[pscottorn]

Hi all.

This is my first post here following a bit of research and I hope you can help me. My wife was given a Blackberry 8820 as a leaving present when we left Dubai recently. Unfortunately we are now in the UK and the device is locked to Etisalat and also brings their logo up on the screen and they have refused to provide me with an unlock code.

Is there software available that will allow me to wipe the device and then install new firmware that is not locked to a carrier? I use an Apple Mac rather than a PC which may complicate things! The device is currently in brand new boxed condition - am I endangering the device by going down this route and is it likely to be successful? I am aware that I can purchase an unlock code online, but thought this may be abetter option as it would also remove the on-screen Etisalat branding and any other possible limitations they have imposed.

All advice/guidance is much appreciated.

[Sith_Apprentice]

Wirelessly posted (BlackBerry 9000 4.6.0.67)

Check the link in my sig to unlock the device. The carrier logo won't ever go away but doesn't impact anything. Your device will work just fine on a new carrier. Make sure if you had a BIS plan with your old carrier that you cancelled it so you could use the BIS plan with your new carrier.

[pscottorn]

Sith_Apprentice thanks for your response, although it doesn't really answer any of the questions I was asking.

I'm rather sceptical of paying approx. £25 for an unlock code that will take 2-3 weeks to possibly arrive, hence the original post.

Any other responses please folks?

[NJBlackBerry]

OK - since you want direct answers.. There is no software available (for PC or Mac) to unlock the phone. There is no way to load new software on to remove the carrier branding. The only way to unlock a phone is either through the original provider (who won't help you) so Sith's answer was correct.

All of the software is written by RIM, and then tested and released by the carrier. There are no carrier specific firmware upgrades. They just release them.

[pscottorn]

Thanks for the response NJ Blackberry.

I guess I was hoping in case the wipe and reinstall option was possible. I didn't mean to be rude to Sith_Apprentice, but his response seemed very much a sales pitch rather than a response to the questions I posed.

Thanks again.

[TeritaM]

if the carrier won't provide you with an unlock code you're going to have to pay for a service to do it. he was probably just recommending someone who he knew could/would do the job.