Unlock iphonne 4

[wingrider01 ACE - Geek]

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gotagun wrote:

Hi everybody... Someone could just make it clear how to unlock an eligible iphone 4..?

Thank you very much.

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best guess -

1. call ATT

2. verify you have a qualifying account

3. Verify it is not currently under a commitment

4. unlock phone

that is what the meger press release shows.

[wingrider01 ACE - Geek]

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cacophony555 wrote:

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TerraPhantm wrote:

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wingrider01 wrote:

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cacophony555 wrote:

If "good standing" includes active, then why would AT&T use the phrase "current and in good standing" in various places on their site? it would be redundant.

Also, from the definition of "good standing" on wikipedia:

"A person or organisation in good standing is regarded as having complied with all his or its explicit obligations"

I think you're reading too much into the term "qualifying customers". We shall see soon though.

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Suspect you are ignoring it because you are in denial - seems prety straight forward - qualifying customer not sure what you can read into that, epsecially is the word customer is spelled out as it is in the press release.

My applications support department only gives support to "qualifying customers" with the products we create and market, aka you have a valid contract with us and it is current no contract no support, they are not "qualifying cusotmers"

A closed or no account is not a qualified, it is not in good standing

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Why do they say "...and they need to have fulfilled their contract term, upgraded under one of our upgrade policies or paid an early termination fee" if that's the case? As far as I'm aware, they don't let you pay the etf unless you're actually closing the account. At least I was told I couldn't when I asked a few months ago.

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Exactly. The ETF clause  makes it quite clear that the customer does't have to be a current customer to get the unlock.

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you do realize that a current customer can pay a etf and still retain their account right? All it does is remove that particular phone from the two year commitment. the press release still states "qualifying custoner"

It is all swags until the official statement comes out - your interpertation and other people's interpertation

[wingrider01 ACE - Geek]

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br8thw8 wrote:
I have a question. How does one get the unlock performed? Do I have to go into an AT&T store? Or can AT&T do it over-the-air? And if so can they do it OTA in Japan? I'm currently in Japan temporarily and would like to unlock my iPhone while I'm here. But then go back to AT&T once I return home.

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You posted at 02:38 i the morning - no one has any idea exactly how it will happen or what the requirements are, as of right now subject to interpertaion of the meger press release

1. you call att

2. They verify you have a qualifying account

3. they verify the phone falls with in the criteria that was specificed in the brief press release

4. they unlock the phone

[TerraPhantm]

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wingrider01 wrote:

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cacophony555 wrote:

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TerraPhantm wrote:

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wingrider01 wrote:

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cacophony555 wrote:

If "good standing" includes active, then why would AT&T use the phrase "current and in good standing" in various places on their site? it would be redundant.

Also, from the definition of "good standing" on wikipedia:

"A person or organisation in good standing is regarded as having complied with all his or its explicit obligations"

I think you're reading too much into the term "qualifying customers". We shall see soon though.

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Suspect you are ignoring it because you are in denial - seems prety straight forward - qualifying customer not sure what you can read into that, epsecially is the word customer is spelled out as it is in the press release.

My applications support department only gives support to "qualifying customers" with the products we create and market, aka you have a valid contract with us and it is current no contract no support, they are not "qualifying cusotmers"

A closed or no account is not a qualified, it is not in good standing

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Why do they say "...and they need to have fulfilled their contract term, upgraded under one of our upgrade policies or paid an early termination fee" if that's the case? As far as I'm aware, they don't let you pay the etf unless you're actually closing the account. At least I was told I couldn't when I asked a few months ago.

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Exactly. The ETF clause  makes it quite clear that the customer does't have to be a current customer to get the unlock.

