What is a imei lock

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SIM lock:

A SIM lock, network-lock, Carrier Lock, imei-lock or (MASTER) subsidy lock is actually a technical constraint built into GSM and CDMA cellphones by producers to be used by carrier networks to restrict the usage of these phones to a particular countries and/or networks. This is in comparison with a phone (retrospectively called SIM-free or unlocked) which doesn't impose any SIM constraints.The reason why lots of carriers SIM lock their phones is because they provide smartphones at a discount to consumers in return for for a contract to fund using the network for a chosen time period, normally between one to three years. This business model allows the company to recover the cost of the device across the lifetime of the agreement. These sort of reductions are worth anywhere up to a few hundred US dollars.


Unlocking Technology:

A phone can be unlocked by entering a code provided by the service operator. Alternative mechanisms include software operating on the handset or a computer or laptop attached to the handset, hardware devices that link to the handset or over-the-air by the carrier. More often than not the unlock procedure is permanent. The code needed to eliminate all locks from a cellphone is known as the master code, network code key, or multi-lock code. If the phone is network locked it will typically display one of these messages: SIM network PIN blocked, Enter lock PIN.


Economics:

Smartphone makers have commercial incentives both to bolster SIM lock protection (which placates service organisations and enables exclusivity discounts) and then to weaken it (expanding a mobile phone's overall appeal to customers that may not be interested in the provider that offers it). In addition, making it too tough to unlock a smartphone might make it much less appealing to mobile phone network service providers who've a legal obligation to provide unlock codes for certain devices or in selected countries.


Unlocking Services:

Several companies provide a remote unlocking service . This service needs those people that want to unlock a mobile phone to provide their IMEI number to a service supplier and often they will also ask for the country and network the mobile phone handset is locked to, frequently sent by email or submitted on their web site. The organization then will supply (in return for a fee) a unlock code for the mobile phone handset.


Unlocking Service Providers:

Disappointingly there are many of scammers online retailers working in the cell phone imei unlocking industry. Consequently it pays to be certain you use a reliable provider for these services. To assist with your search for a reputable supplier, we have supplied a checklist beneath (and in no particular order) of a few legitimate organisations currently offering such services.


Reputable Mobile Phone IMEI Unlocking Service Providers: