How-to unlock your EDGE-enabled Sony Vaio VGN-T350

So what's the worst part about the first cellular data-enabled laptop in the US, the Sony Vaio VGN-T350? Well, the fact that it's locked to Cingular of course. And it's certainly not like a phone where you might be able to get Cingular to unlock it so you can "travel overseas" or whatever. No, you're pretty much stuck with a Cingular-locked T350 that won't run on T-Mobile's new EDGE network… unless you follow Engadget reader Sean L.'s instructions for unlocking your lappie. Please note this is not an Engadget sanctioned hack, so if you mess up your machine or convince Sony to raid your house, it's pretty much your own damn fault. Sean sez:

I was able to unlock my Vaio T350 and hooked up to T-Mobile's wireless data service:

Here are the complete Instructions:

1. **Very IMPORTANT** Before starting anything, make sure you have the ORIGINAL Cingular SIM inserted in your laptop. It will NOT unlock if you have your T-Mobile SIM inside during the unlocking phase.

2. Enable your wireless WAN. In Cingular�s Connection Manager, under network info, record the IMEI #.

3. Open Hyper Terminal (click on Start, All Programs, Accessories, Communications, Hyper Terminal)

4. Connect to COM4

5. Type AT and check if you get an OK echo.

7. If you do, call Sony�s customer service and request to speak with level 2 support

8. Make sure you tell them you want to unlock your laptop�s built-in EDGE modem and you need the NCQU number. (This is an eight digit number.)

9. Type �AT+CLCK=PN,0,xxxxxxxx� (no quotes) in Hyper Terminal, where the XXXXXXXX is your NCQU number and check if you get an OK echo from the terminal. Try it several times, if you don�t get an instant OK, but do not hang up. If it doesn�t work, check the IMEI and the NCQU with the CSR once again.

10. Close and Shut down Computer. Take out the Cingular SIM. Insert the T-Mobile SIM.

11. Open SMARTWI and open up the Cingular Connection Manager.

12. Click on �Profile,�  Then look for the �ADD� button at the bottom of the window. Click on �Create Custom Profile�.

13. Fill these in:
    Service Type: packet or cicuit
    Dialed: *99***1# ( leave it like that )
    Acess Point Name: (internet2.voicestream.com)
    Username: (LEAVE BLANK)
    Password: (LEAVE BLANK)

14. Click next. On IP Settings leave everything on Automatic. Click Next again.

15. In the �Profile Name� slot, Type in T-Mobile or whatever you want. Then Click �Finish�

16. You�re all set to Connect to T-Mobile Internet and avoid the frickin Cingular monthly $79.99 Ripoff to connect.

17. Hopes this clears things up. Enjoy!

[Josh @ Dec 19th 2005 12:55AM]

FYI:Your indents are screwed up for all posts below this!

[Kris @ Dec 19th 2005 12:55AM]

Why would they even give you this number. I assume they don't want people to unlock the damn thing... I really don't get it.

[BD @ Dec 19th 2005 12:55AM]

Stupid Sony and their Cingular relations. Grrr.

[Mike @ Dec 19th 2005 12:55AM]

Is this a setting based in the OS? Would a reformat undo this?

[Bo @ Dec 19th 2005 12:55AM]

I initially thought this article was a brute force/back-end method...This information is not a hack. Its just a method to enter the sim unlock code from Sony customer support. This is dependent on if the Customer Support personnel even know how to get the unlock code.

[cecil @ Dec 19th 2005 12:55AM]

His instructions reference connecting to the device via a terninal and feeding AT commands to it, re-installing the OS ain't gonna do squat. If there is a factory-reset button on the mini-pci card itself, maybe, although that would assume a seperate chip on the board that stores the factory software/settings as backup which represents extra cost - which means it don't go down that way either.

[Yoda @ Dec 19th 2005 12:55AM]

This is exactly what has been reported by myself and others on the other T350 Engadget thread and on Howard Forums.

Plus, its not really a hack, as these instructions (minus the part about the Cingular software) are drawn nearly verbatim from the Sony FAQ about..unlocking your laptop's EDGE card.

Kris: Sony will just give you the unlock on demand, no questions asked.

At least this is getting out in the open. I'm sure a good many people still think you can't unlock the T350.

[skype_fan @ Dec 19th 2005 12:55AM]

How about getting another EDGE PC Card and use this one instead ? Anyway why are you making a big fuss about EDGE when nowadays they throw the UMTS PC Cards after you like hell ???

