Sprint doesn't use SIM cards in their phones. I would expect the SIM slot to be empty on the Sprint iPhone. Someone, correct me if I'm wrong.
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Sprint to Lock iPhone 4S SIMs Starting November 11th
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Sprint doesn't use SIM cards in their phones. I would expect the SIM slot to be empty on the Sprint iPhone. Someone, correct me if I'm wrong.
No. They will only unlock it for use outside the US.
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There is a SIM card in there so that you can sign up for one of their overseas plans and use the phone with their roaming partners overseas.
You could ask for it to be unlocked if you are a customer in good standing (i.e. paid two bills ontime)
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It has the Sprint 'world' SIM, only used when outside the US...
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How come the u.s doesnt have the same deals as the uk? They have amazing deals yet a smaller market than the us?
How come the u.s doesnt have the same deals as the uk? They have amazing deals yet a smaller market than the us?
Maybe somebody can fill me in on this whole "the carrier needs to lock the phones" thing. Thinking about it, I don't even understand from the carrier's point of view why they care about locking the phone at all.
Think about it, if I sign up for a contract from a carrier and get a subsidized phone, I'm STILL LIABLE for that contract, whether or not I go and sell the phone for a profit or take it to another network or whatever. If I don't pay the contract, then it hits my credit and I probably wouldn't be able to sign up for another carrier contract anytime soon, at least not without a huge deposit.
Similarly, if I go to a carrier with a phone from another carrier, why wouldn't they activate it? They don't have to subsidize a phone at that point, so more profit for them, why wouldn't they. And when you sign up for a contract, you're locked in to that carrier anyway, unless you pay an ETF.
Is it all about the international plans? I would guess that the vast majority of people rarely if ever use those and don't travel outside their country much.
So I'm sorry, I must be missing something, I just don't get it.
Think about it, if I sign up for a contract from a carrier and get a subsidized phone, I'm STILL LIABLE for that contract, whether or not I go and sell the phone for a profit or take it to another network or whatever. If I don't pay the contract, then it hits my credit and I probably wouldn't be able to sign up for another carrier contract anytime soon, at least not without a huge deposit.
Similarly, if I go to a carrier with a phone from another carrier, why wouldn't they activate it? They don't have to subsidize a phone at that point, so more profit for them, why wouldn't they. And when you sign up for a contract, you're locked in to that carrier anyway, unless you pay an ETF.
Is it all about the international plans? I would guess that the vast majority of people rarely if ever use those and don't travel outside their country much.
So I'm sorry, I must be missing something, I just don't get it.
The cell phone carriers own enough congressmen to prevent any law that would unlock iPhones (or any now-locked phone) after contract is up. Congressmen need the money from the phone carriers (and banks and wall street and the super rich) to stay in office and do the bidding of their owners.
I bought my 4s from sprint on 10 November. Never plugged it into iTunes.
Will it still be unlocked? Someone please shed some light.
Will it still be unlocked? Someone please shed some light.
i heard that after a few months with att they will unlock it for international travel....... correct me if im wrong.
they don't!
Last week when I called, they told me that they can unlock any phone except iPhone. I was told that it was Apple preventing them from unlocking the device. When I pointed that Sprint and Verizon does that for international travel, I was told their phones won't work overseas. What kind of BS is that?
I just cannot understand why they won't do it for only iPhone users? I wonder if they think that we have deep pockets to afford their crazy roaming rates!
Last week when I called, they told me that they can unlock any phone except iPhone. I was told that it was Apple preventing them from unlocking the device. When I pointed that Sprint and Verizon does that for international travel, I was told their phones won't work overseas. What kind of BS is that?
I just cannot understand why they won't do it for only iPhone users? I wonder if they think that we have deep pockets to afford their crazy roaming rates!
Sooooo, if you bought it before this you still Have an unlocked iPhone..
I have an iPhone 4S purchased from Sprint on iPhone 4S's launch date. I can tell you even after activating the phone with Sprint, it does not accept any SIM (AT&T or T-Mobile) other than the one that came with the phone. Inserting a non-Sprint SIM card will result in iPhone 4S trying to activate itself again and will fail because it does not recognize the SIM. I do not know if the result will be different if the same test is performed in area outside of Sprint's coverage, as there is not a setting to disable CDMA. So as far as i can tell, iPhone 4S on Sprint is shipped not to recognize any other SIM card than the Sprint SIM card.
