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iPhone 4: Blocked EMEI, is it now useless?

AdamA9

AdamA9

macrumors 65816
Original poster
Feb 2, 2010
1,232
355
Guys,

I lost my iPhone4 saturday night and went through the usual blocking process, however, I have managed to recover the phone (was handed in at the venue I lost it at). The screen is saying 'iPhone is disabled connect to iTnues'. Is this now dead and staying dead?

I'm in the UK so understand it's blocked for any use in the UK, but can it be used abroad?

Thanks.
 
L

Lingham

macrumors regular
Sep 8, 2010
117
0
Is it worth contacting Apple. Explaining the situation and giving them proof you still have it and legally own it. They might be able to unblock it?
 
Satori

Satori

macrumors 6502a
Jun 22, 2006
761
6
London
Have you tried connecting to itunes. Might it be unblocked if it is re-connected to your itunes account?
 
M

mrochester

macrumors 601
Feb 8, 2009
4,522
2,445
AdamA9 said:
Guys,

I lost my iPhone4 saturday night and went through the usual blocking process, however, I have managed to recover the phone (was handed in at the venue I lost it at). The screen is saying 'iPhone is disabled connect to iTnues'. Is this now dead and staying dead?

I'm in the UK so understand it's blocked for any use in the UK, but can it be used abroad?

Thanks.
Click to expand...
You need to call the network again and tell them you have now found the phone. They will be able to unblock it.
 
AdamA9

AdamA9

macrumors 65816
Original poster
Feb 2, 2010
1,232
355
saving107 said:
why abroad?
Click to expand...

When I called to block the phone they told me it would be blocked to all UK networks, thus, usage abroad wouldn't be restricted.

Pushkar said:
Did you get a replacement? Then what you are doing is illegal. :rolleyes:
Click to expand...

Getting my phone back that I lost is illigal?

mrochester said:
You need to call the network again and tell them you have now found the phone. They will be able to unblock it.
Click to expand...

Been on hold for a while, waiting to hear from them, thanks
 
P

Pushkar

macrumors 6502a
Jun 9, 2009
587
3
SW London, UK
AdamA9 said:
When I called to block the phone they told me it would be blocked to all UK networks, thus, usage abroad wouldn't be restricted.



Getting my phone back that I lost is illigal?



Been on hold for a while, waiting to hear from them, thanks
Click to expand...

No getting your phone back is not illegal, but if you had Insurance and claimed a new one then it's not your property anymore. If it's simply just you lost it and now found it again, Call up your Network provider and they'll unblock it for you.
 
L

Lingham

macrumors regular
Sep 8, 2010
117
0
Pushkar said:
No getting your phone back is not illegal, but if you had Insurance and claimed a new one then it's not your property anymore. If it's simply just you lost it and now found it again, Call up your Network provider and they'll unblock it for you.
Click to expand...

what he said lol
 
bigred7078

bigred7078

macrumors 6502a
May 6, 2010
658
80
USA
Pushkar said:
No getting your phone back is not illegal, but if you had Insurance and claimed a new one then it's not your property anymore. If it's simply just you lost it and now found it again, Call up your Network provider and they'll unblock it for you.
Click to expand...

way to jump to conclusions :rolleyes:. He never even mentioned that.
 
S

sparky7

macrumors member
Jul 10, 2008
62
0
Phone IMEI's can be unblocked from all the networks but can take 7-14 days, contact your provider you blocked it with and they'll put the request through..
 
M

Meatball

macrumors regular
Aug 24, 2006
120
0
The IMEI block was put on by your network provider (O2, Orange, T-Mobile, Tesco etc.) All you need to do is phone them up and say you've recovered the phone and the IMEI block will be removed and your phone back to normal. I had to do this when my phone was stolen then recovered 3 months later :).
 
C

crazycanucks

macrumors regular
Jun 30, 2010
197
0
Pushkar said:
No getting your phone back is not illegal, but if you had Insurance and claimed a new one then it's not your property anymore. If it's simply just you lost it and now found it again, Call up your Network provider and they'll unblock it for you.
Click to expand...

I missed the part where he said he called his insurance company and they sent him a new one
 
D

Daveoc64

macrumors 601
Jan 16, 2008
4,074
92
Bristol, UK
crazycanucks said:
I missed the part where he said he called his insurance company and they sent him a new one
Click to expand...

