Any clue on the easiest method to unlock the Sprint/Verizon version of the iPhone 4S for use on the T-Mobile or AT&T network? I have Sprint on my work phone and T-Mobile for my personal line.
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How do you unlock the Sprint or Verizon iPhone 4S for use on AT&T and/or T-Mobile?
- Thread starter princealfie
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Sprint was selling the phones unlocked on contract for about 2 months after launch. Their policy, now, is that they will unlock (by request) after X amount of time has passed since you have the phone. I am not sure what that timeframe is. I want to say 6 months, though don't quote me on that part.
Unlocked is unlocked. You WILL be able to use it in the states... So long as the phone isn't currently activated on Sprint's network. When asking for the unlock, I certainly don't recommend saying "Hey, I am jumping ship to AT&T", though!
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You pop a sim in and see if it works! That's the easiest way, lol. There may be another way, in fact I am sure there is, but I just don't know it.
I'm not sure how it works for Sprint, but this is false for the Verizon iPhone 4S.
The VZW iPhone 4S has an MNC/MCC restriction preventing use of US network SIMs, even if the phone is unlocked by Verizon. You can still use foreign SIMs and roam on AT&T/T-Mobile in the US, though.
Can't say for Sprint, but on Verizon it appears this is not the case. All info I've found says that Verizon's unlock will allow only foreign SIMs. For example this tutorial here on MR:
https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/1274057/
If we see an unlock for the 4S then I would assume that even the CDMA sold iphones would function with any GSM sim.
But we gotta wait and see.
What are you trying to say? lol
Like other replies you posted, you are trying to say that 3G/3GS with iPad baseband can restore without cooking a custom FW?
Signa = signal
Gms = gsm
And you can all 4S incorporate a sim slot and the ability to use CDMA or GSM though Verizon and Sprint won't activate a att 4S on their network unlocked or not
But AT&T couldn't give a ratsass they'll give anyone a sim card and if you've unlocked your Verizon or sprint 4s when the unlock becomes available you will be able to use it as AT&T or tmobile iPhone
Go masflow sumwere else n only ta bout wha u kno daw kk it can use diff signa! Gsm
the answer is no it won't work....a foreign sim possibly but then you'd be roaming...already confirmed this with AT&T they have stated to me that ANY iPhones operating on their network won't come from Sprint or Verizon...a foreign GSM iPhone that's unlocked YES
I bought a new sprint iphone 4s. I didn't activate it on the sprint network as thats when the carrier locked is placed on the phone. I inserted a t-mobile sim card and it came with the screen with a long message basically saying "sim card will not work, use another international sim" which means iphone is unlocked right? If i get a international sim card, put it in, activate phone via wifi and then after activation, pull that out and put in the t-mobile one, will it work using tmobile or still give same error?
The Sprint 4S is locked to Sprint and can only be unlocked for international use, after your account has been in good standing for 30 days....so no!
Like verwon said your iphone is locked to sprint and will never work with Tmobile USA.
If it is unlocked its for outside the US and that's if you bought it any time before they started locking the GSM side of you requested Sprint to unlock it for international GSM use only.
Applenberry claim to have an unlock for a CDMA 4S to work on local GSM networks, but they're currently getting the bugs out of it.
CDMA Carrier Unlock for 4s.
The way I understood it, all the USA iPhone 4s phones use identical hardware and differ only by the firmware inside. Last I knew there were 4 iterations of firmware. Sprint, Verizon, TMobile and Apple. Due to agreements with Apple, the carrier specific versions will only work on their network domestically through a carrier lock with at least 2 settings. First, a stock device from AT&T, VZW or Sprint will only work on their networks domestically and internationally on the networks they have agreements with. Sprint and Verizon will partially unlock the carrier lock and allow for non-domestic GSM roaming using your own SIM card. This is not the same as having your phone unlocked for any SIM.
The unlocked 4s, available thru Apple, has the most flexibility and can use any GSM carrier. I understand that both Sprint and Verizon have policies about allowing non-branded ESNs on their network with Sprint being most flexible and Verizon barring them all together.
All that being said, it's been a while since I did any research and there might be updates in the future. Ultimately what I'd like to be able to do is use one device for both my Verizon and TMobile accounts rather than carry two cell phones... but I'm not holding my breath.
The way I understood it, all the USA iPhone 4s phones use identical hardware and differ only by the firmware inside. Last I knew there were 4 iterations of firmware. Sprint, Verizon, TMobile and Apple. Due to agreements with Apple, the carrier specific versions will only work on their network domestically through a carrier lock with at least 2 settings. First, a stock device from AT&T, VZW or Sprint will only work on their networks domestically and internationally on the networks they have agreements with. Sprint and Verizon will partially unlock the carrier lock and allow for non-domestic GSM roaming using your own SIM card. This is not the same as having your phone unlocked for any SIM.
The unlocked 4s, available thru Apple, has the most flexibility and can use any GSM carrier. I understand that both Sprint and Verizon have policies about allowing non-branded ESNs on their network with Sprint being most flexible and Verizon barring them all together.
All that being said, it's been a while since I did any research and there might be updates in the future. Ultimately what I'd like to be able to do is use one device for both my Verizon and TMobile accounts rather than carry two cell phones... but I'm not holding my breath.
Ok isn't that the same thing people had already posted. Kinda redundant is my point but hey why not dig up old threads and sumerize all of them.
how is that even posble. both vrizon and sprint use cdma for there networks and t-moble and att use gsm cant have a vrizon phone on a att or t-moble phone. iphone 4s does not have both cdma and gsm cell chips in there hardware