Hi,
I'm hoping you can help address some lingering questions about a possible iPhone upgrade. Mostly, I don't really understand the concept of an "unlocked" phone and I can't seem to find answers to my specific situation. Background:
Questions:
TIA for any help you can provide!
Scott
I'm hoping you can help address some lingering questions about a possible iPhone upgrade. Mostly, I don't really understand the concept of an "unlocked" phone and I can't seem to find answers to my specific situation. Background:
- Live in USA
- AT&T Wireless Customer
- iPhone 5S; purchased on a two-year AT&T contract that ends 12/8/2015
- Looking to buy an iPhone 6S Plus
- For now, plan to stick with AT&T after contract ends, but want the ability to move to another carrier if/when I want
- Consequently, looking to get out of contracts, once and for all, and to separate my phone purchase from my carrier provider payment
- May be interested in iPhone Upgrade Program or may buy outright...not sure yet
Questions:
- If I purchase an iPhone outright, once I receive it can I take the SIM card out of my iPhone 5S and just stick into my iPhone 6S Plus, or is there more to it than that? Do I have to get in touch with AT&T for any reason, such as to "activate" the new 6S Plus? Do I have to do anything to the new iPhone besides put in the new SIM and turn on the new phone?
- Since I would then be using a 6S Plus while finishing out an existing 2-year contract, does this mean my 6S Plus would be locked to the carrier (AT&T)? Does it automatically unlock when the contract ends?
- By default, if I purchase the phone outright at full price, is it always unlocked, even if I select "AT&T" as my provider during the purchase process on Apple.com? Does it "lock" to AT&T once I stick my current AT&T SIM card in it? If I switched carriers, would I have to contact AT&T to request the switch?
- What "kind" of purchase do I make on Apple.com to make sure I'm getting an unlocked iPhone? Do I just select my current provider (AT&T) and pay full price for the phone? Or, do I select the no-contract T-Mobile iPhone option and then swap SIMs when I get it?
- Where is the option to use the iPhone Upgrade Program? I don't see it anywhere (see screenshot below), even if I continue on to the next couple of order pages. It seems my only options are to purchase it outright, or do the AT&T Next program. Is the iPhone Upgrade Program only available to buyers who are not currently in-contract? Maybe that's why I am not seeing it on my order screen.
TIA for any help you can provide!
Scott