WWAN (Edge) anywhere in the world - Is this possible?

I am currently in the Middle East, Arabian Gulf. I am trying to get the WWAN module in my SZ to work with my current mobile operator. Whenever I insert my SIM card into the module and turn-on WWAN in SmartWi, a window to enter a PIN code appears then SmartWi displays a message saying that the WWAN device is locked. My mobile operator supports Edge/GPRS and the SIM card is activated for data service plan.

So I am wondering if the WWAN in SZ is locked to only Cingular network in the US. If it's locked, then is there anyway to unlock it so that it can be used with any mobile operator anywhere in the world?

 

Yes, it is locked to Cingular if you bought a US SZ. I'm sure there's a way to unlock it, but I have no clue.

 

try calling cingular usa

 

You can also call Sony support and ask for unlock procedure and unlock code.

Unfortunately, EDGE module that is built into Vaios does NOT support 900MHz frequency, that is mainly used in Europe (Middle East included, I believe).

It supports 850MHz, 1800MHz and 1900MHz. Only 1800Mhz is used in Europe but not in all countries. Some operators buy licence for both 900MHz and 1800Mhz band and you can use it there, but in smaller countries (with only 1 or 2 operators) they only buy licence for 1 band and that's usually 900MHz.

 

Can someone post updates here if they can unlock the Cingular WWAN (EDGE)card which built in on the SZ?

I just activated my Free 30 days trial and it is SLOW!!!! I would like to use able to use it in other countries with their local carriers and I trying to see if I can get a built in card replaced with the new HSDPA built in card.

EDGE sucks

 

EDGE is slow, no matter what you do, it's not going to speed up. 3G would have been better from Cingular, but no dice. My friend who travels frequently tells me that we'd be insane to use Cingular overseas as the charge per MB is ridiculous.

I think I'm going to ultimately get a Verizon EVDO expresscard and call it a day. Better speed, better coverage, better pricing. Not sure about international access yet, but I find that wi-fi or ethernet is just fine in any hotel I've ever visited in Asia or Europe.



BJ

 

You won't find the Qualcomm EVDO supported in Europe -- maybe in Korea & some locations in Japan. Edge, as previously mentions, is SLOW & really only a "2.5G" (barely) standard.

--Alan

 

Well I have contacted Sony support by email, and here is there response

Thank you for contacting Sony Online Support.

We'l be glad to provide the information to unlock the SIM. Because the utility required to unlock the Sony Ericsson EDGE (SIM) module is not included with the Microsoft Windows Vista operating system, unlocking the SIM module is not supported.

Thank you for the opportunity to be of assistance.

Your Sony Email Response Team
Sean

Is there any other way to get the unlock code for the Edge SIM ?

 

I need other way to unlock my VAIO too. Today when I was call to Sony Support, they said me, that they can't give me unlock code, because I have not US citizen (I'm from Europe and they need fax American ID). I don't know why they need US ID, when I purchased my SZ430 in US.

 

SONY is F#$*ing Gay then! We paid for the laptop with a built-in card which is useless now if I m not using the Cingular service? I remembered calling SONY customer service before I actually bought my SZ and asked them if I can use other companies SIM cards if I don't like Cingular and they obviously said YES!!!

I see a class action against SONY is going to happen.... any Sony VAIO fellows here is an attorney and willing to get a fair judgement for us?

 

I have read somewhere on the net that some people have had success in obtaining the unlock codes for their Edge card by calling Sony support. I decided to give it a try and called them 2 days ago. After being kept on hold 4 times and spending over 15 minutes on an international call from the Middle East to the US, Sony support representative refused to give me the unlock code saying that unlocking the SIM under Vista is not supported.

Even after explaining that I have the unlocking procedure and that I have hyper terminal running in Vista and that many people have managed to unlock their SIM cards in Vista, they were still not convinced and refused to provide me with the unlock code

Can anyone with some programming skills hack the Edge card firmware and unlock it please! I am tired of begging Sony for some support.

 

Why don't you just lie and tell that you have SZ3XX series ? It's the same module.

 

I would think SONY Tech Support needs the serial number on the system for verification and to give you a proper unlock code. And even if you have the code, if you do not have the proper utility software, I don't know how you can unlock it. It is not like a cell phone where you have your own keypad to program the card directly

 

Well, I think that there is a way to unlock the SIM in the Sony SZ series; check out this link:

http://reviews.cnet.com/laptops/son...essageSiteID=9&messageID=2346176&cval=2346176

The reviewer 'joefromwestside' apparently was able to unlock his SZ 330 and use a T-Mobile data SIM.

