How to buy a unlocked 4s from apple store?

[mcafeepepe]

I learn that Apple sold so many unlocked 4s without contract and full price.
But I am not convinced.So who can guild me.The news is true? and buy from ATT is locked?

 

[SolstroCken]

I think that is impossible

 

[mcafeepepe]

But I exactly hear and saw

 

[slipper]

Apple will not sell "unlocked" iPhone 4S' until mid November. However from my understanding you can buy an "Off-Contract" ATT iPhone today from the Apple store and it will be unlocked. Though they will probably not confirm that it is unlocked.

This is only based on what i read and i can't confirm for myself. If you do buy an "Off-Contract" iPhone 4S, please let us know how it goes.

 

[thewitt]

If you buy a no contract AT&T phone and it's unlocked, do not count on it staying that way.. AT&T can lock it at any time, not just on initial activation.

 

[james-jones]

If you buy a no contract AT&T phone and it's unlocked, do not count on it staying that way.. AT&T can lock it at any time, not just on initial activation.

Where's your source for that?

Apple appears to be following the same policy they have in place for iPhone 4s - if you buy a full price AT&T phone, it is unlocked, just the same as if you get the 'unlocked' SKU. The model number has nothing to do with the IMEI database unlock status.

There are two ways customers can buy an unlocked iPhone 4 at the Apple Store.
...
2. Buy any iPhone 4 with an AT&T micro-SIM card inside at full price. These models will also be unlocked whether the customer signs up for an AT&T service plan or chooses the Device Only purchase option.

Note: All devices sold at the unsubsidized prices of $649 and $749 will be unlocked and can be activated and used on supported GSM carrier networks.

https://www.macrumors.com/2011/06/27/all-no-commitment-att-iphone-4-purchases-coming-unlocked/

You do need to buy it at an Apple retail store, though, and make sure the sales rep chooses 'Device Only' on their POS handheld. They should not need your phone number or any other AT&T account information if you're doing it right. Any phones sold at an AT&T store are added to the IMEI lock database.

I'm enjoying my unlocked 4S right now

 

[Montanan]

I think some people are reading about the iPhone's "world phone" capabilities, and confusing the "international" unlock that some carriers are offering with a full unlock, which is not yet available.

 

[mcafeepepe]

Where's your source for that?

Apple appears to be following the same policy they have in place for iPhone 4s - if you buy a full price AT&T phone, it is unlocked, just the same as if you get the 'unlocked' SKU. The model number has nothing to do with the IMEI database unlock status.


https://www.macrumors.com/2011/06/27/all-no-commitment-att-iphone-4-purchases-coming-unlocked/

You do need to buy it at an Apple retail store, though, and make sure the sales rep chooses 'Device Only' on their POS handheld. They should not need your phone number or any other AT&T account information if you're doing it right. Any phones sold at an AT&T store are added to the IMEI lock database.

I'm enjoying my unlocked 4S right now

I don't confirm whether this version will be locked in the future.

 

[thewitt]

Until Apple begins selling official unlocked phones, you are running the risk of your phone being locked down in the future. The AT&T full price phone clearly states you will only use it on the AT&T network.

It's only a matter of time before Apple reports your IMEI to AT&T for lock down....

Be aware of the risk.

You may indeed be lucky, however it's not worth the risk to me. I don't need an $800 iPod touch

 

[dave006]

I learn that Apple sold so many unlocked 4s without contract and full price.
But I am not convinced.So who can guild me.The news is true? and buy from ATT is locked?

Well you could read this thread instead of starting yet another thread.

https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/1253171/

Yes, Apple retail stores hve sold quite a few AT&T iPhone 4S units that are unlocked. This is currently a loophole is closing as word about it spreads. It really comes down to the rep that is selling you the iPhone and how they choose to process the transaction.

They have 3 choices:

1. Device Only ( Unlocked )
2. Upgrade
3. New line of service

Dave

 

[mcafeepepe]

Well you could read this thread instead of starting yet another thread.

https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/1253171/

Yes, Apple retail stores hve sold quite a few AT&T iPhone 4S units that are unlocked. This is currently a loophole is closing as word about it spreads. It really comes down to the rep that is selling you the iPhone and how they choose to process the transaction.

They have 3 choices:

1. Device Only ( Unlocked )
2. Upgrade
3. New line of service

Dave

In my opinion, Select Device only is unlocked. I think insert other carrier's sim at first.ATT will lock that according the technology points or not?

 

[Applejuiced]

If you buy a no contract AT&T phone and it's unlocked, do not count on it staying that way.. AT&T can lock it at any time, not just on initial activation.

AT&T does not have acess to Apple's unlocked/locked imei database.
Carriers usually request phones to be unlocked and their IMEI changed on Apples activation servers not the other way around.
So its not up to AT&T to lock phones at any time they please.

 

[mcafeepepe]

AT&T does not have acess to Apple's unlocked/locked imei database.
Carriers usually request phones to be unlocked and their IMEI changed on Apples activation servers not the other way around.
So its not up to AT&T to lock phones at any time they please.

I think so!But I am wondering whether it is unlocked if I upgrade a phone by full price.Maybe it is seems that is also successful.Could you answer?

 

[Applejuiced]

I think so!But I am wondering whether it is unlocked if I upgrade a phone by full price.Maybe it is seems that is also successful.Could you answer?

