I have a good friend with Sprint. I ought to try his sim in my phone to see if it actually works.
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Carrier Sprint Users! READ! New Automatic Domestic Unlock Policy Change!
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I have a good friend with Sprint. I ought to try his sim in my phone to see if it actually works.
If you do try, make sure it's a SIM from a 5c or newer. An iPhone 5 SIM won't work.
No, it doesn't - AFAIK. I just mentioned the iPhone 5 because that particular SIM is paired with the phone. It won't work in any other phone.
Okay I have sailed this sea of acronyms and tech talk and know now that our beloved Sprint 4s iPhones circa April of 2012 can't be "unlocked" for use with another provider. Disappointing to us because we like our phones just fine but bought a 2nd home in an area where Sprint coverage is "extended" and unreliable at best. Apparently AT&T has the strong local signals...
Anyway am I correct in understanding that the Gevey gizmo is the only "solution" to this dilemma, which isn't a solution at all because it involves an old iOS and jail-breaking?
Assuming "yes" to this, then is it possible that when Sprint changes its policy, what, next month (maybe) that if we traded-in our 4s phones for new ones, e.g. 5s or 6, then when our committment to Sprint is complete we can take those with us to AT&T? That Sprint will not have strangled these new iPhones as they've done in the past?
Anyway am I correct in understanding that the Gevey gizmo is the only "solution" to this dilemma, which isn't a solution at all because it involves an old iOS and jail-breaking?
Assuming "yes" to this, then is it possible that when Sprint changes its policy, what, next month (maybe) that if we traded-in our 4s phones for new ones, e.g. 5s or 6, then when our committment to Sprint is complete we can take those with us to AT&T? That Sprint will not have strangled these new iPhones as they've done in the past?
Well, Gevey is mentioned because that used to be the more popular interposer. I've heard however, that they are out of business. R-SIM, which is another interposer company seems to be ascendant at this time. You might check with them.
And yes, usually using an interposer requires jailbreaking.
The unlock language on Sprint's site indicates that a device must be DESIGNED and then manufactured after February 13, 2015 to qualify for an unlock. That would mean the 6 and 6+ are not eligible.
However, if you've been reading this thread there may be some workarounds, such as a replacement device activated on Apalachian instead of Sprint. Your mileage may vary.
Honestly, if you really want an unlocked phone that will work on all four carriers, the new SIM free Apple models are probably your best bet. You have to pay full price, but Sprint has apparently whitelisted them so while they can be used on Sprint, they aren't locked to Sprint.
The SIMs are not the same size. Apple uses nano SIMs while the GS4 uses a micro SIM.
Thanks I am interested in how I might transition from Sprint to AT&T without losing our current 10-digit numbers. If I buy "full price SIM-free Apple models" can I then get Sprint to accept those i.e. put our numbers on them, and then later call AT&T and move off of Sprint?
Then I guess I have to eBay our 4s instruments, or just throw them away...?
Here's how I would do this
Buy the SIM free model at an Apple store full price. Activate the phone on Sprint's network on your current plan. Apple may be able to do that, or if you do it through Sprint I imagine it would be a simple ESN swap which a Sprint CSR should know how to do.
That will put the new phone(s) on your current phone number(s). After that, go to AT&T and tell them you want to port in from Sprint. That will carry your number over from Sprint, AT&T gives you a new SIM for your unlocked iPhone with your number(s) intact and you get what you want with AT&T service.
If you want to recoup any money you can sell them of course. Just indicate to the buyer that they are locked to Sprint and cannot be unlocked. Make that clear in your sale.
Otherwise, they will make great media devices. I had a 3GS that I used as a media device and for games for my kids. Additionally, if you have a Google Voice number or wish to get one you could use those phones for voice/text/iMessage on WiFi.
They are not useless by any means. It just requires creating a use for them. But finding a use for them really isn't that hard.
Galaxy S4 SIM won't work. It doesn't have any subscriber or CDMA information on it. Plus it's the wrong size anyway. ONLY a Sprint SIM with a specific, certified part number will work in an iPhone.
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It isn't paired, it is just completely devoid of any subscriber information and only contains LTE network access.
No problem! Good luck to you!Thanks a lot for your help & advice eyoungren--I really appreciate it!
Trade-in a Sprint iPhone to another carrier?
At the risk of taking this thread somewhat off-topic, I wonder if you eyoungren or anyone else here has ever heard of cellular carriers offering trade-in programs, where they accepted Sprint phones in trade, despite (obviously) that Sprint iPhones are locked-up so tightly.
Maybe [another] dumb question but all the experts are in here it seems and a full-page Verizon ad about this in the newspaper this weekend inspires me to ask...
