Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.

bankrip123

macrumors member
Original poster
Oct 15, 2013
33
0
I plan to bring my ATT 5s to a trip to Vietnam and was wondering if there is a way to unlock it so that I can use the GSM networks in the country. I did find some unlock service over the Internet but the prices are around $70, which is a little bit more than what I can afford.
 
I plan to bring my ATT 5s to a trip to Vietnam and was wondering if there is a way to unlock it so that I can use the GSM networks in the country. I did find some unlock service over the Internet but the prices are around $70, which is a little bit more than what I can afford.

Contact ATT and explain to them that you will be traveling with the phone and would like to unlock it.
 
Call ATT and tell them your situation, that you need it for overseas use. Your account should be in good standing.
 
I just have a family plan owner talked to ATT and they said they could not unlock until the 2 year contract is over. Maybe I need to try out other options. :mad:
 
I just have a family plan owner talked to ATT and they said they could not unlock until the 2 year contract is over. Maybe I need to try out other options. :mad:

Still baffles me how US cell companies get away with that. Good luck getting it unlocked though!
 
Not the case with all carriers. I've had Tmobile unlock several phones for me in the past for free. Account must be in good standings and the phone on the plan for atleast 30 days I believe.
 
Yep. Most people don't realize that the phone isn't yours when you pay the subsidized price.
Realistically it's yours, you just owe money on it still. Usually if you do something with it they can just go after your money--that's basically what an ETF is for realistically speaking. It's not that they have the ownership of the phone, it's that they have you for the duration of the contact or your ETF.
 
Register on MacRumors! This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.