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you do realize that a current customer can pay a etf and still retain their account right? All it does is remove that particular phone from the two year commitment. the press release still states "qualifying custoner"

It is all swags until the official statement comes out - your interpertation and other people's interpertation

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No you can't. One of my lines was ineligible for an upgrade when the 4S came out, and it would've been cheaper for me to pay the etf than to pay the early upgrade fee. I inquired about doing this and they said it's not possible. I even mentioned how I could conceivably switch carriers and actually save money compared to the early upgrade fee; they still couldn't do anything. The csr said if I paid the etf, my account would close right then and there, and I would not be able to open another AT&T account until 30 days have passed. So I just bought a factory unlocked 4S for that particular line.

Unless you're an AT&T executive, your interpretation is no more valid than anyone else's.

[shri.rg]

I terminated my AT&T account, and paid the early termination fee in Nov'11 because I had to move out of US. Now I want to unlock my iPhone.what is the procedure if it is? Any email addres i can mail to?

Regards

Shri

[wingrider01 ACE - Geek]

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shri.rg wrote:

I terminated my AT&T account, and paid the early termination fee in Nov'11 because I had to move out of US. Now I want to unlock my iPhone.what is the procedure if it is? Any email addres i can mail to?

Regards

Shri

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No one knows at all right now - wait until normal business hours and call them, there is no official presence on the forums. As of right now it from the press releas3e - subject to interpertation. Also expect confusion from teh CSR's since they may not have all the information in the first 30 seconds after normal business hours occur

1. call ATT

2. they verify you have a qualifying account

3. they verify the phone meets the required qualifications as set forth in the press release

4. they unlock it

[wingrider01 ACE - Geek]

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TerraPhantm wrote:

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wingrider01 wrote:

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cacophony555 wrote:

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TerraPhantm wrote:

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wingrider01 wrote:

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cacophony555 wrote:

If "good standing" includes active, then why would AT&T use the phrase "current and in good standing" in various places on their site? it would be redundant.

Also, from the definition of "good standing" on wikipedia:

"A person or organisation in good standing is regarded as having complied with all his or its explicit obligations"

I think you're reading too much into the term "qualifying customers". We shall see soon though.

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Suspect you are ignoring it because you are in denial - seems prety straight forward - qualifying customer not sure what you can read into that, epsecially is the word customer is spelled out as it is in the press release.

My applications support department only gives support to "qualifying customers" with the products we create and market, aka you have a valid contract with us and it is current no contract no support, they are not "qualifying cusotmers"

A closed or no account is not a qualified, it is not in good standing

---

Why do they say "...and they need to have fulfilled their contract term, upgraded under one of our upgrade policies or paid an early termination fee" if that's the case? As far as I'm aware, they don't let you pay the etf unless you're actually closing the account. At least I was told I couldn't when I asked a few months ago.

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Exactly. The ETF clause  makes it quite clear that the customer does't have to be a current customer to get the unlock.

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you do realize that a current customer can pay a etf and still retain their account right? All it does is remove that particular phone from the two year commitment. the press release still states "qualifying custoner"

It is all swags until the official statement comes out - your interpertation and other people's interpertation

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No you can't. One of my lines was ineligible for an upgrade when the 4S came out, and it would've been cheaper for me to pay the etf than to pay the early upgrade fee. I inquired about doing this and they said it's not possible. I even mentioned how I could conceivably switch carriers and actually save money compared to the early upgrade fee; they still couldn't do anything. The csr said if I paid the etf, my account would close right then and there, and I would not be able to open another AT&T account until 30 days have passed. So I just bought a factory unlocked 4S for that particular line.

Unless you're an AT&T executive, your interpretation is no more valid than anyone else's.

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funny did it on the family accounts and had no issue with them, they happly charged my billing method the 300.00 and I put another phone on the same line. Funny I thought the delay was either 3 months or 6 months and not 30 days,  called Phantom churn.

You are 100 percent correct, I am not a ATT executive and I have specificly stated that it is subject to interpertation, please point out where I state my interpertation is the only one. Until normal business hours occur and we see either the first posts of success or of complaints no one knows.

The only thing I know for sure is I have already called the weekend support staff and told them to start charging up all the retired iphones in the spares box to get ready to unlock them for sale on fleabay

[TerraPhantm]

Maybe it was 90 days, I don't remember that detail too well. But I do remember they wouldn't let me pay the etf and retain service. Even their website suggests that the etf is only applicable for accounts that are being closed.

