unlocked iphone store reservation

[archer75]

When you lease a phone through the apple program why do you have to choose a carrier when reserving for store pickup online? Since these phones are unlocked why would carrier matter?

I have AT&T, not under contract, and the store has a SIM free iphone that i'd like to lease via the apple program. But no phones show up when selecting AT&T.

 

[aziatiklover]

When you lease a phone through the apple program why do you have to choose a carrier when reserving for store pickup online? Since these phones are unlocked why would carrier matter?

Because of the sim card. Once you pick it up and set it up at the store your current sim will no longer work.

 

[Eileen89]

If the AT&T model isn't available just get the SIM Free one. I'm using it with AT&T and it works fine.

 

[archer75]

I get that. But again, if it's an unlocked phone they can then activate any phone with any carrier. The carrier you have would be irrelevant to the hardware right?

 

[gurase]

AFAIK, you can select the sim-free iPhone for the upgrade program, but you must activate it on a postpaid plan with one of the big 4 carriers. Since you plan on activating with AT&T, you should be fine reserving the sim-free model.

 

[Shadowbech]

While there is an option to select the sim-free iphone for the iUP under the reservation, I've read some reports of success and some not so success in getting the sim-free phone for iUP. You really have to get a good sales specialist who knows what they are doing.

I think what happens is even though sim-free iphone is eligible for iUP, they can bring out the sim card and do it that way.

 

[off_piste]

The sales guy I worked with claimed the iUP program requires the phone to be activated before it leaves the store. Could be a requirement of the financial company.