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lifetree

macrumors newbie
Original poster
Nov 11, 2011
5
0
I have bought three iphone 4S recently.

1) an AT&T upgraded, discount ($199) contract one (locked for sure)

2) and off contract Device only one (unlocked, still unlocked after upgrade to 5.01, and i think it will be always unlocked for sure),

Both are MC918LL/a.

3) The office unlocked one I just ordered from Apple Store online is MD234LL/a.

So I think the model # really does NOT matter!!! As soon as it is not locked in apple system.
 

yrchern

macrumors member
Jun 14, 2007
54
0
Thats right they flag them when sold, hardware is the same.

Not technically true.
For MD models, they are flagged as unlocked by default in Apple's database. For MC(ATT) models, they are flagged as locked by default in Apple's database but changed to unlocked if it is purchased as "device only" from Apple.
 

corruptfate

macrumors newbie
Nov 11, 2011
20
0
wait so if my iphone 4S is MD237C/A, it means it's factory unlocked, and not locked? Cause when I bought my in the Canadian apple store, he gave me a sim card too.
 

bluemonkeyguy

macrumors 6502
Sep 7, 2010
295
22
This whole unlocked from beginning thing is weird. Why would apple advertise an unlocked version in november when some user started with unlocked iphones.
 

yrchern

macrumors member
Jun 14, 2007
54
0
wait so if my iphone 4S is MD237C/A, it means it's factory unlocked, and not locked? Cause when I bought my in the Canadian apple store, he gave me a sim card too.

Looks like it's factory unlocked 16GB/White model.
By the way, there's some mistakes in my previous post. I just checked Apple website, not all MD models are factory unlocked. Here are the models I pulled out from Apple store US.

Factory Unlocked:
MD234LL/A 16GB Black
MD237LL/A 16GB White
MD241LL/A 32GB Black
MD244LL/A 32GB White
MD2257LL/A 64GB Black
MD260LL/A 64GB White

AT&T (Unlocked if purchased "device only" from Apple store)
MC918LL/A 16GB Black
MC920LL/A 16GB White
MC919LL/A 32GB Black
MC921LL/A 32GB White
MD269LL/A 64GB Black
MD271LL/A 64GB White

Verizon:

MD276LL/A(16GB/Black) MD277LL/A(16GB/White)
MD278LL/A(32GB/Black) MD279LL/A(32GB/White)
MD280LL/A(64GB/Black) MD281LL/A(64GB/White)

Sprint:

MD377LL/A(16GB/Black) MD378LL/A(16GB/White)
MD379LL/A(32GB/Black) MD380LL/A(32GB/White)
MD381LL/A(64GB/Black) MD382LL/A(64GB/White)
 
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