[UK] What is iPhone activation with respect to SIM Free iPhone?

iPhone activation just tells Apple that the phone is in use, and so its database can keep a track of your iPhone, and its status (e.g. carrier etc.).

As far as I know, it's sort of required for SIM-free iPhones.

All iPhones require activation though iTunes (apple server). Makes no difference if it's simfree or locked.

No but your phone will download a carrier update file for whatever carrier your using.

I think your getting the activation confused with sim activation.

dubnde said:

I hear you. If my carrier does not currently [officially] support iPhone, how then can the phone "download a carrier update file"?

No wonder there is talk of server meltdown during launch days due to this activation requirement.

Click to expand...

The iPhone will just load the profile which is present on the SIM.

A server meltdown is completely independant of anything we're talking of here.

The iPhone works with all carriers so don't worry about it.

I have AT&T and a 2G iphone I just activated to get the unlimited data plan (using a microSIM taped in the SIM tray). I have a Canadian unlocked IP4 on the way. Do I need to put the microSIM in the IP4 to activate it with iTunes, or can I just activate the SIM free phone in iTunes first, then insert the microSIM?

I don't want to screw up the 2G unlimited data plan, so I can get unlimited data grandfathered to the IP4.

thx!

I bought a factory-unlocked phone direct from Apple. I put my carrier's SIM in, connected it to iTunes, and activated it. The first iTunes screen that came up said, "Congratulations! Your iPhone is now unlocked. To set it up and transfer data, press Continue." It seems that Apple needs to register or at least acknowledge each iPhone when it is first connected, and I have read here that at this time a code is placed on the phone indicating whether it is unlocked or not. Then I proceeded with the setup and transferred my data to the phone. At one point I got a carrier settings update as well.

Sim Free Iphone 4s

Hi all, i am living in the Caribbean and i have an Iphone 4s which is Sim free and from Verizon, can it be unlocked for a GSM network without a sim card, because there's no sim card tray