(( Sprint iPhone 5s "Device Only" - Locked or Unlocked ?))

[Berkz]

I bought a sprint iPhone on launch day in New York. I live abroad and needed an unlocked phone. The store didn't have any but the apple guy assured me that the sprint version was unlocked internationally but only locked in the US. Turns out that wasn't true and the phone is totally locked so I got in touch with the store and was getting ready to return it for a refund when I get this email from the store.

--------

Hello


Sprint has just announced there should be a resolution with the unlocking of the iPhone within a week. We will provide an update as soon as possible. We appreciate your patience. Thank you.


Regards,


Apple Fifth Avenue
767 5th Avenue
New York, NY 10153
212.336.1440
fifthavenue@apple.com
http://www.apple.com/retail/fifthavenue


I'll put updates in this thread as they become available.

 

[eyoungren]

I bought a sprint iPhone on launch day in New York. I live abroad and needed an unlocked phone. The store didn't have any but the apple guy assured me that the sprint version was unlocked internationally but only locked in the US. Turns out that wasn't true and the phone is totally locked so I got in touch with the store and was getting ready to return it for a refund when I get this email from the store.

--------

Hello


Sprint has just announced there should be a resolution with the unlocking of the iPhone within a week. We will provide an update as soon as possible. We appreciate your patience. Thank you.


Regards,


Apple Fifth Avenue
767 5th Avenue
New York, NY 10153
212.336.1440
fifthavenue@apple.com
http://www.apple.com/retail/fifthavenue


I'll put updates in this thread as they become available.

Sounds like Apple went to bat for you to make up for it.

Note however, that the phone will still be locked domestically (United States).

 

[Berkz]

Sounds like Apple went to bat for you to make up for it.

Note however, that the phone will still be locked domestically (United States).

yeah well no details yet. As of 6th october.

 

[MajidS]

Hi Berkz

I faced exactly the same problem as you. I bought 3 iphone 5S Sprint from the San Francisco store and paid full retail price. The lady at the store assured me these would work overseas. When I returned to my home country I was unable to activate the phones, I was getting the 'SIM Not Valid' error.

I contacted the store and they assured me that there was a problem activating Sprint iPhones overseas, and they promised that this issue would be resolved soon.

So I am patiently waiting for the resolution. I am relieved that I am not alone facing this problem!

 

[MsRandall]

Wow I wouldn't trust Sprint but since Apple is involved I think you will see a resolution

 

[Tthomas612]

Wow I wouldn't trust Sprint but since Apple is involved I think you will see a resolution

I have an iPhone that's activated on Sprint that is unlocked. The device was originally bought from Apple and I had to go to the Genius Bar to have it replaced and the one I received is an unlocked device that has been activated through Sprint but is not a Sprint phone. It's model number is A1456 and I know it will work with a Verizon sim, but haven't tried anyone else yet ...

 

[eyoungren]

I have an iPhone that's activated on Sprint that is unlocked. The device was originally bought from Apple and I had to go to the Genius Bar to have it replaced and the one I received is an unlocked device that has been activated through Sprint but is not a Sprint phone. It's model number is A1456 and I know it will work with a Verizon sim, but haven't tried anyone else yet ...

That can happen. Sprint is required by the terms of their contract with Apple to activate any iPhone Apple tells them to.

So, if the IMEI is already in the unlock database and Apple makes good to you by giving you an unlocked iPhone because they do not have a specific Sprint iPhone then Sprint has to activate it. Because the IMEI is already in the unlock database, it's unlocked but activated on Sprint.

Hmmm…this seems to be occuring more and more. I wonder if Apple has a problem with Sprint's unlock policy.

 

[Tthomas612]

That can happen. Sprint is required by the terms of their contract with Apple to activate any iPhone Apple tells them to.

So, if the IMEI is already in the unlock database and Apple makes good to you by giving you an unlocked iPhone because they do not have a specific Sprint iPhone then Sprint has to activate it. Because the IMEI is already in the unlock database, it's unlocked but activated on Sprint.

Hmmm…this seems to be occuring more and more. I wonder if Apple has a problem with Sprint's unlock policy.

Wouldn't surprise me because Sprint is too strict.

 

[ricobaby]

Sprint Iphone 5s is Unlocked for international use.

Got my iPhone 5s today and checked the imei., It's already unlocked for international use.

