You can "hacktivate" your iPhone. I'm not sure wether it requires jailbreaking your device, but I think so. Since you probably updated to iOS 5.1 you will have to do with a tethered jailbreak.
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AT&T Will Unlock Off-Contract iPhones Starting Sunday, April 8
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You can "hacktivate" your iPhone. I'm not sure wether it requires jailbreaking your device, but I think so. Since you probably updated to iOS 5.1 you will have to do with a tethered jailbreak.
No I never upgraded to that version. When I plugged in the previously jailbroken phone, it said that new version was available--I think it said v 3.3.4 although that might be slightly off. I'm still interested to learn if the ATT/Apple unlock code will allow me to load Apple' recommended iOS software and activate the phone using my T-Mobile (US) SIM card. What does hactivate do and how do I do it?
tell me they have a website where you enter the imei.
you dont gotta call and speak to a person, surely? there's a process ripe for streamlining
you dont gotta call and speak to a person, surely? there's a process ripe for streamlining
maybe you don't understand the whole idea of a subsidised phone.. they are subsidizing your phone so that you will sign an agreement to stay with them for 2 years, and at a higher rate you could get then if you went elsewhere.. which is why you can still save money if you buy at full price. The phone is really worth less then full retail.. they just set it high to make it look like you are getting a huge deal with the subsidy.. when really most don't buy at full price and the phone isnt worth the full price cost. it costs just under $200 to make. so 800 would be a huge markup.
at the end of that agreement you have fullfilled your portion so they should no longer tie you to thier service as they have made thier money back on the subsidy so it is paid for by you. The phone should then be unlocked for the user to do as they wish after that is completed.
However, i agree in the united states that is not the LAW yet so you likely would not go far suing.. but that doesn't mean congress should not legislate or the FCC should not issue a ruling... that all phones are unlocked after contract completion.
Hello!
I've also contacted AT&t, and they've opened a case for me and said i'll get an e-mail on the 16.
However, i've seen that people got their unlock earlier, so i've called apple to check for the status, but they said i should call AT&t again, as they can't check for it.
Anyway, i'm using gevey with my local sim card (not AT&t), and it is activated using the SAM app.
How will i know when it's unlocked? should i take the gevey out for it to be able to unlock?
I don't want to restore because i'm afraid my BB will get upgraded and i'll get screwed.
I've also contacted AT&t, and they've opened a case for me and said i'll get an e-mail on the 16.
However, i've seen that people got their unlock earlier, so i've called apple to check for the status, but they said i should call AT&t again, as they can't check for it.
Anyway, i'm using gevey with my local sim card (not AT&t), and it is activated using the SAM app.
How will i know when it's unlocked? should i take the gevey out for it to be able to unlock?
I don't want to restore because i'm afraid my BB will get upgraded and i'll get screwed.
Two things, wait for the email for confirmation, or do a custom firmware restore, preserving your baseband.
I am trying to get my wife's 3GS unlocked. Now I am wondering if Apple actually ties up the unlock code to my wife's iTunes/Apple ID account and then during the unlock I need to be logged into my wife's iTunes/Apple ID account. I am just saying.
Has anyone tried to unlock while logged into a different Apple ID on iTunes?
Has anyone tried to unlock while logged into a different Apple ID on iTunes?
Chat option only for AT&T customers?
It looks like the "Chat with an agent" option is only for those who have a service associated with AT&T. I registered on the site but am unable to proceed with the chat option without "linking an account" to the id. Can anyone confirm that calling them is the only option for those who don't have an active service from AT&T? (Or provide detailed instructions on how to get to chat)
It looks like the "Chat with an agent" option is only for those who have a service associated with AT&T. I registered on the site but am unable to proceed with the chat option without "linking an account" to the id. Can anyone confirm that calling them is the only option for those who don't have an active service from AT&T? (Or provide detailed instructions on how to get to chat)
I'm in the same boat as you are. I unlocked 2 phones this way, and have been asked to wait for someone to contact me. I don't understand how some people got their unlocks immediately.
Being the impatient nut that I am, I went ahead and did a restore to check, but my phones are still locked and it's been nearly 24 hours.
Keeping my fingers crossed that they don't back to me with some crazy excuse not to unlock it.
which number did you call, i am calling since an hour and they say "our SCR are currently closed"?
I used online chat to try to get an old 3GS unlocked that I purchased from a friend almost 2 years ago when he upgraded to the 4. When the 4S was released, my friend switched to Verizon. He bought the 3GS in June 2009, so the phone was definitely no longer on contract.
I'm still under contract, because I bought a 4S, but I was curious if they would unlock an old iPhone. The rep asked for the IMEI number of the 3GS but wouldn't unlock it, because he said I needed my friend's account info, including last 4 of the SSN.
So apparently, the model of the iPhone doesn't matter. They need some verification of when it was purchased. If you're no longer on contract, then I suppose they might assume that your iPhone is no longer tied to a contract though.
I'm still under contract, because I bought a 4S, but I was curious if they would unlock an old iPhone. The rep asked for the IMEI number of the 3GS but wouldn't unlock it, because he said I needed my friend's account info, including last 4 of the SSN.
So apparently, the model of the iPhone doesn't matter. They need some verification of when it was purchased. If you're no longer on contract, then I suppose they might assume that your iPhone is no longer tied to a contract though.
The 800 number that was listed earlier in this thread (1-800-331-0500). It went right through. I didn't even have to wait.
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because they are ATT customers and ATT can just look quickly and see status.. other ebay purchasers need to provide proof of purchase.
