The T-Mobile G1 can now be unlocked. A site dubbed Unlock T-Mobile G1 offers to unlock your Android phone for a fee - a not very “open-source-thing” to do. The guys over at Android Site are still happy about the unlocking possiblity, even if it is not giving you all features. The unlocking requires $22.95 and sending your phones IMEI code to the unlockers. You will get an unlocking code in return that you need when you put in a new SIM card in your G1.
You can use the unlocked G1, but apparently you cannot log in into Gmail and other Google services rendering the G1 half useful as all data is in the G Cloud.
G1 users interested in unlocking their device will have to fork over the $23 and hope that it works. The Android Site reports, “After placing an order including your IMEI code you will receive an eight-digit unlock code for your device. After you receive your unlock code you insert a non-T-Mobile SIM card and the G1 will prompt for an unlock code, enter the unlock code provided to you and hit unlock. You will then know the device is unlocked with a notification that reads ‘Network Unlock Successful’, it is as simple as that.”
There is one big caveat. The G1 will be unlocked, but it will also be mostly unusable. The Android Site folks tested it out. As soon as they put in the new SIM, they were logged out of their Google accounts and were unable to log back in, even with the proper credentials. This means Gmail and the Android Market won’t be available once the G1 is unlocked.
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