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AT&T iPhone Unlocking Process Detailed, Successful for Some

gillboyzz said:
Airtel would only show up if you are in the sim home country. Airtel & AT@T have strategic alliances to provide roaming to their respective customers while in US or India. You should be unlocked if Carrier Lab 11 shows up in the carrier name.
Click to expand...

Carrier name shows up as AT&T though I have put in the Airtel SIM card. It doesn't show "Lab 11". Is it not unlocked then?
 
vthree said:
I feel like you're just saying this to get everyone's hopes up.
Click to expand...

I had a similar issue. Did chat on Monday the 9th, and never got an email. hit my deadline date and called back and spoke to someone in Business Customer Care. She told me my IMEIs were never submitted for some reason, took them all again and within 30 minutes all three phones were unlocked.
 
Follow up!!!

cobaltrich27 said:
I used the tech support chat online. I put my 4 old iphone imei numbers in the initial about chat section. I also stated I can supply proof of purchase if needed. The rep took care of it right there in the chat. Im still waiting for the email been about 1 1/2 hours...

The online chat girl gave me case #'s for all 4 of my old iPhones: 2 iPhone 4 & 2 iPhone 3G. She told me I would get unlock email info by the 18th. Does anyone know if they are going to still ask me for proof of purchase or did I get lucky & make it through that part?
Click to expand...

Ok I got a email last Friday night that my iphone is unlocked and to restore :) I was skeptical at first which of my 4 iPhones will be unlocked? To my surprise both 3G & both 4G iPhones are now unlocked hehe. Again I used the chat online just gave all info up front even told them I could provide proof of purchase. I was never asked to fax any proofs of purchase not even for the 3G iPhones I bought from eBay.

I just purchased 2 prepaid tmobile sim kits for $.99 cents each. FYI they are on sale regular $6.99 at tmobile website is $6 off regular price with free shipping lol. So grab a couple if ya want to test your unlocks. I will use one of those to test they both come with 10min time. Will use 1 to confirm all 4 iPhones are unlocked then keep the other un activated as a backup if ever needed.

I'm really surprised at how simple this was to complete Only took 4 days and a 10 minute chat session :)
 
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joemc72 said:
I had a similar issue. Did chat on Monday the 9th, and never got an email. hit my deadline date and called back and spoke to someone in Business Customer Care. She told me my IMEIs were never submitted for some reason, took them all again and within 30 minutes all three phones were unlocked.
Click to expand...


Dialed 611, got transferred to technical support. They had to verify with Apple that my phone was replaced.
within 10 minutes my phone was unlocked.

Calling in is the way to go!
 
Cndnmax said:
If you have waited a week and still do not have an unlocked iPhone follow these steps: call tech support and ask for a status update. They will tell u they are still working on it or what ever bs they come up with. Tell them this is unacceptable and ask to speak with the person in charge of your case(or a manager). I got two iPhone unlocked imediately while on the phone.
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@Cndnmax, Thank you for your suggestion, things didn't exactly go the way you had described, but what finally got it through was that I insisting on talking to the technical support.

To start I just want to say, ATT is very very confused, and my best suggestion is to keep on calling and don't believe in what anybody said until you got it resolved. Of course, this only applies to people who asked for the unlock early enough and is still waiting. At least that was the basis of my argument. Note, my is an iPhone 2G so I'm 100% certainly is out of contract, no argument there.

I submitted my request on the 9th of April. First was giving a 72 hours wait, that was no good, then was giving a 16th deadline that was no good either. I finally called back again this morning, first I got to the CS, then I asked for the CS manager he was extremely rude and extremely protective of his CS personal and insisting on there is nothing more he (or ATT) can do and I'm just wasting my time (Note. I was extremely clam and logical until the CS manager became very rude. He was rude the entire time). Also, just before transferring to tech support, he said "I'll transfer you there, but there is NOTHING they can do, it's all in Apple's court". I told him to transfer me anyways.

When I got the tech support, I calmly explained my case again and was told the long wait time is most likely due to high unlock request. I told the tech that I do not disagree with your statement, however, I made the request on the 9th of April and I would think that I'm somewhat ahead of most people in the line, unless this is not first come first serve situation. The tech agreed with me (she was very nice the entire time), and ask me to wait a few second to verify the phone, and of course this is a iPhone 2G so it's long been free of contract. Much to my surprise the tech then said, okay, I will unlocked it for you. Which I thought that WAS not possible by the very rude CS manger who flat out lied to my face about the fact it's Apple's problem. Anyways, long story short, the iPhone 2G is now unlocked after a restore. I plan to use this as my backup phone or should I need to travel over seas.

Conclusion:
1. Most CS at ATT has no idea what is going on, some will blame ATT some will simply blame Apple, maybe just because it makes more sense. The rude CS manager kept on telling me "ATT don't make the phone, Apple does" I think he said it at least give times during the conversation. I guess when you are lying you gotta do it with confidence.

