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SIMable May Be Easiest Way to Unlock 3G GSM Phones
Posted by Wilson Rothman at 11:30 PM on May 8, 2008
A company called SIMable has produced a little chip that they call the "10-second solution" for unlocking carrier-tethered GSM handsets. The gimmick is that, instead of unlocking the phone itself—and risking invalidation of your warranty— the chip works on the SIM card, provided you punch a hole in the SIM.
Yes, I said "punch a hole." The SIMable card lies flat against the SIM, and you first have to perform the following surgical procedure. At least the hole-puncher comes free with the £16.99 chip:
For certain 3G phones including the 8GB Nokia N95, Nokia E51, Sony Ericsson W200 and others to maintain "full 3G functionality," you will have to make an addition cut to the card itself:
It's not clear if SIMable is shipping to the US, though there's no reason to believe it wouldn't work here. There's also no mention of Apple's iPhone on the site, although the Inquirer mentions it in the first paragraph of their own writeup. Hopefully SIMable is just getting around to that, after testing on 70 or so other, more popular phones.
Update: Corrections were made to the post following some clarifying comments (thanks!). As far as this being a copy of other products, that may very well be the case, although SIMable maintains that it is not:
NOTE - SIMable is not linked in any way to other similar products and enables full 3G functionality. We include a free customised cutting press ruling out any messing around with scissors.[SIMable via The Inquirer]
Comments (AU Comments · US Comments)
InspectHerGadget
Posted May 30, 2008 3:48 AM
Yeah, STD Mode. You point your phone at someone, select the STD and *BAM*, screwed for life. Mean right? Ha ha
tinfoil
Posted 12:01 AM 9/5/08
@Darrone:
Just across GSM networks. GSM & CDMA are both different technologies.
tinfoil
mumin
Posted 11:56 PM 8/5/08
@scoobydoo:
no. this one comes with a hole puncher!
mumin
scoobydoo
Posted 11:54 PM 8/5/08
So, it's exactly the same as a TurboSIM? The same one that has been unlocking iPhones for ages?
scoobydoo
phealy
Posted 11:52 PM 8/5/08
Actually, giz, the hole in your SIM card has to be punched no matter what. The small hole you're talking about is a notch in the side of the SIMable itself and is only required for certain phones.
phealy
Darrone
Posted 11:46 PM 8/5/08
So can I then use said GSM phone on a CDMA or other network? or is this just unlocking within GSM? my head hurts.
Darrone
bms
Posted 11:40 PM 8/5/08
Freedom!
bms
dragonphyre
Posted 12:20 AM 9/5/08
These have been out forever!
dealextreme.com has had them for just about as long, and they are a ton cheaper than that.
dragonphyre
kc2idf
Posted 1:02 AM 9/5/08
@Darrone: As Tinfoil mentioned, no CDMA. In order to make a GSM phone work on CDMA, you basically have to take the entire phone out, and replace it with a different one. They use a different modulation, different codec, and different mechanisms for sorting out the signals. You could no sooner turn a washer/dryer into a dishwasher.
kc2idf
brutek
Posted 12:48 AM 9/5/08
@dragonphyre: [www.dealextreme.com]
Has anyone tried the i-SmartSim 2008 with an iPhone?
brutek
Monty
Posted 1:29 AM 9/5/08
I am more interested in how this idea was discovered. Did someone just get so upset one day they took a hole punch to their SIM and then said 'Eureka'?
Monty
jamar0303
Posted 1:16 AM 9/5/08
@brutek: I believe that the i-SmartSIM 2008 is for DoCoMo phones (of which I recommend the SO905iCS if you want a camera good enough to replace any point-and-shoot or the F905i if you need security and want an FM transmitter).
And skip the screwing around and get a dual-mode phone. Samsung and LG make them- CDMA 800(sometimes also 1900) + GSM900/1800/1900- that'll get you practically everywhere but Japan.
jamar0303
MikeSWelch
Posted 1:12 AM 9/5/08
I can use iPhonez on VerIzoN now?! Pleaz K Thx
MikeSWelch
phoomp
Posted 1:11 AM 9/5/08
"70 or so other, more popular phones"
Are you *trying* to anger the cult of insufficient adulation?
phoomp
Wiliam Hook
Posted 1:46 AM 9/5/08
None of you have ever heard of ZiPhone?!
Wiliam Hook
BenjiClayton
Posted 1:36 AM 9/5/08
@jamar0303:
Does that mean that NttDoCoMo phones are compatible on US soil? or am i still dreaming.
BenjiClayton
Gunadz
Posted 2:48 AM 9/5/08
I've been using something like this to unlock my Softbank 920sh for a while now. :P
Gunadz
kickace
Posted 3:59 AM 9/5/08
isn't there like 5 different other brands of this that have been out for months and months? maybe years?
kickace
Nickbee
Posted 4:19 AM 9/5/08
Saw this in Mobile Mag this morning at work, very nice idea - ordered one, shall let you know what the results are.
Nickbee
peterfnet
Posted 4:32 AM 9/5/08
I'm not going flame the few, but seriously. Google or wikipedia: GSM and CDMA
peterfnet
tkatz
Posted 9:28 AM 9/5/08
Ummm, I don't mean to sound repetitive but, isn't this the same thing as AnySim, TurboSIM, StealthSim?
How is this news? These have been around since September when iPhone unlocking was in its infancy.
I actually think these have been around pre-iPhone unlocking era.
Can anyone vouch for me?
tkatz
karmakid
Posted 9:47 AM 9/5/08
@tkatz: i think theres an article posted up many moons ago, just a lil lazy here to search for it...
karmakid
Pazuzu
Posted 10:44 AM 9/5/08
STD Mode???
Pazuzu
jamar0303
Posted 4:31 PM 9/5/08
@BenjiClayton: Yep. The newest 905i series is all compatible.
jamar0303