Sidebar Sidebar
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.

Unopened iphone 4 with sim other than AT&T? - curious...

L

lilrush

macrumors regular
Original poster
Jan 1, 2008
185
548
Alright so this may be the most retarded question ever so brace yourselves.
I'm not sure how American iPhones work so that's why I am reaching out to you guys.

I know for sure that in Canada, customers that purchase an iphone are prompted to have it opened and put a sim card in it in the store, because out of box, they are indeed locked phones, however the phone ( since it hasn't even been turned on or connected to itunes yet) does not know which carrier it is locked to. Once a sim card is inserted, it automatically locks to this carrier.

Now, I attended the fifth ave launch of the iphone 4 in NYC and acquired an iphone 4, which I have heard to be "locked".

Instead of letting them open and lock it instore, i insisted it was a gift and not to be opened.

Thus theoretically, if I put in my sim card (which is not AT&T, it is Rogers) then it will automatically lock to Rogers?

I have spoken to Geniuses and Apple iPhone specialists at various locations and they all seem to think this will work.

Does this sound plausible or am I an idiot?
 
All US iphone are locked to AT&T and come preinstalled with an AT&T microsim.
If you put any other simcard in and try to activate it nothing will happen.
They dont lock it at the store, they're already locked before you even open the box. The ones sold in Canada are programmed different from the factory and operate different.
The people that you spoke to are probably idiots for leading you to believe you can use and activate a US iphone with a Canadian sim :D
 
seriously, there's an AT&T sim actually in the phone?
this, I did not know lol :p
 
So if i opened it, took out att and replaced with my sim THEN plugged into itunes, do you think i would confuse it into believing it is rogers or just make a fool of myself?

I just had to ask lol.
 
What you also didn't know what that when you purchased it at the NY Apple store, they stole your soul and transfered it to an AT&T sim card.

Freaky!

:)
 
lilrush said:
So if i opened it, took out att and replaced with my sim THEN plugged into itunes, do you think i would confuse it into believing it is rogers or just make a fool of myself?

I just had to ask lol.
Click to expand...

LMAO :D
I think you know the asnwer but I will let you know anyway.:D
It wont make a difference what sim you put in before you try to activate, it will still be locked to AT&T.
Do yourself a favor and just buy one in Canada instead. I heard they will also sell them with an option of factory unlocked also.
So you could use it with any GSM carrier in the world incase you decide to switch provider later or sell it to someone else.
 
Applejuiced said:
LMAO :D
I think you know the asnwer but I will let you know anyway.:D
It wont make a difference what sim you put in before you try to activate, it will still be locked to AT&T.
Do yourself a favor and just buy one in Canada instead. I heard they will also sell them with an option of factory unlocked also.
So you could use it with any GSM carrier in the world incase you decide to switch provider later or sell it to someone else.
Click to expand...

But what about the "soul attached to the sim card" problem?
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Register on MacRumors! This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.
Top Bottom
Back