Can I unlock my AT&T iPhone for other networks?

[Potatochobit]

hello
I have a 4S with ATT
I heard it is now legal to unlock phones?
when I upgrade to an iphone 6 this fall, is it possible to unlock my iphone 4s to use on a different network?

i would like to use it as a prepaid virgin mobile phone which is the sprint network

I know they are already selling iphone 4s, but is it possible to use my current att one instead of buying the same phone from their network?

 

[Newtons Apple]

If your phone is not under contract, ATT should unlock it for you for free.

 

[Potatochobit]

hi thanx for the reply

yes my contract expired long ago

but do you know if virigin mobile will accept the phone?
or must I use their branded version

 

[nebo1ss]

hello
I have a 4S with ATT
I heard it is now legal to unlock phones?
when I upgrade to an iphone 6 this fall, is it possible to unlock my iphone 4s to use on a different network?

i would like to use it as a prepaid virgin mobile phone which is the sprint network

I know they are already selling iphone 4s, but is it possible to use my current att one instead of buying the same phone from their network?

You need to be an existing customer and the phone must be out of contract. If you are planning to Leave ATT make sure you get the unlock before you leave.

 

[firefoxsilver9]

hi thanx for the reply

yes my contract expired long ago

but do you know if virigin mobile will accept the phone?
or must I use their branded version

If its an AT&T phone i'm not sure if it will work on Virgin Mobile since AT&T uses GSM (SIM Card) and Virgin uses CDMA (No SIM Card). Other than that if its unlocked then it will work on other networks as long as the network compatibility is there.

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Yeah just checked. Virgin Mobile uses Sprint's network so no it won't work. You can try one of AT&T's MVNO's or T-Mobile/T-Mobile MVNO's. Right now i'm using my unlocked AT&T iphone with T-Mobile's prepaid plan. only $30. spotty coverage but not too bad.

 

[Eileen89]

Here is a link to AT&T's online unlock request form: https://www.att.com/deviceunlock/client/en_US/termsAndCondition

 

[Newtons Apple]

hi thanx for the reply

yes my contract expired long ago

but do you know if virigin mobile will accept the phone?
or must I use their branded version

ATT phones will not operate on Virgin Mobile even if it is unlocked. Like others said it is Sprint's network!

 

[nostresshere]

Folks are getting so excited about the UNLOCK rules, but they forget two very important things.

1 - A contact is still a contract. Feds can not make those go away. You have to pay for the phone somehow.

2 - Technical reasons do not allow all phones to work on all networks.

 

[Potatochobit]

hi guys
thanx for the replies

I didnt know tmobile had pre paid plans
thats fine too as long as I can do month to month for a small fee

 

[Applejuiced]

Yes, I'd go with Tmobile.
Probably better service and cheaper than virgin mobile.
When you unlock an iphone its only unlocked for GSM networks.
Not CDMA such as Sprint, Verizon or any of their prepaid MVMO's. Just so you know.

 

[Eileen89]

hi guys
thanx for the replies

I didnt know tmobile had pre paid plans
thats fine too as long as I can do month to month for a small fee

T-Mobile does have a cheap $30/month prepaid plan that you can look in to. Post #2 in this thread explains where the plan is on t-Mobiles website and how you can sign up with it. https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/1765944/