Who ORIGINALLY has the subsidy unlock code?

The code is a random number generated at the time of manufacture. The
operator determines whether or not the code is setup in the first place but
they don't know what it is until.....
The manufacturer tracks the codes and turns them over to the operator
periodically for every phone they built for them. The code is tracked to
the IMEI (elec. s/n). Typically monthly.

In addition to the operator having them, some service organizations have
access too. The lock codes for sale on the web for a fee are typically from
those folks, or someone affiliated with them under some type of alias.

--
Steve
"BruceR" <brNOSPAM@hawaii.com> wrote in message
news:TB8ge.1$887.0@tornado.socal.rr.com...
> To add to the confusion, it's probably both. What I mean is that the
> carrier orders the phone with a subsidy lock in place and the code is
> based on some algorithm that is given to the carrier to create the unlock
> code. So, the lock is turned on by the manufacturer but the unlock code is
> computed by the carrier.
>
> From:rotchm
> rotchm@gmail.com
>
>> Concerning the motorola v180, I have heard many different answers..So
>> perhaps a discussion here can clear me up.
>>
>> Who originally generated the subsidy code, motorola or the service
>> provider?
>>
>> Motorola told me that they never had and never have such code and it
>> is generated by the service provider.
>>
>> I called the provider many times and got both versions: Sometimes they
>> tell me that they (the provider)generate the codes and sometimes they
>> tell me that they get their code from motorola...
>>
>> So, which is true?
>> Thanks.
>
>

On Wed, 11 May 2005 02:41:15 GMT, "Steve" <nr4p@NOJUNKearthlink.net>
wrote:

>The code is a random number generated at the time of manufacture. The
>operator determines whether or not the code is setup in the first place but
>they don't know what it is until.....

You don't think it is based on an algorithm? It seems so, at least
for GSM phones. Many of those have been reverse engineered to remove
the subsidy lock. Nokias in particular.

I would guess the CDMA phones are similarly done.

It is possible some are done like you say, as a random number.
Motorolas have to be remote unlocked with a code from the service
provider or from the Motorola service site. But they could be based on
an algorithm as well. We just don't know.

>In addition to the operator having them, some service organizations have
>access too. The lock codes for sale on the web for a fee are typically from
>those folks, or someone affiliated with them under some type of alias.

Steevo@my-deja.com wrote:
> On Wed, 11 May 2005 02:41:15 GMT, "Steve" <nr4p@NOJUNKearthlink.net>
> wrote:
>
>>The code is a random number generated at the time of manufacture. The
>>operator determines whether or not the code is setup in the first place but
>>they don't know what it is until.....
>
> You don't think it is based on an algorithm? It seems so, at least
> for GSM phones. Many of those have been reverse engineered to remove
> the subsidy lock. Nokias in particular.
>
> I would guess the CDMA phones are similarly done.
>
> It is possible some are done like you say, as a random number.
> Motorolas have to be remote unlocked with a code from the service
> provider or from the Motorola service site. But they could be based on
> an algorithm as well. We just don't know.
>
>>In addition to the operator having them, some service organizations have
>>access too. The lock codes for sale on the web for a fee are typically from
>>those folks, or someone affiliated with them under some type of alias.

While the algorithms for computing unlock codes from the IMEI of a GSM
phone seems to be an open secret, all I've ever heard in various forums
is that the MSL on CDMA phones is truly a random number, and the
techniques for unlocking them do not involve computing the locking code
from the ESN. Either the code is "social engineered" from of the
provider who has it, or some major hacking on the phone's firmware is
done to bypass the lock. The standard flashing tools from, say,
Motorola, won't update the the firmware on an MSL-locked phone, so those
programs have to be, ummm..., enhanced with that ability.