Changing mobiles but not provider or number

Mistral001

I have a mobile phone which has stopped working. I want to change over to a mobile that someone gave me, but keep the same number and service provider (O2).

It is such a simple query that I am almost embarrassed to ask, but I do not want to just walk into a mobile phone shop and ask them as no doubt they will want to sell me a new mobile phone.

What is the most economical way of doing this?

PS. the mobile phone that I want to change to is with different service provider to O2

reehsetin

you need to check whether the new phone you have given also takes the same sized SIM as your old phone, there are now two or three different sizes, this should be easy to find out by removing the back/battery from the phone (most phones, some have SIMs hidden in other places)
What's is the new model of phone?

Generally phones can be unlocked by:
the original network, but an unlock must normally be requested by the original owner and a fee is payable (£20?)
someone in a market stall or random shop (£5-10?), this will generally be cheap and quick but they will not help if something goes wrong with the phone
Via an app or internet unlock code (free or minimal)


Also, is either phone an iPhone or BlackBerry? (asking as it normally complicates matters as they normally have their own specific tariffs)

Mistral001

Thanks for the reply reehsetin.

The old phone is a Nokia 3410 and the "new" one is a Smsung about 5 or 6 years old. It is one of the phones with a sliding top half. I cannot find a model number on the case I am afraid.

reehsetin

Mistral001 wrote: »

Thanks for the reply reehsetin.

The old phone is a Nokia 3410 and the "new" one is a Smsung about 5 or 6 years old. It is one of the phones with a sliding top half. I cannot find a model number on the case I am afraid.

Good news is, they'll both have the same sized SIM, as new SIM sizes are fairly recent.

If you remove the battery from the Samsung it should have the model number on a sticker? usually it's a letter followed by some numbers e.g. D600
Or check out this page and see if you see a match
http://www.!!!!!!!!!/phones/samsung/old

I would honestly just pop the SIM in and turn the phone on, either it works and you're good to go, or it will say something about a network lock. As it's an old samsung chances are you could unlock it for free using a code online, you need the model and the IMEI (also on a sticker under the battery) or take it to a stall or shop and they should be able to do it very quickly, easily, and cheaply

Post the model number if possible and people will be able to give much more specific advice

reehsetin

I'm not sure why MSE has blocked this site, so i wouldn't advise doing anything else on there but viewing this page
replace the !!!! with o m i o .com without the spaces

d123

Mistral001 wrote: »

Thanks for the reply reehsetin.

The old phone is a Nokia 3410 and the "new" one is a Smsung about 5 or 6 years old. It is one of the phones with a sliding top half. I cannot find a model number on the case I am afraid.

Do you have a local unlocker type mobile phone shop?

I'm sure most would just swap the sim over for you if you took the 2 phones in.

Mistral001

reehsetin wrote: »

Good news is, they'll both have the same sized SIM, as new SIM sizes are fairly recent.

If you remove the battery from the Samsung it should have the model number on a sticker? usually it's a letter followed by some numbers e.g. D600
Or check out this page and see if you see a match
http://www.!!!!!!!!!/phones/samsung/old

I would honestly just pop the SIM in and turn the phone on, either it works and you're good to go, or it will say something about a network lock. As it's an old samsung chances are you could unlock it for free using a code online, you need the model and the IMEI (also on a sticker under the battery) or take it to a stall or shop and they should be able to do it very quickly, easily, and cheaply

Post the model number if possible and people will be able to give much more specific advice

Thanks for that. It is a Samsung E250. I got it from the link you gave (not sure MSe blocked it either).

It looks like I will have to take it to a shop as when I put the other SIM card into it is blocked. The phone has not been used for a while and cannot be used except for emergency calls it would seem. I can get the permission of the old owner to change it over. I guess the best way is to get I will have to get a shop or a stall to do it.

Thanks once again