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iHavequestions

macrumors 6502
Original poster
Oct 23, 2011
279
15
I heard if you ask, they do that for you, but then I also heard that they don't. Conflicting answers.

What's the real answer?
 
AT&T's current standing policy is to not unlock iPhones, no matter contract status, length of time with the company etc - there are no expections.
 
Other carriers have been unlocking their iPhones for years now. I've never seen a statement from AT&T clarifying why they refuse to do so.

I think that was AT&T's wanting to keep customers on their network. AT&T does unlock NON-iPhones after contract is complete though.

I wonder if Apple had something to do with it.

However, as others have said AT&T will not unlock iPhones, period.
 
I think that was AT&T's wanting to keep customers on their network. AT&T does unlock NON-iPhones after contract is complete though.
FWIW, here are AT&T's unlocking requirements. Guess they should consider updating them, since their long-term exclusive service agreement is over (for the iPhone). :D

Requirements for monthly wireless plans:
Your wireless service has been active for 90 days or longer
Your account is current and in good standing
Your phone is not sold exclusively by AT&T
Your phone's unlock code is available from the manufacturer
Your phone does not have a long-term exclusive service agreement, or the contract time period has expired
http://www.att.com/esupport/article.jsp?sid=55002&cv=820#fbid=eRyUCHR_tyu
 
You should be allowed to get it unlocked once your contract ends or if you sign a new contract your old phone should have the option of being unlocked. Unfortunately this is not the case and it is quite dumb considering AT&T doesn't have the iPhone exclusively anymore.
 
It'll be a cold day in hell before AT&T unlocks your phone. If they won't even unlock after you fulfill your 2 year contract, they definitely won't temporarily.
 
I remember the apple store adding them to the unlocked database on the iPhone 4 if you paid the difference of the contract to them. I overheard some customers talking to a genieus about the process couple of months ago, before the 4S was released.

I don't know if they would do it for the 4S though.
 
FWIW, here are AT&T's unlocking requirements. Guess they should consider updating them, since their long-term exclusive service agreement is over (for the iPhone). :D


http://www.att.com/esupport/article.jsp?sid=55002&cv=820#fbid=eRyUCHR_tyu

But on the same page from your link:

iPhones are Not Eligible for Unlocking
iPhone cannot be unlocked, even if you are out of contract. If you are traveling internationally, iPhone is a quad-band phone and will work in many countries across the globe.
 
But on the same page from your link:

iPhones are Not Eligible for Unlocking
iPhone cannot be unlocked, even if you are out of contract. If you are traveling internationally, iPhone is a quad-band phone and will work in many countries across the globe.
Cool, apparently I stopped reading after the quote I snipped. :)

On that note, I'm also going to China (well, Hong Kong) in two weeks. Called Verizon yesterday and they unlocked my iPhone 4s so I can use pre-paid SIMs while I'm over there.
 
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