Sidebar Sidebar
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.

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

spyderx said:
Login to ATT website, go to your MyATT, go to My Profile, it is listed about middle of the page. If you have multiple lines you need to select the line you want to view.
Click to expand...

How about for phones that aren't tied to a line any more? Are those automatically eligible?
 
wacky4alanis said:
How about for phones that aren't tied to a line any more? Are those automatically eligible?
Click to expand...

That would be my guess, since they have been released by either running the contract out, or by someone using their early upgrade. (EDIT: I forgot you can pay the ETF as well, LOL...)

We will have to see if any kinks in the process occur on Sunday.
 
Verizon iPhone 4S

I think ATT finally buckled because of the Verizon iPhone 4S, after six months Verizon will unlock the GSM portion of it (though it would not work on ATT/T-Mobile, it will work on international carriers).

I think this and unlocked $649 iPhone 4S unlocked sales could given enough reason for ATT to unlock it.

Damn, i bought a unlocked iPhone 4S for full price $649.
 
One and a half thumbs up for AT&T. But truly they should unlock 12 mos. into contract so people going overseas have parity w/ Sprint and VZW customers. AT&T customers are still penalized now, just not a much as before.
 
Where?

Not to rain on the parade, but *where* have AT&T announced this? There's no link in the article, previous posters have said that AT&T support staff don't know about it yet, and the web site still says that, as per the terms and conditions, iPhones CANNOT be unlocked. Now, we all know that is and always has been a lie because there's been a thriving market in jailbreak & unlock hacks for iPhones, but so far, I can't find the official announcement that this policy is reversing on Sunday.

I happy to be proven wrong but I won't believe it until I see people actually getting it done next week.
 
Useless. Sounds like I have to keep the phone for 2 years. I upgrade every time the new iPhone comes out so I will never fulfill my contract or get my phone unlocked.
 
ladeer said:
does this mean, i can bring my old 3gs into Apple store to get a new battery, and in the process essentially getting a new phone, and have that phone unlocked, even though that phone has no service whatsoever w/ ATT for several years already? (been using 4 and 4s)

i can't believe. i was ready to move to Verizon too! now i prob will stay w/ ATT as this is one of the most shocking and kindest things ATT or any company has done for me, easily worth $1000+ of value for me as I have many ATT iphones in my household and travel abroad frequently
Click to expand...

Sounds like someone has Stockholm Syndrome. I'm ditching these greedy clowns as soon as my contract is up.
 
GadgetGav said:
Not to rain on the parade, but *where* have AT&T announced this? There's no link in the article, previous posters have said that AT&T support staff don't know about it yet, and the web site still says that, as per the terms and conditions, iPhones CANNOT be unlocked. Now, we all know that is and always has been a lie because there's been a thriving market in jailbreak & unlock hacks for iPhones, but so far, I can't find the official announcement that this policy is reversing on Sunday.

I happy to be proven wrong but I won't believe it until I see people actually getting it done next week.
Click to expand...
Apparently, AT&T press officials have been selectively e-mailing tech media folks. Cnet received one of these e-mails.

http://www.cnet.com/8301-17918_1-57410586-85/at-ts-iphones-free-at-last/?tag=mncol;cnetRiver

Looks like 9to5Mac.com and Macworld also received the same e-mail.
 
What's the benefit of unlocking an old phone?

I have 2...the original and the 3gs...should I be excited?

Why? Right now one is being used as a universal remote and the other is like an ipod touch...

Thanks for enlightening me.

Dave
 
Thanks to Tim Cook

The funny thing is I sent a very long email to Tim Cook just two days ago detailing how I have 2 iP-3G's, 1 iP-3GS and 1 iP-4 all off contract now and how frustrated that I own the device but it is essentially locked.

All I have to say is thank you Tim Cook as we all know that it was not AT&T that initiated this change in policy. I've never had a problem with AT&T's service but this was the one thing that was going to drive me to another carrier.
 
daxomni said:
Let those socialists have their silly consumer protections. I'd rather have a free and open market where businesses are able to write contracts however they please without fear of serious punishment.
Click to expand...

But you see, this is more like me having to sign a contract with 7-eleven so that I can use their gas in my Chevy...

