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SIM free iPhone
- Thread starter Garyhe23
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Do you mind explaining this to me a little more in detail please? At present I have AT&T.
I can buy the Verizon phone on a "new plan" at full price, then immediately cancel it, and the device is mine? Isn't there an activation fee or cancelation fee? It looks like similar to prior years, the Spring/Verizon model always supports T-Mobile/ATT's networks, but not vice versa. So I'm comfortable going your route, but want to double check on the extra fees. Thanks!
This only works if you are paying the phone in full. You can buy the verizon iphone, and during checkout choose "pay in full". You do not have to create any verizon information. Apple simply sells you the verizon phone, with no contract, and you can use your ATT SIM card and trash the verizon one that comes with the phone.
If you want to, you can do a "dummy" run of this right now with the iphone 8. Just select the verizon iphone and then pay in full. It will let you checkout without any carrier info.
edit: ok, I completely am wrong lol. In the past you have always been able to do this. I am guessing because the SIM free verizon is there they want carrier info.
Great! Yea, I'm fine paying in full, I just didn't want to wait for the "Sim-Free" official variant (which is already being offered for the 8 and 8 Plus). I don't have an upgrade on AT&T and don't want to buy another phone from them since I plan on moving to Verizon within the year anyways.
One question: Since the 8 and 8 Plus are already being offered Sim-Free, do we think this is why they have this checkout option? I'm worried the Verizon checkout for the X will be different.
EDIT: I'm seeing the attached when I click sim-free, did I miss a step?
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I updated my post. It looks like, at least for the iphone 8, they are only allowing you to buy the SIM free or T-mobile phone without carrier info. Hopefully the SIM free is an option for the X. If it is not than the t-mobile will be the only option to purchase outright unless you are buying your carriers phone.
In your case, you could buy the T-mobile iphone for full price and then pop your ATT SIM card in. They are identical phones to each other.
I use a prepaid carrier, so I typically buy the verizon version so I can chose any carrier I want, but that may not be a choice this go around.
I'm also seeing T-Mobile works following your instructions. Too bad it doesn't support CDMA.
Yeah. If there is no SIM free, the T-mobile version is probably going to sell out very fast.
Replying to your Edit. For Apple.com, even if you are paying in full for the Verizon model, you still need Verizon account. No way around it if you don't have one and might as well just buy the sim-free model since sim-free model is essentially the Verizon/Sprint Model.
Otherwise you can just go to the Apple store and get the verizon model and pay outright and they won't ask you for your carrier account info. This part may be hard to do with the iPhone X on apple.com as there is no option for sim-free model yet. Plus if you miss the pre-order online, then you'll have to wait till launch and if you get lucky enough to get one that is. But Apple.com will require carrier info.
Yeah. The verizon asking for info part really threw me off. Like you said, walking into a store could be a nightmare or maybe not even be possible (think apple watch launch, not possible). Hopefully they offer the SIM free version like they did with the 8.
With the 7 I was able to just walk in store and buy the verizon one in full directly from apple. I have heard horror stories of people being denied doing that without activating it though.
Good question.
I wonder if they split the models again with GSM only and CDMA/GSM basebands.
Looks like the AT&T will not include support for CDMA carriers such as Sprint and Verizon.
I wonder if they split the models again with GSM only and CDMA/GSM basebands.
Looks like the AT&T will not include support for CDMA carriers such as Sprint and Verizon.
ATT and T-Mobile are both GSM only phones. If you do a fake checkout out there is an area where it says, "see carries compatible with this phone". The ATT and T-mobile versions say:
"This iPhone model does not support CMDA cellular technology for voice and data service, such as those used by Sprint and Verizon."
The Sprint and Verizon models do not give you the compatible screen b.c they work with everything, and the spec page shows the same bands as the ATT/T-mobile version plus the CDMA bands.
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I have heard of very rare occasions where apple employees have asked people for their carrier info, but generally speaking it works in store.
For example, I bought my iphone 7 using the apple reservation system. I chose a verizon model. When I got to the store, I just let them know I was paying in full and walked out with the phone.
The screenshot below should help:
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It's funny then, so if one really wants to get the MOST value out of a purchase (mostly full price purchases at this point from all carriers) then it seems the SIM FREE unlocked version is the best for future compatibility and re-saleability?
And here I thought I might have screwed up getting the SIM FREE version for use on AT&T. I read that on the iphone 7, AT&T had deprecated the ability to use VoLTE and Wifi Calling which would be a MAJOR problem for me at this point.
And here I thought I might have screwed up getting the SIM FREE version for use on AT&T. I read that on the iphone 7, AT&T had deprecated the ability to use VoLTE and Wifi Calling which would be a MAJOR problem for me at this point.
VoLTE and Wifi Calling will work as long as it's enabled on the SIM you install. If you currently have a very old SIM from before these features were introduced, it might not work. But in this case you should be able to walk into an AT&T store and get a new SIM.
Great thank you. Do you have experience with the pick up time window reservation? Do they immediately give the phone to someone else if you miss your one hour window?
I fly in on launch day, planning to chose the last time window possible, but not 100% sure if I can make it on time.
This must be a USA thing - here in the UK they've always had sim free phones at launch alongside carrier purchases.
I don’t remember the exact window, maybe 1 hour. It tells you in the confirmation email you receive.
If you order online and choose in store pick up, I believe they give you 3-4 days to pick it up if not longer.
The reservation system I am referring to is only available a few days after launch for a few weeks. Online they put the stock for each store, and you can reserve a phone for pickup the following day. For that they give you a few hours and then resell the phone.
Here in the UK we never not had a sim free model...I only buy mine sim free.....Except for the original iPhone if I recall correctly as I wanted to have visual voicemail.
It's the carriers, not Apple. Not sure why Apple feels the need to cater to carriers, but it may be the result of a negotiation that took place before the iPhone was as successful.
I'm glad Apple does it this way in the US. With all of the demand and scalping you need to control some of the supply on how these phones are initially sold hence why the sim free flagship never is available at launch in the US. And I'm sure the carriers don't want you choosing whatever phone you want so you can leave there service whenever you want. Obviously you can go in store and pay outright, or make an IUP reservation no problem but that is a bit more difficult and can only be done after launch.
I don't think this is the real reason. Apple could easily find a way to limit purchases of SIM free phones, such as limiting purchases based on government ID or credit card or address.
Even with Apple limiting Sim-Free devices at launch, scalpers can still easily create fake carrier accounts and cancel them, while then selling the device.
Are these two different options I can choose when ordering? I'm confused.
And which one is is available for launch day?
Are these two different options I can choose when ordering? I'm confused.
And which one is is available for launch day?
If you are ordering on launch day you either pick in store pick up or delivery to your house. You can ignore what I am about to say below.
The reservation system I was referring to is for people who do not preorder. Typically a couple days (even the next day) after launch apple will have a "reserve pickup". Everyday apple updates the individual store stock online, and you can attempt to order one for pick up in store that way. A lot of people who get later delivery dates have luck getting a phone this way. It is also a way for you to buy a verizon phone without carrier info. When you "reserve" a phone this way, you select the exact phone you want (carrier, color, size) and do not pay until you get to the store. When you arrive at the apple store, you simply tell them you are paying in full and they never ask for carrier info. This is also the system where they sell the phone you reserved if you miss the window.
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