Got a tip for us?
Let us know
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.
Will All iPhones in the US be Unlocked Now?
- Thread starter eeosman
- Start date
- Sort by reaction score
No chance. Since it's only available on two carriers. Or people could purchase it unlocked and go to other carriers. That would defeat the whole purpose of Verizon getting the iPhone 4 now.
Not really sure. Here in Canada the Apple store sells unlocked iPhone's and you can do what you wish with them. Not sure about the U.S.
I don't see it happening though because it wouldn't be right if Verizon was able to sell unlocked iPhone's and AT&T wasn't. It would cause problems in my eyes.
I don't see it happening though because it wouldn't be right if Verizon was able to sell unlocked iPhone's and AT&T wasn't. It would cause problems in my eyes.
Won't happen in the U.S.; AT&T has far too much political power to be required to unlock iPhones. It has nothing to do with the Verizon iPhone.
The carriers make the choice on selling locked or unlocked. Verizon phones don't work on most other carriers so it's sort of moot. I doubt Apple cares whether the phones are locked or not.
Sure. When you buy a phone through a carrier, the carrier decides whether or not to lock the phone. For example, when you buy an iPhone in Canada through Bell, the phone is locked to Bell and will not work with Rogers or Telus.
When you buy an iPhone in Canada through Apple, the phone is unlocked and will work on any technologically compatible network, and Apple doesn't care which carrier you choose.
On the other hand, when you buy a GSM iPhone in the USA, regardless of whether you're going through AT&T or through Apple, the phone is still locked to AT&T.
This can only be explained by the fact that there remains some form of agreement between Apple and AT&T whereby Apple agrees to give AT&T preferential access to the GSM iPhone, in exchange for AT&T giving some sort of benefit to Apple. If there were no such agreement in place, then Apple would have no incentive to keep on locking the GSM iPhones that are sold outside the scope of its relationship with AT&T.
Unless you're willing to do some software hacking and your carrier is willing to accept it, Verizon phones don't work on any other carrier.
Nobody knows the terms of the AT&T-Apple contract. Just because AT&T lost exclusivity doesn't mean they still don't have a lock on the GSM market. Until then, make a trip to Canada or your closest country with factory-unlocked phones and buy one from the apple store.
I highly doubt it.
Why would they do it now after 4 years of all iphones beeing locked to AT&T?
Maybe after years when there is no other GSM carrier in the US and Tmobile has been already swallowed and digested by AT&T
Will All iPhones in the US be Unlocked Now?
Now that AT&T is buying T-Mobile, there is no longer a major threat to them releasing unlocked phones. There is only one major GSM carrier in the US that you will be able to use an iPhone on so why WOULDN'T AT&T allow all their phones to be unlocked?
Now that AT&T is buying T-Mobile, there is no longer a major threat to them releasing unlocked phones. There is only one major GSM carrier in the US that you will be able to use an iPhone on so why WOULDN'T AT&T allow all their phones to be unlocked?
I highly doubt it.
Why would they do it now after 4 years of all iphones beeing locked to AT&T?
Maybe after years when there is no other GSM carrier in the US and Tmobile has been already swallowed and digested by AT&T
Yeah I just don't see it happening right now. If you really want one that badly, pick one up from Canada.
But what's the point? If you can only buy the phone at a subsidized price on contract, you're locked in for two years anyway. If you buy it directly from Apple for the unsubsidized price, 1. it doesn't affect them anyway if you use it with another carrier and 2. there is no national carrier that it would even work with. I no longer see any benefit (for AT&T) to them locking the phone.
why dont you see the point? AT&T will still make the $299 subsidized price, if people bought from apple they lose that $299
You're not understanding my point. If you buy the phone at the subsidized price, you're locked into a 2 yr contract anyway so what's the difference if your phone is unlocked or not!? Even if you took your phone to a small regional carrier, you're still obligated to pay the remainder of your contract with AT&T so it wouldn't hurt them.
Because you're not understanding the point. Let's say I own a garbage phone and I pay $15 a month for it. Comes with a decent plan. So now I go to Apple, buy an iPhone 4 for the full price. I then switch the sims of the iPhone 4 and old crappy phone. (Yes I'll need a micro sim. So I head to the retail store, pay $10 and get a new one) I then place it in my new iPhone, block the data and I'm paying $15 a month for an iPhone 4 without data. If you have WiFi everywhere else you go this is perfect. This is what happens in Canada a lot of the time. People purchase unlocked second hand phones and use them with their old contract. I know tons of people that do this. AT&T isn't stupid and they know this could happen. So they rather have you purchase a phone from either them or Apple WITH a data plan/new contract.
One good reason (for AT&T anyway)? Travel. Say I go to Europe and bring along my iPhone. If it's unlocked, I can just get a cheap prepaid SIM from a local carrier while over there and use that for my telephone needs. If the phone is locked, then I have to either pay exorbitant roaming fees, or exorbitant fees for international minutes.
That's also another really good reason. Never thought of it that way. They make huge money on roaming fees. Especially data charges.
While there's technically no other national carrier (since AT&T bought t-mobile), there's still plenty of regional carriers and pay as you go.
FYI, there's already another thread on this
https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/1124869/
Why don't you try reading the forums first before posting?
Also, as mentioned above, AT&T makes like a bandit on international roaming.
FYI, there's already another thread on this
https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/1124869/
Why don't you try reading the forums first before posting?
Also, as mentioned above, AT&T makes like a bandit on international roaming.
There is no reason for AT&T to unlock the iPhones. By keeping it locked to the AT&T network, they ensure that you will remain an AT&T customer as long as you use that iPhone. They hope you will continue to use the iPhone after your 2 year contract expires and they can keep raking in the money. They have enough political power in Washington to keep it that way.
Trust id good,control is better. Thats because att doesn't unlock the phones. They dont want people to use prepaid iphones.
seems like the time will answer(latest on july). i dont think apple will announce about that.
but i think usa apple stores will release iphones f.u. like uk,cdn,aus,cn,ch,d,f,e retail stores.
by this way apple can increase sales by international customers on usa visits.
but i think usa apple stores will release iphones f.u. like uk,cdn,aus,cn,ch,d,f,e retail stores.
by this way apple can increase sales by international customers on usa visits.
Last edited:
If you get it subsidized then it should be locked. If you get it for the full unsubsidized price and only from an Apple store it should be unlocked. At least that is how I see it... And how Apple is doing it in many countries.
Hopefully we start hearing more of this in the coming weeks and months.
Although until the AT&T-Mobile deal is final, the iPhone 5 might still be locked.
So stay tuned for the iPhone 6!
Hopefully we start hearing more of this in the coming weeks and months.
Although until the AT&T-Mobile deal is final, the iPhone 5 might still be locked.
So stay tuned for the iPhone 6!