 

[MajidS]

Update: today all my 3 iPhone 5S Sprint have been unlocked. I am able to use them anywhere outside the USA. Thank you Apple, you promised to resolve the issue and you delivered #

 

[99ff00]

Update: today all my 3 iPhone 5S Sprint have been unlocked. I am able to use them anywhere outside the USA. Thank you Apple, you promised to resolve the issue and you delivered #

MajidS, how did you do that? I have exactly same problem.

 

[AbrahamD]

Can Sprint iPhone 5s with smaller simcard work for international network outside US?

Now that my question is answered that Sprint iPhone 5s can be unlocked for international use, can somebody please tell me if the simcard sizes makes any difference for the iPhone use outside US?

I tried to use my AT&T iPhone 4s simcard on a new Sprint iPhone 5s that I just bought for international use. I wanted to find out if my new Sprint iPhone 5s was already unlocked, but my AT&T simcard was too big for the Sprint iPhone 5s and could not fit in it. Does this make any difference at all? Will my iPhone 5s with smaller simcard size work with an international network outside US if it's unlocked?

 

[eyoungren]

Now that my question is answered that Sprint iPhone 5s can be unlocked for international use, can somebody please tell me if the simcard sizes makes any difference for the iPhone use outside US?

I tried to use my AT&T iPhone 4s simcard on a new Sprint iPhone 5s that I just bought for international use. I wanted to find out if my new Sprint iPhone 5s was already unlocked, but my AT&T simcard was too big for the Sprint iPhone 5s and could not fit in it. Does this make any difference at all? Will my iPhone 5s with smaller simcard size work with an international network outside US if it's unlocked?

The 5, 5c and 5s all use a smaller profile SIM card. You can either cut down the one from your 4s and try and use that (instructions are on the 'net, just Google) or you'll need to get a SIM card from your carrier of the correct size.

If Sprint did indeed unlock the phone internationally then you're good once you get a SIM in that will fit. If they did not, then it's not the SIM, it's Sprint.

 

[869639]

That can happen. Sprint is required by the terms of their contract with Apple to activate any iPhone Apple tells them to.

So, if the IMEI is already in the unlock database and Apple makes good to you by giving you an unlocked iPhone because they do not have a specific Sprint iPhone then Sprint has to activate it. Because the IMEI is already in the unlock database, it's unlocked but activated on Sprint.

Hmmm…this seems to be occuring more and more. I wonder if Apple has a problem with Sprint's unlock policy.

I have heard this statement many times but the only time it actually makes sense is if Apple made Sprint activate a US Cellular iPhone 5C/5S because NO other iPhone 5C/5S can work on Sprint LTE -- so why apple in their right mind activate a iPhone that would be stuck on their 3G network?

So In reality Apple cannot make Sprint activate ANY iPhone they want them to. They can only make Sprint Activate SPECIFIC iPhones should they need to due to low stock.

The US Cellular iPhone 5C/5S come factory unlocked for International use (Not domestic).

My statements above are not just speculations....its what it really is.


As for those of you hoping to get your Sprint iPhones unlocked -- I wish you good luck, 3rd party = $150+, and Sprint it self won't unlock it unless you have a active account with them using that specific iPhone. Otherwise there is no way in hell they are going to unlock that iPhone.

Sprint and other carriers are agreeing to the new unlock policy but Sprint clearly said that it will start in 2015 and that it will only unlock phones sold in 2015, they specifically excluded iPhone and all other make and models sold before 2015 saying "its not possible" as a dumb statement to move on from unlocking all the phones previously sold.

 

[eyoungren]

I have heard this statement many times but the only time it actually makes sense is if Apple made Sprint activate a US Cellular iPhone 5C/5S because NO other iPhone 5C/5S can work on Sprint LTE -- so why apple in their right mind activate a iPhone that would be stuck on their 3G network?

So In reality Apple cannot make Sprint activate ANY iPhone they want them to. They can only make Sprint Activate SPECIFIC iPhones should they need to due to low stock.

The US Cellular iPhone 5C/5S come factory unlocked for International use (Not domestic).

My statements above are not just speculations....its what it really is.


As for those of you hoping to get your Sprint iPhones unlocked -- I wish you good luck, 3rd party = $150+, and Sprint it self won't unlock it unless you have a active account with them using that specific iPhone. Otherwise there is no way in hell they are going to unlock that iPhone.

Sprint and other carriers are agreeing to the new unlock policy but Sprint clearly said that it will start in 2015 and that it will only unlock phones sold in 2015, they specifically excluded iPhone and all other make and models sold before 2015 saying "its not possible" as a dumb statement to move on from unlocking all the phones previously sold.