If you buy it full price from Apple when you activate it for the first time it will give you this message below.
When you see that then the phone is officially unlocked and will not be locked to any carrier again.
If for some reason they mess up and tie it up to your AT&T account you can always return it if you dont get that screen below and you test it out with a Tmobile sim and it wont work.

 

[thewitt]

AT&T does not have acess to Apple's unlocked/locked imei database.
Carriers usually request phones to be unlocked and their IMEI changed on Apples activation servers not the other way around.
So its not up to AT&T to lock phones at any time they please.

Sorry, this is not correct. AT&T controls whether your device is locked to their network, not Apple. This is done through the activation database, which is tied into the GSM network.

There is no request made to Apple. Activation or deactivation is immediate and controlled by the carrier, tied to device activation and/or SIM card authentication.

 

[Applejuiced]

Sorry, this is not correct. AT&T controls whether your device is locked to their network, not Apple. This is done through the activation database, which is tied into the GSM network.

There is no request made to Apple. Activation or deactivation is immediate and controlled by the carrier, tied to device activation and/or SIM card authentication.

What I meant is on other international carriers that unlock iphones a request needs to be made by the carrier to Apple to unlock a specific customers IMEI.
Iphone's sold by AT&T or under contract with AT&T are locked to AT&T.
What I was saying is once an iphone is officially unlocked AT&T or any other carrier cannot lock it back to their network like you guessed or suggested above.

 

[JoganJani]

I bought 2 iPhone 4 S from Apple store, off-contract, device only and immediately went next door to get T-mo SIM and it worked fine. I never connected it to iTunes.

Will it stay that way? I hope it does.

Will it be locked later by AT&T? I hope not.

 

[mcafeepepe]

I bought 2 iPhone 4 S from Apple store, off-contract, device only and immediately went next door to get T-mo SIM and it worked fine. I never connected it to iTunes.

Will it stay that way? I hope it does.

Will it be locked later by AT&T? I hope not.

I don't think ATT will do that. It is so foolish.But I need to confirm you purchased the phone to offer apple some informations such as ATT number or not.If I upgrade to get a phone,I must activated live or not.That is important.

 

[JoganJani]

I don't think ATT will do that. It is so foolish.But I need to confirm you purchased the phone to offer apple some informations such as ATT number or not.If I upgrade to get a phone,I must activated live or not.That is important.

I did not provide any information to apple. In the line at the store, I told the genius that I want AT&T Off-contract, device only for full price and confirmed that they would you sell me one? He said yes so I stayed in the line for hour and forty-five minutes and got two.

 

[mcafeepepe]

I did not provide any information to apple. In the line at the store, I told the genius that I want AT&T Off-contract, device only for full price and confirmed that they would you sell me one? He said yes so I stayed in the line for hour and forty-five minutes and got two.

Perfect!guys!ready to go!

 

[NathanA]

Sorry, this is not correct. AT&T controls whether your device is locked to their network, not Apple. This is done through the activation database, which is tied into the GSM network.

There is no request made to Apple. Activation or deactivation is immediate and controlled by the carrier, tied to device activation and/or SIM card authentication.

Absolutely incorrect. iPhone activation servers & database are run by Apple. This database is updated at time of phone purchase (to lock the phone based on IMEI/MEID) or when a carrier asks Apple to unlock a device. And there are 0 reports of a phone ever getting locked again once it has finally been marked unlocked in Apple's master IMEI database.

Now, of course, the *line of service* is controlled by the carrier and is immediate, but that is tied to the SIM card itself. The status of what SIMs the phone is willing to accept, however, is only indirectly under the carrier's control; the lock or unlock has to pass through Apple to happen.

-- Nathan

 

[gage006]

Why risk it? Just wait.

 

[mcafeepepe]

Absolutely incorrect. iPhone activation servers & database are run by Apple. This database is updated at time of phone purchase (to lock the phone based on IMEI/MEID) or when a carrier asks Apple to unlock a device. And there are 0 reports of a phone ever getting locked again once it has finally been marked unlocked in Apple's master IMEI database.

Now, of course, the *line of service* is controlled by the carrier and is immediate, but that is tied to the SIM card itself. The status of what SIMs the phone is willing to accept, however, is only indirectly under the carrier's control; the lock or unlock has to pass through Apple to happen.

-- Nathan

I mean if I dont insert att sim card to activate the phone at first,it is locked in the future or not. is it risk?

 

[mcafeepepe]

Well you could read this thread instead of starting yet another thread.

https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/1253171/

Yes, Apple retail stores hve sold quite a few AT&T iPhone 4S units that are unlocked. This is currently a loophole is closing as word about it spreads. It really comes down to the rep that is selling you the iPhone and how they choose to process the transaction.

They have 3 choices:

1. Device Only ( Unlocked )
2. Upgrade
3. New line of service

Dave

Hi,I doubt all the phones is locked originally,because I call apple service ,then tell me it is locked,but when I activate the phone connecting itunes.it shows phone is unlocked.So I guess if you didn't offer att info to apple,the phone is safe,once you tell them that,ATT will lock.

 

[Shanpdx]

Why risk it? Just wait.

i am hoping unlocked iPhone 4S released come tuesday November the 1st!!!