bought an at&t iphone se...

[moworks2]

to carry with me when i go cycling/running three, four times a week,...want to unlock it here in France so I can use it here too...I go back and forth from the US often...

any best practices to keep in mind? the sales guy at at&t just told me it would have to be third party to unlock, going directly to apple wouldn't work...

thanks for advice
m

although I'm now using a 5.5" screened moto phone, I'm liking the SE a lot...and the size and weight make it perfect to carry while i exercise...i have cardiac problems so want a phone with me whenever possible...

 

[jetsam]

Did you buy the phone outright from AT&T? If so, AT&T should be willing to unlock it for you for free.

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

 

[moworks2]

"AT&T PREPAID℠ (formerly GoPhone®) devices must have at least 6 months of active service."

This is how I bought mine, not outright. Pre paid. Great price, but I need it unlocked now for the travel I do. Bought it in the US a week ago, already back in France. Will be back in US around February, then again in April. That's why I asked sales about using sims in US and France right away...

The at&t salesman suggested unlocking via third party when I got back to france. Just warned me, no jailbreak/no firmware flash to do it and still be able to use my at&t nano sim when I returned to the US.

thanks for the link jetsam...

 

[jetsam]

Sorry, didn't know about the six month requirement on prepaid.

Be careful in choosing a third party to unlock your iPhone. Try to pick one with lots of good feedback.

In fact, before buying a third party unlock you might try submitting an unlock request to AT&T. They'll probably reject it, but "nothing ventured, nothing gained."

The good news is you don't have to do anything once your phone is unlocked. Just put in your French SIM, and start making calls. (You may see some old advice about having to restore your iPhone to complete the unlock. That was once true, but no longer is.)

 

[moworks2]

Sorry, didn't know about the six month requirement on prepaid.

Be careful in choosing a third party to unlock your iPhone. Try to pick one with lots of good feedback.

In fact, before buying a third party unlock you might try submitting an unlock request to AT&T. They'll probably reject it, but "nothing ventured, nothing gained."

The good news is you don't have to do anything once your phone is unlocked. Just put in your French SIM, and start making calls. (You may see some old advice about having to restore your iPhone to complete the unlock. That was once true, but no longer is.)

Thanks jetsam. Trying the unlock via att. Will also start asking in stores around here in town. See what happens. But I'll wait the two days till att gets back to me with a yes or no. I expect no.

M

 

[altiguy]

Thanks jetsam. Trying the unlock via att. Will also start asking in stores around here in town. See what happens. But I'll wait the two days till att gets back to me with a yes or no. I expect no.

M

Hi, wonder if you have any luck as I'm trying to do the same thing. I contacted AT&T and was denied as I have not been with them for more than 6 months.

If you unlocked via a third party, do you have one that you recommend? Thanks.

 

[moworks2]

Hi, wonder if you have any luck as I'm trying to do the same thing. I contacted AT&T and was denied as I have not been with them for more than 6 months.

If you unlocked via a third party, do you have one that you recommend? Thanks.

Hi. Sadly. No luck. I've tried two places that promise to unlock the sim...both failed...

One was doctorsim.com i think recommended by macworld if i remember right. They did refund my money. Also tried Deblocage Facile. Waiting on a refund from them.

I'm now trying an unlockmysim kind of sim, from the same place, doctorsim, that sits under the new sim from the carrier I want to use in france...we are in the middle of it...still no luck...but we aren't done yet...

Sorry it took long to respond. I didn't get an email notification. Just happened to be in the forums just now for something else and saw your question...

I explained my situation at the at&t store. They said unblocking it should be no problem. It's a problem. I wish I had just bought an unlocked phone from apple or amazon and not waste my time with this.

 

[moworks2]

an update : the unlockmysim sticker card worked...now I can use my iphone in France, then pop out the ums card and french sim and pop in the at&t sim when I return home to the USA...

yay!