Unlocked is only half unlocked: MMS Settings cannot be configured

OK so a little issues has become apparent today...if you take an "unlocked" phone and use a SIM from another carrier you probably will not get MMS functions.

Click thru to see why...


So basically, each Windows Phone 7 comes with Automatic Data Configuration, so when you boot with a SIM card the phone detects all the correct APN settings for data connections GPRS/WAP/MMS/Internet etc.

However, MSFT allows carriers to disable the ADC, meaning your phone won't install the correct data APN settings...meaning no MMS.

This is really a bit cheeky in countries like Singapore, Australia and Italy where unlocked phone are the norm, or even required to be unlocked by law.  Technically they are unlocked, you can use another carrier's SIM...but you can't get the data configuration right so can't use the alternative carrier's MMS.

Of course, WP7 does have an APN editor in Settings > Mobile Network > Add APN...but it only has fields for APN Name, user and password and not all the fields you need to configure an MMS APN.

Here is the good news for HTC Owners...the HTC Hub, available for your WP7 handset has a "connection setup" app that allows you to edit your APN and access settings not available to other WP7 users.  Certainly I have haven't seen such an app for the LG Optimus 7 or the Samsung Omnia 7.

Over on the Microsoft Answer site, the support guys there have this to say:

"I got the information back, that the issue should be escaleted via Mobile Operator/OEM, based on the fact that the phone is OEM/Mobile Operator proprietary configuration.

I think that the escalation via proper channel makes perfect sense especially in this case where we need get attention from MO/OEM to the problem.

HTC apps store is not accessible from LG device but I can imagine that there might be similar application from LG apps store in the future..."

So looks like Omnia7 and Optimus7 users are SOL using unlocked phones and wanting MMS for now...