If you have a non-US SIM card, it should work. The "unlocked" Sprint version is still country-locked so as not to accept AT&T or T-Mobile USA SIM cards.
You are wrong.
Opened my Sprint iPhone 4S and there is a Sprint sim card in it.
Although after I took it out, I could still send and recieve calls.
There was just a pop-up about not having a sim card installed.
Sorry to say but those 'many customers' must be idiots given that you don't a 'significant amount of money' once you add up the total cost of the contract over the period of time one is locked into the contract. It is a myth created and perpetuated by people who don't do the sums in much the same way that, "it only costs as little as $20 per week to purchase...." when department stores are trying to push products out there door whilst ignoring when you add up the payments you've bought the damn thing 3 times over.
These contracts aren't given out because the carriers heart bleeds for you but because they know there are enough gullible people out there believing they've got a 'deal' because the upfront cost is low in very much the same way that we have people who think that a $50 printer is 'great value' whilst ignoring that the authentic ink cartridges cost more than the printer is worth. Buy the device outright and have the freedom to jump between carriers, to go from postpaid to prepaid then back to postpaid again - to travel around the world by putting in a local carrier SIM and avoid the roaming fees.
You were right
I tested a TIM (Italy) SIM and indeed the Sprint iPhone 4S recognized it and i was able to get on AT&T's network. AT&T must be TIM's roaming partner in the US.
I tested a TIM (Italy) SIM and indeed the Sprint iPhone 4S recognized it and i was able to get on AT&T's network. AT&T must be TIM's roaming partner in the US.
recapping the facts to help answer common "unlock" vs. "locked" questions...
Each of the assessments above are true.
I quoted those exchanges so that people can understand better the heart of the issue and to help answer some F.A.Q.'s of an "unlocked" vs. "locked" iPhone 4S at a glance.
In more detailed summary:
Each of the assessments above are true.
I quoted those exchanges so that people can understand better the heart of the issue and to help answer some F.A.Q.'s of an "unlocked" vs. "locked" iPhone 4S at a glance.
In more detailed summary:
- The iPhone 4S is a world phone (it can be used on both GSM & CDMA networks).
- The iPhone 4S on Sprint (a phone carrier in USA), prior to 11/11/11, was automatically shipped "unlocked" meaning you can use it internationally with another carrier's SIM card.
- Bear in mind that Sprint still "country locks" the SIM in the iPhone 4S to only recognize it's SIM card within the USA, i.e. AT&T and T-Mobile SIM cards will not work on this phone, nor would Verizon (since it's CDMA).
- Same is true with Verizon iPhone 4S, except it already shipped "locked" from the initial 10/14 launch date.
- However, both Sprint & Verizon have publicly stated that they will "unlock" the iPhone 4S for international use for customers under contract that have been in good standing after two consecutive billing cycles (i.e. 60 days of on-time and in-full payments). But the phone will still remain "country locked" to the specific USA telecom carrier from which the subsidized iPhone was originally purchased through.
- All of this contrasts with AT&T's current policy: under no circumstances will AT&T unlock the iPhone for customers, even when your 2 year contract is over with them. This is a business decision on their end to behave this way and has nothing to do with Apple's policies. So, if you want an "unlocked" iPhone 4S under contract with AT&T then you will have to resort to a "jailbreak" of the phone to accomplish this.
- If you elect to buy an "unlocked" iPhone 4S from Apple directly (i.e. you're willing to pay the full price of the unsubsidized phone upfront) then this version of the iPhone 4S is both "unlocked" and not "country locked" meaning you can use a SIM card by any GSM based carrier both within the USA and Internationally.
- The only limitation with the contract-free "unlocked" iPhone 4S that Apple offers customers directly is that you won't be able to use it with CDMA networks. But since 90% of the world uses GSM networks this doesn't pose a problem for most people concerned.
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Indeed, I just come back from hong kong with my Sprint iPhone 4S which I received owned activate on Oct 17th. My Sprint business sales rep keep mention the iPhone is unlocked. But I have some doubt about it. So, once I landed in hk at end of Oct and headed to one of the cellular phone store (three.com.hk). The rep was very nice and pop one of his micro sim and confirmed it is unlocked. So I got the prepaid one.
When I come back in the US today, the iPhone 4S keep show the network on AT&T until I find a paper clip to swap out the three.com.hk sim and put back my sprint sim. Then it show sprint.
