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AT&T Will Unlock Off-Contract iPhones Starting Sunday, April 8

justperry said:
Is this a reply to ME?

So, that makes my view even more valid, why lock in the states if they all use different Tech???? (That's what you say)
iPhone 4S is multiband GSM and CDMA.:p
Most GSM phones are multi band, and even in the US there are other (small) GSM providers.
Click to expand...

Yes the 4S is multiband but you can't take the At&t version and use it on Verizon and or Sprint and vise versa
 
big deal. Let me use my off contract iphone with out a data plan and then you will see me smile.
 
rmstltanic said:
Sorry to be dense, but could someone help me understand?

I've had a 3GS since December 09 as part of a family plan. So it's out-of-contract.

I'm going to Iceland this year.

By unlocking the phone, and buying a SIM card in Iceland, my phone will work? I suppose it's optional whether that SIM allows for data?

Thanks!
Click to expand...

Yes you should be able to unlock it starting tomorrow and be able to use it with a pre paid sim in Iceland.
 
rmstltanic said:
By unlocking the phone, and buying a SIM card in Iceland, my phone will work? I suppose it's optional whether that SIM allows for data?
Click to expand...

With an Iceland SIM, your phone will become a local Iceland phone with its own local number, i.e. lower rates for all calls while you are there. You won't get calls to your "regular" number without additional work (e.g. call forwarding).

B
 
terraphantm said:
I wonder how the etf thing works. As far as I'm aware, they don't let you pay the etf unless you're leaving att. And obviously that'd would mean you're no longer a customer (let alone in good standing)
Click to expand...

A customer who leaves ATT with all their bills paid is considered "in good standing". The point of the policy is that they don't want to unlock a phone that hasn't been paid for (eg. went to collection agency), was reported stolen, etc.
 
Great news for Americans, I'm glad for you guys!

That's how it should be, I fulfill my contract, unlock the phone, it is mine.

That's how it's been in Europe for a long time and that's how it should be.
 
Jordan921 said:
Please provide reports of the At&t version working with cdma carriers. I'm sure the Sprint version doesn't even work on Verizon.
Click to expand...

You have difficulty reading, eh?

I stated CDMA -->> GSM.

I did not state that at&t iPhones have been working on Sprint.
I'm sure that you could if you flashed it with different firmware, that was for the CDMA iPhones, however.

And both Sprint and Verizon use the 850/1900 bands.
Fail, on your part.

It's all about the firmware. You just need to tell which radios to operate, and you're golden.
 
My wife has a 3GS and is on 5.0. She wants to erase it before she sends it to her cousin who is on T-Mobile. Is it better to unlock first through AT&T then update to 5.1 or restore clean to 5.1 first and then unlock? Or it doesn't matter. Your help is appreciated. Thanks.
 
FYI: i just called AT&T couldnt get my current iphone 4 unlock (3 of them) cuz i just got them with my dad family plan. However, I asedk for my 2 iphones 2g and got AT&A to sent an unlock request to apple! I will get them factory unlock sometimes next week :D feels good man having 2iphone 2g factory unlocked even tho i know we can get them unlock in cydia with jailbreak.
 
thesaint580 said:
My wife has a 3GS and is on 5.0. She wants to erase it before she sends it to her cousin who is on T-Mobile. Is it better to unlock first through AT&T then update to 5.1 or restore clean to 5.1 first and then unlock? Or it doesn't matter. Your help is appreciated. Thanks.
Click to expand...
Doesn't matter. The iPhone unlock is via iTunes. It checks your IMEI number and or Serial number with Apple servers where they have a database with the unlocked phones. When they add you to that database, iTunes will get a code which will permanently unlock your phone. So it doesn't matter if you are using 5.0 or 5.1 or whatever formware you have...
 
thesaint580 said:
My wife has a 3GS and is on 5.0. She wants to erase it before she sends it to her cousin who is on T-Mobile. Is it better to unlock first through AT&T then update to 5.1 or restore clean to 5.1 first and then unlock? Or it doesn't matter. Your help is appreciated. Thanks.
Click to expand...