OK, so I was speculating. But here's the thing. The person I was responding to at the time was in the Apple store to buy an iPhone 5c on Sprint for him and his girlfriend. Apple did not have any Sprint iPhone 5c(s) in the capacity and color that they wanted. So Apple, gave them unlocked (domestically) iPhones and activated them on Sprint.

Whatever those phones were or how Apple did it, I don't know, but those phones were unlocked (domestically). Unless that person was lying to me, which I don't have reason to believe.

 

[AbrahamD]

The 5, 5c and 5s all use a smaller profile SIM card. You can either cut down the one from your 4s and try and use that (instructions are on the 'net, just Google) or you'll need to get a SIM card from your carrier of the correct size.

If Sprint did indeed unlock the phone internationally then you're good once you get a SIM in that will fit. If they did not, then it's not the SIM, it's Sprint.

Thank you Eyoungren. Your reply was very helpful. I bought it from ebay and the phone band description indicated both GSM and CDMA. If it's GSM capable, does it mean that it's already unlocked for international use? And if Sprint did not unlock the phone internationally, can it be unlocked for international use?

 

[eyoungren]

If it's GSM capable, does it mean that it's already unlocked for international use?

Uhhh…no. Plenty of phones the world over that are GSM that are locked. Just because it has a GSM radio doesn't mean it's unlocked.

And if Sprint did not unlock the phone internationally, can it be unlocked for international use?

Sure. Come to the US, establish service with Sprint (no ASL account) for 90 days, pay your bill on time each month and then call up Sprint and ask them for an international unlock at the end of 90 days.

If that's impossible and the phone is not unlocked internationally then you have just bought yourself an expensive iPod Touch.

 

[AbrahamD]

Uhhh…no. Plenty of phones the world over that are GSM that are locked. Just because it has a GSM radio doesn't mean it's unlocked.

Sure. Come to the US, establish service with Sprint (no ASL account) for 90 days, pay your bill on time each month and then call up Sprint and ask them for an international unlock at the end of 90 days.

If that's impossible and the phone is not unlocked internationally then you have just bought yourself an expensive iPod Touch.

Lol...OK. Thanks again Eyoungren. You are very helpful.

 

[869639]

OK, so I was speculating. But here's the thing. The person I was responding to at the time was in the Apple store to buy an iPhone 5c on Sprint for him and his girlfriend. Apple did not have any Sprint iPhone 5c(s) in the capacity and color that they wanted. So Apple, gave them unlocked (domestically) iPhones and activated them on Sprint.

Whatever those phones were or how Apple did it, I don't know, but those phones were unlocked (domestically). Unless that person was lying to me, which I don't have reason to believe.

I know what your saying, and Its something I heard about as well by reading around the web, but its a rare occurrence, I think much like how some sprint 4S were factory unlocked before they were locked down, somehow that sort of activation may apply because there is no other US Carrier that uses the sprint model except US Cellular and their iPhones are unlocked for international use -- locked domestically....as for the person at the store telling you, I honestly wouldn't believe it unless I saw it in action because lots of people are under the assumption.....much like OP when he/she bought the sprint iPhones based on Apple Employee's words....and much like half the world that knows about a thing called "jailbreak" thinks that jailbreaking = unlocking (which is not the case anymore as software unlocks do not exist for iPhones since iPhone 4 -- that too only supporting the first modem baseband and nothing after)

 

[eyoungren]

I know what your saying, and Its something I heard about as well by reading around the web, but its a rare occurrence, I think much like how some sprint 4S were factory unlocked before they were locked down, somehow that sort of activation may apply because there is no other US Carrier that uses the sprint model except US Cellular and their iPhones are unlocked for international use -- locked domestically....as for the person at the store telling you, I honestly wouldn't believe it unless I saw it in action because lots of people are under the assumption.....much like OP when he/she bought the sprint iPhones based on Apple Employee's words....and much like half the world that knows about a thing called "jailbreak" thinks that jailbreaking = unlocking (which is not the case anymore as software unlocks do not exist for iPhones since iPhone 4 -- that too only supporting the first modem baseband and nothing after)

Right, it is a rare thing. You'd have to ask him about it. He's a few posts up if you want to contact him.

I also hear what you are saying, but I'm not so certain that it's not possible. However, I'm not in the unlocking business and you are so you'd know better than I would.

In any case, it doesn't matter too much now because he had a whole series of problems (unrelated to this) with that iPhone and Apple eventually replaced it with a 5s. I have no idea if that 5s was unlocked or not either.