2. From the looks of it tech support does have the ability to unlock your phone if you are certain that your phone is out of contract and have waited long enough (I waited 9 days). Which was the basis of my argument.
 
I just get the email today, did the restore, but the iPhone is still locked. Any Ideas?
 
josrey said:
I just get the email today, did the restore, but the iPhone is still locked. Any Ideas?
Click to expand...

As kentsommer mentioned earlier in another (or this) thread, it could take about a day (it took about 20 hours for him) after you receive the email. The email indicates that AT&T has submitted the unlock request to Apple but you don't get notified at the point in time when Apple adds the IMEI to the whitelist.
 
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aajeev said:
@Cndnmax, Thank you for your suggestion, things didn't exactly go the way you had described, but what finally got it through was that I insisting on talking to the technical support.

To start I just want to say, ATT is very very confused, and my best suggestion is to keep on calling and don't believe in what anybody said until you got it resolved. Of course, this only applies to people who asked for the unlock early enough and is still waiting. At least that was the basis of my argument. Note, my is an iPhone 2G so I'm 100% certainly is out of contract, no argument there.

I submitted my request on the 9th of April. First was giving a 72 hours wait, that was no good, then was giving a 16th deadline that was no good either. I finally called back again this morning, first I got to the CS, then I asked for the CS manager he was extremely rude and extremely protective of his CS personal and insisting on there is nothing more he (or ATT) can do and I'm just wasting my time (Note. I was extremely clam and logical until the CS manager became very rude. He was rude the entire time). Also, just before transferring to tech support, he said "I'll transfer you there, but there is NOTHING they can do, it's all in Apple's court". I told him to transfer me anyways.

When I got the tech support, I calmly explained my case again and was told the long wait time is most likely due to high unlock request. I told the tech that I do not disagree with your statement, however, I made the request on the 9th of April and I would think that I'm somewhat ahead of most people in the line, unless this is not first come first serve situation. The tech agreed with me (she was very nice the entire time), and ask me to wait a few second to verify the phone, and of course this is a iPhone 2G so it's long been free of contract. Much to my surprise the tech then said, okay, I will unlocked it for you. Which I thought that WAS not possible by the very rude CS manger who flat out lied to my face about the fact it's Apple's problem. Anyways, long story short, the iPhone 2G is now unlocked after a restore. I plan to use this as my backup phone or should I need to travel over seas.

Conclusion:
1. Most CS at ATT has no idea what is going on, some will blame ATT some will simply blame Apple, maybe just because it makes more sense. The rude CS manager kept on telling me "ATT don't make the phone, Apple does" I think he said it at least give times during the conversation. I guess when you are lying you gotta do it with confidence.

2. From the looks of it tech support does have the ability to unlock your phone if you are certain that your phone is out of contract and have waited long enough (I waited 9 days). Which was the basis of my argument.
Click to expand...

Great experience.

I also got my case submitted on April 9 and called in yesterday.

Right, some ATT CSR IS able to instantly unlock the phone, if they are willing to use that tool. At first they said just wait. When I insisted that the due date hit and I must hear something ,the CSR said , " OK , let's do it this way, please give me your IMEI'. Then .... after 1 minute, he said " your iPhone unlock request was just denied."

Remember, my iPhone is determined to be eligible for unlock by the online chat staff. Or they would not create a case at all. But when my IMEI was finally facing the true unlock tool (maybe a fast way to add the IMEI to apple's server), I got denied.

I have no idea what to do now at the moment. However, this proved that some do have the instant unlock tool. And this may give different results of eligibility with the tool used by other CSR when check the eligibility initially.
In order to let them use that instant unlock tool, I guess you have to be a long ATT customer, or non-ATT customer who submitted the case very early and the deadline hits. Or they would just create a new case for you to wait.
 
TimeArrow said:
Great experience.

I also got my case submitted on April 9 and called in yesterday.

Right, some ATT CSR IS able to instantly unlock the phone, if they are willing to use that tool. At first they said just wait. When I insisted that the due date hit and I must hear something ,the CSR said , " OK , let's do it this way, please give me your IMEI'. Then .... after 1 minute, he said " your iPhone unlock request was just denied."

Remember, my iPhone is determined to be eligible for unlock by the online chat staff. Or they would not create a case at all. But when my IMEI was finally facing the true unlock tool (maybe a fast way to add the IMEI to apple's server), I got denied.

I have no idea what to do now at the moment. However, this proved that some do have the instant unlock tool. And this may give different results of eligibility with the tool used by other CSR when check the eligibility initially.
In order to let them use that instant unlock tool, I guess you have to be a long ATT customer, or non-ATT customer who submitted the case very early and the deadline hits. Or they would just create a new case for you to wait.
Click to expand...

