found a 60i t , how do i bypass the code number and activate it.

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lamont - 12 Feb 2004 22:10 GMT

hello, on tues day i found a motorola 60i (t) on the road, it was covered
with mud, it had moisture behind the display cover, battery was dead also. i
brought this phone back from the dead!. since i dont have a charger because
im not a cell phone owner, i took an old power wheels battery charger, which
happens to be 6volts @400ma (close to the motorola charger) i hooked up some
alligator clips to the charger and left it on the battery for about 7hrs (
charger got very very hot) it worked. the battery is charged and the phone
actually works. it looks banged up but it works.
Now i know some of you might think, hey, give it back to the owner. Hey ,
im sorry, i found it and put a lot of work into it to get it working( its
mine now).
when i snooped around the phone, i found the previous owners phone number
and all of his contact's numbers. i want to delete every thing that he
entered into the phone and get it back to its status when it was new . i see
that it has a feature called reset, which allows you to do this , but when
ever i go to reset it, it keeps asking me for a 4 digit code. my first
question is :
1) is it possible and iff so, how do i get around that code thing or how do
i reset the code to one of my choosing.

also, the phone has AT&T on the front of it, and when i start the phone
up, the att logo is visible on the display , so my other question is.

2) can i activate this phone with a different cell phone company such as
verizon?

and finally

3) this is a digital phone i guess ( model 60i t) , can i use this phone
with one of those prepaid cell phone thingys?

Now, im not a cell phone user at all. I just figured, if i could get this
working with a prepaid company or maybe a cheap 10 dollar a month provider
where i can use it for emergency calls i would do so. I also want to keep it
because it has an alarm that can wake me up and a reminder calender ( i have
bad memory) and it has a digital voice recorder!
i forgot to ask the final question.

4) what is the legal situation reguarding finding cell phones? by the way
this phone is not activated i just get the "welcome to att" recording when i
try to use it to make a call

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N9WOS - 13 Feb 2004 00:53 GMT

I know you may have put a lot of work into it,
but, most likely, it's ESN will be listed as "lost or stolen"
You will not be able to activate it with anyone.

If you are lucky the original owner just threw it out,
or lost it, and didn't report it,
and the phone may not be listed as lost or stolen.

If you have the person's phone number,
you could call him and politely tell him that you found his phone
on the side of the road, or what ever.
Tell him how much work you put into it, Make him feel sorry for you.
Tell him that it looks pretty beat up.
And ask him if wants it back.
Hint to him, that you wish you could keep it,
to play around with it, or possibly use it.

If he does want it back, then work out an agreement.
He may even give you a few bucks for finding it for him.

Most likely he won't want it back.
If he lets you keep it of his own fee will,
then ask him if he reported it stolen.
If he did, see if you can ask him to call his provider
to tell him that he found the phone, and to take
the phone off the black list.
If you made him feel sorry for you previously,
then he may be willing to spend the time to help you.

Then take it into a cellular store and ask them
if they can activate it on a plan.

If the original owner is an A$$ then don't waste your time.
If you wanted to force the issue a bit, you
could see if someone will activate the phone,
If they tell you they can't, because it's been black listed.
Just act surprised, and tell them you got it at a good will store.
Then offer the phone to them, and leave.
It is a lost cause.

Reply to this Message

N9WOS - 13 Feb 2004 01:50 GMT

Another option.
If you can't get ahold of the original owner,
or don't want to call the original owner directly.
You could call 611 on the phone, and
get ahold of a live operator.

Tell them that you got the phone from a thrift shop,
or good will store.(which I have gotten a few from myself.)

And tell them that you are thinking about using the thing,
Then tell them that you were wondering if the phone
had been reported lost or stolen.
And that you was just calling to make sure that the thing
was clean.

It shouldn't be out of the ordinary for them.
some people run up a huge bill on the phone and refuse to pay.
They pawn off the phone at the pawn shop, or what ever.
And the person that gets it next will not know that it is locked
down with debt, or what ever.

Just act like you are totally in the dark about it's original origin,
and they should give you a direct answer to your question.

And on a side note, they won't have any direct link to you,
if they get cranky.

If it is reported stolen, they may ask you to please
turn it in at the nearest cellular store.
If they do, then do as they say.
It wouldn't be fun to have a run in with the police
and have stolen property in your possession.

