Our newly unlocked T-Mobile G1 Google Android phone
It was a piece of cake. We have unlocked our T-Mobile G1 thanks to the guys over at Unlock-TmobileG1.com.
The process was quite simple. I just opened up the back of the G1, removed the battery, swapped in an already active AT&T SIM card, closed the phone back up, and then restarted it. When the phone had finished booting, it prompted me for an unlock code, which I had received in an email last night.
Nothing complex - just 8 numbers. Each code is different and is linked to the IMEI number for your phone, which you can find by entering *#06# on your phone’s keypad.
5 seconds or so after I entered the code and hit the unlock button, I saw a brief message on the phone saying that it had been unlocked. And that, as they say, was that.
First thing I noticed was an improved signal. AT&T is stronger in my area than T-Mobile. You can see the photos in the gallery below showing the AT&T network name on the G1’s status screen. Note the lack of 3G data, though. The G1 doesn’t support the proper network frequency bands to work on AT&T’s 3G network, though it will work overseas on 2100MHz networks.
The only thing left to do was to see what worked. Unlike when you typically swap a SIM card, I didn’t get a message asking me to re-login to Gmail. I suppose that is because it had no access to data at all. Web browsing and email with WiFi disabled just didn’t work. Somebody is going to have to come up with a way to reconfigure the network APNs before networks other than T-Mobile’s can be properly used.
Update: Well now, aren’t I a moron? Seems there is an APN section in the Wireless Settings, and all one has to do it add an APN for AT&T. In my case, the APN was “isp.cingular”, the user name was “ISP@CINGULARGPRS.COM”, and the password was “CINGULAR1″
Everything still works fine with WiFi on, too, and SMS sending and receiving also worked just fine with the AT&T SIM.
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- The before screen
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- Running on T-Mobile's UMTS network
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- After rebooting with an AT&T SIM, you get this prompt
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- Now on AT&T - notice there is only an EDGE connection
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- Now on AT&T - notice there is only an EDGE connection
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- SMS messages to and from the G1 with the AT&T SIM work fine
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- This is what happens when you don't have the APN configured
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- Once the APN is setup, the browser works with and without WiFi
Popularity: 49% [?]
Where can you buy G1 without a T-Mobile contract? Thanks
Theoretically you can buy it from T-Mobile. The trick is just getting the local store to sell it to you (they don’t advertise it on their site). I believe the price without a contract is $399.
If you tell them you want to use it with a T-Mobile pre-paid card you might have better have a better chance.
I have a G1 unlocked and on AT&T. I configured and use the browser for AT&T but the sms has NEVER worked on AT&T. Am I missing some set up or config step?
Have you tried sending an SMS message TO your unlocked G1 to see if that works? I’m going to guess that the SMS Service Center number on the SIM is either incorrect or missing.
I don’t see a way to change it on the G1, but many regular phones have to ability to change it (especially those meant for non-U.S. markets).
Does anyone know if you are able to use the G1 with its full featureset with a t-mobile pay as you go SIM?
Yeah, it will work fine - but pre-paid data is usually very expensive. You have to make sure that you don’t burn through data when not using WiFi. That could be tricky.
Does EDGE on AT&T work after changing APN settings? Does it sync with G-mail, calendar etc using EDGE?
Yeah, everything worked fine once the APN was added. EDGE is slower than 3G, but it works fine otherwise.
How do you get your APN?
I knew it already. They aren’t hard to find if you try Google.
If you unlock your g1 to at&t then your 3g wont work? Is that correct?
To use a G1 on AT&T, do you need a specific model sim card? I currently have a Razr, can it’s sim card be used?
Jonathan: If you use AT&T’s network you will have no 3G, that is correct.
Brian: If you have an old AT&T SIM (before Cingular bought them, many years ago), then there *might* be an issue - I am not sure. But I believe that any semi-recent Cingular or new AT&T SIM card should work.
will the text messages and pic and video still work ok
Text messages work fine, we didn’t try MMS if that is what you mean. There is no video on the G1 yet.