Call up again..the csr just said that to get rid of you. They don't have any specilized tools except the one to check contracts and active status.
 
Called up and CSR said tech support told her it's in Apple's hands as they give the unlock codes.

Whatever, **** AT&T. Can't wait to leave them and go to Verizon 4g
 
gillboyzz said:
Call up again..the csr just said that to get rid of you. They don't have any specilized tools except the one to check contracts and active status.
Click to expand...

You're probably right. I'm pretty sure they do have a tool to submit the IMEI into Apple's database.. I just thing TimeArrow's CSR didn't actually do it. Unless the tool was very recently updated to check for eligibility (which I doubt since AT&T and other carriers can give exceptions at their discretion... such as in the case of service members)
 
Can anyone tell me how to get to the chat if I'm not an AT&T customer? They ask for the phone number and username!
 
Msshaker said:
Can anyone tell me how to get to the chat if I'm not an AT&T customer? They ask for the phone number and username!
Click to expand...

The links are earlier in this thread (page 15). They seem to have stopped this for non-AT&T customers with a new message on the chat web page. But you can try your luck at the links below:
Link 1

Link 2
 
Thanks psejcf,

I tried first link and this is what I got:


Thank you for contacting an ASR!

Unfortunately, we are closed at this time.

ASR Chat is available 7-days a week, from 5:00 AM - 11:00 PM PST.

If you have received this message during normal hours of operation, please email (*)BDS Care.



Then used the second and filled in "Don't have one" in the number and user name fields and this got me in. A CSR replied and gave a case number and said I should get an email by the 27th.
 
terraphantm said:
You're probably right. I'm pretty sure they do have a tool to submit the IMEI into Apple's database.. I just thing TimeArrow's CSR didn't actually do it. Unless the tool was very recently updated to check for eligibility (which I doubt since AT&T and other carriers can give exceptions at their discretion... such as in the case of service members)
Click to expand...

Ya looks like your phones got unlocked through biz channel instantly.

I pmed you for some info and help,
Looks like the message couldn't go through.
 
MrNomNoms said:
So basically the American consumers are finally getting what us international customers have had for quite some time?
Click to expand...

Yes and no. A good majority of people wanting an unlock are ones who live outside the US but bought the iPhone from the US because it's cheaper.
 
I just got an email response for my unlock request two days ago:

Thank you for contacting AT&T Customer Care about unlocking your iPhone (IMEI: ***********2422).

I have submitted a request for the Device Unlock Code for your iPhone 4. Please allow 8 ? 10 business days for your request to be processed. Your case number is, CM20120419_39275711.

For questions regarding AT&T?s wireless service and iPhone, please contact AT&T Customer Care at (800) 331-0500.
We thank you for your continued business.
 
MrNomNoms said:
So basically the American consumers are finally getting what us international customers have had for quite some time?
Click to expand...

Yes, so don't rain on our parade, please! We take what we can get. The regulatory bodies (and gov't for that matter) support big business over consumers regularly...

OTOH, I called last night to get my phone uplocked - 5 minute discussion, 1 hour later, e-mail recieved. Done... All in all, very easy
 
rutledjw said:
Yes, so don't rain on our parade, please! We take what we can get. The regulatory bodies (and gov't for that matter) support big business over consumers regularly...

OTOH, I called last night to get my phone uplocked - 5 minute discussion, 1 hour later, e-mail recieved. Done... All in all, very easy
Click to expand...

The thing is where I live we have no legislation that forces that phone companies to sell unlocked phones because the phones were never sold subsidised and locked in but rather you paid full price then decided whether to go on contract or prepaid - if you chose contract then you'd get a credit back through your account with carriers offering up to a $200 credit on 24month plan.
 
I chatted with a rep about 10 hours ago and was able to get a case number however never received any emails from AT&T.

I'm overseas & my iPhone 4S was bought thru a Business account and I just thought it doesn't hurt to ask. After I told her this & gave her the IMEI, she created a ticket and when I asked if that meant it would be unlocked, she replied I don't see any reason why not.

So right now, I'm not sure what to do. Do I go back & ask about the email or just wait it out? I've read thru the posts here and it seems like anything is possible right now.
 
UPDATE:

I tried to check if it was unlocked, I'm on 5.0.1 jailbroken so I downloaded SAM, deactivated using SAM, Rebooted with my overseas SIM, connected to iTunes, went straight to details of the iphone & sync options like normal (no pop ups, nothing), then I found my Overseas Carrier's Network on my phone with full signal. Used it & it works. Voila! iPhone 4S is now officially factory unlocked for free!!!!! I'm sooooo thrilled....I had paid upto $150 several times with so many companies operating sim unlocks but it never worked & I got my money refunded from paypal & now with just little effort I'm free from AT&T...woohoo!!!!

Note: I was using my phone previously with the GPP sim which works quite well.
 
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