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Verizon iPhone 4S SIM UNLOCK Tutorial
- Thread starter b24pgg
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If it was a new line then yes. You can use someone else's line for unlocking as long as they have been in good standing for at least 2 months. I have done this using a friend's line.
Yes, there shouldn't be any problems. What I did was buy 5 iPhones on new lines. Deactivated one and then activated on my friends phone line. While it was on my friend's line I called in and had them unlock it. After it was unlocked I put my friend's phone back on his line and now I got an unlocked iPhone.
That's pretty clever. lol. I emailed them back and complained about how I've been a customer with them for a long time and everything. So I'm sure by tomorrow I will be unlocked.
Will it re-lock if I insert the Verizon SIM overseas?
People on this thread are saying that an unlocked Verizon iPhone 4S will re-lock once connected back to Verizon, and then the unlocking process has to be performed again before you can use a foreign SIM card again.
Will the Verizon iPhone 4S re-lock if I insert the Verizon SIM overseas? To clarify, this is what I'm asking:
If I call Verizon to unlock my iPhone 4S, arrive in France, insert a local French SIM card from the company Orange, and later that same day insert my Verizon SIM (so my mom back in the USA can cheaply call my American number), will my phone be re-locked again to that Verizon SIM?
People on this thread are saying that an unlocked Verizon iPhone 4S will re-lock once connected back to Verizon, and then the unlocking process has to be performed again before you can use a foreign SIM card again.
Will the Verizon iPhone 4S re-lock if I insert the Verizon SIM overseas? To clarify, this is what I'm asking:
If I call Verizon to unlock my iPhone 4S, arrive in France, insert a local French SIM card from the company Orange, and later that same day insert my Verizon SIM (so my mom back in the USA can cheaply call my American number), will my phone be re-locked again to that Verizon SIM?
I have talked with the global support guy who did my unlocking. He confirmed to me that the unlock was indefinite and will not relock in the future.
Wow, thank youI 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.
So I called Apple last night to inquire one more time about switching between CDMA and GSM modes on the phone itself, but no luck.
This is a huge flaw which I can't believe Apple didn't address. If I need to switch from Verizon to a foreign GSM network once I get off the plane in another country, it's a hassle to have to physically replace the microSIM while traveling instead of just being able to keep it in there.
Just confirming, I called Verizon.. and re-did it. Works! Roaming on (I assume) AT&T (310-410)
Wish I could flick the sim on/off though.. always handy to have AT&T when I'm underground (it works in part of the subway network in NYC better than VZW) When I do a 'manual' search I get AT&T or T-Mobile. Both seem to work.
I did, however need to plug it into iTunes.. it stuck on "Activation Required" otherwise.
M
Roaming on (I assume) AT&T (310-410)Wish I could flick the sim on/off though.. always handy to have AT&T when I'm underground (it works in part of the subway network in NYC better than VZW) When I do a 'manual' search I get AT&T or T-Mobile. Both seem to work.
I did, however need to plug it into iTunes.. it stuck on "Activation Required" otherwise.
M
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Just confirming, I called Verizon.. and re-did it. Works!
Wish I could flick the sim on/off though.. always handy to have AT&T when I'm underground (it works in part of the subway network in NYC better than VZW) When I do a 'manual' search I get AT&T or T-Mobile. Both seem to work.
I did, however need to plug it into iTunes.. it stuck on "Activation Required" otherwise.
M
Which number or department did you call? I plan on doing the same as I need to use my Rodgers sim when I travel to Canada.
I just called the global team on the first post.
P.S. What *is* odd to me, is that with *no* sim card in, I get "No Service" and No Sim card warnings.. rather than it using Verizon?
P.S. What *is* odd to me, is that with *no* sim card in, I get "No Service" and No Sim card warnings.. rather than it using Verizon?
Did you actually try it? Because connecting back to Verizon does indeed relock the phone, at least here in the US.
Yeah this is a bit of an annoyance. It's related to the fact that you can't switch between Verizon and your GSM provider on the fly without physically removing the SIM. Pretty big oversight on Apple's part.
I'm not having that problem. I am able to insert/remove my foreign SIM and connect to AT&T/Verizon without any relocking.
