"Off Contract" AT&T iPhone 4Ss Already Come Unlocked

[cvaldes]

The only judgement I made was that for an extra 19 bucks a month you could use your smartphone everywhere, all the time, instead of crippling it - and that judgement is correct.

Again, it's a lot more than an extra 19 bucks a month.

The cheapest AT&T voice plan is $40/mo. for 450 minutes and 200MB of data at $15. That's $55 a month. In my GoPhone example, I'd be paying $15 for 255MB of data, plus a few bucks thrown in for the occasional call or forwarded text (which I can selectively turn on or off in Google Voice).

The difference is $38-39 per month, not nineteen dollars.

You should educate yourself about data. I have unlimited data with my iPhone plan, so your method wouldn't help. Also, you are adding the hassle of having to remember to re-purchase a new data plan every 30 days before the last one runs out. I don't have time for stuff like that even if it did save 19 bucks overall per month (which for me it wouldn't).

You should be the one educating yourself about data. Unlimited data isn't available from AT&T subscription plans anymore, so it's a moot point for me. There's no hassle in remembering to pay for more data before the package expires, they send you a message (plus I calendar the expiration dates anyhow).

...you say you "can always just turn on cellular data..." Well, that's nice. And HOW do you know when you need to turn it on to get that important text or push notification? Without always-on data you lose the main reason for having a smartphone - the constant connection that allows location services, push notifications, etc.

I suppose Siri could always tell you when you get home; "You missed 14 texts, 11 Facebook updates, 9 emails, and 7 Gmail IMs while you were away. Nice going."

That wouldn't work for me.

Again, most of the places where I end up, there is free WiFi. Remember, I have monitored my cellular 3G data usage when I've bought the occasional iPad data plan. Typically I end up using 100-120MB during that 30 day period, so 255MB per month for my iPhone should be plenty.

Also, I'm one of those people who uses the phone for my convenience, not someone else's convenience. Always on data, always connected isn't interesting to me. There are plenty of times when I deliberately turn off my phone. That's right: sometimes I don't want to be reached or interrupted.

It's called "I'm busy."

Yeah, I'll take a call from certain family members, a few friends. The rest of the world can grab a number and wait. It worked for me thirty years ago, it still works for me today.

Your Facebook example is hilarious because it's the type of service where I don't want instant updates.

Well, it's off to the Apple Store, see if I can get one of these unlocked handsets.

 

[quellish]

Bought mine at the Apple Store yesterday, and just asked to buy just the device. It was unlocked, and I was able to put a T-Mobile SIM right in.

T-Mobile EDGE latency sometimes affects Siri, but even over Wifi it's been hit or miss. Long periods of "Sorry, I can't connect to the network". Otherwise everything works fine on T-Mobile (with T-Zones settings) out of the box.

 

[benguild]

Yup, it works.
I didn't even put a SIM in it, it just said BAM... unlocked.

 

[steadysignal]

glad for this...wide in november...

 

[PigsOnTheWing]

At this point, an unlocked iPhone can only be used on ATT and T-Mobile.

What about using H20 Wireless, which supposedly uses AT&T's network, but offers $60.00 Unlimited Everything — Talk, Text, MMS, Data, and $20.00 worth of International Calls? I hear there are no additional taxes or fees so it's really $60.00 a month and not something much higher once you see the bill. Has anyone tried it with an iPhone 4 or 4S?

 

[Halon X]

It was harder cutting my sim down to size than it was "unlocking" the phone.

 

[Fezwick]

What about using H20 Wireless, which supposedly uses AT&T's network, but offers $60.00 Unlimited Everything — Talk, Text, MMS, Data, and $20.00 worth of International Calls? I hear there are no additional taxes or fees so it's really $60.00 a month and not something much higher once you see the bill. Has anyone tried it with an iPhone 4 or 4S?

Yes this works. All you have to do is change the APN. Jailbreaking is necessary for MMS.

 

[zin]

I'm not following... but I'm in the US if that matters.

