Why is it cheaper to unlock the AT&T iPhone

90miles · Dec 13, 2012, 03:20 PM

Hello people, I've been searching ebay for iPhone unlocks and I got to the point where it is fairly clear it is much cheaper to unlock the AT&T phones, anyone has any idea why? All thoughts are welcome =))

Applejuiced · Dec 13, 2012, 03:28 PM

Because there's hundreds or sellers that can unlock AT&T iphones.
The more competition the cheaper the prices will get just like with everything else.
There's thousands of AT&T employees that have access to enter IMEI's in their unlock database and some are taking advantage of it as you can see.

90miles · Dec 13, 2012, 03:52 PM

The attitude this employees are taking is pretty reckless and idiotic, if let's say, someone unlocks 100 phones in one day wouldn't AT&T people notice and investigate further ?

Daveoc64 · Dec 13, 2012, 03:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 90miles

The attitude this employees are taking is pretty reckless and idiotic, if let's say, someone unlocks 100 phones in one day wouldn't AT&T people notice and investigate further ?

Apparently not.

The amount of unauthorized unlocks that are happening seems to suggest that there's very little in place to prevent them.

scaredpoet · Dec 13, 2012, 03:54 PM

It's been happening for months now, so... evidently not!

Whether this is an indictment as to other lax security standards by AT&T, remains to be seen.

In the meantime, I'll enjoy my cheaply-unlocked iPhone 5.

90miles · Dec 13, 2012, 03:57 PM

Basically they are not losing money by letting their people unlock phones as most people that are locked to a two-year contract would not use their phones abroad if they had to pay the roaming fees and the enterprises that need the data, voice and messaging on the go have already negotiated better roaming fees and AT&T is still making money out of this power-users, maybe that is their mindset.

Dec 13, 2012, 03:20 PM	#1
90miles macrumors member Join Date: Jul 2012	Why is it cheaper to unlock the AT&T iPhone Hello people, I've been searching ebay for iPhone unlocks and I got to the point where it is fairly clear it is much cheaper to unlock the AT&T phones, anyone has any idea why? All thoughts are welcome =)) __________________ Base 15" rMBP iPad 2 32GB+3G iPhone 5 16GB iPod Classic 80GB (5th gen)
	0

Dec 13, 2012, 03:52 PM	#3
90miles Thread Starter macrumors member Join Date: Jul 2012	The attitude this employees are taking is pretty reckless and idiotic, if let's say, someone unlocks 100 phones in one day wouldn't AT&T people notice and investigate further ? __________________ Base 15" rMBP iPad 2 32GB+3G iPhone 5 16GB iPod Classic 80GB (5th gen)
	0

Dec 13, 2012, 03:54 PM	#5
scaredpoet macrumors 68040 Join Date: Apr 2007	It's been happening for months now, so... evidently not! Whether this is an indictment as to other lax security standards by AT&T, remains to be seen. In the meantime, I'll enjoy my cheaply-unlocked iPhone 5. __________________ If you're not a clairvoyant, then you shouldn't be speaking for a dead guy. The Apple "QC cycle," explained. Slow data, fewer bars? No, you don't have a bad SIM.
	0

Dec 13, 2012, 03:57 PM	#6
90miles Thread Starter macrumors member Join Date: Jul 2012	Basically they are not losing money by letting their people unlock phones as most people that are locked to a two-year contract would not use their phones abroad if they had to pay the roaming fees and the enterprises that need the data, voice and messaging on the go have already negotiated better roaming fees and AT&T is still making money out of this power-users, maybe that is their mindset. __________________ Base 15" rMBP iPad 2 32GB+3G iPhone 5 16GB iPod Classic 80GB (5th gen)
	0

Thread Tools	Search this Thread
Show Printable Version Email this Page	Search this Thread: Advanced Search
Display Modes
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode

Dec 13, 2012, 03:28 PM	#2
Applejuiced macrumors Demi-God Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: At the iPhone hacks section.	Because there's hundreds or sellers that can unlock AT&T iphones. The more competition the cheaper the prices will get just like with everything else. There's thousands of AT&T employees that have access to enter IMEI's in their unlock database and some are taking advantage of it as you can see.
	1