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iPhone 4s world phone on T-mobile

M

macbookman83

macrumors 6502
Original poster
Jan 23, 2011
421
1
New York
Before I start, I already have the iPhone 4 on AT&T. My girlfriend has t-mobile and I originally bought her an iPhone 4 when it launched and unlocked it using ultrasnow for T-mobile.

A few months ago the microphone went out and I had to send it in to apple to fix. When I received the new phone,the baseband was updated and she was no longer able to use it on T-mobile.



Being that the new iPhone 4s is considered a world phone does that mean I can purchase the phone for her and it will work on T-mobiles 2g service?

She already has a blackberry with a year and change left on her contract but has been more than begging for the white iPhone.

Anniversary is this week and getting her the 4s by the 14th would be clutch...... Any ideas as to if this is truly a world phone and will work with any GSM?

I don't mind paying the $650 just to get her the phone......

I do know that currently the phone will be locked with whatever carrier you use but my main concern is with T-mobile working. I also have a sim cutter if that's an obstacle.
 
The iPhone would most likely be available unlocked for $649 like the iPhone 4 is now. The iPhone 4 has been available unlocked in the US (and usable on T-Mobile 2G) since this summer. The iPhone 4 will drop to $549 unlocked on Oct 14.
 
It will continue to remain compatible with t mobile's 2g gsm network. If the phone is or can be unlocked then it will for sure work with t mob.
 
dontwalkhand said:
The iPhone would most likely be available unlocked for $649 like the iPhone 4 is now.
Click to expand...

I highly doubt that. No iPhone has been for sale factory unlocked at launch in the US, even when it was offered factory unlocked in other countries. As far as I know, there has been nothing official on the factory unlocked iPhone 4S in any country.

And if it were to be sold factory unlocked in the US, it won't be the same price as the iPhone 4. You can put a much higher premium on the brand-new model with both GSM and CDMA capabilities.
 
Trauma1 said:
I highly doubt that. No iPhone has been for sale factory unlocked at launch in the US, even when it was offered factory unlocked in other countries. As far as I know, there has been nothing official on the factory unlocked iPhone 4S in any country.

And if it were to be sold factory unlocked in the US, it won't be the same price as the iPhone 4. You can put a much higher premium on the brand-new model with both GSM and CDMA capabilities.
Click to expand...

Take a look at the screenshot...It has been available unlocked for several months now, factory unlocked in the US. This version works just fine on T-Mobile 2G. Though still no FaceTime :(


The reason why it wasn't sold unlocked at launch was most likely due to the AT&T contract, which is why the Verizon version took so long to begin with. And I believe MacRumors even said the 3GS was available unlocked a few days ago.
 
Last edited:
Trauma1 said:
I highly doubt that. No iPhone has been for sale factory unlocked at launch in the US, even when it was offered factory unlocked in other countries. As far as I know, there has been nothing official on the factory unlocked iPhone 4S in any country.

And if it were to be sold factory unlocked in the US, it won't be the same price as the iPhone 4. You can put a much higher premium on the brand-new model with both GSM and CDMA capabilities.
Click to expand...

Yeah, there has been no unlocked iPhone sold on launch because the option to buy an unlocked iPhone is from this summer. Four months versus the iPhone 4's 16 months on the market. You do the math.

The iPhone 4 unlocked now goes for $549, $100 less than the price yesterday. Making room for a $649 unlocked iPhone 4S. That $649 is the premium over the $199 on contract.

But you're right, we still haven't received news on when it will be available.
 
dontwalkhand said:
Take a look at the screenshot...It has been available unlocked for several months now, factory unlocked in the US. This version works just fine on T-Mobile 2G. Though still no FaceTime :(


The reason why it wasn't sold unlocked at launch was most likely due to the AT&T contract, which is why the Verizon version took so long to begin with. And I believe MacRumors even said the 3GS was available unlocked a few days ago.
Click to expand...

That's neither a 4S or a phone at launch.

----------
al256 said:
Yeah, there has been no unlocked iPhone sold on launch because the option to buy an unlocked iPhone is from this summer.
Click to expand...

Like I said, the iPhone was sold in some countries at launch as unlocked.
 
Trauma1 said:
Where does it explicitly say "iPhone 4S Unlocked"?
Click to expand...

It is almost like you don't want this phone to be unlocked or something. Don't forget that the iPhone 4 was the first ever multiple carrier iPhone in the US, and 4S will add Sprint.

It would not make sense for Apple to sell the unlocked iPhone 4 (and according to MR the 3GS), and not the iPhone 4S unlocked.
 
dontwalkhand said:
It is almost like you don't want this phone to be unlocked or something.
Click to expand...

No I want them to sell it factory unlocked. I want to see definitive proof, and I have yet to see it.

Otherwise it's just speculation.

----------
al256 said:
Boom.


Okay, so how does that support your position that you highly doubt the $649 price?
Click to expand...

That's Canadian dollars.

And I never doubted the $649 price. I said I doubted that the new 4S model would cost the same as the older 4 model.
 
Trauma1 said:
Otherwise it's just speculation.
Click to expand...

We can all speculate that Apple will release another iPhone after the 4S. Mainly because we have a past precedent of other iPhones.

We now have a precedent of the unlocked iPhone 4 and iPhone 3GS being sold in the U.S. Do you need a press release? An article? A rumor perhaps?

