Unlocking Pearl question...
 

I have a question about unlocking my T-Mobile Pearl. We may be going on vacation overseas this summer (crossing my fingers!) and would likely buy a prepaid SIM. I'm coming up on my 90 days with T-Mobile and will likely request my unlock code just in case we do go out of the country, and if not, unlock it just for the hell of it. I thought I heard with some phones, you need to put in another carriers SIM before you can enter the unlock code. Is the Pearl the same way, or can I unlock it without having a non T-Mobile SIM? I don't want to waste my unlock code if I can't actually unlock it. Thanks

I recently unlock my T-Mobile Pearl without the need of poping in a SIM from another carrier. I called CS and requested unlock code and got it via email with instruction within 2 days. Whole process pretty simple and no hassel.

+1, you dont need any other SIM card to unlock your Pearl.

what is the main advantage of unlocking it?

Never heard of this on a BB..... Once you get the code and instructions from T-Mo just follow them and you will be a-ok and unlocked in no time flat! :)

Most BlackBerrys come "locked" to a specific carrier. You can only use them with a SIM card from that carrier.

Unlocking a BlackBerry (or any locked phone) allows you to use another carriers SIM card in it.

Please note that when using another carriers SIM card in a BlackBerry, you have to ensure that the SIM card has a BlackBerry Data Plan on it, otherwise you will just have voice and SMS text on it. No data at all.

I'm travelling to Japan next week. Do you think TMobile would give me the unlock even though I just got this phone less than a week ago? (Been with them since 2004 though) What pretense or reason was offered for wanting to unlock it?

TMo should have no issue giving you the unlock codes... in fact majority of world GSM phones are sold unlocked. Locking is only a way of ensuring you do not migrate to someone else... There are websites that help to unlock the phone in case TMo has any issue, I think they charge about $25 or so.

To answer the Q.... It does not matter how long you have had the device.... As long as you have been with T-Mo for more than 90 days and are a customer in good standing they will give it to you...

As for the majority of GSM phones getting sold unlocked.... I don't agree with that statement..... ALL devices in the US are sold locked to a carrier...

Japan has a different wireless phone system. Japan does not have GSM/GPRS. Your phone will not work there. You can contact T-Mobile about getting you a J-Mode phone (or 3G) or you can rent one there. But your GSM T-Mobile phone will not work there.