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

3G 95% of the time. EDGE or GPRW the rest. No 4G or LTE unless you pay extra for it via text prompt when you enter a country.
 
Coleman I do "basic" texting, picture and quick video clip texting. I personally have not tethered it to a laptop, but I've seen a colleague do it with no problem. I have tethered it to my ipad and watched real time streaming ESPN football games. Occasionally there is a video connection hiccup but audio is not affected. GPS works perfect.......and that burns data like crazy. I now keep my data roaming on 24/7 knowing there will never be any extra usage fees (except for the $.20 per minute calling) when I am overseas. Technically I really don't need an unlocked phone anymore as long as I keep this tmobile plan.
 
Surferdude44 said:
Coleman I do "basic" texting, picture and quick video clip texting. I personally have not tethered it to a laptop, but I've seen a colleague do it with no problem. I have tethered it to my ipad and watched real time streaming ESPN football games. Occasionally there is a video connection hiccup but audio is not affected. GPS works perfect.......and that burns data like crazy. I now keep my data roaming on 24/7 knowing there will never be any extra usage fees (except for the $.20 per minute calling) when I am overseas. Technically I really don't need an unlocked phone anymore as long as I keep this tmobile plan.
Click to expand...

My 5s is unlocked and I travel often to Brasil. I have a TIM SIM card I normally use when I'm there. But if you don't change to a local SIM anyone calling you locally will be making a long distance call correct?
 
Correct Coleman. But remember, if you are in Brazil with just the Tmobile sim, you can call anyone in Brazil, USA or any other country for 20 cents.......landline or mobile. Someone in the USA can call your tmobile number for free.
 
CEmajr said:
- If you buy it from the Apple store, it's unlocked. Apple doesn't sell locked T-Mobile iPhones.

- If you buy it from a T-Mobile store, even at full price, it will be locked to T-Mobile until you've had service with them for 40 days and then they will unlock it.
Click to expand...

You speak without proof. I visited the Apple store where I live to find the truth in all this. They are all locked to a particular carrier, even if at full price. It is incumbant upon you to call the carrier. TMobile just happens to be a little behind (45 days).
 
tdtran1025 said:
You speak without proof. I visited the Apple store where I live to find the truth in all this. They are all locked to a particular carrier, even if at full price. It is incumbant upon you to call the carrier. TMobile just happens to be a little behind (45 days).
Click to expand...

I bought mine from the Apple Store at full price and it came unlocked.
 
Surferdude44 said:
Okay. Enough already. I am an international airline captain. I have a Tmobile 64g 5s.....purchased from Apple online. I've had a TM account for over 10 years starting when they used to be Voicestream. I activated the new phone at my local TM store. Flew to Hong Kong next day. Installed my 3 Hong Kong nano sim. Worked fine. Since then I have flown to Australia and used my 3 Australia nano sim. Italy Tim nano sim. Germany Orange nano sim. Netherlands Orange nano sim. Great Britian 3 nano sim. All worked fine. The phone was unlocked out of the box and worked perfectly for talk, text, data and hotspot. Good news, right? Here's better news. As of November 1, T-mobile USA introduced global access. They have a deal with 100 countries for $.20 per minute incoming and outgoing roaming talk time and UNLIMITED roaming data and text. With this new deal I no longer have to recharge foreign sims. In fact I've tossed them. My TM phone is now usable in 100 countries plus the US for $60 a month. I have unlimited data and text/picture plus $.20 per minute from any country outside the US talk time.
Click to expand...

I noticed the Atlanta airport was completely plastered with T-mobile ads touting their new international roaming. I imagine airline personnel and lots of frequent travelers are prime candidates for switching. Such a great deal! I opted for a local SIM for my recent trip to South Africa since I'm on T-mobile's $30 prepaid plan that doesn't include this. If I traveled more frequently, I'd change over to T-mobile post-paid in a heartbeat!
 
tdtran1025 said:
You speak without proof. I visited the Apple store where I live to find the truth in all this. They are all locked to a particular carrier, even if at full price. It is incumbant upon you to call the carrier. TMobile just happens to be a little behind (45 days).
Click to expand...
You are wrong. The T-Mobile version sold at the Apple Store IS UNLOCKED! That is why it's always out of stock and very hard to come by at the Apple Store. The employee either doesn't know better or he purposely lied to you.

If you buy any iPhone full priced, "device only" from the Apple Store it is sold unlocked.
 
Surferdude44 said:
Okay. Enough already. I am an international airline captain. I have a Tmobile 64g 5s.....purchased from Apple online. I've had a TM account for over 10 years starting when they used to be Voicestream. I activated the new phone at my local TM store. Flew to Hong Kong next day. Installed my 3 Hong Kong nano sim. Worked fine. Since then I have flown to Australia and used my 3 Australia nano sim. Italy Tim nano sim. Germany Orange nano sim. Netherlands Orange nano sim. Great Britian 3 nano sim. All worked fine. The phone was unlocked out of the box and worked perfectly for talk, text, data and hotspot. Good news, right? Here's better news. As of November 1, T-mobile USA introduced global access. They have a deal with 100 countries for $.20 per minute incoming and outgoing roaming talk time and UNLIMITED roaming data and text. With this new deal I no longer have to recharge foreign sims. In fact I've tossed them. My TM phone is now usable in 100 countries plus the US for $60 a month. I have unlimited data and text/picture plus $.20 per minute from any country outside the US talk time.
Click to expand...

