Mobile Unlock Codes
A Pin Unlock Code (PUC) or Pin Unlock Key (PUK) is one of the measures that are taken to secure the mobile phone. They are used in GSM mobile phones to unblock a blocked card.
Most of the mobile telephones in the market today offer the feature of personal identification number (PIN) protection. So when you switch on the phone and if the PIN security function is active, then the user is requested to enter a 4-8 digit PIN, thus enabling the phone’s otherwise disabled non-emergency calling functions. If the user types the wrong PIN more than three times, either the SIM card, the mobile phone or both get locked. This can be reverted to the unlocked state by entering a PUC (PUK) that has been provided by the service operator. There is also a hitch, if the wrong PUC (PUK) is entered ten times in a row, then the device will automatically become permanently unrecoverable and blocked and will require a new SIM card. Therefore mobile phone users should keep their PUC (PUK) written and that too in a safe place.
If you happen to see any of the following messages then your phone is locked and you need a phone unlock code:-
• SIM Card Not Accepted
• Enter Subsidy Code
• Contact Service Provider
• Enter Special Code
• Enter Subsidy Password
• Enter Restriction Code
• (or any other similar message!)
A SIM lock is something that is built into GSM phones by mobile phone manufacturers. This capacity is used by network providers to restrict the use of these phones to specific countries and network providers. As of today, phones can be locked and made to accept only SIM cards from one or more of the following:
• Countries (that is, the phone will work in one country, but not in any other)
• Network or Service providers
• SIM card types (i.e. only particular SIM cards can be used in the phone).
Today, most of the mobile phones can be unlocked using various unblocking techniques and the phone can be made to work with any GSM.
Why should one unlock a phone? Simple so that the phone can be used it with a different SIM card, which might provide cheaper rates than the previous one.
There is a practice known as “box breaking” in the UK. In this the cheaper handsets are bought, unblocked and then sold in the foreign market for a higher price. The SIM card that came with the original handset is also sold. This practice is completely legal in the UK.
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