ATT will unlock off contract iPhones

[viewfly]

AT&T has announced it will begin unlocking customers' iPhones once their 2-year contracts have expired. The move will free up the currently-locked devices to use a micro-SIM from any carrier offering a network compatible with the device

From ATT:
Beginning Sunday, April 8, we will offer qualifying customers the ability to unlock their AT&T iPhones. The only requirements are that a customer’s account must be in good standing, their device cannot be associated with a current and active term commitment on an AT&T customer account, and they need to have fulfilled their contract term, upgraded under one of our upgrade policies or paid an early termination fee.

YAY!

Funny, I sent an email to Tim Cook about this just last month...and got a phone call about it from his office. The feeling I got from the call was be patient.

[viewfly]

I hope this will also translate into for good customers that they will do it many months before the 2 year fulfillment.

[RadioRaiders]

Isn't it normal for AT&T to unlock phones once the 2 year subsidy has expired? I have a lot of friends who have got unlock codes from AT&T even while the phone was active on an AT&T contract (your quote was the phone must be off-contract)

their device cannot be associated with a current and active term commitment on an AT&T customer account.

PS- Next time you talk to Tim Cook, tell him RadioRaiders says "hi"

[Charlyee]

Isn't it normal for AT&T to unlock phones once the 2 year subsidy has expired? I have a lot of friends who have got unlock codes from AT&T even while the phone was active on an AT&T contract (your quote was the phone must be off-contract

AT&T's unlocking policy is device specific. On phones that they don't have any exclusivity on it is after 90 days. If it is their newest phone you have to wait a year or until a newer version comes out.

For the iPhone it was never, so this is a good step. Although I would think that vast majority of those who keep a phone for 2 years, either has it unlocked already or doesn't care about unlocking.



Sent from my Rum Float Vivid using Tapatalk.

[RadioRaiders]

AT&T's unlocking policy is device specific..

Oh, I forgot that unlocking laws vary by country. In Europe, most countries are required by law to unlock all phones after 1-2 years.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SIM_loc...etwork_locking

I was thinking the US had a similar law, but it seems not. So basically, AT&T has no legal obligation to unlock any phone they sold. Altho they seem to unlock them on request quite easily anyway.

I wonder it it's coincidence or well planned timing that AT&T decided to unlock their once exclusive iPhones on the exact same day (April 8) they launch their exclusive Nokia Lumia 900 phone

[viewfly]

I wonder it it's coincidence or well planned timing that AT&T decided to unlock their once exclusive iPhones on the exact same day (April 8) they launch their exclusive Nokia Lumia 900 phone

Judging by the number of people on Mac forums calling ATT last night to do an unlock (which is a day before the 8th), I was thinking the same thing actually as you.

By announcing the iPhone unlock, the same day as the Nokia launch, ATT could get a line of iPhone people at the stores today, and they can claim they are there for the Lumina 900 launch Pretty clever!

Or try to get them to switch over.

[Charlyee]

I was thinking the US had a similar law, but it seems not. So basically, AT&T has no legal obligation to unlock any phone they sold. Altho they seem to unlock them on request quite easily anyway.

I wonder it it's coincidence or well planned timing that AT&T decided to unlock their once exclusive iPhones on the exact same day (April 8) they launch their exclusive Nokia Lumia 900 phone

They don't really unlock them easily on request. They claimed they didn't have an unlock code for my Atrix until the Atrix2 was launched. They will not give me the unlock code for my Vivid, claiming it was too new (I have it unlocked anyway )

Planned would be my guess

[RadioRaiders]

Judging by the number of people on Mac forums calling ATT last night to do an unlock (which is a day before the 8th), I was thinking the same thing actually as you.

By announcing the iPhone unlock, the same day as the Nokia launch, ATT could get a line of iPhone people at the stores today, and they can claim they are there for the Lumina 900 launch Pretty clever!

Or try to get them to switch over.

Ha-ha Yea, I guess AT&T doesn't do "coincidences" very well Could be any reason. I was thinking that by unlocking iPhones the same day as the Lumia launch would be to say "the iPhone isn't "exclusive" anymore, everyone has it, but if you want the Lumia, then we are the only game in town for that".

