Can I unlock Iphone 5 if I bought it with no contract?

vladzik13 · ‎09-22-2012

As for now Apple store doesn't sell iphone 5 unlocked. However, I found info that if i buy ATT iphone 5 with no contract, it can be unlocked at ATT store. Is it true?

wingrider01 · ‎05-26-2008

vladzik13 wrote:

As for now Apple store doesn't sell iphone 5 unlocked. However, I found info that if i buy ATT iphone 5 with no contract, it can be unlocked at ATT store. Is it true?

no, the store will not do it, there is a link in this forum that you can use to request the unlock, some caveats

As long as you buy it from a authorized outlet and pay full retail price for it yes - ebay, craigslist and the such are NOT authorized dealers, the drop down list at the sute show

1. ATT

2. Apple

3. ATT authorized retailer

buy it at one of those locations pay the full retail price - 649/749/849 (or is it 699/799/899) and you can request the unlock, you will be required to fax a copy of the paid invoice to them

wilcre · ‎06-01-2004

This is what you were seeking (a person who purchased the iPhone from an authorized location at the "no commitment" price and can provide proof of purchase).

Info Source

Requesting an iPhone unlock

To request an iPhone unlock, just complete our simple online unlock request form and we'll take it from there. Requests may take up to 5 to 7 days to complete. For additional information, refer to Apple's article about unlocking iPhone.

Important Note

AT&T reserves the right to deny any unlock request that it concludes would result in an abuse of this policy or is part of an effort to defraud AT&T or its customers. AT&T further reserves the right to alter this unlocking policy at its discretion without advance notice.

AT&T's return policy has changed effective 10/07/12. You have 14 days to return the device & cxl without a ETF. Policy info HERE.

Where is Justin Timberlake when you need him?. I need him to billed me a bridge to get a cross all these tears from complainers.This post is protected under the laws of the United States & other Countries. Unauthorized duplication, Distribution may result in civil liability & criminal prosecution.The OP gratefully acknowledge the cooperation of: The mods, Fellow forumites, Canada, The United States Of America, Mexico, USVI & Europe. As well as James Bond.

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stclair49 · ‎07-08-2006

It has been reported that "IF" you can get the salesman at the Apple Store to sell you an IPhone 5 with no contract, they are already unlocked. Some stores will only sell them as upgrades or new service.

Macguy76 · ‎09-23-2012

That would make sense as I bought my iPhone 5 as "Device Only" from an Apple store. I used it for a day, then I felt like doing a restore on it, so after the restore was done on iTunes, I received the Message that my iPhone was now unlocked. I wondered what was going on as old phone was an iPhone 4S that was Unlocked by AT&T a couple of months ago. I went ahead and placed another request using AT&T's unlocking site. So I will see what happens next.

Macguy76 · ‎09-23-2012

Just got off the phone with AT&T, and Yes, It is UNLOCKED! Good info to know. Buy it off contract and then restore.

Cheers!

youngjm · ‎05-02-2003

One word of warning! If you are looking for a new iPhone that can be used on an LTE network in another country, you need to buy the right model iPhone 5. The iPhone sold by ATT supports the LTE networks in the US and Candada. There is a second model that supports other countries and there are some countries that these models will not support for LTE.

http://www.apple.com/iphone/LTE/

Ultrafast LTE. Available here.

With LTE on iPhone 5, you can browse the web, stream content, or download a movie at blazing-fast speeds. To see if iPhone 5 works with LTE networks in your country, refer to the chart below.¹ For more details, contact your carrier.

Model Number²

LTE Band Support³

Country

Supported LTE Networks

Model A1428
(GSM model)

4 (AWS)

17 (700b MHz)

United StatesAT&T

Canada

Bell (including Virgin)
Rogers (including Fido)
Telus (including Koodo)

Model A1429
(CDMA model)

1 (2100 MHz)

3 (1800 MHz)

5 (850 MHz)

13 (700c MHz)

25 (1900 MHz)

United States

Sprint
Verizon

JapanKDDI

Model A1429
(GSM model)

1 (2100 MHz)

3 (1800 MHz)

5 (850 MHz)

GermanyDeutsche Telekom

United KingdomEE (soon to launch)

Australia

Optus (including Virgin)
Telstra

JapanSoftbank

Korea

SK Telecom
KT

Hong KongSmarTone

Singapore

M1
SingTel

Data roaming depends on supported bands and carrier policies. LTE roaming may not be available. Contact your carrier for more details.
To identify your iPhone 5 model number, see http://support.apple.com/kb/HT3939. Unlocked iPhone 5 models may support LTE networks outside the country of purchase when using a valid SIM from a supported carrier. Contact your carrier for more details.
LTE band support is based on the iPhone 5 model number and configuration for either CDMA or GSM networks. Band support does not guarantee support on all LTE networks running on the same bands.

Some features may not be available for all countries or all areas. Click here to see complete list.

