Moving an iPhone 5 from Japan to the US possible?

milaround · Nov 21, 2012, 10:04 AM

If I purchase an iPhone 5 in Japan, say from Softbank (GSM), and move back to the US with said iPhone 5, could I take it to, say an AT&T store, and have it back on the network and have it function just like if I had bought it in the US? Or would there be complications? Any light on this would be much appreciated thanks!

Also, please note that I am NOT talking about temporarily using an iPhone 5 overseas; I am talking about completely changing carriers - moving the Japanese iPhone 5 from a Japanese carrier to an American one.

Jordan921 · Nov 21, 2012, 10:39 AM

I don't see why not. Aslong as the phone is unlocked everything should work fine.

solo118 · Nov 21, 2012, 10:41 AM

Not sure, but doesnt asia have a different model of the ip5? i would check to ensure LTE will work

BFizzzle · Nov 21, 2012, 11:08 AM

like the above ^^ said.. as long as its unlocked.. yes.. LTE compatibly

iPhone Warrior · Nov 21, 2012, 11:18 AM

Softbank does not offer unlocking per this Apple doc:
http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1937
So unless things have changed since, No it won't work.

Nov 21, 2012, 10:04 AM	#1
milaround macrumors newbie Join Date: Dec 2007	Moving an iPhone 5 from Japan to the US possible? If I purchase an iPhone 5 in Japan, say from Softbank (GSM), and move back to the US with said iPhone 5, could I take it to, say an AT&T store, and have it back on the network and have it function just like if I had bought it in the US? Or would there be complications? Any light on this would be much appreciated thanks! Also, please note that I am NOT talking about temporarily using an iPhone 5 overseas; I am talking about completely changing carriers - moving the Japanese iPhone 5 from a Japanese carrier to an American one.
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Nov 21, 2012, 10:39 AM	#2
Jordan921 macrumors 68020 Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Bay Area	I don't see why not. Aslong as the phone is unlocked everything should work fine. __________________ Unlocked Black iPhone 5 32gb AT&T, 13.3" MacBook Air 1.86GHZ 4GB Ram 128GB SSD
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Nov 21, 2012, 10:41 AM	#3
solo118 macrumors 6502a Join Date: May 2011	Not sure, but doesnt asia have a different model of the ip5? i would check to ensure LTE will work __________________ iPhone 5 at&t/2011 Macbook Air 11" 128GB/ iPad Mini
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Nov 21, 2012, 11:08 AM	#4
BFizzzle Banned Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Austin TX	like the above ^^ said.. as long as its unlocked.. yes.. LTE compatibly
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Nov 21, 2012, 11:18 AM	#5
iPhone Warrior macrumors member Join Date: May 2011	Softbank does not offer unlocking per this Apple doc: http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1937 So unless things have changed since, No it won't work.
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