Has anyone been able to unlock iPhone 5 from AT&T?

[rsvrfactory]

I used this ebay seller http://www.ebay.com/itm/-/160887533503?item=160887533503&ViewItem=&ssPageName=ADME:X:RTQ:US:1123 and it was unlocked within an hour or so. Quick repsonses to emails too. I did pay a little more than some of you, but in the end it's done. I did the Restore, but at first it said it couldn't restore because of an error. I tried it a 2nd time and it worked fine. I even got the "Congratulation your iPhone has successfully been unlocked" screen.

 

[blairh]

I don't see why they would want to terminate someone's contract for getting their iphone unlocked - they'd just be losing a customer. If someone got their iphone from AT&T at the subsidized price, they're locked in to AT&T for another 2 years anyway unless they pay the ETF. Either way, AT&T is getting their money back for the subsidy so why would they care? I bought my iphone at the subsidized price and now I got it unlocked. How does that hurt AT&T? I'm still locked in to a 2yr contract.

It doesn't hurt AT&T. Nor wood unlocking your iPhone 5 in the first place. That's not the point. They are not allowed to unlock your iPhone 5 unless you bought it unlocked or at full price. These are rules directly from Apple. If they catch wind that you broke these rules, I believe they will terminate your service. Saying they wouldn't care is a pretty weak counter.

 

[Geckotek]

It doesn't hurt AT&T. Nor wood unlocking your iPhone 5 in the first place. That's not the point. They are not allowed to unlock your iPhone 5 unless you bought it unlocked or at full price. These are rules directly from Apple. If they catch wind that you broke these rules, I believe they will terminate your service. Saying they wouldn't care is a pretty weak counter.

The rules are not from Apple, they are from the carriers. The purpose would be to keep you on their service. So there is no way they would terminate it. At worst, they re-lock you.

 

[blairh]

If they terminate the contract, then that'd be awesome. Then I'd be contract free with contract-priced hardware, so I can go to a better carrier.


...your logic is flawed. AT&T doesn't give a **** if you unlock your iPhone, as long as you continue to pay for your service.

They would terminate your service and you'd still need to pay your ETF for breaking their rules. It's not what you think.

Yes, AT&T does indeed care if you unlock your iPhone, because they are following Apple's rules (unlock the iPhone if the contract has expired or if purchased at full price/unlocked in the first place).

My friend is a telephone CSR for AT&T. She told me that their managers are dead serious about not breaking the rules when it comes to iPhone's, unlocks, and the policies set by APPLE. You are dead wrong here.

I'm not saying people shouldn't do this Ebay unlock service, I just think it's risky.

 

[blairh]

The rules are not from Apple, they are from the carriers. The purpose would be to keep you on their service. So there is no way they would terminate it. At worst, they re-lock you.

I was told that Apple dictated the rules to AT&T about who is eligible for an unlock.

I don't understand why AT&T won't allow their customers to use their phones internationally on an unlocked SIM. You can't ditch out on your contract so what exactly is their fear? That they won't make roaming service charges off you while your abroad using your phone?

A little research appears to show that AT&T can catch wind of your unauthorized unlock and will relock your phone.

Even if AT&T won't terminate your service, I'm skeptical that these Ebay unlocks will last. My guess is that your iPhone 5 does eventually get locked again. The idea that such little money can get me a permanently unlocked iPhone 5 simply seems to good to be true. If anyone disagrees, so be it.

 

[AlphaDogg]

So I didn't feel like restoring my iPhone 5. I didn't get the email that my iPhone has been unlocked yet, but I reset network settings on my phone, popped in my Orange IL SIM card, and it registered on the network! Granted, the SIM isn't provisioned for roaming, but instead of showing this like it did last time:

It showed this:

Note that the model number changed from MD637LL/A to ND296LL/A

 

[Ripcord83]

AT&T did mine at same time I did my old 4. Yes it is under contract.

and it worked with no issues?

 

[Mliii]

[/COLOR]

I was told that Apple dictated the rules to AT&T about who is eligible for an unlock.

By whom?
Utter nonsense!
Why would Apple give a ******* who gets unlocked and who doesn't? It has ZERO effect on their bottom line.
Beyond that, you are assuming that AT&T has a way to distinguish between "Factory Unlocked" and an unlock that occurs as a result of a third party.
Based on what?
BAA BAA little sheep...spare me!