In any case I'm more interested in how they determine the phone is eligible for unlock for those who want to upgrade their old phones after upgrading -- I still have my old iPhone 4, but that phone was replaced a few times under warranty, so the imei doesn't match the original phone I got with that contract. Guess I'll find out in a few hours when I try

[animefreekben]

Currently on hold, everyone is calling in for this but he is unlocking my iPhone 4, not my iPhone 4S even though I am always available for an upgrade when the new iPhones come out

[dorot222]

and I will add $$ of course.

[Facci]

And?

[animefreekben]

THIS IS BULL! they couldnt unlock my OLD iPhone 4 because FOR SOME REASON ITS STILL ON A FRIGGEN CONTRACT! I have the new iPHone 4S and my old one is the iPhone 4...which clearly should be off its effin contract because I upgraded...but NO I just had to wait an HOUR for NOTHING!!

[stufried]

Why do you think they picked Easter to launch this program? You would think that they are light staffEd and all senior staff were off today.

[New Reality]

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hisansingh wrote:

I terminated my AT&T account early and paid them early termination fee because I had to move out of US. Now I want to unlock my iPhone. Is it possible and what is the procedure if it is? Any email addres i can mail to?

Thank you for any help.

Sanjay

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Assuming you meet the criteria for unlocking, most likely you will call AT&T's help line and ask for an unlock.

However, there is a lot of confusion over this process as AT&T doesn't seem quite ready to handle the onslaught of unlock requests.

Wait a week or two before you call to let the process get implemented.

[wingrider01 ACE - Geek]

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stufried wrote:
Why do you think they picked Easter to launch this program? You would think that they are light staffEd and all senior staff were off today.

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1. the majority of  "senior staff" is off anyway, it is a sunday

2. this is not a recognized holdiay by the majority of businesses in the US

3. everybidy, their brother, their neighbors dog are trying to call in and get their iphone unlocked, would have made zero difference if it was a sunday or a weekday, the hold times would have been excessive, especially with the peope that are argueing over the unlock policy and how they should qualify.

[youngjm ACE - Professor]

Call AT&T customer service to initiate the unlock

[bbowen72]

Ok, well this is just dumb.  I'll post the contents of mt AT&T chat.  First review of my situation.

1) I became an AT&T customer with iPhone 3G in 2009 (when my area got AT&T coverage).

2) I upgraded to the iPhone 4 on or near release day

3)My contract expires 7/5/12 (I must have been late on a payment 1 month)

So, the chat is below with my information removed:

General Info
Chat start time	Apr 8, 2012 9:04:04 AM EST
Chat end time	Apr 8, 2012 9:39:05 AM EST
Duration (actual chatting time)	00:35:01
Operator	Wendy {Personal content removed}

