iPhone Unlocks. iPhone Unlocks everywhere?

[snook911]

Nice to see that they're unlocking

Not sure if i should buy one just for having an unlocked phone, don't think i'd really use it. not sure ... hmm.

Having it unlocked greatly increases the resale value. I put mine up on ebay for $1,250 so we will see what happens.

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Did you have to sand down a micro SIM?

I cut one down from a regular sized sim with a pair of sharp scissors and it worked fine. Just cut right along the contacts and left no plastic at all. It was actually a little to small but it fit in the tray and registered tmobile.

 

[Applejuiced]

Yeah, but iPhoneox.com also shows my confirmed unlocked iPhone 5 as locked. I don't think any of the websites are accurate regarding the iPhone 5 yet.

Edit: Just got an e-mail saying my 4S couldn't be unlocked becuase it was still under contract (on my second line I guess). Oh well, CS already unlocked it suckas!!!

On the imei check site http://s-url.ro/ it has this following message on the bottom.
I guess within time we should be able to see for sure the lock statuses on iphone 5 models too.

*Iphone 5 lock status is not accurate! Apple DB not updated yet!*

 

[Fissure]

Having it unlocked greatly increases the resale value. I put mine up on ebay for $1,250 so we will see what happens.

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uh, no it doesn't. What you and I paid $6 for, anyone with Internet access with the phone can pay for. So ya, an unlocked phone is now worth $6 more than a locked one. See how that works?

 

[snook911]

Having it unlocked greatly increases the resale value. I put mine up on ebay for $1,250 so we will see what happens.

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uh, no it doesn't. What you and I paid $6 for, anyone with Internet access with the phone can pay for. So ya, an unlocked phone is now worth $6 more than a locked one. See how that works?

You realize of course that the united states is not the only country on the planet. There are plenty of countries out there that don't have the iphone and people there are willing to pay more for an unlocked version. See how that works? Such a smart ass for really not knowing what your talking about.

 

[Geckotek]

On the imei check site http://s-url.ro/ it has this following message on the bottom.
I guess within time we should be able to see for sure the lock statuses on iphone 5 models too.

*Iphone 5 lock status is not accurate! Apple DB not updated yet!*

Ah, I did not notice that yesterday. Good info.

 

[Fissure]

You realize of course that the united states is not the only country on the planet. There are plenty of countries out there that don't have the iphone and people there are willing to pay more for an unlocked version. See how that works? Such a smart ass for really not knowing what your talking about.

Hmm, those same people, who want an iPhone, so they can place calls, and txt message and surf the web, with an iPhone, they don't have internet access right? Like they couldn't go to eBay Dot Com and say, pay $6 for an unlock? They'd rather pay $800 more than the phone is worth?

 

[CKohkah]

I decided the go the route of Unlock Fushion. For 8 bucks I can't resist. How long does it usually take for their unlocks to go through?

 

[abercrombie]

I haven't read the whole thread yet, so don't know if this has been posted but this is how the eBay sellers do it for AT&T. Provided that their iPhone contract has expired, each account gets 5 unlocks per year, and each unlock could take up to 5-7 business days to complete. You can call AT&T but now they also have an online form. Can take several days. I'm guessing some eBay sellers are selling from their personal unlock bank.

 

[madridista59]

ok so at&t has denied both my request to unlock my 4s. i did an early upgrade to get the 5 and was under the impression my 4s would become eligible to unlock. nope. my requests were denied (online form) because my service commitment hadn't been fulfilled.

so i went online to use the chat feature and was told each phone has it's own service commitment. wth?

well it doesn't seem like i'm getting my 4s unlocked through them. can you provide any non-ebay routes i can take? thank you guys!

 

[snook911]

Hmm, those same people, who want an iPhone, so they can place calls, and txt message and surf the web, with an iPhone, they don't have internet access right? Like they couldn't go to eBay Dot Com and say, pay $6 for an unlock? They'd rather pay $800 more than the phone is worth?