They don't really unlock them easily on request. They claimed they didn't have an unlock code for my Atrix until the Atrix2 was launched. They will not give me the unlock code for my Vivid, claiming it was too new (I have it unlocked anyway )

Planned would be my guess

Oh. From my friends/family in the US who travel abroad, they usually get their phones unlocked by AT&T pretty easily. But i guess they might not have exactly the latest model, or maybe just got lucky, I don't know
...but there's tons of unlock codes on ebay for $5 so I guess if AT&T won't help you, some guy selling them out of his trench-coat will

[Charlyee]

...but there's tons of unlock codes on ebay for $5 so I guess if AT&T won't help you, some guy selling them out of his trench-coat will

Yep the unlock code for my Vivid came from eBay out of someone's trench coat for $4.99 :p



Sent from my Rum Float Vivid using Tapatalk.

[dmapr]

Judging by the number of people on Mac forums calling ATT last night to do an unlock (which is a day before the 8th), I was thinking the same thing actually as you.

By announcing the iPhone unlock, the same day as the Nokia launch, ATT could get a line of iPhone people at the stores today, and they can claim they are there for the Lumina 900 launch Pretty clever!

Or try to get them to switch over.

Considering that for most of those people they'd have to upgrade from the iPhone to the Lumia to be eligible for the unlock code — yes, clever, maliciously so

[Irish Rose]

My iPhone 4 is now unlocked and running on T-Mobile, which is nice because I won't have to switch my AT&T sim in and out of my factory unlocked iPhone 4S anymore.

The process is really easy, and AT&T was really good about putting the unlock request through for me. Anyone reading this, if you have a iPhone that you would like unlocked simply call AT&T customer care and choose the option for technical support. They will ask for your iPhones IMEI number Settings, General, About) and mobile number that the phone was linked to. After that the rep will check your eligibility status ( out of contact with account in good standing, or paid full retail for your iPhone). There is a few minutes of waiting while the rep puts the request through, then you'll receive a email shortly afterwards that looks like this:





I was told the unlock request could take several hours but it didn't. I did a back up and restore in iTunes the minute I got off of the phone and as soon as that was completed I tested it with my T-Mobile sim and it worked!!







***Note to jailbreakers*** Unlocking requires you to restore in iTunes which will unjailbreak your iPhone. If you have an iPhone 4S and want to remain jailbroken, wait till a jailbreak is available for 5.1 before going ahead with the unlock process.




Sent from my iPhone 4S using Tapatalk.

[viewfly]

Good for you Irish Rose!

I read today that AT&T is now unlocking in-contact iPhones for US Servicemen overseas.

That is a nice gesture.


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[RadioRaiders]

Just curious: why do you need an internet connection to unlock the phone? All the phones I've ever unlocked were done off-line

[dmapr]

Just curious: why do you need an internet connection to unlock the phone? All the phones I've ever unlocked were done off-line

In a word: iTunes

[Irish Rose]

Even though iTunes was a requierment for the unlock process I can honestly say unlocking my iPhone 4 was the easiest unlock that I have ever done on a cell phone.

[Irish Rose]

Just curious: why do you need an internet connection to unlock the phone? All the phones I've ever unlocked were done off-line

As Dmapr posted, iTunes requires an Internet connection. No, problem though, as the process doesn't take long at all and it backs up your phone at the same time in case there should be an issue.

[viewfly]

Just curious: why do you need an internet connection to unlock the phone? All the phones I've ever unlocked were done off-line

I think to a avoid user error. When the unlock request is approved by AT&T, they pass the request onto Apple. Apple pushes the unlock code to the account holder's iTunes via the Internet.

Hooking up the phone to iTunes accomplishes two things: a back up of the phone in case of errors and the error free transmission of the unlock code.

I remember with my Nokia's doing a backup first and then with cold sweaty hands typing in that long unlock code knowing that I had only 3 tries. I don't know if iPhones would behave the same way, but some locked up their nokias requiring a factory reset.

Anyhow like IR said it is not a big deal regardless. And it avoids user complaints that may be user error related. That is my thought.

You know, we average users can't handle complex things

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