Will Tmobile iP6 work on Sprint network with Sprint simcard?

[madamelulu]

Hello
I'm a long time sprint customer (10 years) and I've stayed with them b/c of their economical prices. Lately, i've been unsatisfied with their customer service and dropped calls. I'm considering switching but I need to wait until early next year to make this decision. I want to own an iPhone 6 but would like it to be domestically unlocked which I know sprint does not do. If I buy a tmobile iPhone 6 that is unlocked can I use all aspects of the phone (voice, text, data, VM) if I put in my current Sprint sim card?

Alternatively, if I buy a Sprint iPhone 6 and pay it off, will I be able to place another devices's simcard early next year when Sprint domestically unlocks their phones?

Thanks for any help!

 

[PsstGreek]

When did Sprint announce that they'll allow for domestic unlocks?

 

[madamelulu]

My understanding from reading earlier posts is that Sprint is going to start domestically unlocking phones around Feb 2015.

 

[scaredpoet]

Short answer: no. Sprint still does not allow phones not within its inventory or sold specifically for use on its network to be activated. Even if it's unlocked. You must buy a Sprint-designated iPhone to work on the Sprint network.

 

[rambo47]

Short answer: no. Sprint still does not allow phones not within its inventory or sold specifically for use on its network to be activated. Even if it's unlocked. You must buy a Sprint-designated iPhone to work on the Sprint network.

This is absolutely correct. Same for Verizon. Even if it's the exact same model phone, if that particular one was not sold by Sprint or Verizon specifically, neither carrier will allow it on their network.

 

[Applejuiced]

You guys are correct but lately with the iphone 6 and 6 Plus we see people with unlocked AT&T and Tmobile iphones using them on Verizon just by sticking a verizon sim inside.
So things might be a little different with these newer iphones.
Seems like the carrier (verizon) doesn't need to add or whitelist/activate the particular device. Its all done automatically the second the verizon sim is entered in an unlocked iphone 6. Where before the CDMA hardware of those GSM iphones was disabled, this time everything is active and functional.
https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/1784285/

 

[scaredpoet]

You guys are correct but lately with the iphone 6 and 6 Plus we see people with unlocked AT&T and Tmobile iphones using them on Verizon just by sticking a verizon sim inside.
So things might be a little different with these newer iphones.

There's no argument that the hardware is capable. The issue is policy enforcement by Sprint, which is a lot more strict than Verizon.

Seems like the carrier (verizon) doesn't need to add or whitelist/activate the particular device. Its all done automatically the second the verizon sim is entered in an unlocked iphone 6.

The process is different on Sprint, where tighter control exists on provisioning. On Sprint, an active association with the MEID of the phone is necessary before the network will recognize it. SIM or no SIM, if it's not on Sprint's whitelist, the phone gets no service, even if the hardware is fully compatible.

It sucks, but that's how Sprint has always done things.

 

[Applejuiced]

There's no argument that the hardware is capable. The issue is policy enforcement by Sprint, which is a lot more strict than Verizon.



The process is different on Sprint, where tighter control exists on provisioning. On Sprint, an active association with the MEID of the phone is necessary before the network will recognize it. SIM or no SIM, if it's not on Sprint's whitelist, the phone gets no service, even if the hardware is fully compatible.

It sucks, but that's how Sprint has always done things.

True, I'm not sure about it cause I thought Verizons provisioning was just as strict as Sprints.
Only real way to know for sure is if someone takes a sprint iphone nanosim and sticks it in an unlocked iphone 6.

 

[mtneer]

Not happening until Masayoshi Son wakes up and cleans up the trash posing as engineers and workers at Overland Park.

 

[eyoungren]

Not happening until Masayoshi Son wakes up and cleans up the trash posing as engineers and workers at Overland Park.

Ehrmm, that's what Son has got Marcelo Claure for.

Been showing them the door since October 1 and won't stop until October 31.

 

[madamelulu]

Thanks everyone

Anyone know if sprint will allow another another carrier's simcard to be used on a sprint iPhone when they unlock them early next year?

 

[Applejuiced]

Thanks everyone

Anyone know if sprint will allow another another carrier's simcard to be used on a sprint iPhone when they unlock them early next year?

We won't know till February.
But most likely yes cause they are forced to unlock them after that date to eligible customers.

 

[eyoungren]

We won't know till February.
But most likely yes cause they are forced to unlock them after that date to eligible customers.

Sorry, AJ. Normally I agree with you but on this one I have to argue against your statement.

The agreement that the carriers have adopted makes a point of stating that full unlocks will be allowed on phones MANUFACTURED AFTER February 2015. While, the iPhone 6/6+ will continue to be sold after that date, the original date of manufacture is before February.

However, there does not seem to be any clarification of this, so it's possible that by a strict interpretation any iPhone 6/6+ (or for that matter 5s and 5c) made after February 2015 would be eligible.

Considering Sprint's history though, I'm pretty sure they're going to claim the original launch or first manufacture date applies to the entire model run.

 

[Applejuiced]

Sorry, AJ. Normally I agree with you but on this one I have to argue against your statement.

The agreement that the carriers have adopted makes a point of stating that full unlocks will be allowed on phones MANUFACTURED AFTER February 2015. While, the iPhone 6/6+ will continue to be sold after that date, the original date of manufacture is before February.

However, there does not seem to be any clarification of this, so it's possible that by a strict interpretation any iPhone 6/6+ (or for that matter 5s and 5c) made after February 2015 would be eligible.

Considering Sprint's history though, I'm pretty sure they're going to claim the original launch or first manufacture date applies to the entire model run.

I hear you. We all know sprints unlock policies suck.
But I think about that law that passed is any phone made after February.
So it would make sense those phones that were manufactured after that to be eligible.
Not just devices that are introduced after that date.

 

[eyoungren]

I hear you. We all know sprints unlock policies suck.
But I think about that law that passed is any phone made after February.
So it would make sense those phones that were manufactured after that to be eligible.
Not just devices that are introduced after that date.

Well, as you said earlier, we'll just have to wait and see then I guess.

My gut tells me that Sprint will probably try and pull a fast one here. But, that could also just be my gunshy nature towards anything Sprint does or proposes.

 

[Applejuiced]

Well, as you said earlier, we'll just have to wait and see then I guess.

My gut tells me that Sprint will probably try and pull a fast one here. But, that could also just be my gunshy nature towards anything Sprint does or proposes.

True, I don't doubt their sneakiness
Just hope the government steps in like they did with Verizon's unlimited lte plans.

 

[DerekRod]

True, I'm not sure about it cause I thought Verizons provisioning was just as strict as Sprints.
Only real way to know for sure is if someone takes a sprint iphone nanosim and sticks it in an unlocked iphone 6.

Doesn't verizon have to support any phone that can run on its 700Mhz network?

 

[Applejuiced]

Doesn't verizon have to support any phone that can run on its 700Mhz network?

Not 100%.
But I know those that stick a verizon sim to an unlocked tmobile phone for example get verizon service via their LTE and also cdma coverage.