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If AT&T finds out you did this I bet you can get in serious trouble/lose your service.

Come and get me. I'm not going anywhere...

 

[Myiphone7]

i've restored at least 7 or 8 times now and nothing. The only way for me to confirm it at this point is to try a t-mobile sim so i'd probably suggest you do the same. If it doesn't work with a t-mobile sim, i'm sending my replacement back and just keeping my original iphone 5 that i know for a fact is unlocked.

It's a little disconcerting that unlock_fusion doesn't respond to emails. I emailed them a few times to find out what else i can do to ensure that my phone is unlocked and they have been unresponsive. They certainly did unlock my phone quickly but i need help now and they're aren't responding.

they don't respond
!

:/

 

[Myiphone7]

That's it!

Will someone please explain this to me I'm confused.

Lets say I go overseas.

I could any sim for my iPhone 5 right? CDMA or AT&T? Because isn't iPhone 5 a world phone?

Also, will the data be prepaid on the sim? Like 60 minutes and 500 MB of data on the sim.

If you buy a sim with no data, or your data runs out, will web pages just not load? Or would you have some ridiculous bill? (I don't know how'd they'd send you a bill if you are prepaid).

Thanks for the help.

 

[Vermillon]

Does anybody know if there is an equivalent service to unlock_fusion on the uk eBay store for uk residents ?

 

[Mliii]

Will someone please explain this to me I'm confused.

Lets say I go overseas.

I could any sim for my iPhone 5 right? CDMA or AT&T? Because isn't iPhone 5 a world phone?

Also, will the data be prepaid on the sim? Like 60 minutes and 500 MB of data on the sim.

If you buy a sim with no data, or your data runs out, will web pages just not load? Or would you have some ridiculous bill? (I don't know how'd they'd send you a bill if you are prepaid).

Thanks for the help.

First, you aren't going to find CDMA overseas- well, at least in MOST places. But because of how Apple has manufactured the iPhone 5, you can put a local carrier's SIM into your US purchased iPhone 5 and use it overseas. However, unless the phone you have operates on the same frequency as the local (overseas) LTE band, your phone will only do data at the non-LTE speed. So you will be able to spend a lot less than the AT&T (for example) overseas rates by using a local carrier- but you are likely going to be operating your phone at a somewhat slower data transfer speed than LTE- again, unless you happen to be in a market where the local LTE frequency is the same as the ones contained in your phone.

And yes, the local carriers overseas will typically have a mix of voice and data plans available on a pay as you go basis. As i said, that will usually cost you substantially less than what you would pay to use your US carrier with some sort of international package.

No, the iPhone 5 is NOT a "World" phone like the 4s was, for example. What I mean by that is that it will not operate at its peak LTE speed in ALL overseas markets because there are MANY LTE frequencies used overseas. That's why there are (at least) 3 versions of the iPhone 5 made so far- and they operate on different LTE frequencies. But it WILL work at the slower, non-LTE speeds with a local carrier SIM. But remember- there is no Universal "overseas" for purposes of LTE

Think of buying a pay as you go type package like purchasing a gift card. Once you've run through your pre-paid allotment of voice/data on whichever carrier you've purchased it from, it will stop working. But you can always add more cash to your card.
I hope that helps a bit.

 

[psywzrd]

they don't respond
!

:/

I know they don't. I've sent them at least 4 of 5 emails (not just about my issue with not getting the congratulations screen in itunes but another question as well) and they haven't responded to any of them. They are great about unlocking your phone quickly but they don't seem to eager to respond to people having problems. I'd hate to see what happens if my iphone isn't actually unlocked and I need to initiate a chargeback via Paypal.

 

[Geckotek]

I was told that Apple dictated the rules to AT&T about who is eligible for an unlock.

I don't understand why AT&T won't allow their customers to use their phones internationally on an unlocked SIM. You can't ditch out on your contract so what exactly is their fear? That they won't make roaming service charges off you while your abroad using your phone?

A little research appears to show that AT&T can catch wind of your unauthorized unlock and will relock your phone.

Even if AT&T won't terminate your service, I'm skeptical that these Ebay unlocks will last. My guess is that your iPhone 5 does eventually get locked again. The idea that such little money can get me a permanently unlocked iPhone 5 simply seems to good to be true. If anyone disagrees, so be it.