If you buy the full priced iPhone in other countries.... do you play less for service every month?

Let's say I pay $90 a month to use a smartphone... what does it matter if I'm locked in a 2 year contract or not? I'm gonna be paying a monthly fee for service those 2 years anyway.

$200 iPhone 4S + $90 a month

or

$650 iPhone 4S + $90 a month

Why not save a little money on the cost of the phone if you're gonna be paying the same monthly fee for service anyway?

Most international countries pay way less per month for better value.

With my 3GS I paid £349 up-front in 2009, which was unlocked. I then paid £10 per month top-up, although not every month I did so. When giffgaff came along I got 250 call time minutes, unlimited text messages and unlimited data (no fair usage policy) for that £10. I still have my 3GS, so up until now, I've probably paid in total £349 + (21 months x £10) = £559, which is about $880, including VAT on the original iPhone, compared to $2359 on the example you mentioned (2 year contract at $90/month).

The iPhone 4S is more expensive than the 3GS was, so if you try and compare that scenario with a 4S, the total for me would probably be more equal to $950.

Some months I didn't need to top-up, as the previous carrier I used, O2, allowed roll-overs for a short period of time.

I'm not even sure if it's better value for money for unlocked iPhones in the US. Do US carriers even offer pay as you go plans?

 

[Michael Scrip]

Most international countries pay way less per month for better value.

With my 3GS I paid £349 up-front in 2009, which was unlocked. I then paid £10 per month top-up, although not every month I did so. When giffgaff came along I got 250 call time minutes, unlimited text messages and unlimited data (no fair usage policy) for that £10. I still have my 3GS, so up until now, I've probably paid in total £349 + (21 months x £10) = £559, which is about $880, including VAT on the original iPhone, compared to $2359 on the example you mentioned (2 year contract at $90/month).

The iPhone 4S is more expensive than the 3GS was, so if you try and compare that scenario with a 4S, the total for me would probably be more equal to $950.

Some months I didn't need to top-up, as the previous carrier I used, O2, allowed roll-overs for a short period of time.

I'm not even sure if it's better value for money for unlocked iPhones in the US. Do US carriers even offer pay as you go plans?

US carriers do offer PAYG plans... but they are usually with crappy phones nobody wants.

You can go month-to-month with any phone.... you just gotta pay full price for the phone.

 

[withteeth]

Can anyone who got one from ATT and unlocked it post a model number or something to identify the phone. I have an off contract 32gb in box, but don't want to open it unless I'm sure it can be unlocked.

 

[PigsOnTheWing]

You can go month-to-month with any phone.... you just gotta pay full price for the phone.

What if you're currently with AT&T, grandfathered in with unlimited data and $5/month texting, well past your original contract expiration date, but want to move up to the iPhone 4S?

Are you able to keep your current plan, but move it to an unlocked 4S?

When a redesigned iPhone 5 hits next year, and Siri is able to bring me a beer, will the resale value of the unlocked 4S be that much higher than a subsidized/locked-to-AT&T 4S that it warranted going with the unlocked phone in the first place?

I purchased a subsidized 4S on Friday, but I am wondering if I shouldn't return it for an unlocked one.

 

[likegadgets]

Can anyone who got one from ATT and unlocked it post a model number or something to identify the phone. I have an off contract 32gb in box, but don't want to open it unless I'm sure it can be unlocked.

You do have 30 days to return it....

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Even if you pay the full price, here in mexico

Not if you buy it from Apple online

 

[WRXface]

Bought mine at the Apple Store yesterday, and just asked to buy just the device. It was unlocked, and I was able to put a T-Mobile SIM right in.

T-Mobile EDGE latency sometimes affects Siri, but even over Wifi it's been hit or miss. Long periods of "Sorry, I can't connect to the network". Otherwise everything works fine on T-Mobile (with T-Zones settings) out of the box.

What exactly did you ask them when you bought it? Because in that case I will go to straight to an apple store and just buy in that case?

