Unlocking Sequence tips for W810i U.S. version

Posted by preacherzson
I wanted to unlock my W810i Walkman phone, so I called AT&T and asked for my unlocking code. I told them I would be going to Europe this summer, and the rep asked me for my IMEI, and provided the unlocking code on the spot, along with an unlocking sequence- time elapsed: maybe 10 minutes.
(They'll also walk you through getting the IMEI via keyboard shortcut while you're on the phone with them. The keyboard sequence is:
*#06#
However, this will have an extra two digits of device version info (which you can completely ignore. http://developer.sonyericsson[....]inumberphonetoyourprogram.jsp)

(If you call, make sure the rep requests your IMEI #. I called back to clarify the sequence, and the rep walked me through a SIM unlock instead. Just something to make sure you have sorted out.)

Obviously (if you do a couple of forum searches), the keypad sequence to get to the unlock menu is:
left arrow, asterisk, asterisk, left arrow
or
<**<

Of course, that didn't work for me....but after digging around, I found out there are a few steps that needed to be done to get the W810i U.S.A. models configured so I could input the code.

1. Goto "Menu", "General", "Startup Menu", and select "Show": this will put the phone into flight mode which gives you the choice when you power up the phone to start only the walkman/music functions, or the whole phone.

2. Return to "General"; goto "Shortcuts" and deactivate "Navig. Key Right" and "Navig. Key Left". Before I did this, all attempts to input the <**< code didn't work. I kept getting immediately transferred to the My Pictures function of the phone.

3. Power cycle the phone and now you are ready to rock! Input the <**< code. Remember, you won't see any change on the screen when you press the left arrow key; you'll only see the asterisks when you dial. But, if you enter it correctly, you will be taken to a new menu screen.

4. The menu you'll see will be titled "Personalize", and will have 4 options with little gold/yellow padlock icons indicating the lock/unlock state. The four options should be:
"Network", "Network Subset", "SP", and "Corporate".

5. Select "Network"; the next menu will be Titled "MNC Length" and have 2 options:
"MNC2" or "MNC3"

6. Select "MNC2"; the next menu will be titled "Lock(Net) 5", and will show a 3-d gray locked padlock icon, below which will be the letters "NCK:"

Enter your phone's unlock code, and hit "OK", and voila! your phone is now network unlocked.

6a. Presumably the number next to the Menu title decreases for each incorrect attempt...What is certain, however, is that after 5 failed attempts, your phone (according to the AT&T rep.) "permanently locks" to the network and "AT&T cannot unlock it."

Whether such is the case and 5 failed efforts is the "end all, be all", I cannot say nor am I game to find out. At that point you may want to visit the part of the forum where the ladies and guys with the service cables and debranding protocol work their miracles.

Good luck, and enjoy your new-found phone freedom!