[Ask] AT&T iphone now can be factory unlocked ? [ Edited ]

[wingrider01 ACE - Geek]

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HPLouis wrote:

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wingrider01 wrote:

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browski wrote:

we buy the product because we want the phone. i didn't buy an iphone because i loved at&t and i wanted to support them. they were the only carrier that offered the phone at the time and i had no other choice. now they have me because i am grandfathered in to the unlimited plan.

but i digress. the point here, as it usually is in these threads is consumers want freedom over something they have purchased. this is not an unreasonable request. but many of you jump to the defense of at&t to the point that some might wonder if you are receiving compensation for the fervor with which you defend them. i understand the terms of service and all that jazz, but once you have fulfilled your contract and you decide to go with another provider, you are left with a perfectly good phone that is reduced to a music player. the only reason this argument hasn't caused more of an uproar is because the iphone does have a useful life other than a phone and i can only assume people are happy with using it as an ipod. that or they reach the point of frustration where jailbreaking and unlocking becomes the only option.

i will echo another claim in this thread, at&t employees have a good bit of freedom to alter contracts and terms of service as they see fit. what i was told could not be done regarding adding a line and switching the numbers can in fact be done in a matter of seconds. all a person must do is find an at&t employee willing to do it.

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you agreed to teh carrier terms, subsidized, unsubsidized payed full price, the terms are stated

Stated on the back of the box

"Iphone maybe configured to work only with a single provider" in this case single provider is ATT, unlocking is at the option of the carrier - and att / verizon do not unlock

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Just because you agreed to the carrier's terms, doesn't mean that there isn't a way out.  What if you complete your contract?  What if you pay your ETF?  The T's & C's are not indefinite.

In a way, I kind of see what the other poster is saying.  It seems like the people on this board are ready to stand up and fight for at&t like they're in the military.  

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Has absolutely nothing to do with "standing up and fight for att rights" it basicly has to do with reading comprehension and agreeing to sale terms - since the iphone has been released there has never been an option to unlock the phone from the locked carrier - in this case both inthe US AND in Europe - the only places that the iphone is unlocked is where it is mandated by the controlling goverment. By the way the qouted text is Apples, not the carriers statement, it is on verizon box also.

As far as the laughable statement the OP made - "at&t employees have a good bit of freedom to alter contracts and terms of service as they see fit." this is one of the most amusing statements I have read in this whole thread.

You are 100 percent right - you do have a way out - sell if on fleabay and purchase a phone that can be unlocked - there is your exit, or if you want the iphone unlock, hack it at your own risk

[browski]

as amusing as the comment may be, there are two people in this thread that have personal experience with an at&t csr doing what others have claimed as 'impossible' to do. i will take personal experience over personal belief any day.

[wingrider01 ACE - Geek]

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browski wrote:

as amusing as the comment may be, there are two people in this thread that have personal experience with an at&t csr doing what others have claimed as 'impossible' to do. i will take personal experience over personal belief any day.

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Personal expierence is fine, but when it comes to factory unlocking a Iphone from ATT - there is no personal expierence becasue neither ATT or Apple will do it

[johninsj ACE - Wizard]

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browski wrote:

we buy the product because we want the phone. i didn't buy an iphone because i loved at&t and i wanted to support them. they were the only carrier that offered the phone at the time and i had no other choice. now they have me because i am grandfathered in to the unlimited plan.

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Yes, but when you bought it, you agreed to the terms of the sale. Now, you're not happy with those terms, but they haven't changed.

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i will echo another claim in this thread, at&t employees have a good bit of freedom to alter contracts and terms of service as they see fit. what i was told could not be done regarding adding a line and switching the numbers can in fact be done in a matter of seconds. all a person must do is find an at&t employee willing to do it.

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You mean find an AT&T employee who's about to leave for a new job somewhere?

[johninsj ACE - Wizard]

And....

The unlocking "services" have been shut down, as expected

http://www.tuaw.com/2011/04/22/iphone-unlocking-service-providers-shut-down/

Hope no one here donated $175 to these folks.

[HPLouis]

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johninsj wrote:

And....

