Here are some questions that our customers often have before, during, and after the process of sending phones to us. Please select a section to view related questions and answers.

General Questions

Q. What is unlocking?
A. Please read our "What Is Unlocking" section.

Q. Can these services be performed remotely?
A. Most phones can not be unlocked remotely because their manufacturers use random codes to lock them, which can not be calculated. We need to have the phone in our shop for direct unlocking. If a phone is able to be unlocked remotely, it will be listed as such in our online shop. Otherwise, it must be sent to us.

Q. Do I need to send my phone to you?
A. Yes, you do need to send us your phone. It is not possible to perform these services without having the phone in our workshop. Local customers may come to our shop for servicing as well.

Q. How can I pay for these services?
A. You can pay by Paypal, or you can send a money order with your phone. You will have the option to decide which form of payment to use at checkout. For Paypal, you will be automatically redirected to their secure site. For money orders, the necessary information will be displayed before checkout is complete. Please note that we can not ship phones back until payment is confirmed, so it is best to send it at the same time as the phone.

Q. How long will this take?
A. The method that you choose in sending the phone to us is the most influential factor in this. We are located in Boston, MA, and find that Priority Mail generally takes 3 days or less from anywhere in the country, and UPS Ground takes 5 days or less. UPS Ground to New York often takes only one day. We service phones the day they arrive, and they are always shipped back that day or the following day at the latest. Once we ship it to you, we will email you a tracking number for its return. We exclusively use UPS for return shipping. The available UPS speeds and rates are listed during the checkout process. Rates are calculated based upon your address. With overnight shipping in both directions, the entire process can be completed in 3 business days.

Q. Is there any risk of damage to my phone?
A. No. We have years of experience and use the safest possible methods. We guarantee that your phone will not be damaged.

Q. How do I know I will get my phone back?
A. We assure you that we are in the business of unlocking phones-- not stealing them. Our reputation is worth more to us than the value of any phone. You should be confident that we will return your phone to you promptly. Our Online Shop also contains numerous reviews from customers who have received their phones promptly; serviced as promised.


Shipping Questions

Q. Where will I need to send my phone?
A. Check the Shipping Info section above. You will also be reminded of this address when finalizing your order from our online shop. Please remember to mark the outside of your package with your order number.

Q. Can I include my own shipping label or use my own shipping account?
A. No. We have found that it is best to have a central tracking system with one shipping account to ensure that phones are returned accurately and in a timely manner.

Q. Will you ship my phone back via a method other than UPS?
A. No. As with outside shipping labels, we have found that it is best to have a central tracking system with one shipping account to ensure that phones are returned accurately and in a timely manner.

Q. What do I need to send with my phone?
A. Please send us your phone, a charged battery, and a printout of your order from our online shop. Please do not send any sim cards, memory cards, manuals, chargers, or original boxes. If you choose money order as a form of payment, please remember to include it. This is explained in more detail in our Shipping Info section.


Phone- Specific Questions

Q. Will I lose all of my settings and pictures in my phone when it is unlocked or flashed?
A. Generally, unlocking does not cause data loss. Because of the rare chance of data loss, we recommend backing up all critical data before sending your phone to us. If we are aware that a particular unlocking process is likely to cause data loss, a note is included in its description. Flashing generally erases all of the phone's memory. It is advisable to back up any important contacts, images, or other items that may be saved to the phone to your sim card, memory card, or computer before sending a phone to us for flashing services.

Q. If my phone is unlocked now, will flashing re-lock it?
A. No. Flashing does not affect a phone's sim- lock. That means that if your phone is unlocked before flashing, it will be unlocked after flashing, and if it is locked before flashing, it will remain locked after flashing.

Q. After unlocking, can I still use my old sim card if I want to?
A. Of course. You will be able to use any GSM sim card you choose.

