I'm currently looking to purchase a GSM cell phone in Canada to bring to CH. Are there any place in CH that can unlock phones and at what cost? Or would it be better/cheaper to have such a phone unlocked here?

Thanks,

J

PS: Do they still call cell phones "handy". I remember that being the local name in Austria.

Germany and Austria call them Handy's, here they're Natel's.
Why not wait and buy one here? Vat is only 7.6%, and you'll probably want to get a Swiss chip too if you're staying long term.

The newest phones are pretty tricky to unlock. Stands to reason really that the manufacturers are making them more and more secure, because as you probably know they substantially subsidise the cost of the handset.

If you had an old phone that you wanted to unlock, there are tons of online resources to help you do that such as this one but if it's a case of buying a new phone, I would agree with gj76 that your best bet is to buy one here.

Depends on what make/model it is. I've heard you can download a cracker for Nokia handys. But that's just a rumor. I'd never, ever do it. Honest.

I've bought a couple in the past and sent to an acquaintance in the UK to get unlocked in the high street.

Well known brands like Nokia, Sony Ericsson etc generally cost about a tenner. More "exotic" names cost up to £15.

HTH

I managed to pick up a Nokia cell and unlocked it myself via an online site. Thanks anyways.

In the case that someone searching our site is looking to unlock a Nokia phone, I unhesitatingly recommend checking the following link: http://forums.slickdeals.net/showthr...319072&page=11

This information worked for my wife and I!! I hope y'all have the same luck!

And to save some time, the instructions found at the above link are below.

Nokia 6061 Unlock Instructions
------------------------------

1. Goto the Nokia Calculator at http://unlock.nokiafree.org. There are two calculators there. Use "Nokia Dct4 online Calculator". But, DO NOT use "Nokia Dct3 online Calculator".
2. Enter your IMEI code (Press *#06# at your phone keyboard, it will give your IMEI as the site says).
3. Pick Network as "USA - Cingular Pacific Bell Wireless"
4. Pick GEN as "asic 6"
5. Pick Nokia Model as "ASIC 2"
6. Press "Nokia DCT4 Unlock Codes !" button
7. You should get around 7 different codes on 7 lines. Use the first one. It worked for all my three phones.
8. Put a SIM card from a differnt carrier in your 6061. Power it on. It gives some "Phone Restriction" message. It gives you option to Undo. Press your OK button (big round steel button in the middle of navigation bar).
9. It gives you dialog to enter your unlock code. Enter your unlock code. To get P hit the * key 3 times, to get W hit the * key 4 times. After entering code, press OK button. You should see a message like "Restriction OFF".
10. CONGRATULATIONS !!!. You unlocked your phone.

Hi friend the best solution for unlocking your gsm mobile online is by logging onto www.onlinegsmunlock.com it is reliable ..............

Hi
I know this might sound rather stupid, but can you unlock your sim card even if you are roaming using these online websites based in the US?
I have a blackberry Pearl 8110 and it is locked to O2. I have a UK contract. I haven't seen O2 here and when I googled it it didn't come up. So I am guessing there is no O2 here. Right or wrong?
I am in Lausanne.
Thanks

No O2 here. So it depends on the contract. Some carriers will let you unlock your phone after you've had it for a certain amount of time. They may also have a special dispensation since you left the UK. They may also charge a fee for it.