I’m from Australia and my current provider is “3 Network” that only run on 3G and no GSM network .. If get an unlocked G1 would there be any problem? Thanks
Yes, that could be a problem. If the network doesn’t run on the 1700MHz band (it doesn’t) or the 2100MHz band (it might), then it won’t work. I know that some carriers use 900MHz for 3G in Oz as well, and that certainly wouldn’t work on the G1.
hi.im from australia and i wana buy a G1 back 2 australia 2 use.if i unlock the G1 is the network system still work when im in australia???i use vodafone company..
3G on 2100MHz would work, if Voda uses that (I don’t think they do), and GSM/EDGE will work in any case.
hello i’m trying to buy a unlocked g1 phone for real cheap. does anyone know where i can get it from?
[...] días despues de salir a la venta, G1 Google fue desbloqueado, gracias a un código de 8 cifras, que cuesta 23 dólares, y nos [...]
So to unlock it, do I simply entering *#06# on the keypad, then put in the ATT sim card and input that 8 numbers? Is that it ?
I was reading the other sites, it seems like you also need to put in a pin or other code ?
i just tested it on my friends phone by entering *#06# it shows the IMEI number only. Where do I get that 8 numbers pin code? Does anyone know ?
hi buddies,
I want to know if i can get a G1 in US and unlock it (for example with AT&T SIM) and then take it to Iran for my friend to use it on there network?
besides, the iranian network mostly doesn’t have internet. does it matter? or it has all features except web browsing and online stuff?
also i would like to know if the age of SIM matters? does it mean that he has to get a new SIM if his is the type of 5-6 years old?
Daniel: you have to buy the unlock pin code. http://www.unlock-tmobileg1.com/
Kami: as long as Iran has a GSM network, it would work. Data is not necessary totally, but does complete the experience. If your friend had access to WiFi internet, then at least he/she could use the data while attached to a WiFi network.
i currently have a lg vu from at&t, and only have the edge network here in NH. would it be smart to switch it over to the G1? also does the G1 have the service like the iphone because when i put my sim card in the iphone it charged me for not having the iphone plan, is there any secret charges about this phone i should know?
ps i get an error message saying “error in communication” on my lg vu when i try goin on the web browser. do u know any thing about this? because i have unlimited interenet
I don’t think you would have any trouble once you unlocked and put in the appropriate data APNs for the EDGE network. As to your Vu problem - I have no idea. That sounds like something an AT&T support person could fix easily enough though. Call them.
thanks, and how are the reviews about the G1?? comparing it to the other top phones how does this one rank from 1-10?? and some ups and downs about it.
Thanks, Stefan, for this really useful column and others for your experiences.
I’m looking into a $399 unlocked G1 from T-Mobile and wondering if the Google aps will work. Push GMail, Calendar, etc. My local provider can give their APN for data.
T-Mobile’s G1 team says that the “Google package” is T-Mobile exclusive, works only with T-Mobile plan.
ok so i bought the g1 and i had the phone unlocked they sent me the code and it worked perfectly! The only problem is when i turn the phone on i have to make a gmail account which is no problem because i already have one so i just click on sign in and it says its signing in this may take up to five minutes then this pops up ” THERE IS A PROBLEM COMMUNICATING WITH THE GOOGLE SERVERS. THIS COULD BE A TEMPORARY PROBLEM OR YOUR SIM CARD MAY NOT B PROVISIONED FOR DATA SERVICES.” I do have an old orange and white sim card that says cingular and i tried my girlfriends sim in it which is about a month old and it said the same thing and hers is a newer blue and white sim card that says at&t. If anybdy can help or has experienced this problem before please help its really frusterating. what color sims are you guys using??
You have to reconfigure the data services for AT&T before you can sync with a Gmail account or browse the web or anything. The main post here tells you how to do that for AT&T - just read it above.
Charlie, the phone will work with any GSM network or any network that uses UMTS on the AWS (1700MHz) or 2100MHz bands. Obviously the T-Mo guys just want you to think that it won’t work - it will.
Hey guys….sorry if I’m asking a question similar to previous ones but I am definitely a noob at all of this type of info.
I just bought my G1 at the T-mobile store (I am currently w/ T-mobile), without the data plan. I called Customer Service to add the data plan just a little bit ago but honestly I don’t want it, I will probably cancel it later but for right now I need my phone to work at any cost.
