Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.
So I need a Verizon unlocked iPhone5 from the Apple Store then?. $705 inc Tax is still about $120/30 cheaper than here in the UK
 
None of those available in the iPhone 5. :(

In Brazil the LTE bandwidth to be used is between 2.5 GHz and 2.69.

Is that a different frequency than used in the UK and Asia?

----------

I've got a question, hopefully someone can help me out.

I preordered a black iPhone 5 32gb from Apple on AT&T, subsidized for $299.

I waited in line this morning and picked up a white 32gb also on AT&T for the unsubsidized $750 after thinking I might want the white one instead.

After seeing them both in the store, I decided I want to keep the white one.

I called both AT&T and Apple and according to the people I spoke with (who admittedly didn't exactly sound like they knew what they were talking about) I don't have a specific iPhone 5 tied to my account yet. The first iPhone 5 I activate in iTunes will be the one that is locked to AT&T.

My theory is that if I first try to activate the black one, it will be locked. I can then take the sim card out, put it in the white iPhone and sell the black one.

I then activate the white one in iTunes, that it WiLL be permanently factory unlocked (I hope)

Lots of variables, but thats what I'm hoping for. Anyone have any idea if I'm right about this?

If you activate the White iPhone in iTunes without the SIM card it will activate as unlocked.
 
Is that a different frequency than used in the UK and Asia?

----------



If you activate the White iPhone in iTunes without the SIM card it will activate as unlocked.

I didn't realize you can activate a phone without the SIM card. So if I activate the white iPhone like you say, I'd still have to activate the black one to get a SIM card for my account correct?
 
Do you know which version of LTE is being deployed in Brazil?

most carriers pretend in Brasil to use an odd band the iPhone 5 doesn't even support for neither model the 2.6GHZ band you'll have to wait for the iPhone 5S I'm not kidding, or wait till claro (america movil) uses the AWS bands on that area (at&t bands) but they haven't announced LTE for Brasil only for mexico and puerto rico..in late 2012 and its not confirmed if the brazilian government will grant them those bands..

other carriers haven't announced anything...

http://www.4gamericas.org/UserFiles...Global Deployments Status Update 09_10_12.pdf check here reguarly it gets updated fast...
 
Last edited:
None of those available in the iPhone 5. :(

In Brazil the LTE bandwidth to be used is between 2.5 GHz and 2.69.

probably the operator claro could get compatible bands but they won't deploy LTE till mid 2013 in Brasil, you'd better wait for an iPhone 5S which will probably unify all bands as LTE becomes more accepted and welcomed in other parts of the world
 
As far as purchasing, I can confirm what others here are saying. Tried at an AT&T Store (just to see what they would say) and would not sell me one without giving them a mobile number, etc. and they said in any case would not be unlocked. So, went to Apple Store after lunch. To my surprise they still had some left. I got an AT&T version but paid full price - 16G Black. On the receipt it says "No Wireless Service Activation during iPhone Sale" and Apple Store confirmed it is essentially unlocked.

I am a bit nervous to try cutting my T-Mobile Micro Sim from my current iPhone4. At any rate I will probably try...:eek:

Also confirming up and running on T-Mobile in US. I did a hack job on a spare T-Mo SIM I had sitting around that was never activated (you can order them online). I used the one that came in the phone (AT&T as a guide). First I cut with scissors and then fine tuned using sandpaper. I just kept at it until it fit in the SIM tray for the 5. I called T-Mo and had them transfer service from my existing Micro SIM in my 4 to the modified SIM in my 5. I was too afraid to try to use my existing SIM for this so was glad I had a spare. I did *not* have to sand SIM for thickness at all. I have restored from back up via iTunes and have called out, sent SMS, MMS, etc. all functions seem normal. :cool:
 
most carriers pretend in Brasil to use an odd band the iPhone 5 doesn't even support for neither model the 2.6GHZ band you'll have to wait for the iPhone 5S I'm not kidding, or wait till claro (america movil) uses the AWS bands on that area (at&t bands) but they haven't announced LTE for Brasil only for mexico and puerto rico..in late 2012 and its not confirmed if the brazilian government will grant them those bands..

other carriers haven't announced anything...

http://www.4gamericas.org/UserFiles...Global Deployments Status Update 09_10_12.pdf check here reguarly it gets updated fast...
Claro has a few test sites in Rio and Sao Paulo now. I have friends who want me to buy them an unlock iPhone 5 and bring it with me when I go to Rio. I wanted to buy one that could potentially work with Brazilian LTE. It's supposed to be up by the World Cup.
 
So now that we know the verizon version works with any GSM up to HSPA+, which is the better device only buy: Verizon or AT&T? I'm planning on using this thing on ST or some other such MVNO anyhow where 4G speeds don't exist. I'm just wondering if the verizon version might end up being the more versatile phone with this new change.
 