Q. Will flashing allow my phone to work with third party applications like Opera Mini, Google Maps, GMail and others?
A. Generally, the restrictions against using third party applications that access the internet are part of a carrier's branding of the phone's firmware. Our flashing and decustomizing service will restore the phone to generic firmware with all of the manufacturer's original options enabled, including the option to change application permissions. This is particularly true of Nokia phones. You must subscribe to adequate internet services from your service provider in order to make use of these programs, even with uncustomized firmware.

Q. What is "Decustomizing"?
A. The "decustomize" option at the bottom of many of our flashing services will instruct us to flash your phone with generic firmware, as if it had been purchased from the manufacturer directly. This will remove any carrier branding, including logos, icons, browser locks and shortcuts, and restricted menus. The phone will perform identically to one purchased with no carrier, with all options available.

Q. After unlocking, can my phone work with Nextel?
A. No. Although iDEN phones contain a sim card, they are not GSM phones. GSM phones do not work with Nextel. Only iDEN phones do. iDEN providers include Nextel, Boost Mobile, Southern LINC, Telus, and others.

Q. My phone does not appear to contain a sim card. Why?
A. Some service providers in the Americas use a technology called CDMA. This technology is proprietary to the networks using it and is not compatible with other phones and networks. These phones do not contain a sim card. We do not offer unlocking or flashing services for these phones as other networks are reluctant to activate them, network connection is often dependent on using the carrier's original firmware, and these phones do not work with networks abroad. Common CDMA networks include Verizon Wireless, Sprint, Alltel, US Cellular, Virgin Mobile (USA only), Amp'd Mobile, Helio, Telus, and Bell Mobility.

Q. Which networks' phones do you service? Which networks will my phone work with after it is unlocked?
A. Nearly all worldwide networks use a standard technology called GSM. We service GSM phones from all countries and networks. After a GSM phone is unlocked, it will accept sim cards from all GSM networks in all countries. Some phones do not contain all GSM frequencies and will not receive signal on certian networks. When ordering unlocking services on our website, please note the frequency and network information available in the service's listing to ensure your phone will work with the network you plan to use. Common GSM networks include AT&T, Cingular, T-Mobile, Rogers, Fido, Movistar, Telcel, Cable & Wireless, Digicel, Claro, TIM, Vodafone, O2, Orange, Virgin Mobile (non US), and many more.

Q. Afer my phone is unlocked, how can I use it abroad?
A. Provided that your phone has the frequencies required for use in the country to which you are traveling, you may either purchase a sim card within the country or purchase a global sim card in advance. Buying a sim card is generally the most economical choice if you plan to make calls within the country you are visiting or plan to visit one country for an extended period. If you plan to visit many countries, or plan to make and receive calls to and from the USA while traveling, global sim cards often offer a better value. Local sim cards are generally available in international airports or in local phone shops within the country you are visiting. Check our Online Shop or store location for information on available global sim cards before you travel.


Post- Order Questions

Q. How will I know when you have received and worked with my phone?
A. When we have received your phone, we will add notes to your order. The first note will contain its serial number. The second note will contain details of our findings and a tracking number. You will be emailed automatically when the second note is added.

Q. I believe you should have received my phone by now, but have not gotten an email. Did you get it?
A. If you have not received an order update email from us, most likely we have not yet received your phone. Sometimes, spam filters stop our emails though. You may log in to your account in our Online Shop to check the status of previous orders, including our notes. If no notes have been added, we have not yet received your phone. We collect Postal mail from our PO Box every day around noon, and receive shipments from UPS, FedEx, and DHL throughout the day. Sometimes the Post Office scans a package as being "delivered" when it has arrived in the Post Office, before it has been delivered to our box or picked up.

Q. Can I make a change to my order?
A. If you need to change your shipping address, shipping speed, or order options, please contact us at sales@iUnlock.com IMMEDIATELY. After a label has been printed, it is more difficult to make changes.

Q. Can I track the package containing my phone on its return trip?
A. Of course. We ship all packages via UPS and include a tracking number in our order update. This will be emailed to you when the order is placed, or can be viewed in your account in our Online Shop.

If you have any other questions that are not covered here, please .