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Carrier (T-Mobile iPhone 5s is LOCKED- Unlocked iPhone 5s Discussion)
- Thread starter MicroMacTosh
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I doubt anything has changed in the past couple of years with unlock status but the way it used to be is as follows.
Every phone in the Apple store sitting on the shelf is essentially the same status. The lock/unlock/carrier status of the phone is determined at check out. If the phone is checked out ATT it is locked to ATT if it is checked out full price it is automatically assigned to the unlock white list. This is an automated process, remember the unlock is done through itunes and is based on a check of the IMEI against apple database.
Not everyone in the store appears to be aware of this.
Every phone in the Apple store sitting on the shelf is essentially the same status. The lock/unlock/carrier status of the phone is determined at check out. If the phone is checked out ATT it is locked to ATT if it is checked out full price it is automatically assigned to the unlock white list. This is an automated process, remember the unlock is done through itunes and is based on a check of the IMEI against apple database.
Not everyone in the store appears to be aware of this.
I bought 2 full price 64GB iPhone 5s from the Apple Store today. Half the employees there said they were "locked to t-mobile" and then other employees said they were "fully unlocked". I decided to try it out because they said I had 30 days to return it if I had issues. I would activate them myself at home.
Brought them home, took out the t-mobile sim (did not turn on the phone) and put in my at&t nano-sim from my iPhone 5. Activated within seconds to at&t. I then turned off the phone and did a restore in DFU mode. It downloaded iOS 7.0.1 (only for the 5s) and installed. When the phone booted up and activated via iTunes, I got the, "Congratulations, your iPhone has been unlocked screen."
Apple doesn't seem to have a clue! I think they just don't want to tell people they are unlocked because of resellers.
Brought them home, took out the t-mobile sim (did not turn on the phone) and put in my at&t nano-sim from my iPhone 5. Activated within seconds to at&t. I then turned off the phone and did a restore in DFU mode. It downloaded iOS 7.0.1 (only for the 5s) and installed. When the phone booted up and activated via iTunes, I got the, "Congratulations, your iPhone has been unlocked screen."
Apple doesn't seem to have a clue! I think they just don't want to tell people they are unlocked because of resellers.
I have an both an activated AT&T sim and an activated t-mobile sim. When I receive the t-mobile full price phone which sim do I use? both are on the prepaid sims no plan contract. Which one do I use to activate the phone so it works with both gsm carriers I don't want it to be locked to either one.
I think that a lot of people are confused as to what unlocked means. LTE and GSM are both standards, and an unlocked phone is an unlocked phone is an unlocked phone. There's no special Apple unlocked phone, just like there is no special AT&T unlocked device.
I agree, once it's unlocked, it's unlocked. But the "Apple Unlocked" come that way straight from Apple without having to have a carrier submit an unlock request.
Back when the iPhone 4S came out, I purchased the AT&T version at full price at the Apple Store. The guys at the store told me that even though it was purchased at full price, that it was locked to AT&T.
When I got home, I removed AT&T's sim card and put in a Telcel (Mexico) sim card (while in the States) and connected to iTunes. I've used a T-Mobile, AT&T, Telcel, and Aio sim cards on it without any issues.
I got the "Your iPhone has been Unlocked" message.
This was purchased before Apple had the "unlocked" iPhones available. I used the following guide: http://osxdaily.com/2011/10/25/buy-iphone-4s-without-contract-unlocked/
(Old, I know, but it may still work)
I'm assuming that the T-Mobile version of the 5s will work similarly, as well as the AT&T version (provided you purchase it at full price from Apple).
Apple must be selling the T-Mobile 5s as contract-free since it will come with the T-Mo SIM card installed, instead of having separate inventory for T-Mo versions with and without a SIM card. I think that they would prefer to not advertise it as unlocked to prevent resale of the device to other markets.
When I got home, I removed AT&T's sim card and put in a Telcel (Mexico) sim card (while in the States) and connected to iTunes. I've used a T-Mobile, AT&T, Telcel, and Aio sim cards on it without any issues.
I got the "Your iPhone has been Unlocked" message.
This was purchased before Apple had the "unlocked" iPhones available. I used the following guide: http://osxdaily.com/2011/10/25/buy-iphone-4s-without-contract-unlocked/
(Old, I know, but it may still work)
I'm assuming that the T-Mobile version of the 5s will work similarly, as well as the AT&T version (provided you purchase it at full price from Apple).
Apple must be selling the T-Mobile 5s as contract-free since it will come with the T-Mo SIM card installed, instead of having separate inventory for T-Mo versions with and without a SIM card. I think that they would prefer to not advertise it as unlocked to prevent resale of the device to other markets.
He means "Don't be a lazy git, just read the thread. It's not that long and the answer to your question has already been provided."
The T-Mobile iPhone 5s from Apple retail or online store are unlocked. Also, the full priced no contract AT&T iPhone 5s from the Apple retail store is unlocked.
do you have new info about Verizon 5s?
is it possible that verizon 5s is unlocked outside the U.S but in the U.S it only works with verizon?
It would of been easier just to answer the question.
But yes it appears it's also unlocked.Which I did answer. But he asked the question when 1 page before everyone has said it's unlocked.It would of been easier just to answer the question.
is it possible that verizon 5s is unlocked outside the U.S but in the U.S it only works with verizon?
If I remember correctly, for the 4S at least, and possibly for iPhone 5 as well, the unlocked "Apple" version was not available on launch day. It took several weeks before the "Apple Unlocked" version was available in the stores. So it may be the same again this year. You may have to wait a while until Apple sells a truly unlocked phone without a carrier attached to it.
to settle the dispute
chrisperra Can you check this IMEI for me?
I bought a 16GB T-Mobile iPhone 5S from the Apple retail store in Norfolk, VA.
Phone is still in plastic wrap.
013790002263540
Hopefully this phone is unlocked, to settle the dispute.
Thanks
chrisperra Can you check this IMEI for me?
I bought a 16GB T-Mobile iPhone 5S from the Apple retail store in Norfolk, VA.
Phone is still in plastic wrap.
013790002263540
Hopefully this phone is unlocked, to settle the dispute.
Thanks
Wow can't believe so many pages for this.
Thats spot on.
Thats similar also to how the Genius Bar replacement iPhones work. All of them are locked to one carrier or another and when they process the paperwork, the unlock from the old phone is moved to the new replacement one.
Thats spot on.
Thats similar also to how the Genius Bar replacement iPhones work. All of them are locked to one carrier or another and when they process the paperwork, the unlock from the old phone is moved to the new replacement one.