Blocked, Barred or Blacklisted Nokia Phones

When a person reports a mobile phone lost, stolen or otherwise unsuitable for use, the phones imei/serial number is included in a 'blacklist database'. When you switch on a mobile phone, the phones imei/serial number is passed through the blacklist database to check if the phone has been blacklisted. If your phones imei/serial number exists in the database, connection to the network (any network) will be refused!
There are two main reasons the networks blacklist Nokia mobile phones:

• Prevention Of Mobile Phone Theft


• Prevention Of Insurance Fraud

Prevention Of Mobile Phone Theft!
Mobile phone theft in the UK has risen quite substantially over the past few years. The Government, the mobile phone manufacturers and the networks have been working together to combat mobile phone theft. The introduction of a 'blacklist database' essentially makes mobile phone theft pointless because the phone will be immediately rendered useless once it has been reported stolen.
Prevention Of Insurance Fraud!
Insurance fraud is a major problem in the UK, however if a person informs their insurance company that their mobile phone has been lost, stolen or otherwise unsuitable for use, the insurance company will not pay out on a policy unless the phone has been reported lost, stolen or otherwise unsuitable for use to the network service provider and/or the police. Obviously, the phone is then blacklisted making insurance fraud a pointless task.


Many people seem to think that purchasing 'unlock codes' or 'restriction codes' will remove the restriction on blacklisted phones - IT WILL NOT! Although the unlock codes supplied by unlocks.co.uk will remove the phones network restriction, the phone will remain blacklisted and will not operate on any network! Unlocks.co.uk will not knowingly entertain any Nokia mobile phone that is blacklisted, and we reserve the right to pass onto the police the details of any customer who attempts to use our service to unlock a blacklisted mobile phone!

Buy One Get One Free

Due to the overwhelming success of my 'Buy One Get One Free' promotion, I have decided to extend this promotion until the end of 2005. Customers purchasing one set of Nokia unlock codes (restriction codes) for £4.50 will automatically be entitled to one set of Nokia unlock codes (restriction codes) absolutely free (applies only to Nokia phones as displayed on my Supported Phones list! You will have up to four calendar months to redeem your entitlement to free Nokia unlock codes (restriction codes), so you don't have to request them straight away if they are not yet required!

So, if you have two Nokia mobile phones you need to unlock, visit my website at http://www.unlocks.co.uk for more details!

Network Frequencies

One thing to consider before deciding to purchase unlock codes for a Nokia mobile phone is the network frequency on which the phone operates. There are currently four types of Nokia GSM phone - single-band, dual-band, tri-band and quad-band. There are also four GSM network frequencies - GSM 850Mhz, GSM 900Mhz, GSM 1800Mhz and GSM 1900Mhz. Single-band handsets will operate only on one specific GSM network frequency, dual-band handsets will operate on two specific GSM network frequencies, tri-band handsets will operate on three specific GSM network frequencies and quad-band handsets will operate on any GSM network in the world.

Sounds simple enough, right? Well, not really because you will need to know the network frequency your handset uses to ensure it will operate on the network you intend to use after unlocking your phone. Although not concrete, this is the general rule:

• Single-band GSM handsets purchased in the Americas will usually operate on GSM 850Mhz or GSM 1900Mhz (either of the two, not both).


• Single-band GSM handsets purchased in Europe, Africa, Asia, Asia-Pacific etc. will usually operate on GSM 900Mhz or GSM 1800Mhz (either of the two, not both).


• Dual-band GSM handsets purchased in the Americas will usually operate on GSM 850Mhz and GSM 1900Mhz.


• Dual-band GSM handsets purchased in Europe, Africa, Asia, Asia-Pacific etc. will usually operate on GSM 900Mhz and GSM 1800Mhz.


• Tri-band GSM handsets purchased in the Americas will usually operate on GSM 850Mhz, GSM 1800Mhz and GSM 1900Mhz.


• Tri-band GSM handsets purchased in Europe, Africa, Asia, Asia-Pacific etc. will usually operate on GSM 900Mhz, GSM 1800Mhz and GSM 1900Mhz.


• Quad-band GSM handsets purchased anywhere in the world will operate on GSM 850Mhz, GSM 900Mhz, GSM 1800Mhz and GSM 1900Mhz. (any worldwide GSM network)

The above rule obviously applies only to handsets purchased new and does not apply to used handsets that may have originated from another country. I am currently working on a 'Compatibility Calculator' which I should be adding to my site at www.unlocks.co.uk within the next few weeks. This calculator will enable customers to select their phone model, the network from which the phone originated and the network they intend to use after unlocking. The calculator will then inform the customer whether or not the phone will operate on the network they intend to use after unlocking.

Remember, unlocking your Nokia phone will not change the operating frequency of the handset!

The Benefits Of Unlocking Your Nokia

Over the past few years, many people have contacted me asking why they should unlock their Nokia phone. Every individual will have their own reasons for wanting to unlock their Nokia phone, but some people really don't see the point. I have detailed below some of benefits associated with unlocking your Nokia mobile phone:

• Choice - With your Nokia phone unlocked, you will be able to choose which network you want to use. It can be financially beneficial to swap and change network Sim cards at various times of the day and week. As an example, one network may offer cheaper daytime calls, so you would use a Sim card from this network during the day. Another network may offer cheaper evening and weekend calls, so you would use a Sim card from this network during the evenings and at weekends.
• Avoid Roaming Charges - As you will know, your network service provider imposes 'Roaming Charges' when you use your Nokia phone in another country. These roaming charges can be quite high, specifically when you consider that you can be charged when someone calls you! However, if your Nokia phone is unlocked, you can avoid these roaming charges by purchasing and using a prepaid Sim card from the country you are visiting (this obviously only applies if your Nokia phone is capable of operating on the network frequencies used in the country you are visiting. We will be discussing this in another post at a later date). The obvious benefit here is that you will no longer be charged when people call you, and in certain circumstances outbound calls will be cheaper too!
• Re-sale Value - Although there is no guarantee, Nokia phones that have been unlocked can have a greater re-sale value than phones which are still locked to one specific network. The obvious attraction to a potential buyer is that they will be buying a phone for which they will not have to spend more money getting unlocked!

Some people will have their phone unlocked 'just in case'. You may be completely happy with your network service provider at the moment, but with your Nokia phone unlocked, you will always know that you have the option to change networks and keep your existing Nokia phone should you wish to do so!

Secret Nokia Codes

Did you know that there are certain 'Secret Codes' you can use to access hidden features and information on your Nokia mobile phone? Most people are oblivious to the existence of these secret codes because they do not appear in the user guide or phone manual (hence the 'secret' part), yet some of these secret codes can be very useful indeed.

I have a section on my site dedicated to these 'Secret Codes' - it can be accessed at http://www.unlocks.co.uk/secret-codes.php where you will find a list of Nokia phones that have been, or are currently available. Selecting any of these Nokia phones will take you to a page on which the secret codes for that specific phone will be displayed.

Please exercise caution if you decide to use any of the secret codes displayed on my site - these secret codes have not been tested, I cannot guarantee their validity or correctness and therefore cannot accept responsibility for any inconvenience, loss, damage or harm caused to you or your phone as a result of using the secret codes displayed on my site.