Verizon/Sprint iPhone 4S GSM unlocked?

[curuxu]

Does anybody know if the new Verizon/Sprint iPhone 4S will be GSM unlocked?

Thanks.

 

[jlmitnick]

It would seem weird if it were "locked" to "no carrier". Yet, I bet that's precisely how it will be.

 

[curuxu]

How can it be a "worldphone" then if it is GSM locked? how will people be able to use it overseas?

 

[mkrishnan]

My impression is that, traditionally, when you get a Verizon world phone, it comes with a Verizon SIM card and is carrier-locked to Verizon on GSM. At least, this is what the first hit for "are verizon world phones sim-locked" on Google reveals.

The Verizon SIM is necessary for Verizon to charge you for world roaming -- that's what they want you to do -- pay them for world roaming. Not buy a bunch of prepaid SIM cards in other countries and get service on the cheap. The situation is the same if you buy world roaming services for the AT&T iPhone -- it operates on an AT&T SIM card abroad, and remains carrier locked to AT&T.

That article says Sprint traditionally does not SIM lock, however.

 

[Grimsrud]

How can it be a "worldphone" then if it is GSM locked? how will people be able to use it overseas?

I believe Verizon's current CDMA/GSM world phones currently have a special Verizon/Vodafone SIM card that they are locked to.
Here's a pic of the SIM card:

However, I do believe that AT&T will no longer be able to list their iPhones as an "exclusive" phone that is exempt from their unlocking policies. They're now selling the same phones with hardware that is identical to what Sprint and Verizon sell.

 

[curuxu]

Thanks for the info. It would be great if they were unlocked for GSM or if AT&T started applying their general unlocking policy to the iPhone once and for all.

 

[iMrNiceGuy0023]

So Sprint and Verizon will be using sim cards in the iPhone 4S?

 

[MaxBurn]

I believe Verizon's current CDMA/GSM world phones currently have a special Verizon/Vodafone SIM card that they are locked to.
Here's a pic of the SIM card:
Image

However, I do believe that AT&T will no longer be able to list their iPhones as an "exclusive" phone that is exempt from their unlocking policies. They're now selling the same phones with hardware that is identical to what Sprint and Verizon sell.

This is exactly what my verizon blackberry bold "worldphone" does. Vodaphone SIM.