Anyway my question is……can I get my G1 to work without the data plan with a T-Mobile SIM just as a regular phone? I mean, after all that is why the phone offers WiFi!! Why do I need this stupid data plan!!
And can someone tell me how I need to go about doing this? Do I have to unlock it?
Thanks so much for your time!!
I don’t imagine you need a data plan at all, really. Just turn off automatic sync of the various Google services and use WiFi. Do a manual sync when you have a WiFi connection. Might be tricky to get the phone setup initially without the data plan, though. I can’t quite remember the process.
Ok…right now I am having a similar problem that was mentioned earlier by Chevy….a message shows up saying there is a problem, try again or call customer service….but since I called and added the data plan already I am just waiting for that to be turned on….
so once it is turned on you are saying to follow those steps then and I could potentially cancel that data plan without having this problem again (the message popping up)
i had a t-mobile g 1 phone from my wife as an thanksgiving gift and now im in West Africa..and i cant get it start up what do i have to do??do i have to unlock it be4 i can use it in Africa..
Thanks, Stefan! That makes it perfectly clear. Very useful column on this subject.
Hi can i use my pre paid plan that i currently have on my sidekick on the G1? the plan has free text and web by the way i think its the sidekick plan,help is much appreciated
I would have to guess that the answer is no, you can’t use it. The T-Mobile Sidekick uses a special data plan that has back end server support. I know that you can not use a Sidekick with a normal data plan, so I would have to guess that you cannot use a normal device (G1) with the Sidekick data plan. Just a guess, but an educated one.
Guys:
I use a G1 with t-Mobile in UK, and am happy with it. However, I will be traveling to India later this month. t-Mobile Roaming rates in India are exorbitant, but I would like to be able to use this phone there with a SIM from there. If I unlock it, will it still be back to normal when I put the t-Mobile SIM in it after I am back in the UK?
Gani
the Mr. Zeman saying http://www.informationweek.com/blog/main/archives/2008/10/hackers_crack_o.html that after unlock t-mobile you cant return to T-mobil network. Did anyone chek this? Thanks for your help
Michael Oryl Nov 22nd, 2008 at 9:48 am
Daniel: you have to buy the unlock pin code. http://www.unlock-tmobileg1.com/
I did not pay for my unlocking code. I just called to T-Mobile and told them my EMEI number so they sent me within 2 day unlocking code for free
Whether or not T-Mobile will give you the unlock or code probably has to do with the current state of your contract. In general the company does not hand out unlock codes willy-nilly.
As to what Eric Zeman said, I think the problem he is referring to is the same one I had initially - there was no APN for the SIM I used after unlocking.
There was no data at all when I first put the AT&T SIM card in. But once I added a data APN for AT&T, the networked apps worked fine. I can’t say if Gmail worked or not, since I don’t really use it, but the rest did.
On top of that, Eric didn’t say that users couldn’t return to the T-Mobile network. The device will continue to work on T-Mobile even after it has been unlocked.
Gani, yes my phone still worked on T-Mobile USA after I unlocked it.
Ok so I am already currently with T-Mobile, and I am paying for the 39.99 a month regular “Most popular” plan with my T-Mobile Dash. I was wondering, if I buy just the G1, can I just pop in my SIM card into the phone and use it without having to purchase that stupid Internet plan? Because I don’t want to be paying like 90 a month along with the other services I have like unlimited texting and insurance etc.
Will unlocking the G1 make it so I don’t have to buy the internet plan?
One of the people at the retail store told me that I can’t just put in my SIM card because it doesn’t have the internet plan activated on it.
hey will the gi phone work in south korea unlocked?
I need to know when I visit if I can use this phone their unlocked. Please tell me what to search for or can you search for me. I have no idea.
Thank you very much!
Victor: You can just stick your SIM card in there, in theory, but I am not sure if you can get past the initial Gmail login screen without having data on the account.
Justin: Both KTF and SK have coverage in Korea that would work in theory.
Ok, but if I unlock the phone will I be able to use my SIM card and get past that Gmail login screen? I have a Gmail account already.
