iPhone 4s - USA

[FreakinEurekan]

You can also purchase an unlocked iPhone from the Apple Online Store or Apple Retail Store and obtain a micro-SIM card directly from your supported GSM carrier.

Is it true ?

Theoretically, yes, that's true. Problem is finding one in stock.

You can reserve carrier-locked phones on apple.com the night before, but it does not appear that you can (yet) reserve unlocked phones - so it's just a matter of luck whether they'll have one. Or, you can reserve an AT&T phone, buy it off-contract, and "hope" that Apple doesn't decide to lock it to AT&T at some point in the future.

 

[b24pgg]

I don't know where this idea that AT&T might lock your phone in the future came from. There is no precedent for that.

 

[FreakinEurekan]

I don't know where this idea that AT&T might lock your phone in the future came from. There is no precedent for that.

There is no "Precedent" because there has not been a situation where Apple has provided unlocked phones without advertising that they are unlocked before. There is no prior similar circumstance on which to base a precedent.

Have you read the fine print on your receipt?

...I have agreed to the terms as stated in the Wireless Customer Agreement, which was made available for review prior to my acceptance and is available at http://att.com/iphoneterms...

...This phone model is configured to work only with the wireless services of AT&T Wireless...

Any assumptions you make to the contrary of these terms are just that, assumptions. They are not guarantees, rights, or necessarily even reasonable expectations.

You may be comfortable with the fact that it's unlocked now, and your assumption that it will stay that way. Personally, I'd make sure I had an "Official" unlocked phone if that's what I wanted, especially since they're the same price.

 

[Applejuiced]

Same way some got their AT&T iPhones unlocked unofficially a while ago and people were thinking that AT&T or Apple will lock them again.
Never happened, they're still factory unlocked.

 

[b24pgg]

There is no "Precedent" because there has not been a situation where Apple has provided unlocked phones without advertising that they are unlocked before.

Wrong, wrong, wrong. Again.

The exact same thing happened with the iPhone 4:

 

[FreakinEurekan]

Same way some got their AT&T iPhones unlocked unofficially a while ago and people were thinking that AT&T or Apple will lock them again.
Never happened, they're still factory unlocked.

"Never" isn't over yet.

If you think the risk is OK for you - great. But saying it can NEVER happen is giving bad advice. It can. It probably won't, but it can - and there is nothing you can do to prevent it unless you buy the truly unlocked phone.

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Wrong, wrong, wrong. Again.

The exact same thing happened with the iPhone 4:

Apples & oranges. From that article: "an instructional email sent to Apple Store employees, clerks are being instructed to unlock AT&T iPhones and sell them as unlocked in case inventory for unlocked iPhone 4′s runs low". Apple was INSTRUCTING their personnel to do this.

In the case of the 4S, there has been no word from Apple that these phones will be or stay unlocked. It's all in the "assumptions" of those who have bought them.

 

[b24pgg]

Apples & oranges. From that article: "an instructional email sent to Apple Store employees, clerks are being instructed to unlock AT&T iPhones and sell them as unlocked in case inventory for unlocked iPhone 4′s runs low". Apple was INSTRUCTING their personnel to do this.

In the case of the 4S, there has been no word from Apple that these phones will be or stay unlocked. It's all in the "assumptions" of those who have bought them.

I think you're just trolling now. That, or you don't know how to admit you're wrong.

These were your exact words:

there has not been a situation where Apple has provided unlocked phones without advertising that they are unlocked before.

...except Apple did exactly that by providing the unlocked AT&T iPhone 4 when sold as device only...without advertising that it was unlocked. It was an internal Apple memo.

You're wrong, just let it go.

 

[FreakinEurekan]

I think you're just trolling now. That, or you don't know how to admit you're wrong.

These were your exact words:

...except Apple did exactly that by providing the unlocked AT&T iPhone 4 when sold as device only...without advertising that it was unlocked. It was an internal Apple memo.

You're wrong, just let it go.

Semantics. Advertising/stating/admitting, whatever you want to call it.

We agree that it "probably" won't happen. You seem to think that there is no way that it can - I'm saying legally, ethically, and technically it can. I think we'll have to agree to disagree here.

Edit: Actually there is a definite way to tell. Email Apple tech support, explain that you bought an iPhone 4S AT&T unsubsidized with IMEI #xxx, and that you are getting the iTunes message that the phone is unlocked. Ask them if it will remain unlocked in perpetuity. If they respond yes, then you have your guarantee and there is no question.