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Surprise: CDMA iPhone 4S Comes With An Unlocked SIM Slot

SGMD1 said:
Here's the official Verizon policy on obtaining the SIM unlock code (as of March 2011):



So as long as you've been a VZW customer for 2 months, you theoretically should be able to call VZW Global Support (908-559-4899 or 1-800-922-0204) on day 1 and get the unlock code. In all likelihood if you're nice they might even give it to new customers.
Click to expand...

Not being a Verizon customer (yet) I called the Global Suport number but since I wasn't a Verizon customer I got regular support. I asked them if the unlock was permanent & they said it would be locked again when you put your Verizon SIM back in after returning from your trip. I would like a VERIZON customer to call the Global Support number & ask them exactly what does this mean;

"•Only one SIM Unlock per line every 10 months"
 
Pending....

VZW unlock not going good. My iPhone 4s on VZW requested unlock from the global support and is stuck in pending status with them. They can't figure out what the problem is..
 
Interesting note from MacWorld Forum

Jason I spent 45 minutes on the phone with the Verizon international department about 4 days ago and the rep unequivocally told me "No unlocking" will occur for the 4s sim. She even put me on hold and confirmed with the regional manager there. They both explained to me that they would love to do it, as they do for other phones, but that Apple is in control of what they do with the iPhone and it is Apple which is saying "No". She said this may change, as the new phone isnt even out yet, but at this time theyve been told they can't unlock it. I also dont know why everyone is claiming AT&T customers are the unlucky ones. They are being offered a pre-unlocked phone right on the Apple web site. I am a Verizon customer and was about to jump ship because that phone was AT&T only. So ... i guess as far as the default 4s ... AT&T is toast... but from another viewpoint, if Verizon doesn't unlock, AT&T people have an option. Verizon customers don't.
 
wateron said:
Jason I spent 45 minutes on the phone with the Verizon international department about 4 days ago and the rep unequivocally told me "No unlocking" will occur for the 4s sim. She even put me on hold and confirmed with the regional manager there. They both explained to me that they would love to do it, as they do for other phones, but that Apple is in control of what they do with the iPhone and it is Apple which is saying "No". She said this may change, as the new phone isnt even out yet, but at this time theyve been told they can't unlock it. I also dont know why everyone is claiming AT&T customers are the unlucky ones. They are being offered a pre-unlocked phone right on the Apple web site. I am a Verizon customer and was about to jump ship because that phone was AT&T only. So ... i guess as far as the default 4s ... AT&T is toast... but from another viewpoint, if Verizon doesn't unlock, AT&T people have an option. Verizon customers don't.
Click to expand...

This note doesn't make sense. "the new phone isn't even out yet" when it's been out for almost a week now.
 
It has to be something with the carrier database that Apple has or it might be the model of the phone because the IPSW is the same for all of the iPhone 4s. I am sure there will be something out soon for it. You might see if there is anything in the carrier bundle that might help shed some light on things.
 
iPhoneBX said:
VZW unlock not going good. My iPhone 4s on VZW requested unlock from the global support and is stuck in pending status with them. They can't figure out what the problem is..
Click to expand...

I was told mine would stay pending until I put in a foreign SIM into it.
 
LaazyEye said:
I was told mine would stay pending until I put in a foreign SIM into it.
Click to expand...

Have to say , this is the most confusing unlock situation I have yet heard of. AT&T at least we know there isn't one, Verizon it's this continually back and forth. It's such a simple thing, yet we can't get a clear yes or no with confirmed people unlocked on Verizon
 
LaazyEye said:
I was told mine would stay pending until I put in a foreign SIM into it.
Click to expand...

That is what they tell you although Ive been intouch with the VZW IT department and they have stated it shouldn't matter the unlock should be in completed status and not pending. He said they have escalated the issue and are working with Apple to see what the problem is.

My iPhone shows pending, put the foreign sim card in the phone and still get an error message, "SIM NOT VALID."
 
wateron said:
I called the Global Suport number but since I wasn't a Verizon customer I got regular support. I asked them if the unlock was permanent & they said it would be locked again when you put your Verizon SIM back in after returning from your trip.
Click to expand...
This is why you have to call the Global Support number, not the regular support number. They have no idea what they're talking about when it comes to SIM unlocking.

You got bad info. Call Global Support and they'll hook you up with an unlock after 60 days of being a customer.
wateron said:
what does this mean;

"•Only one SIM Unlock per line every 10 months"
Click to expand...
That means one SIM unlock per phone number every 10 months. Let's say you get your 4S unlocked today and then replace it with a fancier world phone 6 months from now; you won't be able to unlock it for an additional 4 months. It does not mean that your 4S will magically become re-locked in 10 months; once VZW unlocks a phone, it's unlocked permanently.
wateron said:
I called the Global Suport number but since I wasn't a Verizon customer I got regular support. I asked them if the unlock was permanent & they said it would be locked again when you put your Verizon SIM back in after returning from your trip. I would like a VERIZON customer to call the Global Support number & ask them exactly what does this mean;

"•Only one SIM Unlock per line every 10 months"
Click to expand...

iPhoneBX said:
VZW unlock not going good. My iPhone 4s on VZW requested unlock from the global support and is stuck in pending status with them. They can't figure out what the problem is..
Click to expand...
What foreign SIM are you trying to use?
 
SGMD1 said:
Hmmm...with the exception of the AT&T SIM, that's really weird. Has VZW gotten back to you?
Click to expand...