Chat Transcript

info: Please wait for a chat representative to respond. info: You are now chatting with 'Alex {Personal content removed}' Alex {Personal content removed}: Hello Mr. XXXX, I will be glad to assist you with your concern for unlocking your device today. Me: Thanks Alex {Personal content removed}: I do apologize but until the 2 year contract is fulfilled the device is not eligible to be unlocked.  The date your device will be eligible to be unlocked is 7/5/2012. Me: What if I pay an early termination fee? Alex {Personal content removed}: If the early termination fee is paid then the device will be eligible to unlocked. Me: Ok, what would my fee be? Alex {Personal content removed}: The early termination fee is $115.00. Me: Would I still be an AT&T customer if I pay the ETF or does my account close? Alex {Personal content removed}: I would need to refer you to our billing department to answer that question Mr. XXXX.  Would you like to chat with a billing representative? Me: Sure. Thanks.  Alex {Personal content removed}: Is there anything else I can assist you with today before I transfer the chat? Me: No thank you info: Please wait while I transfer the chat to the appropriate chat representative.  Please be patient as someone will be with you shortly. info: You are now chatting with 'Wendy {Personal content removed}' Wendy {Personal content removed}: Just one moment while I bring up your account, I will be happy to assist you. Wendy {Personal content removed}: How may I help you with your early termination fee questions? Me: Id prefer not to terminate but it appears in order to unlock my iPhone before 7/5, I have to. My question is once I pay the ETF does my account close. Wendy {Personal content removed}: yes it will. Me: so I would no longer be an AT&T customer if I pay the ETF? Wendy {Personal content removed}: correct. Me: So, you'd rather lose me as a customer than allow me to unlock my phone 3 months early? Wendy {Personal content removed}: one moment I need to clarify the options for you. Wendy {Personal content removed}: Sorry I am trying to get some clarification on unlocking the iphone. Me: Ok, I understand this is new. Thanks.  Wendy {Personal content removed}: While I am waiting on assistance I did check the systems and we do not have the unlock code. Me: From what I'm hearing I believe my phone's IMEI has to be sent to Apple for the unlock.  Me: By AT&T Wendy {Personal content removed}: Yes I am just getting the information now. Wendy {Personal content removed}: The options include paying full price or cancelling and paying the etf. Me: But if I cancel and pay the etf i am no longer a customer, so AT&T is telling me they would rather lose me than allow me a 3 month early upgrade, after I've been a good customer for 3+ years? Me: Not upgrade, unlock Wendy {Personal content removed}: Sorry that is how apple has outlined the regulations for the unlock codes. Me: Wow. Ok I guess it's time to switch carriers.  Wendy {Personal content removed}: Sorry about that. Me: Is there someone I can call to file a complaint? Wendy {Personal content removed}: 1 800 331 0500 Me: Ok thanks.  info: Your chat transcript will be sent to XXXXX at the end of your chat. Me: Thanks for the info.  Wendy {Personal content removed}: Have a great day!

[wingrider01 ACE - Geek]

would have been interesting to ask one more question - If I etf out and cancel my contract can I still unlock the phone in the future

Also curious as to why you expected them to not follow the specific rules on the requirements, they don;t do it for anything else

[prophetoflost]

Hi guys. I think you can help me. I am from Europe, and got 2 iphone 4 as a gift in 2010. They were bought at full price, locked. They are not connected to any at&t account, so I can't even reach support (they need account details, I have none). How can I reach support ? Better via internet (I really don't want to call overseas for that).

Maybe I can give IMEI numbers and somebody would be geneous to ask support for unlock ? 

[haywirex]

Quick rundown of my experience...

Just got off the phone with international support, as I'm in Malta.

Background:

iPhone 4, purchased the week it came out from AT&T. I was living in the US at the time and I was on AT&T for over a year, then I moved to Africa, paid the ETF and my last month's bill timely. All monthly payments were timely.

I gave the rep my info and she said I was ineligible because the DEVICE ITSELF hadn't been used for the duration of the two year contract. It didn't matter that "[you have an] account in good standing, and completed all contractual obligations, the device itself has to have had two years of service."

Her info seemed to run contrary to what the "release" seemed to imply.  Would have been better--if this is actually the policy and the rep I spoke isn't misunderstanding it--if they just said: "You're eligible to unlock two years after your original purchase/contract initiation date as long as you don't owe us any money."

Oh well. Hopefully they oficially clairify in the next week or so.

 EDIT: To clairify, "the device itself has to have had..." was poorly worded/explained out of context. With further explaination she basically explained if you buy it in January, cancel, pay the ETF in March (three months of use)--even though your account is in "good standing" and you don't owe them money, you still won't be able to unlock it for another 21 months. So for me, I had the service for however many months and she basically said I had to wait another ~three months to get it unlocked, even though I finished my contractual obligation in August of last year.

[dwill05]

Not sure I see the issue with bbowen72's chat conversation above. I'm assuming that you are still using your iPhone 4 and never got an upgrade on it? Are you upgrade eligible now, or is your upgrade eligibility the 7/5 date they mentioned? If it the same date, then your contract isn't over until then. That seems to be consistent with their criteria that your device be out of contract and it sounds like your aren't yet.