The unlocking "services" have been shut down, as expected

http://www.tuaw.com/2011/04/22/iphone-unlocking-service-providers-shut-down/

Hope no one here donated $175 to these folks.

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They have been shut down but the people that have been unlocked already still have their unlocks.  Also, if they went through a company with a guarantee, if they do get locked, they'll get their money back.

I'm still unlocked, and, as I've promised, if i do get relocked, I will be the first to post here and eat crow.

[wingrider01 ACE - Geek]

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HPLouis wrote:

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johninsj wrote:

And....

The unlocking "services" have been shut down, as expected

http://www.tuaw.com/2011/04/22/iphone-unlocking-service-providers-shut-down/

Hope no one here donated $175 to these folks.

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They have been shut down but the people that have been unlocked already still have their unlocks.  Also, if they went through a company with a guarantee, if they do get locked, they'll get their money back.

I'm still unlocked, and, as I've promised, if i do get relocked, I will be the first to post here and eat crow.

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would not be surprised if the companies do not subpeona the custoemr records and re-lock the phones

[HPLouis]

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wingrider01 wrote:

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HPLouis wrote:

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johninsj wrote:

And....

The unlocking "services" have been shut down, as expected

http://www.tuaw.com/2011/04/22/iphone-unlocking-service-providers-shut-down/

Hope no one here donated $175 to these folks.

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They have been shut down but the people that have been unlocked already still have their unlocks.  Also, if they went through a company with a guarantee, if they do get locked, they'll get their money back.

I'm still unlocked, and, as I've promised, if i do get relocked, I will be the first to post here and eat crow.

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would not be surprised if the companies do not subpeona the custoemr records and re-lock the phones

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They wouldn't have to subpoena the records.  All they'd need to do is see what IMEI's that the person put in during the week that it was open and delete all of them. 

I doubt they'll go through the trouble of locking the phones though.  I could be wrong though so we'll see.

[wingrider01 ACE - Geek]

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HPLouis wrote:

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wingrider01 wrote:

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HPLouis wrote:

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johninsj wrote:

And....

The unlocking "services" have been shut down, as expected

http://www.tuaw.com/2011/04/22/iphone-unlocking-service-providers-shut-down/

Hope no one here donated $175 to these folks.

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They have been shut down but the people that have been unlocked already still have their unlocks.  Also, if they went through a company with a guarantee, if they do get locked, they'll get their money back.

I'm still unlocked, and, as I've promised, if i do get relocked, I will be the first to post here and eat crow.

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would not be surprised if the companies do not subpeona the custoemr records and re-lock the phones

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They wouldn't have to subpoena the records.  All they'd need to do is see what IMEI's that the person put in during the week that it was open and delete all of them. 

I doubt they'll go through the trouble of locking the phones though.  I could be wrong though so we'll see.

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to get the imei numbers they will need a court order to release the documentation

what trouble? If the records are available in cvs format, whcih could easily be obtained from the database that was used by the illicit company and import them into the system - grand total of about 2 hours work. The next time the person does a Itunes sync the phone is locked again

[tonester]

Again--I don't get it...why should anyone care what someone decides to do with their legitimately-purchased iPhone, at least as far as unlocking is concerned?  I swear--if I didn't know any better, it seems as if some folks hope that such phones that got unlocked (through whatever means) get relocked--or, such phones should never ever get unlocked no matter what the reason.  Why?  I mean, if I choose to pay the unsubsidized price for an iPhone purchased from AT&T and decide to unlock it so that I can use it elsewhere...is that some kind of burden placed upon you somehow?  Heck, I promise you AT&T won't care one iota if I choose to do something as wacky as pay the unsubsidized price (or, pay the subsidized price and fulfill my commitment or pay the ETF) and subsequently use my iPhone solely as a iPod Touch...so why should they care if I do the same but choose to unlock it instead?

Now before someone reads too much into what I said--no, I am not advocating that AT&T should unlock iPhones, nor am I blind as to why they would choose not to unlock them regardless of how much you paid for it (subsidized or unsubsidized price)...and no, I am not personally pursuing an unlock of my iPhone.

