o2 pay-as-you-go phones - unlocked or not?

dantyler · 10-08-2007, 06:42

Can anyone tell me, in general, if o2 pay-as-you-go phones are unlocked? I've read in a few places that the majority of their contract phones are, but couldn't find anything re their pay-as-you-go handsets.

Comparing the prices of the same sim-free models to the equivalent pay-as-you-go o2 models, its considerably cheaper to go down the o2 route if they're unlocked.

Cheers

Fred Smith · 10-08-2007, 07:25

PAYG locked.

Sæglópur · 10-08-2007, 08:03

They are locked. Pay Monthly are unlocked (all of them - as far as I know)

prking · 10-08-2007, 08:51

Not all the O2 pay monthly phones are unlocked. I've had two that were locked.

BritishBeef2015 · 10-08-2007, 10:16

Loads said to me that pay as you go O2 mobiles were not locked but i got mine and it was locked, i have it unlocked now though, so can use any sim in it

10-08-2007, 10:44

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dave2010

Loads said to me that pay as you go O2 mobiles were not locked but i got mine and it was locked, i have it unlocked now though, so can use any sim in it

If you buy a PAYG phone on any network in Carphone Warehouse its unlocked as they use unlocked stock. My gf is on t-mobile but she bought a Nokia 7373 on O2 from there as it was cheapest at the time and just stuck her T-Mobile SIM in it.

I always get SIM Free phones now cos I just cant stand network branding it makes the phone look so crap.

Finglonga · 10-08-2007, 20:11

All my O2 pay monthly phones have been locked.

dantyler · 13-08-2007, 11:51

I bought a Sony Ericsson K800i Silver (pay as you go) from the o2 shop in Plymouth on Friday and it was definately unlocked as my Orange contract sim worked fine in it. I took it back as I didnt really like the phone so then got an LG Shine from Phones4U on o2 pay as you go and this was also unlocked. I've just taken this back today as I didnt like either but thats another story!

So on both of my experiences pay-as-you-go o2 phones were not supplied locked.

bluechang · 13-08-2007, 12:17

it really depends where you buy your handset from. if you were to buy from the 02 shop, the handset will come in an O2 branded box - these are locked to O2. If you were to buy the handset from CarPhoneWarehouse, 95% of the handsets sold are networked unlocked (handset boxes are not network branded) Using that, you can usually get the handset cheaper just by buying on a different network, using the credit you're forced to buy and then use the handset on the network you want. Just double check with the sales person that it is sim free before buying.

10-08-2007, 06:42	#1
dantyler Forum Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Exeter Posts: 46	o2 pay-as-you-go phones - unlocked or not? Can anyone tell me, in general, if o2 pay-as-you-go phones are unlocked? I've read in a few places that the majority of their contract phones are, but couldn't find anything re their pay-as-you-go handsets. Comparing the prices of the same sim-free models to the equivalent pay-as-you-go o2 models, its considerably cheaper to go down the o2 route if they're unlocked. Cheers

10-08-2007, 07:25	#2
Fred Smith Forum Member Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Reading Posts: 2,758	PAYG locked.

10-08-2007, 08:03	#3
Sæglópur Forum Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Posts: 82	They are locked. Pay Monthly are unlocked (all of them - as far as I know)

10-08-2007, 08:51	#4
prking Forum Member Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Weston-super-Mare Posts: 9,167	Not all the O2 pay monthly phones are unlocked. I've had two that were locked.

10-08-2007, 10:16	#5
BritishBeef2015 Forum Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: Manchester Posts: 1,623	Loads said to me that pay as you go O2 mobiles were not locked but i got mine and it was locked, i have it unlocked now though, so can use any sim in it

10-08-2007, 10:44	#6
RYPW Posts: n/a	Quote: Originally Posted by Dave2010 Loads said to me that pay as you go O2 mobiles were not locked but i got mine and it was locked, i have it unlocked now though, so can use any sim in it If you buy a PAYG phone on any network in Carphone Warehouse its unlocked as they use unlocked stock. My gf is on t-mobile but she bought a Nokia 7373 on O2 from there as it was cheapest at the time and just stuck her T-Mobile SIM in it. I always get SIM Free phones now cos I just cant stand network branding it makes the phone look so crap.

10-08-2007, 20:11	#7
Finglonga Forum Member Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Stafford. Posts: 4,706	All my O2 pay monthly phones have been locked.

13-08-2007, 11:51	#8
dantyler Forum Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Exeter Posts: 46	I bought a Sony Ericsson K800i Silver (pay as you go) from the o2 shop in Plymouth on Friday and it was definately unlocked as my Orange contract sim worked fine in it. I took it back as I didnt really like the phone so then got an LG Shine from Phones4U on o2 pay as you go and this was also unlocked. I've just taken this back today as I didnt like either but thats another story! So on both of my experiences pay-as-you-go o2 phones were not supplied locked.

13-08-2007, 12:17	#9
bluechang Forum Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Posts: 2,836	it really depends where you buy your handset from. if you were to buy from the 02 shop, the handset will come in an O2 branded box - these are locked to O2. If you were to buy the handset from CarPhoneWarehouse, 95% of the handsets sold are networked unlocked (handset boxes are not network branded) Using that, you can usually get the handset cheaper just by buying on a different network, using the credit you're forced to buy and then use the handset on the network you want. Just double check with the sales person that it is sim free before buying.

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o2 pay-as-you-go phones - unlocked or not?