What is this "register your IMEI" that you talk about? Is this some strange control-freakery from this carrier? It's not something that's technically required, so the carrier would have to add a check to their system to block you from using a different IMEI, which is either simple control freakishness or a deliberate money-making scheme. If you just change the SIM without this nonsense does it work or does it refuse to connect you?

(US carriers are weird...).

 

Are all carriers in the US like this? Where you have to register the phone's IMEI, MEID, ESN, etc with them (and pay a fee?) before they'll activate service.

The original premise of GSM, WCDMA, LTE, etc. was that you were free to just insert the carrier SIM into any compatible phone you like, and it would work, and it's always been like that for me and everyone else I know. Of course I'm not in the US.

 

I recently put a T-Mobile SIM into a new, unlocked phone.

Never registered anything.

The only hangup would have been if the SIM didn't fit, and there are adapters made for that reason.

Luckily it was the same SIM design between devices.

 

Yeah I've wanted to reach through the phone and strangle the reps they have working there. And those fees are such bullshit. When other carriers just have to take sim card out and put it in different phone . You don't even have to call them. Anyway .....yes you're phone can be unlocked after 90 days. Try and download the app for Metro unlock device...because if you have to call them for the code they will give you the run around.

 

It's probably a control thing. But I think enough people complained because you're supposed to be able to do it yourself through their metro app now.