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

[outsidethebox]

SOLD!

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.

Basically I won't be returning to Canada for a year (and iPhone prices are 40% more here), so I have this great opportunity to get an "unlocked" Sprint 4S from the US in two weeks.

I didn't know you still had to sign a contract to get the phone though, that makes things a little more complicated, as I don't want to have to ask my friend to sign a contract with her credit card and then try to cancel it the next day - I had assumed you could just buy it outright like at the Apple store...

 

[LapsangSouchong]

Hmm, well, if AT&T sticks with their no unlock ever policy then I'd suspect the 4S will be my last AT&T iPhone. I won't make the jump now, because simultaneous data and voice is a must for my work (still a no go on Verizon iPhones, right?), but then, yeah, I'd switch for better service and an unlocked GSM...I admit I haven't read all 8 pages, has AT&T officially responded (i.e. not the CC reps)?

 

[lkwan]

What happends if I put my ATT sim into a Sprint 4S?

Since it is an unlocked phone shouldn't it work?

 

[Gemütlichkeit]

Why-o-why can't ATT unlock the phones that are currently out of contract?

 

[Ajones330]

those phones aren't factory unlocked... they are just "internationally unlocked" for American only users...I'm pretty sure the phone will not work with T-mo usa or att, this is my own theory tho'

I second that theory, Apple would be crazy to let someone get an unlocked iPhone 4s at 2 yr contract price. International unlock I can see but they will not work on att or t-mobile.

 

[MacFlorida]

Unlocked Coming in November

I may have missed a specific post, but on the iPhone pre-order page it says...

"Or get iPhone unlocked and contract-free. Coming in November."

I "think" this applies to AT&T also.

16 GB = $649

 

[Ryth]

I've just called Sprint's international division and they told me that the SIM portion is unlocked. However, you can not use US GSM carriers such as T Mobile or AT&T... I don't know how that works but I'm waiting until release before I begin investing...

I don't think that is true. If the phone is unlocked then ANY GSM will work. They basically don't want you to go to TMobile or AT&T.

 

[Le Big Mac]

I wish i had known about this last week!! AT&T sucks. Now I'm stuck with them for another 2 years. i should be able to travel and use a local sim.

You can cancel and return your phone. It may mean waiting a few weeks to get your hands on a Verizon or Sprint iphone 4S, though.

 

[SAD*FACED*CLOWN]

C'mon people...Sprint and Verizon will NOT work on AT&T or Tmobile....it's unlocked for international use...it is extremely easy to unlock it for overseas travel and yet block US GSM use...how would that work in Sprint and Verizon's favor?

 

[BruiserB]

Does anyone know if it is possible for carriers to "selectively unlock" phones which is what some are thinking this "international unlock" amounts to? I think the phone is either locked or unlocked....no in-between. Otherwise couldn't ATT just offer to "internationally unlock" your ATT phone and open it up for travel abroad while still locking out T-mobile here?

 

[WannaGoMac]

C'mon people...Sprint and Verizon will NOT work on AT&T or Tmobile....it's unlocked for international use...it is extremely easy to unlock it for overseas travel and yet block US GSM use...how would that work in Sprint and Verizon's favor?

Why would sprint and verizon care? You're in contract for 2yrs, breaking contract with the fees and early termination fee covers their costs.

Not saying you're wrong, just no one knows yet

 

[Le Big Mac]

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?

+1. GSM iPhones are effectively locked in the US to AT&T. Yes, you can use TMob, but really?

Verizon's 60-day approach seems totally legitimate, in order to prevent flippers who ETF. Obviously Sprint's policy is better, but VZW at least has something reasonable.

Reconsidering my AT&T order right now . . .

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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?

They refuse to unlock iPhones regardless of contract status, long-time customer, being Premier, etc.

 

[KPOM]

Since it is an unlocked phone shouldn't it work?

I don't think that is true. If the phone is unlocked then ANY GSM will work. They basically don't want you to go to TMobile or AT&T.

There are different kinds of locking. There is carrier locking (blocking out all carriers except for the issuing carrier), and country locking (blocking out all other SIMs from the same country) I suspect the Sprint iPhones are country locked to prevent US SIMs from working, but will work with SIMs that are country coded outside the US.

I may have missed a specific post, but on the iPhone pre-order page it says...

"Or get iPhone unlocked and contract-free. Coming in November."

I "think" this applies to AT&T also.

