How to unlock your GSM Treo 650

Pissed that palmOne "fixed" the "pricing error" on the unlocked GSM version of the Treo 650? Nobody is happy that they boosted the price from of an unlocked Treo 650 from $599 to $699 just a couple of days after it went on sale last week, but if you have T-Mobile and don't mind your phone sporting a Cingular logo, more than a few people have written in (and posted in our comments) with the news that you can unlock the GSM version of the Treo 650 by entering the sequence *#*#1234# and then pressing the center D-pad button. Haven't tried this ourselves yet, so if you completely screw up your Treo 650 we can't help you, ok?

UPDATE: Might not actually work as well as well as we'd hoped, but like we said, we haven't tried this ourselves yet.

[doe @ Dec 19th 2005 12:10AM]

This procedure works but not remove any firmware-based Cingular-specific entries that will re-appear after a hard reset...things like entries for Cingular Accesories and Cingular Customer service that appear in the contacts list, the cingular splash screen at startup - which can be removed temporarily. Remove these and they re-appear after a hard reset. No biggy though. Works.

[Nathan Auslander @ Dec 19th 2005 12:10AM]

How did they EVER figure that one out? So soon, also!

[ipacmm @ Dec 19th 2005 12:10AM]

Cool, It also works on the Treo 600.

[autoversicherung @ Dec 19th 2005 12:10AM]

Is this practice legal in the EU/US? Doesnt that violate the DMCA?

[Charles @ Dec 19th 2005 12:10AM]

I recently moved from NY to Australia, and brought a tri-band phone with me. Unfortunately it was locked to the origional service provider and unusable with services here. Fortunately, for the price of $50 I had it unlocked at the mobile phone repair shop in the local mall. Is there nothing like this available in the States.

We still have all the orgional providers logos, etc, but it works.

[Nathan Auslander @ Dec 19th 2005 12:10AM]

How did they EVER figure that one out? So soon, also!

[The Truth @ Dec 19th 2005 12:10AM]

Miguel is right about this code. Its a password unlock code for the SIM card in case you accidentally punch in the wrong security password more than 3 times. This is not a subsidy unlock code for use with other carriers. And yes they do have places in the US that will "unlock" your phone at a price, but since the GSM treo 650 is so new you will be hard pressed to find one that can unlock that device right now.

[zack @ Dec 19th 2005 12:10AM]

or, if you want to unlock your phone (as i've done numerous times) call your provider, in my case tmobile, and tell them you are travelling overseas. you will need to be using a sim card from that country, so you want your phone unlocked. i've never had any problem yet.

[Aileen @ Dec 19th 2005 12:10AM]

Zack, I tried that once with AT&T. They refused to unlock my mpx200. instead, they wanted to charge me international roaming fees.

[smokeonit @ Dec 19th 2005 12:10AM]

go to a dominican owned cell repair shop, they will gladly unlock ANY phone you bring them... treo or not... this is a huge industry, buying cheap subsidized US phones for the Latin market. why not take advantage of that for us US costumers.

[RamMer @ Dec 19th 2005 12:10AM]

New to all this technology, so you'll forgive me if this seems like a stupid question, but how long do you think it will take to crack the unlock codes?

[RamMer @ Dec 19th 2005 12:10AM]

New to all this technology, so you'll forgive me if this seems like a stupid question, but how long do you think it will take to crack the unlock codes?

[Masboy @ Dec 19th 2005 12:10AM]

I'm about to sign up w/ Cingular for Treo 650, since this Treo is for my dad who travel quite a lot, do you think Cingular would unlock this phone for him ? or Cingular will try to be an ass ?

[Mike Kutchins @ Dec 19th 2005 12:10AM]

Cingular readily admits unlocking is not against the law, but, in my experience, will not unlock its phones. I just got a 650 this week and am waiting for a link to unlock it as I have done with other phones I've had.

[Craig Ashley Russell @ Dec 19th 2005 12:10AM]

Mike, did you get that link, yet?

[john vostenak @ Dec 19th 2005 12:10AM]

Cingular actually gave me unlock code for my Treo 650, and it all worked, and my phone is unlocked now, ... but a week ago they told me "no way " ... so I did tell them this time that I am traveling to a remote area of Czech Republic with no Cingular service in place there, verified, and it worked !!! Good Luck to you all with Cingular Treo 650 .... :-)

[Mike Kutchins @ Dec 19th 2005 12:10AM]

I Googled unlock Treo 650.

[Mike Kutchins @ Dec 19th 2005 12:10AM]

Further to my above comment: As mentioned by another poster, Once the Treo 650 is on the market for a time, its unlocking will become more available. Besides Google, I watch eBay.

[Jim @ Dec 19th 2005 12:10AM]

Today on Ebay one seller is selling a service to unlock the 650. First I have seen on Ebay...real or not?

