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

[Ted13]

So now I will have to jailbreak my new iPhone 4S again to use it abroad .... But one thing to remember, the iPhones use the mini SIM and I have never seen the mini SIM available for the pre-paid SIM cards, anywhere in Europe....

They sure are available in Europe -- Italy, for example: I got one for my iPad last summer, it was an amazing experience: €19 for 3GB of data, which averaged 4Mbps from Vodaphone (TIM was actually offering 5GB for the same price). Also, you can get a SIM cutting kit from Amazon for like $5 in case you are visiting some really backward country.

 

[Chupa Chupa]

Sprint's in trouble. I believe having an unlocked iPhone would only help them. We will see soon enough.

Unlocked for international use, absolutely. But it would hurt them if it was unlocked for domestic use b/c many would just pay the ETF and the use it as an unlocked no-contract phone instead. Sprint loses money in that scenario.

 

[jent]

If it's unlocked, it shouldn't matter who the GSM carrier is. I think Verizon is just using the term "internationally unlocked" to make it less obvious to its American customers that they should indeed be able to use an unlocked Verizon iPhone 4S with AT&T, T-Mobile, and other smaller GSM carriers.

Can anyone tell me a scenario where the phone would work abroad with any micro-SIM card but not domestically with an AT&T micro-SIM, for example? I don't think that's possible. It's all or nothing when it comes to unlocking, no? This is just some not-so-clever anti-marketing to keep a portion of Verizon customers from realizing they have a little more handset-carrier freedom than they realize.

 

[ps2pk]

Sprint's ETF seems to be $350.
So, you could buy the phone, cancel the first day you have it, pay $350, and have saved $100 over buying an unlocked phone.

http://support.sprint.com/support/a...termination_fee/case-sp061027-20110823-171256

Not really.

This is what the cost would be.

$200 for iPhone
$350 for ETF
$36 for Activation
$80 for cheapest Sprint service (not prorated/refunded) - Monthly service charges are not refunded or prorated if service is terminated or modified before your billing cycle ends - http://shop2.sprint.com/en/legal/legal_terms_privacy_popup.shtml

You're looking at around $700 with tax.

Sprint has been doing this with all their other world phones. It's not new. GSM international is mostly always unlocked.

 

[Chupa Chupa]

Can anyone tell me a scenario where the phone would work abroad with any micro-SIM card but not domestically with an AT&T micro-SIM, for example? I don't think that's possible. It's all or nothing when it comes to unlocking, no? This is just some not-so-clever anti-marketing to keep a portion of Verizon customers from realizing they have a little more handset-carrier freedom than they realize.

SIM locking & unlocking is s/w based. Of course Apple can program it to lock out specific carriers and allow all others. It's not a zero sum proposition.

 

[ps2pk]

Sprint's in trouble. I believe having an unlocked iPhone would only help them. We will see soon enough.

Again Sprint has always locked down the sim in the US. Touch Pro 2/Photon/Blackberry all were locked to Sprint but unlocked internationally. It wouldn't work if you inserted an ATT or Tmobile sim. It would work if you went to Europe and popped in a Vodefone sim.

 

[Kar98]

Macworld is a pretty big publication for Verizon and Sprint to lie to. I would take their article as fact unless proven otherwise.

What do you mean, lying? Read the article! The word "internationally" is in there how many times?

You can't run what Verizon calls a worldphone (CDMA + GSM combo device) on a US carrier either, even if it's got its SIM lock removed. Seriously, guys, you're reading something into it that's not even there.

All the article says is "you can put a foreign SIM into your VZW/Sprint iPhone 4s".

 

[WannaGoMac]

Again Sprint has always locked down the sim in the US. Touch Pro 2/Photon/Blackberry all were locked to Sprint but unlocked internationally. It wouldn't work if you inserted an ATT or Tmobile sim. It would work if you went to Europe and popped in a Vodefone sim.

Well we're all just guessing at this point. Friday we will have many reports from users on Sprint

 

[Kar98]

Can anyone tell me a scenario where the phone would work abroad with any micro-SIM card but not domestically with an AT&T micro-SIM, for example? I don't think that's possible. It's all or nothing when it comes to unlocking, no?

Indeed, no.

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Well we're all just guessing at this point.

I'm not. I used to work for Verizon Wireless.

 

[outsidethebox]

Really confused at this point

Can someone help me with this, I'm finding this Sprint "International Unlocked" term really confusing.

I'm from Canada, and I'm living in Italy for the next year for school. I have a friend coming from the U.S. in Nov, and I want to buy a Sprint 4S and have her bring it when she comes.

However, what is the difference between the Sprint one and the "unlocked" iPhones that we have at Apple stores in Canada? Will I have any problems or limitations with the Sprint 4S when using SIM cards here in Europe or back in Canada when I return in a years time?

Thanks

 

[Amazing Iceman]

Again Sprint has always locked down the sim in the US. Touch Pro 2/Photon/Blackberry all were locked to Sprint but unlocked internationally. It wouldn't work if you inserted an ATT or Tmobile sim. It would work if you went to Europe and popped in a Vodefone sim.

T-Mobile never objected when I asked them to unlock my phone for international use. They just did it, and for free.
I also wonder if the 4S would work in T-Mobile's unique 3G frequencies, and not just in Edge mode.

 

[WannaGoMac]

Indeed, no.

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I'm not. I used to work for Verizon Wireless.

Used to, past tense. No big deal, I am still waiting for 100% confirmation and specific functionality (i.e. GSM anywhere) before I decide which carrier I switch to...

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Can someone help me with this, I'm finding this Sprint "International Unlocked" term really confusing.

I'm from Canada, and I'm living in Italy for the next year for school. I have a friend coming from the U.S. in Nov, and I want to buy a Sprint 4S and have her bring it when she comes.

