my phone is payg on t-mobile..

[janzman]

...This is going to sound a really silly question but is my phone locked to t-mobile or can I put a different sim card (vodaphone) in and will it work

[ChuckFickens]

Maybe, or maybe not.

Only way to tell really is try another providers sim.

[janzman]

I have never had a phone on a contract but I can see how a contracted phone can be locked in but with payg I don't really understand

[ChuckFickens]

It's more likely to be the other way round. contract phones are more often not locked than PAYG.

[RATTER15]

I would imagine the phone would be programmed to recognise a certain suppliers sim card.

[janzman]

So what is the definition of an unlocked phone please

[robb999]

No you can't use a sim card from another network unless you have your phone unlocked. You can get your phone unlocked for about £10.

[alavahalf]

You may have bought your PAYG phone from T-mobile, but that does'nt mean it's locked to that network. As chuck has already said try another sim from another provider in it . Most phones can be unlockedif need be. I bought a code from ebay last week and unlocked an LG on T-mobilefor 99p.

[RATTER15]

>>So what is the definition of an unlocked phone please<<

a phone that is not locked to a particular network, ie. can use any network.

[janzman]

Thanks to you all for your input

[solvitquick]

I bought a PAYG phone from ASDA a couple of years ago. But after a reasonable time I found it went dead. A home telephone call to help, they said check if sim card has not slipped. Sure that was the reason. But this kept happening - probably just a b*m model hand set, no offence to ASDA. But I ditched phone and bought another from different supplier of hand set and different network.
Regarding lock-phone, I've done accidently it many years ago but read manual which told me how to unlock (that was an old carphone/orange).
Some require you have to use phone within 3-6 months - awkward if you only keep in car for emergency breakdown as I do.

[Old_Geezer]

If the provider provided the phone at a cheap price then it surely matters little if it is contract of PAYG, they will want their subsidy back, and so are likely to lock it so you can only use their network. Although I can see if you are committed to a contract there is less imperative to lock the handset, since you've committed to a period of payment anyway. As Chuck says, best to get a Vodafone SIM and "suck it and see". Older phones are cheap to unlock, modern "smart" phones not so easy, nor as cheap.

[Old_Geezer]

All will require you to use the phone regularly within a specified period. None of them can afford to fill their database with "dead" unprofitable numbers.

[VaaMachi]

If your phone is unlocked then it should work with Vodafone Sim card . If your phone displays an error message saying "Wrong sim" or "Incorrect sim" or "Emergency calls only", etc., then your phone is probably locked. To unlock it you can use unlock code. You can get unlock code and unlocking instructions from http://www.unlock-zone.com/supported-phones/rs5wp7/ for a price.