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I had pre-ordered it last night and still had to wait on line for 90 minutes this morning at 8am. Same Asian scalpers were there who screwed up the iPad 2 launch....all paying with wads of cash and then getting on the back of the line (again) as soon as they completed their purchase.

did u manage to reserve an off contract one online?
 
I just logged in and my AT&T account is showing that I am on a 4S.

20111018-rpmmhywa9hmch2m7peutftt5b2.png


Yup I was aware of that. What I was referring to was the fact that AT&T actually has a different data plan for the 4S (which apparently allows you to access HSPA+ speeds). See this thread.

Thing is though, you can't add the feature online if the IMEI on AT&T's system is not updated to reflect your 4S (which if you bought off-contract like me, you'll have to call in to get done). I was just concerned that AT&T would try and pull a fast one on me but I can confirm I got my IMEI added to their system and my phone is still unlocked.
 
I just logged in and my AT&T account is showing that I am on a 4S.

Image
That does not mean that your new iPhone's IMEI has be updated in the billing system. That is just the DEER system detecting the current active device on your line to provide device specific help and support.

Note: they can also see the recent history of devices that have been used on your line.

Dave
 
Just swap the SIM - no phone calls needed. :cool:

Actually.....

Completely unrelated but important: If you bought an unlocked iPhone 4S, there's a different data plan for AT&T. Same price, still unlimited (if you have that) ... but it is faster. Call them to update, since without following the AT&T activation through iTunes (which is never required for unlocked devices) does not add this for you.

:)

Screenshot attached. Changing plans dramatically reduced my ping times (50%), but the data speeds were the same.
 

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I just saw that, so do we just switch it? I hope that won't somehow lock our phone upon next restore. Thinking about this more, I might still go return it for an official unlocked phone in Nov.

my screen looks exactly like that:

20111018-xpbf677n3intqm9bs543d1gumk.png
 
updating it online didn't work:

20111018-bimmsr6ffw93wue4basw83senr.png


I guess we will have to call them, change it, and wait a few days, restore the phone to see if it's still unlocked.
 
I had to call. But it works now. They have to log your IMEI. But no it will not relock your phone. I told them I bought an unlocked iPhone anyway.
 
does it matter if u but it at apple store or AT&T store ? did some one bought a off contract phone at AT&T store (off contract) and phone was unlocked? thanks
 
Yup I just called and changes the IMEI on file and upgraded to the 4s unl plan. SO MUCH FASTER!!!

Will restore phone in a few days to verify the unlock.
 
went to the brea store for the 2nd time. was told on the phone they had it in stock and when i go they said they sold the last one 20 mins ago. are the workers just bs'ing me over the phone?
 
i have a at&t store closer to where i am .. and was wondering if some one can confirm they bought a unlocked iphone from a at&t store ?
 
i have a at&t store closer to where i am .. and was wondering if some one can confirm they bought a unlocked iphone from a at&t store ?
Sorry but this will not work at AT&T until they offer the Unlocked iPhone 4S as an option.

You may get the option to pay full retail but the phone will still be locked to AT&T.

Dave
 
Every store im going to is saying you haev to give me an ATT number to link the phone to, or you cant buy it..anyone figure out a way around this?
 
Every store im going to is saying you haev to give me an ATT number to link the phone to, or you cant buy it..anyone figure out a way around this?

ppl at a store were giving me some bs like that and i kept telling them. eventually they asked and said the policy must've changed.
 
Every store im going to is saying you haev to give me an ATT number to link the phone to, or you cant buy it..anyone figure out a way around this?
The loophole is closing if it has not already closed at every Apple store.

You can bet they were getting pressure from AT&T to stop this process. :eek:

Dave
 
ppl at a store were giving me some bs like that and i kept telling them. eventually they asked and said the policy must've changed.

Same thing happened to me yesterday. I went to purchase the iPhone yesterday at the Apple store and I stated that I will not be providing my AT&T information as I want to get the off contract one. First she said the unlocked ones weren't out till November. I politely corrected her that there is a difference (supposed to be at least) between the unlocked iPhone and the AT&T off contract phone. She then said we can't sell you a phone without your account information. Again I had to correct her and state that as I am not renewing my contract I will not be providing the information. I could tell she was getting flustered and possibly a little irritated. I tried to find the right words but instead of asking for a manager or something I came off sounding like an ass by saying "Do you think you could go get somebody who might know a little more?". She wasn't going to at first but then eventually went and got a rep who knew what I was talking about. I remembered him when I sat waiting for the iPad 2 (I was third in line) and he was totally cool. He sorted everything and he wrang me up. $891. Painful but I'm done with contracts come next June.

Also he did say this "When you buy off contract the phone are essentially unlocked but we can't official say that until November." He also said that there were lots of changes this year with iPhones and activations and options so it confused some reps.

Bottom line; insist that you will not provide your account information and ask to speak to somebody else if you need to. If that fails go to one of their computers and bring up the Apple site and show them the off contract option. I think there is an option on store.apple.com for off contract.

Edit:
I just noticed you do have to put your AT&T information in on the online Apple store no matter what. Guess I saw the full price option after I had put my info in before.
 
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How does Apple identify unlocked vs. AT&T iPhone stock? There is nothing on the boxes that show it's an AT&T iPhone so I'm curious if all GSM models are the same and normally just get locked to the carrier upon activation. If that's the case, will Apple replace our devices with unlocked versions (when they're available) in case a repair is needed?
 
How does Apple identify unlocked vs. AT&T iPhone stock? There is nothing on the boxes that show it's an AT&T iPhone so I'm curious if all GSM models are the same and normally just get locked to the carrier upon activation. If that's the case, will Apple replace our devices with unlocked versions (when they're available) in case a repair is needed?
Good question.

I can't imagine them keeping different stock. One of the big things from combining GSM and CDMA is one SKU for Apple. Much less hassle than a different version for each carrier.

Looks like the "loophole" is closing.

Stupid question:
What if I go buy an unlocked iPhone and tell them I'm going to put it on Verizon? How will that effect the GSM side of things?
 
Good question.
Stupid question:
What if I go buy an unlocked iPhone and tell them I'm going to put it on Verizon? How will that effect the GSM side of things?

I don't think these phones can work on Verizon (or Sprint). On the Apple iPhone page they specifically saids that the November unlocked versions will not work on CDMA networks.
 
I don't think these phones can work on Verizon (or Sprint). On the Apple iPhone page they specifically saids that the November unlocked versions will not work on CDMA networks.
Ah. I meant one of the current "unlocked" ones via this "loophole". Not the official unlocked ones. If I go buy one from Apple now and say it's for Verizon, how would the GSM end up being locked?



I have read that footnote about the official unlocked one. I can't imagine they will somehow disable the CDMA in the phone. It just doesn't make sense.
 
Good question.

I can't imagine them keeping different stock. One of the big things from combining GSM and CDMA is one SKU for Apple. Much less hassle than a different version for each carrier.

Looks like the "loophole" is closing.

Stupid question:
What if I go buy an unlocked iPhone and tell them I'm going to put it on Verizon? How will that effect the GSM side of things?

I agree with the AT&T phones. They should be all unlocked until the store employees scan the barcodes.

I was there on launch day and at the back they sepreated each carrier, color, and capcity on the counter.
 
The loophole is closing if it has not already closed at every Apple store.

You can bet they were getting pressure from AT&T to stop this process. :eek:

Dave

it is not really a loop hole, people are just getting these unlocked iPhone bit early, thats all...

if you wait till November you can still get the unlocked version of the iPhone which ATT NOT interfering with it...
 
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