Virgin Prepaid Handset Network Locks

[Ext User(Horace_ Wachope_)]

Are the handsets which Virgin Mobile sell on their prepaid packages:

1) SIM locked to the particular SIM sold with the handset;
2) network locked to the Optus network; or
3) locked to a specific IMSI range (ie. one allocated by Optus to Virgin
Mobile)?

What I really want to know is whether an Optus SIM can be used in a
"locked" Virgin handset.

I'm hoping it doesn't vary from handset to handset.

Thanks.

[Ext User(HeppiTroutPotatoB)]

"Horace_ Wachope_" <horacewachope@gmail.com> wrote in message
news:eubhnxymrzga.10s7cj7ddxoih.dlg@40tude.net...
>
> Are the handsets which Virgin Mobile sell on their prepaid packages:
>
> 1) SIM locked to the particular SIM sold with the handset;
> 2) network locked to the Optus network; or
> 3) locked to a specific IMSI range (ie. one allocated by Optus to Virgin
> Mobile)?

Rather than boring us with confusing jargon why don't you explain what you
really want to know?

<snipped>

> I'm hoping it doesn't vary from handset to handset.

It varies from state to state actually.

> Thanks.

The Vodafone network is not locked.

Telstra handsets are locked to a network (Optus).

H.T.H.

[Ext User(Horace_ Wachope_)]

On Fri, 28 Oct 2005 06:43:11 GMT, HeppiTroutPotatoB wrote:

> "Horace_ Wachope_" <horacewachope@gmail.com> wrote in message
> news:eubhnxymrzga.10s7cj7ddxoih.dlg@40tude.net...
>>
>> Are the handsets which Virgin Mobile sell on their prepaid packages:
>>
>> 1) SIM locked to the particular SIM sold with the handset;
>> 2) network locked to the Optus network; or
>> 3) locked to a specific IMSI range (ie. one allocated by Optus to Virgin
>> Mobile)?
>
> Rather than boring us with confusing jargon why don't you explain what you
> really want to know?
>
> <snipped>
>
>> I'm hoping it doesn't vary from handset to handset.
>
> It varies from state to state actually.
>
>> Thanks.
>
> The Vodafone network is not locked.
>
> Telstra handsets are locked to a network (Optus).

How about the Ryda network?

[Ext User(HeppiTroutPotatoB)]

"Horace_ Wachope_" <horacewachope@gmail.com> wrote in message
news:136z2ah6pu53b$.b3cjrh71lnoy$.dlg@40tude.net.. .
> On Fri, 28 Oct 2005 06:43:11 GMT, HeppiTroutPotatoB wrote:
>
>> "Horace_ Wachope_" <horacewachope@gmail.com> wrote in message
>> news:eubhnxymrzga.10s7cj7ddxoih.dlg@40tude.net...
>>>
>>> Are the handsets which Virgin Mobile sell on their prepaid packages:
>>>
>>> 1) SIM locked to the particular SIM sold with the handset;
>>> 2) network locked to the Optus network; or
>>> 3) locked to a specific IMSI range (ie. one allocated by Optus to Virgin
>>> Mobile)?
>>
>> Rather than boring us with confusing jargon why don't you explain what
>> you
>> really want to know?
>>
>> <snipped>
>>
>>> I'm hoping it doesn't vary from handset to handset.
>>
>> It varies from state to state actually.
>>
>>> Thanks.

No problem, G.T.H.

> The Vodafone network is not locked.
>>
>> Telstra handsets are locked to a network (Optus).
>
> How about the Ryda network?

The Ryda network is locked to the free bicycle.

[Ext User(Pete)]

Horace_ Wachope_ wrote:

> the handsets which Virgin Mobile sell on their prepaid packages:
....
> 2) network locked to the Optus network

The Nokia's are, at least. I've bought three different model prepaid
Virgin Nokia phones and used iSim and Optus sim cards in them with no
problems at all.