So what will happen if I just stick my SIM card in there? Will I be able to use the device at all if I can use my gmail account to get past that login screen? Or does the gmail account have to be registered to the phone or something?
I have an LG viewty on o2 contract.
If I buy a T-mobile G1 will everything work ok?
ryan
If you unlock it first, it should be OK. I’m not in Europe anymore, though, and can’t say with 100% certainty. But in general, an unlocked phone will work on any compatible GSM/UMTS network.
Victor:
I can give you some additional information about the data plan.
No, your SIM won’t work without you calling T-Mobile and asking them to fire up a data plan on your SIM. The phone requires a special setup with an existing or new Google account before it will work. At all. When I set up mine, I had to call and get off the Blackberry data plan and onto the regular internet plan before I could finonish the setup.
The data plans are $25 and $35 per month. The $35 includes unlimited text. However, if you have unlimited text on your existing plan, you just get the $25 plan and use your existing text plan (this is what we had on a three-phone family plan). If you don’t want unlimited text, they’ll give you 400 text messages on the cheaper data plan for the same price.
Once configured, though, you could unlock it or just use WiFi for data. You don’t need T-Mobile data to start it, only to do the initial setup.
will android market and the general internet for bebo and msn messenger work though?
what if i buy the G1 in america and then put my o2 sim card in it?
ryan
I also have an LG Viewty and a contract with o2.
My current contract has unlimited internet. Will the internet be unlimited if I buy an unlocked G1.
Steven
You will have to configure the proper APN for O2’s network before it will work over the network. WiFi would work in any case.
What does that mean?
I’m not very up on this stuff. lol
can anybody do that?
steven
can i unlock g1 and use it in egypt?
Yes, it will work on all three of Egypt’s GSM based networks. It will support UMTS 2100Mz 3G on the two that use that, as well.
Suggestions on where to obtain an unlock code? Just received my G1 purchased on eBay two*monkies* - sill locked.
Thanks!
Can somebody answer me please ! :(
steven
Charlie: Um, the very first line of this post says where we got our unlock code. You might want to start by reading this pose.
Steven: Yes, anybody can configure a new APN in the device, but you have to know the right information. I can’t help you with that. You are going to have to read up a bit on what APN and such means, and how you would handle it.
How do i get an AT&T pin code
it’s the only thing i that i need right now
if any of you guys can help me i would appreciate it.
thanks for reading.
Pin code? You mean the unlock code? You have to buy one or know somebody that can generate them. There is a link to a place that sells them at the top of this post.
Thanks :D
My friend lost his g1 and ordered another. I have tmobile and he gave me his new one because he found his old one. I have a sidekick and I was wondering what steps I need to go through to get my g1 to work on my plan. Or if I can ben get away with having the other new phone when he has his orginial. Please help.
Why nobody uses the g1 on sprint network. When they have the unlimited plan 100.00. Does any hhave sprint apn etc. If do please share.
I have been reading a fair number of posts from various sites (this one is the best) and from what I can gather, I *could*:
1. get an unlocked G1
2. use a SIM card from a prepaid T-mobile phone and use the voice part of the plan only
The problems/limitations would be:
1. I couldn’t use the internet anywhere except at Wifi areas (no data plan for prepaid plans from T-mobile)
2. Data syncing/setup with gmail (and other google apps?) would be clumsy
3. Android store apps could only be downloaded in Wifi areas not over “the network”
Questions:
1. Has anyone done this and are my assumptions correct?
2. Is syncing/setp of google apps clumsy or impossible without the data plan?
3. Are there any problems downloading Android apps without the data plan?
Thanks
Jose: The G1 is a GSM/UMTS device, it is 100% incompatible with Sprint’s CDMA network.
Dave: I have not tried it, but I believe that you would be successful once you got through the initial Gmail login when setting up the phone initially.
Could anyone reply to my post?
Dani, you will need to change the data plan on your account. The sidekick plan is not compatible with the G1 or any other non-Sidekick device as far as I know. They use a different network configuration and have special back-end servers. Since there is no $20 unlimited data plan any longer, you’ll have to pony up for a G1 plan.
