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

[grappler]

Success, I think

I thought I'd try this with an old 3G S that finished out its contract long ago.

I've since ported the number away from AT&T and onto Google Voice. I use it WiFi only now (but still as a phone thanks to Talkatone + Google Voice!). I have no service contract of any kind with any carrier on this phone.

I called the "after hours tech support" number suggested earlier: 1-866-801-3600. I think I selected 1 for "other options".

After holding for just a couple minutes I got a person. She asked for my account info first. Didn't come up. I explained it was a closed account. That helped, she then found the account info. Then she asked for the IMEI number (Settings -> General -> About). After I gave her that, I was back on hold for a few minutes while she looked up some eligibility info. She came back and said I was eligible, but they needed to assign a case number and it might be quick or it might be several days. They gave me a case number, an “expected resolution date” of April 16th, and offered to contact me by phone or email.

Seems promising!

If this goes well, I might actually consider signing up for a contract with AT&T again. I had sworn off buying any kind of locked phone or contract ever again, for the simple reason that I detest vendor lockin.

 

[yukycg]

Guys, call the 1-800-331-0500 (select Technical support from the prompt) and not the customer service. The CSR knows nothing.

They ask your IMEI and will send an email to you. That email asks you to just backup and restore the phone and it should unlock it then. So, they need you to restore the phone. Strange.

I doubtful that you need to restore, but I will try on my old 3GS. According to the tech support, Apple suppose add the imei number to the "unlock list" (provide the unlock code)

 

[widoq5]

I just called AT&T to unlock my iphone that I bought by paying no-commitment price but they say it is not eligible for unlock. Frustrated, I hope that women I talked with was looking somewhere wrong.

 

[Shanpdx]

I just called AT&T to unlock my iphone that I bought by paying no-commitment price but they say it is not eligible for unlock. Frustrated, I hope that women I talked with was looking somewhere wrong.

looks like from other postes, you gotta call tech support not the CSR.

did you call tech support?

 

[thesaint580]

I doubtful that you need to restore, but I will try on my old 3GS. According to the tech support, Apple suppose add the imei number to the "unlock list" (provide the unlock code)

No idea. She didn't tell me anything about Apple adding it to the list or anything. She said, just follow the instructions and you should be good to go. Below are the instructions.

To complete the unlock, simply:
1. Open iTunes on your Mac or PC and verify that you have internet connectivity.
2. Connect your iPhone using the dock connector to USB cable that came with your iPhone.
3. Backup and restore your iPhone using iTunes .
For information on backup and restore, please visit http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1414.
4. After restoring, your iPhone will be unlocked.

 

[psnARMEDps3]

I just called AT&T to unlock my iphone that I bought by paying no-commitment price but they say it is not eligible for unlock. Frustrated, I hope that women I talked with was looking somewhere wrong.

Also got the phone on no commitment price. Here is what is currently happening. Will update with future reply soon after process is done:

1. Called 1-800-331-0500
2. Pressed 0 until I got connected (as I do not have AT&T number)
3. Talked to the rep saying the phone was bought full price and locked to AT&T. The sim was never activated so there is no account to refer it to. He took my imei and put me on hold.
4. He came back to me and asked for purchase date and price (699.99).
5. He is making case with notes and asked for email.
6. Gave me case number.
7. He sent it in.
8. He said i should recieve email April 16th evening.
9. Finished his notes.
10. DONE request sent.

 

[Sixtafoua]

that is awesome and they didn't say you would need the original sim or anything?

Nope, just the IMEI number. I told them I wasn't an AT&T customer, and that I bought the phone on eBay. I was just honest with them.

 

[getastro]

I would like to know from the people that are getting their iPhone 4's unlocked, when did you get the phone. AT&T is telling I have to wait until June 15th. Thats is when my 2 year deal is up, but others are getting theirs unlocked now? Something smell fishing here....

 

[repeters]

Now I wait...

I paid the ETF in August, 2011 and have been using my iPhone 4 as a GoPhone.

It took several calls today until I found an AT&T representative who knew an iPhone could be unlocked. I was told to expect confirmation via email on April 16.

So far, so good.

 

[Dominar]

Ugh, I'm reading on other sites that people who've had their phones replaced during their contract are being told they can't unlock because the device doesn't have 2 yrs use on it!

Apple sold me an iPhone 4 for $199 after my Applecare covered iPhone 4 was exposed to water.

My original IMEI is different from my current IMEI.

 

[carigis]

they were helpful when I called, they gave me a ticket number and told me to fax them a copy of bill of sale from ebay to 1-800-328-1677 and that I would hear from them by the 16th on how to unlock.

 

[Cingular]

I paid the ETF in August, 2011 and have been using my iPhone 4 as a GoPhone.

It took several calls today until I found an AT&T representative who knew an iPhone could be unlocked. I was told to expect confirmation via email on April 16.

So far, so good.

Did you give out your GoPhone info?

 

[Shanpdx]

it has to be some weblink in the att account page, that would be much easier.

enter your IMEI, if eligible for unlock, provide button to unlock it.

these tech support folks going to be on hours unlocking thousands of iPHones. talk about 5 year backlog.

 

[tivoboy]

funny

Funny, i just called tech support and the message said "please call back during business hours between 07:00 AM pacific and xyz." But it is currently 08:30 AM on the west coast!

