"Congratulations your iPhone has been unlocked"

[BFW122083]

Hey all,

I decided to restore my 4s this morning and set up as a new phone instead of restoring from backup like I did yesterday. When the phone finished restoring iTunes said "Congratulations your iPhone has been unlocked". I have never seen this before when doing a restore. This is a 4s on At&t. Is there any way to test if it is really unlocked without putting another carrier sim in it?

[rockyroad55]

Not really. Best bet is to go to T-Mobile and buy a prepaid microsim to try.

[maceleven]

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Originally Posted by BFW122083

Hey all,

I decided to restore my 4s this morning and set up as a new phone instead of restoring from backup like I did yesterday. When the phone finished restoring iTunes said "Congratulations your iPhone has been unlocked". I have never seen this before when doing a restore. This is a 4s on At&t. Is there any way to test if it is really unlocked without putting another carrier sim in it?

When you turn on your iPhone 4s if the lock icon is not there on the top were the time shows up then it's unlocked .

[OSMac]

Originally Posted by maceleven

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When you turn on your iPhone 4s if the lock icon is not there on the top were the time shows up then it's unlocked .

That just means the screen is locked with a passcode?

[SGMD1]

Originally Posted by BFW122083

Hey all,

I decided to restore my 4s this morning and set up as a new phone instead of restoring from backup like I did yesterday. When the phone finished restoring iTunes said "Congratulations your iPhone has been unlocked". I have never seen this before when doing a restore. This is a 4s on At&t. Is there any way to test if it is really unlocked without putting another carrier sim in it?

WHOA. This is huge news. There are a few threads dedicated to figuring out how to get that screen on Sprint and Verizon iPhones (here and here)...but AT&T iPhones with iTunes-unlocked SIMs are unheard of.

I mean, we've known that some carriers do this, but to see one on AT&T is really surprising. I'm very curious as to how that happened.

There likely is an MCC or MNC country/network lock to prevent T-Mobile SIMs but if you try a foreign SIM it should work.

[BFW122083]

It really surprised me. I have never been one to care much about having an unlocked phone. I just decided to do a restore and bam there it was. Should have taken a screen shot....

[SGMD1]

Originally Posted by BFW122083

It really surprised me. I have never been one to care much about having an unlocked phone. I just decided to do a restore and bam there it was. Should have taken a screen shot....

According to this Apple support document, you should get the screen any time you do a restore.

It was this I'm guessing?

[BFW122083]

Originally Posted by SGMD1

According to this Apple support document, you should get the screen any time you do a restore.

It was this I'm guessing?

Doesn't that article apply to unlocked phones only? Yes that was the message that came up.

[martiansoldier]

Anyone else try restoring as new yet?

[SGMD1]

Originally Posted by BFW122083

Doesn't that article apply to unlocked phones only?

Yeah...and apparently you have one

[WannaGoMac]

I am confused. How did you get an unlocked iphone 4s on AT&T?????

AT&T NEVER UNLOCKS THEIR IPHONES!!

[BFW122083]

Originally Posted by WannaGoMac

I am confused. How did you get an unlocked iphone 4s on AT&T?????

AT&T NEVER UNLOCKS THEIR IPHONES!!

I really have no idea. Part of me thinks it was some kind of glitch. The only thing I can think of is that a paid full price and didn't extend my contract. I ordered through Apple too. I wish there was a way I could confirm it, but I don't have any T Mobile or foreign sims laying around lol

[mjcxp]

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The same thing appeared on mine when I did a restore... I am wondering if it came like this from the factory because I paid the full $849.99 for a 64 GB because my AT&T contract was not eligible for an upgrade...

[BFW122083]

Originally Posted by mjcxp

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The same thing appeared on mine when I did a restore... I am wondering if it came like this from the factory because I paid the full $849.99 for a 64 GB because my AT&T contract was not eligible for an upgrade...

So we are both in the same boat...I thought Apple said unlocked phones were not for sale until November? Well if we truly do have unlocked phones thats a pretty sweet bonus

[reclusive46]

I don't think its that. Factory unlocked iPhones don't give any message that their unlocked at all.

[WannaGoMac]

Yep, big omission in your subject line

[ian-frs]

Man if you guys got unlocked phones because you paid full price I am not going to wait till November and just buy one now.

[PLin]

Originally Posted by BFW122083

I decided to restore my 4s this morning and set up as a new phone instead of restoring from backup like I did yesterday. When the phone finished restoring iTunes said "Congratulations your iPhone has been unlocked". I have never seen this before when doing a restore. This is a 4s on At&t. Is there any way to test if it is really unlocked without putting another carrier sim in it?

BFW122083, did you pay full price for your iPhone, or did you get it subsidized with a contract? mjcxp mentioned paying full price, but you didn't mention that.

I was going to wait until November, but it would be great if I could buy one at the store sooner.

[Sneakz]

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Factory unlocked phones do give the "Congratulations, your iPhone is unlocked" message everytims you restore.

[entatlrg]

My factory unlocked phone shows the same.

[aziatiklover]

I believe since you guys paid full price. It's pretty much a factory unlocked iphone! Now I'm guessing why wait until November to get the unlocked when the full price AT&T one just does the samething! BTW AT&T iPhone and factory unlocked are the same. It just about how the iPhone IMEI is store in Apple server black or white list.

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Originally Posted by reclusive46

I don't think its that. Factory unlocked iPhones don't give any message that their unlocked at all.

Wrong! Factory unlocked iPhones do give you that message everytime you restore, and it won't matter which sim card you have in the iPhone to activate it! However, on a locked iPhone you need the actual carrier sim card to activate the iPhone.[COLOR="#808080"]

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[PLin]

Originally Posted by Sneakz

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Factory unlocked phones do give the "Congratulations, your iPhone is unlocked" message everytims you restore.

Actually, factory unlocked phones only sometimes give that message. I bought my iPhone 4 factory unlocked in Canada last year, and I've used it with 4 different carriers when traveling. However, I never see that message when I restore. The true test is to try a different carrier SIM card.

[Chupa Chupa]

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Anyone else try this & can confirm? Just curious if this is a new policy & not a one-off "error" by iTunes.

[PLin]

Originally Posted by Chupa Chupa

Anyone else try this & can confirm? Just curious if this is a new policy & not a one-off "error" by iTunes.

I'll try it today and report back if my local Apple Store has any left. I'm pretty sure they have a 30 day return policy with no restocking fee in case I need to return it and get one in November.

[Grkbella03]

Now I gotta try this. I paid full price too since I wasn't eligible for upgrade. I wonder if it's just the 64GB since it's new...mines the 32 GB...Restoring right now and we'll see if it works.