AT&T to allow unlocking of out-of-contract iPhones

[kranky]

Effective tomorrow, April 8. Phone must be out of contract.

http://www.zdnet.com/blog/hardware/at-t-to-allow-unlocking-of-off-contract-iphones/19601

 

[secretanchitman]

am going to try this today with my friends out-of-contract iphone 4 (was eligible day 1 for the iphone 4S). apparently the limit is 5 phones unlocked, per year, per account, and the specific criteria is that you must have been a long standing customer, no excessive data usage, all that jazz..

 

[ViviTheMage]

I am going to hop on live chat, see if they won't unlock it there ...

 

[rsutoratosu]

I'm gonna check mine, im 2 month away from contract and waiting for iphone 5.. so maybe they'll let me.

 

[MotionMan]

Will they unlock an iPhone that is not being used on any carrier?

We have two iPhone 4's (not 4S) that are out of contract, but we also have an iPhone 3GS that my son is using as a Touch (we call it an iPhouch).

MotionMan

 

[MotionMan]

Will they unlock an iPhone that is not being used on any carrier?

We have two iPhone 4's (not 4S) that are out of contract, but we also have an iPhone 3GS that my son is using as a Touch (we call it an iPhouch).

MotionMan

Any thoughts?

MotionMan

 

[Printer Bandit]

got ATT to unlock an iPhone 3G. it was sitting in my drawer, unused for about a year.

went over to tmobile and got a prepaid SIM card, and now can use it.

 

[MotionMan]

got ATT to unlock an iPhone 3G. it was sitting in my drawer, unused for about a year.

Did it have a SIM in it?

MotionMan

 

[ChAoTiCpInOy]

Any thoughts?

MotionMan

Shouldn't be a problem. As long as you fulfilled the contract.

 

[runawayprisoner]

Will they unlock an iPhone that is not being used on any carrier?

We have two iPhone 4's (not 4S) that are out of contract, but we also have an iPhone 3GS that my son is using as a Touch (we call it an iPhouch).

MotionMan

Apparently, if you go livechat, and they can't find the phone in their database (but the phone is locked to AT&T's network for God's sake!) then they will require proof of purchase (but hey, why would I keep a receipt from... many years ago? And what if I obtained it off of Craigslist?).

Totally not as smooth a process as I would have liked. And the waiting period for the confirmation email is pretty long. I hopped on live chat Friday night and still not a peep since.

I'll let you know if they'll get mine unlocked.

 

[Printer Bandit]

Did it have a SIM in it?

MotionMan

nope, didn't have a SIM.

 

[MotionMan]

Apparently, if you go livechat, and they can't find the phone in their database (but the phone is locked to AT&T's network for God's sake!) then they will require proof of purchase (but hey, why would I keep a receipt from... many years ago? And what if I obtained it off of Craigslist?).

Totally not as smooth a process as I would have liked. And the waiting period for the confirmation email is pretty long. I hopped on live chat Friday night and still not a peep since.

I'll let you know if they'll get mine unlocked.

I was planning on bringing all my iPhones into the local AT&T store and having them all done at once.

MotionMan

 

[Oyeve]

So, the ip4 I got from someone here in a trade that I use as a touch can be unlocked? I have no idea who originally "owned" it. I would love to have it unlocked so I can give it to my GFs daughter whos on tmo.

 

[Kroze]

Wow i can't wait!!

 

[runawayprisoner]

I was planning on bringing all my iPhones into the local AT&T store and having them all done at once.

MotionMan

I got an email earlier today. My iPhone 4 is now officially unlocked. The waiting time is pretty long, but I guess it was worth it. I'll be on a trip overseas in 2 months, so this'll help tremendously!

 

[swanysto]

Does this mean the iPhone would no longer be hampered by edge on T-mobile, or does that still apply?

 

[runawayprisoner]

Does this mean the iPhone would no longer be hampered by edge on T-mobile, or does that still apply?

That still applies. This just means you won't have to jailbreak or do funky things to make the phone recognize T-Mo.

 

[Oyeve]

That still applies. This just means you won't have to jailbreak or do funky things to make the phone recognize T-Mo.

So how can I get my ip4 unlocked if i am not the original owner? I do not have an att account.

 

[runawayprisoner]

So how can I get my ip4 unlocked if i am not the original owner? I do not have an att account.

I think you could give their customer service a call. Or visit the store. I'll try the store visit route with my Dad's iPhone, and we'll see how that goes.

 

[swanysto]

That still applies. This just means you won't have to jailbreak or do funky things to make the phone recognize T-Mo.

Ahh, but you could take it to straighttalk with no issues?

 

[runawayprisoner]

Ahh, but you could take it to straighttalk with no issues?

You could take a locked AT&T iPhone to StraightTalk just fine.

I got mine unlocked simply because I'll need it overseas soon, but other than that, it's still just a regular iPhone, and personally, I'd prefer to have it on AT&T in the US.

 

[swanysto]

You could take a locked AT&T iPhone to StraightTalk just fine.

I got mine unlocked simply because I'll need it overseas soon, but other than that, it's still just a regular iPhone, and personally, I'd prefer to have it on AT&T in the US.

I would too if the monthly price want double, for pretty much the same 3g.