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=43312&item=5756880911&rd=1&ssPageName=WDVW

[jon connor @ Dec 19th 2005 12:10AM]

so with all the talk here and the guys having unlocked the treo 650's .. please share the real secret for those of us are not up on all this stuff . I have 2 units coming that are Cingular .. i need them to work .. how do i do it . did the code with up , up , down , down work ???? or is it somethign else ??
HELP

[TAstRAM @ Dec 19th 2005 12:10AM]

same here i am also getting cingular locked treo 650, was wonderin how i can actualy unlock them.

[Antonio @ Dec 19th 2005 12:10AM]

i'm from dominican republic and here we use Orange service and i have a cingular treo 650 and i need the code or whatever you guys use to unblocked pls thanks.

[Mike Kutchins @ Dec 19th 2005 12:10AM]

eBay seems to be the best place to look for now. One of their posters even lists a number of cautions of which to be aware; but there is an increasing number of sellers who claim they will unlock the phone to use with other carriers. I guess Let The Buyer Beware remains key.

[dahsuky @ Dec 19th 2005 12:10AM]

Hi all,
I got the Treo 6560 unlock code from Cingular. Would anyone show me how to unlock the phone. I replaced the Cingular SIM card with the T-Mobile SIM card but the phone did not ask for the unlock code. It just put out an error message and went right to the emergency mode.
Thanks in advance.

[doron nissimi @ Dec 19th 2005 12:10AM]

The up,up,down,down coment is actually referring to an old trick for obtaining 30 lives in a early 90's Nintendo game by Konami (I think it was called Commando???)
The actual sequence is:
up,up,down,down,left,right,left,right,b,a,start
... and not the one above :)

[JLF @ Dec 19th 2005 12:10AM]

The Game is Konami`s Contra jejejeje :)

[Jim @ Dec 19th 2005 12:10AM]

I just got off the phone with a Cingular CSR, claiming to be travelling to europe where there is no cingular partner (which is true). They said that providing an unlock code is no problem - UNLESS you're under contract, in which case you need to be at least 90 days into your contract. I've only been on the contract for a week, so no dice for me. I did, however, politely ask to speak to the manager, so they promised to call me back within 24 hours to talk to me. I'll post something if I can fanagle something. If not - then the 90 days seems to be the rule.

[Kevin Burton @ Dec 19th 2005 12:10AM]

This totally works btw:

Here's a pic from my Treo just before my Thailand trip. I want to buy a new SIM for a prepaid phone while I'm over there...

http://www.flickr.com/photos/35468147429@N01/9814287/

[Ali R @ Dec 19th 2005 12:10AM]

Here is a place that claims to unlock your Treo 650 for $40.00
http://www.gsmphonesource.com/products/customer/product.php?productid=530&cat=4

Sorry to spoil your business Rick but you have to be competitive even on the side ;-)

[Peter Mandaville @ Dec 19th 2005 12:10AM]

Was just in a Cingular store and asked about unlocking the 650. Rep claimed that Cingular would not do this and that I would have to contact PalmOne for the unlock code. Seemed to make no sense whatsoever since presumably the subsidy lock is there at Cingular's behest?!

[Rao @ Dec 19th 2005 12:10AM]

Hey Guys

I guess its good news to all of u. I have tried the above idea and my phone has gave me a message " The unlock from the phone sim has been removed " that means i think it worked anyway i will try it with someother service and keep posted.

Rao

[Gustavo machado @ Dec 19th 2005 12:10AM]

to unlock your 650 you must do the following:
*#*# put your last 8 serial numbers # or the first 8 or the first 4 and last 4.
Good luck dot get ripped off by paying 60 bucks to those snakes

[Melanie @ Dec 19th 2005 12:10AM]

Gustavo - tried it and it doesn't work. Anyone else? This is getting ridiculous.

[Samia El-Moslimany @ Dec 19th 2005 12:10AM]

Gustavo,
So there are three ways to unlock?
*#*# last eight serial numbers #
*#*# first eight serial numbers #
*#*# first four and last four serial numbers #
Is this correct? I am getting ready to buy a cinular locked phone, and I need to use it with t-mobile and overseas. Thanks for the clarification!

[Huey @ Dec 19th 2005 12:10AM]

Can anyone confirm the last 8 SN or first & last 4 SN digits? I seriously DOUBT that will work. However if you are a Cingular subscriber you can get them to unlock it if you state you are giving the phone to a non Cingular user. (Traveling overseas they will try to get you to use their roaming networks. And they are required by law [unconfirmed] if you are switching providers to unlock the phone.)

[josh @ Dec 19th 2005 12:10AM]

talked to t-mobile customer service and they said if I gave them a cingular phone's IMEI # and the phone's barcode #, I think thats the other number under the IMEI #, that they would look up the unlock code for you.

[Mike @ Dec 19th 2005 12:10AM]

As far as unlocking the Treo 650 with Cingular service...I just called them up and explained that I have a Taiwan GSM SIM card that all my Taiwanese customer call me at. They understood the situation and told me a Cingular rep would call or e-mail me the unlock code in 5 to 10 business days. To my surprise, it was waiting for me the next business day. It was a *#*# 8 number digit # then press dial. Told me the SIM was unlocked and I am successfully switching between my Cingular SIM and my Chungwa SIM. No problems. And it DOES NOT have anything to do with some pseudo-random combination of your serial numbers. It IS based off the IMEI number.

