MTN remove dual sim functionality on phones

A

aadili

Active Member
Joined
Mar 27, 2015
Messages
90
Reaction score
0
Location
Sandton
Hi all,

I have recently become aware that MTN removes the dual sim capability of all their phones. anyone have more info on this?
why would they do this, and more importantly, is there a way to get around it? do they change the actual hardware of the phone or is it a software change that can be undone by reloading the OS?

P.S this is my first thread post :)

regards
Aadil
 
no.

most manufacturers have two variants, a duel sim and a single sim device. MTN does not change anything, they simply only get the single sim phones.
 
IMO this is once again false marketing and advertising by a Service Provider.

They cannot advertise that the phone you get is a Huawei P9 and it has had some of it's functionality disabled because then it's not the P9 it's altered.

Just saying and hopefully someone takes them to task.
 
Baxteen said:
no.

most manufacturers have two variants, a duel sim and a single sim device. MTN does not change anything, they simply only get the single sim phones.
Click to expand...
It is been reported that MTN do network-lock the primary SIM socket on some dual-SIM devices.
 
ginggs said:
It is been reported that MTN do network-lock the primary SIM socket on some dual-SIM devices.
Click to expand...

interesting.

I dont understand why you would get a contract with MTN in the first place...
 
aadili said:
Hi all,

I have recently become aware that MTN removes the dual sim capability of all their phones. anyone have more info on this?
why would they do this, and more importantly, is there a way to get around it? do they change the actual hardware of the phone or is it a software change that can be undone by reloading the OS?

P.S this is my first thread post :)

regards
Aadil
Click to expand...

It depends on the handset. Some are released in dual- and single-sim hardware variants. Others are just different software versions on the same hardware.

For example, a P8 Lite from Vodacom and MTN has an OS version with the second SIM disabled. Cell C and Telkom sell the same phone with the second sim enabled. It's the same hardware. You can flash a different OS onto the MTN/Vodacom phone and use the second SIM slot. That's what I did.

They do it to protect revenue. They don't want you to be able to use data/minutes/etc from other providers on that handset. For example, I run Afrihost data on a second sim on a "Vodacom phone".
 
ginggs said:
It is been reported that MTN do network-lock the primary SIM socket on some dual-SIM devices.
Click to expand...

I don't think so. As in, the first SIM slot can use a Vodacom/MTN/whatever card. Afaik it's only FNB that has network-locked phones in recent memory.

They do, however, remove the second SIM functionality from the version of the OS they load on some phones.
 
proze said:
It depends on the handset. Some are released in dual- and single-sim hardware variants. Others are just different software versions on the same hardware.

For example, a P8 Lite from Vodacom and MTN has an OS version with the second SIM disabled. Cell C and Telkom sell the same phone with the second sim enabled. It's the same hardware. You can flash a different OS onto the MTN/Vodacom phone and use the second SIM slot. That's what I did.

They do it to protect revenue. They don't want you to be able to use data/minutes/etc from other providers on that handset. For example, I run Afrihost data on a second sim on a "Vodacom phone".
Click to expand...

Problem is, once you've done that, you've voided the warranty on said phone...
 
proze said:
It depends on the handset. Some are released in dual- and single-sim hardware variants. Others are just different software versions on the same hardware.

For example, a P8 Lite from Vodacom and MTN has an OS version with the second SIM disabled. Cell C and Telkom sell the same phone with the second sim enabled. It's the same hardware. You can flash a different OS onto the MTN/Vodacom phone and use the second SIM slot. That's what I did.

They do it to protect revenue. They don't want you to be able to use data/minutes/etc from other providers on that handset. For example, I run Afrihost data on a second sim on a "Vodacom phone".
Click to expand...

Sorry if this is a stupid question, but how do I go about reloading the operating system on my P8 lite to get the dual phone functionality?
 
Yes, they do. Vodacom also does that. I suppose they want to stop you from using a second cheaper sim for data from another supplier.
I have a P9 lite that was locked to one sim. Unlocked it with help from old friend Google. Warranty probably shot, but you can restore original software.
 
For P9 Lite there is a toolbox available that take you step for step on how to do it.

VNS-L21-L22-L31 Toolkit
 
Baxteen said:
interesting.

I dont understand why you would get a contract with MTN in the first place...
Click to expand...

1. Because i cant afford a new phone cash.
2. 50gigs mobile data per month for less than R200 bucks works out cheaper than adsl line+data
3. i get LTE speeds at home which is much faster than any adsl package i could afford
4. you are not helpfull...

Aadil
 
proze said:
It depends on the handset. Some are released in dual- and single-sim hardware variants. Others are just different software versions on the same hardware.

For example, a P8 Lite from Vodacom and MTN has an OS version with the second SIM disabled. Cell C and Telkom sell the same phone with the second sim enabled. It's the same hardware. You can flash a different OS onto the MTN/Vodacom phone and use the second SIM slot. That's what I did.

They do it to protect revenue. They don't want you to be able to use data/minutes/etc from other providers on that handset. For example, I run Afrihost data on a second sim on a "Vodacom phone".
Click to expand...

this is exactly what i was hoping for. can i just upgrade the software from the Huawei website?
 
Mariuspay said:
Yes, they do. Vodacom also does that. I suppose they want to stop you from using a second cheaper sim for data from another supplier.
I have a P9 lite that was locked to one sim. Unlocked it with help from old friend Google. Warranty probably shot, but you can restore original software.
Click to expand...

did you just update the software to a version that was for dual sim?
 
@aadili and @Cr419

This is the general guide I used, among others: http://forum.xda-developers.com/p8lite/general/mega-thread-root-unbricking-updating-t3400994

1. You need your serial number and IMEI.
2. Use this to get your product ID: *#*#1357946#*#* .
3. Go here to get your unlock code: https://www.emui.com/plugin.php?id=unlock&mod=detail
4. Unlock bootloader with:
-adb reboot bootloader
-fastboot oem unlock xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
-fastboot oem get-bootinfo
-fastboot reboot
5. Now convert to European dual-sim B052 ROM:
-Download the unbricking package from the thread above.
-fastboot flash boot boot.img
-fastboot flash recovery recovery.img
-fastboot flash cust cust.img
-fastboot flash system system.img
-fastboot reboot
6. But that may give you the 'Balong bug':
-Get the vendor file from the thread above: Vendor_P8_Lite_Ale_l21-Dual.rar
-Put the dload folder on an sdcard and into the phone.
-Go to "Settings -> Update".
-Press the menu (at the bottom you will see 3 lines, that's the menu).
-Choose "Local update".
-Select "UPDATE.APP".
-Press "Install".
-This reboots and reset the whole phone, but the Balong is gone.
7. Now you're on B052.
8. Install B170 from 'Huawei_P8_Lite_ALE-L21_V100R001C432B170_Europe.zip'.
Unzip it, copy the dload folder to an sdcard and do a local update.
9. Install B560 from 'Huawei_P8 Lite_Firmware_ALE-L21_Andriod 6.0_EMUI4.0_C432B560_Poland_Channel-Others.zip'
-Unzip it, copy the dload folder to an sdcard and do a local update.
10. But now the local update command is gone. So this code gives the sdcard update option: *#*#2846579#*#*
-Put the full 564 on the sdcard in dload.
-Run the code, install B564.
-Factory reset!
11. Receive B574 OTA. Who knew? Or use the same method as B564.
12. Installed B584 from zip using the same method as B564.

Oh, and YMMV and your own risk. :)
 
Last edited:
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top
Sign up to the MyBroadband newsletter
X