Yeah. I have been curious about how this will work since the multi band radio rumors started.
I hope they are all unlocked.
That would be cool I guess; but what would be the point?
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What about unlocked iPhone 4S???
- Thread starter brave5213
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That would be cool I guess; but what would be the point?
Easier to go form carrier to carrier. Easier to use when traveling internationally. Possibly makes pre-paid more feasible.
Plus I just don't like being tied to one carrier. The principle bugs me.
Unbelievable.
It sounds like the phones are software locked to GSM or CDMA for domestic use. So we can buy so called "unlocked" iPhones that are still locked.
It sounds like the phones are software locked to GSM or CDMA for domestic use. So we can buy so called "unlocked" iPhones that are still locked.
http://store.apple.com/ca/browse/home/shop_iphone/family/iphone
pricing starts at 649 for a 16G 4GS I think..so it has to be unlocked with no contract
pricing starts at 649 for a 16G 4GS I think..so it has to be unlocked with no contract
The way I read it is this. If you buy the phone on contract, either GSM or CDMA, it's locked. If you use it abroad it's by roaming on GSM, at your carrier's extortionate roaming rates. Can't use local SIM.
If you buy an unlocked phone, ie sim-free, you can stick any GSM carrier's SIM in it and it will work at local rates, whatever they are.
There doesn't seem to be an "unlocked CDMA" option equivalent of that latter option.
If you buy an unlocked phone, ie sim-free, you can stick any GSM carrier's SIM in it and it will work at local rates, whatever they are.
There doesn't seem to be an "unlocked CDMA" option equivalent of that latter option.
Well, the CDMA section could never be unlocked, per se, so you could jump from Verizon to Sprint, so that's not too surprising. It's interesting that you can't jump from Sprint to AT&T at will. I think something like that might be fixable with a jb, so we'll have to see what the dev team has up their sleeves.
that only applies to CDMA. Only Verizon is using CDMA so it hardly matters anyway or am I missing something?
The GSM part should be free worldwide. Does that include full G3 speed support of T-Mobile USA since it has 1800 and 1900MHz?
T-Mobile USA uses 1700/2100 for 3G so the only data portion that would work would be Edge - voice would work fine though.
That is the t-Mobile 2G frequencies. Their 3G system is AWS using 1700/2100 and the new phone is still not compatible.
Both Verizon and Sprint use CDMA. CDMA phones are not locked but the carrier has to register the phone on the network. All it takes to move the 4S from verison to sprint is for them to agree to register the phone. They probably will not if the phone is purchased on contract.
Verizon has always stocked a limited number of world phones. These are both CDMA and GSM compatible and provided to those that need to travel.
I believe they also provide the SIM card for international use and have roaming agreements with various carriers.
Damn, I really wanted the unlocked version to work on T-Mobile US. Especially with the support of HSPA+ I was hoping it would work. Oh well, looks like I'll be getting a new Windows Phone that supports T-Mobile's incredible 3G speeds.
Unlocked and ready to use.
When you purchase your iPhone from the Apple Online Store, youll get it unlocked. So you can sign up for service with the carrier of your choice and change your carrier at any time.
Basically, if you pay the unsubsidized price, it's unlocked.
Considering the ceo of t-mobile said no iphone, it's not surprising that t-mobile's 3g wasn't supported.
I took that to mean that T-Mobile won't be getting the iPhone officially. That still could've left room for Apple to include the required bands so that people could buy it unlocked (and therefore give Apple a bigger cut as opposed to people buying it from carriers) and then use it on T-Mobile's network.
There's not a lot of financial incentive for apple to support t-mobile (unofficially). If the rumors are correct about Sprint guaranteeing a buy of $20 billion in iphones, don't you think apple might want the same commitment (or something similar) before supporting t-mobile's 3g band?
I'll be waiting anxiously to see what Apple US does. I don't "need" a new device, but my husband does because his 3GS is dying. So, I'll have a friend buy one unsubsidized in Canada for me, if the U.S. doesn't offer them right away...if the US Apple store has them for a comparable price (to Canada) I'll buy one. I won't be buying a subsidized one.
What is it for a World Phone if the GSM part is locked even when buying it at full price? Am I supposed to pay only the outrageous roaming fees when going back to my home country?
No, thanks.
No, thanks.
Agreed. I want to see more details on how this works.
I am interested to see if you have to order a phone for a specific network or if you just order one and it locks when you activate it. If it locks when you activate it, I am thinking that may be easier to defeat via JB or something else. I don't know. Just wishful thinking.
Well, the only way in that case would be a Gevey or ultrasn0w soft unlock.
And guess what? You can't buy it full price elsewhere outside US because the CDMA would be locked
Regretting big time the switch to VZ, but here in NYC AT&T was almost unusable...
And guess what? You can't buy it full price elsewhere outside US because the CDMA would be locked
Regretting big time the switch to VZ, but here in NYC AT&T was almost unusable...