Apple iPhone 5 unlock

[BadBadLeroyBrown ACE - Warrior]

Or you could just wait a few weeks until Apple starts selling the unlocked phones, and you won't have to worry about a carrier unlock.

---

vladzik13 wrote:
if I buy an iphone 5 ATT with no contract and pay full price, can I unlock it?

---

[stclair49]

If you pay full price at an APPLE store, they are already unlocked. Many reports on the web that that is the case. You just have to specify that you want an non carrier subsidized model.

As has also been reported in the press, the verizon phones are GSM unlocked and will work on AT&T, but will not have the LTE bands needed for AT&T LTE. 

[wingrider01 ACE - Geek]

---

stclair49 wrote:

If you pay full price at an APPLE store, they are already unlocked. Many reports on the web that that is the case. You just have to specify that you want an non carrier subsidized model.

As has also been reported in the press, the verizon phones are GSM unlocked and will work on AT&T, but will not have the LTE bands needed for AT&T LTE. 

---

only if you purchase the correct one - there are two - a non commitment skew that is locked to att and a unlocked skew that is not. If you specify non-carrier subsidized you will get the no commtiment version, you need to specify unlocked and verify that it is the correct skew before you leave.

verizon and sprint phones are not gsm unlocked, you have to request a international unlock through their customer service and you have to meet the qualifications, they prevent us based carrier gsm sims from working, thsi has been documented on verizon's web site and in threads here.

[Droplets]

I have a 2 year old iPhone 4 that I got from AT&T and should be eligible for unlock but if I upgrade to the iPhone 5, can I still get that iPhone 4 unlocked or not?

[dwill05]

If your 4 meets the eligibility requirements for unlocking, then upgrading to a 5 won't change that.

[Cthulhusleeps]

Hello, about two years ago I've bought an iphone 4 contract free but locked to AT&T  in Apple store. Now I want to unlock my iPhone. I've visited the iPhone unlock information page and made a request to unlock my iPhone, but I can't send an original receipt because I've lost it.  I've paid with my credit card, so is it possible to sent a receipt from bank or can I unlock my iPhone another way?

From Russia

[wilcre ACE - Expert]

unfortunately a copy of the original receipt is required, you could try to contact the Apple Store you got the phone from and see if they can get you another copy of the receipt for you. http://www.apple.com/buy/locator/

[tigerpaul1977]

OK so I went through the steps to get my iPhone unlocked and according to my email my old iPhone 4 should be unlocked after a restore with iTunes.  However I am not getting the successfull unlock message.  I have sold this phone on eBay to an international bidder.  Should I feel safe that he will be able to use the phone?  From what I understand ATT submits the request for unlock to Apple.  Then Apple allows the unlock, I am guessing whenever the phone is restored in iTunes it will verify the IMEI with Apple everytime to match against their database.  So if he gets the iPhone and restores it, the unlock should hold.   Correct?

[youngjm ACE - Professor]

---

tigerpaul1977 wrote:

OK so I went through the steps to get my iPhone unlocked and according to my email my old iPhone 4 should be unlocked after a restore with iTunes.  However I am not getting the successfull unlock message.  I have sold this phone on eBay to an international bidder.  Should I feel safe that he will be able to use the phone?  From what I understand ATT submits the request for unlock to Apple.  Then Apple allows the unlock, I am guessing whenever the phone is restored in iTunes it will verify the IMEI with Apple everytime to match against their database.  So if he gets the iPhone and restores it, the unlock should hold.   Correct?

---

It can take a brief time before you get the message.  I would make sure you get the message before shipping it to avoid a frustrated buyer.

[tigerpaul1977]

At what step does the message come across?  Also how many days should I wait? 

[Droplets]

I see. Thank you very much.

[dwill05]

---

tigerpaul1977 wrote:

At what step does the message come across?  Also how many days should I wait? 

---

It says it may take up to 5-7 (business) days to complete.  That may be just the time on AT&T's end to submit the request to Apple.  Don't know if that includes the time for Apple to update their servers, which may take a day or so more.

[Favelen]

Dear Apple Community,

I want to unlock my iPhone 4 wich I bought in eBay. I haven't at&t account and can't to create account on the web-site because I haven't at&t phone number and so on. So, I cann't to enter to Live Chat. Can I write the IMEI or send it to someone in order to unlock my device? 

Thanks a lot!

With the best regards,

Andrew

[cornflake_girl]

First no one here can give you an "unlock code." If you do not have an Att account in good standing that is out of contract, Att will NOT give you an unlock code either. Since you purchased the iphone 4 off of ebay you should have either bought one that said it was UNLOCKED from the carrier BEFORE purchasing it.... and since that didn't happen I would say you can maybe try a third party unlocking company?? They might be able to unlock it. Sorry if this isnt the answer you were looking for.

[Klinkevych11]

please unlock my iphone.
I bought it over the Internet and can not be activated.
does not have AT & T sim.
it is very necessary to me, please.
model
M135LL
{personal content removed for safety}

[dwill05]

This sticky provides all of the information:

http://forums.wireless.att.com/t5/Apple-Community-Discussion/iPhone-Unlock-Information/td-p/3260825

Note that if you don't meet the eligibity requirements, AT&T will not unlock your phone.

[angelgutierrez1…]

I have requested an unlock for my iphone on the 6th or 7th of september and I´ve been waiting ever since, on the mail it said to wait about 5-7 business days and still  nothing at all. This wouldnt be a problem but since this is the phone i use daily it has made me resort to an old phone. On the short term no problem at all, but its turning out to be more of a long term problem. What can i do?

