Best Buy A1660 tied to carrier

[tlavas]

How does one buy an Qualcomm iPhone 7 A1660 from Apple directly then, if I'm already with AT&T and want to pay full price? Won't they defer me to the Intel A1778 anyway?

Yes, that is exactly what happened to me I returned it to Apple...Apple sends you the A1778 unless you are Verizon ...The Best Buy A1660 is the only way I have found to buy a Qualcomm...
[doublepost=1475440166][/doublepost]

Nope - just in the Apple Store.

3 Apple stores in Dallas Ft Worth would not sell me anything but the A1778...no matter what I said...if you ask for a Verizon they
put my # thru the system and said no
[doublepost=1475440497][/doublepost]

Having a model that cannot be unlocked would be counter CTIA's Consumer Code for Wireless Service. I don't believe that you can have a phone that cannot be unlocked, especially once the account/device are in good standing (paid-off on the NEXT agreement). The phone was not advertised as being any different than one purchased at Apple.com or ATT.com so if that is true, I'm seeing free iPhone exchanges in the future for BB/Target/WM buyers.

I don't plan on leaving ATT, but the benefits of an unlocked phone when traveling internationally, and increased resale value are two good reasons that I might prefer to own a phone that I can unlock once I pay it off.

My thoughts as well...if they won't unlock it when my contract is up I'll buy software do unlock it if available then...

 

[takasugi]

Yes, that is exactly what happened to me I returned it to Apple...Apple sends you the A1778 unless you are Verizon ...The Best Buy A1660 is the only way I have found to buy a Qualcomm...
[doublepost=1475440166][/doublepost]

3 Apple stores in Dallas Ft Worth would not sell me anything but the A1778...no matter what I said...if you ask for a Verizon they
put my # thru the system and said no
[doublepost=1475440497][/doublepost]
My thoughts as well...if they won't unlock it when my contract is up I'll buy software do unlock it if available then...

I don't know what to tell you other than lots of people including myself have been able to buy a Verizon iPhone for full price without a Verizon account.

 

[tlavas]

I don't know what to tell you other than lots of people including myself have been able to buy a Verizon iPhone for full price without a Verizon account.

So you just asked for a Verizon phone and they, sold it to you?...

 

[takasugi]

So you just asked for a Verizon phone and they, sold it to you?...

Yes - I asked for a Verizon device only and paid full price.

 

[lyngo]

From what I've read on that thread, once it's locked (AT&T, T-Mobile, etc.) the carrier NOR Apple can unlock it. I just scanned through the thread, so there could be some updates, but last I read one member who got an unlocked one and put a T-Mobile SIM it had it carrier locked, and TM nor Apple could/can unlock, so they had to return it, and get another (I think they went to Apple that time though). From what I can tell, this policy applies to Best Buy, Wal-Mart, and Target (again, scanned the thread real fast when I saw it was related to BBY since I usually buy phones there a few times a year).

This may have been me over on Howard forums that you are talking about.

I went through the Best Buy website and I always buy my phone outright, I hate feeling like I owe someone money even at 0% interest. I live closer to Best Buy than to Apple (10 minutes compared to 45) and decided to order the 7 through their website. I ordered what I thought was the black 7 128GB for Verizon outright. When I picked it up, I thought nothing of it when I opened it and there was no SIM in the slot.

Now, I have a work VZW SIM and personal T-Mobile SIM. My VZW plan is unlimited and I didn't want to risk messing that grandfathered plan up. So I decide to activate the phone with my T-Mobile Sim chip. Needless to say I could not use my Verizon plan in the phone once it was activated to T-Mobile. I took the phone back, went to Apple, and purchased the same exact phone except now it's fully unlocked.

 

[T5BRICK]

Yes, that is exactly what happened to me I returned it to Apple...Apple sends you the A1778 unless you are Verizon ...The Best Buy A1660 is the only way I have found to buy a Qualcomm...
[doublepost=1475440166][/doublepost]

3 Apple stores in Dallas Ft Worth would not sell me anything but the A1778...no matter what I said...if you ask for a Verizon they
put my # thru the system and said no

I was able to buy a Verizon iPhone 5s and iPhone 6+ direct from Apple. I just walked into the store and said that I'd like to purchase a Verizon iPhone 5s/6+, full price. They checked stock, brought one out, I paid for it and left.

If you're trying to use carrier financing or iUP, you'll end up with the phone that is "officially" supported by the carrier.

 

[tlavas]

Nope, paying cash...I will try the apple stores again for Verizon device only, if it works I will Return the Best Buy...

So to be clear, If I do get a Verizon phone from the Apple Store all I do is insert the AT&T sim and load my icloud back up and it will stay unlocked?

 

[nepalisherpa]

Nope, paying cash...I will try the apple stores again for Verizon device only, if it works I will Return the Best Buy...

So to be clear, If I do get a Verizon phone from the Apple Store all I do is insert the AT&T sim and load my icloud back up and it will stay unlocked?

I bought my iPhone 7 A1660 from Best Buy. I paid full price for it. I put in my AT&T sim and then used the unlock request via AT&T portal. They responded after two days saying it was unlocked. I verified by putting a Sprint sim card in there and it worked.

 

[lyngo]

Nope, paying cash...I will try the apple stores again for Verizon device only, if it works I will Return the Best Buy...

So to be clear, If I do get a Verizon phone from the Apple Store all I do is insert the AT&T sim and load my icloud back up and it will stay unlocked?

Correct. Apple you're good to go!

