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iPhone Unlocks. iPhone Unlocks everywhere?

Simm0nS777 said:
Just to confirm, we do not need to restore if we dont want to correct? It is just purely for visual gratification?

So theoretically I can unlock through eBay, not restore, then 3 months from now when I'm over seas I can just pop in a sim I buy over there and I'm good to go?
Click to expand...

That will work only if you have wifi coverage. When you swap the SIM it either needs wifi or to be connected to iTunes in order to activate the SIM. If it has no network connectivity at all it stays stuck in that mode until you go back to your old SIM which is currently activated on the phone.

But doing the restore and getting the message won't help with that, as you put a brand new SIM it will want to activate again.

I tried this the other day with mine and until I had a connection it would not let me go. Once I got it on wifi it was a matter of seconds and then it had normal service from the SIM I was trying with.
 
BSoares said:
That will work only if you have wifi coverage. When you swap the SIM it either needs wifi or to be connected to iTunes in order to activate the SIM.
Click to expand...

Not true at all. The SIM does not need to be activated....but the phone needs to be already activated (which of course it most likely is if you're unlocking it). The purpose of placing the SIM in the phone is to see if it recognizes the SIM or rejects it because the phone is carrier locked. That's it.

If you're trying to do this to an iPhone that has not been activated, you're doing it wrong. It must be activated to test with a SIM.
 
From the sound of things, I'm assuming this is correct... Can anyone verify this so I don't make a $300 mistake?

I can purchase an AT&T iPhone 4 or 4S on eBay and have it shipped to me within a week. Then I can purchase the ~$8 unlock from Unlock_Fusion on eBay. After the unlock is complete, I can use the iPhone on T-Mobile with my Micro-SIM card.

This is correct, right?
Thank you! :apple:
 
randomguyishere said:
From the sound of things, I'm assuming this is correct... Can anyone verify this so I don't make a $300 mistake?

I can purchase an AT&T iPhone 4 or 4S on eBay and have it shipped to me within a week. Then I can purchase the ~$8 unlock from Unlock_Fusion on eBay. After the unlock is complete, I can use the iPhone on T-Mobile with my Micro-SIM card.

This is correct, right?
Thank you! :apple:
Click to expand...

That IS correct- assuming the phone you are purchasing is not blacklisted- meaning that it was stolen, etc., and for that or some other reason, can not be unlocked.
 
Mliii said:
That IS correct- assuming the phone you are purchasing is not blacklisted- meaning that it was stolen, etc., and for that or some other reason, can not be unlocked.
Click to expand...

I don't think any gsm carrier in the states blacklist imei.

So yes buy a iPhone and then buy a unlock service ebay and you're set.
 
randomguyishere said:
From the sound of things, I'm assuming this is correct... Can anyone verify this so I don't make a $300 mistake?

I can purchase an AT&T iPhone 4 or 4S on eBay and have it shipped to me within a week. Then I can purchase the ~$8 unlock from Unlock_Fusion on eBay. After the unlock is complete, I can use the iPhone on T-Mobile with my Micro-SIM card.

This is correct, right?
Thank you! :apple:
Click to expand...

Why not buy off Craigslist there should be a lot of 4s since the 5 came out and you don't have to wait for shipping and get to see the phone before you buy it.
 
Mliii said:
That IS correct- assuming the phone you are purchasing is not blacklisted- meaning that it was stolen, etc., and for that or some other reason, can not be unlocked.
Click to expand...

Oh good catch... And there's no way to check if its blacklisted until I actually have the phone, huh? :mad:

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vietalogy said:
Why not buy off Craigslist there should be a lot of 4s since the 5 came out and you don't have to wait for shipping and get to see the phone before you buy it.
Click to expand...

