

The information that you mentioned, i.e. letting you know minutes used/remaining is commonly called here as "balance inquiry" since we're mostly prepaid users so getting that information is an SMS away (usually free). Hence there is really no need to "unlock" the SIM nor could the N900's "Enter Code to Remove Operator Lock" be of any factor for mobile users here in the Philippines.
Most likely you know this, but sharing just the same - based on statistical data (may not be the most recent), the SMS volume of the whole of Europe in a day is just 1/4 of that of the Philippines in a day.
