Unlocking iPhone for use in Australia, Asia

smr2112 · ‎11-15-2004

I would like to know if AT&T has a policy for unlocking the iPhone for

use on other networks? In a month I am planning travel to Australia,

and Taiwan for vacation and would like to use the phone with a foreign

SIM such as Optus in Australia.

I have done this in the past with AT&T and other phones, but was unsure

of your policy with respect to the iPhone. I only intent to legitimally unlock

the phone and return to AT&T usage once I return from my trip.

Please advise.

BrianfromNO · ‎03-16-2006

Neither AT&T nor Apple will unlock the iPhone for any reason.

MrKroppcircles · ‎09-20-2009

not even worth trying

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

mrskroppcircles · ‎11-09-2009

once the iphone becomes available on other networks other than just att, they may unlock it for you but part of att being able to carry the iphone is the part of the contract that says att is the only one to carry it so they wont unlock it for you.

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.

300k · ‎09-03-2009

The only way you can unlock it is to use 3rd party software (we are not allowed to discuss it here)... I keep my iPhone unlocked as I travel a lot.

MrKroppcircles · ‎09-20-2009

^^^^^^^^TRUE STATEMENT^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ but att and apple will not 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 position, strategies or opinions.

8Limes · ‎11-26-2009

This is strange, because this is exactly what my friend did. He actuallt followed up on this guy's instruction from finland http://theappleblog.com/2009/08/20/apples-official-iphone-3g-unlock/ and although he is from austria it worked for him too. He was recently over here and proved it to me by changing iPhones. His iPhone did work with my'at&t' sim card, but his 'one' sim card failed in my iPhone to get recognised. There is proof enough, that it is possible to be unlocked. And as it seems, it has to be done by both, initiated by your provider and confirmed by apple. I do not know why this is/was here the case, but as soon as someones contract is over, he should have the legal right to do so. When i would leave the US to work abroad i would have to pay the reminder of my contract anyway, which should entitle me to have my phone unlocked to use it abroad with a local carrier. I can not believe that they would deny something like this, otherwise someone has to go to court to show them otherwise.

Message Edited by 8Limes on 11-26-2009 05:14:49 AM

8Limes · ‎11-26-2009

I just called At&T and asked some specific questions regarding the iPhone. I asked that in the forum it says that the iPhone ca n not be unlocked, regardless whatsoever. I asked where it states this information on their website or in the contract, that the phone will still have to be bound to at&t even after the contract is over and their answer was short. There answer was short: Nowhere.

As i assumed, when your contract is over or when you pay off the reminder of your contract you can have your iPhone unlocked.

I was offered to do so, because I am going to Austria in the winter time or in the summer (depends on work) for 2 months and asked to to have eventually the reminder paid off to have it unlocked. But it is better to wait, because the reminder only will get less, until I go over there.

Problem solved!

Message Edited by 8Limes on 11-26-2009 06:01:13 AM

dwill05 · ‎04-06-2005

8Limes wrote:
I just called At&T and asked some specific questions regarding the iPhone. I asked that in the forum it says that the iPhone ca n not be unlocked, regardless whatsoever. I asked where it states this information on their website or in the contract, that the phone will still have to be bound to at&t even after the contract is over and their answer was short. There answer was short: Nowhere.

As i assumed, when your contract is over or when you pay off the reminder of your contract you can have your iPhone unlocked.

I was offered to do so, because I am going to Austria in the winter time or in the summer (depends on work) for 2 months and asked to to have eventually the reminder paid off to have it unlocked. But it is better to wait, because the reminder only will get less, until I go over there.

Problem solved!
Message Edited by 8Limes on 11-26-2009 06:01:13 AM

From what I read here, what you asked is whether once your contract is up if there is anything that legally prevents you from having the phone unlocked. AT&T said no, which is legally correct. However, that is not the same as having them unlock it for you. Like there is nothing in the conrtact specifically requiring the phone to be locked after the contract is over, there is nothing that says they will unlock the phone for at the end either. You can ask and they will say no. You can say that my contract is over and the phone doesn't have to be locked anymore. They will say, that's true, but there is nothing that says we have to unlock the phone for you. Basically, it's your phone free and clear now and you can do what you want with it, but AT&T and Apple don't have to help.

BrianfromNO · ‎03-16-2006

The link you provided indicated that Sonera, a carrier not in the United States, would unlock iPhones for their users. If you take the phone elsewhere and get it unlocked, that's fine. AT&T cannot stop you from doing so. But the point here is that neither AT&T nor Apple will unlock the American (AT&T) iPhone under any circumstances.

8Limes wrote:
I just called At&T and asked some specific questions regarding the iPhone. I asked that in the forum it says that the iPhone ca n not be unlocked, regardless whatsoever. I asked where it states this information on their website or in the contract, that the phone will still have to be bound to at&t even after the contract is over and their answer was short. There answer was short: Nowhere.

As i assumed, when your contract is over or when you pay off the reminder of your contract you can have your iPhone unlocked.

I was offered to do so, because I am going to Austria in the winter time or in the summer (depends on work) for 2 months and asked to to have eventually the reminder paid off to have it unlocked. But it is better to wait, because the reminder only will get less, until I go over there.

