iPhone 11 Pro Warning: iPhone Upgrade Program 11 Pro's ARE NOT FACTORY UNLOCKED!!! THEY ARE LYING!!!

[thefish2019]

Thanks for warning people if they buy the phone for the wrong carrier they might have a problem.

This is an interesting statement. Funny, I thought that the whole point of buying an unlocked phone was that there wouldn't be a "wrong" carrier. Literally the only difference between locked and unlocked phones is that you can freely switch between carriers.

So what, then, in your opinion, is the true point of unlocked phones, since you seem to believe that the ability to switch carriers freely is not a key feature of them?

 

[Lobwedgephil]

Nope. User reports of no CDMA on an AT&T XS, and Verizon showing the phones as incompatible:

https://www.reddit.com/r/verizon/comments/9ht5pw

Apple is still making the distinction between CDMA and GSM models this year (see my link above), so nothing has changed.

Have you looked at your link? It is the same model, one for the 11 Pro and one for the 11 Pro Max.

• iPhone 11 Pro
• Model A2160 (CDMA)
• Model A2160 (GSM)
• Phone 11 Pro Max
• Model A2161 (CDMA)
• Model A2161 (GSM)

 

[konqerror]

Have you looked at your link? It is the same model, one for the 11 Pro and one for the 11 Pro Max.

• iPhone 11 Pro
• Model A2160 (CDMA)
• Model A2160 (GSM)
• Phone 11 Pro Max
• Model A2161 (CDMA)
• Model A2161 (GSM)

Did you read what you just wrote? I bolded it for you.

The hardware is the same, so the models are the same. There is no distinction between a GSM and CDMA model until it downloads the activation token from Apple.

This is an interesting statement. Funny, I thought that the whole point of buying an unlocked phone was that there wouldn't be a "wrong" carrier. Literally the only difference between locked and unlocked phones is that you can freely switch between carriers.

So what, then, in your opinion, is the true point of unlocked phones, since you seem to believe that the ability to switch carriers freely is not a key feature of them?

The issue, I think is that as I understand it, Apple receives a payment from the cell carriers for selling an upgrade. Apple also assigns a quota for early units based upon the sales of the carriers and how many Watches and iPads they push. Therefore, Apple wants you to activate the phone at least once on the carrier you selected. Hence the lock behavior.

Therefore, either select the actual carrier or select the no carrier model.

 

[thefish2019]

The issue, I think is that as I understand it, Apple receives a payment from the cell companies for selling an upgrade. Apple also assigns a quota for new units based upon the sales of the carriers and how many Watches and iPads they push. Therefore, Apple wants you to at activate the phone at least once on the carrier you selected. Hence the lock.

Therefore, either select the actual carrier or select the no carrier model.

That still doesn't invalidate the fact that they have a lie on their order page. Let's say I had activated the phone on my Verizon account. It would still be locked to Verizon for 60 days. I specifically explored this possibility with Verizon when I called.

That means that I was not sold an unlocked phone. I was sold a locked phone, that would be unlocked in 60 days. That is in direct conflict with Apple's stated policy on both the order page and the IUP program page that someone else screenshotted, which states that it could be freely moved "after activation".

 

[konqerror]

That still doesn't invalidate the fact that they have a lie on their order page. Let's say I had activated the phone on my Verizon account. It would still be locked to Verizon for 60 days. I specifically explored this possibility with Verizon when I called.

That means that I was not sold an unlocked phone. I was sold a locked phone, that would be unlocked in 60 days. That is in direct conflict with Apple's stated policy on both the order page and the IUP program.

In Store iUP phones are unlocked. Those that were shipped seem to be locked. Not sure why.

No. This is why you have everybody confused. techie girl reports her AT&T IUP mail order is locked. My exact same model is not locked. Why?

I think the behavior is that the phone will be locked to the carrier you said you wanted until it goes onto their network once.

Once the phone is activated on the selected network, the lock is removed. Because now Apple has gotten paid.

