"Congratulations your iPhone has been unlocked"

[Nahmeanz]

Here's a different question for everyone with an unlocked iPhone 4S. This thread says there are different data plans for the 4S that allows it to get HSPA+ speeds. To be able to get these data plans applied you have to call in and give AT&T your iPhone 4S' IMEI. Has anyone done this and how has it affected the unlocked status of your iPhone 4S?

 

[joec1101]

Here's a different question for everyone with an unlocked iPhone 4S. This thread says there are different data plans for the 4S that allows it to get HSPA+ speeds. To be able to get these data plans applied you have to call in and give AT&T your iPhone 4S' IMEI. Has anyone done this and how has it affected the unlocked status of your iPhone 4S?

It works just fine. For some reason, the ATT MyAccount web portal doesn't let you change the data plan yourself - it just fails when you click the next button.

However, I called customer service and told them I purchased an iPhone 4s "off contract" and I wanted to switch my unlimited data plan to the unlimited 4s data plan. They switched it no problem. The device is still unlocked (verified with a T-Mobile prepaid SIM) and my contract was not affected.

 

[SirStrumalot]

Here's a different question for everyone with an unlocked iPhone 4S. This thread says there are different data plans for the 4S that allows it to get HSPA+ speeds. To be able to get these data plans applied you have to call in and give AT&T your iPhone 4S' IMEI. Has anyone done this and how has it affected the unlocked status of your iPhone 4S?

I had to do this as well (can't do it yourself online unless they can see you have a 4S) and it didn't affect my unlock (did a restore right after).

I don't think AT&T can re-lock an unlocked phone. That's something only Apple can do (of course AT&T can request a phone be locked, but I don't see that happening with phones purchased full price).

 

[NathanA]

this articles talks about iPhone 4 (see the date it is way before iPhone 4S announced)

I know. This was in response to dave006 who said that back in June when the iPhone 4 unlocked SKUs were rolled out, you *had* to buy one of those models for it to be unlocked; if you bought AT&T at full price, it would be locked to AT&T. This article shows that this is an incorrect statement.

apple can do the same thing to iPhone 4S like what they did to iPhone 4 (get the ATT iPhone 4S and unlock it)

Exactly my point.

-- Nathan

 

[Kewlj1313]

Hello all!

Verified on 2 32GB ATT iPhone 4S's bought from Apple store that they are in fact unlocked!

I went back to the mall and got a t-mobile pre-paid sim and sure enough it works!

See screenshot from phone here:

I have verified on 2 because I actually got 2 iPhone 4S's today...! the first one I got had lint/dust in the camera thus I got a replacement! both are unlocked.

The first one I plugged into my win 7 laptop after putting in my att sim and I was presented with the unlocked message from my previous post. The new one I tested at the mall right after getting it with the t-mobile sim and sure enough it was also unlocked even without the unlocked message from itunes!

anyways great news and I'm happy its unlocked!

Thanks all,

Jason

 

[dave006]

I know. This was in response to dave006 who said that back in June when the iPhone 4 unlocked SKUs were rolled out, you *had* to buy one of those models for it to be unlocked; if you bought AT&T at full price, it would be locked to AT&T. This article shows that this is an incorrect statement.



Exactly my point.

-- Nathan

No not an incorrect statment, you are wrong. The article cleary indicates that Apple has the option in a case of a particular SKU shortage to unlock any device in their inventory. It is an exception and not the normal sale process. Did you ever wonder why they have so many different SKUs (based on the carrier or SIM free, in addition to the different color / size options)

There were a number of posts/threads here on MR after June where customers were complaining that even when they paid full retail that their phone was still carrier locked to AT&T.

This is also why when doing a courtesy replacement for an out of region SKU, they are able to set the replacement to be either locked to the customers carrrier or unlocked based on the setting of the device being replaced.

Note: Not all Geo Markets allow an out of market warranty replacement.

Apple can unlock any device they want. However there are agreements with each Carrier that control the conditions concerning unlocking. Carriers are also allowed access to request "unlocks". This is what happened a few months ago when all those unlocking services appeared and then were quickly shut down.

Dave

 

[chestvrg]

No, you are actually wrong, and SirStrumsalot was correct. Here is a source that confirms what he was saying:

http://www.cultofmac.com/102496/apple-can-unlock-att-iphone-4-at-checkout/

Apple treats the "device only" AT&T phone as if it was an unlocked SKU. This happens automatically at the POS computer -- which has ties into the whitelist/unlock database -- during checkout in real-time.

-- Nathan

Wao this is a great finding, so it means right that if we purchased our iphone 4Ss as device only and need to get them serviced at the Apple store, if need be, they'll be replaced with completely unlocked ones to honor the "device only" original purchase?