Problem solved!
Message Edited by 8Limes on 11-26-2009 06:01:13 AM

Planet-Ed · ‎07-09-2005

8Limes wrote:
I asked where it states this information on their website or in the contract, that the phone will still have to be bound to at&t even after the contract is over and their answer was short. There answer was short: Nowhere.

As i assumed, when your contract is over or when you pay off the reminder of your contract you can have your iPhone unlocked.

It is on the ATT site in the answer center. Took only a few seconds to find it.

http://www.wireless.att.com/answer-center/main.jsp

https://www.wireless.att.com/answer-center/main.jsp?t=solutionTab&ft=searchTab&ps=solutionPanels&loc...

Question:
What is the unlock code for my iPhone?
How do I unlock my iPhone?
What is the subsidy unlock code for my iPhone?
What is the subsidy password for my iPhone?

Answer:
iPhone cannot be unlocked, even if you are out of contract. If you are traveling internationally, iPhone is a quad-band phone and will work in many countries across the globe. Stay connected while traveling to over 190 countries, plus get discounted rates in over 80 of those countries when you sign up for AT&T World Traveler

8Limes · ‎11-26-2009

I can write what i want too, but which law does support that? I mean there have to be regulations, something in the contract which exactly states something like that, otherwise they might not really be allowed to deny this option. Maybe no one has ever questioned it from the legal side? I am not a lawyer, but i could not think of such a restriction. i will call the legal department, because this information is not sufficient in any way.

8Limes · ‎11-26-2009

Could i create an official unlock service then in collaboration with someone in europe then and have it sent back unlocked for a fee? Would i be legally allowed to do that? After all i do not sell an unlocked iphone, just the service to get it unlocked.

satchev · ‎07-31-2007

8Limes wrote:
Could i create an official unlock service then in collaboration with someone in europe then and have it sent back unlocked for a fee? Would i be legally allowed to do that? After all i do not sell an unlocked iphone, just the service to get it unlocked.

You are welcome to start any business you want, legal businesses are best.

There is nothing preventing you from starting a business to unlock iPhones. There are others that exist for just such a purpose. No reason to ship it to Europe, that's just unnecessary expense which makes a busines unsustainable.

Planet-Ed · ‎07-09-2005

8Limes wrote:
I can write what i want too, but which law does support that? I mean there have to be regulations, something in the contract which exactly states something like that, otherwise they might not really be allowed to deny this option. Maybe no one has ever questioned it from the legal side? I am not a lawyer, but i could not think of such a restriction. i will call the legal department, because this information is not sufficient in any way.

It is sufficient an does not require a law to support not having to unlock them. In the United States there is no requirement that cellular carriers have to unlock handsets. You can call ATT's legal department all you want but that is not going to change it.

If you would like it to be more like the few countries that mandate cellular handsets be unlocked your more that welcome to petition/lobby for changes to the industry. It is the reason you have lawmakers that you helped to elect into office. You did think of using them, right?

8Limes · ‎11-26-2009

Any programs available then which will unlock the iphone without jailbreaking them? A software, which unlocks it the official way? When i go to europe i can have mine unlocked for good and can update the iphone without worry to get locked again.

Message Edited by 8Limes on 11-26-2009 06:13:45 PM

drumn_bass · ‎08-27-2008

This IS the official way: "Answer: iPhone cannot be unlocked...", oh why bother, this topic is going to be closed anyway.

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

There is no law requiring US carriers to unlock phones. Period. End of story. I already responded to this argument in the other thread in which you're posting.

8Limes wrote:
I can write what i want too, but which law does support that? I mean there have to be regulations, something in the contract which exactly states something like that, otherwise they might not really be allowed to deny this option. Maybe no one has ever questioned it from the legal side? I am not a lawyer, but i could not think of such a restriction. i will call the legal department, because this information is not sufficient in any way.

munchkinsmom · ‎11-21-2009

All this is over is people getting their way with no concern or resppect for rules and regulations, which have to exist to maintain order. If the iPhone could be unlocked, AT&T would go under crediting back data roaming charges.

Doppler808 · ‎04-22-2009

8Limes wrote:
Any programs available then which will unlock the iphone without jailbreaking them? A software, which unlocks it the official way? When i go to europe i can have mine unlocked for good and can update the iphone without worry to get locked again.
Message Edited by 8Limes on 11-26-2009 06:13:45 PM

Here is a list from Apple for which countries have unlocked and can officially unlock iPhones. This has nothing to do with AT&T as if you notice Any country that doesn't have laws to unlock phones do not have an officially way to unlock phones. Only select countries sell them unlocked or have them locked. The countries that MUST unlock after the term is over have an official way to unlock the phones, and IF you noticed there are different serial numbers based on WHICH iPhones can be officially unlocked. The ones that can't have 1 serial number, and the ones that are unlocked and can be unlocked have a different serial number.(you have to look a a different page for the serial numbers, and I don't have it bookmarked sadly). So when people get peeved at AT&T are misguiding their frustration they should actually take it up to Apple.