[wingrider01 ACE - Geek]

---

angelgutierrez123 wrote:

I have requested an unlock for my iphone on the 6th or 7th of september and I´ve been waiting ever since, on the mail it said to wait about 5-7 business days and still  nothing at all. This wouldnt be a problem but since this is the phone i use daily it has made me resort to an old phone. On the short term no problem at all, but its turning out to be more of a long term problem. What can i do?

---

try submitting it again - did you obtain it when you where a customer of att or did you buy it from a place like ebay or craigs list - basicly a 3rd party non-autorized retailer? If it was a private person or a non-authorized seller you may not be eligible for a unlock.

[angelgutierrez1…]

What happened was that the phone was bought from someone on amazon, now i contacted this person and asked for him to fill in the form with his information and all. He got back to me and showed me the mail from at&t saying that he had to wait 5-7 business days. And that brings us to today, where still nothing's happened. So basically its the same procedure as it would normally happen he met all the requierements. 

[max1804]

I bought my iphone 4 from a friend. he already upgraded to a new phone with his contract.

so can i unlock my phone or does he have to do that with the account details and number he bought the phone?

i currently am a att go phone customer. so does that work or does he have to do it?

[wingrider01 ACE - Geek]

---

max1804 wrote:

I bought my iphone 4 from a friend. he already upgraded to a new phone with his contract.

so can i unlock my phone or does he have to do that with the account details and number he bought the phone?

i currently am a att go phone customer. so does that work or does he have to do it?

---

 guess if he is willing to supply you with all his personal information to fill out the form, including the password to the olam function, then it might work.

In the interest of your friend protecting his security I would jsut ask your friend to request the unlock for you

[max1804]

okay. but does it has to be the customer and account who bought the iphone whos requesting the unlock?

or can it be any att customer? (as long as the phone is not reported stolen or lost)

and what is the password to the olam function? what is the olam function in general?

thanks

[dwill05]

OLAM= on line account manager. It allows a customer to manage their account (pay bills, change plans, see their usage, etc.). I doubt that anyone is going to give a stranger the password to get into their account.

[max1804]

yeah that is true.
but can i also unlock it from my att olam? or does it have to be the one the iphone was bought with?

[wingrider01 ACE - Geek]

---

max1804 wrote:
yeah that is true.
but can i also unlock it from my att olam? or does it have to be the one the iphone was bought with?

---

You can probably add it to your att account as long as it is current and in service and try it, but there is this provision

"Current customers will be allowed five (5) unlocks per account, per year, so
long as their account is in good standing with no past-due amount or unpaid
balance and has been active for at least sixty (60) days."

Not sur if tha is the account or the phone

[max1804]

that is so confusing.

the phone is currently used with a att go phone card. does it matter what sim card is in it right now?

and as far as i understand the requirements you dont have to be the person who first bought the phone. as long as its not stolen or lost.

you just have to be an att customer for 60 days in good stand right?

and what do you mean with add it to your att account, does the phone have to be connected to the account or something?

[sandblaster]

---

max1804 wrote:

that is so confusing.

the phone is currently used with a att go phone card. does it matter what sim card is in it right now?

and as far as i understand the requirements you dont have to be the person who first bought the phone. as long as its not stolen or lost.

you just have to be an att customer for 60 days in good stand right?

and what do you mean with add it to your att account, does the phone have to be connected to the account or something?

---

You will probably have a better chance of getting the iphone unlocked if your friend puts in the unlock request since AT&T records would show the iphone was once tied to his number but is not any longer. Since you are using it on a gophone account and the iphone is not officially supported as a gophone, you probably don't have your number associated with the iphone imei. In other words, if you put in the unlock request, I would expect it to be rejected, but you sure can give it a try. Anyway, you don't do the unlock request through olam. Just go to this site: https://www.att.com/deviceunlock/client/en_US/

[BadBadLeroyBrown ACE - Warrior]

The Verizon iPhone 5's are GSM-unlocked. This is apparently due to the spectrum deal they signed with the FCC. 

http://www.cultofmac.com/192835/the-real-reason-verizon-sells-the-iphone-5-factory-unlocked/

---

wingrider01 wrote:

---

stclair49 wrote:

If you pay full price at an APPLE store, they are already unlocked. Many reports on the web that that is the case. You just have to specify that you want an non carrier subsidized model.

As has also been reported in the press, the verizon phones are GSM unlocked and will work on AT&T, but will not have the LTE bands needed for AT&T LTE. 

---

only if you purchase the correct one - there are two - a non commitment skew that is locked to att and a unlocked skew that is not. If you specify non-carrier subsidized you will get the no commtiment version, you need to specify unlocked and verify that it is the correct skew before you leave.

verizon and sprint phones are not gsm unlocked, you have to request a international unlock through their customer service and you have to meet the qualifications, they prevent us based carrier gsm sims from working, thsi has been documented on verizon's web site and in threads here.

---

[deniseuk]

 I Just got my 3gs phone unlocked, however I tried to get my iphone 4 unlocked with out success. Both my lines are eligible for upgrades and I have upgraded one to the iphone 5. My initial iphone 4 was swapped at Apple store due to a problem with it. They just straight swapped it, so of course when I tried to get it unlocked they could not find a account tied to the IMEI number. Apple never amended the system with the new IMEI number. 

Lucky I still had the box of the old one with the old IMEI number. CSA then amended my account with the swapped iphone4 IMEI.

My question is  If I was to upgrade my other line which has the iphone 4 on it, why can the iphone 4 not be unlocked? How will that work if the iphone4 is no longer on my plan?  All my iphones starting from the original one,  have been bought through Att and all have been on and off contact.  My iphone 4 was received on 01-06-2011

[BryanB1300]

I have an AT&T iphone 3 from my former US employer and have not used it for several months, can I unlock it and use it in Canada with one of their GSM providers, if so how? And how much does it cost?