So I waited in line this morning and picked up a white AT&T iPhone 4S at the Apple Store.
I wasn't upgrade eligible, so I figured I'd just buy it "device only" without a contract. I had to sign a little notice on the payment unit that said the phone would only work with AT&T and whatnot. So I was paying $850 plus tax for essentially a locked device ($1015 with tax and AppleCare+ for me).
Well I just got home, put in my AT&T SIM card to activate in the device and to my surprise. It gave me this screen:
Just so it wasn't a trick, I put a prepaid T-Mobile SIM that was lying around in the device well it works and I can make calls, etc.; then I took out the prepaid China Unicom SIM I use when I travel to China well that works too! (for the latter it says I'm roaming on AT&T)
So yeah I figured I'd let people know this might be the way to go if you want an unlocked iPhone 4S today instead of waiting until November.
I see a lot of threads on how the Verizon and Sprint models may be unlocked as well, but some post also say how only select SIM cards work. I did recall reading Sprint said they would lock the SIM card slot in a later configuration update.
I wasn't upgrade eligible, so I figured I'd just buy it "device only" without a contract. I had to sign a little notice on the payment unit that said the phone would only work with AT&T and whatnot. So I was paying $850 plus tax for essentially a locked device ($1015 with tax and AppleCare+ for me).
Well I just got home, put in my AT&T SIM card to activate in the device and to my surprise. It gave me this screen:
Just so it wasn't a trick, I put a prepaid T-Mobile SIM that was lying around in the device well it works and I can make calls, etc.; then I took out the prepaid China Unicom SIM I use when I travel to China well that works too! (for the latter it says I'm roaming on AT&T)
So yeah I figured I'd let people know this might be the way to go if you want an unlocked iPhone 4S today instead of waiting until November.
I see a lot of threads on how the Verizon and Sprint models may be unlocked as well, but some post also say how only select SIM cards work. I did recall reading Sprint said they would lock the SIM card slot in a later configuration update.
