Sprint's SCH-W531 from Samsung in the flesh

We've got some good news for globetrotters on Sprint: there's a new handset in the pipeline to replace that dirty, worn, scratched up A790 of yours. The new SCH-W531, which the scoop-rific folks over at the FCC sniffed out for us, looks like your run of the mill midrange clamshell at first glance, but a quick removal of the battery cover will reveal that all-important GSM slot -- just what CDMA subscribers desperately need when they hop the pond and expect their phone to go with them. Other features include a 1.3 megapixel cam, Bluetooth (after all, businesspeople just look silly without wireless headsets these days), and a grand total of 43MB of memory. Shouldn't be too long now before we see this one shipping.

[(Unverified) Posted Jan 27th 2008 6:56PM]

I have spent a bit of time and have written-up the instructions provided by Hamish and GreeZe (plus others) on the following post:

http://hayden-tennent.blogspot.com/2008/01/switching-off-sim-lock-on-samsung-w531.html

I would also like to get some feedback on other Field Serv codes which have been successfully used.

Hopefully this helps.

Cheers.

[(Unverified) Posted Dec 13th 2006 11:11AM]

Dont these handset only have Euro/rest of the world GSM Radios? Missing 1900 and 850 frequencies. So you cant use the gsm in the states? If they had both the I760 would be mine!

[(Unverified) Posted May 30th 2008 10:29PM]

I tried to follow these instructions but don't know if I got it right. I am, as they say"techologigly challenged"!!!!!! If could meet anyone in Christchurch that is better at this sort of thing then that would be great.
Walter Muller

Phone [phone]

[(Unverified) Posted Dec 13th 2006 11:23AM]

Well, I think that's because this carrier makes money off of CDMA alone. If they sold you a phone to use GSM on in the States wouldn't that be shooting themselves in the foot by letting people jump ship like that? Of course, we may see phones like http://cn.samsungmobile.com/cn/phone/phone_view/phone_feature.jsp?p_pfid=SCH-W579 with tri-band GSM as well as CDMA because of Alltel, which now has a GSM network as well as its CDMA network.

[(Unverified) Posted Dec 13th 2006 4:00PM]

Totally false rumor.

[(Unverified) Posted Dec 13th 2006 5:09PM]

Agree...Alltel isn't embracing GSM - they're a CDMA carrier, and have no plans to switch.

[(Unverified) Posted Dec 13th 2006 7:52PM]

This has just dropped here in New Zealand on the Telecom CDMA network at the same time as the launch of the Rev A data network, and of course locked down to prevent use on the local Vodafone GSM system here. It will be set up with a O2 SIM sourced from the UK for roaming purposes, and has GSM 900 and 1800MHz supported.

[(Unverified) Posted Dec 14th 2006 7:51AM]

Well, they certainly DO have a GSM network that covers about half of the States (Checked a Japanese provider's roaming page- they're listed with 1900MHz GSM)- why have GSM if they're not going to make use of it?

[(Unverified) Posted Dec 14th 2006 2:42PM]

They DO make use of it. They charge Cingular, T-mobile, Cincinnati Bell, and every other domestic GSM carriers big bucks to roam on it. It's a moneymaker, to be sure. They just don't sell their own branded service on it.

[(Unverified) Posted Dec 14th 2006 7:30PM]

Yes, I noticed. The roaming page stated a difference of about 60-70cents per minute (translated from yen)between roaming on Cingular and T-Mobile and roaming on Alltel.

[(Unverified) Posted Apr 27th 2007 5:02AM]

At thegeekzoner dot com I have posted instructions on how to unlock the GSM part of this phone. It works happily with all SIM cards including Vodafone Prepay in New Zealand

[(Unverified) Posted Jun 14th 2007 6:34PM]

Hey Tony. I have looked everywhere and can't seem to find the unlock code. Can you help me?

