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AT&T iPhone Unlocking Process Detailed, Successful for Some

Just call ATT using skype, its free. I have the same situation, have an used iPhone. I explained the situation and the rep asked for my IMEI, no account, no phone, etc.

Unfortunatelly the iPhone was too old, 2G. And there is no unlock code for it. But the rep was too nice, give it a try.

PicanteGamer said:
Would someone with an account be willing to try pushing mine through again? I tried calling CS yesterday but I'm doubtful that it will be successful or that I went through the right process since I am not an AT&T customer and got the phone off eBay. I'd really really really appreciate it.
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Does anyone know that I can unlock a no contract iPhone 4? I bought it for 600 early last year from apple store.
 
minw2005 said:
Does anyone know that I can unlock a no contract iPhone 4? I bought it for 600 early last year from apple store.
Click to expand...

I called AT&T today, and everything was great!!! They asked my IMEI number and created a case, and they said that I'll receive a e-mail in April 17th. I bought my iPhone at the Apple Store in New York for full price without contract. So they DO unlock full price iPhones.
I don't even live in US, I live in Brazil and I called from here, and everything was fine!!!
Call Them!!!

----------

I called AT&T today, and everything was great!!! They asked my IMEI number and created a case, and they said that I'll receive a e-mail in April 17th. I bought my iPhone at the Apple Store in New York for full price without contract. So they DO unlock full price iPhones.
I don't even live in US, I live in Brazil and I called from here, and everything was fine!!!
 
TimeArrow said:
Tried. Told me to expect the unlock on April 17.... The same as GreenMonster. Originally told me to check email within 48-72hours...... Have no clue what's going on. They said the status is" resolving", and they have no information as whether they are waiting for responding from Apple or even their own unlocking team.... Which means its possible that it has never been submitted at all.
So that's the difference between personal and business tech support? The biz tech support even has instant access to Apple's IMEI white list server and make it effect instantly?

Did you ever try unlock before? The non-commitment AT&T iPhone sold by Apple is born unlocked, though one will never notice until a restore. This is how i bought an unlocked iPhone 4S from the first week of launch. The official unlocked iPhone came one month later. Can you confirm that your iPhone is indeed locked but it's off contract?
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It's on contract and definitely was locked before today. Fwiw I wasn't able to get through to "personal" support - they told me the same thing they're telling you. I do have a US government FAN; idk if that bypasses any requirements.
 
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I called mine in to AT&T. The first call (25 minutes) resulted in me being forwarde to Apple Care. Second try to AT&T (25 minutes) I had to read the notice to the person and was transfered to Techincal Support after agruing a bit about my eligibility. Had to argue again for eligibility with Technical Support but was told since I had upgraded, my iPhone 4 was indeed eligible. They simply told me to restore my iPhone and I should be good to go, no further waiting. When I restored it in iTunes, I received a message saying, "congratulations, your iPhone is now unlocked". :D
 
ok, here it goes...............

lease wait for a chat representative to respond.

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terraphantm said:
It's on contract and definitely was locked before today. Fwiw I wasn't able to get through to "personal" support - they told me the same thing they're telling you. I do have a US government FAN; idk if that bypasses any requirements.
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I've been reading your posts in the thread...

So basically, you had your 4S replaced by Apple under warranty, and AT&T never recorded the new IMEI as attached to your account and contract status. They didn't probe too hard and you were able to get an unlock through? I should try this, because not only is my 4S a replacement (exchange at the Genius Bar within the 14-day window actually), the original wasn't even purchased on my account (girlfriend let me use her upgrade because she wasn't going to). It'd be nice to be able to buy a prepaid SIM in other countries when I travel... I already pay enough to AT&T in the US! ;)
 
It's funny how for so many years they claimed it wasn't technically possible to unlock the iPhone, yet they've been able to do it all along.

Way to lie through your teeth, AT&T!

Why do they even lock the iPhone in the first place? Well, if you don't complete your contract you have to pay an ETF. They get paid either way. So the locking is all about control, not money. The amount of pressure on them to unlock has simply exceeded their ability to resist.
 
Ok, I just created a case after 6 calls. I called +1-800-3310500, then press 1, then press 0. Used skype, so its a free call.

