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Verizon iPhone 4S SIM UNLOCK Complete Tutorial

One thing I thought I'd mention for frequent international travelers.

So far, every foreign SIM I've installed has automatically enabled "Hotspot" mode. I'm in Israel right now and have a Pelephone unlimited plan (costs me about $30 US/month) with unlimited data and unlimited minutes. Once the SIM was in the phone, I went to the Hotspot option, turned it on and voila. Portable unlimited 3G data. You don't have to have a Hotspot plan enabled via Verizon for this to work. The foreign SIM just needs to allow for it (Pelephone and O2 both do it appears, no extra charge).

Not sure if this is working as intended or not but can confirm that it does work and you aren't racking up international data usage.
 
Tahl said:
Thanks for the very clear tutorial.

Can I just confirm what this part means:
Will reconnecting my phone to Verizon relock it?
NO!

I've talked to the Global group at Verizon. They say they have unlocked my iPhone 4s. I have a new Vodafone UK mini-SIM (cut down from a full SIM); it's for pay as you go, but isn't yet loaded with money.

What I want to confirm is that if I put the Vodafone UK card in here in the US & complete the unlocking process before I go to the UK, I will be able immediately to put my Verizon SIM back into the phone & continue to use it as normal before my trip, and then again after my trip.

I have to admit that having the Global rep use the word 'brick' in talking about the unlock process has spooked me a bit...
Click to expand...

An update to my own post: So far, so good.

While still in the US, and connected to Wifi, I removed my Verizon SIM and put in the Vodafone UK SIM. The phone went dark for a minute or two, then came back up, first showing ATT as the carrier, then 310-410, and eventually back to ATT.

I removed the Vodafone UK SIM and put the Verizon SIM back in. It reconnected with no problem.

I took the Verizon SIM back out & put the Vodafone UK SIM back in. Again, it connected to ATT/310-410/ATT, no problem. I was able to call *#100# to learn my Vodafone UK number. (Annoyingly, it's not written on the SIM pack).

I took the Vodafone UK SIM back out & put the Verizon SIM back in.

I haven't taken the phone out of the US yet, but as far as I can tell, I am able to swap back & forth between foreign SIMs and my Verizon SIM without drama, now that the phone is unlocked.
 
need help please!

Hi guys,

I'm currently in Vietnam and I've recently bought an iPhone 4s on eBay, and the seller is from US and he said that the phone was already set on international network. However, it was shipped to me unactivated so I can't use it. I followed the tutorial but I couldn't really get my Sim unlocked because I don't have all of the requirements. I don't know my phone number (as the network is not available in my country) and I'm not a Verizon customer. I did reach one of the reps there, and they said that sim unlock can only be done on their network ie in the US.

Just wondering if anybody knows if there is any other way to help get my sim unlocked. It'd be much appreciated. Thanks so much. Peace.
 
Tru sim?

Would it be possible to purchase a Tru sim (http://www.truphone.com/en-US/Products/Tru-for-you/) while in the US, activate it via this method while in the US, and then use it for international travel? I am not familiar with using international sims like this but it seems like a good option if you travel to different countries. :confused:

Not bound to Tru and open to other options, but using it as an example.
 
Hi Tahl...Thanks for the update. Please keep me posted...

Tahl said:
An update to my own post: So far, so good.

While still in the US, and connected to Wifi, I removed my Verizon SIM and put in the Vodafone UK SIM. The phone went dark for a minute or two, then came back up, first showing ATT as the carrier, then 310-410, and eventually back to ATT.

I removed the Vodafone UK SIM and put the Verizon SIM back in. It reconnected with no problem.

I took the Verizon SIM back out & put the Vodafone UK SIM back in. Again, it connected to ATT/310-410/ATT, no problem. I was able to call *#100# to learn my Vodafone UK number. (Annoyingly, it's not written on the SIM pack).

I took the Vodafone UK SIM back out & put the Verizon SIM back in.

I haven't taken the phone out of the US yet, but as far as I can tell, I am able to swap back & forth between foreign SIMs and my Verizon SIM without drama, now that the phone is unlocked.
Click to expand...

When you switched out your card, did your phone "brick"? did you loose all your music/videos/photos? What about when you returned to the US and put your Verizon card back in?
 
You will get an official unlock screen in iTunes with the Verizon carrier unlock.
 
Salem! said:
Hi guys,

I'm currently in Vietnam and I've recently bought an iPhone 4s on eBay, and the seller is from US and he said that the phone was already set on international network. However, it was shipped to me unactivated so I can't use it. I followed the tutorial but I couldn't really get my Sim unlocked because I don't have all of the requirements. I don't know my phone number (as the network is not available in my country) and I'm not a Verizon customer. I did reach one of the reps there, and they said that sim unlock can only be done on their network ie in the US.

Just wondering if anybody knows if there is any other way to help get my sim unlocked. It'd be much appreciated. Thanks so much. Peace.
Click to expand...

Please help me !!!
 
Great tutorial. I had no problems unlocking my new Verizon 4s. The call was easy. I trimmed up a GoSim global sim (not the best option while traveling, but works until a local sim can be picked up) I had from a previous trip that still had a small balance on it. After a reboot it connect to TMo's towers in my area. Thanks!
 
