Asus Garmin A50 Phone Is Back at DSE - Still $199

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    Snotty on 16/02/2011 - 16:47

    see my post above, these come with 2.1 now.

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      supersabroso on 16/02/2011 - 17:27

      Darn, that's unfortunate. Looks like Optus will be getting $80 from us one way or another.

      Good thing is that they are giving away a free sim card and $100 extra credit every month for 6 months if you recharge with $30+ on your first turbo cap recharge.

      https://personal.optus.com.au/web/ocaportal.portal?_nfpb=tru…

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        m2000 on 16/02/2011 - 21:54

        yes but you will need to spend at least $30 each month for 6 months as
        "Credit expires on recharge or after 30 day whichever is earlier." But good offer if the plan suit you

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    googolplex on 16/02/2011 - 20:29

    are you able to find that post or thread?
    I'm not able to see it with Google.

    I wonder if it's possible to downgrade the phone then upgrade again to unlock?

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  jakentta on 16/02/2011 - 19:24

  Well bugger. The phone being locked significantly reduces my chances of selling it in eBay for more than I paid for it. It seems that nowhere on Dick Smith's page does it actually say that it would be unlocked, so no point asking for money back, I guess? Well, it is still a great phone. I just don't really have any use for it.

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    camelgrass on 17/02/2011 - 00:36

    I just don’t really have any use for it.

    lol … so why did you buy it?

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  googolplex on 16/02/2011 - 19:48

  Darkjazz mentioned that you can get a free unlock after six months. Does that mean I have to recharge every month for six months? Or can I just leave it unactivated for 6 months?

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    m2000 on 16/02/2011 - 19:51

    Yes. I have the same question as I do not want to use their simcard at all. (as you can use others such as amaysim…) How do they know when you bought it??

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    supersabroso on 16/02/2011 - 20:50

    I suspect you leave it uncharged for 6 months and use it as a GPS then unlock it for free. (Maybe!!! According to the website it actually says "have been connected for longer than six months") Their unlock service isn't as friendly and easy as Vodafone's.

    Or option 2 is to pay $80 worth of credit and get it unlocked for free. Or if you are desperate, pay $80 to get it unlocked on the spot.

    My plan is to use $80 over 3 months with their turbo cap + free sim.

    (Here is a better link to the one I posted previously which expired)

    optus.com.au/FreeSIM

    PS. I also wish to know how they find out how long you've owned the phone for? I mean otherwise someone could borrow a buddy's Optus sim card dating 7 months ago and claim they want a free unlock.

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      googolplex on 16/02/2011 - 21:18

      +1

      I think what happens when you use your phone the IMEI number as well as the date/time gets logged against the SIM or phone number. Then they can determine how long it has been since you've first used the phone.

      Is it possible to get six months but spend nothing to unlock?

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        m2000 on 16/02/2011 - 21:35

        OK. So you can use any (Optus network) prepaid simcard with some credit left can get connected for 6 months, then call them to unlock. (So it is possible just to spend $5 dollars or less e.g. Use Amaysim card or even Optus prepaid as long as you have connected/use it for 6 months)

        " If you choose to have Network Locking removed within six months of activation or upgrading, there will be an $80 fee charged. Alternatively, if you have recharged up to the value of $80 OR have been connected for longer than six months, no fee will be charged."

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        camelgrass on 16/02/2011 - 22:04

        I imagine that would mean being connected for at least 6 months with an Optus SIM—not amaysim or whatever.

        Activating a $2 prepaid Optus SIM with the phone should do the trick, even if you don't use it or buy any credit for the 6 months before free unlocking. There is no mention of minimum spend.

        I think it's best to call Optus to make sure though.

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        m2000 on 16/02/2011 - 22:25

        Yes I think Optus simcard would be safer! Can you just use the simcard that come with the phone to just activate the card?

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        camelgrass on 17/02/2011 - 00:26

        Can you just use the simcard that come with the phone to just activate the card?

        Sure, why not. I should have realised that an Optus SIM was included with the phone.

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      netsurfer on 16/02/2011 - 23:02

      It depends… If your friend activated a SIM that comes with the phone package, it is possible that Optus has linked the SIM/Pre-paid account to the phone IMEI. However, if your friend bought an Optus prepaid SIM outright, and has been with Optus for a while, then in that case, your friend can help you unlock it (because in that case, Optus does not know which phone your friend has).

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        m2000 on 16/02/2011 - 23:12

        Either case you still have to wait at least 6 months to unlock for free, Right? (assuming you do not want to recharge/spend $80…) Wouldn't they link the phone IMEI to whatever simcard you are using to verify the date it was first used??

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        rewstar on 16/02/2011 - 23:32

        Could you just use a friends sim and after they put $80 of recharge on the phone as they usually use optus then get your friend to call up optus asking to unlock the phone?

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        m2000 on 17/02/2011 - 09:50

        YES you can but you need to do it Right from the start..(ie without registering the enclosed simcard) call them ..Your friend need to call them tell them that this is the simcard you will be using then it will get registered…also just need to make some call from that mobile/simcard I guess..Then the rest is up to you.
        BUT if you register the simcard that come with the package, just have to wait 6 mths or recharge/pay $80…as the phone and the simcard are now together. You also Have to MAKE CALL from the simcard to get it registered with the IMEI…

        confirmed with optus

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  leiiv on 17/02/2011 - 00:53

  Optus will only unlock the phone for free after 6 months (or $80 recharge whichever earlier) since the day you registered the sim card included in the phone, no matter if you're a new or existing customer. If you are an existing customer, you just give them a call and they will ask you the new sim card number and cancel it so you can keep your old sim card. They will also give you $10 bonus credit.
  Most likely they have the sim card number associated with your phone IMEI in their database, because they don't ask you the IMEI number. But I need to confirm this again to make sure that they will know which date is the 6 months period end.

