Re: Unlocking an iPhone

RBNetEngr · ‎01-11-2010

I have not checked with the iPhone, but I have had other GSM phones with ATT, and they are locked to ATT while under contract. However, near the end of the contract period, or definitely after the contract has expired, ATT readily unlocked my phone upon request.

They generally won't unlock it while under contract (or at least in the first 18 months of the contract) because they subsidized the price of the phone when you purchased it ($199 w/2yr contract, for example), so they want to get their money back. However, once the contract has expired, there should be no reason why they will not unlock the phone, whether it's an iPhone or a Samsung Aria.

Note, when I speak of unlocking an iPhone I am referring to unlocking the phone from working exclusively with an ATT SIM. I'm not talking about jailbreaking the phone.

Virtual · ‎04-15-2010

RBNetEngr wrote:
They generally won't unlock it while under contract (or at least in the first 18 months of the contract) because they subsidized the price of the phone when you purchased it ($199 w/2yr contract, for example), so they want to get their money back. However, once the contract has expired, there should be no reason why they will not unlock the phone, whether it's an iPhone or a Samsung Aria.

But as it have been stated many times before, there's no law or regulation that obliges AT&T or Apple to release the subsidy unlock codes for iPhones even after the contract has expired. We don't know if this will change after Verizon gets the iPhone but meanwhile that's not a possibility.

Maybe that's just the reason: They don't release the unlock codes simply because they don't want and there's no law that obliges them to do it.

I am an AT&T employee and the postings on this site are my own and don’t necessarily represent AT&T’s positions, strategies or opinions.

BrianfromNO · ‎03-16-2006

Neither Apple nor AT&T will unlock the iPhone for ANY reason at this point. Period. End of story. There is no need to check with anyone; this issue has been documented and is not open for discussion or debate.

RBNetEngr wrote:
I have not checked with the iPhone, but I have had other GSM phones with ATT, and they are locked to ATT while under contract. However, near the end of the contract period, or definitely after the contract has expired, ATT readily unlocked my phone upon request.

They generally won't unlock it while under contract (or at least in the first 18 months of the contract) because they subsidized the price of the phone when you purchased it ($199 w/2yr contract, for example), so they want to get their money back. However, once the contract has expired, there should be no reason why they will not unlock the phone, whether it's an iPhone or a Samsung Aria.

Note, when I speak of unlocking an iPhone I am referring to unlocking the phone from working exclusively with an ATT SIM. I'm not talking about jailbreaking the phone.

gpsingh · ‎02-05-2011

That whole forum makes real small sense. Apple didn't decide right. If production of worlds best handset was their priority, what made them to put their gun on AT&T's shoulders. Again if somebody feels to be in contract then its okay but if the phone has been purchased out of contract then there is no meaning of lock, the AT&T has already got the advance money it was going to earn in next 2 years...!!!

once the phone has been sold it becomes the property of the owner and the manufacturer has then no right to lock any of its services. Another point would be if the AT&T and/or Apple aren't going to give unlocking to all services to the buyer they should not sell contract free phones. There is no meaning of selling "Contract free locked phone". Ideally the companies should give iphones on lease i.e to lend the phone for 2 years after which they should get it back (which explains the real contract), Or not sell iphones..!! After selling the phone they keep on thinking the iphone remains their property, do they live in a world of ferry tales... is that "Freedom".???

Accepting such conditions of the companies also gives a boost to them in planning more such conditions. Dear friends wake up dont accept such contracts..!!!

Nobody will ever jailbreak or use third party softwares to unlock iphones if after contract/without contract the customer were able to use all features of the phone.

smalcom · ‎09-22-2010

What is so difficult to understand here. When you purchased your iPhone, you signed a Customer Service Summary that incorporated, by reference, the Wireless Customer Service Agreement. In that Agreement, it specifically outlines the Terms of Service for AT&T Wireless Access.

In this document, it clearly indicates when AT&T will unlock a phone. It also states in no uncertain terms that an iPhone will not be unlocked. You signed it. If you didn't read it that is not AT&T's problem.

As far as buying a full price phone and expecting it to be unlocked, you receive a discount on the cell phone if you agree to a two year service contract. By paying full price, you escape the requirement for a two year contract and an early termination fee. You will pay $960 over the two year period for phone service, and that does not count the required data service. Yes, I know you are paying the same thing, but you are not obligated for a $325 ETF if you stop your service. You may as well buy with the two year contract - it costs the same. You still must contract with AT&T for wireless service.

It is the right of any company to set the terms of use and the equipment requirements to use their network. Simply because you think it's unfair that your phone is locked is not AT&T's problem. If you don't like the fact that they wont unlock an iPhone, choose one that AT&T will unlock. Oh, but you want an iPhone? Than live with the terms the company has established.

