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Unlocking iPhone 4S for DOMESTIC use

T

TonyBaloney

macrumors regular
Original poster
May 7, 2007
179
18
Katy, TX
Can someone tell me if they have had any luck getting their Sprint iPhone 4S unlocked by the carrier (not jail broke) for use on any other carrier in the US. I really don't understand why this wouldn't be possible as the phone has the same internal components (GSM & CDMA) as the AT&T and TMOBILE iPhone 4S. I was looking to take my iPhone to TMOBILE, Virgin Mobile, Cricket, or Straight Talk as they have some great deals.

Thank You :apple:

PS I would rather not jail break as I like having updates for the phone from apple and not be stuck waiting for each jail break nor have to worry about stability issues.
 
All Sprint iphones cannot be officially unlocked for domestic US use.
When and if Sprint unlocks the device is for international use only.
Best bet is sell it and get one that works for your carrier of choice.
 
Ok but is this because of a software/hardware incompatibility that Im not aware of? Or does Sprint have the ability to unlock for domestic use and they are simply not choosing to help us with this?
 
TonyBaloney said:
Ok but is this because of a software/hardware incompatibility that Im not aware of? Or does Sprint have the ability to unlock for domestic use and they are simply not choosing to help us with this?
Click to expand...

Sprint has the ability but they are too mean to do it. (seriously). Spec-wise the phone can work....its just the unlocking part that sprint doesnt allow for the USA.
 
coolio93 said:
Sprint has the ability but they are too mean to do it. (seriously). Spec-wise the phone can work....its just the unlocking part that sprint doesnt allow for the USA.
Click to expand...

Well then quite simply... WHAT THE HELL!? Why can't I do what I want with the hardware that I paid for when my subsidy contract is fulfilled?

Why is it that they do this with iPhones? My understanding is that, generally speaking, CDMA carriers have been willing to accept and flash CDMA (and if compatible, GSM) phones from other carriers before. Do they have the same policies with say the Galaxy Note II or Lumia phones, or feature phones?

Also lets say they did unlock the iPhone for domestic use. Is there something they have to do with the phone physically in store or have it sent away? Or is it something where all they would need to do was push software to it wirelessly? Point being, could I just get someone in the store to do it for me regardless of the company policy?

Thanks!
 
It's just simply isn't going to happen. The store employees have no control over this. The unlocking just submits a request to Apple servers to unlock the imei. Sprint and Verizon block their 4S from domestic gsm use in order to try and keep you trapped with them.

Plain and simple if you want to leave Sprint and use a 4S on AT&T or Tmobile then you'll have to sell your iPhone and buy an unlocked or AT&T version.
 
CEmajr said:
It's just simply isn't going to happen. The store employees have no control over this. The unlocking just submits a request to Apple servers to unlock the imei. Sprint and Verizon block their 4S from domestic gsm use in order to try and keep you trapped with them.

Plain and simple if you want to leave Sprint and use a 4S on AT&T or Tmobile then you'll have to sell your iPhone and buy an unlocked or AT&T version.
Click to expand...

http://www.rimmkaufman.com/content/url.jpeg

I reject this stupid policy.
 
When Sprint got the iPhone many saw them as the "savior". This is not unlike what people are saying about TMobile today. At the end of the day, these companies protect their interests. Verizon unlocks because they are required by law. AT&T unlocks, once your contract is fulfilled, likely due to consumer pressure/response for Verizon unlocks. Really wish we could get some consumer protection laws going in this area here in the states, but that can be a double edged sword. There is nothing forcing carriers to do any sort of subsidy or payment plan, except for the fact that "everyone else is doing it". If a law rolls out that effectively outlaws locking devices, we will likely see the subsidies end. Personally, I wouldn't mind that, but I know plenty of people would be unhappy about that.
 
TonyBaloney said:
I reject this stupid policy.
Click to expand...

Unfortunately, you accepted that policy when you bought the phone. Now that policy is in effect, and Sprint will not change it. Only way out is to sell the phone to someone else who doesn't mind the crippling, and buy an unlocked version.
 
lordofthereef said:
If a law rolls out that effectively outlaws locking devices, we will likely see the subsidies end. Personally, I wouldn't mind that, but I know plenty of people would be unhappy about that.
Click to expand...

