Buying iPhones From Target - BEWARE! They Become Locked to the Carrier Whose SIM is in the Phone

[JulesJam]

If you buy an iPhone from Target, they sell SIM Free iPhones, not the carrier specific model. But these SIM free iPhones are subject to the US Reseller Flex Policy. What this means is that when you initially activate them, whatever carrier's SIM card is in the device is the locking policy that gets attached to the IMEI of the device (and any warranty replacement device that you get in the future).

So, if you were to upgrade a Verizon line through Target and then put an AT&T SIM in the phone for the initial activation, it would become locked to AT&T. Conversely, if you were to upgrade an AT&T line through Target, and put a Verizon SIM in the device for the initial activation, the device would be unlocked since all Verizon iPhone are unlocked.

 

[ErnstStavroBlohard]

Thanks for the heads up, Jules.

You were a big help on SlickDeals last year with helping me upgrade my phone at the subsidized rate and keep my unlimited data.

 

[JulesJam]

Thanks for the heads up, Jules.

You were a big help on SlickDeals last year with helping me upgrade my phone at the subsidized rate and keep my unlimited data.

Good to see you. Everything has changed since 11/15/15 so be sure and read the update on SD. I got banned from that site and am now posting at

www.reddit.com/r/verizonudp


The BBM no longer works! And if you got your subsidized device by doing the BBM prior to 11/15/15, if you take the subsidized device off of your UDP line, you can never put it back on your UDP line. Be sure and read the update to the SD thread.