From: wb8foz@panix.com   
      
   So some phones are sold as locked to a carrier. It's seemingly a crypto   
   scheme based on the IMEI. At some point, after X number of months, the   
   carrier may unlock the phone.   
      
   I'm interested in the unlocking process. In some cases, the carrier   
   issues the user a code for entering via the keyboard.   
      
   There is also a scheme to allow remote unlocking. I'm curious how that   
   actually works; how does the phone receive the unlock code? This issue   
   is: the phone number may have already been ported to another carrier.   
      
   Some sources say the GSMA trade association had an online database of   
   every GSM phone made, and the locked/unlocked status is stored there;   
   meaning the phone must consult it; how?   
      
   What about non-GSM phones?   
      
   Any cites to the innards of the process?   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)