AT&T To Buy DIRECTV for $67 Billion

[satgirl51]

not sure what the SIM has anything to do with unlocking. What is locked is the device itself, not the the phone number and/or SIM. FWIW, I was able to port my cell number from ATT to T-Mo and my iPhone was locked.

Seeing the Unlock form on the ATT site, nowhere does it ask for the SIM number but rather the IMEI number. This is to be expected.

You need the system to see the phone under a phone number without a contract on that device, thus believing phone was purchased in full.

The iccid has nothing to do with actually unlocking the device.

 

[Jimbo]

with the only difference that unlocking phones now it the law and should be done in a timely fashion are required by the FCC

This was last November.

 

[peds48]

You need the system to see the phone under a phone number without a contract on that device, thus believing phone was purchased in full.

The iccid has nothing to do with actually unlocking the device.

not quite sorry. The UNLOCK comes directly from APPLE. don't forget you need to do a restore to an an iOS device in order to unlock it. Apple could careless about your phone number, the only thing they care is about the IMEI. When you but ANY smartphone, they scan the IMEI to have that number associated with your phone number, the carrier knows which IEMI is locked the actual phone number does not matter.

 

[satgirl51]

not quite sorry. The UNLOCK comes directly from APPLE. don't forget you need to do a restore to an an iOS device in order to unlock it. Apple could careless about your phone number, the only thing they care is about the IMEI. When you but ANY smartphone, they scan the IMEI to have that number associated with your phone number, the carrier knows which IEMI is locked the actual phone number does not matter.

LOL! the imei isn't locked to any number, AT&T is a GSM based network, I can move my sim card from my iphone 6 plus to my Galaxy S6 at will, no calling AT&T to change plans or anything. AT&T system will make the appropriate changes. Also yes apple will actually do the unlock "once" at&t gives them the go ahead.

Perhaps your thinking an imei is similar to a CDMA networks ESN?

 

[Jimbo]

And this tread continues to wander ...

My doing as well.

 

[satgirl51]

And this tread continues to wander ...

My doing as well.

True, sorry for going off topic just hate seeing incorrect info posted, one of my flaws I suppose

Peds48 if you would like more info on this topic I will be glad to provide it to you via PM. Thanks

Now back on topic!

 

[Jimbo]

True, sorry for going off topic just hate seeing incorrect info posted, one of my flaws I suppose

Peds48 if you would like more info on this topic I will be glad to provide it to you via PM. Thanks

Now back on topic!

The info is great, just think it could be in the Phone sections, seeing it has nothing to do with the Merger ...

I am not a Mod so it really doesn't matter, but it just makes better sense.

 

[raoul5788]

A little drift is okay, this is Satguys after all!
This would be an excellent topic in the phone zone, however and I encourage you to continue it there.
http://www.satelliteguys.us/xen/forums/#the-phone-zone.179

 

[DS0816]

And this tread continues to wander ...

My doing as well.

People want to know everything...right away.

I understand. I want to know as well.

The television part, getting the two to become one, will take a couple years. It will probably take longer than that for areas not served by AT&T for high-speed Internet. Mobile wireless should be the easiest, speediest one to get going.


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[CK SatGuy]

This is the part which really stood out:

USA TODAY: Will U-verse and DirecTV co-exist?

[AT&T's John] Stankey: We sold to different customer bases. There's some overlap in the markets but we played to the bundle game with U-verse by consolidating product offerings. DirecTV played to people who wanted to buy standalone video. We now can start to cross market products and services. Over the long haul our goal is offer one video product in the market, (with) one video channel lineup, one set of programming relationships, one video brand.

​

I wonder how this is going to effect local channel lineups because in some markets, the u-verse lineup is different then Directv's lineup. For instance, in Detroit on U-Verse, they carry CBC from Windsor, Canada and I also get PBS from Flint. Maybe there's a possibility those 2 channels get added as Directv local channels in the Detroit market.

 

[DS0816]

I wonder how this is going to effect local channel lineups because in some markets, the u-verse lineup is different then Directv's lineup. For instance, in Detroit on U-Verse, they carry CBC from Windsor, Canada and I also get PBS from Flint. Maybe there's a possibility those 2 channels get added as Directv local channels in the Detroit market.

That's a difference between cable and satellites companies.

The satellite companies don't provide local stations in markets which border around areas outside the United States—which is the case with Detroit getting CBET, the CBC affiliate for Windsor.

Additional PBS stations included by cable stations—for outside markets—aren't included by satellite companies. (This is the case with WCMZ and WGTE, the PBS affiliates from Flint and Toledo, Ohio. They're made available to subscribers only from those markets.)


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[meStevo]

It'll probably take a better part of a decade to merge all their local and national agreements.

 

[zippyfrog]

The other thing that will be interesting is will DirecTV have the subchannels and some of the independent channels. I know for Satellite they aren't required to a certain type of channel (low powered?) nor the subchannels. But U-Verse in my area (western suburbs of Chicago) carries a handful of the subchannels and independent channels that neither Direct nor Dish carry.

 

[CK SatGuy]

That's a difference between cable and satellites companies.

The satellite companies don't provide local stations in markets which border around areas outside the United States—which is the case with Detroit getting CBET, the CBC affiliate for Windsor.