If you are going overseas, you have two choices. Continue your AT&T service with International Coverage, or sell the iPhone and buy one in the country to which you are going. Simply because you want things your way does not make it "illegal" for AT&T to establish their rules. You want to play in their yard, you play by their rules.

And no, it won't be any different with Verizon.

gpsingh · ‎02-05-2011

Oh, but you want an iPhone? Than live with the terms the company has established.

why the terms and conditions should be followed, a customer has brought it at the price quoted by the company and it has been paid...then what terms and conditions are you talking about my dear newbie.??? This is a free world and nobody is a dictator here to make their own laws,,, not apple not at&t. and by the way do you feel the need to direct what to talk and not to "by some company's terms" lol. Dont you understand the meaning of freedom...!!, at least people in U.K, Australia and 90 other odd countries do, where you can get factory unlocking from the same "apple". Its not in U.S.A that if at&t is not unlocking the phones then it has got the right to go that way, but in other countries no network company has got such right, isn't it fooling around on false grounds. you are being tamed by some company, off your basic rights and you feel that its cheap... so fine. Giving information does not mean to justify the things

and my dear newbie which phone are you talking about apple's iphone or at&t' iphone

"U.S.A the country of Freedom...where no one is alowed to use iphone without at&t."

dwill05 · ‎04-06-2005

*Sigh* Another post equating a locked cell phone to dictatorships, freedom and human rights. It is your phone and you are free to do with it what you wish. The cell phone companies have freedoms and rights also, and that includes not unlocking an iPhone after they make it clear when you sign up that they won't do it. People are assuming that their "right" to have a phone unlocked is an an obligation for Apple or AT&T to do the unlocking for them. They have the freedom to say no. They can't stop you, but they don't have to help you either. Want your out-of-contract phone unlocked? Then go off and do it.

satchev · ‎07-31-2007

gpsingh wrote:
This is a free world and nobody is a dictator here to make their own laws,,, not apple not at&t. and by the way do you feel the need to direct what to talk and not to "by some company's terms" lol. Dont you understand the meaning of freedom...!!, at least people in U.K, Australia and 90 other odd countries do, where you can get factory unlocking from the same "apple". Its not in U.S.A that if at&t is not unlocking the phones then it has got the right to go that way, but in other countries no network company has got such right, isn't it fooling around on false grounds. you are being tamed by some company, off your basic rights and you feel that its cheap... so fine. Giving information does not mean to justify the things

First, use proper grammar and punctuation to make your arguement clearer and easier to read. As it is, I find it extremely difficult to read and practically impossible to take seriously the arguement of an individual that cannot or will not clearly state their arguement.

That being said, regarding your comment that no other country locks iPhones, per Apple's listing found here, the iPhone is sold officialy unlocked in 11 countries in Europe out of 35 countries. Out of those 35 countries, 13 countries have one or more carrier that locks the iPhone to their network and will NOT unlock it. This is especially true is some countries with multiple carriers where one carrier has it locked and will NOT unlock but other carriers offer it either unlocked or locked with an option to unlock.

How exactly does your arguement that other countries are better here hold water? The UK which you specifically mentioned does not offer and unlocked iPhone. All iPhones in the UK are sold locked and the end user must request them to be unlocked from the carrier. In addition, Vodafone will not unlock iPhones in the UK, again, what makes the US so bad here?

Would you like to discuss countries in the Asia-Pacific area where Guam, India, Indonesia, Japan, Korea, and the Phillipenes all have locked iPhones that will not be unlocked for any reason?

There are many countries around the world that offer either unlocked iPhones or iPhones locked but with the option to unlock. The major issue that so many ignornat individuals seem to refuse to acknowledge is that in many, if not all, of those countries, there are laws requiring the phones to be unlocked. NO such law exists in the US.

tonester · ‎07-14-2006

satchev wrote:

gpsingh wrote:
This is a free world and nobody is a dictator here to make their own laws,,, not apple not at&t. and by the way do you feel the need to direct what to talk and not to "by some company's terms" lol. Dont you understand the meaning of freedom...!!, at least people in U.K, Australia and 90 other odd countries do, where you can get factory unlocking from the same "apple". Its not in U.S.A that if at&t is not unlocking the phones then it has got the right to go that way, but in other countries no network company has got such right, isn't it fooling around on false grounds. you are being tamed by some company, off your basic rights and you feel that its cheap... so fine. Giving information does not mean to justify the things

First, use proper grammar and punctuation to make your arguement clearer and easier to read. As it is, I find it extremely difficult to read and practically impossible to take seriously the arguement of an individual that cannot or will not clearly state their arguement.