Dear
can you please unlock my verizon iphone 4s
i just call to verizon ,but she ask me my phone number ,i purchased in Ebay ,i dont know the phone number .whom can help me ,God bless YOU .
 
I live in the US and have family traveling over here this summer from the UK. One has a T-Mobile iPhone 4S and one has an 02 iPhone 4S. I have spare numbers for them to use on my Verizon plan. What do I need to do to get their lines on my plan during their visit? I'm trying to save them $. Thanks!
 
Great tutorial. I had a bit of difficulty at first because the first person I spoke to said it wasn't possible to unlock since it was a corporate phone, but I thought I'd try again and this time I just had to confirm I am the registered owner/user of the phone (and I mentioned my company gave me the iPhone after I signed up online) and they said fine and unlocked it for me.

Only thing I've noticed is my hotspot feature no longer works- i.e. it still is enabled, but when I try to connect to it using another wifi device it says unable to connect... how very odd.
 
Thank you for this information, it was very helpful.

I have a follow up question. I am planning on going to the UK and France next week. Is it generally best to get a pay as you go sim card in each country and use that card for voice and data? Or is it better to use the local sim for voice and switch back to the verizon sim on a global data plan for data? I plan on mostly using the data for maps while driving or navigating the city on foot. Does anyone recommend a particular company for the UK and/or France?

Thanks again.
 
tufts0207 said:
I am planning on going to the UK and France next week. Is it generally best to get a pay as you go sim card in each country and use that card for voice and data? Or is it better to use the local sim for voice and switch back to the verizon sim on a global data plan for data?
Click to expand...
I definitely would recommend using local SIMs for data. Verizon charges for both voice and data are extremely expensive while traveling abroad.

I'm not sure about the UK but for France I would recommend a SIM card from Lebara...it's definitely the cheapest.
 
If I complete this unlock and my phone needs replacement, is the new one still unlocked?
 
I have a question!!

I read thru the OP and had a question about one of the points made..

it says..
"Does the phone have to be currently active on Verizon's network to be able to use with international SIMs?
"Other than at the time of the Unlock the phone does NOT have to be on the network at any time or for any amount of time"

My question is..

I have unlocked my phone thru Verizon.. .. but I am thinking about gifting my iphone 4s to my dad who is in a foreign country where they have micro Sims for iphone 4s.

I know you've said.. "other than at the time of unlock".. but is unlocking done immediately when you call verizon or is it technically complete only when you insert the foreign sim?

Before I get the phone sent over to him.. I will be replacing the unlocked iphone 4s with another iphone on the line that was used to unlock.. .. which means... the unlocked iphone 4s is NO LONGER ACTIVE ON VERIZON.

In the foreign country, my dad will put in the foreign sim and connect to itunes... which should confirm the unlock.. but will there be issues because the phone is no longer active on Verizon??:confused:
 
Last edited:
SGMD1 said:
Nope. Once the phone is unlocked, it is unlocked permanently, regardless of whether it is active on Verizon.
Click to expand...

But the unlock happens when I call Verizon Correct? Not when I connect the iphone to itunes with the foreign sim card? I guess I am specifically asking if the phone needs to be on Verizon account when I connect the phone to itunes with the foreign sim card. As we know, the first time it has the foreign sim card.. it "bricks" the phone and then itunes would display the "your phone is unlocked".

I want to know for sure if the phone needs to be on verizon account (even if is outside verizon network). for that to happen.
 
kriskmk said:
But the unlock happens when I call Verizon Correct?
Click to expand...
Yes
kriskmk said:
Not when I connect the iphone to itunes with the foreign sim card?
Click to expand...
No
kriskmk said:
I am specifically asking if the phone needs to be on Verizon account when I connect the phone to itunes with the foreign sim card.
Click to expand...
No
kriskmk said:
I want to know for sure if the phone needs to be on verizon account (even if is outside verizon network). for that to happen.
Click to expand...
Once Verizon unlocks the phone, it is unlocked permanently. It does not need to be active on Verizon to use a different SIM.
 
Hi, I had my phone unlocked from Verizon about half a year ago. I just came to Taiwan and put in my sim card but since my phone apps were acting up, I had to restore my phone. I'm pretty sure this won't reverse the unlock but now I need to reactivate the phone. How am I supposed to do that if I'm out of the states right now? Or do I just use the local SIM card to activate it?
 
Unlock from Senegal

Hi All,

I'm debating whether or not to buy a used Verizon 4s for me to activate here in Senegal, where I live. All of the literature says that to unlock for international use, you must call Verizon with active service etc. I have active service in the States, but my question is this: If I get it shipped directly here, will I be able to call Verizon in the US and have them unlock it? I will be able to have a foreign SIM in it (Orange Senegal), but will the unlock register if the phone is abroad when I do it? Verizon lists that they don't have any service in Senegal. As I said, I meet all the conditions for Verizon to unlock, just curious if I will be able to do it from Senegal.

Thanks in advance,

Andrew
 
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