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Pretty much. Verizon uses an entirely different radio than AT&T, so your phone wouldn't be compatible to run on CDMA services. I would imagine that T-mobile may work because I believe it runs GMA like AT&T does.
 
I early upgraded when iphone 4S came out, it's not 2 years yet but I've been with them for years.... Can I still have them unlock it for me?

Your old phone? Sure (assuming it hasn't been put in a new contract)

Your 4s? No (b/c it's in a new contract)
 
Your old phone? Sure (assuming it hasn't been put in a new contract)

Your 4s? No (b/c it's in a new contract)

ya on the 4s... That sucks if it's true cuz I sold all my old iphones.
what does this mean?
"and they need to have fulfilled their contract term, upgraded under one of our upgrade policies or paid an early termination fee."
 
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ya on the 4s... That sucks if it's true cuz I sold all my old iphones.
what does this mean?
"and they need to have fulfilled their contract term, upgraded under one of our upgrade policies or paid an early termination fee."

That won't unlock a phone that's under contract. If you fulfill your contract or pay an early termination fee your phone can be unlocked. If you upgrade to another phone, the old phone can be unlocked because it's no longer under contract.
 
Hopefully Softbank in Japan will follow suit. I'm not holding my breath, though, as they are even stingier than the notoriously stingy AT&T.
 
Pretty much. Verizon uses an entirely different radio than AT&T, so your phone wouldn't be compatible to run on CDMA services. I would imagine that T-mobile may work because I believe it runs GMA like AT&T does.

Actually, the 4S is the first iPhone that was created with all bands. The CDMA phones have been reported to be able to work on the GSM networks...
 
Hello, first forgive my ignorance don't know much about unlocking business. I've been with AT&T since iPhone 3G and up to iPhone 4 and my contract with AT&T will expire June this year. I'm currently frustrated with the AT&T network signal in my area and I wish I could switch to Verizon. Am I to understand correctly that by unlocking my iPhone I can switch to Verizon without buying another iPhone from Verizon?

AT&T uses GSM whereas Verizon uses CDMA. So that wouldn't work. You could switch to T-mob but you won't get 3G data, only 2G. You could also sell your unlocked iPhone 4 for $250-300 and use proceeds to buy a Verizon iPhone.

Exact details on how to unlock haven't been announced but tomorrow is allegedly the first day unlocking will be widely available. I'd call AT&T on Mon as I'm sure there will be confusion tomorrow. Of course you can only unlock phones no longer on contract.
 
This and 'no unlock EVAR!!!' were my reasons for not getting an iPhone. I would have simply purchased an unlocked iPhone a while ago if I wouldn't be forced into a data plan.
That's what T-Mobile is for. My sister's 3GS works perfectly without a data plan.
 
Just called AT&T

I just called AT&T today (day early) as I am leaving for China on Monday and did not want to wait until last minute on a holiday Sunday.

No deal yet, business rep denied that they could be unlocked. It is funny how they always say Apple has to unlock the phone as if it were not AT&Ts decision to have the phone locked by Apple. I wish they would just be honest with customers!

However, I did get him to finally comment that he was not authorized to unlock it yet after I told him about the online article.
 
ya on the 4s... That sucks if it's true cuz I sold all my old iphones.
what does this mean?
"and they need to have fulfilled their contract term, upgraded under one of our upgrade policies or paid an early termination fee."

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)
 
When I was about to get the new iPhone 4S, I told AT&T that I would stay with them if they unlocked my old iPhone (my contract had been up), and they refused.

As a result, I am now on Verizon. Perhaps enough people did something similar to what I did for them to rethink their stupid policy.
 
Sim locks are criminal and should be banned worldwide.
When you get a phone even when on contract it's legally yours, you pay monthly for it, the provider gets its money anyway, so why lock?
If you buy a :
Car on credit, is it locked? No
House you pay mortgage on, is your house locked? No
Tv on credit do they lock it to certain channels? No

There are countries in the world where it is illegal to have a Mobile phone locked, Belgium for instance, it should be that way everywhere.
 
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.

Sorry to ask again, but does this also go for the 3G do you know? or anyone know?
thanks :D
Also if AT&T unlocked a phone, does that mean you still need data on a phone that AT&T unlocked but was once locked on AT&T?
 
Sim locks are criminal and should be banned worldwide.

About half the carriers in Apple's worldwide list sell locked iPhones, and about half of those carriers won't unlock them ever.

People always talk about the iPhone changing the mobile market. Yes it did, and some of the changes were not so good. Permanently locked phones and required data plans were rare before Apple got involved and cost the carriers more money.
 
About half the carriers in Apple's worldwide list sell locked iPhones, and about half of those carriers won't unlock them ever.

People always talk about the iPhone changing the mobile market. Yes it did, and some of the changes were not so good. Permanently locked phones and required data plans were rare before Apple got involved and cost the carriers more money.

My opinion still stands, simlocks should be banned, there is no reason to lock phones, the providers still get their money even when it's unlocked so I see no reason for them to put locks on them.
Heck, it's even cheaper to buy a cheap Mobile phone and a local sim card if you are overseas than roaming and if you are there for more than a few days, so again I see no point in providers putting a lock on their sim.
If I had the money and was in My home country I would sue them, it is legally mine.
In the Netherlands they have sim locks but it's legal to unlock if you chose to do so, and it's the same in the US AFAIK.
 
Besides internationally... what are you going to do with a unlocked phone? The phone companies have deliberately used different technology with the 4 major carriers that means you can't take your phone to another provider... so have you really won a battle? Or are they making you THINK you have won?
 
AT&T Will Unlock Off-Contract iPhones Starting Sunday, April 8

Well that's a good marketing strategy on their part. I see them trying to gain an increase in their customers with this offer.
 
Att not unlocking phones they are lying

talked with rep on 611 today . said that AT phone will not work can be unlock this must be a lie . ATT is all about lying this . he stated there are no plans to unlock iPhones.

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ATT Sucks big
 
talked with rep on 611 today . said that AT phone will not work can be unlock this must be a lie . ATT is all about lying this . he stated there are no plans to unlock iPhones.

----------

ATT Sucks big


No. AT&T is not lying. Either the original notice allegedly from AT&T was a prank, or the word simply hasn't gotten down the food chain yet. 611 people probably the last to know anything.
 
Besides internationally... what are you going to do with a unlocked phone? The phone companies have deliberately used different technology with the 4 major carriers that means you can't take your phone to another provider... so have you really won a battle? Or are they making you THINK you have won?

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.
 
Actually, the 4S is the first iPhone that was created with all bands. The CDMA phones have been reported to be able to work on the GSM networks...

Please provide reports of the At&t version working with cdma carriers. I'm sure the Sprint version doesn't even work on Verizon.
 
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!
 
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