Just bought an unlocked G1, but cannot get into the phone as it asks for google sign-in and wouldnt work with my AT&T SIM card. Is there another way to bypass the google sign-in screen without getting a T-Mobile SIM with data plan? Thanks
Arun: As I’ve been saying throughout this thread, I really think you need to have a T-Mobile SIM with data in order to initially get past the Google sign-on screen. Borrow one for 5 minutes - that’s all it takes.
i call the Tmobile they say even you unlock the phones u still cant unble to use it oversea only USA..is that correct??Australia freq is 900MHZ 2100MHZ from vodafone….if u cant use the google network..when u unlock it can u still use the phones??i mean pick up the calls send Msg????buy off the phones with out a plan..
Success story: I now have an unlocked G1 working with voice and data over i-wireless here in Iowa!
I got the phone off eBay (T-Mobile kept insisting on a Plan.)
It was locked (eBay lists some already unlocked) so I submitted the IMEI # from the box and battery compartment to unlock-tmobileg1.com as listed at the top. A couple hours later they emailed the code.
We put in a i-wireless SIM, entered the unlock code and wha-la! Voice, data: gmail, contacts, calendar (synced), browsing all worked!
This was fun and a joy!
Thanks to you guys at Android Authority for showing the way - this is a great site!
Hi. I just bought a G1 with a T-mobile simcard from eBay and I also sim-unlocked it using an unlock code from the recommended site. Like everyone else from other countries (I’m in Brazil), I am not able to pass the google account setup screen and get to the main screen, neither using the T-mobile simcard nor using my Oi (brazilian provider) simcard with Internet data plan on - I can’t even make calls!
All of this explanation is to ask whether the hardware solution for the simlock (a SIM card adapter that deceive the device into thinking the SIM card is actually from T-mobile) works for passing this damn google account setup screen. Did anyone try it?
Thanks.
By the way, I did have the phone configured for my network (GPRS/EDGE/3G APN stuff), I even took the phone to the provider store so they configured it with no mistake.
About the hardware solution for the simlock, just search for
G1 Turbo Unlock
on eBay and you’ll see what I mean. A couple of people told me that this kind of “solution” consumes more battery (and the battery of the G1 does not last very long already), so it is not a reasonable option for a permanent sim-unlock.
So, did anyone try this adapter to get passed the google account setup screen with a non-T-mobile chip?
Thanks Android Authority for all the info. No other site gives any clue about the T-mobile-only google setup issue.
Arthur, I am guessing that you had an inactive T-Mobile SIM, which is why you couldn’t even make calls. If you can’t make calls, you certainly can’t get data - so you have the initial setup problem.
Hi, Michael, thanks for the answer. :)
You are probably right, this chip may be inactive. But I can make calls with other unlocked phones using my original Oi chip. My question is: if I use the hardware chip adapter for T-mobile with my Oi chip, will I be able to pass the google account setup?
Thanks.
I really don’t know anything about this adapter you speak of. I’ve never used any type of device like that.
I left a comment earlier and i’m from the uk on holiday. I’m going to buy a G1 to take home and unlock.
i’m on o2 and have unlimited internet.
if i do bring home a G1 will it work ?
is it possible to take it to a phone shop at home named ”the phone doctor ” to be unlocked ?
can you let me know about any possible problems before i buy please ?
please reply soon because i go home soon .
Forgot to mention i am on holiday in florida .
I have a similar problem many others have listed: bought unlocked G1, have previous T-Mobile prepaid plan, called T-Mobile and had gave them my SIM # (purchased with phone). Now can’t get past Google set-up screen. Have the same questions as Dave’s from 14 (except I already bought the phone.)
I seem to see two answers to the key question:
1. Joe Dougherty Dec 9 says “No, your SIM won’t work without you calling T-Mobile and asking them to fire up a data plan on your SIM. The phone requires a special setup with an existing or new Google account before it will work. At all
Bummer, for me. I live and work in a dead zone and will only use the phone while traveling, or through wifi.
2. Michael Oryl Dec 16 says “you need to have a T-Mobile SIM with data in order to initially get past the Google sign-on screen. Borrow one for 5 minutes - that’s all it takes.”