Thank you for the great summary of your experience. I often travel the world and switched to T-mobile yesterday for the very reason you outlined. What type of data service (2g, 3g, LTE, ect) are you getting in those countries for free with tmobile? Does it prompt you to buy higher speed access for $50/500mb upon landing in a new country?
 
Primarily 3G. Very rare edge or GPRW. When you enter a country you will get a text asking if you want to upgrade to 500mb of faster speed for a week for $20. BUT even TM says don't do it because 90 out of the 100 countries they have this deal with, doesn't have 4g or LTE capability. Free 3G is fast enough for me...and there is a lot you can do with it. Always remember to leave your data roaming button ON.
 
Surferdude44 said:
Primarily 3G. Very rare edge or GPRW. When you enter a country you will get a text asking if you want to upgrade to 500mb of faster speed for a week for $20. BUT even TM says don't do it because 90 out of the 100 countries they have this deal with, doesn't have 4g or LTE capability. Free 3G is fast enough for me...and there is a lot you can do with it. Always remember to leave your data roaming button ON.
Click to expand...
I get 3G on my iPhone with a local SIM so I will get 3G with T-Mobile.
 
I bought a Tmobile iPhone from Craigslist around July. Today I chatted with one of Tmobile's representative telling them if they could unlock my iPhone 5. They told me I met all the requirements. Which is kind of weird since I never put the iPhone 5's IMEI on my tmobile account. And the seller that I bought it from said he only have it for 3 months. Anyways now I have to wait 14 days to get the unlock code(in other words to restore my iPhone through iTunes)

Hopefully it's soon.
 
Bad new for me.
My auncle is gonna be in Miami tomorrow.
Does anybody knows if Best Buy sells unlocked Iphones 5s?

Thank you.
 
Haunter1988 said:
Bad new for me.
My auncle is gonna be in Miami tomorrow.
Does anybody knows if Best Buy sells unlocked Iphones 5s?

Thank you.
Click to expand...
There are several Apple stores in Miami. Have your uncle buy a full priced "device only" AT&T, Verizon or T-Mobile iPhone and it will be unlocked.

Bestbuy does not sell unlocked iPhone 5s. Just Apple online or retail stores.
 
Coleman2010 said:
There are several Apple stores in Miami. Have your uncle buy a full priced "device only" AT&T, Verizon or T-Mobile iPhone and it will be unlocked.

Bestbuy does not sell unlocked iPhone 5s. Just Apple online or retail stores.
Click to expand...

I am asking her right now. :( I think she just asked for T-mobile.
My uncle leaves Miami on Nov 23th. So, I am waiting for a miracle! XD

Thank you for the information.
 
Haunter1988 said:
I am asking her right now. :( I think she just asked for T-mobile.
My uncle leaves Miami on Nov 23th. So, I am waiting for a miracle! XD

Thank you for the information.
Click to expand...

Your uncle is a she? I am confused. Why can't your uncle go to an apple store?

If she is someone you are buying for if you are looking for unlocked. Any of the models I listed above if purchased device only will be unlocked. You can use it with any GSM carrier.
 
Coleman2010 said:
Your uncle is a she? I am confused. Why can't your uncle go to an apple store?

If she is someone you are buying for if you are looking for unlocked. Any of the models I listed above if purchased device only will be unlocked. You can use it with any GSM carrier.
Click to expand...

I am sorry not to explain the case very well. :p
My uncle(he) is arriving tomorrow at my other uncle's house in Miami (she) :)
The big problem is the shortage of Iphones 5s at the stores :S
 
Haunter1988 said:
I am sorry not to explain the case very well. :p
My uncle(he) is arriving tomorrow at my other uncle's house in Miami (she) :)
The big problem is the shortage of Iphones 5s at the stores :S
Click to expand...
English is a second language? What is your native language?

There is a lot of stock of the space gray iPhone 5s.
 
Coleman2010 said:
English is a second language? What is your native language?

There is a lot of stock of the space gray iPhone 5s.
Click to expand...

My native language is Spanish. Im learning :)

Are you sure? So, there is hope.

Because I clicked on "check availability" from t-mob, verizon and AT&T, then enter the zip code 33156 and there arent any stock of Iphone 5s, whatever size or color. :( My uncle lives in Kendall, south part of Miami)

How do you know there is a lot of stock.
Thanks.
 
Haunter1988 said:
My native language is Spanish. Im learning :)

Are you sure? So, there is hope.

Because I clicked on "check availability" from t-mob, verizon and AT&T, then enter the zip code 33156 and there arent any stock of Iphone 5s, whatever size or color. :( My uncle lives in Kendall, south part of Miami)

How do you know there is a lot of stock.
Thanks.
Click to expand...
I just checked the zip code you posted. I see stock of space gray AT&T, Verizon, and one 64GB T-Mobile. Silver I see AT&T and Verizon. And I even see stock of gold in all 3 carriers.

Are you using the same stock checker I sent to you in private message?
 
Coleman2010 said:
I just checked the zip code you posted. I see stock of space gray AT&T, Verizon, and one 64GB T-Mobile. Silver I see AT&T and Verizon. And I even see stock of gold in all 3 carriers.

Are you using the same stock checker I sent to you in private message?
Click to expand...

Have you received my pms?

Thank you :D
 
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