Reply to this Message

lamont - 13 Feb 2004 04:41 GMT

"OK, HERE'S THE DEAL, I JUST CALLED 611 AND GOT OFF THE PHONE WITH AN
OPERATOR. THE OPERATOR TOLD ME TO PLEASE HOLD AND SHE CALLED THE OWNER. SHE
SAID, WHEN I CALLED 611 HIS INFORMATION POPPED UP ON HER COMPUTER. SHE ALSO
SAID. HE PUT A DENIAL OF SERVICE ON THE PHONE SO IF I TRIED TO HAVE IT
TURNED ON IT WOULD BE BLACKLISTED. SHE TOLD ME THAT SHE DIDNT KNOW WHAT TO
TELL ME EXCEPT THAT I SHOULD TAKE IT TO THE POLICE STATION AND THEY W OULD
FIND THE GUY PERHAPS. (( LETS BE FOR REAL)) COPS DONT HAVE TIME TO TRACK
DOWN CELL PHONE OWNERS UNLESS ITS THE ONLY WAY TO TRACK DOWN A MURDERER
PERHAPS. I BELIEVE THAT THE LAW SAYS IF NOBODY CLAIMS A LOST ITEM FOR 30
DAYS, THE PERSON WHO TURNED IT IN AS LOST BECOMES THE OWNER. BUT IN REALITY,
I BET A COP WOULD JUST PUT THE PHONE IN HIS POCKET , SO IM NOT GOING TO THE
POLICE. IF ATT CANT HELP ME, THAN THE PHONE IS MINE.

I HAVE A QUESTION ABOUT THIS BLACK LIST DENIAL OF SERVICES THING.

1)IS THIS JUST AN ATT BLACK LIST OR WILL A SMALLER (IF YOU WANT TO CALL CELL
COMPANIES SMALL) CELL COMPANY NOT KNOW ABOUT OR NOT CARE ABOUT THE LIST?
2) IS THE PHONE INFORMATION BUILT INTO THE PHONES HARDWARE OR CAN I DELETE
ANY IDENTIFYING INFORMATION FROM THE PHONE WITH ONE OF THOSE USB TO PHONE
CORDS THAT LET YOU ADD RING TONES ETC.
3)AM I CORRECT TO THINK THAT A DIGITAL CELL PHONE IS JUST LIKE A COMPUTER,
WHERE ALL OF THE IDENTIFYING NUMBERS ARE BUILT INTO THE SOFTWARE AND NOT THE
HARD WARE?
4) IF I WERE TO PEEL THE STICKER WITH THE SERIAL NUMBER OFF OF THE BACK OF
THE PHONE WILL ANYBODY STILLACTIVATE IT.

PLEASE KEEP IN MIND THAT I WENT OVER AND ABOVE DOING THE RIGHT THING....PS,
I ALREADY DELETED ALLTHE PHONE NUMBER FROM THE PHONE BECAUSE IM NOT CALLING
ANYBODY FROM A CELL PHONE THAT I FOUND. I DONT WANT TO BE ACCUSED OF
ANYTHING. ALSO, THE OPERATOR SAID THE GUYS HOME NUMBER IS NO LONGER IN
SERVICE SO NOT EVEN ATT CAN REACH HIM.

> Another option.
> If you can't get ahold of the original owner,
[quoted text clipped - 28 lines]
> It wouldn't be fun to have a run in with the police
> and have stolen property in your possession.

Reply to this Message

N9WOS - 13 Feb 2004 05:41 GMT

> I BELIEVE THAT THE LAW SAYS IF NOBODY CLAIMS A LOST ITEM FOR 30
> DAYS, THE PERSON WHO TURNED IT IN AS LOST BECOMES THE OWNER. BUT IN REALITY,
> I BET A COP WOULD JUST PUT THE PHONE IN HIS POCKET , SO IM NOT GOING TO THE
> POLICE. IF ATT CANT HELP ME, THAN THE PHONE IS MINE.

ATT can't bypass the original owners request.
If you turn it into the police, and get a claim number,
then the owner has 30 days to claim the device.
If he doesn't, then it's yours.
But that doesn't help the black list problem.

> I HAVE A QUESTION ABOUT THIS BLACK LIST DENIAL OF SERVICES THING.
>
> 1)IS THIS JUST AN ATT BLACK LIST OR WILL A SMALLER (IF YOU WANT TO CALL CELL
> COMPANIES SMALL) CELL COMPANY NOT KNOW ABOUT OR NOT CARE ABOUT THE LIST?

Any cellular company, will see that it is black listed, when they try to set
it up.
And they will refuse to set it up because of that.

> 2) IS THE PHONE INFORMATION BUILT INTO THE PHONES HARDWARE OR CAN I DELETE
> ANY IDENTIFYING INFORMATION FROM THE PHONE WITH ONE OF THOSE USB TO PHONE
> CORDS THAT LET YOU ADD RING TONES ETC.

It if permanently burned into the phone hardware.
That permanent ESN is required by FCC rules.

> 3)AM I CORRECT TO THINK THAT A DIGITAL CELL PHONE IS JUST LIKE A COMPUTER,
> WHERE ALL OF THE IDENTIFYING NUMBERS ARE BUILT INTO THE SOFTWARE AND NOT THE
> HARD WARE?

The phone number that you program in, is in software writeable memory.
But the esn is not changeable
The ESN is what is what they blacklist.

> 4) IF I WERE TO PEEL THE STICKER WITH THE SERIAL NUMBER OFF OF THE BACK OF
> THE PHONE WILL ANYBODY STILLACTIVATE IT.