At the risk of taking this thread somewhat off-topic, I wonder if you eyoungren or anyone else here has ever heard of cellular carriers offering trade-in programs, where they accepted Sprint phones in trade, despite (obviously) that Sprint iPhones are locked-up so tightly.
Maybe [another] dumb question but all the experts are in here it seems and a full-page Verizon ad about this in the newspaper this weekend inspires me to ask...
Yeah, all the carriers do that. The devices go to refurb companies or third party resellers who fix the phones up for resale either in different countries (where an international unlock is the only thing needed) or logicboards get swapped out.
In Sprint's case, all those phones being turned in get handled by Brightstar, Marcelo Claure's startup multi-million dollar company that repurposes phones and mainly serves South America. Those phones will be turned around and resold down there.
Just a heads up for those who may run across this…
This guy over at S4GRU.com claims to have used a service to unlock his Sprint iPhone domestically. Note he has only seven posts on S4GRU.com and most of them refer to unlocking. He's either a troll or a shill for an unlock company that cannot unlock Sprint phones.
When I read his first post my initial reaction was BS! And, it still is.
The OP there goes on to give a link to the "unlock" service he used.
Guess what happens? Yep. Someone later in the thread takes him up on this. And gets burned for $97!
Apparently, the "unlock" service only provides INTERNATIONAL unlocks for Sprint phones (which is possible if you have read this thread) BUT did NOT indicate that in the ad and since the OP in the post at S4GRU.com made every indication that a domestic unlock was what he got this user got burned. Even worse, the user's phone was ALREADY UNLOCKED FOR INTERNATIONAL USE when he paid his $97.
People. I will say it again. THERE IS NO DOMESTIC UNLOCK FOR SPRINT IPHONES!!!
I cannot be any CLEARER than that!!!
This guy over at S4GRU.com claims to have used a service to unlock his Sprint iPhone domestically. Note he has only seven posts on S4GRU.com and most of them refer to unlocking. He's either a troll or a shill for an unlock company that cannot unlock Sprint phones.
When I read his first post my initial reaction was BS! And, it still is.
The OP there goes on to give a link to the "unlock" service he used.
Guess what happens? Yep. Someone later in the thread takes him up on this. And gets burned for $97!
Apparently, the "unlock" service only provides INTERNATIONAL unlocks for Sprint phones (which is possible if you have read this thread) BUT did NOT indicate that in the ad and since the OP in the post at S4GRU.com made every indication that a domestic unlock was what he got this user got burned. Even worse, the user's phone was ALREADY UNLOCKED FOR INTERNATIONAL USE when he paid his $97.
People. I will say it again. THERE IS NO DOMESTIC UNLOCK FOR SPRINT IPHONES!!!
I cannot be any CLEARER than that!!!
It seems you may have misunderstood my question: I was asking if non-Sprint carriers ever accepted Sprint phones in their "trade-in your old phone" promos.
I read for example that AT&T will accept AT&T phones in trade (duh) but the implication was that other phones maybe NOT.
I'm sorry. I probably wasn't clear.
The answer to your question is yes. T-Mobile as an example has an online tool that will show you exactly what you can get as a credit for turning in your Sprint phone.
Again, those Sprint phones would be turned around and sold outside the US or perhaps broken down for parts.
Devices traded in to programs authorized by Apple can be reassigned a different activation policy depending on network it's intended for. The same goes for Sprint units traded into Apple. Apple will wipe the activation policy and give the phone a new IMEI.
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Anyone claiming to have domestically unlocked their Sprint device should be completely ignored unless they have actual proof.
The Engrish in that eBay listing made me laugh, btw.
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https://www.trade-in.vzw.com/home.php5?c=en-us
Okay gentlemen, I am ready to purchase a new 6 plus. If i go to bestbuy and buy a full price phone I can use it on sprint without it being locked to sprint correct?
I have an upgrade around august which i plan on using for the 6s so that means buying full price now. Just dont want a phone that can only be used on sprint.
I have an upgrade around august which i plan on using for the 6s so that means buying full price now. Just dont want a phone that can only be used on sprint.
Full price Sprint phones are still locked to Sprint.
You want the sim-free model that Apple sells.
http://store.apple.com/us/buy-iphone/iphone6
^^^This!
Full price Sprint iPhones are still locked. SIM free iPhones bought at the Apple store or online from Apple are unlocked. They will work on all four carriers.
Buy from anywhere other than Apple and you will have a phone locked to Sprint.
Guess I will just keep my eyes open, and ask at the Apple store next time I'm in the neighborhood.
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