[(Unverified) Posted Jun 21st 2007 4:13AM]

hi
i just got a w531 adn telecom have upgraded it and the sequence
menu # 1 0 159753 wont work now
please help

[(Unverified) Posted Sep 14th 2007 6:48PM]

well im a 12 year old and i was able to find a differnt code thing it should work after telecom upgrade it i dont know yet coz i havent got one yet i guess i will find out when my birthday comes :) :)
(yay new fone!!!!)
ok the codes i found are :
menu, 1, 0, 1, 5, 9, 7, 5, 3 then go down to the * one which should say sim unlock and just change that then put ur sim card in, go to network select and choose card new zealand or (no. 2)

the second code i found is this (if the 1st one dosent work)
press menu #, 1, 0, 1, 2, 3, 5, 8, 0, * and select off

your fone will power of and on, you will be given 2 options "telecom CDMA or New Zealand GSM"
select newzealnd GSM for the vodafone new zealand network and press ok.

[(Unverified) Posted Aug 17th 2007 7:22AM]

hey would really like unlock codes for samsung w531 to use vodaphone sims help please

[(Unverified) Posted Sep 26th 2007 7:16PM]

*AHEM* let me repeat my self.

I HAVE THE CODES (BOTH OF THEM HERE ARE STEEP BY STEEP INSTRUCTIONS ON HOW TO UNLOCK YOUR SAMSUNG W531.

FIRST CODE:
1.FROM THE STANDBY SCREAN (OR JUST OPEN THE FLIP) PRESS MENU, 1, 0, 1, 5, 9, 7, 5, 3, *.

2. THEN TWO OPTIONS SHOULD COME UP IT SHOULD SAY SIM LOCK JUST TERN THAT OF.

3. YOUR FONE WILL POWER OF AND ON AGAIN JUST WAOT FOR IT TO DO THAT

4. THEN TERN THE FONE OF AND TAKE THE BATERY COVER OF AND TAKE THE BATERY OUT AND PUT YOUR SIM CARD IN AND PUT THE BATERY AND THE COVER BACK ON AND TERN THE FONE ON AGAIN GO TO NETWORK SELECTION AND SELECT CARD NZ OR NZ GSM WHAT EVER IT SAYS.
------------------------
SECOND CODE:
1. PRESS MENU #, 1, 0, 1, 2, 3, 5, 8, 0, *
2. THEN TWO OPTIONS SHOULD COME UP IT SHOULD SAY SIM LOCK JUST TERN THAT OFF.

3. YOUR FONE WILL POWER OF AND ON AGAIN JUST WAIT FOR IT TO DO THAT

4. THEN TERN THE FONE OF AND TAKE THE BATERY COVER OF AND TAKE THE BATERY OUT AND PUT YOUR SIM CARD IN AND PUT THE BATERY AND THE COVER BACK ON AND TERN THE FONE ON AGAIN GO TO NETWORK SELECTION AND SELECT CARD NZ OR NZ GSM WHAT EVER IT SAYS.

AND THEN AFTER YOU HAVE DONE ALL OV THAT VERRY HARD WORK *COFF* *COFF* YOU ENJOY USING VODAFONE NZ OR WATEVA YOUR LOCAL GSM NETWORK IS CALLD.

[(Unverified) Posted Oct 4th 2007 8:56PM]

Hi Hamish,

Neither of the two solutions you suggest (1) PRESS MENU, 1, 0, 1, 5, 9, 7, 5, 3, *. or (2) PRESS MENU #, 1, 0, 1, 2, 3, 5, 8, 0, * work.

I brought my phone September 28 -- am wondering whether Telecom have changed the codes?

Any further suggestions?

[(Unverified) Posted Oct 5th 2007 6:30PM]

Hi All,

Problem resolved. Hamish's suggestion of September 26 is correct---but you need to enter the code in the correct sequence. His code of 123580 worked for me. (What was throwing me out was his use of the # and * symbols).

Press Menu, then Settings, then Display. Press 0---this will bring up a hidden menu---a padlock symbol with the words Field serv. Entering the code of 123580 brought up for me a Debug screen. Scroll down until you find the Sim lock. Highlight it and press Ok---this will now give you the option of turning it Off.

Once you've done this the phone will power down and then power back up again.

Insert your Vodafone Sim card and like Hamish says, you'll now enjoy using Vodafone NZ or whatever your local GSM network is called.

Thank you Hamish.

[(Unverified) Posted Oct 12th 2007 5:53AM]

i couldent of put it better my self

[(Unverified) Posted Oct 29th 2007 9:48PM]

Hi, thanx for the info but my situation was a little different, i used your code to get in to the menu

PRESS MENU #, 1, 0

but had to use the code:

159753

then select ok, seems it's a combination of your 2 original codes.