It was an used iPhone, no in contract anymore. I have no account or phone with att. The rep will say many things, you need explain the situation and then they will lookup you IMEI, say they don't find the unlock code and then create a support ticket. They ask for your email and say you should expect more info by 17th april.

Keep calling, have patience, be polite, it should work.

HTH
Oliver
 
Stratus Fear said:
I've been reading your posts in the thread...

So basically, you had your 4S replaced by Apple under warranty, and AT&T never recorded the new IMEI as attached to your account and contract status. They didn't probe too hard and you were able to get an unlock through? I should try this, because not only is my 4S a replacement (exchange at the Genius Bar within the 14-day window actually), the original wasn't even purchased on my account (girlfriend let me use her upgrade because she wasn't going to). It'd be nice to be able to buy a prepaid SIM in other countries when I travel... I already pay enough to AT&T in the US! ;)
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Exactly.

The business chat representatives seem to be the most lax about the requirements
 
AT&T's reps are useless.

Seems like a hit or miss. The Business rep I got was clueless. I got transfered and the "technical rep" told me that I was ineligible because I got my phone replaced in February and that the IMEI notes that it will be available for unlock in feb 2014.

I paid retail price on this phone in june 2010... :rolleyes:

Will try my luck again.
 
Alright so here's my story. I called twice; once to unlock my iPhone 3GS, and another to unlock my sister's iPhone 3GS. Both calls successful in creating a case.

I NEVER had an account with AT&T. My sister and I both got iPhones off craigslist, etc, solely for use with T-Mobile.

I used Skype to call 1-800-3310500, then pressed 1, then pressed 0 to get to an AT&T service representative.

The first thing they ask is for your AT&T Wireless number.
Since I don't have an AT&T number, I replied "Sorry I don't currently have an AT&T account; I'm calling just to ask a question."

Then they ask for a phone number in case the call gets disconnected. I give them my T-Mobile cell number in both cases, but I guess any phone number should be fine.

They then asked what I would like to inquire about.
I reply (something along the lines of), "I have an old iPhone lying around [that a friend gave me, or whatever excuse], and I heard that AT&T is able to unlock iPhones now. I would like to know if I could get mine unlocked even though I don't currently have an account with AT&T."

They reply that it should be fine. Asked for my name, email, and IMEI. They don't do the unlock right away though; they say they submit a case to their "unlocking team", and they say it should be resolved by April 17.

The same thing happened for both phone calls in a row. No rejections (unlike other people. I must be lucky :) ).

If others are in the same situation as me (iPhone from craigslist, no AT&T account, etc), you should try to give them a call!!! It could work ;)
 
AT&T Chat told me to call their 1-800 number.

I was on hold around ~1 HOUR, only to be told NO.

I purchased my 3GS around June/July or whenever in 2009. However, when I took it into the Apple store for an issue (end of May 2010), I was given a new phone with a new IMEI.

That one isn't eligible until early June. :(
 
Successfully unlocked my launch day (but replaced once by apple) iPhone4 today. Had to call twice.
1st call: CSR said my phone is still within the 2 year contract and I cannot unlock until June 2012. I Said thank you and hung up.
2nd call: CSR was much nicer, asked for my imei and asked if the phone was purchased in 2010. I said yes and she put the request through, she even offered to stay on the phone while I restore to make sure she did it correctly because it was her first iPhone unlock. Told her I was at work and could not restore and thanked her. I came home from work, restored and iTunes shows the unlocked message.

Take away: keep trying but be nice.
 
Nice lady at AT&T tech support took my iPhone 3GS IMEI, confirmed it's off-contract, and said the unlock confirmation eMail should arrive by the 17th (one week from today). I'm already using it -locked- but with a StraightTalk SIM. Very happy so far with ST. I'm off to Italy this summer and it's always -way- cheaper to buy a SIM and minutes from TIM (Italian wireless provider) than to get an AT&T SIM for the Italian market (like 95% cheaper).

BTW: This iPhone had been my dad's and we terminated his contract early when he realized his hearing aids weren't working well enough for use with the iPhone (really bad ears, not the iPhone or the hearing aids). The early termination fee was paid (back in 2010, I think). So this phone hasn't had an AT&T phone number nor service since then.