However, what is the difference between the Sprint one and the "unlocked" iPhones that we have at Apple stores in Canada? Will I have any problems or limitations with the Sprint 4S when using SIM cards here in Europe or back in Canada when I return in a years time?

Thanks

No one knows for certain. All we know is the unlocked Apple direct phones are FULLY unlocked. We don't know how Verizon or Sprint unlocks will really function at this point. Friday all will be revealed as users report Sprint functionality with their new 4s.

 

[Ben201088]

So what happens if you purchase an iPhone on a GSM network (say, in Europe) and then want to switch carriers to Sprint or Verizon at a later point? Would the CDMA carrier be able to do that at their discretion, since it's really a software adjustment?

Anyone have any insight about this?

 

[iVoid]

SOLD!


That is the last piece of info I needed confirmed.

Subsidized price + unlocked GSM = happy customer


Now I wonder what the people who boldly claimed that there was no way Verizon or Sprint would allow their subsidized phones to have the GSM unlocked will say now?

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Can someone help me with this, I'm finding this Sprint "International Unlocked" term really confusing.

I'm from Canada, and I'm living in Italy for the next year for school. I have a friend coming from the U.S. in Nov, and I want to buy a Sprint 4S and have her bring it when she comes.

However, what is the difference between the Sprint one and the "unlocked" iPhones that we have at Apple stores in Canada? Will I have any problems or limitations with the Sprint 4S when using SIM cards here in Europe or back in Canada when I return in a years time?

Thanks

With the early termination fees, first month's service and setup charge, you'd probably spend as much or more for the Sprint iPhone as you would buying an unlocked Canadian iPhone, wouldn't you? Why go through the hassle?

Now, when you're ready to sell a Sprint/Verizon iPhone 4S, I can see making more selling it as unlocked to non-US buyers. But that's a while down the road.

 

[vpndev]

gone from AT&T when contract ends

I just talked to AT&T and they continue to insist that iPhone4 CANNOT be unlocked, and say it's because of Apple.

I told them I don't believe that, and the no-unlock is AT&T's own policy decision.

My contract is up in June and I will certainly NOT be renewing it.

 

[iVoid]

Anyone have any insight about this?

Well, since the unlocked iPhone 4S that Apple sells won't work on Sprint or Verizon, I assume it'd be the same for unlocked iPhones bought outside the US.

The CMDA portion of the US phone is programed for Sprint or Verizon from the factory.

 

[WannaGoMac]

I just talked to AT&T and they continue to insist that iPhone4 CANNOT be unlocked, and say it's because of Apple.

I told them I don't believe that, and the no-unlock is AT&T's own policy decision.

My contract is up in June and I will certainly NOT be renewing it.

This AT&T policy alone is enough for me to easily decide now NOT to use AT&T. I refuse to support these *******s anymore, especially now that I have other carriers willing to let me unlock MY phone.

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Anyone have any insight about this?

It's been answered many times on this site. CDMA phones have to be purchased and activated from a CDMA carrier to work on a CDMA network

 

[cbdoc]

AT&T Unlocking Phone

Has anyone had any luck with AT&T unlocking the phone? I know they used to do this for long-time customers. Maybe they still can do this?

 

[NeverhadaPC]

Egg on my face

Ha ha ha... gotta love this!

I just switched from Verizon to AT&T for the iPhone 4S, because:
(1) Surf and Talk at same time
(2) Unlimited voice with family texting plan
(3) Added my wife and I to my parents' family plan saved us 10$ per month with iPhones (compared to our current dumb-phone setup).

I travel abroad a couple times per year for a couple weeks at a time and could really use a smart-phone that was internationally un-locked.

AT&T better shape up or I will only be a one-time contract signee.

 

[trouble747]

Are you talking about having an AT&T phone unlocked domestically? It doesn't sound like the CDMA phones are unlocked for domestic use, either.

 

[Giuly]

What are those dudes at AT&T afraid of? I thought they've got "teh 4G n37w0rkz", who wants to use an iPhone 4S on T-Mobile's EDGE?

 

[NeverhadaPC]

Has anyone had any luck with AT&T unlocking the phone? I know they used to do this for long-time customers. Maybe they still can do this?

I wonder if premier customers have had any (more) luck?

 

[KPOM]

Advantage Sprint! Unlimited data back home, and use any SIM you want while traveling.

Of course, the 3GS is $375 unlocked, so buying one as a spare is another option for frequent travelers.

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T-Mobile never objected when I asked them to unlock my phone for international use. They just did it, and for free.
I also wonder if the 4S would work in T-Mobile's unique 3G frequencies, and not just in Edge mode.

No, the AWS band is not activated on the 4S.

 

[ldmbouge]

AT&T will loose me...

I have two iPhones 3GS with AT&T. The 2 year contract is over by a few months now. I'll upgrade to the 4S but I want to have the 2 3GS unlocked as both now fully belong to me. I called them to have them unlocked. They flat out refused.

This is the sound of an unhappy customer who will be leaving AT&T for either Sprint or Verizon (I do travel internationally). This is good news for me, and bad news for AT&T. They deserve the same fate as Netflix for screwing around.

 

[WannaGoMac]

Ha ha ha... gotta love this!

I just switched from Verizon to AT&T for the iPhone 4S, because:
(1) Surf and Talk at same time
(2) Unlimited voice with family texting plan
(3) Added my wife and I to my parents' family plan saved us 10$ per month with iPhones (compared to our current dumb-phone setup).

I travel abroad a couple times per year for a couple weeks at a time and could really use a smart-phone that was internationally un-locked.

AT&T better shape up or I will only be a one-time contract signee.

Actually, you haven't switched yet since you don't have the 4s in hand.
Just don't open the box and you will get a complete refund if you don't activate etc.