What I would like to know is 1) how to unlock the SIM in the Sony SZ330, 2) where to find this $20/month T-Mobile data plan that joefromwestside speaks of, and 3) how to contact joefromwestside via cnet to find out how he did this.

any ideas?

Also, does anyone have experience with the WWAN in the Dell M1210? I am also looking at one with the Cingular HSDPA option. Is the Dell also SIM-locked to Cingular?

 

I do believed there is a way to unlock the WWAN card, but not on Vista currently as mentioned by other guys here. I have talked to SONY support, they are not helpful but they pointed out that, they used hyper terminal in XP to unlock the card which Vista currently is not supported to unlock the card.

I m not sure about $20 data plan, may be thats not unlimited data usage.

 

I think that the key to social engineering the SIM-unlock code form Sony is to tell them that you DON'T have Vista on your machine, but rather tell them you have XP Professional on it (even if you don't).

If they tell you that the machine came preloaded from the factory with Vista, then tell them that you had to do a fresh install of XP on it because the network admin at work doesn't support Vista, or something like that.

I posted an article to the GSM alt.cellular.* groups and this is a reply that I received:

http://groups.google.com/group/alt....251a9/14634252e38d3fe8?hl=en#14634252e38d3fe8


From: Brainsludge <[email protected]>
Newsgroups: alt.cellular.cingular,alt.cellular.attws,alt.cellular.gsm.carriers.voicestream
Subject: Re: Sony Vaio SZ series laptop and GSM SIM
Date: 30 May 2007 19:42:34 -0700

Hi,

At least for older models of the Vaio (VGN-T350, VGN-TX650P), the EDGE
modems were SIM-locked to Cingular (Pretty dumb if you ask me. I doubt
they are subsidizing the hardware in any way, nor are you signing a
service contract with them). Anyway, Sony eSupport has several
articles devoted to the unlocking procedure:

http://www.iq.sony.com/SRVS/CGI-BIN...estion=ref(QC):ord(1),question=ref(QB):ord(1)
Alternatively, visit http://esupport.sony.com/US/perl/select-system.pl?DIRECTOR=FAQ
and enter an EDGE-enabled model (such as VGNTX650P), then search for
"edge unlock".

Other possibely useful sites:
http://www.spinyourwebs.com/unlock.htm
http://www.tongfamily.com/pcs/hardware/sony_vgntx630p/unlock_edgeenable_sony_vaio_vgntx650p_1.php
http://www.engadget.com/2005/10/20/how-to-unlock-your-edge-enabled-sony-vaio-vgn-t350/

Once you unlock the modem properly, it should work with any data-plan-
enabled SIM card, granting you access in accordance with your plan.
For example, if you can access XYZ through tethering, you can access
XYZ through the EDGE modem. It's a matter of properly configuring the
settings, such as the APN and the phone number, in the modem
configuration software (you can find these settings in the GPRS
configuration of your phone).

In theory, WAP data plans are supposedly port and/or packet
restrictive but as far as I can tell (I tether over WAP), the major US
GSM carriers are not particulary stringent about this.

Again, I don't know if this info applies to the SZ series of Vaios.

B

 

T-Mobile's standard data plan is unlimited at $20, that's why all the cool, texting and surfing peeps are on T-Mobile!

 

How do you find this $20 plan, and what is it called?

The only internet-only plan that I see on T-Mobile's site is called "T-Mobile Total Internet" for $50/month.

What is the ZIP code that you are using to list the plans? Perhaps it is only available in your area?

thanks.

 

I currently use my blackberry as a tethered modem to get onto my unlimited T-mobile account ($20/mo. unlimited data). Is there any advantage to unlocking and then using the built-in wwan on the computer instead of simply using a tethered modem?

 

I think folks just don't know what is Data Plan and what is WAN plan, I know you can get $20 unlimited data plans for your PDA or BlackBerry, But definately not your Laptop with PC card! Unless the SIM card works in there, I m not sure and I have not try.

Also, I have also tried the option when I was talking to SONY Support, I asked what if I have XP installed on my machine, they said, they just don't support the SIM unlock with machine has the serial number which shows it was loaded with Vista from the factory. That's their internal policy.

Again, SONY and TMoible are not dumb.