I would except I live in a small town so there's not much variety out there :rolleyes:
 
Holy crap I just got mine unlocked in 10 minutes. Awesome service! Just have to restore when I get home!
 
randomguyishere said:
Oh good catch... And there's no way to check if its blacklisted until I actually have the phone, huh? :mad:

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I would except I live in a small town so there's not much variety out there :rolleyes:
Click to expand...

Ask the seller for imei and call the carrier to see if it was reported stolen. I'm sure none of the AT&T ones can be blacklisted. If it was stolen you would still be able to use it.
 
I unlocked mine for the rare occasion that I travel overseas, but how would I test my iPhone 5 to know that the unlocked worked since no one else uses a nano sim?
 
dwburnell said:
I unlocked mine for the rare occasion that I travel overseas, but how would I test my iPhone 5 to know that the unlocked worked since no one else uses a nano sim?
Click to expand...

Right.
But you can go to T-Mobile - either a physical store or online store- and get a Micro SIM for one of their PAYG phones. Then you will need to do a bit of cutting and trimming.
You can find the complete directions here:

http://www.iclarified.com/24489/prin...guide-download

Or you can search the MR site for what's worked best for others. Some people have had success without doing any sanding- just a sharp scissor and some careful cutting.
Then, you can then use the T-Mob SIM to see if you've been successful in your unlocking adventure! If you are unlocked, after you restart your phone, it will say T-Mob instead of AT&T in the upper left hand corner of the phone. There have been lots of posts about this, so you can do a search here on MR & get more details.
 
Bother one of your friends/family who may be has a VZ phone, and give the vz/vodafone nano sim a shot in your ATT phone to confirm the unlock or not.

dwburnell said:
I unlocked mine for the rare occasion that I travel overseas, but how would I test my iPhone 5 to know that the unlocked worked since no one else uses a nano sim?
Click to expand...
 
Geckotek said:
That used to be true, but AT&T started again.

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Call AT&T and ask.
Click to expand...

I had my friend that got an iphone 4S on ebay last month.
Paid for it, got it and used it with his AT&T sim for about a week.
Then I guess the previous owner blacklisted it so device said no service and my friends account and sim card was locked.
Not sure if the owner was the seller on ebay or if it was lost or stolen.
He had to call AT&T to unblock his account and activate his sim card again and got stuck with an unusable iphone in the US.
 
Applejuiced said:
I had my friend that got an iphone 4S on ebay last month.
Paid for it, got it and used it with his AT&T sim for about a week.
Then I guess the previous owner blacklisted it so device said no service and my friends account and sim card was locked.
Not sure if the owner was the seller on ebay or if it was lost or stolen.
He had to call AT&T to unblock his account and activate his sim card again and got stuck with an unusable iphone in the US.
Click to expand...

That sucks wonder if it will work with tmobile?
 
Very basic question....

I have a Sprint 4S. What are the advantages of getting it unlocked (or is it already?). What are the disadvantages? I've had a 4s for a year now but never explored unlocking. Sorry for the newbie question....but I don't see what I would gain on CDMA.
 
So I don't understand or know much about unlocks but if I call AT&T to unlock my new 5 (read a few reports of them doing so) will it still be being used on my AT&T contract or does unlocking it mess with that? And will I be able to use it on another network such as Verizon if I ever leave AT&T? (Or eventually sell it haha)
 
I bought a 3GS from eBay and it turned out to be stolen...AT&T shut down my sim and even if I put my sim in another phone is still didnt work..I called them and cleared them up and the guy informed me that the phone was stolen and told me to try and return it and get a refund...The guy I bought it from refunded the money even before I sent it back lol. Long story short AT&T does not play when it comes to stolen phones.
 
davidra said:
I have a Sprint 4S. What are the advantages of getting it unlocked (or is it already?). What are the disadvantages? I've had a 4s for a year now but never explored unlocking. Sorry for the newbie question....but I don't see what I would gain on CDMA.
Click to expand...

Really no benefit on CDMA only GSM versions to use on any GSM carrier in the world.
 
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