[Bob @ Dec 19th 2005 12:10AM]

After you unlock it, does the Bluetooth dial-up networking work? I want to use my Treo 650 as a Bluetooth modem for my computer, but I'm told that only unlocked phones work. My Cingular GSM one is locked, and the dial up networking is disabled.

[Dan @ Dec 19th 2005 12:10AM]

After a one hour call to Cingular and three hand offs my phone is unlocked. There is a UNIQUE number that is based on your IMEI number to unlock. I assume that the unlock services have a way of looking them up somehow but based on the numbers Cingular gave me there is no rhyme or reason to them being tied to your IMEI or SN.

[flsim (Fernando Sim) @ Dec 19th 2005 12:10AM]

Read some people complaint about sloppiness of
GSM Phone Source in particular Mr. Adam Roth.
My dealing with Adam was pleasant and he patiently replied to my several inquiries on unlocking the Treo 650. My Treo was unlocked in
5 minutes following the instruction e-mail to
me.

[NF @ Dec 19th 2005 12:10AM]

If anyone knows how to get a reasonably priced Cingular Treo 650 subsidy unlock code, please let me know. Thank you very much for your info...

[nightboater @ Dec 19th 2005 12:10AM]

I just discovered upon returning to the US from a short stay in London that I couldnt international roam because I havent been with Cingular 6 months yet. I also discovered that the Virgin Mobil SIM's which are readily available in London's telecom shops (you add as much value as you like to these) wouldnt work on my Cingular branded locked Treo. Upon returning to the US, I resolved to fix these problems, eg, unlock my phone, if possible doing it myself and saving the $60 fee that my local telecom ace here in town normally charges. I called Cingular, was able to get them to give me the unlock code, and I didnt have to beg them or even tell them my IMEI number. Never having unlocked a single phone before, I was able to google and find the instructions after perusing just a few sites. I figured the 8 digit unlock code must get input somehow, and sites like this one showed the way. I used the *#*# 8 number digit # then press dial technique as desribed on this site- and presto! - it seemed to work !! So I tested my T650 by putting in a ATTWS SIM from my PPC, and verified the ATTWS SIM number shows up as calling from the Treo.

For me it quite easy...maybe it will be for you too. HTH

[Ankur @ Dec 19th 2005 12:10AM]

Even if you unlock the Treo 650 via either means - does cingular know which phone ur using - means do they bind ur plan with the phone . can i switch the phone later on to some other unlocked phone .

[Doug @ Dec 19th 2005 12:10AM]

After reading Mike's post, I tried it and it was a *#*#(last 8 of IMEI #) # then press dial.
Told me the SIM was unlocked. I don't know if it is truely unlocked. But I put in my old AT&T SIM card and tried to read it, and it failed.

[ben @ Dec 19th 2005 12:10AM]

I am a spammer: [e-mail]

[seb @ Dec 19th 2005 12:10AM]

hi there,

just talked to our carrier orange in switzerland: no way to unlock a treo 650 here :-( really looking forward to see a solution soon :-(

have contact 2 guys who do remote unlocking - they both are really strange - and expensive!

[FPeres @ Dec 19th 2005 12:10AM]

I'm from Brazil... anyone could help me i bought a TREO 650 UNLOCKED, but it doesn't work for me... anyone from Brazil to help me ?

[IAS @ Dec 19th 2005 12:10AM]

Folks, I've been reading these posts carefully for a while now, trying to figure out if anyone here has actually had success removing the SIM subsidy lock from their Treo 650. I did not have much luck with some of the guys who have "advertised" here, but I CAN tell you that I found a guy on eBay who got the job done for me for US$40. Very quick, professional and courteous. As many (but not all) of you have surmised, the unlock code is indeed derived from your IMEI code and will look like this:
*#*# [your unique 9-digit numerical unlock code] # and then press dial (BTW, there is no discernible relationship between your IMEI and the unlock code, despite rumors to the contrary on this site).
Done. It's that easy. I popped another provider's SIM card (account must be active and in good standing, of course) and his code worked right away.
So this guy's the real deal, and $40 seems reasonable, considering he'll send you your code by return e-mail within 24 hours - or less, in my case. His PayPal account is [e-mail] I'm glad to recommend someone who actually knows how to do this right. Good luck.

[Marc krokino @ Dec 19th 2005 12:10AM]

Just bought a treo 650, did not know that inside the box was a rogers sim card!!! meaning i had to subscribe (there was no mention from store or label that i was going to incounter this problem), Called store, didnt know what to say but drop over for refund! called Rogers, told me to look on net for codes! HAS ANYBOBY ACTUALLY GONE THROUGH THIS PROCEDURE? pleazzzze
p.s I am in montreal canada with Fido (owned now by rogers)

[Anne @ Dec 19th 2005 12:10AM]

Has anyone tried the Unlock 650 GSM server? I saw a demo here
http://www.fasttutorial.com/treo650