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

Verizon iPhone 4S SIM UNLOCK Tutorial

Restore to unlock?

So I unlocked with Verizon via Global Support Team. Tried using an AT&T sim, received an incompatible sim error. However using that same ATT sim I tried a restore while it was inside the sim tray and I believe this might just work. When the iPhone 4S is restored its like it's out of the box(so it seems) therefore the phone is not assigned to a particular carrier. I was able to get the sim to bypass the incompatible sim screen and through iTunes went to the activate/register screen via iTunes. I was afraid to go further because it was my friends Sim from his ip4. I am not sure if this will work or not but had i used my own AT&T sim w an active account, I have no reason to believe I wouldn't been able too.

I could be wrong but anyone willing to test the idea, please let us know results. I am thinking of switching from Verizon to AT&T and this would be great.
 
SGMD1 said:
Have you tried it yourself?
Click to expand...

No, I am trying to decide which carrier to buy the 4s after the awful experience I had with a 3GS on AT&T. An easy unlock on Verizon is an important part of the equation compared to AT&T for my decision.

It seems like that 4s is providing much improved reception on AT&T -- people who used to drop daily calls and internet with their old 3G and 3GS phones are reporting none now to me (anecdotal evidence I know).

The hard core tech sites still haven't provide their carrier comparison evaluation yet (and they were the ones who found the the iphone 4 antenna issue)
 
WannaGoMac said:
No, I am trying to decide which carrier to buy the 4s after the awful experience I had with a 3GS on AT&T. An easy unlock on Verizon is an important part of the equation compared to AT&T for my decision.

It seems like that 4s is providing much improved reception on AT&T -- people who used to drop daily calls and internet with their old 3G and 3GS phones are reporting none now to me (anecdotal evidence I know).

The hard core tech sites still haven't provide their carrier comparison evaluation yet (and they were the ones who found the the iphone 4 antenna issue)
Click to expand...

I would go AT&T, I am a Verizon user, my data is really slow. Only reason I'm not leaving is for unlimited LTE next year. Both Verizon and AT&T have great coverage according to their maps in my area. So for me it's a question of speed and AT&T is the winner by far.
 
j1787 said:
I would go AT&T, I am a Verizon user, my data is really slow. Only reason I'm not leaving is for unlimited LTE next year. Both Verizon and AT&T have great coverage according to their maps in my area. So for me it's a question of speed and AT&T is the winner by far.
Click to expand...

That's a good point. Part of my concern is how awful AT&T has been, such as penetrating inside of buildings, on my 3GS. It's been just awful. I swore I would switch to Verizon, but now I am not so sure.

I tested verizon vs att 4s today, both full bars. ATT 4s loaded the page about a minute faster and tested 5x the download speed of Verizon. Old 3gs was like 2x verizon download test speed, but 3GS was still MUCH slower than the 4s to load the web page since it's CPU limited likely and the poorer quality antenna
 
WannaGoMac said:
That's a good point. Part of my concern is how awful AT&T has been, such as penetrating inside of buildings, on my 3GS. It's been just awful. I swore I would switch to Verizon, but now I am not so sure.

I tested verizon vs att 4s today, both full bars. ATT 4s loaded the page about a minute faster and tested 5x the download speed of Verizon. Old 3gs was like 2x verizon download test speed, but 3GS was still MUCH slower than the 4s to load the web page since it's CPU limited likely and the poorer quality antenna
Click to expand...

Yeah I mean Verizon is great for voice, but as far as data at least in my area is stronger with AT&T. As far as old buildings, that's where I have the most trouble with Verizon. I don't think your going to be dissapointed either way.
 
j1787 said:
Yeah I mean Verizon is great for voice, but as far as data at least in my area is stronger with AT&T. As far as old buildings, that's where I have the most trouble with Verizon. I don't think your going to be dissapointed either way.
Click to expand...

Thanks for the insight. I think you're probably right. I do have unlimited data on AT&T ...
 
WannaGoMac said:
Thanks for the insight. I think you're probably right. I do have unlimited data on AT&T ...
Click to expand...

Would definitely go AT&T then. LTE next year for both networks will most likely be majority of devices. I used a bionic for about 12 days and blew through a gig easily.
 
might be a redundant question but after the iPhone is unlocked, would restoring it on iTunes to factory settings affect it any?
 
j1787 said:
Would definitely go AT&T then. LTE next year for both networks will most likely be majority of devices. I used a bionic for about 12 days and blew through a gig easily.
Click to expand...

