Carrier (T-Mobile iPhone 5s is LOCKED- Unlocked iPhone 5s Discussion)

[KPOM]

If I am not mistaken, and from the read of this thread, Apple has quietly been selling the new iPhones unlocked, no wait. Now, is that only if you pay full price? Probably...but, anyone try swapping SIM after buying on contract w/AT&T?

A number of us, including me, purchased the Verizon iPhone 5s and are using it with AT&T or T-Mobile. I bought mine for full price.

An AT&T phone bought on contract from anyone will be locked to AT&T. A Verizon iPhone will be unlocked regardless.

 

[KPOM]

Thank you for the clarification! One can purchase the "device only" for At&t or Verizon iPhones at full price as they are unlocked on the GSM networks.

Yes, though they may be in tighter supply now that Apple has the in-store reservation system in place. However, unlike last year, that system seems to be in addition to, rather than instead of, in-store outright sales. Tim Cook seems to have the supply chain running better than last year.

It really is very simple. Buy a phone with a subsidy from anyone but Verizon and it will be locked, whether bought from Apple or the carrier. Buy a Verizon iPhone 5c or 5s and it will be unlocked no matter what. Buy a T-Mobile, AT&T, or Verizon phone for full price from Apple and without a contract and it will be unlocked. Buy the same phone from AT&T or T-Mo and it will be locked, but unlockable after you've met the carrier's requirements. Buy a Sprint model and you can request the ability to unlock it for overseas use, but not on AT&T or T-Mobile.

 

[1twojay]

Actually it is not that complicated to determine which version is locked or unlocked…

For iPhone 5 or 5C or 5S that bought in Apple Retail Stores:

AT&T version:
LOCKED for contract; UNLOCKED for “device only” purchase. For locked iPhone, you can request unlock if you have fulfilled the contract.

T-Mobile USA version:
UNLOCKED

Verizon:
UNLOCKED for BOTH contract and “device only” because of the FCC requirement of the 700MHz spectrum that Verizon is using

Sprint:
LOCKED for BOTH contract and “device only”. You can request unlock ONLY for international travelling if your iPhone is attaching to an active Sprint account. (i.e. only non-US carriers sims can be used even it is unlocked. AT&T, T-Mobile USA and other US carriers’ sims WILL NOT WORK)



For iPhone 5 or 5C or 5S that bought directly from carriers or authorized resellers (including Best Buy, Wal-Mart…etc)

AT&T version:
LOCKED for BOTH contract and “device only” purchase. However, you can request unlock if you have fulfilled the contract OR your iPhone was purchased as “device only” (or called no commitment pricing or without contract or full pricing). You will have to provide proof of purchase (e.g. store receipts) if you want to unlock for iPhones bought without contract.

T-Mobile USA version:
LOCKED. T-Mobile USA will unlock it only under certain requirements. Most common requirement is the phone must be active under T-Mobile account for at least 40 days.

Verizon:
UNLOCKED for BOTH contract and “device only” because of the FCC requirement of the 700MHz spectrum that Verizon is using

Sprint:
LOCKED for BOTH contract and “device only”. You can request unlock ONLY for international travelling if your iPhone is attaching to an active Sprint account. (i.e. only non-US carriers sims can be used even it is unlocked. AT&T, T-Mobile USA and other US carriers’ sims WILL NOT WORK.

Above information 100% accurate and correct? Just confirming

 

[lirn8]

Thanks, I don't understand why different Apple employees are giving different opinions. Not good!

That's what I said a few posts up and people called me troll
;(

 

[MacKid1983]

But can you use The tmobile phone on verizon?

 

[skemez1]

Just a question: how to you send a copy of your story to Apple Store Customer Care? Do you have an email address?

I went onto the online help chat that apple offers and they sent me a link to some apple store customer care feed back survey. I pasted my letter into to comments section.

 

[PingPongPlayer]

Buy an AT&T iPhone at the Apple store and tell them you want it as a device only. It'll become unlocked once you restore it in iTunes.

 

[benji888]

A number of us, including me, purchased the Verizon iPhone 5s and are using it with AT&T or T-Mobile. I bought mine for full price.

An AT&T phone bought on contract from anyone will be locked to AT&T. A Verizon iPhone will be unlocked regardless.

Good to know...I'm considering switching to tmobile.

 

[kvizzel]

Unlocked. Close thread.

Wrong.

It's LOCKED. Not matter what. You need to have it active for 40 days before being able to request an unlock.

I purchased mine at full price.

 

[Ann P]

It's only unlocked if you purchased the phone outright, full price.

 

[benji888]

Wrong.

