Verizon No Longer Plans to Sell Unlocked iPhones

[ghostface147]

Interesting, but whatever. I'll hold off judgement until the unlock policy becomes more clear. If there is a 180 day service policy, that's an issue. Two weeks or one billing cycle, that's fine. As long as it doesn't require a fresh restore to be unlocked like phones did in the past....

 

[geoff5093]

I've live in and around the Seattle area and over the last year since switching to T-Mobile, I've traveled to Indianapolis, Cincinnati, Dallas, San Francisco/Bay Area, L.A., Costa Rica, Cancun (M.X.) and I have not had any reception issues.

That's because those are all major cities.

 

[DaveOP]

I've live in and around the Seattle area and over the last year since switching to T-Mobile, I've traveled to Indianapolis, Cincinnati, Dallas, San Francisco/Bay Area, L.A., Costa Rica, Cancun (M.X.) and I have not had any reception issues.

Try driving to some of those places. We drove from Chicago to Portland, and had a lot of dropout on my work T-Mobile Galaxy S8 Plus on I90 through several states. You are correct though, most of the major carriers are getting pretty good in major cities like the ones you listed.

 

[likegadgets]

They are just doing this because Apple doesn't sell carrier unlocked phones on day 1, and Verizon knows people buy their phones to activate them on other networks and to get CDMA/GSM optionality for resale. Since they are losing out on activations, they are implementing this policy. That's the only reason.

Exactly

Apple incentivizes US carriers with this locking game. Ridiculous someone paying $1,500 including tax and AppleCare for a top of the line X at launch, ends up with a locked device, even for one day

 

[AdonisSMU]

I just feel like all phones need to be sold unlocked. We need legislation to stop this.

 

[Santiago]

Given that Intel's next modems will supposedly support CDMA and that Apple will use them exclusively, there won't be CDMA-enabled and CDMA-less models, so there'll be no reason in the future to want to buy a phone from Verizon, as the carrier-less unlocked model direct from Apple will support all protocols.

https://www.macrumors.com/2018/02/04/kgi-intel-exclusive-modem-supplier-2018-iphones/

 

[ShinyApps]

I’m snitching. “Oooh @fcc, have u seen this?”

 

[Apple_Robert]

This isn't really a new policy for Verizon. This has been policy for years. Verizon just hasn't strictly enforced the policy. It looks like Verizon will be clamping down and actually following protocol. Good on them. As a Verizon customer, I have no problems with the policy.

 

[Jose C]

I was literally going to Best Buy tonight to buy a Verizon iPhone 7 (I have store credit) and was going to put a T-Mobile SIM in it to use on T-Mobile. Is this not going to work now? Was at T-Mobile yesterday and the guys there said it will but that was before this information came out today.

Are the phones in stock unlocked? Or is this no matter what they are nation wide locked now when they are turned on, even with a T-Mobile SIM put in before first boot up? Any help is appreciated.

 

[Apple_Robert]

I just feel like all phones need to be sold unlocked. We need legislation to stop this.

Should Verizon sell an unlocked phone to someone on a payment plan? I don 't think so.

 

[AdonisSMU]

This isn't really a new policy for Verizon. This has been policy for years. Verizon just hasn't strictly enforced the policy. It looks like Verizon will be clamping down and actually following protocol. Good on them. As a Verizon customer, I have no problems with the policy.

The problem is there is no incentive for Verizon to remain great if people can't switch to another carrier.

 

[RF9]

until you realize Tmobile now has a bigger network than verizon by square foot...the only metric by which verizon was able to claim they had the "best network"
https://opensignal.com/reports/2018/01/usa/state-of-the-mobile-network

Just look at T-Mobile's own coverage comparison maps.
https://www.t-mobile.com/coverage/lte-comparison-map
You can clearly see that Verizon has a larger footprint. And I know based on firsthand experience that there is no coverage in some of those places where they show coverage. Having phones on both networks, Verizon is the one that has service when T-Mobile doesn't and nearly never the reverse.

 

[AdonisSMU]

Should Verizon sell an unlocked phone to someone on a payment plan? I don 't think so.

No they should not. I don't believe that is what we are talking about here....but nice try at trying to change the subject.