I would get the unlock request first then once u get att confirmation just update thru itunes to 5.1 (if u dont care about jailbreaking) done. Send it to her cousin!
 
aziatiklover said:
I would get the unlock request first then once u get att confirmation just update thru itunes to 5.1 (if u dont care about jailbreaking) done. Send it to her cousin!
Click to expand...

Thanks guys. Will call AT&T tomorrow and update here. Hope for the best.
 
EBSkater said:
You have difficulty reading, eh?

I stated CDMA -->> GSM.

I did not state that at&t iPhones have been working on Sprint.
I'm sure that you could if you flashed it with different firmware, that was for the CDMA iPhones, however.

And both Sprint and Verizon use the 850/1900 bands.
Fail, on your part.

It's all about the firmware. You just need to tell which radios to operate, and you're golden.
Click to expand...

You have difficulties reading your own post? You said there was reports of CDMA phones working on GSM networks. I know that the iPhone 4S is dual band but you can't just take a Verizon iPhone 4S and use it on At&t. So please show me reports of this working.

----------
Iceburg640 said:
Did anyone try calling yet?
Click to expand...

Is it Sunday here in the U.S.?
 
Last edited:
Way to go AT&T if they're doing it for free... cost me $50+tx to get Rogers to unlock mine.

Only downside is for people not with AT&T, it'll suck to have to get an account with them just to unlock... especially if you live in Canada. Guess you can always email Tim there and get er done.
 
bigjnyc said:
I finally got a chance to speak to him. They didn't get much details as far as logistics are concerned. But he did tell me that it would be tied to your account and not the actual device itself.... So you don't have to worry about when you purchased the device, or if it was replaced by Apple... As long as your contract has been fulfilled..... And they did mention something about wiggle room for customers in good standing who's monthly bills are a certain amount being able to get unlocks before the actual 24 months. Mainly those on enterprise accounts and with family plans.
Click to expand...

That's great to hear.

Will it matter how many iPhones we can get unlocked? I fulfilled my contract with my 4 and have been month to month for almost a year. I skipped upgrading to the 4s to keep my upgrade available for the next one. But I did purchase a second hand 4s because I didn't want to pass up on an awesome deal. Will I be able to unlock both?
 
hinchesk said:
Way to go AT&T if they're doing it for free... cost me $50+tx to get Rogers to unlock mine.

Only downside is for people not with AT&T, it'll suck to have to get an account with them just to unlock... especially if you live in Canada. Guess you can always email Tim there and get er done.
Click to expand...

Who said anything about needing a current account to get an unlock? Good standing just means the contract terms were met. It implies nothing about being a current customer.

Any AT&T compatible iPhone that's had the original contract terms met should be able to get an unlock.
 
dsquared81 said:
That's great to hear.

Will it matter how many iPhones we can get unlocked? I fulfilled my contract with my 4 and have been month to month for almost a year. I skipped upgrading to the 4s to keep my upgrade available for the next one. But I did purchase a second hand 4s because I didn't want to pass up on an awesome deal. Will I be able to unlock both?
Click to expand...

I don't think we'll know for sure til tomorrow.
 
cacophony555 said:
Who said anything about needing a current account to get an unlock? Good standing just means the contract terms were met. It implies nothing about being a current customer.

Any AT&T compatible iPhone that's had the original contract terms met should be able to get an unlock.
Click to expand...

I don't think they are gonna be unlocking any iPhone that just comes off the street.
 
cacophony555 said:
Any AT&T compatible iPhone that's had the original contract terms met should be able to get an unlock.
Click to expand...

That's what I'm hoping for... I've got a iphone 4 that I bought off ebay... hopefully all "clean" att iphones get unlocked irregardless of who owns them right now.
 
GreenMonster13 said:
That's what I'm hoping for... I've got a iphone 4 that I bought off ebay... hopefully all "clean" att iphones get unlocked irregardless of who owns them right now.
Click to expand...
I have an iPhone 4 bought on eBay and I just called ATT CS and they shut me down :(. Hopefully in a couple of days they'll budge!
 
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