I am not sure your getting it. Its not the unlock they can't get is the phone they cant get. The iphone is not sold where they live so they can't buy a 32GB iPhone for $749 and if they want one they will have to buy it on places like ebay. I am not making this stuff up. Do some research. Go to ebay and see how much Factory Unlocked Phones are going for vs how much locked phones are going for. Right now the difference between locked and unlocked iPhone 5's is about $300 with locked 32GB phones going for about $900 and unlocked 32GB going for about $1200. When I listed my phone Ebay told me the average selling price for a phone in my condition was $1,250 so that's what I listed i at. I am not sure I understand your argument when its a fact that phones are selling for these prices and its also a fact that unlocked iPhones have always sold at higher prices then Locked iPhones.

 

[Fissure]

I am not sure your getting it. Its not the unlock they can't get is the phone they cant get. The iphone is not sold where they live so they can't buy a 32GB iPhone for $749 and if they want one they will have to buy it on places like ebay. I am not making this stuff up. Do some research. Go to ebay and see how much Factory Unlocked Phones are going for vs how much locked phones are going for. Right now the difference between locked and unlocked iPhone 5's is about $300 with locked 32GB phones going for about $900 and unlocked 32GB going for about $1200. When I listed my phone Ebay told me the average selling price for a phone in my condition was $1,250 so that's what I listed i at. I am not sure I understand your argument when its a fact that phones are selling for these prices and its also a fact that unlocked iPhones have always sold at higher prices then Locked iPhones.

My point is, a phone on eBay that is locked is worth no more than a phone that is unlocked.
The informed buyer who can't get an iPhone locally or whatever can just buy the locked phone on eBay and unlock it themselves. If they can buy an unlocked phone through eBay they can buy a locked phone through eBay. The premium for locked phones is Gone now that you can get an unlock done for a mere $6. It's not about Not being able to get a phone. They can already get one via eBay.

They same person browsing for "unlocked" iPhones on eBay will undoubtably see the ads for these "unlocking" services on eBay as well. If they have half a brain they'll read the seller reviews and search the web to try and determine the validity of these "unlocking" services. They may even run into this thread. They'll put 2 and 2 together and figure why the hell should I pay a $800 premium for an "unlocked" iPhone?

Hey more power to you if you sell yours for $1,200. I'm just saying if this ability to buy an unlock for $6 stays available there will be Zero price difference between a locked iPhone and an unlocked iPhone. The prices will equalize.


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ok so at&t has denied both my request to unlock my 4s. i did an early upgrade to get the 5 and was under the impression my 4s would become eligible to unlock. nope. my requests were denied (online form) because my service commitment hadn't been fulfilled.

so i went online to use the chat feature and was told each phone has it's own service commitment. wth?

well it doesn't seem like i'm getting my 4s unlocked through them. can you provide any non-ebay routes i can take? thank you guys!

I was afraid this was going to happen to me too even though I have not heard back from AT&T on my 4s. I did the same as you, early upgrade on the i5. I'll probably get the i5 unlocked as well to avoid this next year. These unlocks via "other methods" may not be available forever.

 

[illutionz]

My point is, a phone on eBay that is locked is worth no more than a phone that is unlocked.
The informed buyer who can't get an iPhone locally or whatever can just buy the locked phone on eBay and unlock it themselves. If they can buy an unlocked phone through eBay they can buy a locked phone through eBay. The premium for locked phones is Gone now that you can get an unlock done for a mere $6. It's not about Not being able to get a phone. They can already get one via eBay.

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However not everyone is an "informed buyer". Unlocked iPhones are still selling for way more than what it's worth.

I remembered several years ago I used various tracking tools readily available in the internet to keep track of Nintendo Wii stocks and promptly stood in line to buy and flipped on ebay for 2x its MSRP price. Said people could've used the same tools as I have but I still found many buyers who don't even care shelling that much money

Point is, in a perfectly efficient marketplace, price will converge but not everyone knows the same information (the availability of unlocks) and unless someone is going to do worldwide campaign on this topic (maybe you can volunteer yourself), there will always be arbitrage opportunity to profit on these unlocked phones having a premium... At least for now.