You told Apple you wanted the phone for Verizon, so they set it up that way. If you selected the SIM-free model, then you wouldn't have this lock.

If you had used the phone as intended, you would not have a SIM lock.

 

[techiegirl]

No. This is why you have everybody confused. techie girl reports her AT&T IUP mail order is locked. My exact same model is not locked. Why?

I think the behavior is that the phone will be locked to the carrier you said you wanted until it goes onto their network once.

Once the phone is activated on the selected network, the lock is removed.

That is not true.

i bought 2 phones, one in store, one by mail. Both were activated the same way on the same account. The in store phone was unlocked. The one shipped to us was locked.

same model phone

 

[konqerror]

That is not true.

i bought 2 phones, one in store, one by mail. Both were activated the same way on the same account. The in store phone was unlocked. The one shipped to us was locked.

same model phone

Apple explicitly says IUP phones are unlocked. My, and others report IUP phones are unlocked. Clearly the issue is that you two are doing something wrong. And the obvious factor is that the OP is playing games with carrier selection.

I know Apple gets paid by the carriers (just like independent retail stores) that's why IUP is not available SIM-free.

 

[techiegirl]

Apple explicitly says IUP phones are unlocked. My, and others report IUP phones are unlocked. Clearly the issue is that you two are doing something wrong.

How do you explain that one of my phones is unlocked and the other one was locked? They were both activated by me on the same account exactly the same way before I put the Xfinity SIM card in the phones?

 

[konqerror]

How do you explain that one of my phones is unlocked and the other one was locked? They were both activated by me on the same account exactly the same way before I put the Xfinity SIM card in the phones?

Did you provide your AT&T phone number when you ordered the device? Did you use the same number and provide your SSN in the setup? Did you then use the factory-installed SIM card to connect/make a call/send data on the AT&T network?

I highly suspect you didn't.

Explain why mine is unlocked. Explain why Apple says it's supposed to be unlocked.

 

[thefish2019]

No. This is why you have everybody confused. techie girl reports her AT&T IUP mail order is locked. My exact same model is not locked. Why?

I think the behavior is that the phone will be locked to the carrier you said you wanted until it goes onto their network once.

Once the phone is activated on the selected network, the lock is removed. Because now Apple has gotten paid.

You told Apple you wanted the phone for Verizon, so they set it up that way. If you selected the SIM-free model, then you wouldn't have this lock.

If you had used the phone as intended, you would not have a SIM lock.

If only they said that on their order page. But they don't, and in fact they say the opposite. They say that unless you use AT&T next, you will have a shiny new UNLOCKED phone arrive at your door.

 

[konqerror]

If only they said that on their order page. But they don't, and in fact they say the opposite. They say that unless you use AT&T next, you will have a shiny new UNLOCKED phone arrive at your door.

You have to give them a Verizon phone number and account pin during the purchase process with IUP. It sounds like you never activated the phone on that account. That's the issue. You told them you were going to activate it on that specific Verizon line but didn't. If you had, I think it would be unlocked from that moment on.

It's specific to IUP. If you didn't use IUP and paid upfront, Apple lets you skip the Verizon number.

As I said, Apple counts on a commission paid to them by the carriers for IUP.

 

[techiegirl]

Did you provide your AT&T phone number when you ordered the device? Did you use the same number and provide your SSN in the setup? Did you then use the factory-installed SIM card to connect/make a call/send data on the AT&T network?

I highly suspect you didn't.

Explain why mine is unlocked. Explain why Apple says it's supposed to be unlocked.

Yes
Yes
Yes

On all. We received a locked phone shipped to us. I’m not new to iPhones. I’ve had every iPhone since the original in 2007.

 

[Two Stacks]

Why didn't you just buy the sim free version? Verizon changed this policy in March. I sell phones, and sales have suffered a major dropoff from foreign customers. I tell everyone. If you want to have a fully unlocked phone, buy the sim free version from apple. That's the only way to be completely certain.

