[steve9025]

My Motorola C975 is on its last legs (e.g. all sound effects nullified, including ringing and takes a few scroll-button presses to get a response). I eBayed a Motorola PEBL, advertised as "Simlock: Unlocked", but upon placing my 3 SIM inside, was told to "check SIM".

The seller's been helpful and I'll include what he wrote, but any other ideas?

"It has been tried with Virgin, Orange and Vodafone - worked immediately no problem. Not sure why you're getting that problem. We will speak to the supplier tomorrow. It might be worth calling 3 in case it's a problem at their end. Incidentally the phone was only ever used on pay as you go, and never on contract, also you can see it is not "branded" by any other provider, so I'm a bit perplexed. "

[steve9025]

Should add it's a 3 contract SIM. Don't know about PAYG/contract SIM differences and difficulties.

[Hands0n]

The PEBL is not a 3G handset, it is 2G only. As such 3 will not allow their USIM to work in 2G-only handsets. I'm not sure how they lock it out of a handset in particular, they used to track the fact that all calls were on 2G even in a 3G area and contact the customer. They may have been able to program in some means of handset checking within the USIM.

As such, your PEBL cannot be used [at least reliably] with a 3 USIM. You need a pukka 3G handset.

[steve9025]

Thanks - you're always there for me, HandsOn!

[E616Vboy123]

The PEBL is not a 3G handset, it is 2G only. As such 3 will not allow their USIM to work in 2G-only handsets. I'm not sure how they lock it out of a handset in particular, they used to track the fact that all calls were on 2G even in a 3G area and contact the customer. They may have been able to program in some means of handset checking within the USIM.

As such, your PEBL cannot be used [at least reliably] with a 3 USIM. You need a pukka 3G handset.

To add to Hands0n's point: Three USIMS run a different voltage to GSM SIM's. This is why they usually wont work in 2G phones. They sometimes work in some (6230i is one apparently). Even if it did work, three would detect that you are roaming on o2 (or is it orange now??) and send you a text message warning you not to do it. If you continue to do so, they have the power to terminate your contract and you will ahve to pay off the remainder of the contract period. The reason you cannot roam on 2G is it costs three money as they have no 2G network of there own, so use another.

[bsrjl1]

No USIMs are backwards compatible with GSM handsets, but the 3 ones run a program to detect whether the handset supports UMTS - this is all defined in the 3GPP specs. If the USIM is in a non-3G phone it stops talking to the phone, and the handset comes up with 'Check SIM'. There are some handsets that early 3 USIMs get fooled by & work in, but the latest USIMs (made by another company) seem bullet-proof.

[Hands0n]

Today, I learned something new. Cheers bsrjl1 :D I do recall feintly reading stuff about USIMs when 3 first launched >3 years ago - the usual stuff "WTF is a USIM" lol, but have forgotten everything I read save that they were not exclusively intended for handsets, but moreso for smart applications and stuff ..... I've never seen them used anywhere else but in a handset though.