Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Child-safe in minutes.

Meet the Other Phone.
Child-safe in minutes.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To ask a stupid question about phones?

39 replies

crumpetswithjam · 26/10/2022 10:21

My husband recently upgraded his iPhone. I would like to use the handset for my son, who is 8 and autistic and uses YouTube songs to self regulate.

DH was previously on a Vodafone monthly contract, but that's obviously gone over to the new phone.

Would the phone be 'Locked'? I have no idea what this means Confused

Sorry, if you know this please humour me, as I've never done this before and my brain is a bit frazzled by half term (I would also really like my own phone back off my son!)

OP posts:
DisappointinglyFlatulent · 26/10/2022 10:24

I can only speak for O2 contracts but above a certain level - I think it's iPhone 7 phones are no longer 'locked' to the original provider. It's easy enough to get it unlocked though. Just mail Vodaphone and they should do it for you if it is locked.

Original poster
crumpetswithjam · 26/10/2022 10:27

DisappointinglyFlatulent · 26/10/2022 10:24

I can only speak for O2 contracts but above a certain level - I think it's iPhone 7 phones are no longer 'locked' to the original provider. It's easy enough to get it unlocked though. Just mail Vodaphone and they should do it for you if it is locked.

Email them? Ok. Seems a bit like something my Nan would do.

OP posts:
Original poster
crumpetswithjam · 26/10/2022 10:27

I mean I want DS to have the old handset, sorry if that wasn't clear in OP.

OP posts:
tulips27 · 26/10/2022 10:28

Oh no, sending an email is now a nan thing to do. That cracked me up, op 😆

Keyansier · 26/10/2022 10:29

crumpetswithjam · 26/10/2022 10:27

Email them? Ok. Seems a bit like something my Nan would do.

Show quote history
Hmm I'm sure there's live chat or a phone option if you prefer
WhaaWhaa · 26/10/2022 10:29

Try a different sim in the old iPhone and if it works it's not locked.

tulips27 · 26/10/2022 10:29

I'm dying

Brefugee · 26/10/2022 10:30

Email them? Ok. Seems a bit like something my Nan would do.

FFS OP. You asked and someone told you and you're activating the ageism instead of saying thanks? Lovely

Original poster
crumpetswithjam · 26/10/2022 10:30

tulips27 · 26/10/2022 10:28

Oh no, sending an email is now a nan thing to do. That cracked me up, op 😆

'Dear Mr Vodafone, I have this handset I would like my son to use. It's large and black and rectangular. It has a button on the top. Can you use your 'world wide web' to send magic to it to make videos appear? Many thanks, Old Nana Crumpets'

OP posts:
Original poster
crumpetswithjam · 26/10/2022 10:30

I was joking @Brefugee Confused

OP posts:
LIZS · 26/10/2022 10:31

It should still work on wifi as a device.

Original poster
crumpetswithjam · 26/10/2022 10:32

Also if you want to talk about ageism, a few days ago my DH a was behind a woman of more advanced age in the Vodafone shop for ten minutes while a man showed her how to adjust the volume on her ringer. So maybe not too far off the mark...

OP posts:
QuillBill · 26/10/2022 10:32

Email them? Ok. Seems a bit like something my Nan would do.

You are the one who doesn't know how to unlock a phone. Why don't you ask your son if you think technologically is something that different ages specialise in.

My aunt is 78 and she just moved country and unlocked her iPhone 14 and bought a new sim in Gatwick when she landed.

Original poster
crumpetswithjam · 26/10/2022 10:32

LIZS · 26/10/2022 10:31

It should still work on wifi as a device.

Oooooh I will try it, thanks!

OP posts:
Keyansier · 26/10/2022 10:32

crumpetswithjam · 26/10/2022 10:30

'Dear Mr Vodafone, I have this handset I would like my son to use. It's large and black and rectangular. It has a button on the top. Can you use your 'world wide web' to send magic to it to make videos appear? Many thanks, Old Nana Crumpets'

Show quote history

What is wrong with you and your weird responses? Unless you take it to a dodgy shop then yes, you have to contact the service provider to unlock it. Why are you being so difficult?

WeBuiltThisBuffetOnSausageRoll · 26/10/2022 10:33

Is your DS wanting to use it as an actual phone - as in communicating - with another provider or just as a one-way media consumption device? If so, I don't think it should matter, should it? Doesn't locking just mean that you can't use another provider's services for which you would need a SIM - if it's just being used for accessing the internet via wifi?

At any rate, unlocking isn't difficult via various methods; and Vodafone would have no legal justification in insisting that it stay locked anyway, now that it's not one of THEIR phones (in contract) and is just A phone that now belongs outright to your family.

PloddingAlongHere · 26/10/2022 10:33

You should be able to use it like a mini tablet for you tube if you connect it to your wifi, it wont work outside of your house unless you download something on netflix/bbc iplayer. Just turn it on and see, theres no phone police!

Brefugee · 26/10/2022 10:35

I was joking

not funny, @crumpetswithjam This place is already rife enough with ageism without stupid comments like that to people who are offering advice.

But tbh, it seems pretty straightforward - suck it and see. If it works, it's fine, if not - well, ask your gran or something

Aposterhasnoname · 26/10/2022 10:36

crumpetswithjam · 26/10/2022 10:30

'Dear Mr Vodafone, I have this handset I would like my son to use. It's large and black and rectangular. It has a button on the top. Can you use your 'world wide web' to send magic to it to make videos appear? Many thanks, Old Nana Crumpets'

Show quote history

Says the person who doesn’t know what a phone being locked means.

Try the SIM card you want to use for your son in it, if it works, happy days, if not you need to contact vodaphone to unlock it. You can sometimes get it unlocked at random phone booths, but they will charge you. Provided your husbands contract is fully paid up, vodaphone will do it for free.

Original poster
crumpetswithjam · 26/10/2022 10:36

I'm not being difficult @Keyansier I'm reading and taking on board all the good advice

OP posts:
Brefugee · 26/10/2022 10:36

My aunt is 78 and she just moved country and unlocked her iPhone 14 and bought a new sim in Gatwick when she landed.

IKR? OP is technologically challenged but being rude to people offering advice.

Keyansier · 26/10/2022 10:37

crumpetswithjam · 26/10/2022 10:36

I'm not being difficult @Keyansier I'm reading and taking on board all the good advice

It's not coming across that way. At all.

Original poster
crumpetswithjam · 26/10/2022 10:38

I am aware how clueless I am. Hence the title of this post. I'm so glad you're all pointing it out over and over again because it makes me feel great. And of COURSE I'm not in a position to sniff at anyone who knows more than me. I know that. The joke is all on me.

But I know what to do now so this thread has fulfilled its purpose.

By all means keep on telling me how stupid I am.

OP posts:
Oblomov22 · 26/10/2022 10:43

Aren't you better off getting a family deal with Vodafone? You can adjust Dh's current deal with them, to include you and a cheap simple package for ds1.

savoycabbage · 26/10/2022 10:50

If you are technologically clueless, then I'd have a good think about giving an eight year old a phone. Don't do it just because you have a phone to spare as it's quite a big decision I think.