14 DAY TRIAL // The UK company 24/7 Mobile Solutions released in April last year an unlocking chip called SIMable, which users can attach to their SIM cards in order to make the mobile phone believe it has been unlocked. The company announced today that almost 70 percent of the online sales of the SIMable were to the DACHS region of Germany, Austria and Switzerland alone.
Users that would like to use the SIMable chip do not need any additional software solution for that, nor do they have to make physical modifications to their handsets. The chip can be installed and working in a matter of seconds. The fact that it has seen such traction in the DACHS region points towards the fact that Apple iPhone 3G and Nokia BB5 users are looking for an easy solution to unlock their devices.
Since it was launched, the SIMable chip was sold in over 10,000 units online, not only because it can work with iPhone 3G, but also given its compatibility with all Nokia handsets, except for N96. Moreover, the unlocking chip is transferable from handset to handset, allowing for usage for an infinite number of times.
Each chip is shipped along with a customized cutting press that allows users to make a hole in the SIM card so that the SIMable could be attached to it. After aligning the chip with the SIM card, they both go inside the locked handset. According to the company, there will be no interference between the chip and the phone, meaning that the full manufacturer’s warranty remains intact. As soon as the SIMable is removed from the device, it goes back to its locked state.
“The interest from these three countries, and Germany in particular has been huge but we are not complaining. This highlights not only how popular the iPhone has been, but also how operators are making life difficult by network locking more and more handsets,” stated Managing Director John O’Prey.
The chip can be purchased from the company's website for only 18 Euros (US$23 or £16.99), to which a small delivery charge is added to cover any destination worldwide.