----------
Trauma1 said:
That's Canadian dollars.
Click to expand...

Did I miss something? I didn't see that price was listed in CDN.
 
al256 said:
We can all speculate that Apple will release another iPhone after the 4S. Mainly because we have a past precedent of other iPhones.

We now have a precedent of the unlocked iPhone 4 and iPhone 3GS being sold in the U.S. Do you need a press release? An article? A rumor perhaps?
Click to expand...

So going by precedent, as I have been saying all along, Apple has not offered factory unlocked iPhones at launch in the US in the past. We have a past precedent of locked iPhones at launch. That's all I'm saying.

Not looking for a press release. Just something that says iPhone 4S will be sold factory unlocked in the US.
 
Yeah, based on that article It will come unlocked, the only time is when?
I would love to get it prepaid on Tmobile USA but we will have to wait until the day it goes on sale to be totally sure.
 
akuma13 said:
Yeah, based on that article It will come unlocked, the only time is when?
I would love to get it prepaid on Tmobile USA but we will have to wait until the day it goes on sale to be totally sure.
Click to expand...

I guess patience is a virtue for all of us. When it does arrive is the day I will buy one to use with my ridiculously cheap T-Mobile service.

$188 for five lines, with four of them smartphones (iPhone 3GS), no one has ever been able to beat this deal yet. yes I realize its EDGE, but who cares, I don't need 3G to play Angry Birds, E-Mail Invoices, and check my balance.
 
dontwalkhand said:
$188 for five lines, with four of them smartphones (iPhone 3GS), no one has ever been able to beat this deal yet. yes I realize its EDGE, but who cares, I don't need 3G to play Angry Birds, E-Mail Invoices, and check my balance.
Click to expand...

Is that from the $100, unlimited everything, for two lines plan? Or did you get grandfathered in from something better?
 
dontwalkhand said:
I just want an iPhone 4S already! :apple:
Click to expand...

Same here. and I want it factory unlocked too. I agree with @al256 that we'll more than likely see the 4S for $649 USD factory unlocked to fill the spot where the ip4 was. I also want to see this proof on Apples website, but this seems the most logical path. we can only wait on hope :cool:
 
Trauma1 said:
Is that from the $100, unlimited everything, for two lines plan? Or did you get grandfathered in from something better?
Click to expand...

It was one of the Classic plans, we just changed over to it from a MyFaves plan. It does have unlimited everything on my line and another line. The other 3 lines have 500 minutes to themselves, but still retains "unlimited" data.

"unlimited" means the 3G gets throttled down to EDGE at a set amount, but the iPhone can only use EDGE anyways, so that is a non-issue.
 
dontwalkhand said:
I guess patience is a virtue for all of us. When it does arrive is the day I will buy one to use with my ridiculously cheap T-Mobile service.

$188 for five lines, with four of them smartphones (iPhone 3GS), no one has ever been able to beat this deal yet. yes I realize its EDGE, but who cares, I don't need 3G to play Angry Birds, E-Mail Invoices, and check my balance.
Click to expand...

Exactly! It's nice to have 3G speeds but we have home Internet or Wifi for the heavy stuff. Checking out twitter or email will be ok on edge speeds. I hope to get the new $30 prepaid plan(100 min /unlimited data plan). I don't talk much so it's perfect for me.
 
Apple.com has info on unlocked iPhone 4s

Apple.com has this posted on the iPhone 4s FAQ. This is what it says about unlocked iPhone 4s

http://store.apple.com/us/browse/home/shop_iphone/family/iphone



If I lose my iPhone, can I buy a replacement iPhone?
Yes. You can purchase a replacement iPhone from the Apple Online Store, an Apple Retail Store, or your carrier’s store. Your price will depend on whether you qualify for a carrier subsidy. 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.


When I buy from the Apple Online Store, does my iPhone come ready to use?
Yes, if you have selected a mobile phone carrier. When your iPhone arrives, all you have to do is turn it on and follow the onscreen instructions to set it up. There’s no need to call the carrier or visit a store to complete the activation. If you have selected an unlocked GSM phone, you will need to acquire a micro-SIM from the supported GSM carrier of your choice and activate it in order to use your iPhone.

I think you will be able to even pre-order iPhone 4s unlocked because in the last section it says that when your iPhone arrives that all you have to do is turn on your phone and follow the instructions to set it up and that you dont need to vist the store. But than it says if you have unlocked gsm iPhone that you will need to get a sim card. I believe this is referring to iPhone 4s pre-orders.


The only reason why Apple wasn't selling iPhones unlocked is because for the last 4 years Apple had a contract with At&t and they couldn't sell unlocked phones in the U.S.
From what I hear is that when a carrier sells an iPhone to a customer for let's say $199.00( or any carrier price with a 2 year contract), the carrier then pays Apple back for the rest of the phone. About $18.00 a month for 2 years. Carriers make all of their money on contracts and by selling iPhones at a cheaper more affordable price they attract customers to their service.
Now for Apple to sell iPhones unlocked would be the best thing for them because they get the full price of the phone right on the spot directly from the customer instead of dealing with a carrier.
It's obvious that AT&T had a contract with Apple to exclusively sell the iPhone over the past 4 years and when that contract expired with AT&T they signed on Verizon and soon after that they released unlocked iPhone 4.
There is no reason for Apple not to release unlocked iPhone 4s on oct 14 so hopefully they do.
 
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