Found iPhone 4, Can't activate?

[Kletskeh]

So I found an iPhone 4 last week on my vacation in Austria. The SIM in there was already blocked so I couldn't return it and I decided to keep it.

I restored it back to factory settings, it told me I needed a SIM card to activate the phone. So I cut my regular SIM from my old phone into a micro SIM and put it in.

When I insert it, it says 'simlock' and I have to type in my PIN code, then it accepts that and in the upper left it says 'no service', even though service with my provider is fine in my area and on my old phone.

However, I go on activating the thing, choose language, location, activate wifi and then when It says it may take some minutes to activate, something pops up that I need a SIM card from an authorized provider, even though my provider works with iPhones in my country.

Here's the dilemma, I've made up some options that I think might work. Which one would you recommend?

1) I use my friend's SIM card who already uses an iPhone to activate my iPhone, and then place in my SIM card and use it (will this work?)
2) I go to a store from my provider and ask them what I should do, and if they can activate it for me
3) I jailbreak (unlock?) the iPhone, and then I'll be able to use my SIM card?

Please tell me what option would be best. And what about the 'no service' message? Why is this and will it disappear after the iPhone is activated?

Thanks!

 

[Lunfai]

So I found an iPhone 4 last week on my vacation in Austria. The SIM in there was already blocked so I couldn't return it and I decided to keep it.

I restored it back to factory settings, it told me I needed a SIM card to activate the phone. So I cut my regular SIM from my old phone into a micro SIM and put it in.

When I insert it, it says 'simlock' and I have to type in my PIN code, then it accepts that and in the upper left it says 'no service', even though service with my provider is fine in my area and on my old phone.

However, I go on activating the thing, choose language, location, activate wifi and then when It says it may take some minutes to activate, something pops up that I need a SIM card from an authorized provider, even though my provider works with iPhones in my country.

Here's the dilemma, I've made up some options that I think might work. Which one would you recommend?

1) I use my friend's SIM card who already uses an iPhone to activate my iPhone, and then place in my SIM card and use it (will this work?)
2) I go to a store from my provider and ask them what I should do, and if they can activate it for me
3) I jailbreak (unlock?) the iPhone, and then I'll be able to use my SIM card?

Please tell me what option would be best. And what about the 'no service' message? Why is this and will it disappear after the iPhone is activated?

Thanks!

In the UK, you can ask your service provider to block the phone if you lose it. This not only blocks it from that network but all of the networks. I'm afraid you have a dummy phone.

 

[Kletskeh]

I'm from Belgium though. Wouldn't the iPhone give a message that the iPhone is blocked then?
I'll give it a google search if blocking it is possible in Austria.

 

[Applejuiced]

No, it doesn't give any messages.
It just won't activate or get any service.
Most likely it's blacklisted.

 

[AppleMacNerd]

Might be worth getting a blacklist check done for a few $$ to see if it is blacklisted.
Can also get a status check to see who the phone is locked with

let me know if you want me do this for you

 

[chargit]

but if its not blacklisted you will need to find out what the original carrier is. in the US it would be At&t so you would need a sim from At&t to activate it. then you would need to unlock it to use with your sim. its really going to depend on where the phone came from on your options. if you take it back to the original carrier then you are in posession of a lost or stolen phone and there may be issues with that. cause it will be up to you to prove you found it and that you ddint swipe it!