They will still have to have the ESN to activate it.
The ESN is one of the things that it uses to identify it's self to the
network.
If they can't find a sticker when they program it, they will just look at
the ESN when it's in programming mode, and they will end up finding out
that it is black listed.
When he tries to activate it, it will be black listed, and totally
worthless.

> PLEASE KEEP IN MIND THAT I WENT OVER AND ABOVE DOING THE RIGHT THING....PS,
> I ALREADY DELETED ALLTHE PHONE NUMBER FROM THE PHONE BECAUSE IM NOT CALLING
> ANYBODY FROM A CELL PHONE THAT I FOUND. I DONT WANT TO BE ACCUSED OF
> ANYTHING. ALSO, THE OPERATOR SAID THE GUYS HOME NUMBER IS NO LONGER IN
> SERVICE SO NOT EVEN ATT CAN REACH HIM.

That is why I would call the number that was programmed into the phone.
Because when he lost the one you have now, he would have changed his number
to the new phone.
Or you could call his contacts, and see if any of them can get you in
contact with the original owner.

The ONLY person that can remove that order is the original owner!
Without his OK, the phone is a fancy paperweight.

You won't be accused of anything.
You are just trying to find the owner of something you found.
There is nothing wrong with that.

Now........ one possibility, if you were really wanted to work the channels.
Turn the phone in to the police, let it go through it's 30 days.

(They won't pocket it themselves.
Lost cellular phones are mostly worthless.
as you are finding out.)

When you get it back.
call ATT on the phone, at the police station.
Tell them that you want the original owners order revoked
base on the fact that the phone is now legally yours.
And let the police person that handles the lost items tell
the ATT operator that it has went though legal channels.
And the police can tell the operator the proper claim number
that will verify your claim.

Or the police station can remove it from the list themselves.
(if possible)

The police go though a lot of stolen electronics,
and cell phones would not be anything new to them.

But in the end, it would be easier to go on ebay,
and buy a $60 phone.
Or go to the local cellular stores and ask if any of them
have any used phones that they would be willing to sell
to someone that is looking for a cheap phone to
put on a prepaid account.
you may get one for free if you are lucky.

Or go to the thrift shops.
You can usually get one for a few dollars.

Reply to this Message

N9WOS - 13 Feb 2004 06:03 GMT

And one more way I can think of.

Turn it in, and get the claim number.

As you say, the police won't take the
time to find the original owner.
So

In 30 days, you can claim it.
And make sure to get the full documentation of your claim.
It will show that you are the owner of the phone with that ESN.
You will have full legal right to it.

Take that documentation to the nearest ATT wireless store.
SHOW it to them and ask for the restriction to be removed.
If the person is reasonable, he should be able to do it.

Reply to this Message

ABC - 15 Feb 2004 05:14 GMT

Bottom line...

You are a stupid nutbag. Get a clue moron.

f.cking IDIOT!!

>"OK, HERE'S THE DEAL, I JUST CALLED 611 AND GOT OFF THE PHONE WITH AN
>OPERATOR. THE OPERATOR TOLD ME TO PLEASE HOLD AND SHE CALLED THE OWNER. SHE
[quoted text clipped - 60 lines]
>> It wouldn't be fun to have a run in with the police
>> and have stolen property in your possession.

Reply to this Message

PDA Man - 13 Feb 2004 17:01 GMT

You guys make it sound like he just took a rusted out Model T and restored
it to a Mint condition Street Rod. Gimme a break. First off, no one asked
him to do this, he took it upon himself. So he cleaned up the phone , he
didnt just perform brain surgery. Gimme a break.

> Tell him that it looks pretty beat up.
> And ask him if wants it back.
[quoted text clipped - 23 lines]
> Then offer the phone to them, and leave.
> It is a lost cause.

> hello, on tues day i found a motorola 60i (t) on the road, it was covered
> with mud, it had moisture behind the display cover, battery was dead also. i
[quoted text clipped - 37 lines]
> this phone is not activated i just get the "welcome to att" recording when i
> try to use it to make a call

Reply to this Message

N9WOS - 13 Feb 2004 17:48 GMT

> You guys make it sound like he just took a rusted out Model T and restored
> it to a Mint condition Street Rod. Gimme a break. First off, no one asked
> him to do this, he took it upon himself. So he cleaned up the phone , he
> didnt just perform brain surgery. Gimme a break.

Yes, you are 100% correct
It is just a dang phone.

If he was smart, he just should of left it there.
Or taken it right to the nearest store or police station,
then forgotten about it.

But he his picking the hard road, and bitching
about how stupid he is, won't change his mind.

The only way to show him his position is to
show him exactly how hard, the hard road is.
If he still wants to go about it that way,
it's not are problem.
But he may get the idea that it is kinda hopeless.
And hopefully, he will rid himself of the phone,
and he should consider himself better for doing so.

He should just take it to the ATT store
and part company with it.
But only he can make that call.

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