iPhone X Sim Free?

[StarShot]

What is a sim free phone? Does that mean a phone not tied to any carrier and with NO sim card installed?

When I ordered my XS from apple.com, I selected ATT. The a window popped up saying something like "don't choose a provider and your order will process faster" or something like that.

When my phone arrived, it had an ATT sim card in it, but it wouldn't connect/activate or something like that. I thought I would have to trot over to my local ATT store to activate it.

Before i did that, I just exchanged my previous sim from last year's X and I immediately conneted with ATT. Wondering if when I have time, I should drop into my ATT store to check my statud with my new XS?

In swapping my old sim card, did I just beat ATT out of their $30 activation fee? I paid cash for the phone and I assume it's unlocked as well.

 

[ET iPhone Home]

Sim-Free is, as you said, not tied to a cell carrier. It's unlocked and does not come with a SIM card. I always buy sim-free, because I prefer the pay-as-you-go plans. I'm able to change carriers as I please. Also, from my past experience, the sim-free phone covers a few more bands internationally in Asia.

 

[jpn]

from the steps you took, including selecting ATT, and it arriving with an ATT SIM in it, it is not clear that this phone is actually unlocked.

 

[navigates]

Are Sim Free compatible internationally?

 

[apolloa]

Are Sim Free compatible internationally?

Not all the time as some countries have different bands that not all iPhones support. It’s something you’d need to check or ask your carrier about. I think it’s better though then it used to be.

 

[jpn]

Are Sim Free compatible internationally?

SIM-free, as the term is used, simply means that the physical mobile device is ready for any carrier's SIM to be used in it.
yes, that includes any of the USAmerican carriers, or, any other carrier, including any foreign carrier.
you simply take out one SIM and insert the other SIM.

the opposite of SIM free is often referred to as "(carrier) locked".
meaning that you can only use one carrier's SIM in it. for a period that generally lasts until you re-pay that carrier for the cost of the device that it likely subsidized in the price you paid them.
therefore, this means that if you take a locked phone overseas, you still must use that carrier's SIM in it, and, generally needed to pay high international roaming fees.
however, in the last 5 years, many major USAmerican carriers have quite good international roaming plans that, although probably are still higher than getting a local SIM in the foreign company and paying local and usually lower costs, still are competitive enough that more and more USAmericans are simply internationally roaming on pre-arranged roaming plans.
europe (EC) has EC-wide non-roaming or effectively non-roaming costs that are quite good.

 

[navigates]

SIM-free, as the term is used, simply means that the physical mobile device is ready for any carrier's SIM to be used in it.
yes, that includes any of the USAmerican carriers, or, any other carrier, including any foreign carrier.
you simply take out one SIM and insert the other SIM.

the opposite of SIM free is often referred to as "(carrier) locked".
meaning that you can only use one carrier's SIM in it. for a period that generally lasts until you re-pay that carrier for the cost of the device that it likely subsidized in the price you paid them.
therefore, this means that if you take a locked phone overseas, you still must use that carrier's SIM in it, and, generally needed to pay high international roaming fees.
however, in the last 5 years, many major USAmerican carriers have quite good international roaming plans that, although probably are still higher than getting a local SIM in the foreign company and paying local and usually lower costs, still are competitive enough that more and more USAmericans are simply internationally roaming on pre-arranged roaming plans.
europe (EC) has EC-wide non-roaming or effectively non-roaming costs that are quite good.

Thanks. I just want to be sure because recently Apple, as been shipping out phones that are unlocked for US, Careers only. Long back I had received a phone that is locked to a US Career and couldn't get that to work internationally with a SIM.

Also are the US Models eSim ready?
I have moved from the US to UAE for a short project and the phones here lack facetime and I believe are not eSim compatible. When I get back home, people call using facetime hence I'm apprehensive about buying it from here locally.

 

[jpn]

Thanks. I just want to be sure because recently Apple, as been shipping out phones that are unlocked for US, Careers only. Long back I had received a phone that is locked to a US Career and couldn't get that to work internationally with a SIM.

Also are the US Models eSim ready?
I have moved from the US to UAE for a short project and the phones here lack facetime and I believe are not eSim compatible. When I get back home, people call using facetime hence I'm apprehensive about buying it from here locally.

2018 launched iPhones all have eSIM capability ready for use.
IF you find a carrier that has a plan available for using an eSIM.
i find ALL currently available eSIM plans too expensive.

 

[StarShot]

from the steps you took, including selecting ATT, and it arriving with an ATT SIM in it, it is not clear that this phone is actually unlocked.

I think you're right. Unlocking is a simple procedure and I'm going to do it in a few days.
[doublepost=1537808490][/doublepost]Don't know about other carriers, but ATT had granted me access to unlock my PAID in full phone almost immediately. The last time I applied, I receive the unlock go ahead code within a couple of hours.

AFAIK, the only way to make sure your phone is unlocked is to put another carrier's sim card in it. IF anyone had a link that will show unlocked status, would you please post it here.

https://www.att.com/deviceunlock/#/

 

[navigates]

I paid a premium and went for the dual physical sim version from hongkong. Silver White 256 GB Max. Both Sims are active and works well.

 

[AppleHaterLover]

Are Sim Free compatible internationally?

This year there’s some LTE bands missing from the US version, so be mindful of that if you’re planning to use it in Europe or Latin America or Asia ro anywhere that isn’t NA.

 

[sumo.do]

Grammatically this term is silly. Sim free should mean the phone doesn’t need or require a sim. I mean does fat free mean your food can have any kind of fat? Does sugar free mean your drink could have fructose or sucrose? Silly.