Cellphones, gsm, iphone, nokia, phone unlocking, simable, sony ericsson, unlock

SIMable May Be Easiest Way to Unlock 3G GSM Phones

A company called SIMable has produced a little chip that they call the "10-second solution" for unlocking carrier-tethered GSM handsets. The gimmick is that, instead of unlocking the phone itself—and risking invalidation of your warranty— the chip works on the SIM card, provided you punch a hole in the SIM.

Yes, I said "punch a hole." The SIMable card lies flat against the SIM, and you first have to perform the following surgical procedure. At least the hole-puncher comes free with the £16.99 chip:

For certain 3G phones including the 8GB Nokia N95, Nokia E51, Sony Ericsson W200 and others to maintain "full 3G functionality," you will have to make an addition cut to the card itself:It's not clear if SIMable is shipping to the US, though there's no reason to believe it wouldn't work here. There's also no mention of Apple's iPhone on the site, although the Inquirer mentions it in the first paragraph of their own writeup. Hopefully SIMable is just getting around to that, after testing on 70 or so other, more popular phones.

Update: Corrections were made to the post following some clarifying comments (thanks!). As far as this being a copy of other products, that may very well be the case, although SIMable maintains that it is not:

NOTE - SIMable is not linked in any way to other similar products and enables full 3G functionality. We include a free customised cutting press ruling out any messing around with scissors.

[SIMable via The Inquirer]

9:30 AM on Thu May 8 2008
By Wilson Rothman
12,622 views
23 comments

Comments

bms at 09:40 AM on 05/08/08
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Freedom!
Darrone at 09:46 AM on 05/08/08
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Connectedness Index: 90
Brought to you by Acura TSX

So can I then use said GSM phone on a CDMA or other network? or is this just unlocking within GSM? my head hurts.
phealy at 09:52 AM on 05/08/08
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Actually, giz, the hole in your SIM card has to be punched no matter what. The small hole you're talking about is a notch in the side of the SIMable itself and is only required for certain phones.
scoobydoo at 09:54 AM on 05/08/08
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So, it's exactly the same as a TurboSIM? The same one that has been unlocking iPhones for ages?
mumin at 09:56 AM on 05/08/08
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@scoobydoo:
no. this one comes with a hole puncher!
tinfoil at 10:01 AM on 05/08/08
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@Darrone:

Just across GSM networks. GSM & CDMA are both different technologies.
dragonphyre at 10:20 AM on 05/08/08
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These have been out forever!

dealextreme.com has had them for just about as long, and they are a ton cheaper than that.
brutek at 10:48 AM on 05/08/08
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@dragonphyre: [www.dealextreme.com]

Has anyone tried the i-SmartSim 2008 with an iPhone?
kc2idf at 11:02 AM on 05/08/08
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@Darrone: As Tinfoil mentioned, no CDMA. In order to make a GSM phone work on CDMA, you basically have to take the entire phone out, and replace it with a different one. They use a different modulation, different codec, and different mechanisms for sorting out the signals. You could no sooner turn a washer/dryer into a dishwasher.
phoomp at 11:11 AM on 05/08/08
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"70 or so other, more popular phones"

Are you *trying* to anger the cult of insufficient adulation?
MikeSWelch at 11:12 AM on 05/08/08
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I can use iPhonez on VerIzoN now?! Pleaz K Thx
jamar0303 at 11:16 AM on 05/08/08
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@brutek: I believe that the i-SmartSIM 2008 is for DoCoMo phones (of which I recommend the SO905iCS if you want a camera good enough to replace any point-and-shoot or the F905i if you need security and want an FM transmitter).

And skip the screwing around and get a dual-mode phone. Samsung and LG make them- CDMA 800(sometimes also 1900) + GSM900/1800/1900- that'll get you practically everywhere but Japan.
Monty at 11:29 AM on 05/08/08
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I am more interested in how this idea was discovered. Did someone just get so upset one day they took a hole punch to their SIM and then said 'Eureka'?
BenjiClayton at 11:36 AM on 05/08/08
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@jamar0303:

Does that mean that NttDoCoMo phones are compatible on US soil? or am i still dreaming.
Wiliam Hook at 11:46 AM on 05/08/08
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None of you have ever heard of ZiPhone?!
Gunadz at 12:48 PM on 05/08/08
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I've been using something like this to unlock my Softbank 920sh for a while now. :P
kickace at 01:59 PM on 05/08/08
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isn't there like 5 different other brands of this that have been out for months and months? maybe years?
Nickbee at 02:19 PM on 05/08/08
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Saw this in Mobile Mag this morning at work, very nice idea - ordered one, shall let you know what the results are.
peterfnet at 02:32 PM on 05/08/08
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I'm not going flame the few, but seriously. Google or wikipedia: GSM and CDMA
tkatz at 07:28 PM on 05/08/08
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Ummm, I don't mean to sound repetitive but, isn't this the same thing as AnySim, TurboSIM, StealthSim?

How is this news? These have been around since September when iPhone unlocking was in its infancy.

I actually think these have been around pre-iPhone unlocking era.

Can anyone vouch for me?
karmakid at 07:47 PM on 05/08/08
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@tkatz: i think theres an article posted up many moons ago, just a lil lazy here to search for it...
Pazuzu at 08:44 PM on 05/08/08
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STD Mode???
jamar0303 at 02:31 AM on 05/09/08
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@BenjiClayton: Yep. The newest 905i series is all compatible.