End of my report.
When I come back in the US today, the iPhone 4S keep show the network on AT&T until I find a paper clip to swap out the three.com.hk sim and put back my sprint sim. Then it show sprint.
End of my report.
Thanks you for the post.Ugh. I hate how they lock the phone into a carrier. How in the name of God is it a "World Phone" if you're locked to one carrier and forced to use their outrageous International Roaming Plans?
In an ideal world, we should always have unlocked iPhones: if you buy it with a contract, then pay your monthly dues until the contract is up (or you pay the ETF), but you still get to have an unlocked iPhone. That way, the carrier gets its monthly fees, you get the freedom of where and when to operate it, and everyone is happy.
But this business of forcing you into using only that carrier is so damn frustrating.
And don't even get me started on how they can't unlock iPhones that have finished serving their 2 years.
Sprint Corp. change
I was told today that Sprint's new corp policy( as of today, Dec 13 ) was to now unlock iphone 4s for individual users. Though, on Friday, Dec 10, they announced a corp policy not to unlock the iphone. I am waiting for my iphone 4s to be unlocked. I was guantreed it would take place within 8 hours. also, after speaking with the apple store, i was informed that you can buy a device only iphone 4s for full price, and that the phone WOULD NOT BE LOCKED... you could then activated it on sprint, and it would not become locked. And, all the methods that are posted on the web to unlock the 4s are BS. Non of them work... period.,
I was told today that Sprint's new corp policy( as of today, Dec 13 ) was to now unlock iphone 4s for individual users. Though, on Friday, Dec 10, they announced a corp policy not to unlock the iphone. I am waiting for my iphone 4s to be unlocked. I was guantreed it would take place within 8 hours. also, after speaking with the apple store, i was informed that you can buy a device only iphone 4s for full price, and that the phone WOULD NOT BE LOCKED... you could then activated it on sprint, and it would not become locked. And, all the methods that are posted on the web to unlock the 4s are BS. Non of them work... period.,
I need your help... I can pay for that
Hi, I have 20 Sprint Iphone 4S bought before 11/11. 10 of them were activated so they are international UNLOCKED but the problem are the other 10 iphones because they are never activated and sealed. Im in another country so I cant activate them. I tried via wifi and PC directly connected using my foreign sim card without luck. Then I used the Sprint sim card that came with the phone but still Im getting the same message, " Required Activation" . Any one knows what can I do?? Please advise or contact me ASAP. Im willing to pay who help me out. Thank you in advance
Hi, I have 20 Sprint Iphone 4S bought before 11/11. 10 of them were activated so they are international UNLOCKED but the problem are the other 10 iphones because they are never activated and sealed. Im in another country so I cant activate them. I tried via wifi and PC directly connected using my foreign sim card without luck. Then I used the Sprint sim card that came with the phone but still Im getting the same message, " Required Activation" . Any one knows what can I do?? Please advise or contact me ASAP. Im willing to pay who help me out. Thank you in advance
hi etronics ,
another serious question , it my happen.....
those iphone 4s with sprint actiavted before 11/11 you have it now,
can use the international ( unlocked ) with not problem.
if this iphone 4s (activated b4 11/11) connect to itunes or redo the activate again , it will be locked back or locked again.
i did google , it seem happen to someone , who did connect itune ,
ended up the sprint locked the iphone 4s international sim again
i very worry , can you share with me and thank
i am same boat with you , still have few was unable to activate with sprint after 11/11 , i think only can do it need ask sprint for help and guide.
telco+apple ( activation server ) to set your limitation ( lock ) or unlock
when you connect to itune , or OTA software update (iso 5.0)
Pls accept me as a friend, thank
another serious question , it my happen.....
those iphone 4s with sprint actiavted before 11/11 you have it now,
can use the international ( unlocked ) with not problem.
if this iphone 4s (activated b4 11/11) connect to itunes or redo the activate again , it will be locked back or locked again.
i did google , it seem happen to someone , who did connect itune ,
ended up the sprint locked the iphone 4s international sim again
i very worry , can you share with me and thank
i am same boat with you , still have few was unable to activate with sprint after 11/11 , i think only can do it need ask sprint for help and guide.
telco+apple ( activation server ) to set your limitation ( lock ) or unlock
when you connect to itune , or OTA software update (iso 5.0)
Pls accept me as a friend, thank