[Humberto @ Dec 19th 2005 12:55AM]

UMTS cards, let alone networks are non-existent in the U.S. Getting another card takes up the card slot, when you can take the time to do this and save money.

[Eli @ Dec 19th 2005 12:55AM]

Why would you want to do this anyway? Only two networks do Edge - Cingular and T-Mobile. And T-Mobile has such bad coverage it's not even worth mentioning.

[Jordan @ Dec 19th 2005 12:55AM]

If you are already a Cingular voice customer with an unlimited data plan, could you just pop that SIM in instead so you would only have to pay $19.99 (plus voice plan)instead of the $79.99 data connect?

[Paul @ Dec 19th 2005 12:55AM]

Presumably you could, if you added another profile and put in the right settings (phone number *99#, username [e-mail] - all caps - and password CINGULAR1 - also all caps)

[nick @ Dec 19th 2005 12:55AM]

Humberto:http://www.mobiletracker.net/archives/2005/10/18/cingular-hsdpa and http://www.howardforums.com/showthread.php?t=748461&page=1&pp=15
UMTS is available.

Jordan: yes, any MEdia Net package will work, you just may need to change some settings. And the stores/customer service will only sell the devices with the "correct" plans. But if you just buy an EDGE card (ebay or full retail) and call in to have the $19.99 MEdiaNet package added to your "phone", it'll work fine.

Also, if you're adding an EDGE card to a voice account, it's only $59.99 for unlimited data.

[SEAN L. @ Dec 19th 2005 12:55AM]

Sony will give you the UNLOCK CODE on demand. You can call Sony at: 1-888-476-6972. They ARE AUTHORIZED to Unlock the Viao (ASk for Level Two support and Tell them that you want to Unlock your T350).

They will let you unlock it but, they won't show you how to connect with your T-Mobile SIM.

These instructions are there to allow you to connect to T-mobile's GPRS network if you have their SIM and are signed up with one of their Internet plans: (i.e., $29.99 a month Unlimited Plan). On concerns about T-Mobile EDGE, from my last conversations with them, they haven't rolled it out as yet.

[SEAN L. @ Dec 19th 2005 12:55AM]

Correction 1: concerning NO EDGE for T-Mobile, the T-Mobile Rep didn't know what she was talking about.....LOOKS LIKE EDGE IS AVAILIABLE! AT LEAST IN MY AREA.

CORRECTION 2: STEP 12 on the Instructions, for SERVICE TYPE......make sure to pick "PACKET" instead of "CIRCUIT"

Thanks.

[Justin @ Dec 19th 2005 12:55AM]

Can you not just unlock this? I travel all over the world and buy local SIM cards as needed. It works for my Motorola Razr, without any further settings needed. Or do I have to enter the new cell plan info each time? The capability to switch SIM cards will be the deal breaker, as I will not buy one without this.

[SEAN L. @ Dec 19th 2005 12:55AM]

Justin: Yes, you Can just unlock it. Once you unlock it, the vaio will take any SIM, doesn't have to be T-Mobile.

BUT Note: When doing the unlocking phase, you will need original Cingular SIM that came with it--inserted in the SIM lock. Once unlocked you can use any SIM.

[DavidPaul @ Dec 19th 2005 12:55AM]

OK. I'm new to all of this. My wife and I are going to switch over to Cingular soon. I'm trying ti fiture out how to get unlimited data transfer on our lapop via the Cingular EDGE network for as cheaply as possible. From reading these posts, it seems that it's possible to buy any SIM Card (which I don't even know what a SIM card is), unlock it using the proceedures described above, and then sign up for a Media Net package for $19.95 and then my laptop can connect for unlimited data for this price? is this correct? Is there anything else I need to know about to make this work? How do I buy a SIM for my laptop? Thank you.

[DavidPaul @ Dec 19th 2005 12:55AM]

One last thing... can I add one of these SIM cards to any laptop? So I don't have to go out and buy this one particular Vaio to do this?

[SEAN L. @ Dec 19th 2005 12:55AM]

DavePaul:

This post is only for a particular laptop: the EDGE-enabled SONY VAIO VGN-T350. It could also apply to the new TX series such as VGN-TX610P/B series notebooks coming out in the next two weeks or so. Check out http://sonystyle.com

According to T-Mobile :A defintion of a SIM card is "Subscriber Identity Modules. Also known as a smart card. This chip resides in GSM handsets and identifies the caller to the mobile network as a legitimate subscriber. The module stores a mathematical algorithm that encrypts voice and data transmissions, making it nearly impossible to listen to the call or intercept data. You can transfer you SIM from phone to phone, retaining your phonebook and personalized service information"

Concerning any SIM. Once you unlock it, you aren't limited to just Cingular anymore.