It sounds a little odd that the OP isn't enquiring about getting the phone unblocked, but rather where it can be used in the blocked state.

Doesn't that sound just a bit fishy to you too?
 
G

gtmac

macrumors 6502a
Jun 25, 2010
676
116
Daveoc64 said:
It sounds a little odd that the OP isn't enquiring about getting the phone unblocked, but rather where it can be used in the blocked state.

Doesn't that sound just a bit fishy to you too?
Click to expand...

Sure does!!!!
 
AdamA9

AdamA9

macrumors 65816
Original poster
Feb 2, 2010
1,232
355
Pushkar said:
No getting your phone back is not illegal, but if you had Insurance and claimed a new one then it's not your property anymore. If it's simply just you lost it and now found it again, Call up your Network provider and they'll unblock it for you.
Click to expand...

I don't have a claim going through. I lost the phone and thought that once the EMEI was blocked, that it couldn't be removed, otherwise, what's the point of doing it? Unless it can only be removed by the owner. I'm sure I'd heard that an EMEI block couldn't be removed and doing so was illigal? And I'm sure o2 told me it would permanently blocked and that no one could use the phone.

As it turns out, I called o2 and they've removed the block, but I think I have to connect to iTunes to get it up and running again.

I was enquiring as to whether I can use it abroad as I figured I'd have to sell it to buy another one that wasn't blocked.

Thanks for all the replies, here's hoping when I plug it back in tonight it works again :)
 
M

mkirby1981

macrumors newbie
Mar 21, 2011
1
0
I had my i phone 4 stolen on a night out on satday. I had the phone blocked about 6 in the morning when I realised it was gone and it had been switched off.

When an i phone 4 is blocked can the person who has the phone still look through content on the phone? i.e see emails, text messages, photos.

I have confidential information on it regarding work.

Thanks

Mike.
 
acfusion29

acfusion29

macrumors 68040
Nov 8, 2007
3,128
1
Toronto
Daveoc64 said:
It sounds a little odd that the OP isn't enquiring about getting the phone unblocked, but rather where it can be used in the blocked state.

Doesn't that sound just a bit fishy to you too?
Click to expand...

nothing fishy at all from how i read it.

i wish i could help, but i'm not familiar with the UK.

but anyways, people don't give anyone the benefit of a doubt on this forum. and even if he was trying to fraud an insurance company, is he actually going to listen to YOU or some random person on a forum? you're not the police.
 
N

nukem170

macrumors member
Feb 14, 2011
90
0
If your carrier doesn't want to unblock it just put it on Ebay and mention that it does not work inside UK.
 
M

mrochester

macrumors 601
Feb 8, 2009
4,522
2,445
mkirby1981 said:
I had my i phone 4 stolen on a night out on satday. I had the phone blocked about 6 in the morning when I realised it was gone and it had been switched off.

When an i phone 4 is blocked can the person who has the phone still look through content on the phone? i.e see emails, text messages, photos.

I have confidential information on it regarding work.

Thanks

Mike.
Click to expand...

The thief will be able to turn the phone on and browse the contents of it (assuming you haven't set some sort of passcode) but they won't be able to get any network connectivity (unless they ship it to a different country where the IMEI won't be blocked).
 
acfusion29

acfusion29

macrumors 68040
Nov 8, 2007
3,128
1
Toronto
btw, just to clear something up.

the IMEI is only blacklisted on the main carrier, the phone can be unlocked and used on ANY carrier, even in the same country.

so to put that into perspective for some:

if i have an AT&T phone that gets blacklisted, i will be able to use it on T-Mobile.
 
Applejuiced

Applejuiced

macrumors Westmere
Apr 16, 2008
40,672
6,533
At the iPhone hacks section.
acfusion29 said:
btw, just to clear something up.

the IMEI is only blacklisted on the main carrier, the phone can be unlocked and used on ANY carrier, even in the same country.

so to put that into perspective for some:

if i have an AT&T phone that gets blacklisted, i will be able to use it on T-Mobile.
Click to expand...

AT&T doesn't blacklist any stolen or lost phones in the US.
Every carrier in each country will vary though.
If it's blacklisted in the UK for example you could possibly use it on a carrier in Italy or brazil for example.
 
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