 

[tlavas]

I bought my iPhone 7 A1660 from Best Buy. I paid full price for it. I put in my AT&T sim and then used the unlock request via AT&T portal. They responded after two days saying it was unlocked. I verified by putting a Sprint sim card in there and it worked.

Yep, AT&T told me that once my contract is up they will unlock it if I request it through the Portal...

 

[JulesJam]

I was in BB and they had A1660 in stock...the salesman told me that they were carrier specific and could be used as a universal phone but once you put in a sim the phone would be dedicated to that carrier, in my case AT&T...

If you do the initial activation with a Verizon SIM (even an inactive Verizon SIM over WiFi), the device will be unlocked.
[doublepost=1476048212][/doublepost]

It is what it is...

I would go ahead and request the unlock now. They usually do it even if you are still on contract:

https://www.att.com/deviceunlock/#/

 

[tlavas]

If you do the initial activation with a Verizon SIM (even an inactive Verizon SIM over WiFi), the device will be unlocked.
[doublepost=1476048212][/doublepost]
I would go ahead and request the unlock now. They usually do it even if you are still on contract:

https://www.att.com/deviceunlock/#/

Thanks for that I just ordered the unlock and status shows as pending...

 

[tlavas]

Thanks for that I just ordered the unlock and status shows as pending...

Ok, good news...A&T approved the unlock.

Congratulations! Your request was approved

Hi,

We received and approved your request to unlock your Apple iPhone 7 A1660 device. Use the instructions in this email to unlock your device.

Instructions:

Once you have received the email confirming AT&T has approved and processed your unlock request, follow these instructions to complete the unlock for your device.

Using a Non-AT&T SIM Card:

1. Remove your SIM card and insert the new SIM card.

2. Complete the setup process.

Using an AT&T SIM Card:

1. Back up your iPhone.

2. When you have a backup, erase your iPhone.

3. Restore your iPhone from the backup you just made.

For more information about unlocking a device, check out our device unlock support page.

Thanks for choosing us,

AT&T

Do I need to wait for an email stating that it has been processed or am I good to go?


I am under AT&T contract for another year so all I have is the AT&T sim that I am currently using so can I just follow the directions above for AT&T sim and back it up, erase the phone and then restore it from the back up with the AT&T sim in the phone?


Should I use iTunes to perform this? I usually just use my iCloud back up but I surely don’t want to mess this up and lock it again…

Or, do I need a Verizon sim, and follow the non AT&T sim instructions above...can it be a new sim without service I buy from BB or eBay?

help...

 

[tlavas]

My Best Buy A1660 is now unlocked after AT&T approved the unlock and JulesJam helped me through the activation on a Verizon sim...life goes on!

 

[got556]

Sorry to bump an old thread but I got a killer deal (paid outright) for an iPhone 7 from Best Buy...

Bought the universal one with the intention on selling it, unopened. Person that bought it off me, set it up with a T-Mobile sim which locked it to T-Mobile. Now I have to take the phone back as Paypal sided with the seller, despite the copious amounts of evidence I presented showing the phone the buyer received is exactly the phone I described. What a hassle and that is some shady practices by Best Buy. I have the receipt so I will take it back and see if I can get it swapped out.

 

[Stevessvt]

Sorry to bump an old thread but I got a killer deal (paid outright) for an iPhone 7 from Best Buy...

Bought the universal one with the intention on selling it, unopened. Person that bought it off me, set it up with a T-Mobile sim which locked it to T-Mobile. Now I have to take the phone back as Paypal sided with the seller, despite the copious amounts of evidence I presented showing the phone the buyer received is exactly the phone I described. What a hassle and that is some shady practices by Best Buy. I have the receipt so I will take it back and see if I can get it swapped out.

If you're looking to swap it out at Best Buy I hope you bought it less than 14 days ago or you are SOL. And if you do get it replaced then yes, it locks to what ever carrier sim you put in it on first boot, except Verizon. Verizon is the magic sim that makes it truly unlocked. Bought a Jet Black 7+ on Sunday cash and had them put a Verizon sim in it and register it on first boot. Then pulled it out, popped my T-Mobile sim in and works perfectly.

 

[verdi1987]

Sorry to bump an old thread but I got a killer deal (paid outright) for an iPhone 7 from Best Buy...

Bought the universal one with the intention on selling it, unopened. Person that bought it off me, set it up with a T-Mobile sim which locked it to T-Mobile. Now I have to take the phone back as Paypal sided with the seller, despite the copious amounts of evidence I presented showing the phone the buyer received is exactly the phone I described. What a hassle and that is some shady practices by Best Buy. I have the receipt so I will take it back and see if I can get it swapped out.

That sucks. It is one of the reasons I try to avoid selling on eBay. They are not very seller-friendly when buyers file a dispute.

I guess you now have to resell it as locked to T-Mobile, or you could activate it on T-Mobile postpaid and have it unlocked after 40 days.

 

[got556]

Yep....verizon is kicking me off my two UDP's, so I was thinking about making the move to TMO anyway, but man....I like my 6S and don't really have any desire to own the 7. Although it is a sexy matte black
[doublepost=1484100890][/doublepost]

If you're looking to swap it out at Best Buy I hope you bought it less than 14 days ago or you are SOL. And if you do get it replaced then yes, it locks to what ever carrier sim you put in it on first boot, except Verizon. Verizon is the magic sim that makes it truly unlocked. Bought a Jet Black 7+ on Sunday cash and had them put a Verizon sim in it and register it on first boot. Then pulled it out, popped my T-Mobile sim in and works perfectly.

Nope I'm screwed....sold the phone on like Dec 17 and the buyer never posted a problem on Swappa with it until Jan 5 or so... :/