Only to say that they are escalating the issue to their internal IT department and are working with Apple because apparently I'm not the only customer having this problem.
 
WannaGoMac said:
Have to say , this is the most confusing unlock situation I have yet heard of. AT&T at least we know there isn't one, Verizon it's this continually back and forth. It's such a simple thing, yet we can't get a clear yes or no with confirmed people unlocked on Verizon
Click to expand...

iPhoneBX said:
That is what they tell you although Ive been intouch with the VZW IT department and they have stated it shouldn't matter the unlock should be in completed status and not pending. He said they have escalated the issue and are working with Apple to see what the problem is.

My iPhone shows pending, put the foreign sim card in the phone and still get an error message, "SIM NOT VALID."
Click to expand...

Although, I forgot to mention that I DID get a text from guy who helped me showing a screenshot of the pending status next to the phone number, as well as a text from Verizon stating my DeviceID followed by "Sim unlocked at customer request for use with non-vzw sim"
 
SGMD1 said:
That means one SIM unlock per phone number every 10 months. Let's say you get your 4S unlocked today and then replace it with a fancier world phone 6 months from now; you won't be able to unlock it for an additional 4 months. It does not mean that your 4S will magically become re-locked in 10 months; once VZW unlocks a phone, it's unlocked permanently.
Click to expand...

You used "phone number" and "phone" interchangeably in sentence #1 and #2. It's one or the other - not both.

I'd like to think it's based on your line/phone number and not the individual phone itself. What if someone breaks their phone every month and frequently replaces it? Or needs a warranty swap?
 
wateron said:
Where did you get a truphone micro sim, they just gave me a regular one
Click to expand...

I got the truphone sim online from there website. I used the microsim cutter to cut it down to size because they give you a full sized sim.

The sim that came with the phone is a VERIZON (or Vodaphone, not sure) microsim.

----------
LaazyEye said:
Although, I forgot to mention that I DID get a text from guy who helped me showing a screenshot of the pending status next to the phone number, as well as a text from Verizon stating my DeviceID followed by "Sim unlocked at customer request for use with non-vzw sim"
Click to expand...

Oh yea? That's interesting because I didn't get a text message from VZW. They (VZW) told me only it's in pending status and that this has been happening to some iPhone 4S but it should show completed status on their side.

No follow up call from Verizon as of yet.
 
jkozlow3 said:
You used "phone number" and "phone" interchangeably in sentence #1 and #2.
Click to expand...
No, I didn't. It's one unlock per phone number every 10 months; if you upgrade your phone (not your phone number) somewhere in the 10 month period after first getting your 4S unlocked to a new world phone, that new phone will not be eligible for an unlock until the 10 month period is over.
 
Sprint just told me this....

SWW Supervisor (V): Now as far as the iPhone, the device is in fact locked. It cannot be unlocked per both Sprint and Apple simply because using a foreign sim card could cause irreparable damage to the services once you were back in the US.


SWW Supervisor (V): I do apologize, but unlocking this device is not something anyone can do.
 
Apple9to5 said:
Sprint just told me this....

SWW Supervisor (V): Now as far as the iPhone, the device is in fact locked. It cannot be unlocked per both Sprint and Apple simply because using a foreign sim card could cause irreparable damage to the services once you were back in the US.


SWW Supervisor (V): I do apologize, but unlocking this device is not something anyone can do.
Click to expand...
How can reps be so unknowledgeable. Seriously.
 
Sprint is unlocked for international use, only

Apple9to5 said:
Sprint just told me this....

SWW Supervisor (V): Now as far as the iPhone, the device is in fact locked. It cannot be unlocked per both Sprint and Apple simply because using a foreign sim card could cause irreparable damage to the services once you were back in the US.


SWW Supervisor (V): I do apologize, but unlocking this device is not something anyone can do.
Click to expand...

LOL Total BS.

I tested this out on my Sprint 4s today and the SIM slot is indeed unlocked.
It will only work with foreign sim cards. I tested both a UK SIM and a Swiss SIM and watched it roam on AT&T. I used my IPad2 AT&T sim and got the invalid sim message. Sprint has always blocked other US carriers, while letting us use worldphones to pop in another sim when traveling abroad.

No call to Sprint needed. Thanks :)
 
GoGoGadget1 said:
LOL Total BS.

I tested this out on my Sprint 4s today and the SIM slot is indeed unlocked.
It will only work with foreign sim cards. I tested both a UK SIM and a Swiss SIM and watched it roam on AT&T. I used my IPad2 AT&T sim and got the invalid sim message. Sprint has always blocked other US carriers, while letting us use worldphones to pop in another sim when traveling abroad.

No call to Sprint needed. Thanks :)
Click to expand...
thanks GoGoGadget1
 
Just hang up with the international group!

they haven't had any idea too. I will travel to the Asia next week and hopefully, I can bring along my Sprint iphone4S. worse case scenario, I have an unlock T-mobile G2 and Blackberry for me to use.

so much conflicting information. I guess i should cut one of my prepaid Sim from HK to test it out!

GoGoGadget1 said:
LOL Total BS.

I tested this out on my Sprint 4s today and the SIM slot is indeed unlocked.
It will only work with foreign sim cards. I tested both a UK SIM and a Swiss SIM and watched it roam on AT&T. I used my IPad2 AT&T sim and got the invalid sim message. Sprint has always blocked other US carriers, while letting us use worldphones to pop in another sim when traveling abroad.

No call to Sprint needed. Thanks :)
Click to expand...
 
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