With payment plans similar to what T-Mobile has, I think people will be happier to go without contracts.

My main concern is that AT&T, Verizon, and Sprint DO make money off the fact that users' rate plans do not change once they are off contract. Subsidy or no subsidy, the carrier still charges you the same amount. So if they do offer no-contract, no-lock, "no-subsidy" options, it'll be interesting to see if rate plan pricing goes down to reflect the change in the revenue model.

I'm not holding my breath. The extra payments for a phone bought on credit will likely just be tacked-on to current pricing.
 
lordofthereef said:
Maybe, if we get that. Up until now we haven't seen anything TMobile has done put pressure on the other three, so I am less than hopeful.
Click to expand...

I believe it did put pressure to the big 2 carriers cause they're talking about it and thinking about similar programs.
And from what I hear many Verizon and AT&T customers are starting to switch over to Tmobile so they will have to notice it sooner or later.
 
Applejuiced said:
I believe it did put pressure to the big 2 carriers cause they're talking about it and thinking about similar programs.
And from what I hear many Verizon and AT&T customers are starting to switch over to Tmobile so they will have to notice it sooner or later.
Click to expand...

It's definitely possible. I don't put much credence into what a CEO of AT&T or Verizon says. These same guys claimed that they were getting rid of unlimited plans because they were too expensive and the majority of people didn't want them. All the while I can NOW either chose 300mb for $20 or 3GB for $30, the same price as the original unlimited plan. Where is the sense in that? They even threw around some 5% number nonsense for a while. All in the name of saving the customer money... unless you are using almost no data, you save nothing lol. They'll say what sounds good. It's their job. Will we see them roll out these plans? I won't say it's impossible, but improbable. At the end of the day (or week or month or year), numbers will tell. I'd be happy to see contracts and handset locks go the way of the dodo, but I also try to be somewhat realistic with my expectations. That way I don't get let down so hard, haha!
 
lordofthereef said:
It's definitely possible. I don't put much credence into what a CEO of AT&T or Verizon says. These same guys claimed that they were getting rid of unlimited plans because they were too expensive and the majority of people didn't want them. All the while I can NOW either chose 300mb for $20 or 3GB for $30, the same price as the original unlimited plan. Where is the sense in that? They even threw around some 5% number nonsense for a while. All in the name of saving the customer money... unless you are using almost no data, you save nothing lol. They'll say what sounds good. It's their job. Will we see them roll out these plans? I won't say it's impossible, but improbable. At the end of the day (or week or month or year), numbers will tell. I'd be happy to see contracts and handset locks go the way of the dodo, but I also try to be somewhat realistic with my expectations. That way I don't get let down so hard, haha!
Click to expand...

I hear you on that.
They're both liars and all they care about in the end is money and how to make more of it. Give the customer less choices and charge more and then make it sound like its a great deal:D lol
 
Now I think we are touching on the bigger issue of contracts and their suckiness (its a word!). I understand contracts are in exchange for getting the phone cheaper - but one should be able to do with it as they wish when such contract is fulfilled.

Beyond that, contracts as a whole are ridiculous because of the pricing scheme.
Contracts look attractive to most people because you can get an iPhone 5 for 200 instead of 650 when one would probably being using their service for over a year anyway - so people say "sure why not." The problem is blatantly obvious you put a iphone next to an iPad - the cost to build are very similar yet an unlocked iphone costs more? This shows that buying unlocked comes at a "penalty" - as in its only priced that high to make contracts look more attractive at the 200 price. if contracts didnt exist, the could be reasonably priced at 300.

But most people don't realize this, they just look at the price tag. Kind of like those people on Black Friday that see a laptop for $149 - its a piece of junk but they don't investigate it, they just buy without question and deal with its crappiness later.

Im on contract now because its my parents contract but when it ends Im on my own and Im not about to have to have a bill forcefully put upon me for the next 24 months. Im going prepaid, and I was hoping to bring my iPhone with me. If not, I'll sell it, buy a used one that is compatible with the network Im interested in. I was looking to virgin and straight talk, and even Tmobile with its great first step in a new direction.

If all big three carriers eliminated contracts, phones would be cheaper (maybe not 200 cheaper but still reasonable compared to the 650 price) and plans would be more competitive.
 
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