unlock it?

How to unlock the phone? - Unfortunately the K800i is one of the few SE handsets that cant be unlocked easily. In actual fact the only independent unlock solution for this particular model is only a few weeks old and currently costs around £45
You can generally purchase the required unlock code from the relevant network for between £0 and £20 depending on your circumstances. unfortunately the only exception to this are 3 who seem to think they are perfectly justified to ask for £15 + either the remainder of your line rental or £100 !!
Is it safe? - yes, if done properly
Is it legal? - yes although you are still obliged to comply with the t&c's of your contract with ur network/service provider.
How much will it cost? - as above
Can I do it within my contract period? - yes - if your sp are prepared to give (sell) you the unlock code or of course it can be done independently.
Will 3-network take any action against me if I unlock it? - No, so long as you continue to pay your bills, besides if you unlock it without obtaining the code from them, then they will never know.

HTH

MK5

hambrook

Orange will unlock your Orange locked SE K800i (or any other Orange) phone in or out of contract for £20.

No dodgy market traders or data cables off ebay required.

If someone can prove that Three is better than Orange (after the 30+ calls to all the networks pushing for deals, and threatening to leave O2, 32 posts on different forums hunting every deal) then I am open for a challenge.

My deal Free K800i with £25 CASH BACK via quidco on £19 a month 12 month Tariff.
Total for 1 year £203. (with Quidco credit) It's cheaper than buying off ebay, you get a 12 month warranty

Your Account - 3,000 free minutes to partners Pay As You go Orange Phone. She gets 600 mins worth of free off peak calls back to me

kai666

vodafone charge £20 in contract, it's free out of contract