Who told you that? You were told wrong. Apple doesn't care if the devices are locked. What motivation do they have except to appease the carrier?

Seems to good to be true, but I can afford to lose $8. It's worth the risk.

 

[blairh]

[/COLOR]

By whom?
Utter nonsense!
Why would Apple give a ******* who gets unlocked and who doesn't? It has ZERO effect on their bottom line.
Beyond that, you are assuming that AT&T has a way to distinguish between "Factory Unlocked" and an unlock that occurs as a result of a third party.
Based on what?
BAA BAA little sheep...spare me!

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Come and get me. I'm not going anywhere...

You are seriously trolling here. If you are going to bother replying to me, at least do so in a serious demeanor instead of something I'd expect on Reddit.

You are pretty naive if you think that AT&T can't find out how about unauthorized unlocks. In fact some Google research last night brought me to several forums where people were discussing the fact that AT&T was indeed re-locking unauthorized unlocks. You seem to think you are immune to this. Good luck.

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Who told you that? You were told wrong. Apple doesn't care if the devices are locked. What motivation do they have except to appease the carrier?

Seems to good to be true, but I can afford to lose $8. It's worth the risk.

CSR I know personally told me. She certainly could be wrong.

I think it's pathetic that AT&T, if they are calling the shots on this front, are deciding this. Again, it makes no sense. You are contractually obligated to them with that 2 year contract. Allow your customer to use a phone internationally on a local SIM isn't going to put them in a position to lose money. (Other than not obtain international roaming fees.)

I did not know about the Verizon SIM unlock feature until after I purchased my 5. (The news didn't really break until after the fact.) I don't travel enough to Europe every year to warrant a move to Verizon. Still, it's just really irritating to know that VZ have this option.

Yes, if the only thing you can lose out is $8 and a relocked iPhone 5, then go for it. All I can tell you is that it feels like a too good to be true scenario. My guess is that down the road all the people who used unlock fusion's services will find their iPhone 5's relocked. I'm not stating that as a fact, that's just what I believe will happen. If you are at no danger of losing your service with AT&T, go for it.

 

[Mliii]

You are seriously trolling here.

I'm trolling? And you're seriously telling me that a person who sits in a boiler room answering phone calls from customers and makes, what $12/hour, knows what goes on behind the scene between Apple and AT&T?
I'll be serious with you when you are serious first.
Half of them can't tell you how to re-start your iPhone let alone have any clue about what goes on at the corporate level.
Have you ever had or used an unlocked iPhone? This is my third. AT&T has never re-locked any of them.
Could it happen? Maybe. But it's a $8 risk I'm willing to take in exchange for the ability to use a local network when traveling overseas.
And the fear based, subservient attitude you display towards AT&T is part of the reason that monolithic corporations get away with what they do in this country.
End of rant.

 

[AlphaDogg]

[/COLOR]

By whom?
Utter nonsense!
Why would Apple give a ******* who gets unlocked and who doesn't? It has ZERO effect on their bottom line.
Beyond that, you are assuming that AT&T has a way to distinguish between "Factory Unlocked" and an unlock that occurs as a result of a third party.
Based on what?
BAA BAA little sheep...spare me!

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Come and get me. I'm not going anywhere...

Apple gives a **** because they could make money on an unlocked version instead of a regular subsidized version. Also, if your phone is unlocked, you could terminate your contract with AT&T and then Apple wouldn't get the subsidies from your service.

 

[Mliii]

Apple gives a **** because they could make money on an unlocked version instead of a regular subsidized version. Also, if your phone is unlocked, you could terminate your contract with AT&T and then Apple wouldn't get the subsidies from your service.

Apple makes the same amount of money on each iPhone they sell, locked, unlocked, whatever. They get their's up front from the carriers whether you, the subscriber, makes your payment to your carrier or not.

 

[AlphaDogg]

Apple makes the same amount of money on each iPhone they sell, locked, unlocked, whatever. They get their's up front from the carriers whether you, the subscriber, makes your payment to your carrier or not.

That actually makes a lot of sense to me.

 

[Domino8282]

This still doesn't give you any kind of message that your phone is unlocked though, correct? I had my iphone 5 unlocked by unlock_fusion and after 6 or 7 restores on two different computers, I never got the unlocked message in itunes.