[johninsj ACE - Wizard]

I am more concerned with the people who end up bricking their device following the advice, and then are stuck with no support, and no warranty.

If you need a factory unlocked device, you can purchase one. If you expect the US GSM iPhone to ever be supported unlocked, you should know better since it is well documented that it isn't.

[youngjm ACE - Professor]

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johninsj wrote:

I am more concerned with the people who end up bricking their device following the advice, and then are stuck with no support, and no warranty.

If you need a factory unlocked device, you can purchase one. If you expect the US GSM iPhone to ever be supported unlocked, you should know better since it is well documented that it isn't.

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Agree!  I worry about the person who reads these things such as unlocking, jailbreaking, etc and does not understand what it does and ends up creating a worse situation for themselves.  For the educated user, these things are not a big deal but we are the exception.   Just look at all the new folk who need help and come here to hopefully get good advice.

[eser]

DEAR SIR OR MADAM,

I BOUGHT IPHONE 4 FROM THE US BUT I LIVE IN TURKEY.I AM A BUSSINESSMAN AND I HAD A VERY IMPORTANT PROBLEM WITH MY PHONE.IT DOESNT WORK WITH OUR CELLS.I NEED UNLOCK NUMBER.PLEASE HELP ME AND SEND THIS NUMBER ASAP.WHENEVER YOU WANT I CAN SEND YOU MY IMEI NUMBER ,SERIAL NUMBER...ETC.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR HELP.

IF IT IS POSSIBLE ,PLEASE REPLY ME TO MY OWN EMAIL ADRESS.

BEST REGARDS,

MR.BULENT A {personal info edited}

[dwill05]

Is this a joke? Here's a whole thread saying that saying that the phone won't be unlocked, and someone posts asking for an unlock code? This has to be a put on. I think some people are joining the forums just to troll.

[wireless-user]

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youngjm wrote:

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Agree!  I worry about the person who reads these things such as unlocking, jailbreaking, etc and does not understand what it does and ends up creating a worse situation for themselves.  For the educated user, these things are not a big deal but we are the exception.   Just look at all the new folk who need help and come here to hopefully get good advice.

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Can you please be specific as to the potential problems?

I have 3 unlocked AT&T iPhones that each seems to work fine...

What am I missing with all these scare postings?

Or better yet, do you have any experience with JB or UL? if not, you should refrain from posting FUD (Fear - Uncertaintly - Doubt)

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[youngjm ACE - Professor]

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wireless-user wrote:

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youngjm wrote:

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Agree!  I worry about the person who reads these things such as unlocking, jailbreaking, etc and does not understand what it does and ends up creating a worse situation for themselves.  For the educated user, these things are not a big deal but we are the exception.   Just look at all the new folk who need help and come here to hopefully get good advice.

=====================================================================

Can you please be specific as to the potential problems?

I have 3 unlocked AT&T iPhones that each seems to work fine...

What am I missing with all these scare postings?

Or better yet, do you have any experience with JB or UL? if not, you should refrain from posting FUD (Fear - Uncertaintly - Doubt)

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Congratulations you are the educated user I am referring to who would not have any issues.  I have helped a number of folks who have had some hick-ups along the way.  I do not have a problem with JB or UL I just suggest that it be done with full knowledge of why and what you gain.

[johninsj ACE - Wizard]

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wireless-user wrote:

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youngjm wrote:

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Agree!  I worry about the person who reads these things such as unlocking, jailbreaking, etc and does not understand what it does and ends up creating a worse situation for themselves.  For the educated user, these things are not a big deal but we are the exception.   Just look at all the new folk who need help and come here to hopefully get good advice.

=====================================================================

Can you please be specific as to the potential problems?

I have 3 unlocked AT&T iPhones that each seems to work fine...

What am I missing with all these scare postings?

Or better yet, do you have any experience with JB or UL? if not, you should refrain from posting FUD (Fear - Uncertaintly - Doubt)

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You are missing a warranty - which is fine if your iPhone doesn't ever have a mechanical failure in its first year. Mine did.

I've Jailbroken several iPod Touches, all after warranty periods passed. I did experience stability issues from time to time, but generally they operated no worse than stock rom. Only once did I get one wedged up pretty badly, but a DFU reflash saved that one.