 

[Fireproof!]

Have you called Apple about it yet?

 

[thefish2019]

You have to give them a Verizon phone number and account pin during the purchase process with IUP. It sounds like you never activated the phone on that account. That's the issue. You told them you were going to activate it on that specific Verizon line but didn't. If you had, I think it would be unlocked from that moment on.

It's specific to IUP. If you didn't use IUP and paid upfront, Apple lets you skip the Verizon number.

As I said, Apple counts on a commission paid to them by the carriers for IUP.

I asked Verizon about this, they said that it would still be locked to Verizon for 60 days. That came directly from Verizon, today.

 

[konqerror]

I asked Verizon about this, they said that it would still be locked to Verizon for 60 days. That came directly from Verizon, today.

I doubt Verizon knows how Apple works. IUP is solely Apple, Verizon has their own programs. Besides, it's not hard to know more that front-line retail/CS reps.

You're the only one with this issue, so it's what you did.

 

[iGeneo]

FFS... can you just return it and be done with it? If you feel Apple was deceitful, maybe head over to the Google store.

 

[triptolemus]

All of these accusations of lies are wholly dependent on that girlfriend of yours telling the truth about not having turned the phone on first prior to inserting the T-Mobile SIM.

What is the credibility of Apple compared to you (joined today) and your girlfriend? Are we positive she didn't fire that phone up before the SIM was swapped?

 

[Squeak825]

All of these accusations of lies are wholly dependent on that girlfriend of yours telling the truth about not having turned the phone on first prior to inserting the T-Mobile SIM.

What is the credibility of Apple compared to you (joined today) and your girlfriend? Are we positive she didn't fire that phone up before the SIM was swapped?

AS mentioned, it doesn't matter if she turned it on with the sim in it....the phone is IMEI locked by Verizon.

 

[thefish2019]

All of these accusations of lies are wholly dependent on that girlfriend of yours telling the truth about not having turned the phone on first prior to inserting the T-Mobile SIM.

What is the credibility of Apple compared to you (joined today) and your girlfriend? Are we positive she didn't fire that phone up before the SIM was swapped?

What I am positive of is that there is a stark difference between the phone I received, and the phone the website so very clearly stated that I was going to receive. Apparently, this is a policy with Verizon. Apple no longer sells unlocked Verizon phones; they sell locked Verizon phones that Verizon might choose to unlock after 60 days.

In other words, they are lying on their website.

 

[techiegirl]

Somebody else replied to a different post this morning saying his Verizon IUP phone was locked as well.

 

[triptolemus]

AS mentioned, it doesn't matter if she turned it on with the sim in it....the phone is IMEI locked by Verizon.

I see.

I'm not too high up on Brain Mountain today and it's a little difficult to read through all the ranting and "lies!!" stuff. What was the benefit of purchasing a Verizon phone when the girlfriend was on T-Mobile? Is there a short version of that?

 

[konqerror]

What was the benefit of purchasing a Verizon phone when the girlfriend was on T-Mobile? Is there a short version of that?

Already covered earlier, in detail.

 

[triptolemus]

Already covered earlier, in detail.

Ok... so, OP wanted to order the phone for the girlfriend through the Upgrade Program, but they don't sell the 5th option of Unlocked SIM Free through the Upgrade Program, so OP ordered a VZ for the GF, failed to fully understand the terms and conditions associated with VZ's Upgrade Program, and his plan crumbled.

Do I have that right?

 

[macfacts]

It's clearly stated on the Verizon web page. They are locked for the first 60 days. You are going to have to use the phone for 60 days on Verizon, and then you can give it to your GF as it will become unlocked. You should ALWAYS check with the carrier first. This policy was enacted July 23rd 2019. Apple may never have been notified about Verizon's locking policy. You should have checked with Verizon.

View attachment 861882

Use it for 60days? That is terrible advice. He is still within the return period and should just return it.