_____________________

For service or support questions including existing order status, call:
Customer Support: 1-800-331-0500

Information on iPhone unlocking can be found here by copying this link into your browser:
http://forums.wireless.att.com/t5/Apple-Community-Discussion/iPhone-Unlock-Information/m-p/3260825#U3260825

victor_bd · ‎09-25-2012

Hi! Thanks for your feedback!

So if I get you right, you just need to pop in an AT&T store (pray for them to have the one you want in stock), and buy one "no-commitment" at $649?

I believed you had to take a contract, even a month-to-month one, to get your hands on an iPhone 5. I was about to get one with a $69.99 plan for one month, but the thing that bothered me was the activation fee...

jayhawkr · ‎09-29-2012

Would doing the restore on iTunes still work if I have a year left on contract but paid full price for the iPhone 5? I tried the restore since I paid full price for the 5 but never got the alert saying it has been unlocked!?

youngjm · ‎05-02-2003

@jayhawkr - you would need to fill out the request form found at the top of the apple forums here. Once AT&T confirms your eligibility, they should unlock it.

_____________________

For service or support questions including existing order status, call:
Customer Support: 1-800-331-0500

Information on iPhone unlocking can be found here by copying this link into your browser:
http://forums.wireless.att.com/t5/Apple-Community-Discussion/iPhone-Unlock-Information/m-p/3260825#U3260825

satish17 · ‎10-04-2012

I am not sure how you can get an AT&T iPhone 5 without a contract at the moment, but several websites have reported that you do not have to request an unlock through AT&T or Apple for the no contarct iPhone 5s. All you have to do is connect your iPhone 5 to a computer and restore using iTunes and you will receive a message "Congratulations, your iPhone has been unlocked." If anyone has successfully purchased an iPhone 5 without contract from AT&T, please post details.

wingrider01 · ‎05-26-2008

satish17 wrote:

I am not sure how you can get an AT&T iPhone 5 without a contract at the moment, but several websites have reported that you do not have to request an unlock through AT&T or Apple for the no contarct iPhone 5s. All you have to do is connect your iPhone 5 to a computer and restore using iTunes and you will receive a message "Congratulations, your iPhone has been unlocked." If anyone has successfully purchased an iPhone 5 without contract from AT&T, please post details.

If it is a no contract ATT phone you have to, it has been stated that the verizon gsm side of their phone is already unlocked as part of the deal they made with the FCC to get the bandwidth they wanted. You get a no contract phone from att the same way you get it from Apple, you pay full price for it, if you want a att unlocked 5, you go to apple and pay the full price for it

Bottom line if you are not in the US and plan on buying a no contract phone from att, make the request for unlock while you are still in the use, makes it easier

FloridaJo · ‎09-28-2011

I bought an iPhone 5 no contract for $649 at BestBuy.

I tried to fill out the form but could not since I did not have a former AT&T number.

Since I am not a former AT&T customer and not a current one, I have been denied an unlock on my phone.

What do I do now?

wingrider01 · ‎05-26-2008

FloridaJo wrote:

I bought an iPhone 5 no contract for $649 at BestBuy.

I tried to fill out the form but could not since I did not have a former AT&T number.

Since I am not a former AT&T customer and not a current one, I have been denied an unlock on my phone.

What do I do now?

there is a click selection for "not a ATT customer", select that one, it will not ask any account releated information but will take longer since you will need to fax in the reciept showing that you paid full retail price at a authorized dealer. They will email you the fax number and the caase number for the reciept to be sent to

kezekki · ‎11-03-2012

100% factory unlock if you buy iphone 5 non contract from at&t.... i have iphone 5 MD646LL... and i update to iOS 6.0.1 my modem formware is 1.00.16 before after i update change to 1.01.00 still i get signal in any simcard....

wingrider01 · ‎05-26-2008

kezekki wrote:

100% factory unlock if you buy iphone 5 non contract from at&t.... i have iphone 5 MD646LL... and i update to iOS 6.0.1 my modem formware is 1.00.16 before after i update change to 1.01.00 still i get signal in any simcard....

Non-contract (aka no commitment) does not equal unlocked, Apple is the only one that sells the unlocked iphones on the GSM band. If a no commitment phone is purchase through ATT it i still locked to att and has to be run through the proceedures to get it unlocked.

decalingo · ‎11-30-2012

Hey pal! I'm trying to do the same but it's not working in my case; 'cause when I connect mine to the PC and open iTunes, as soon as iTunes recognizes my phone, I get prompted with "the SIMcard not supported" error message and cannot possibly restore the phone. What do you suggest?

wingrider01 · ‎05-26-2008

decalingo wrote:

Hey pal! I'm trying to do the same but it's not working in my case; 'cause when I connect mine to the PC and open iTunes, as soon as iTunes recognizes my phone, I get prompted with "the SIMcard not supported" error message and cannot possibly restore the phone. What do you suggest?

did you apply to att and supply the required documentation to have them unlock the phone and have you recieved verification back from att that the phone is eligible for unlock that that is has been done? that would be the first question. If you did not you need to and see if they accept the fact that it is valid for unlock

Can I unlock Iphone 5 if I bought it with no contract?

Re: Can I unlock Iphone 5 if I bought it with no contract?