iPhone 5 or earlier Carrier unlock iPhone 3GS, does it have to be updated to iOS 6?

[user1234]

I'm helping a neighbor with an iPhone 3GS. I couldn't believe they were still in actual use, but apparently so. They changed carriers but it turned out the iPhone 3GS was carrier locked.

They visited the old carriers store and initiated an unlock (could only be done in a physical store for whatever reason). Now, this process is said to take up to 12 days, but I'm now tasked with checking for the updated carrier profile until it goes through.

Question is
It's now running iOS 5.1.1. When I connect to iTunes it suggest updating to iOS 6. Is that required to get the new carrier profile, or will it be offered for iOS 5.1.1 as well when available?

The battery is in such a poor state that it randomly reboots, so I'm not super into installing an OS update. They are waiting for a newer iPhone, but delivery time from their carrier was 2-3 weeks and they need a phone while waiting. Otherwise I would have suggested retiring the 3GS already.

 

[jetsam]

I'm helping a neighbor with an iPhone 3GS. I couldn't believe they were still in actual use, but apparently so. They changed carriers but it turned out the iPhone 3GS was carrier locked.

They visited the old carriers store and initiated an unlock (could only be done in a physical store for whatever reason). Now, this process is said to take up to 12 days, but I'm now tasked with checking for the updated carrier profile until it goes through.

Question is
It's now running iOS 5.1.1. When I connect to iTunes it suggest updating to iOS 6. Is that required to get the new carrier profile, or will it be offered for iOS 5.1.1 as well when available?

The battery is in such a poor state that it randomly reboots, so I'm not super into installing an OS update. They are waiting for a newer iPhone, but delivery time from their carrier was 2-3 weeks and they need a phone while waiting. Otherwise I would have suggested retiring the 3GS already.

What carrier are you trying to activate the 3GS on? The 3GS does not support VoLTE. Many carriers won't activate a phone that doesn't support VoLTE, even if it's unlocked.

 

[user1234]

All carriers in Sweden support any GSM phone, so that's not an issue. VoLTE is not a requirement here. We have no 4G-only carriers.

 

[Cruncher]

You don`t need to update.

When you add a SIM from another carrier it forces you to reactivate the iphone. This can be done with the current iOS. I did the same with my iPhone 2G with iOS 1.1.4.

In some cases the iPhone needs to be restored to get the unlock done. But this would only be the case if it is not working with a sim swap.

 

[user1234]

You don`t need to update.

When you add a SIM from another carrier it forces you to reactivate the iphone. This can be done with the current iOS. I did the same with my iPhone 2G with iOS 1.1.4.

In some cases the iPhone needs to be restored to get the unlock done. But this would only be the case if it is not working with a sim swap.

Ok, thank you!

I'll keep checking through iTunes/Finder until there is a carrier profile update available and if not after 14 days I'll restore and see.

 

[user1234]

I did a restore and got a carrier profile update, but it didn't unlock the phone. I guess it hasn't gone through yet. I'll give it a few days and try again.

 

[Cruncher]

You will not get a carrier profile update. It will just check the status with the Apple Servers and unlock it. The carrier Bundle will then change to the carrier of the inserted sim.

 

[user1234]

You will not get a carrier profile update. It will just check the status with the Apple Servers and unlock it. The carrier Bundle will then change to the carrier of the inserted sim.

Really? The original carrier instructions are to place a SIM from another carrier in the phone, connect to iTunes and install the carrier update when prompted. Maybe that update is a prerequisite for the unlock in this carriers case. Another carrier here automatically unlocks iPhones when connected but most require contacting support or in this case visiting a physical store.