 

[iwantmyiphone4]

I haven't been on this thread since the last iPhone, but I'd thought I should pop by for some advice.

I reserved an iPhone 4s for pickup tomorrow at my local Apple Store and I want to purchase a full retail device.

Will they allow me to pursue this option? (pay $650 up front, walk out)
or do I have to extend or sign a new contract?

My contract isn't eligible for upgrade, but I have a friend who is purchasing it off of me, so it covers the costs...

I just don't want any surprises.

I'm walking in - asking for the 4s, device only. They should allow this transaction, right?

 

[chestvrg]

You should not have any problems as many of us didnt' (only a few stores are flagging customers buying full priced device only iphone 4s), but hopefully your store Apple store will not be any one of those.

Just tell the genius that you want to buy it a full price and if he or she asks further question, tell them that you are still under contract and that is the reason why you want to buy the full price device only iphone 4S.

You should walk out off there in a few minutes since they don't have to do any setups and sign you up into any contracts.

 

[iwantmyiphone4]

You should not have any problems as many of us didnt' (only a few stores are flagging customers buying full priced device only iphone 4s), but hopefully your store Apple store will not be any one of those.

Just tell the genius that you want to buy it a full price and if he or she asks further question, tell them that you are still under contract and that is the reason why you want to buy the full price device only iphone 4S.

You should walk out off there in a few minutes since they don't have to do any setups and sign you up into any contracts.

I hope so! My reason is a valid reason... I'm not one of those people buying 2 64gb iPhones to scalp outside.

Going through this process I'll expect an unlocked phone by tomorrow afternoon! I'll be using AT&T, but it's good for the resale value.

 

[ansabakhan]

You should not have any problems as many of us didnt' (only a few stores are flagging customers buying full priced device only iphone 4s), but hopefully your store Apple store will not be any one of those.

Just tell the genius that you want to buy it a full price and if he or she asks further question, tell them that you are still under contract and that is the reason why you want to buy the full price device only iphone 4S.

You should walk out off there in a few minutes since they don't have to do any setups and sign you up into any contracts.

if they are flaging people how come there are lines in NYC outside apple store?

 

[dave006]

if they are flaging people how come there are lines in NYC outside apple store?

You should not have any problems as many of us didnt' (only a few stores are flagging customers buying full priced device only iphone 4s), but hopefully your store Apple store will not be any one of those...

There have been several posts here in the thread from individuals that have been turned away when trying to to a "Device Only" purchase of the AT&T iPhone 4S.

It is up to the individual store to determine how to handle the sale. Just like with the issue concerning having the Account Holder present for any changes vs just being an Authorized User. Some Apple stores don't care as long as you had a way to pay for the phone while other stores insist that the Account Holder needs to be present.

Just a friendly reminder that this is still a loophole until the SIM Free units are available for sale next month. Check your receipt for the complete terms that you are agreeing to before you sign.

Dave

 

[CubeHacker]

Just wanted to add that you do NOT have to hook the iphone up to iTunes to "unlock" it. These are basically factory unlocked. I installed my Tmobile sim without even hooking it up to my Mac, and it works just fine.

 

[iwantmyiphone4]

Just wanted to add that you do NOT have to hook the iphone up to iTunes to "unlock" it. These are basically factory unlocked. I installed my Tmobile sim without even hooking it up to my Mac, and it works just fine.

Well, this makes sense as iDevices are now designed to be computer-free.

 

[chestvrg]

I did the same thing. When I purchased my iPhone 4s it was during a lunch break at work, told my manager I would be taking an additional 15 and when I walked out of the Apple store, didn't have time or had my PC next to me so I popped my SIM and initiated the activation process. There it went, computer less

 

[NathanA]

The article cleary indicates that Apple has the option in a case of a particular SKU shortage to unlock any device in their inventory.

No, what the article states is succinctly explained in the quote direct from an Apple Retail Project Manager: "Running low on any of the Unlocked iPhone 4 SKUs? You’ve got a solution. Sell any of the AT&T iPhone 4 SKUs as Device Only, and they’ll get unlocked too."

It only works with "AT&T SKUs", not "any device", and it happens automatically when "Device Only" is selected when the Apple POS asks for account information. The sales clerk doesn't need to do anything special to ask for it to be marked as unlocked in the Apple master IMEI database at that point (and, in fact, it seems pretty clear that some sales clerks aren't up-to-speed on this trick); the POS is programmed to just make that happen automatically when "Device Only" is selected for "AT&T SKUs" during the sale.

It is an exception and not the normal sale process.

Well, of course it's not the normal sale process. But if you're implying that the sales clerk has to go out of his/her way to make an AT&T SKU unlocked, and that there is some technical enforcement in place in the POS systems to prevent AT&T SKUs from being unlocked during sale if SIM-free SKUs are still in-stock, that is not the case. An AT&T SKU that is sold as "device only" is marked unlocked in the IMEI database. Period.