 

[Shanpdx]

In the store?

Any luck in the ATT store?

 

[QuarterSwede]

I would like to know from the people that are getting their iPhone 4's unlocked, when did you get the phone. AT&T is telling I have to wait until June 15th. Thats is when my 2 year deal is up, but others are getting theirs unlocked now? Something smell fishing here....

Like most carriers, at&t determines upgrade availability based how long one has had service and how much they pay per month, among other things. Nothing fishy here.

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it has to be some weblink in the att account page, that would be much easier.

enter your IMEI, if eligible for unlock, provide button to unlock it.

But they want the phones to continue to be locked to them. That would be far too easy for people to use.

 

[DJsteveSD]

Just got off the phone with tech support. It was about a 30 min wait for them. She did some stuff, verified eligibility, which was easy since they had my old 3GS info on file still. She said I would get an email with instructions, which I just received:
ompleting Your Authorized iPhone Unlock
Thank you for contacting AT&T Customer Care about unlocking your iPhone.
We have reviewed your request and confirmed that you are eligible to have the requested iPhone unlocked.
To complete the unlock, simply:
1. Open iTunes on your Mac or PC and verify that you have internet connectivity.
2. Connect your iPhone using the dock connector to USB cable that came with your iPhone. 3. Backup and restore your iPhone using iTunes .
For information on backup and restore, please visit http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1414. 4. After restoring, your iPhone will be unlocked.
Additional information on unlocking can be found at http://support.apple.com/kb/TS3198.
For questions regarding AT&T’s wireless service and iPhone, please visit the Phone/Device Learning
Center.
We thank you for your continued business and look forward to providing you with the best
customer service. Sincerely,
AT&T Customer Care Team

 

[Carlanga]

Just got off the phone w/ AT&T (dialed 611) and got my unlock case open; gave them the IMEI number of my old 3GS and they said they would process it between 1-2 days, but the resolution would be done at the most on April 16. They also asked for my email and a secondary phone number for them to sent the resolution and if there is any issues. I didn't wait too much (Total call time 17mins, I guess because it's a Premier Acc.) The old 3GS was on the same number as my 4S

 

[yukycg]

Just want to say that restore the IPhone didn't unlock it. I believe we still need to wait Apple to add my imei to the unlock system.

If apple is doing unlock, I think android and WP will need to follow suit.

 

[Vudoo]

Just got off the phone with AT&T. 0 wait time and the person I spoke to knew what he was doing so within 15 minutes, I had him unlock my iPhone 4S and my wife's 4. It should be complete before April 16 on both phones.

This is great since I'll be leaving the US in a few weeks for a few months.

 

[thesaint580]

Just got off the phone with tech support. It was about a 30 min wait for them. She did some stuff, verified eligibility, which was easy since they had my old 3GS info on file still. She said I would get an email with instructions, which I just received:
ompleting Your Authorized iPhone Unlock
Thank you for contacting AT&T Customer Care about unlocking your iPhone.
We have reviewed your request and confirmed that you are eligible to have the requested iPhone unlocked.
To complete the unlock, simply:
1. Open iTunes on your Mac or PC and verify that you have internet connectivity.
2. Connect your iPhone using the dock connector to USB cable that came with your iPhone. 3. Backup and restore your iPhone using iTunes .
For information on backup and restore, please visit http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1414. 4. After restoring, your iPhone will be unlocked.
Additional information on unlocking can be found at http://support.apple.com/kb/TS3198.
For questions regarding AT&T’s wireless service and iPhone, please visit the Phone/Device Learning
Center.
We thank you for your continued business and look forward to providing you with the best
customer service. Sincerely,
AT&T Customer Care Team

Update: I got the same from them and restoring is not unlocking the phone. Not sure if the IMEI number is on Apple's "unlock list". They didn't mention anything than to just restore the phone for it to unlock.

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Just want to say that restore the IPhone didn't unlock it. I believe we still need to wait Apple to add my imei to the unlock system.

If apple is doing unlock, I think android and WP will need to follow suit.

I just "Updated" to this thread mentioning the same. Tried restoring and didn't unlock. I wonder why everyone is being told that their phones will be unlocked by April 16. Didn't get anything of that sort told to me from the Tech support.

 

[rponte]

hi there,

I'm from Portugal, a friend of mine just offered his iphone 4. I dont have the proof, and calling overseas it will be very expensive, is any way to contact them by skype or email?

Help please

 

[Dominar]

Just got off the phone with AT&T. 0 wait time and the person I spoke to knew what he was doing so within 15 minutes, I had him unlock my iPhone 4S and my wife's 4. It should be complete before April 16 on both phones.

This is great since I'll be leaving the US in a few weeks for a few months.

Were either of your phones on contract?

 

[jay47]

Said my unlock code would be sent via email in 24-48 hrs . Due to the high volume of calls & needing to send the request to apple it could take a little longer .

 

[Vudoo]

Ugh, I'm reading on other sites that people who've had their phones replaced during their contract are being told they can't unlock because the device doesn't have 2 yrs use on it!

Apple sold me an iPhone 4 for $199 after my Applecare covered iPhone 4 was exposed to water.

My original IMEI is different from my current IMEI.

Not true. The Apple store just replaced my 4S and I got it unlocked.

Were either of your phones on contract?

Technically, yes.