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"Congratulations your iPhone has been unlocked"

SGMD1 said:
I just bought a device only AT&T iPhone 4S from my local Apple Store after reserving online last night and confirmed it is unlocked via iTunes. Here is a copy of my receipt; notice it says "AT&T Account Information: No Wireless Service Activation during iPhone Sale" about half way down.

I am not an AT&T customer and did not have to provide any account info (although the receipt did have my name and e-mail address from my online reservation the night before.)

When I asked the rep if I could buy it "device only, off contract" he said yes, but that it would be locked (wrong, obviously.) One of the screens during the payment process had an "Activate" button I had to click which had me nervous, but as long as you don't give them any account info, the phone won't be activated and will be unlocked.
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sweet, i was curious if any chicago apple stores were already selling unlocked 4s' yet. need to get one for the gf, thanks!
 
sanke1 said:
If your phone shows the message of congratulations..... It's unlocked and you do replacement under warranty, the new phone is default factory unlocked and such factory unlocked phones don't show any message when restored as they were not locked to begin with. My iPhone 4S purchased unlocked from London Apple store also does not display any congratulations message when restored and accepts sims from any carrier.

Mentioning to genius that your phone was unlocked at the time of replacement also helps.

Hope this is the info you all been looking for!
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yes and no! Imei will carry over. If you have a locked att iphone 3gs/4/4s once you get a replacement the genius will have to enter your current iphone imei to determine if it's locked or not and will carry the status over your replacement. Make sense rite? Well I know cuz my friend does that all day. He works there lol. And you are rite about replacement iphones are already unlocked. However, they won't be if you swap/replace it with an att iphone.
 
Ziron3 said:
Has anyone upgraded to iOS 5.0.1 and confirmed that the unlock status is retained? I'm out of the country using it unlocked and don't want to risk it but I assume that all should be ok.
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Are people going to keep asking that every time there's an update?
Yes your unlocked iphone will forever stay unlocked no matter how many times you restore or upgrade the firmware version.
 
I can not unlock the iphone. I tried different sim card providers. Only activated SIM card AT & T, if the insert sim card of another operator osotovogo, iphone needs activation again. Iphone bought in the Apple store in CA.
 
Voxen said:
I can not unlock the iphone. I tried different sim card providers. Only activated SIM card AT & T, if the insert sim card of another operator osotovogo, iphone needs activation again. Iphone bought in the Apple store in CA.
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it matters if you bought it at full retail price or used your upgrade.
 
Voxen said:
I can not unlock the iphone. I tried different sim card providers. Only activated SIM card AT & T, if the insert sim card of another operator osotovogo, iphone needs activation again. Iphone bought in the Apple store in CA.
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read the whole thread again buddy! Only full retail at 649 and up will be officially unlocked!
 
My model is 32Gb, bought for 750 USD. When activated, does not require a social security number ...
 
This is what I plan to do first thing tomorrow morning:

I'll go buy the "unlocked" iPhone at the Apple store, and then go to the ATT store and get myself a brand new monthly contract, and activate the SIM on my iPhone.

Will it still remain unlocked?

Or maybe, before I insert the SIM, I should connect the iPhone to iTunes, ensure that I get the "unlocked" message, and then insert the SIM and activate the SIM?

What do you guys think?

Anyone here got a brand new ATT contract on the unofficial "unlocked" iPhone yet?
 
arunim said:
Anyone here got a brand new ATT contract on the unofficial "unlocked" iPhone yet?
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My friend signed up for new AT&T service at the Apple Store and bought the 32GB for $299, removed the SIM card, sold the iPhone an hour later on craigslist for $600, and went back to the Apple Store and paid full price for the 32GB at $749. Got home and saw the unlocked message. Works find with the SIM card that was removed from the subsidized one.
 
Unlocked is available on apple.com

This thread can finally die. Unlocked iPhone 4S is available on apple.com
 
LapsangSouchong said:
I'm considering it. Or just going to Apple and having a conversation with them.
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Don't even bother. If you want an official unlocked unit, you'll have to return it and repurchase it. No biggy but no point in trying to talking to them for an exchange for an official unlocked ip4s.
 
Well the question becomes, is the "official" unlock the same thing as the "unofficial" unlock. What I mean by that is whether or not the Apple employees will use the same stock of AT&T devices and just unlock them by doing a "device only" transaction during the purchase. If so, then the "unofficial" unlocks are exactly the same. If not, then we have to find out if there is any difference b/w the two.
 
Guys you already have the official factory unlocked one. Ask the Genius Bar.
If you paid $650+ for the 4S, got the unlocked message, it's going to stay that way...
 
LapsangSouchong said:
And you know this because....
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Because I had a completely defective unit and they wouldn't give me a retail replacement. They just told me if I wanted a new retail unit, I would have to return it and repurchase it. Why would they give you a new retail unit as an exchange if there's nothing wrong with it besides a receipt difference of being 'device only' and the other be unofficially unlocked. Both are unlocked regardless.

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El3ctronics said:
Well the question becomes, is the "official" unlock the same thing as the "unofficial" unlock. What I mean by that is whether or not the Apple employees will use the same stock of AT&T devices and just unlock them by doing a "device only" transaction during the purchase. If so, then the "unofficial" unlocks are exactly the same. If not, then we have to find out if there is any difference b/w the two.
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I don't exactly know but it seems more logical to have them unlocked during purchase rather than having specific stock for unlocked phones. The demand for unlocked iPhones is no where near contracted iPhones. Having iTunes allows them to have this type of advantage over other manufacturers who have to create specific unlocked units. One phone for all.
 
jekyoo said:
I don't exactly know but it seems more logical to have them unlocked during purchase rather than having specific stock for unlocked phones. The demand for unlocked iPhones is no where near contracted iPhones. Having iTunes allows them to have this type of advantage over other manufacturers who have to create specific unlocked units. One phone for all.
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Exactly...and if this is the case then the "unofficial" unlock that we all have is exactly the same as the "official" one being shipped by Apple now.
 
LapsangSouchong said:
And you know this because....
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omg dude just re-read the whole thread! Once unlocked it will be forever unlocked. Att iphone 4 had third party offering official unlocked imei months ago, and once apple found out well they just stop it. However, the att iphones 4 that were already and stay unlocked since then. Make sense to you? If you still have doubts just return watever you have and buy the factory unlocked one.
 
aziatiklover said:
omg dude just re-read the whole thread! Once unlocked it will be forever unlocked. Att iphone 4 had third party offering official unlocked imei months ago, and once apple found out well they just stop it. However, the att iphones 4 that were already and stay unlocked since then. Make sense to you? If you still have doubts just return watever you have and buy the factory unlocked one.
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ZOMG dude, nothing in the "whole thread" indicates what Apple will do.
 
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