16 GB = $649

Yes. That phone will run only on GSM networks, including AT&T. I'm not sure what Apple is doing in other markets (e.g. Japan and Korea) that use CDMA.

 

[Tiger8]

Awsome!
Thanks ahead
If this work...this will be cheaper than buying apple unlock phone....200 + 350 ETF = 550 for 16 gb on sprint vs 650 from apple

CAREFUL! Dont' forget:
$36 activation fee
$80 (Minimum) for a one month of service.

If you cancel your contract within 14 days, you send the phone back for a full refund, if you don't send it back - or if cancel on day 15 until day 30, you will be charged ONE MONTH service plus activation fee.

Get the unlocked if that's your plan

 

[daxomni]

I like where this is going. One step closer to unlocked iPhones from AT&T.

What article are you reading? Everything I saw said that AT&T is NOT changing anything and has NO plans to in the future. If you really and truly want AT&T to change their policies then you need to stop playing games and leave them for another carrier. Otherwise they have no incentive to change anything and you're just stuck in the consumer version of the battered wife syndrome.

 

[SAD*FACED*CLOWN]

Why would sprint and verizon care? You're in contract for 2yrs, breaking contract with the fees and early termination fee covers their costs.

Not saying you're wrong, just no one knows yet

ok then how does it help AT&T or Tmobile? as far as I know there are no roaming aggreements between US CDMA and GSM carriers...if there were one we'd know...

 

[wratran]

CAREFUL! Dont' forget:
$36 activation fee
$80 (Minimum) for a one month of service.

If you cancel your contract within 14 days, you send the phone back for a full refund, if you don't send it back - or if cancel on day 15 until day 30, you will be charged ONE MONTH service plus activation fee.

Get the unlocked if that's your plan

thanks...
I did overlook the extra fees

 

[winterny]

http://arstechnica.com/gadgets/news...hone-4s-with-unlocked-micro-sim-card-slot.ars

 

[jianglai]

Sprint won't sell iPhone 4S with unlocked micro-SIM card slot

Official said no.

http://arstechnica.com/gadgets/news...hone-4s-with-unlocked-micro-sim-card-slot.ars

 

[ravensfan55]

Verizon and Sprint have to have an unlocked SIM slot or it's not a true world phone. You can roam on CDMA in a few other countries but the phone would not work at all in Europe.

 

[secretanchitman]

too many conflicting reports. i tend to believe jason snell from macworld considering he is a pretty good authority on osx/ios, but ars technica is pretty reliable as well.

who the hell knows at this point - i hope some lucky sprint customers get their phones early and can test it for us!

 

[kdarling]

Verizon and Sprint have to have an unlocked SIM slot or it's not a true world phone. You can roam on CDMA in a few other countries but the phone would not work at all in Europe.

Of course the US phones work in Europe using an AT&T or Verizon SIM. You just can't use local SIMs if it's not unlocked.

Note that half the carriers in the world sell locked iPhones. It's not just AT&T who tries to keep iPhone exclusivity. However, most of the other carriers will unlock them after a while or at least at end of contract when you've paid off the phone.

This Apple Support document lists all the world's iPhone carriers, and whether they're locked and/or can be unlocked. (I see that it doesn't list Verizon as one that will unlock ... yet... but they normally will with other world phones. The chart might mistakenly still just be for CDMA in their case.)

 

[jsoto]

Sprint won't sell iPhone 4S with unlocked micro-SIM card slot



http://arstechnica.com/gadgets/news...tm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=rss

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http://community.sprint.com/baw/message/350339

 

[Shivetya]

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

Ars Technica is now reporting that as false

http://arstechnica.com/apple/news/2...hone-4s-with-unlocked-micro-sim-card-slot.ars

 

[ravensfan55]

Of course the US phones work in Europe using an AT&T or Verizon SIM. You just can't use local SIMs if it's not unlocked.

Note that half the carriers in the world sell locked iPhones. It's not just AT&T who tries to keep iPhone exclusivity. However, most of the other carriers will unlock them after a while or at least at end of contract when you've paid off the phone.

This Apple Support document lists all the world's iPhone carriers, and whether they're locked and/or can be unlocked. (I see that it doesn't list Verizon as one that will unlock ... yet... but they normally will with other world phones.)

No...if you buy it from Verizon or Sprint there isn't a SIM card installed. You can roam on international CDMA networks but they're only in a few Asian countries and North/South America. If you want to use it in Europe you'd need to get a local SIM to use the GSM networks there.