Is this a workaround to what Joe said? Has anyone actually done it?
Thanks
–Jim
if i use g1 with a t-mobile prepaid chip will i have the 3g service still and all the other features
Jim: yes - what I say will work. It is, effectively, what I did. I had a pre-existing T-Mobile SIM and data tariff (not the G1 plan sold now). I used the device for a while (the same as the 5 minutes of borrowing one) and then unlocked phone.
The problem you have is not unlocking, but the lack of data on your pre-paid plan. You need somebody else’s SIM with data in order to get past that login.
What you need to be worried about, though, is data use on your pre-paid SIM. I don’t use a T-Mo pre-paid, so I don’t know, but I have used data on AT&T pre-paid, and it is hyper expensive. You will need to ensure that the phone does not attempt to use data over pre-paid. You might be able to fix that by removing or altering the APN network settings for T-Mobile.
Gurlal: I believe you would still have access to the voice capabilities of the 3G network, but you would have the same expensive data problem as Jim, which I just explained.
Hello, i’ve recently just gotten the g1 and i’ve already have some problems. Every time i try to create a google account it says theres a error with the google servers and it might be temporary or my SIM card doesn’t have the data services, how do i go around fixing this problem?
Yeah i now own a G1 and have the same problem as James kali
How do i unlock my G1 phone without my google account: forgot password!!!!
I just got mhy G1 from Tmobile store for 400$bucks without a contract.the problem is i use my friends sim card that is Tmobile and put that in..it just pop up a G mail login screen i type my GMAIL in few min later it come up with:THERE IS A PROBLEM COMMUNICATING WITH THE GOOGLE SERVERS. THIS COULD BE A TEMPORARY PROBLEM OR YOUR SIM CARD MAY NOT B PROVISIONED FOR DATA SERVICES”
i just cant past this notice..can any1 help me?how to pass this notice.or is that mean my G1 is not unlock i have to unlock it???or have to give a call to Tmobile????plez help me thanks
how do i get into the menu to make phone calls coz i press “menu”it come out APN SETTING cant get into the menu!!do u have to call the customer care to activate you G1 phones first??so u can get into the menu?
Well, if you’re using your friends t-mobile sim, you shouldn’t have a problem.
Have you purchased a G1 data plan on that sim?
Also, if you can return it, I would really recommend that you spend a few more bucks, register as an Android developer, and purchase the unlocked handset directly from Google.
well my friend have that sim card as contract like 2 yrs alrady but i put the sim in it just cant get into the menu..only stay at the GMAIL login screen….
when i buy the G1 today from the store the ladie just keep remind me that if you buy the G1 it not going to work if you dun sign contract with Tmobile..the store guy told me this phone unlock already..i dun understand what is the different between Tmobile and HTC G1….HTC say that if u buy it will work with other company sim card..but Tmobile just keeping saying that if u dun sign contract with them the G1 is not going to work..can any1 tell me that what should i do now..can i unlock in this website?i wana use the phone make calls it just stop at the GMAIL screen..make me crazy….
Nicholad Ahn:do u know where to make unlock handset???can u give me link or something??thank you very much…….
i didn purchase G1 Data Plan with that sim card..
i have same problem that Arthur has.cant make calls.cant even pass GMAIL login…what should i do now???will unlock helpful??or have to do something else help me….becoz u have to going back to my country i wana have it done when i get back..
hi..i am frm india,i purchased a unlocked g1 from usa and now m unable to use it..bcoz it sayz it wants to signin to gmail account but my airtel sim doesnt have a gprs…so what should i do…
and what is this mcc and mnc ..do i need to change it??…
or should i use my friends card which has a data plan and then after activating i’ll insert my card?? or
should i activate gprs on my sim…….
and also please tell me what all changes do i have to do…..in the settings after inserting my aitel sim
If I unlock my G1 and go to the att network will the 3G network work?
Jtown: No, it won’t work.
thanks for the reply, do you think the 3g att network will work in the future or that a no go kind of thing?
The current G1 phone does not support AT&T’s 850 band (the band they use for 3g).
It’s a no go thing.