The thought of someone who cannot be bothered to discover that all AT&T iPhones are sold SIM Locked to AT&T, but is going to attempt to jailbreak and then baseband unlock their phone isn't something I'm comfortable suggesting. FUD to you, maybe, but not to me. Simpler to just get an unlocked phone in their region, if that's what they desire.

[ahmet322]

AT&T iphone now can be factory unlocked ?

[dwill05]

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ahmet322 wrote:

AT&T iphone now can be factory unlocked ?

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No, it cannot.

[youngjm ACE - Professor]

You can buy an unlocked iPHone directly from Apple but they will not unlock an iPhone you own that was not purchased as unlocked!

[graphite07]

Only apple sells the Unlokced Iphone.

[TerraPhantm]

If you really want an unlocked iPhone, you're probably best off reselling the one you got on contract and buying one from off-contract from apple. Resale value is good enough that you won't lose too much money. I am very tempted to do that with my 64GB model (though I already bought a factory unlocked 32GB model for travel the other day).

I do hope AT&T offers an unlock for customers in good standing some day, but they've proven to me that they don't really care about their customers wishes. As soon as an LTE iPhone comes out, I'm switching to Verizon. This line's ETF should be negligible, and my other lines will be completely paid off by then.

[uooswar]

Hi !! I am from Israel . I got present iPhone 4 from US 1-year ago. It was came with AT@T sim and locked. So how can I factory unlock it? Please, anyone help me. I tried to call AT@T (1-800-288-2020). But there is no service for other countries . How can I contact AT@T ? My email address  {Personal content removed for your safety}

[wingrider01 ACE - Geek]

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uooswar wrote:

Hi !! I am from Israel . I got present iPhone 4 from US 1-year ago. It was came with AT@T sim and locked. So how can I factory unlock it? Please, anyone help me. I tried to call AT@T (1-800-288-2020). But there is no service for other countries . How can I contact AT@T ? My email address  {Personal content removed for your safety}

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Click on the link below, follow the steps exactly as they are documented on the web site to start the evaluation process to verify your phone can be unlock. Pay particlular attention the step that gives you the telephone numbers to call - that is a critical step in the process, without doing that step the whole proceedure wil not work

http://osxdaily.com/2012/04/09/unlock-iphone-att/

there are different numbers in the link o call then what you listed. You HAVE to call them

[uooswar]

Thanks a lot.

[Kensei]

Crazy times, a few wise men said that AT&T will never factory unlock phones, yet I've unlocked 5 this year.  I guess what I've learned is never say never.

[wingrider01 ACE - Geek]

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Kensei wrote:

Crazy times, a few wise men said that AT&T will never factory unlock phones, yet I've unlocked 5 this year.  I guess what I've learned is never say never.

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it is happening, but it is not a sure theing, you don;t meet the requirements you do not get it unlocked. If you review th requirements you either need to have paid full retail price for the phone form a authorized dealer or been a att customer in good standing, still does not help those that buy off ebay or craigs list.

[Kensei]

Gotcha, could you kindly post the URL for the terms and conditions please? I've heard two seperate versions of the prerequisites. I've heard as long as the phone being unlocked was in good standing (Either finished the duration of the contract or an ETF was paid), never reported lost or stolen, than it could be unlocked.

I also heard that you had to have owned the phone or bought directly from an At&t store (added to the above stipulations), that those were the requirements. I've been told this by different CSR's of At&t who were unlocking my phones for me.

[Kensei]

Actually, I just found the terms and conditions; I was pretty sure you didn't have to purchase the phone directly from At&t.

http://www.att.com/esupport/article.jsp?sid=KB414532#fbid=jsGw5NigVMM

[youngjm ACE - Professor]

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Kensei wrote:
Actually, I just found the terms and conditions; I was pretty sure you didn't have to purchase the phone directly from At&t.

http://www.att.com/esupport/article.jsp?sid=KB414532#fbid=jsGw5NigVMM

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The requirements started out a little less rigid but ATT probably go overwhelmed by the number of requests from those in foreign countries.