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Hardware Restriction - E220

I hate it when I buy a new piece of hardware that has intentionally been restricted by the manufacturer or provider to control how it should be used.

Nokia will only allow signed software to be installed onto their phones where a developer has to go through a convoluted process to obtain certification to allow their software to be installed. I have come across freeware that I wish to install but it needs me to get it signed beforehand. Apple lock their phones down so no background applications can run which could potentially hog the CPU and disrupt the experience when using the phone. Then you get mobile network providers that intentionally lock their phones/USB Modems to the network and charge an extortionate fee to unlock them.

Thankfully both the Nokia and Apple phones can both be jailbroken to get around these restrictions although it might be deemed as illegal by each Manufacturer (just google for information).

I have recently switched from a 3 mobile contract to PAYG but the modem was still locked to Three. Seeing as I was out of contract, now owned the modem and didn't want to part with any money to buy the unlock code, I decided to Google for any potential solutions of permanently unlocking my Huawei E220 modem so I can use any sim card.

I came across the following site http://www.unlocke220.blogspot.com/ which has simple instructions for windows (I ran this on Windows XP under vmware on linux). I had an issue trying to complete the flash.bin dump to a file so switched to a windows 2000 machine under vmware, however it should work okay under windows on a dedicated PC.

Now the restriction has been removed I have tried an O2 and Virgin Mobile SIM in the modem and they both work.

It is nice to be free again!

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