 

[snook911]

My point is, a phone on eBay that is locked is worth no more than a phone that is unlocked.
The informed buyer who can't get an iPhone locally or whatever can just buy the locked phone on eBay and unlock it themselves. If they can buy an unlocked phone through eBay they can buy a locked phone through eBay. The premium for locked phones is Gone now that you can get an unlock done for a mere $6. It's not about Not being able to get a phone. They can already get one via eBay.

They same person browsing for "unlocked" iPhones on eBay will undoubtably see the ads for these "unlocking" services on eBay as well. If they have half a brain they'll read the seller reviews and search the web to try and determine the validity of these "unlocking" services. They may even run into this thread. They'll put 2 and 2 together and figure why the hell should I pay a $800 premium for an "unlocked" iPhone?

Hey more power to you if you sell yours for $1,200. I'm just saying if this ability to buy an unlock for $6 stays available there will be Zero price difference between a locked iPhone and an unlocked iPhone. The prices will equalize.

Your right if the unlocks stay available they prices worldwide will eventually equalize but based on the sales on ebay right now that has not happen yet so all I was saying is right now there is still a premium being paid for unlocked iphones so you might want to strike while the iron is hot

 

[Fissure]

However not everyone is an "informed buyer". Unlocked iPhones are still selling for way more than what it's worth.

I remembered several years ago I used various tracking tools readily available in the internet to keep track of Nintendo Wii stocks and promptly stood in line to buy and flipped on ebay for 2x its MSRP price. Said people could've used the same tools as I have but I still found many buyers who don't even care shelling that much money

Point is, in a perfectly efficient marketplace, price will converge but not everyone knows the same information (the availability of unlocks) and unless someone is going to do worldwide campaign on this topic (maybe you can volunteer yourself), there will always be arbitrage opportunity to profit on these unlocked phones having a premium... At least for now.

Yes, I agree with you, not everyone knows, yet.
But in my local area it's catching on. The price for an unlocked 4s in my area on CraigsList is already dropping. There are a few unlocked ones up there from $800 to over $1,000 but the vast majority of 32gb 4s's locked or unlocked are hovering in the $400 range. It's equalizing here.

The wild card for a buyer who has to have an unlocked iPhone is that there is always a risk the carriers will catch on to this and figure out a way to go back and re-lock the phones that haven't had their 2yr commitment fulfilled. If I was a buyer that would be the only concern I'd have. I'm not sure what I'd decide as a result as I am not in a situation where I Need and unlocked phone.

 

[illutionz]

Yes, I agree with you, not everyone knows, yet.
But in my local area it's catching on. The price for an unlocked 4s in my area on CraigsList is already dropping. There are a few unlocked ones up there from $800 to over $1,000 but the vast majority of 32gb 4s's locked or unlocked are hovering in the $400 range. It's equalizing here.

The wild card for a buyer who has to have an unlocked iPhone is that there is always a risk the carriers will catch on to this and figure out a way to go back and re-lock the phones that haven't had their 2yr commitment fulfilled. If I was a buyer that would be the only concern I'd have. I'm not sure what I'd decide as a result as I am not in a situation where I Need and unlocked phone.

I would say for 4S, the price is dropping due to the supply addition after people upgrading from 4S to 5 and getting AT&T or Verizon to unlock it legally and less so these ebay unlocks solely.

 

[Fissure]

I would say for 4S, the price is dropping due to the supply addition after people upgrading from 4S to 5 and getting AT&T or Verizon to unlock it legally and less so these ebay unlocks solely.

From what I've read AT&T locks are purely based on the phone. The 4s has only been out 1yr so from what I understand no 4s's would be officially unlocked by AT&T as they haven't been in existence for 2yrs. This is based on a 4s in their system that was subsidized. 4s's bought for the full price from AT&T should already be unlocked and I doubt AT&T would put up much of a fuss to unlock one purchased that way, but who knows.