Am I going to have to go buy a PAYG SIM from T-Mobile to confirm that it's unlocked or is there some other way?

My first iphone 5 that I had unlocked did display the unlocked message in itunes.

Make sure you are clicking "Restore" and NOT right-clicking and doing "Restore from Backup." You have to do the clean Restore first to get the unlock message. THEN you can restore from backup.

 

[Geckotek]

CSR I know personally told me. She certainly could be wrong.

I think it's pathetic that AT&T, if they are calling the shots on this front, are deciding this. Again, it makes no sense. You are contractually obligated to them with that 2 year contract. Allow your customer to use a phone internationally on a local SIM isn't going to put them in a position to lose money. (Other than not obtain international roaming fees.)

First lesson in dealing with carrier CSRs....they usually know less than you do.

I agree, I never understood the concept of SIM locking a phone. The entire idea is ludicrous and should be illegal. At the very least, there should never have been an exception to the new laws enforcing carrier unlocks after contract fulfillment on the iPhone. Why they did that I will never understand. The only explanation is crooked politicians if you ask me.

 

[alent1234]

[/COLOR]

By whom?
Utter nonsense!
Why would Apple give a ******* who gets unlocked and who doesn't? It has ZERO effect on their bottom line.
Beyond that, you are assuming that AT&T has a way to distinguish between "Factory Unlocked" and an unlock that occurs as a result of a third party.
Based on what?
BAA BAA little sheep...spare me!

----------



Come and get me. I'm not going anywhere...

it would be very easy for AT&T to set up an audit trail for unauthorized iphone unlocks if they hadn't done so already. since its all database entries you just set up a few audit tables to hold the data for any changes along with triggers to populate them. it's not rocket science.

where i work managers access these all the time to see what their people are doing

 

[blairh]

I'm trolling? And you're seriously telling me that a person who sits in a boiler room answering phone calls from customers and makes, what $12/hour, knows what goes on behind the scene between Apple and AT&T?
I'll be serious with you when you are serious first.
Half of them can't tell you how to re-start your iPhone let alone have any clue about what goes on at the corporate level.
Have you ever had or used an unlocked iPhone? This is my third. AT&T has never re-locked any of them.
Could it happen? Maybe. But it's a $8 risk I'm willing to take in exchange for the ability to use a local network when traveling overseas.
And the fear based, subservient attitude you display towards AT&T is part of the reason that monolithic corporations get away with what they do in this country.
End of rant.

I never said a CSR knows what's happening behind the scenes. I'm simply telling you what they told me. I was under the impression that AT&T was simply following Apple's rules with respect to unlocking iPhone's. Now I'm being told on this forum that it's AT&T calling the shots with this.

Yes, I had AT&T unlock my iPhone 4. It was a pretty simple process and done because I was eligible.

I'm not trying to be subservient towards AT&T, I'm simply not down to do something that could potentially lead towards me losing my service with AT&T. Stop trying to act like a badass. You look like a fool. Just for the record, there is absolutely no proof that AT&T will or will not take action towards you, the customer, if they somehow find out you performed an unsanctioned unlock. Sure, maybe they'll just lock your iPhone again. And yes, that is a worth an $8 risk. But we are talking about very vague things here when it comes to consequences. I do know for a fact that the very people who have performed these unlocks for AT&T phones have conceded that their unlocks have been undone by AT&T down the road. That indisputable.

 

[Geckotek]

Just for the record, there is absolutely no proof that AT&T will or will not take action towards you, the customer, if they somehow find out you performed an unsanctioned unlock. Sure, maybe they'll just lock your iPhone again. And yes, that is a worth an $8 risk. But we are talking about very vague things here when it comes to consequences. I do know for a fact that the very people who have performed these unlocks for AT&T phones have conceded that their unlocks have been undone by AT&T down the road. That indisputable.

While it's true that we don't know for sure what the potential future consequences are, we can look to the past for an indication. Unlocks of this nature have been around for a long time, but they used to cost a lot more. I have not heard of a single user being penalized in any way in the past. While AT&T could change their tune on that, I think it would be counter-productive. The entire idea behind SIM locking is to keep us locked to their service. Kicking us off would due just the opposite.

 

[AlphaDogg]

I'd just like to say that the only bottleneck in iPhone unlocks is Apple. Before the iPhone, AT&T was willingly unlocking in-contract cell phones.