As someone else opined: The unlocking policy just made the value of my 3GS (with the old boot ROM) go way up.

This was the best public relations move AT&T could have made (well, except for the unlocking of on-contract iPhones for US servicemen/women; that was way cool!).
 
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Wow I always get the idiotic jerks at AT&T when I call.

Called in 2 phones
3GS which was replaced by warrantee on December 2010( yet I signed up for the 3GS durring launch)
And
iPhone 4 which is no longer on contract

This AT&T yahoo proceeds to tell me he can't submit the unlock because apple will not allow it because the phones( not the contract) have NOT been in service for more than two years.

He's denying me because the phones(NOT THE TWO YEAR SERIVE AGREEMENT) in particular are less than two years old

Then this santorum guzzler proceedes to try to sail this load of coagulant by..

That there is actually two contracts.... One with ATT and one with apple..... Seriously dude? A contract with apple to what use it?
 
PicanteGamer said:
Would someone with an account be willing to try pushing mine through again? I tried calling CS yesterday but I'm doubtful that it will be successful or that I went through the right process since I am not an AT&T customer and got the phone off eBay. I'd really really really appreciate it.
Click to expand...

So I told picantegamer I would try this for him. I called 611 and got business care (FAN account). I hit the options until I got technical support for "other" problems. I told the lady I wanted to unlock an old iPhone 4 I had that I am not currently using. She asked for the imei number which I gave her. She asked if I got the phone from AT&T and I said yes not quite knowing what she was getting at. She then said I looked eligible and put me on hold for 20 more minutes until she got ahold of someone from "technical support" (even though I thought that's where I was?).

Once the new tech support guy came on the line he said I was all set and asked for my email address. He sent me a link to the instruction page which is in the first post of this thread. I was never asked for proof of purchase or anything which was good because I didn't even have the serial number.

Picantegamer said he was able to then unlock his phone.
 
Xenomorph said:
AT&T Chat told me to call their 1-800 number.

I was on hold around ~1 HOUR, only to be told NO.

I purchased my 3GS around June/July or whenever in 2009. However, when I took it into the Apple store for an issue (end of May 2010), I was given a new phone with a new IMEI.

That one isn't eligible until early June. :(
Click to expand...

Once the original iphone is unlocked, the replaced one will be unlocked too. Apple has a record and the phones replaced by the original will be unlocked like dominoes.

If you still have the computer you had when you had the original 3GS, you can find the IMEI and serial in iTunes under Edit-Preferences-Devices. Hover your mouse over the original iphone listed and it will display the IMEI. This is the one you should submit to AT&T.
 
Hey guys,

I called At&t today and the guy said he would have to open a case and i would have to wait till April 17th to get an answer. Instead of getting my email he got my phone number and said they will call me back, he also didnt provide me with any case number. Is that unusual? Thinking i should call again.

Thanks.
 
Okay, I'm in the dark on this, so I'll ask:

Any advantages to unlocking the phone if you don't travel overseas?

Any disadvantages to unlocking it?
 
Rusty607 said:
I called At&t today and the guy said he would have to open a case and i would have to wait till April 17th to get an answer. Instead of getting my email he got my phone number and said they will call me back, he also didnt provide me with any case number. Is that unusual? Thinking i should call again.
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I'd call back. You should have gotten a case number and left your e-mail address... the instructions for unlocking are sent to your e-mail.
pmbooks said:
Okay, I'm in the dark on this, so I'll ask:

Any advantages to unlocking the phone if you don't travel overseas?

Any disadvantages to unlocking it?
Click to expand...

Not really and not really.
 
pmbooks said:
Okay, I'm in the dark on this, so I'll ask:

Any advantages to unlocking the phone if you don't travel overseas?

Any disadvantages to unlocking it?
Click to expand...

The only advantage I could think of is if you were to sell it to someone that might need an unlocked phone, it could be worth a tiny little bit more than a phone that was still locked to ATT. but at that point any one could call in and have it unlocked right away. So i guess like the previous poster said- no and no LOL :D
 
Will be giving this a try for Skype with both an in-AT&T purchased iPhone, and a full-paid-for non subsidized iPhone. Here's hoping!
 
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