It's LOCKED. Not matter what. You need to have it active for 40 days before being able to request an unlock.

I purchased mine at full price.

But, which one? AT&T? If yes, seems AT&T is the only one doing this. ...OR, sOme posted that they put a different SIM in before turning it on the first time, is that the trick?

 

[CEmajr]

Wrong.

It's LOCKED. Not matter what. You need to have it active for 40 days before being able to request an unlock.

I purchased mine at full price.

Stop posting incorrect information. There is a long thread on this already and it has been proven my several users including myself.

If you buy the phone from Apple at full price it is unlocked.

If you buy it from a T-Mobile store at full price or with their monthly installment plans, it is locked until you have service for 40 days and request an unlock from T-Mobile.

 

[Coleman2010]

Above information 100% accurate and correct? Just confirming

I am so tired of these "just confirming" posts. There are 16 pages of people already confirming the T-Mobile version and device only purchases are unlocked. Read the thread and stop asking the same question over and over again.

 

[Coleman2010]

I have looked EVERYWHERE, and I have gotten different answers EVERYWHERE. If there is already people with the T-Mobile version, can you answer that once and for all please? Is it unlocked or not? Can I use it with other carriers?

3 posts. STOP TROLLING!

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So there's no way the phone could lock right? I ordered the T-Mobile version from apple.com and want to use the T-Mobile sim card first, just to test it. But it wouldn't lock into it right? I could just take it out after a week and put in another sim?

NO! It will not lock.

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Wrong.

It's LOCKED. Not matter what. You need to have it active for 40 days before being able to request an unlock.

I purchased mine at full price.

You're wrong. Only T-mobile iPhones sold at T-mobile carrier outlets or retail stores other than Apple are locked to T-mobiles network. If purchased from Apple online or retail stores its unlocked.


Stop passing false information.

 

[seiyamaple]

3 posts. STOP TROLLING!

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NO! It will not lock.

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You're wrong. Only T-mobile iPhones sold at T-mobile carrier outlets or retail stores other than Apple are locked to T-mobiles network. If purchased from Apple online or retail stores its unlocked.


Stop passing false information.

Not sure why you think I'm 'trolling', but meh, whatever.
Does that mean that a phone bought at RadioShack for example, would be locked? I live in WV and there are no Apple Retail stores.

 

[ianthensome]

Hey guys I am going to be yelled at this (probably), but do I have to have a simcard plugged in the phone before I factory reset it?

 

[silentbob007]

Not sure why you think I'm 'trolling', but meh, whatever.
Does that mean that a phone bought at RadioShack for example, would be locked? I live in WV and there are no Apple Retail stores.

It is doubtful RadioShack will sell you a device-only phone as they make their money off selling you the plan. If they do, the phone may be marked up (like Best Buy).

 

[Coleman2010]

Not sure why you think I'm 'trolling', but meh, whatever.
Does that mean that a phone bought at RadioShack for example, would be locked? I live in WV and there are no Apple Retail stores.

RadioShack will be locked.

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Hey guys I am going to be yelled at this (probably), but do I have to have a simcard plugged in the phone before I factory reset it?

No

 

[Ricky888]

Apple.com deleted Unlocked on T Mobile contract free already.
I do not know why. Go to check it out here

http://store.apple.com/us/buy-iphone/iphone5s

 

[Ricky888]

Anybody get your T-mobile version from Apple store online today.
Please share

 

[auero]

They changed the website. This was my order.

 

[Manatlt]

Apple.com deleted Unlocked on T Mobile contract free already.
I do not know why. Go to check it out here

http://store.apple.com/us/buy-iphone/iphone5s

It has been explained time and time again. Apple Online/Retail Stores sell T-Mobile versions unlocked.


Ignore the troll who has been creating 60+ accounts (and getting banned shortly after) spreading information that is wrong to scare us. I've kept quiet in this thread (I'm importing a 5S from US) but everytime I read this thread and see him create another account, he p***es me off.

 

[Yekezei]

T-Mobile iPhone from apple confirmed as unlocked once more.

Don't even bother doing factory reset, it comes unlocked and stays unlocked no matter what sim you put in to activate it.

 

[Beezy253]

T-Mobile iPhone from apple confirmed as unlocked once more.

Don't even bother doing factory reset, it comes unlocked and stays unlocked no matter what sim you put in to activate it.

Image

Ahh, I didn't even bother to check my serial number. (which is already available in my Apple Support profile!)

I guess the database hasn't updated yet since I am not able to pull up my serial number yet.

 

[lirn8]

Good evening
My Verizon 5s imei check.
The one thing that is strange is that my imei starts in 357.... and others I saw started with 01....