However, I don't buy the bit about "how apple has outlined the regulations for the unlock codes", implying that Apple makes the decision on who gets unlocked. I can't see that Apple cares one bit about cell phone contract terms since that's between the carrier and individual. I would think that it's up to the carrier to determine when someone is eligible for an unlock and all Apple does is process the request made by the carrier.

I get the impression that although today is supposedly the day, AT&T doesn't seem set up to actually do it today. I can't find any info on the AY&T wireless page about it (it's hard to get past anything not related to buying a phone or plan) and I can't even find a press release on the ATT.com web page. that they are going to unlock anything. Maybe I'm looking in the wrong places on their official sites.

Hopefully, the mods will put a sticky at the top of the forum with the official requirements and process for unlocking.

[anmanttri]

Just called at&t to unlock my first generation iphone and was told NO.

They said i am not eligible to unlock it and they dont have a reson why it cant be unlocked.

I have had the phone since 2007 and have been with at&t since then.

Anyone else same issue ? Any resolutions ?

Thx for your help !

[bbowen72]

My issue is that the polcy makes no sense.

Why would they want anyone to ETF (which as they say loses that person as a customer) rather than unlock them.  Forcing us to wait until a contract is over does nothing to benefit AT&T.

They are still getting my money locked or not until the contract runs out.  If I ETF and pay the $115 fee, they lose $270 in monthly fees that I'd pay until my contract runs out plus they lose the $90 a month I'd pay as a continuing customer.

[bbowen72]

That seems to run contrary to what the rep told me. If I paid the ETF then she was going to let me unlock, 2 months prior to my device having 2 years on it.

[TerraPhantm]

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wingrider01 wrote:

would have been interesting to ask one more question - If I etf out and cancel my contract can I still unlock the phone in the future

Also curious as to why you expected them to not follow the specific rules on the requirements, they don;t do it for anything else

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You stated in an earlier post that AT&T let you pay the etf on all of your lines without terminating your account. The poster above you tried to do the same, but they said it will close his account if he pays the ETF. And now all of a sudden he's not following the specific rules or requirements? Make up your mind and stick to a story. Don't make crap up for the sake of arguing.

[anmanttri]

guys any help on unlocking ihone first generation ?

Contract over 3 years ago. at&T still wont unlock it.

[bbowen72]

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TerraPhantm wrote:

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wingrider01 wrote:

would have been interesting to ask one more question - If I etf out and cancel my contract can I still unlock the phone in the future

Also curious as to why you expected them to not follow the specific rules on the requirements, they don;t do it for anything else

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You stated in an earlier post that AT&T let you pay the etf on all of your lines without terminating your account. The poster above you tried to do the same, but they said it will close his account if he pays the ETF. And now all of a sudden he's not following the specific rules or requirements? Make up your mind and stick to a story. Don't make crap up for the sake of arguing.

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I think he means trying to get unlock before my contract is over.  

[mahmoudk1990]

i have the same exact problem
Will i be able to unlock my iphone 4 bought 1 year ago 

[haywirex]

@bbowden72

Yeah, I just got off the phone again with the "after hours" support (+1 866 801 3600) and the lady I talked to (she was very nice) took my info and gave me a case number, stating it would take five to seven days to process this request and that, right now, it's impossible to unlock any iPhone 4 or 4S without filing a case and waiting.

Kind of a joke, really... I mean, I'm fairly certain I'm going to get an email in five to seven days giving me some reason why they can't unlock it--or maybe the initial lady I spoke to was correct.

Who knows?

[the gryphon]

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johninsj wrote:

Thank goodness, now we don't have to keep repeating the "you can't" thing over and over.

Of course, that's gonna cut about 50% of the traffic out of the forum. If they switch back to unlimited data, that will cut the other 50% of traffic. I can dream

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ahh, a forum with zero traffic.  You can dream!