If you calling on a 4S unless the guy paid an ETF. it aint gonna happen. most likely the person walked out on thier bill to keep the the cash. too early for an early upgrade.. and impossible to have completed contract. I would not hold my breath.
Has anyone been told thier phone was reported stolen by the original customer yet? That would suck to lose your phone and the cash you paid just for trying to unlock it...lol
not to mention a recieving stolen property rap..
I have an iPhone 1 which no longer has its SIM. I went to ATT to get it added to my family account and they switched sims, destroyed the old one, and the new one wouldn't function. They had no prescribed and defined solution. I am also concerned if I have an old enough version of iTunes to still talk to it. 9.2.1 (4).
Anyway if anyone has help for this, IM me. I would say I definitely need a physical SIM and a way to at least get the IMEI to do any unlocking.
Thanks for real help. The other option is continuing brick of an iPhone 1 and that's just a waste.
Rocketman
Anyway if anyone has help for this, IM me. I would say I definitely need a physical SIM and a way to at least get the IMEI to do any unlocking.
Thanks for real help. The other option is continuing brick of an iPhone 1 and that's just a waste.
Rocketman
Looks like the system doesn't work well
Is there a direct number for tech support that bypasses CSR?
I just called AT&T and spent 15 minutes with an agent. She finally said the phone (no contract, bought at full price) cannot be unlocked since their system does not allow it.
1. Called 1-800-331-0500, pressed 1 and then 0 to talk to an agent.
2. Got to speak to an agent within a minute.
3. Was put on hold for 5 minutes.
4. Next question was "Where did you purchase it?" Answered that it was purchased in an Apple store.
5. Asked for the IMEI number. Put on hold again.
6. Provided the IMEI number. Put on hold again.
7. The phone is not eligible for an unlock. I told her that I bought it at full price and asked why it couldn't be done.
8. She said she would have to open an unlock case for this. Then she asked if I have an SSN. Put on hold again.
9. Final response - cannot unlock this phone since it wasn't on an AT&T account.
10. Asked if she could transfer to tech support and she said they would follow the same steps and that she had also checked with her manager.
Is there a direct number for tech support that bypasses CSR?
I just called AT&T and spent 15 minutes with an agent. She finally said the phone (no contract, bought at full price) cannot be unlocked since their system does not allow it.
1. Called 1-800-331-0500, pressed 1 and then 0 to talk to an agent.
2. Got to speak to an agent within a minute.
3. Was put on hold for 5 minutes.
4. Next question was "Where did you purchase it?" Answered that it was purchased in an Apple store.
5. Asked for the IMEI number. Put on hold again.
6. Provided the IMEI number. Put on hold again.
7. The phone is not eligible for an unlock. I told her that I bought it at full price and asked why it couldn't be done.
8. She said she would have to open an unlock case for this. Then she asked if I have an SSN. Put on hold again.
9. Final response - cannot unlock this phone since it wasn't on an AT&T account.
10. Asked if she could transfer to tech support and she said they would follow the same steps and that she had also checked with her manager.
I was concerned about that when I first purchased the phone, but since I was able to activate it without any problems and use it on AT&T's network, I assumed it was safe. If it had been blacklisted I would have reported it.
Took me a half an hour. First rep had to confirm I met all the requirements (out of contract, used the iPhone exclusively with AT&T, no early termination, no excessive data usage). Then they transferred me to another rep who reconfirmed that I met all the requirements and pushed the unlock through. She said all I have to do now is restore the iPhone using iTunes.
After going through all those hoops, I think anyone who didn't buy the phone through AT&T or Apple will have a really tough time getting their iPhone unlocked.
After going through all those hoops, I think anyone who didn't buy the phone through AT&T or Apple will have a really tough time getting their iPhone unlocked.
Well, I managed to get through on the 800 number that has been provided above just as their call centres opened at 0700, calling from Scotland using Skype. The woman was very friendly and in about 10 minutes provided a case ID and told me it would be unlocked no later than April 17, although it could happen much sooner. Even though the phone was bought from AT&T, she began to ask me for proof of purchase and then backed off when I asked her to tie in by phone the right person who could provide me with a copy of this. She backed off on the "requirement."
The big question for me is whether the unlock code from Att/Apple will allow me to activate the phone with the SIM card of another carrier installed?! I've seen how this process works before when the British carrier, O2, simply offered to unlock my iPhone 3 after I had been with them for a few months. In that case, a memo came from Apple congratulating me on being unlocked and directing me to connect to the iTunes and it would all be taken care of automatically.
Stand by to Stand By.
I am chatting with a live support agent to get a feel for the overall process. Their system is a mess and their staff is poorly trained to address the situation.
I supplied my IMEI for my iPhone 4 (having early upgraded my contract another two years for another device) and they told me that I wouldn't be eligible for an unlock until April of 2014 on this phone I've had since 2010.
I supplied my IMEI for my iPhone 4 (having early upgraded my contract another two years for another device) and they told me that I wouldn't be eligible for an unlock until April of 2014 on this phone I've had since 2010.
So let me get this straight ...
... someone buys an iPhone 4, later on puts it up on eBay (for whatever reason). Someone buys it, now they get to claim it's "off contract" and get it unlocked (presumably by also claiming they "paid full price"), whereas us AT&T customers who play by the rules have to wait until our full 2 years of the device being in service (i.e. after June 2012) is up?
... someone buys an iPhone 4, later on puts it up on eBay (for whatever reason). Someone buys it, now they get to claim it's "off contract" and get it unlocked (presumably by also claiming they "paid full price"), whereas us AT&T customers who play by the rules have to wait until our full 2 years of the device being in service (i.e. after June 2012) is up?