Sorry, kind of random but similar as in 7-eleven doesn't make the car that I am using their service for. Same as AT&T doesn't make the phone I use their service for...
 
j1787 said:
I have Verizon and I completely agree with you. The bill is never accurate, I used to call monthly for various reasons when the bill came out. I hardly ever complain but it actually took me about 6 months to get it right and have a steady bill month to month. Now it's very rare I have an issue, but once in a while a random charge will comes up. However, they are always good about returning it.

I also agree with you about the speeds. Slow 3g speeds are my only complaint with Verizon. I had a 4G LTE droid for a bit and it was awesome great for data speed. I do like the idea of being backed by HSPA+ with LTE as a main driver, However, ATT doesn't have LTE here Philadelphia yet.

"The New" iPhone is going to force me to make a tough decision on a carrier.
Click to expand...

Yea, I agree. All the carriers have their issues. Verizon has the biggest LTE network but its not as fast as AT&T. AT&T has the fastest network by far, but not as many cities on LTE as Verizon, Sprint has unlimited data but is the slowest by far.

I just get sick of the AT&T haters. AT&T did a bang-up job partnering with Apple for years to transform (create) the smartphone world we live in. No one expected this back in 2007. Many predicted the iPhone as a fad.

Those with the unlimited plans should be happy they have them and quit complaining they can't get 12M downloads unlimited for $25 a month forever. So you are throttled after a few GB. Better then most AT&T's get, Better than ALL Sprint and Verizon customers get. If its not better, dump it and move is my point.

----------
kiwi_nz said:
The funny thing is I sent a very long email to Tim Cook just two days ago detailing how I have 2 iP-3G's, 1 iP-3GS and 1 iP-4 all off contract now and how frustrated that I own the device but it is essentially locked.

All I have to say is thank you Tim Cook as we all know that it was not AT&T that initiated this change in policy. I've never had a problem with AT&T's service but this was the one thing that was going to drive me to another carrier.
Click to expand...

You don't know that AT&T didn't make that decision. Apple isn't in control of everything.
 
I have a feeling that eventually the starting price of iPhone 5 16GB will go up by $100 to $299 (less subsidy from ATT).

i think there is some here which is more than meets the eyes ...
 
Verizons LTE and AT&T's are the same thing Verizons pulls 16-22 MBPS in NYC and so does AT&T's.They use the same standard for 4G(Well LTE anyway LTE is the standard)
 
Macboy Pro said:
Yea, I agree. All the carriers have their issues. Verizon has the biggest LTE network but its not as fast as AT&T. AT&T has the fastest network by far, but not as many cities on LTE as Verizon, Sprint has unlimited data but is the slowest by far.

I just get sick of the AT&T haters. AT&T did a bang-up job partnering with Apple for years to transform (create) the smartphone world we live in. No one expected this back in 2007. Many predicted the iPhone as a fad.

Those with the unlimited plans should be happy they have them and quit complaining they can't get 12M downloads unlimited for $25 a month forever. So you are throttled after a few GB. Better then most AT&T's get, Better than ALL Sprint and Verizon customers get. If its not better, dump it and move is my point.

----------



You don't know that AT&T didn't make that decision. Apple isn't in control of everything.
Click to expand...
No I don't know for sure, but I have called AT&T many times asking to have my off contract phones unlocked but their response was always "We can't unlock them, you'll have to call Apple to do that". It just seems a little ironic that a couple of weeks ago a report comes out that Tim Cook helped a consumer unlock a phone so he could use it in Canada on pay-as-you-go. Then more reports after that come out saying that some more consumers that have contacted TC since the first report have had theirs unlocked too.

My thinking is that TC started to get swamped by consumers who had phones that were still locked and he put the pressure on AT&T.
 
Unlocking AT&T iPhone 4 bought from eBay

Will they unlock my iPhone 4 bought from eBay?
What do you think?
 
What about during your contract? When you travel overseas, can you pop in a SIM? You wouldn’t cancel your US plan, so AT&T would still get every month you signed on for. You’d simply get a second, temporary plan and SIM at your destination. I believe you can do that with Verizon; what about AT&T?
 
too little, too late

After the repeated lies "... it is impossible to unlock an iPhone" this comes as too little, too late.

I want to be able to use my iPhone internationally, with a local SIM so I have a local number for my friends there to call me.

Verizon's policy now allows "international unlock" after a couple of months. THe "new, improved" AT&T policy is after 24 months. Sorry guys - not good enough.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Register on MacRumors! This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.
Top Bottom
Back