 

[snook911]

Yes, I agree with you, not everyone knows, yet.
But in my local area it's catching on. The price for an unlocked 4s in my area on CraigsList is already dropping. There are a few unlocked ones up there from $800 to over $1,000 but the vast majority of 32gb 4s's locked or unlocked are hovering in the $400 range. It's equalizing here.

The wild card for a buyer who has to have an unlocked iPhone is that there is always a risk the carriers will catch on to this and figure out a way to go back and re-lock the phones that haven't had their 2yr commitment fulfilled. If I was a buyer that would be the only concern I'd have. I'm not sure what I'd decide as a result as I am not in a situation where I Need and unlocked phone.

Yes, that's true that the carriers could find a way to re lock but I really don't expect someone in this country to buy the phone to use on at&t and i don't think at&t could re lock the phone being used an a different carrier in another country.

 

[Fissure]

Yes, that's true that the carriers could find a way to re lock but I really don't expect someone in this country to buy the phone to use on at&t and i don't think at&t could re lock the phone being used an a different carrier in another country.

True, unless they want to use it in the USA on Tmobile with Edge speeds or 3G if their in a Tmobile zone that has HSPDA+. Also Wal-Mart's Straightalk plan that I believe offered 3G speeds.

 

[snook911]

True, unless they want to use it in the USA on Tmobile with Edge speeds or 3G if their in a Tmobile zone that has HSPDA+. Also Wal-Mart's Straightalk plan that I believe offered 3G speeds.

Yes, but I understand there would really be no market in the USA for me. Why would they buy a phone for $1250 when they could buy an unlocked full price phone from apple for $750 based on the 32GB model. I'm looking for the oversees buyer where the iphone is not offered yet. Its probably a long shot but I figured I would give it a try you never know. About 30 people have viewed so far so we will see if it sells.

 

[rritterson]

I haven't read the whole thread yet, so don't know if this has been posted but this is how the eBay sellers do it for AT&T. Provided that their iPhone contract has expired, each account gets 5 unlocks per year, and each unlock could take up to 5-7 business days to complete. You can call AT&T but now they also have an online form. Can take several days. I'm guessing some eBay sellers are selling from their personal unlock bank.

1. AT&T will not let you submit a request to unlock someone else's phone
2. eBay unlocks come back in 4 hours, not 5 days.
3. Many eBay sellers have unlocked thousands of phones.

The eBay sellers have access to the Apple IMEI database, potentially through AT&T as an employee or contractor, but also though other carriers or as Apple employees. They are not submitting your IMEI through AT&T's form.

 

[deeznutz]

if i get imei unlock do i have to restore through itunes or is the phone unlocked even without doing restore through itunes?

 

[aziatiklover]

if i get imei unlock do i have to restore through itunes or is the phone unlocked even without doing restore through itunes?

If you have a 4s or 5 there is no need for a restore! It will auto switch back to the activation screen.

 

[jcw5002]

Purchased the unlock for my iPhone 4S through unlock_fusion on eBay for $6ish and it was unlocked within 10 hours. I went to T-Mobile and got the "Activation Kit" Pay-as-you-go SIM for $10 to test it out. It worked without having to do a restore, just popped in the SIM! Pretty awesome.

Thanks for the tips in this thread!

 

[HazyCloud]

I just wish somebody had a cheap unlock solution for Rogers phones...somehow they have stayed out of the mix

Contact @Chronic on Twitter. He's been unlocking iPhones for a while now. He'll at least be able to tell you if and how much.

 

[ITS ME DAVID]

Purchased the unlock for my iPhone 4S through unlock_fusion on eBay for $6ish and it was unlocked within 10 hours. I went to T-Mobile and got the "Activation Kit" Pay-as-you-go SIM for $10 to test it out. It worked without having to do a restore, just popped in the SIM! Pretty awesome.

Thanks for the tips in this thread!

Why did you pay $10 when it's 0.99 cents at tmobile .com