No not an incorrect statment, you are wrong.

I think we might be talking over each other's heads, or something. I took your original post to mean that when the iPhone 4 was released, a similar trick used to work then but that the "loophole was closed" when the SIM-free SKU was released, and that the *ONLY* way to get an unlocked phone at point-of-sale in an Apple store was to buy a SIM-free SKU after that occurred. It also seemed as if you were implying that once the 4S finally came out in a SIM-free version, you expect the same loophole to stop working for it. I was simply pointing out that, at least according to that article, that is not true. If that's not what you meant, then I take it back.

There were a number of posts/threads here on MR after June where customers were complaining that even when they paid full retail that their phone was still carrier locked to AT&T.

I'll have to go looking for those. Is it possible that these people were buying theirs directly FROM AT&T, and not from Apple? Because the article seems to be pretty clear on the point that this only works at an Apple store. I would not expect that if you walked into an AT&T store and bought any iPhone "off-contract" that it would be unlocked.

-- Nathan

 

[kramerica2]

Yet another confirmation

I'm not from the US, but got the 64GB from 5th Ave. store after reservation (and 2 hours of waiting in line). Didn't touch the phone until I returned to my country.
Didn't connect to iTunes, just swapped the AT&T sim with my local one, and it just works....

The nice thing is, that due to laws in my country, I'm going to get ~1500$ back from my local carrier over 3 years... not bad for a ~900$ investment and a new iPhone..

 

[MrRon]

Wow.. .really great news… I will try to restore the 4S now…

 

[AlohaMaui]

I had a problem trying to buy an off-contract ATT iPhone 4s from one Apple store.
They wouldnt sell it without a contract and insisted there was no way for them to ring it up. Whatever.

Went to another store and they did it fine.

 

[IO01]

I got that message with no sim in my phone. The first thing I did before hooking up to iTunes for the first time was remove the ATT micro sim.

Interesting! I did not get the unlocked message when I first hooked up to iTunes without a SIM; I got an "Insert SIM and restart" message instead. I ended up putting in an old and inactive T-Mobile SIM (after cutting it to size first) before hooking the iPhone to iTunes (I didn't want to put in the supplied AT&T micro SIM because I was paranoid). Then I got the unlocked message.

 

[MrRon]

I really have no idea. Part of me thinks it was some kind of glitch. The only thing I can think of is that a paid full price and didn't extend my contract. I ordered through Apple too. I wish there was a way I could confirm it, but I don't have any T Mobile or foreign sims laying around lol

I tried ... and paid full price for the 4S 64GB... NOT WORKING!!! STILL LOCKED TO AT&T

 

[HeatherA]

I tried ... and paid full price for the 4S 64GB... NOT WORKING!!! STILL LOCKED TO AT&T

Did you buy it at the Apple store or ATT? If it still doesn't work and you got it at ATT go return it and buy from the Apple store.

If you bought it at the Apple store check your receipt and see what it says about activation. Someone posted a receipt earlier in this thread showing what it should say to indicate it will be unlocked. If your receipt has any indication of your ATT account then you're out of luck and will want to return and wait for the unlocked to be released in a few weeks.

I hope this helps.

 

[jjHungry]

Let's say I walk into the Apple Store and ask for a full price, off contract phone. After the employee comes back with the phone, I say "oops, actually I'll subsidize it and renew my AT&T contract". Will he/she go get another phone or is it that they will activate it later on which will lock it?

It's physically the same phone. When I went to get mine a week ago, off contract, the Apple guy misheard me and initially started to ask me for my ATT details. I explained to him again that I wanted it off contract, full price. He backed out of some screens and 2 minutes later I was out the door with only providing my credit card.

 

[Bunnyturd]

Update server down?

Is it just me or is Apple's update authentication server down?
I decided to "restore" a new iPhone 4S... and as expected iTunes wants to talk to Apple's server. Then I get the cannot connect to server message.

I did this on two different Macs and check the hosts setting to make sure that tiny umbrella didn't mess up the settings.. and still cannot get iTunes to talk to that server.

Hopefully just a busy or server problem. Until it works again I have a brand new bricked iPhone 4S

 

[MrRon]

Did you buy it at the Apple store or ATT? If it still doesn't work and you got it at ATT go return it and buy from the Apple store.

If you bought it at the Apple store check your receipt and see what it says about activation. Someone posted a receipt earlier in this thread showing what it should say to indicate it will be unlocked. If your receipt has any indication of your ATT account then you're out of luck and will want to return and wait for the unlocked to be released in a few weeks.

I hope this helps.

Thanks for your suggestion... but can i return it even if i have used it for a week?