However there is almost no chance AT&T will grandfather unlimited 3G data into LTE unlimited, and AT&T is getting slaughtered in it's LTE roll out and capabilities compared to Verizon (Verizon owns far more spectrum).
 
j1787 said:
So I unlocked with Verizon via Global Support Team. Tried using an AT&T sim, received an incompatible sim error. However using that same ATT sim I tried a restore while it was inside the sim tray and I believe this might just work. When the iPhone 4S is restored its like it's out of the box(so it seems) therefore the phone is not assigned to a particular carrier. I was able to get the sim to bypass the incompatible sim screen and through iTunes went to the activate/register screen via iTunes. I was afraid to go further because it was my friends Sim from his ip4. I am not sure if this will work or not but had i used my own AT&T sim w an active account, I have no reason to believe I wouldn't been able too.

I could be wrong but anyone willing to test the idea, please let us know results. I am thinking of switching from Verizon to AT&T and this would be great.
Click to expand...

i tried to restore with my at&t sim ... same result ... doesn't work :(
 
j1787 said:
When the iPhone 4S is restored its like it's out of the box(so it seems) therefore the phone is not assigned to a particular carrier.
Click to expand...
This is not true with the Verizon iPhone 4S. There is Verizon-specific firmware on the phone and it will have the MNC/MCC restriction on AT&T/T-Mobile even after a restore.
gerelee said:
i tried to restore with my at&t sim ... same result ... doesn't work :(
Click to expand...
We've known this from the beginning.

AT&T/T-Mobile SIMs will not work on the Verizon iPhone 4S.
 
SGMD1 said:
This is not true with the Verizon iPhone 4S. There is Verizon-specific firmware on the phone and it will have the MNC/MCC restriction on AT&T/T-Mobile even after a restore.

We've known this from the beginning.

AT&T/T-Mobile SIMs will not work on the Verizon iPhone 4S.
Click to expand...

I haven't called to unlock yet, but this restriction shouldn't apply to Canadian carriers correct? My Rogers sim right now doesn't work.
 
bidwalj said:
I haven't called to unlock yet, but this restriction shouldn't apply to Canadian carriers correct? My Rogers sim right now doesn't work.
Click to expand...
That's right...your Rogers SIM should work once your phone is unlocked.
 
FYI I went thru the motions of getting my phone unlocked and used a SMART BUDDY SIM CARD from the PHILIPPINES and it worked fine running on the ATT network.
 
So when I preordered my 4S from the Verizon web site, the process included a checkbox option where I could indicate that the phone was going to be used internationally ... and I checked it. Does that mean that I'm likely to receive a phone on which the unlock has already been applied?
 
I successfully unlocked my Verizon iPhone 4S this morning by calling VZW Global Support. My experience:

- bought a Verizon iPhone 4S in an Apple Store
- set up/activated this morning, tried foreign SIM and got the "SIM Invalid" screen
- called VZW Global Support an hour later to unlock, took a few minutes, foreign SIM now recognized. Roamed on AT&T, called my foreign number and my iPhone rang successfully. Was able to receive a text message.

The only problem is, when the foreign SIM is in the iPhone, I'm not able to switch back to the Verizon network. I had to take the foreign SIM out first. There was no option in the Settings -> Carrier menu to switch back to Verizon; I only had AT&T, T-Mobile, and another local GSM carrier listed.

I called VZW and they created a ticket with Apple regarding the issue. I'm hoping I can keep the foreign SIM in there and just switch freely between VZW and GSM on the phone itself...if anyone knows how to do this let us know!

tl;dr: VZW unlocked my iPhone 4S SIM, switching between GSM/CDMA is annoying
 
SGMD1 said:
My unlocking experience:

- bought a Verizon iPhone 4S in an Apple Store
- set up/activated this morning, tried foreign SIM and got the "SIM Invalid" screen
- called VZW Global Support an hour later to unlock, took a few minutes, foreign SIM now recognized. Roamed on AT&T, called my foreign number and my iPhone rang successfully. Was able to receive a text message.

The only problem is, when the foreign SIM is in the iPhone, I'm not able to switch back to the Verizon network. I had to take the foreign SIM out first. There was no option in the Settings -> Carrier menu to switch back to Verizon; I only had AT&T, T-Mobile, and another local GSM carrier listed.

I called VZW and they created a ticket with Apple regarding the issue. I'm hoping I can keep the foreign SIM in there and just switch freely between VZW and GSM on the phone itself...if anyone knows how to do this let us know!

tl;dr: VZW unlocked my iPhone 4S SIM, switching between GSM/CDMA is annoying
Click to expand...

And if you get an update concerning the ticket with Apple let us know!
 
bidwalj said:
I haven't called to unlock yet, but this restriction shouldn't apply to Canadian carriers correct? My Rogers sim right now doesn't work.
Click to expand...

Has anyone found out whether there are any issues with using a Verizon-unlocked iPhone on the Canadian carriers?
 
A thanks to SGMD1

I would like to give a big thank you to SGMD1 for all his time and help on this thread. Thanks, SGMD1! :) You have been generous and kind with your help on this thread, and I appreciate it.
 
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