 

[CaneCollegeboy]

Yes this works. All you have to do is change the APN. Jailbreaking is necessary for MMS.

Do you need to jailbreak on an unlocked phone to get the mms to work? Didn't know h20 also had an unlimited plan for 60. Theres really no limit on the data ( guessing standart 2 gb)?

 

[PigsOnTheWing]

Yes this [H20 Wireless] works. All you have to do is change the APN.

Do you know if H20 Wireless offers assistance with this or are you on your own?

 

[withteeth]

You do have 30 days to return it....

But they get to charge you a $35 restocking fee if it is opened.

 

[heffeque]

I wonder why they are so surprised that when they pay for an unlocked iPhone they find out the iPhone is in fact unlocked.

An unsubsidized iPhone is an unlocked iPhone.
¿Why the heck would it be locked?
¿Why are they surprised that it isn't locked?
And what's even worse... ¿why do they think that getting what you payed for is "posibly a glitch"?

I'm confused

 

[Nahmeanz]

I wonder why they are so surprised that when they pay for an unlocked iPhone they find out the iPhone is in fact unlocked.

An unsubsidized iPhone is an unlocked iPhone.
¿Why the heck would it be locked?
¿Why are they surprised that it isn't locked?
And what's even worse... ¿why do they think that getting what you payed for is "posibly a glitch"?

I'm confused

In the US, Apple has said they won't be selling unlocked iPhone 4S until November.

 

[withteeth]

You do have 30 days to return it...

But they get to charge you a $35 restocking fee if it's open

 

[Lara F]

What about Verizon iPhones? Is it also possible to get one off contract full price with the SIM unlocked for international use?

 

[Blorzoga]

Wow nice! I hope AT&T automatically unlocks iPhones as contracts expire!

They don't. They're greedy bastards.

 

[heffeque]

In the US, Apple has said they won't be selling unlocked iPhone 4S until November.

They never said that AT&T wouldn't, right?

Paying full price for a locked phone makes no sense at all. There are no legal grounds for selling a locked phone when it's been payed for completely.
There are only legal grounds for selling locked phones when they've been subsidized.

 

[PLin]

What if you're currently with AT&T, grandfathered in with unlimited data and $5/month texting, well past your original contract expiration date, but want to move up to the iPhone 4S?

Are you able to keep your current plan, but move it to an unlocked 4S

That's similar to what I did. I kept my unlimited data and $5/200 messages. One of my friends didn't qualify for an upgrade, so I bought a 64GB 4S for $400 + tax using my upgrade, sold it to him for what he would have paid for an early upgrade ($650 + tax), and then I took the money and spent a bit more for an unlocked 4S. I could have just bought the unlocked 4S outright at $850 + tax, but I felt that was kind of steep for a phone.

He's happy, because he got a 4S for the same price he would have paid anyway and didn't have to reset his upgrade date, so he can buy the iPhone 5 next year. I'm happy, because I essentially ended up with an unlocked 64GB 4S for about $600. I need an unlocked iPhone, because I use it with prepaid SIM cards when I travel internationally.

 

[WRXface]

I'd take this article with a *huge* grain of salt but perhaps the unlocked chipset supports AWS frequencies. http://www.appleiphoneapps.net/iphone-5-specifications/unlocked-iphone-4s-will-work-on-t-mobile

That article is actually wrong on something, it won't work on tmobile HSPA+ because it needs the 1700 MHz band and then you'll be able to use the 2100 MHz and use the best 3G service in the country. I doubled checked this with tmobile multiple times. It going to be EDGE for all tmobile customers. The 4S bands are still the same as the 4.

 

[Nahmeanz]

They never said that AT&T wouldn't, right?

Paying full price for a locked phone makes no sense at all. There are no legal grounds for selling a locked phone when it's been payed for completely.
There are only legal grounds for selling locked phones when they've been subsidized.

When I went to the AT&T store this morning they said they wouldn't sell me an "off contract" iPhone 4S until November. Apple's policy, not theirs. That's what they told me.