I called and was able to get it unlocked. I can confirm a Rodgers sim does work! After switching back to Verizon, I did notice that my FaceTime has been stuck on waiting for activation.
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Can also confirm it does not relock or need activation once you put the sim in. I was able to put the Rodgers sim in and connect to the network without it activating like it did the first time.
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Can also confirm it does not relock or need activation once you put the sim in. I was able to put the Rodgers sim in and connect to the network without it activating like it did the first time.
Honestly, all the SIMs available online that work globally have fairly expensive rates (although they're still cheaper than VZW's global roaming rates.)My apologies if this has been asked before, but ... can anyone recommend a US source for an inexpensive, prepaid SIM card from a foreign carrier?
No immediate plans for travel, but I want to do some experimenting ...
Your best option for cheap calls IMHO is to buy a local prepaid SIM when you arrive in your destination country.
Just confirming, I called Verizon.. and re-did it. Works!
Wish I could flick the sim on/off though.. always handy to have AT&T when I'm underground (it works in part of the subway network in NYC better than VZW) When I do a 'manual' search I get AT&T or T-Mobile. Both seem to work.
I did, however need to plug it into iTunes.. it stuck on "Activation Required" otherwise.
M
What good is it if you have to plug it into itunes to activate? If your traveling overseas & you don't have your laptop then no itunes & no activation with a local sim card.
This sounds expensive. So you'd have the verizon/Vodaphone plan active and the Orange?
Why not set up a Skype or google voice number for her to use?
So I just submitted an iPhone "Enhancement Request" on the Apple website to add a setting in the Network Selection menu allowing for switching from GSM back to CDMA/Verizon. Here's what I wrote:
If anyone else is interested in this, you can submit your request to Apple here: http://www.apple.com/feedback/iphone.html
iPhone Enhancement Request said:I have a Verizon iPhone 4S which has been SIM unlocked by Verizon. When I put a foreign SIM card in the phone, the network automatically attempts to connect to a GSM carrier, and the Settings -> Carrier menu only allows me to switch between different GSM networks; I am not able to switch the network back to Verizon manually unless I physically remove the SIM card (which as far as I know shouldn't be required, since Verizon is a CDMA network and doesn't require the use of a SIM card.)
This would not be ideal while traveling, for example. If I am returning from a foreign country (where I was using a GSM carrier) to the United States, I'd like to be able to turn on my iPhone and switch back to the Verizon network relatively quickly; currently this is only possible by physically removing the foreign SIM.
I'd like to request that a setting be added to allow manual switching between CDMA and GSM modes so that I can switch to my Verizon network even if my foreign SIM is still in the phone. This setting could perhaps be hidden for iPhones that don't have CDMA-flashed firmware.
This is what the current Network Selection menu looks like on my Verizon iPhone 4S when a foreign SIM is installed:
This is what I'm requesting:
OR
Thanks for your time.
If anyone else is interested in this, you can submit your request to Apple here: http://www.apple.com/feedback/iphone.html
Help!
ok here is my problem i was visiting the states a few weeks ago and a buddy of mine helped me buy a verizon 32gb iphone 4S on ebay model number MD279LL running OS 5 with firmware 1.0.11 from my understanding at first i thought the phone was already unlocked since it was advertised as unlocked but it turns out that it isn't even so i thought i could unlock it and use it back in china... now i am back in shanghai and when i insert my sim card it says "phone has not been activated" and other such error codes when i plug into itunes or when i insert a prepaid sim card i buy here in china... the phone doesn't work... is there any way that i can unlock or jailbreak my phone for it to work? i've never had a service with verizon before and i have no plans to return to the states anytime soon
ok here is my problem i was visiting the states a few weeks ago and a buddy of mine helped me buy a verizon 32gb iphone 4S on ebay model number MD279LL running OS 5 with firmware 1.0.11 from my understanding at first i thought the phone was already unlocked since it was advertised as unlocked but it turns out that it isn't even so i thought i could unlock it and use it back in china... now i am back in shanghai and when i insert my sim card it says "phone has not been activated" and other such error codes when i plug into itunes or when i insert a prepaid sim card i buy here in china... the phone doesn't work... is there any way that i can unlock or jailbreak my phone for it to work? i've never had a service with verizon before and i have no plans to return to the states anytime soon