So I guess spelling doesn't matter? Sorry, couldn't resist...

smalcom · ‎09-22-2010

gpsingh wrote:
Oh, but you want an iPhone? Than live with the terms the company has established.

why the terms and conditions should be followed, a customer has brought it at the price quoted by the company and it has been paid...then what terms and conditions are you talking about my dear newbie.??? This is a free world and nobody is a dictator here to make their own laws,,, not apple not at&t. and by the way do you feel the need to direct what to talk and not to "by some company's terms" lol. Dont you understand the meaning of freedom...!!, at least people in U.K, Australia and 90 other odd countries do, where you can get factory unlocking from the same "apple". Its not in U.S.A that if at&t is not unlocking the phones then it has got the right to go that way, but in other countries no network company has got such right, isn't it fooling around on false grounds. you are being tamed by some company, off your basic rights and you feel that its cheap... so fine. Giving information does not mean to justify the things
and my dear newbie which phone are you talking about apple's iphone or at&t' iphone
"U.S.A the country of Freedom...where no one is alowed to use iphone without at&t."

1) I seem to have more posts than you do, so who are you calling a "newbie?"

2) I don't care if God Almighty will unlock an iPhone in Timbucktu, this is the USA. These are the requirements established by the owner of the device and the vendor of the device. You dont like it, buy your phone elsewhere. Just dont try to tell the vendor/manufacturer that you don't like their rules so they had better change it.

3) You seem to equate "freedom" with doing whatever you like. That's not freedom that's anarchy.

4)I suggest you go anywhere and try to use any phone without an agreement with a cellphone carrier. If you have service, but no agreement, than obviously you are not paying for your service. That's theft. Don't like it here, go someplace else.

BrianfromNO · ‎03-16-2006

Apple sells the phones unlocked, or unlocks them at customer request, where they are required to do so by law. No such law exists in the US. Period. End of story.

People would still jailbreak their phones even if they were allowed to unlock them, because they want to use features and add-ons that have never been approved by Apple.

gpsingh wrote:
Oh, but you want an iPhone? Than live with the terms the company has established.

why the terms and conditions should be followed, a customer has brought it at the price quoted by the company and it has been paid...then what terms and conditions are you talking about my dear newbie.??? This is a free world and nobody is a dictator here to make their own laws,,, not apple not at&t. and by the way do you feel the need to direct what to talk and not to "by some company's terms" lol. Dont you understand the meaning of freedom...!!, at least people in U.K, Australia and 90 other odd countries do, where you can get factory unlocking from the same "apple". Its not in U.S.A that if at&t is not unlocking the phones then it has got the right to go that way, but in other countries no network company has got such right, isn't it fooling around on false grounds. you are being tamed by some company, off your basic rights and you feel that its cheap... so fine. Giving information does not mean to justify the things
and my dear newbie which phone are you talking about apple's iphone or at&t' iphone
"U.S.A the country of Freedom...where no one is alowed to use iphone without at&t."

wireless-user · ‎12-16-2008

smalcom wrote:

In this document, it clearly indicates when AT&T will unlock a phone. It also states in no uncertain terms that an iPhone will not be unlocked. You signed it. If you didn't read it that is not AT&T's problem.

So, what happens when you buy the iPhone directly from Apple, and pay full retai price - without an AT&T contract??

I'll tell you what happens, you get a phone locked to AT&T....

In this example you have no AT&T contract, but your expensive iPhone is still locked to AT&T.

And you wonder why people hate AT&T...

Shades of the 1950s when everyone hated "Ma Bell"..

smalcom · ‎09-22-2010

wireless-user wrote:

smalcom wrote:

In this document, it clearly indicates when AT&T will unlock a phone. It also states in no uncertain terms that an iPhone will not be unlocked. You signed it. If you didn't read it that is not AT&T's problem.

So, what happens when you buy the iPhone directly from Apple, and pay full retai price - without an AT&T contract??

I'll tell you what happens, you get a phone locked to AT&T....

In this example you have no AT&T contract, but your expensive iPhone is still locked to AT&T.

And you wonder why people hate AT&T...

Shades of the 1950s when everyone hated "Ma Bell"..

No, you don't have a contract, but you still must buy wireless service to use your phone, unless all you want is to use Wi-Fi, and then is doesn't matter who the phone is locked to.

johninsj · ‎07-07-2010

wireless-user wrote:

smalcom wrote:

In this document, it clearly indicates when AT&T will unlock a phone. It also states in no uncertain terms that an iPhone will not be unlocked. You signed it. If you didn't read it that is not AT&T's problem.

So, what happens when you buy the iPhone directly from Apple, and pay full retai price - without an AT&T contract??

I'll tell you what happens, you get a phone locked to AT&T....

In this example you have no AT&T contract, but your expensive iPhone is still locked to AT&T.

And you wonder why people hate AT&T...

Shades of the 1950s when everyone hated "Ma Bell"..

