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Getting AT&T iPhone 4/4S factory unlocked from elsewehere (except AT&T directly)

R

rak007

macrumors 6502a
Original poster
Oct 31, 2011
507
0
I am planning to buy either an iPhone 4 or 4S (not really keen on next iPhone for now). I figured out that factory unlocked iPhone 4/4S go for substantially higher price (used) on the usual websites like craigslist / ebay etc while the AT&T locked ones are lower.
Now i want the iPhone to be factory unlocked before i buy or have to get it unlocked after i buy a locked one as i intend to use it outside the USA.
I am not an AT&T customer and never was so i am pretty sure that if i buy a iPhone4/4S from ebay etc and tell AT&T to unlock, they will not entertain me.
But i do find several listings on ebay and craigslist where people offer getting permanent unlock for the iPhone 4/4S for 15$ and around.

How legitimate these listings are and do they work ? Can i buy a used AT&T iPhone 4/4S and use these services from ebay / craigslist etc to get a permanent unlock, thus saving good amount of money vis-a-vis buying a factory unlocked iPhone 4/4S ?

One such listing is this..

http://www.ebay.com/itm/ATT-AT-T-UN...737?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item2ec1534de9

Please tell me if what i am planning to do is feasible ? I do not want to end up with a locked phone which i cannot use.
 
rak007 said:
I am planning to buy either an iPhone 4 or 4S (not really keen on next iPhone for now). I figured out that factory unlocked iPhone 4/4S go for substantially higher price (used) on the usual websites like craigslist / ebay etc while the AT&T locked ones are lower.
Now i want the iPhone to be factory unlocked before i buy or have to get it unlocked after i buy a locked one as i intend to use it outside the USA.
I am not an AT&T customer and never was so i am pretty sure that if i buy a iPhone4/4S from ebay etc and tell AT&T to unlock, they will not entertain me.
But i do find several listings on ebay and craigslist where people offer getting permanent unlock for the iPhone 4/4S for 15$ and around.

How legitimate these listings are and do they work ? Can i buy a used AT&T iPhone 4/4S and use these services from ebay / craigslist etc to get a permanent unlock, thus saving good amount of money vis-a-vis buying a factory unlocked iPhone 4/4S ?

One such listing is this..

http://www.ebay.com/itm/ATT-AT-T-UN...737?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item2ec1534de9

Please tell me if what i am planning to do is feasible ? I do not want to end up with a locked phone which i cannot use.
Click to expand...

I wasn't aware you could permanently unlock i phones. Why not just buy a locked one from walmart for 149 and jailbreak it?
 
Applejuiced said:
Because the one at walmart comes with a 2 year contract and a $325 early termination fee.
And you dont unlock it with a JB, you need to pay for an IMEI unlock and those are around $50-100.
Click to expand...

Right, but i see there are IMEI unlocks for under 25$ as well on ebay.

----------

Another question, might be dumb but does it matter if the iOS version on the iPhone 4S i may buy is iOS 5.1.1 or iOS 6 ?
Asking because i plan to buy the iPhone after the new one is launched and since iOS 6 will also be launched, i am sure many people will update the iOS version in their iPhones as well.
Just want to be sure.
 
rak007 said:
Right, but i see there are IMEI unlocks for under 25$ as well on ebay.

----------

Another question, might be dumb but does it matter if the iOS version on the iPhone 4S i may buy is iOS 5.1.1 or iOS 6 ?
Asking because i plan to buy the iPhone after the new one is launched and since iOS 6 will also be launched, i am sure many people will update the iOS version in their iPhones as well.
Just want to be sure.
Click to expand...

If you get it IMEI unlocked its officially unlocked forever.
It doesnt matter what iOS its on, you can restore, update at any time.
 
If you really want an unlocked phone, go to the apple store or their web site and buy the factory unlocked phone.
With the options you list, you have to worry about fraudulent misrepresentation. If you don't care if you get a locked phone, then use the link you listed instead.
rak007 said:
Now i want the iPhone to be factory unlocked before i buy or have to get it unlocked after i buy a locked one as i intend to use it outside the USA.
I am not an AT&T customer and never was so i am pretty sure that if i buy a iPhone4/4S from ebay etc and tell AT&T to unlock, they will not entertain me.
But i do find several listings on ebay and craigslist where people offer getting permanent unlock for the iPhone 4/4S for 15$ and around.

How legitimate these listings are and do they work ? Can i buy a used AT&T iPhone 4/4S and use these services from ebay / craigslist etc to get a permanent unlock, thus saving good amount of money vis-a-vis buying a factory unlocked iPhone 4/4S ?

One such listing is this..

http://www.ebay.com/itm/ATT-AT-T-UN...737?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item2ec1534de9

Please tell me if what i am planning to do is feasible ? I do not want to end up with a locked phone which i cannot use.
Click to expand...
 
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