ATT mobile-unlock in INDIA-problem?

[gnjago]

Hi,

Please answer my doubt...

Assume that I buy a AT&T phone in US for a 2 year contract. Then I send that phone by post to my friend in india. In india is it possible to unlock the AT&T phone without paying any money to AT&T(like sim cancellation charge or contract cancellation charge)? (I heard that it is possible by removing and re-installing the firmware of the phone.... many do it in india). And after the unlocking, the user in india will use some other sim card like vodofane or airtel. However I will stay in US itself and the phone will be registered in my name. So, do i have to pay the monthly charges to AT&T, even though I am not using their sim card in INDIA? If yes, what happens if i dont pay the monthly charges?

Please Reply
Thanks

 

[pratikb]

Re: ATT mobile-unlocke in INDIA-problem?

you are taking phone on contract.

if you have ssn,you get it linked to that and your credit card status.

suppose you take it on contract with your cc history.

you have to honour contract and pay monthly bills of contracts.

if you dont pay monthly bill,you have option of early contract termination.

if you dont have ssn or cc history , you wont get phone on contract.you have to deposit 500 usd or so for getting phone on contract.after one yr they may retain your deposit if your account is in good standing.

 

[jainanshal]

Well, if you ask.. Is it possible? Then the answer will be Yes, depending on Phone model (whether or not an unlock method is available for that particular model, mostly it is).

When you buy a phone on contract you agree to a minimum monthly rent, say $50 (example), now you need to pay at least $50 every month whether you use the phone or not for the contract period.

As suggested in the above post, you need to have Social Security Number and Credit history in good standing (your contract with the telecom company will also be attached to your credit history). Any default in the bills will show in your Credit history.

So if unlock method is available for the model you bought, your friend in India will most probably won't have any trouble using it here... but you either need to pay for it every month or become a defaulter!

And yes.. I am using an AT&T Samsung Captivate(non-contract) here in India on Vodafone, it was bought from ebay US.