Whirlpool

G'day Guys

Is there a way to unlock the virgin BB HUAWEI E220 usb modem.

Please advise.

There's a mob on eBay (UK) doing it for GBP 26 ($53). Not at all sure it will work for VB. At that price I'd be thinking twice about the risk of bricking your device and the total recovery cost.

Have you asked VB? I think they will unlock phones for a price.

well nobody picks up the phone from virgin customer care.

Bashar writes...

well nobody picks up the phone from virgin customer care.

It takes a little patience or a lot of luck. It seems 0700 Hrs is the go.

Bashar writes...

Is there a way to unlock the virgin BB HUAWEI E220 usb modem.

Not at this stage. We are waiting on a process from the manufacturer, and should have one in the next couple of weeks.

Robert Tihanyi writes...

Not at this stage. We are waiting on a process from the manufacturer, and should have one in the next couple of weeks.

Is it free to unlock?

http://www.dc-unlocker.com/

Costs 15 Euros (About $25)

tdp15 writes...

Is it free to unlock?

Should be free.

Nautilus writes...

Is it free to unlock?

Should be free.

Isnt this device supplied free under the contract?

That being the case why would they unlock it until the contract was finished?

Then it should be free

drl writes...

That being the case why would they unlock it until the contract was finished?

3 do – for free.

By Law, Virgin should provide us to unlock this modem as we are paying for it.
Robert Tihanyi, please update us when Virgin is offering this.

Any update on this????

Robert, do you have an update for an unlock on the E220 and E169 from Virgin? It seems that 3 offers unlocking for free, so there is a process available from the manufacturer. Users paying for the modem through the monthly price shouldn't be charged to unlock it.

I'm interested in an answer because I want wireless broadband in Australia and am also traveling to Europe in August (/forum-replies.cfm?t=1021428) and need an unlocked dongle for use on a pre-paid network whilst overseas.

fergo writes...

Robert, do you have an update for an unlock on the E220 and E169 from Virgin? It seems that 3 offers unlocking for free, so there is a process available from the manufacturer. Users paying for the modem through the monthly price shouldn't be charged to unlock it.

Yes we will unlock the modems for free, as you are purchasing it outright and the full cost of it is contained in your contract.

We are awaiting an unlock mechanism from Huawei, and will provide an update once we have one.

Robert Tihanyi writes...

We are awaiting an unlock mechanism from Huawei, and will provide an update once we have one.

Is it ready to unlock?

and we want one for E169 as well.

Another month down the track, has there been any progress? Other companies have had unlock procedures for a long while now.

I have emailed robert asking him to reply on this post with a positive update.
I have been waiting for that for almost 3 months now.

no news???

rec'd email from virgin today saying that an unlock process is in the works, should be ready in a few weeks.

Its not that hard -a 7k app and a pin number which is hashed off the IMEI.
It can only be incompetence why Virgin didnt have this ready to go 10 min after selling the first one

tdp15 writes...

rec'd email from virgin today saying that an unlock process is in the works, should be ready in a few weeks.

Can you reply to that email and tell that we have been promised that on 6June by Robert and thats 3 month wait so far.
/forum-replies.cfm?t=989013#r5

Have just downloaded the dc-unlocker app from http://www.dc-unlocker.com/
which lets u check to see if your modem is able to be unlocked (lots of different Huawei models )and it tells me that mine (Huawei E169) is NOT locked.Has anyone else tried this?

Kandos writes...

Have just downloaded the dc-unlocker app from http://www.dc-unlocker.com/

which lets u check to see if your modem is able to be unlocked (lots of different Huawei models )and it tells me that mine (Huawei E169) is NOT locked.Has anyone else tried this?

Says unlocked too, but I highly doubt that. if they werent locked Robert would have said so ages ago.

Plus since we are paying for these (outright purchase) Virgin should provide the unlock software free of charge. so am still waiting on Robert for an update.

Kandos writes...

is NOT locked.

Why don't you try another SIM? Grab something like a Vodafone or Telstra USIM out of someone's phone (make sure it is data enabled) and test it.

Kandos writes...

Have just downloaded the dc-unlocker app from http://www.dc-unlocker.com/
which lets u check to see if your modem is able to be unlocked (lots of different Huawei models )and it tells me that mine (Huawei E169) is NOT locked.Has anyone else tried this?

same here.
purchased credits to unlock but couldn't press the unlock button

edit: this is a vbb modem I swapped with my optus E169

any updates on unlocking E220 and E169?

I messaged robert about this and he asked the imei and account details and said he would reply to my email with the software required and instructions. having not received the email i messaged him again he claimes he sent it and will send again, still no email so still awaiting an outcome on this.

have you tried to call up Virgin Broadband to tell you how to unlock the modem maybe you should try to call them up since its not a long wait to unlock it ok

any update?

Like i said virgin should be able to virgin broadband can unlock them for you all you have to do is can them up so call them up :D

have any of you actually tried to get them to unlock it on the phone? I did that 2 weeks ago got transferred to 3 different departments and on hold each transfer, some said it can be some said it cant when i finally got hold of someone who seem to be the right department she assured me it cannot be unlocked no matter how much i argued or requested to speak to someone else.

that was 1 hour 20 mins of my life wasted.

Robert says it requires software to unlock it and also said he emailed me today but i have not received (and tried different address) seems his mail server doesnt want to deliver his email to me.

I can email you the three copy of the software (which is quite chinese-like so I assume its generic huawei. This is for the E220.
You will need the unlock code which is generated by the telco off the IMEI

Note this file is a .exe and Optus mail servers (and other ISP's i guess) will just delete messages containing a .exe as a "virus filter"

Bashar writes...

any update?

We have an unlock process for both the E220 and the newer E169. Both require a call or email in to our contact centre, and you will need your full IMEI code.

If you purchased your modem as a prepaid bundle, we will require that you have topped up with at least $80 of credit since purchase before we will unlock the modem.

Is there an unlock process for the original GlobeSurfer iCON 7.2

ok so ive emailed virgin asking for the unlock code
has anyone got it and successfully done it yet?

Edited: I have emailed them on 9/10, and got my unlock code on 10/10. Thats a reply within 24 hours.

MY experience with Virgin email support is still great. Highly recommended over calling them, as their email support team seems to be local and not overseas.