I have my atrix running stock 2.3.4. Im going to Italy next semester for one semester, and i was wondering what people usually do when they are abroad. Should I unlock my atrix and if so how? Or should i buy a phone there in Italy? Or is it possible to just put my sim card in a blackberry for bbm? What are my options here?
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- Thread starter skins30
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- motorola atrix 4g
You'll want to research what frequencies the carriers in Italy support first, but the Atrix rolls on 800, 900, 1800, and 1900. Those frequencies are pretty universal so you should be fine. Orange supports them for sure.
To unlock simply call AT&T and give them your IMEI number and ask for the SIM unlock code. They'll give you an unlock code. Then all you need to do is boot the phone up with a non-AT&T SIM and put in the code. I called AT&T last night for this and got the code with no problems.
If by chance they won't give you the code (account status, longevity with AT&T, etc. factor into it) there are third party sites that you can pay to give you the code, as the codes originate with Motorola originally. Those sites and their fees, discount codes, etc. have been covered in other threads.
To unlock simply call AT&T and give them your IMEI number and ask for the SIM unlock code. They'll give you an unlock code. Then all you need to do is boot the phone up with a non-AT&T SIM and put in the code. I called AT&T last night for this and got the code with no problems.
If by chance they won't give you the code (account status, longevity with AT&T, etc. factor into it) there are third party sites that you can pay to give you the code, as the codes originate with Motorola originally. Those sites and their fees, discount codes, etc. have been covered in other threads.
WolfmanRobby
Android Enthusiast
You have a few options.
The easiest would be the most expensive and that would be to pay for international roaming from your carrier....
Easy, but $$$$$Next easiest, and not quiet as expensive would be to pick up a CHEAP pre-paid phone from a carrier over there. Use it and toss it when you are done. We have guys form our office that travel to different countries in Europe from time to time that prefer this method. They say they can pick up a cheap, pre-paid flip phones at the airport over there.
Next would be to unlock the phone and get a sim from a carrier over there. If you check the "Support and Troubleshooting" sub-forum, you will find instructions. However, you need to make sure there is a carrier over there the Atrix is compatible with. Remember, different carriers use different radio bands. Even here in the States, if you unlock an AT&T 3G phone and put a T-Mobile Sim in, you will only get EDGE (2G) as they use different radio bands for their 3g/4G services. So, make sure it will work.
However, you can't just pop your SIM into a BB and have BBM. BlackBerry Messenger requires a BIS service account from your carrier so that you can connect through the BIS servers (I was a BB Guru for years!). You would have to have your AT&T data plan changed to a BB Plan, then add international roaming to it to be able to use a BB with BBM and your SIM... Not cheap!!!!
As far as I can tell the frequency ranges that the Atrix uses (GSM 850, 900, 1800, 1900MHz, UTMS 850, 1900, 2100MHz) are used throughout Europe. Specifically 900, 1800, and 2100. The 1700MHz range used by T-Mobile for 3G/HSPA+ in the states isn't supported by the Atrix which is why we only get Edge with it. I don't think the 1700MHz range is used outside of the US and her territories.
The US Atrix and Europe Atrix support the same frequencies, so you should be OK.
The US Atrix and Europe Atrix support the same frequencies, so you should be OK.
WolfmanRobby
Android Enthusiast
Provided he checks with the carrier that he would get the SIM card from and makes sure they use those frequencies. While those bands are used, they are not used by all carriers.
That's what we run into with our guys that travel Europe for speaking engagements.
To avoid that, most of them have chosen to just deal with the cheap, pre-paid cell's they can dispose of. (Why none of them ever bring them back and "Sell" them to someone else that might be going over there, I don't know. I hate to say this, but I have a lot of thoughtless co-workers and I'm reminded of that every time I go to get a cup of coffee and find 3 pots, on the burners, and none of them have a full cup worth left in them!)
At the very least I'd think they'd want to keep the phone for next time.
Orange I believe sells the Atrix so they should be a good bet. I've seen weird frequencies used in Germany so definitely look up what will/won't work.
Don't get me started on coffee. What irks me is when I start a pot brewing, go to my desk, only to come back five minutes later to find it completely gone. Vultures man, they're all vultures.
Orange I believe sells the Atrix so they should be a good bet. I've seen weird frequencies used in Germany so definitely look up what will/won't work.
Don't get me started on coffee. What irks me is when I start a pot brewing, go to my desk, only to come back five minutes later to find it completely gone. Vultures man, they're all vultures.