Peter

[Ext User(Horace_ Wachope_)]

On Fri, 28 Oct 2005 20:50:17 +1000, Pete wrote:

> Horace_ Wachope_ wrote:
>
>> the handsets which Virgin Mobile sell on their prepaid packages:
> ...
>> 2) network locked to the Optus network
>
> The Nokia's are, at least. I've bought three different model prepaid
> Virgin Nokia phones and used iSim and Optus sim cards in them with no
> problems at all.

Thanks.

I was primarily interested in the Sony Ericsson K500i though.

Has anyone bought one of these from Virgin and used it with an Opus SIM?

[Ext User(virgmob007@netscape.net)]

Horace_ Wachope_ wrote:
> Are the handsets which Virgin Mobile sell on their prepaid packages:
>
> 1) SIM locked to the particular SIM sold with the handset;
> 2) network locked to the Optus network; or
> 3) locked to a specific IMSI range (ie. one allocated by Optus to Virgin
> Mobile)?
>
> What I really want to know is whether an Optus SIM can be used in a
> "locked" Virgin handset.
>
> I'm hoping it doesn't vary from handset to handset.
>
> Thanks

All I know is that Virgin Mobile operates on the Optus network. There
surely wouldn't be much point though in having a locked Virgin handset
if it was possible to use an Optus Sim card, instead of only a Virgin
one, as selling the prepaid credits to aid Virgin profits is surely the
name of the game!

I am feeling particularly masochistic today so I hope that I will be
flayed for my possible ignorance!

[Ext User(Horace_ Wachope_)]

On 28 Oct 2005 20:31:15 -0700, virgmob007@netscape.net wrote:

> Horace_ Wachope_ wrote:
>> Are the handsets which Virgin Mobile sell on their prepaid packages:
>>
>> 1) SIM locked to the particular SIM sold with the handset;
>> 2) network locked to the Optus network; or
>> 3) locked to a specific IMSI range (ie. one allocated by Optus to Virgin
>> Mobile)?
>>
>> What I really want to know is whether an Optus SIM can be used in a
>> "locked" Virgin handset.
>>
>> I'm hoping it doesn't vary from handset to handset.
>>
>> Thanks
>
> All I know is that Virgin Mobile operates on the Optus network. There
> surely wouldn't be much point though in having a locked Virgin handset
> if it was possible to use an Optus Sim card, instead of only a Virgin
> one, as selling the prepaid credits to aid Virgin profits is surely the
> name of the game!

I think it would probably depend on what the manufacturer is willing to do
for Virgin's business (assuming the handsets are locked by the
manufacturers prior to delivery to Optus/Virgin/Telstra/Voda).

I suspect that handsets like the Benq would be locked to a Virgin IMSI
range simply because Virgin are the only ones selling the Benq handset
(AFAIK), and Benq are presumably trying to grow their market share and
therefore need Virgin more than Virgin need Benq.

Conversely, I suspect that Nokia would be less willing to go to the trouble
of IMSI range locking a batch of handsets for a relatively small market
player like Virgin. They'd be more likely to simply offer Virgin already
Optus-locked stock and say "take it or leave it". At least that prevents
people from using Telstra or Voda.

Of course, I may be talking crap. I'm certainly talking crap if in fact
it's the telcos that do the handset locking and not the manufacturers.

[Ext User(shakewell)]

"Horace_ Wachope_" <horacewachope@gmail.com> wrote:
>
> What I really want to know is whether an Optus SIM can be used in a
> "locked" Virgin handset.
>

From what I remember, the K500i is 'Network' locked, not 'Network subset'
locked, so any SIM using the Optus network can be used in the phone.

Perhaps someone with a locked Virgin handset can verify the lock status?

[Ext User(Pete)]

Horace_ Wachope_ wrote:

> I think it would probably depend on what the manufacturer is willing to do
> for Virgin's business (assuming the handsets are locked by the
> manufacturers prior to delivery to Optus/Virgin/Telstra/Voda).

A dealer told me that LG prepaid phones are locked to the carrier
selling them, not the network. A lot of dealers have NFI, though...

Why not determine which phone you're after, and take your sim card to
store and ask them to put it in their display phone. You can easily
ask, it's up to them to say yes or no. Target has done this for me before.

Peter