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    m2000 on 17/02/2011 - 08:03

    Ok Pls let us know once you have confirmed with Optus.

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      leiiv on 25/02/2011 - 21:46

      I guess there are some problems with them. They said the phone is unlocked, so they don't have the unlock code. They told me to wait for 10 working days to get the solution.

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  darkjazz on 19/02/2011 - 01:26

  Hi, for those still hesitate on purchase decision, you gonna be quick coz now the item is shown as 'in store only' on DSE and I checked Sydney only found 10 - 15% DSE stores still have stocks, e.g. Eastgardens, Campbelltown Mall, Taree, etc. For fellows who purchased a few of them already, next week might be a good start to sell your stocks for some profit. Well, if DSE does not restock quickly ~~~ :)

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    darkjazz on 19/02/2011 - 15:47

    I am wrong, many stocks available now :) I have been using it for a week and really a good one

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  krish_89 on 19/02/2011 - 18:08

  Hi Guys,

  Sorry about the n00b question, i was wondering if 'Rooting' the phone will void the phone warranty.?

  (2) also - i am having an issue with connecting the WiFi wondering if anyone else has had this issue - it just goes to scanning and stays like that for approx 40 secs or so and then goes to disconnected…. have tried rebooting modem, updating, and still no luck :(

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    Jamie Aust on 20/02/2011 - 10:14

    Wifi works great Krish_89.
    Anyone running a Telstra sim, can you please tell me what you did to get it working.
    As I called Optus, and they told me my phone was already unlocked ( 2 days ago ), however when I put the telstra sim in, it asks for an unlock. I have tried the sim code 4 digit and the PUK code 8 digit still will not unlock. so I guess it is still locked. Optus didnt send an unlock code when i was talking to them, do I need them to do it now then ? Eg if I got to an Optus shop, pay the $80 will it then work on Telstra network. Anyone that HAS done this please reply.

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  supersabroso on 21/02/2011 - 23:36

  Wifi works perfectly fine on my end too. Just make sure to turn wireless manager>data>data connection off to guarantee that it doesn't use your 3G connection for internet.

  GPS is AMAZING, takes about 2 seconds to recalculate if you veer off path. Much better than the "go back and take the…" rubbish you find on other GPS units. Takes about 12 seconds to calculate a path from Canberra to Sydney.

  However unlocking the phone is not awesome, seems like Optus no longer supports the easy unlocking of this phone. I was told to wait 10 working days while they tried to get one from Optus headquarters/Garmin headquarters.

  If anyone has successfully unlocked this phone please share since according to Optus, the IMEI number I provided seems to be unlocked when it's clearly locked to Optus.

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    Jamie Aust on 22/02/2011 - 08:46

    I called 1800 552 608, this is garmin-asus. I was told that they had a few calls about this phone and would look into it, if more people phone in then they WILL have to follow it up.
    The phone is locked to Optus, and was told that it can only be un-locked at a higher level, whatever that is.

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      darkjazz on 02/03/2011 - 13:06

      Any update on it pls? I wanted to unlock it if possible. BTW, DSE seems sold it out now

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  blondemenace on 25/02/2011 - 19:03

  Just for clarity can anyone confirm -

  Does this ship with the Android 2.1 update already installed?

  Do Amaysim sims work on the new ones? (I'm thinking of transferring my number from Optus to them but want to be sure that they do actually work with the locked version of this phone)

  If you have an existing Optus sim (and you say you've been using the phone for 6 mths) will they unlock?

  Thanks

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    leiiv on 25/02/2011 - 21:46

    Yes, it comes with 2.1 installed.

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  RandomNinja on 26/02/2011 - 10:19

  On a side note, does anyone have a good suggestion for a case?

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  rewstar on 07/03/2011 - 13:19

  +2

  if you call up garmin and say you were led to believe the phone was unlocked they will give you the unlock code.
  Just make sure you have your IMEI number ready, my phone is unlocked and using a Telstra sim now :)
  This has also be confirmed on whirlpool.

  This is the phone number i used: 1800552608

  Cheers

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    leiiv on 09/03/2011 - 16:46

    Hi rewstar, what did you tell them exactly?

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  supersabroso on 11/03/2011 - 17:20

  Hey, I also just got my phone unlocked, however now GPS doesn't seem to work any more.

  It stays on 1 bar (yellow not red). Keeps trying to acquire satellites. Normally when it can't acquire satellite data it stays on 1 bar (red) so this is weird.

  I've tried turning off the phone multiple times, tried using the original Optus sim, reinstalled Android v2.1, none of this worked.

  Wondering if you guys tested your satellites after you got your phone unlocked.

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    leiiv on 11/03/2011 - 18:34

    Did you try it out on an open field?

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      supersabroso on 11/03/2011 - 20:04

      +1

      Definitely, tried for like 20 mins.

      In the end I did a factory reset which did the trick, has full reception from inside my room on the 4th floor now :)

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