 

[geoff5093]

This isn't really a new policy for Verizon. This has been policy for years. Verizon just hasn't strictly enforced the policy. It looks like Verizon will be clamping down and actually following protocol. Good on them. As a Verizon customer, I have no problems with the policy.

It actually is, because Verizon was required to sell any LTE phones that have band 13 unlocked, and couldn't lock them.

 

[RF9]

Should Verizon sell an unlocked phone to someone on a payment plan? I don 't think so.

Yes they should for existing customers with a good history with them. New signups, maybe not as that leaves incentive for fraud and identity theft.

 

[ghostface147]

Will just pre-order T-Mobile iPhones instead....

They come with Intel modems that aren't generally compatible worldwide. You wouldn't be able to use it on Sprint or Verizon or many other worldwide providers.

 

[Apple_Robert]

Moved my whole family off of Verizon to T-Mobile (two 55+ year old parents with the two unlimited lines for $60 total with autopay) and my sister and I are on MetroPCS unlimited single lines ($60 a month for me for 50GB data + 15GB of hot spot data & $50 unlimited smartphone data for her line).

Was with Verizon since they were Airtouch Cellular. Most greedy company I've ever done business with. I'm so happy I've left them.

A business is in the business to make as much money as it can. Nothing wrong with that. T-Moble, Metro, and Sprint are greedy as well.

If a company starts adopting policies and margins that the consumer believes to be in the wrong direction, the consumer has the option to vote with his or her wallet. That is how the free market should operate.

Do you want your employer to be greedy, or do you prefer the company struggle to meet payroll and subsequently lay you off?

 

[Morgenland]

Obviously a difference in culture. In the UK, all iPhones sold by Apple (from day 1) are unlocked. If I’m not mistaken, buy one on any network and it will also be unlocked.

Same unlocked situation in free Europe.

 

[Apple_Robert]

Yes they should for existing customers with a good history with them. New signups, maybe not as that leaves incentive for fraud and identity theft.

The only problem with your retort is it opens the door for legal ambiguity and makes it even easier for Verizon employees to not be uniform in the adjudication of company policy. Your idea looks good on the surface but, in my opinion, would end up causing more problems.

 

[Packers1958]

If I pay full price for the phone on launch day, the phone should never be locked. If Verizon does that, I will no longer be buying my iPhone on launch day, and just wait for Apple to sell the unlocked version.

 

[BigMcGuire]

Well if you read the article it isn't very confusing. Simply states They are locking their phones because of theft. If you agree or disagree is a different topic all together. Nothing to do with the FCC agreement or Verizon testing them.



As far as Verizon treatment of you I will just say from my experience that is just your store. I have been to 2 stores in the last 4 months and never had any issues. Bought a S8 at a store in the mall in Newport New Jersey where I was added onto a family plan and paid for the phone in full. Then went onto a prepaid plan with a Note 8 and no pushing me to buy any special service or anything. took me like 3 minutes to input my info and handed her the cash for the plan and that was it.

Had you read my post you’d see I was trying to make a point. Watch them lock these phones for years and years requiring a difficult process to unlock. But it’s ok. Apparently lots of not reading happening today!

I’ve seen a few good stores but a lot of bad ones. Happier now dealing with just Apple.

 

[mtneer]

Will Verizon lock up phones that are fully paid for? Or does this only apply to phones that are bought on an installment plan?

 

[CarlJ]

So people are being mugged for their iPhones because there is a chance it is an unlocked Verizon version?

I read it as being more concerned with shipments, or store stock, of not-yet-sold phones either "going missing", or being more forcefully stolen (those occasional highly publicized "smash and grab everything in two minutes" stories). The other question this raises is, are they only taking this step with iPhones, or with all their Android phones too.

 

[garylapointe]

So people are being mugged for their iPhones because there is a chance it is an unlocked Verizon version?

Doubtful.

Regardless, if they locked it with iCloud/Find My iPhone it's pretty unusable anyways.

 

[Packers1958]

I read it as being more concerned with shipments, or store stock, of not-yet-sold phones either "going missing", or being more forcefully stolen (those occasional highly publicized "smash and grab everything in two minutes" stories). The other question this raises is, are they only taking this step with iPhones, or with all their Android phones too.

Considering this is going the happen this spring, my bet it will coincide with the Samsung S9 release.