That's because Apple and AT&T (and now VZ, if you buy the CDMA version) have entered into an exclusive agreement in the US - they make them, they decide how to sell them. You choose to buy the product or not.

BrianfromNO · ‎03-16-2006

This is not new. If I recall, Verizon wouldn't unlock their exclusive Blackberry devices so people could take them over to Sprint. It's not great consumer protection, but until the FCC or Congress steps in I predict nothing will be done.

wireless-user wrote:

smalcom wrote:

In this document, it clearly indicates when AT&T will unlock a phone. It also states in no uncertain terms that an iPhone will not be unlocked. You signed it. If you didn't read it that is not AT&T's problem.

So, what happens when you buy the iPhone directly from Apple, and pay full retai price - without an AT&T contract??

I'll tell you what happens, you get a phone locked to AT&T....

In this example you have no AT&T contract, but your expensive iPhone is still locked to AT&T.

And you wonder why people hate AT&T...

Shades of the 1950s when everyone hated "Ma Bell"..

Dark_Angel_RUS · ‎03-03-2011

Sorry for being rude but AT&T/Apple agreement seems nothing but criminal conspiracy for any man outside US... and more, this is the most foolish way of making business - most of european carriers acknowledged the use of unlocking. So they get their money for unlocking while AT&T/Apple gang sucks... Even if they set the price for official unlock at $50 for the non-US customers they'll get at least $ 50 millions on unlockers... NIce piece of cake isn't it?

wingrider01 · ‎05-26-2008

Dark_Angel_RUS wrote:
Sorry for being rude but AT&T/Apple agreement seems nothing but criminal conspiracy for any man outside US... and more, this is the most foolish way of making business - most of european carriers acknowledged the use of unlocking. So they get their money for unlocking while AT&T/Apple gang sucks... Even if they set the price for official unlock at $50 for the non-US customers they'll get at least $ 50 millions on unlockers... NIce piece of cake isn't it?

Guess you have different definitions of what exactly a "criminal conspiracy" is - in this country for it to be defined as that, it must violate one of the local, state, or federal mandated criminal justice codes, if not it is not a "criminal conspiriacy" it is then qualified as a read the contract before you buy issue in the case of getting a unlock code for the iphone - or hack it, those arer your choices

"most of european carriers acknowledged the use of unlocking" is true only if the country in question requires them by law - and not all European countries do, then they do supply unlock codes, if not they tell the end user the same thing that ATT does - nope no canna do.

Dark_Angel_RUS · ‎03-03-2011

Well, my english isn't good enough because I had no practice for a long time. By saying "criminal" I meant that AT&T/Apple leave no choice to a customer who wants to get an iPhone but has no wishes to refuse the habitual carrier's service... It's a violation on the freedom of choice which is proclaimed in any Constitution ( and in US Constitution too, isn't it?)

PS: Sorry again for my awful English...

Sheik HF1 · ‎08-03-2003

Dark_Angel_RUS wrote:
Well, my english isn't good enough because I had no practice for a long time. By saying "criminal" I meant that AT&T/Apple leave no choice to a customer who wants to get an iPhone but has no wishes to refuse the habitual carrier's service... It's a violation on the freedom of choice which is proclaimed in any Constitution ( and in US Constitution too, isn't it?)

PS: Sorry again for my awful English...

They have been challenged (all providers) and the providers won. So it must be legal for them to do so. If this is to happen then one needs to speak to their government reps and push them to redefine the law and at least allow for an unlock for a fee (like they do in other countries or even just give it to us for free like they do on other type of handsets. Now if one is to take the business side then yes they have the right to make sure that their costs are recovered and that any handset that is taken out of service will hopefully come back as a new line or expanded service (new iphone and the old one gets handed to some one that ha no iphone and then gets a data subscription) After all they are in business to make money just like every other type of business.

wingrider01 · ‎05-26-2008

Dark_Angel_RUS wrote:
Well, my english isn't good enough because I had no practice for a long time. By saying "criminal" I meant that AT&T/Apple leave no choice to a customer who wants to get an iPhone but has no wishes to refuse the habitual carrier's service... It's a violation on the freedom of choice which is proclaimed in any Constitution ( and in US Constitution too, isn't it?)

PS: Sorry again for my awful English...

this has absolutley nothing to do with the constitution, nor does it have anythig to do with freedom of speech or anything else promsed by the goverment.

There is absolutley no mandate in the US to force a business to unlock a phone. Why was the phone purchased in the US, why did you not purchase one in your country, then you would have 100 percent usage and 100 percent warranty coverage.

Bottom line - no other choices, hack it, return to wife and have her etf or sell it on fleabay - a ATT mandate unlock is not going to happen. Guess you attempt to save money on the phone is not working as you planned