Additional PBS stations included by cable stations—for outside markets—aren't included by satellite companies. (This is the case with WCMZ and WGTE, the PBS affiliates from Flint and Toledo, Ohio. They're made available to subscribers only from those markets.)


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Well that's the reason why I brought it up. If AT&T wants a unified channel lineup for both U-Verse and Directv, then they'll have to sort out any differences in channel lineups with the local markets. My guess is that under the eyes of the law, U-Verse is considered a cable company since they have to purchase franchises and pass on the cost with charging franchise fees. I understand that cable and satellite play by different rules so I'm sure in the long run, AT&T will have to do some lobbying (as if they don't do enough of it already) to get the rules changed to make it an even playing field.

 

[ejb1980]

I noticed just now that the screen saver that comes up when you pause TV for a few minutes has changed. It now displays "Directv: Part of the AT&T Family" with the same website. That makes it all feel real.

 

[peds48]

LOL! the imei isn't locked to any number, AT&T is a GSM based network, I can move my sim card from my iphone 6 plus to my Galaxy S6 at will, no calling AT&T to change plans or anything. AT&T system will make the appropriate changes. Also yes apple will actually do the unlock "once" at&t gives them the go ahead.

Perhaps your thinking an imei is similar to a CDMA networks ESN?

you are right, and I never implied such. You can def move SIM cards, AS LONG as they are from the same carrier the phone is LOCKED to, place an T-Mo SIM on a a ATT locked phone and see if you get connected. No, why because the network knows that the IMEI is locked to ATT. Once the IMEI of the phone is released as UNLOCK, you are free to switch SIM from different carriers.

 

[peds48]

True, sorry for going off topic just hate seeing incorrect info posted, one of my flaws I suppose



Now back on topic!

So do I, and I have to correct them!

 

[satgirl51]

you are right, and I never implied such. You can def move SIM cards, AS LONG as they are from the same carrier the phone is LOCKED to, place an T-Mo SIM on a a ATT locked phone and see if you get connected. No, why because the network knows that the IMEI is locked to ATT. Once the IMEI of the phone is released as UNLOCK, you are free to switch SIM from different carriers.

That isn't correct, an imei lock(known as blacklisting) is totally different, a carrier lock is sim based, I can be in the middle of the ocean with no T-mobile signal and place a T-mobile sim in a locked AT&T phone and it will immediately reject it, no checking the network, the phone is what is locked.

 

[peds48]

Peds48 if you would like more info on this topic I will be glad to provide it to you via PM. Thanks

Now back on topic!

ANy other Qs, I am one via PM if you like

Unlocking technology[edit]
A handset can be unlocked by entering a code provided by the network operator. Alternative mechanisms include software running on the handset or a computer attached to the handset, hardware devices that connect to the handset or over-the-air by the carrier. Usually the unlock process is permanent. The code required to remove all locks from a phone is referred to as the master code, network code key, or multilock code. There can also be multiple levels of locks placed on the phone by networks, which block the use of other networks' SIM cards. These are usually referred to as "Network" (NCK) or "Service Provider" (SPCK) locks and can be removed using the corresponding unlock codes, which are unique to each phone depending on its IMEI.[6]

Typically, a locked handset will display a message if a restricted SIM is used, requesting the unlock code. On recent phone models running Android software, the phone will display a message saying “SIM network unlock PIN” or “Enter Network Lock Control Key” if network locked. Windows phones will display the message, “This SIM card can only be used on specific networks. Contact your customer service center for the unlock code”. Other handsets may display different messages such as "Enter special code" or "Enter unlocking code," or in some cases the handset will simply display a message stating that it is locked. Once a valid code is entered, the handset will display "Network unlocked” or “Network unlock successful”.

The unlock code is verified by the handset and is generated by the manufacturer, typically by an algorithm such as a one way hash or trapdoor function. Sometimes big telecom providers change the original factory unlock codes as an extra layer of security against unlocking services. For various big brands such as Samsung and Motorola there is no algorithm but just a random code generator where the unlock codes are programmed in the phone itself and then saved in a big database managed by the manufacturer. For the other brands where the unlock codes are still based on algorithms those are based on the IMEI number and the MCC code and have been reverse-engineered, stolen or leaked. Some handsets can be unlocked using software that generates an unlock code from an IMEI number and country and operator details using the algorithm specific to the handset. Other manufacturers have taken a more cautious approach, and embed a random number in the handset's firmwarethat is retained by the network on whose behalf the lock was applied and the manufacturer. These handsets can still be unlocked by online services that have access to either inside people with the manufacturer or with the telecom networks, or they need to be connected to the computer with a cable where specific software will bypass the security and SIM-unlock the phone. Sometimes this is done by advanced calculations to bypass the security the official way and other times using exploits or overwriting parts of the firmware where the lock status is kept, and often even recover a phone that is bricked or completely damaged in the software sense.


https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SIM_lock

 

[peds48]

Unlocking services[edit]
Some companies offer an online unlocking service. This service requires that individuals who wish to unlock a handset provide their IMEI number and sometimes also country and operator details to the company, either via email or a web site

Enough said.....