Bad IMEI

[iGripR]

My friend is in the military and has been in Iraq for almost half a year and he lost his iPhone 4 before leaving. He reported it lost and put his service on military hold, but I found his iPhone after cleaning out his car (kinda just dumped it on me with POA). He said he would be getting iPhone 4s or 5 when he comes back and said I could have it. I took it to an AT&T store and they said the phone can't be used because it's been blocked. I've tried googling this topic and I'm so confused about what I can do with it. If I jailbreak it, can I use it?

 

[Applejuiced]

They gave you bad info.
AT&T doesn't blacklist any lost or stolen phones.
You can restore it with iTunes and pop in any AT&T sim and it will work fine.

 

[iGripR]

They gave you bad info.
AT&T doesn't blacklist any lost or stolen phones.
You can restore it with iTunes and pop in any AT&T sim and it will work fine.

Thanks for info Applejuiced I'm going try to cut my sim down for it to fit.

 

[Applejuiced]

Thanks for info Applejuiced I'm going try to cut my sim down for it to fit.

Or you can go to AT&T and tell them u got a used iPhone 4 you want to use and they will give you a microsim with your account and phone number.

 

[jesuispizza]

I have no idea how AT&T works since I'm in Canada, but I think your buddy should phone them up and say he found the phone just in case it is flagged or something. You never know...

 

[thewitt]

They gave you bad info.
AT&T doesn't blacklist any lost or stolen phones.

Where do you get this crap. Of course they do.

AT&T created the first IMEI Blacklist database as part of the CEIR Database and other GSM Association members needed to go through AT&T to add numbers to it for several years. The implementation is now managed by the GSM Association and no longer under control of a single carrier, but is part of the common IMEI Database.

 

[Applejuiced]

Where do you get this crap. Of course they do.

AT&T created the first IMEI Blacklist database as part of the CEIR Database and other GSM Association members needed to go through AT&T to add numbers to it for several years. The implementation is now managed by the GSM Association and no longer under control of a single carrier, but is part of the common IMEI Database.

That is false.
I don't know where u get that crap but they do not blacklist imei numbers at AT&T USA.

 

[Thedeathbear]

Where do you get this crap. Of course they do.

AT&T created the first IMEI Blacklist database as part of the CEIR Database and other GSM Association members needed to go through AT&T to add numbers to it for several years. The implementation is now managed by the GSM Association and no longer under control of a single carrier, but is part of the common IMEI Database.

Apple juiced is right. Pop in your sim and it works fine.

 

[nebo1ss]

Where do you get this crap. Of course they do.

AT&T created the first IMEI Blacklist database as part of the CEIR Database and other GSM Association members needed to go through AT&T to add numbers to it for several years. The implementation is now managed by the GSM Association and no longer under control of a single carrier, but is part of the common IMEI Database.

Agree with apple juice this is crap. There is no such thing as a common IMEI blacklist database. Carriers do blacklist phones in the UK for example and they share IMEI list but you can take a phone that is blocked in the UK and unlock it and use it in the US or elsewhere.

 

[Applejuiced]

The user above "thewitt" is well known for posting bad/wrong information in the forum.
I saw many of his posts before about Applecare and many other topics that he kept trying to misinform the public.
Not sure if he's that clueless or he does it on purpose but if he keeps it up its grounds for banning.
I will let the administration know about him.

 

[dotme]

The IMEI DB also supports what is known as a "black list". The black list is a list of IMEIs that are associated with GSM or 3G devices that should be denied service on mobile networks because they have been reported as lost, stolen, faulty or otherwise unsuitable for use. Previously know as the Central Equipment Identify Register (CEIR), the IMEI DB acts as a central system for network operators to share their individual black lists so that devices denied service (blacklisted) by one network will not work on other networks even if the SIM card in the device is changed.

Source: http://www.gsmworld.com/our-work/programmes-and-initiatives/fraud-and-security/imei_database.htm

 

[Applejuiced]

Source: http://www.gsmworld.com/our-work/programmes-and-initiatives/fraud-and-security/imei_database.htm

AT&T USA does not participate in that or any GSM IMEI blacklisting database.

 

[dotme]

AT&T USA does not participate in that or any GSM IMEI blacklisting database.

Yep - and I have no reason to doubt that. I was just addressing the assertion by nebo1ss that there was "no such thing" - Well, yeah there is.

I haven't heard of AT&T blacklisting IMEIs either. The OP would do well to contact AT&T customer support directly with his IMEI number and find out if they can activate it, or if not - why not.

 

[maturola]

AT&T USA does not participate in that or any GSM IMEI blacklisting database.

Actually they may had started to do that since they added the iPhone insurance (sometime in July), I know that once the IMEI had been involved into a "claim" they can't reactivated it (Legally, part of the insurance agreement). I am not sure if they actually got a "blacklist" but it is the only logical way to do it.

 

[Applejuiced]

Actually they may had started to do that since they added the iPhone insurance (sometime in July), I know that once the IMEI had been involved into a "claim" they can't reactivated it (Legally, part of the insurance agreement). I am not sure if they actually got a "blacklist" but it is the only logical way to do it.

Interesting.
That might be the case with the AT&T insurance claim iphones only or maybe they dont bother at all.