Just wanted to confirm, my unsubsidized 16 gig AT&T from Apple is unlocked! Got the msg in iTunes.
 
I strolled in casually right around closing and got a card for 2 white iphone 16gb AT&T. The dude sold it to me at full price and when I got home I noticed how bad they messed up. I purchased applecare+ as well and he activated and sold me the first phone twice and then added applecare on 1 phone twice. So 1 phone shows up unlocked but has no applecare and the other one does not show up activated and will not unlock.

I checked the serial on apple website and it says to please activate. I will have to go back and show the manager the issue with giving me a phone that is still in his inventory but in my possession and I paid for it but it is not activated nor is the warranty on it. Glad I got the phone and easy to unlock but if the genius would just to his job and activate both phones I would have 2 unlocked iphone white 5 16gb in front of me.
 
Claro has a few test sites in Rio and Sao Paulo now. I have friends who want me to buy them an unlock iPhone 5 and bring it with me when I go to Rio. I wanted to buy one that could potentially work with Brazilian LTE. It's supposed to be up by the World Cup.

yeah but you'll have to deep investigate if the claro bands will work, I only posted what I saw on a blog... you'll have to investigate this through
 
Are we talking about carrier unlocked or factory unlocked (can throw any ROM on it that we want). That's a huge difference.
 
Are we talking about carrier unlocked or factory unlocked (can throw any ROM on it that we want). That's a huge difference.

Carrier unlocked.

Apple will never give you access to their ROM. It's not an option for end users.
 
hey guys. last day in miami, was able to get a 32gb iPhone 5 att, full price device only. i'm flying soon home... if i first plug it in to itunes back home (in argentina) will i still get the unlock message? i mean, is the gonna be an issue that i'm first activating it outside usa? thanks!
 
hey guys. last day in miami, was able to get a 32gb iPhone 5 att, full price device only. i'm flying soon home... if i first plug it in to itunes back home (in argentina) will i still get the unlock message? i mean, is the gonna be an issue that i'm first activating it outside usa? thanks!
Personally I would have activated in iTunes while still in the US. It could be done in iTunes on a Mac inside an Apple Store.
 
I just wanted some clarification in regards to "device-only" VERIZON iPhone 5 model, if you want to use it with T-Mobile (and have available nanosim cut already).... when you first unbox it and activate it for the first time:

1) can it be activated from within phone? or does it require activation thru iTunes? -- I have no Verizon account, nor intend on it

1b) also, I know that the "device-only" AT&T model gives the "Congratulations" screen when you restore within iTunes -- does the "device-only" Verizon model give that same screen?

2) prior to turning it on or activating it for the first time, should I keep the Verizon sim (?) in the phone? put the T-mobile sim inside? leave the sim tray empty?

Thanks in advance for those who have FIRST HAND experience with this :)
 
Here's my question - hopefully one of you guys can clarify for me.

My father has an AT&T account and an account with China Mobile. He wants to get an iPhone 5, but needs it to be unlocked so that he can use it easily on either carrier. So the plan would be as follows:

1) Buy an AT&T iPhone 5 at full price from the apple store, and ask for a "device-only" sale

2) Activate the phone over iTunes when we get home - iTunes should say unlocked. (guessing that this can also be done over wifi too, right?)

3) Head down to AT&T, and pick up an AT&T nano-sim, pop it in, and all should work

4) travel to china in the next week, get a nano-sim from china mobile, and all should work

Does that sound about right? The only thing that i was confused about was, does it matter if the at&t nano-sim is put in to the phone first? Or do you have to put a foreign SIM in first to be unlocked?

Thanks in advance everyone.
 
Here's my question - hopefully one of you guys can clarify for me.

My father has an AT&T account and an account with China Mobile. He wants to get an iPhone 5, but needs it to be unlocked so that he can use it easily on either carrier. So the plan would be as follows:

1) Buy an AT&T iPhone 5 at full price from the apple store, and ask for a "device-only" sale

2) Activate the phone over iTunes when we get home - iTunes should say unlocked. (guessing that this can also be done over wifi too, right?)

3) Head down to AT&T, and pick up an AT&T nano-sim, pop it in, and all should work

4) travel to china in the next week, get a nano-sim from china mobile, and all should work

Does that sound about right? The only thing that i was confused about was, does it matter if the at&t nano-sim is put in to the phone first? Or do you have to put a foreign SIM in first to be unlocked?

Thanks in advance everyone.
That sounds correct. As long as you purchase device only and then see the unlock activation in iTunes you should be good to go.

Be aware the AT&T model only supports LTE in the US and Canada. In China it will be 3G. China uses a different Frequency for LTE.
 
Register on MacRumors! This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.