BUT to utilize EDGE or GPRS....You would have to have an INTERNET plan with a particular Cell phone company that utitizes a GSM network....In the U.S. that would be either Cingular (currently $59.99 month for Unlimited usage) or the cheaper T-Mobile ($29.99 a Month Unlimited) and they Both run on the fast EDGE network. You would need to sign up with one of them to get the SIM. Or if you plan to go with Cingular, the Cingular SIM CARD is already included.

Outside of the U.S. you can use another SIM Card with another company that has an INTERNET Plan. A SIM is useless if you aren't signed up with a Mobile phone company.

[SEAN L. @ Dec 19th 2005 12:55AM]

DavePaul:

This post is only for a particular laptop: the EDGE-enabled SONY VAIO VGN-T350. It could also apply to the new TX series such as VGN-TX610P/B series notebooks coming out in the next two weeks or so. Check out http://sonystyle.com

According to T-Mobile :A defintion of a SIM card is "Subscriber Identity Modules. Also known as a smart card. This chip resides in GSM handsets and identifies the caller to the mobile network as a legitimate subscriber. The module stores a mathematical algorithm that encrypts voice and data transmissions, making it nearly impossible to listen to the call or intercept data. You can transfer you SIM from phone to phone, retaining your phonebook and personalized service information"

Concerning any SIM. Once you unlock it, you aren't limited to just Cingular anymore.

BUT to utilize EDGE or GPRS....You would have to have an INTERNET plan with a particular Cell phone company that utitizes a GSM network....In the U.S. that would be either Cingular (currently $59.99 month for Unlimited usage) or the cheaper T-Mobile ($29.99 a Month Unlimited) and they Both run on the fast EDGE network. You would need to sign up with one of them to get the SIM. Or if you plan to go with Cingular, the Cingular SIM CARD is already included.

Outside of the U.S. you can use another SIM Card with another company that has an INTERNET Plan. A SIM is useless if you aren't signed up with a Mobile phone company.

[Steven @ Dec 19th 2005 12:55AM]

I have a Treo 650 w/voice & data (unlimited data for $40),I took the SIM out & put in my T350,worked like a charm,no need to modify any settings.

[SEAN L. @ Dec 19th 2005 12:55AM]

Correction: Once you UNLOCK the SONY LAPTOP you aren't limited to Cingular.

[DavidPaul @ Dec 19th 2005 12:55AM]

Thanks everyone for the clarificaiton. I appreciate it

[Per Ulrich Kristiansen @ Dec 19th 2005 12:55AM]

I am using Sony Vaio VGN-T350 with Norwegian Telenor. The speed is 30 kbps on download and 16 kbps on upload. I have tested also using Sony Ericsson GC85 EDGE with same SIM and getting 214 kbps. Telenor support said that the RWIN value should be 8760. I have also tested with other RWIN values, but it�s always the same 30/16 kbps speed available. The VAIO internal EDGE modem is useless if I cant get a better speed. Any suggestions?

[Per Ulrich Kristiansen @ Dec 19th 2005 12:55AM]

I am using Sony Vaio VGN-T350 with Norwegian Telenor. The speed is 30 kbps on download and 16 kbps on upload. I have tested also using Sony Ericsson GC85 EDGE with same SIM and getting 214 kbps. Telenor support said that the RWIN value should be 8760. I have also tested with other RWIN values, but it�s always the same 30/16 kbps speed available. The VAIO internal EDGE modem is useless if I cant get a better speed. Any suggestions?

[Sharp @ Dec 19th 2005 12:55AM]

What if Sony's customer service won't give you the NCQU number?

[zii @ Dec 30th 2005 1:20PM]

Does anyone know which GSM speeds the Cingler card (EDGE) transmits on? The Cingeler network runs on 850mhz, Sony sales don't really know or care / are indifferent "are you going to buy it or not? Not sure, then - OK get lost", and I cannot find any articales on the web about the frequencies. I would liek to know this so that I can use the TX's phone when travelling outside the US in countries that use other frequencies (900/1800/1900), and other carriers within the US that use 850Mhz.



Has anyone got these specifications? Thanks, Z

[zii @ Dec 30th 2005 2:14PM]

With ref to the are indifferent "are you going to buy it or not? Not sure, then - OK get lost" comment: I have finally just spoken with someone at Sony who spent 45 mins on the phone with me trying to get the info. They think that it is tri-band (being 850/900/1800 in this case).