Samsung J1 SM-J120W

[canucks4life]

Hey guys...anybody have a good guess which carrier Samsung J1 SM-J120W would be locked on was a gift from a friends boss...trying to get it unlocked using eBay but think they need to know which carrier as well IMEI.

I tried a Telus SIM and asks for network unlock PIN so it is not from them.

[canucks4life]

Yeah might have to try Samsung...so far tried Telus, Wind/Freedom, Bell, Virgin SIM cards all asking for network unlock PIN upon bootup...don't have a Fido nano-SIM.

***UPDATE*** Samsung support was actually quite helpful he couldn't find the unlock code right away but opened up a ticket and will be expecting an Email within 3-4 business days.

[will13am]

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@wetcoaster wrote:

There have been several reports that unlocked Samsung phones lock to the first SIM inserted. If you don't find an unlock code in the box: Some of those people contacted Samsung Canada through their website chat and got their phones unlocked that way.

(Disclaimer: I'm not a Samsung user.)

Edit: @will13am was way faster and more comprehensive! 😉

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Just by 3 minutes...   It doesn't seem to matter what carrier the phone is locked to, Samsung will give the code out anyway.  To the companies that sell unlocked codes, the carrier information is only to help them narrow down which database to go after.  Then there is pricing based on carrier.  Since Samsung is the manufacturer, they can look up anything they produced.  Remember IMEI is unique to the device. 

[wetcoaster]

There have been several reports that unlocked Samsung phones lock to the first SIM inserted. If you don't find an unlock code in the box: Some of those people contacted Samsung Canada through their website chat and got their phones unlocked that way.

(Disclaimer: I'm not a Samsung user.)

Edit: @will13am was way faster and more comprehensive! 😉

[will13am · Accepted solution]

@canucks4life, you can get the IMEI off the phone (settings, about phone, status, IMEI information).  As for which carrier, I was able to locate two carriers, Bell and Telus both in the prepaid section.  One way to test what carrier it isn't is by inserting and SIM and if it works, then it is not that carrier.  Having said that, I read on RFD that Samsung is actually unlocking phones for customers.  See thread link below.  You might want to give that route a go.

https://www.bestbuy.ca/en-ca/product/samsung-telus-samsung-galaxy-j1-8gb-smartphone-black-prepaid-sa...

https://www.bell.ca/Mobility/Products/Samsung-Galaxy-J1-Prepaid

https://forums.redflagdeals.com/bell-wont-unlock-phones-non-customers-2149893/2/#p28586082

http://www.samsung.com/ca/support/?CID=AFL-hq-mul-0813-11000170