iPhone 5 bought second-hand, how to tell EE network lock?

rasseru16 · 05-12-2014, 11:45

Hi, so my friend has bought an iPhone 5 second-hand which is locked to EE, but it works with Orange, T-Mobile and EE sim cards... now if I wanted to get it officially unlocked through EE they ask me to specify if its locked to Orange / T-mobile / EE?

Which one do I choose?

Kingsd316 · 05-12-2014, 12:17

Quote:

Originally Posted by rasseru16

Hi, so my friend has bought an iPhone 5 second-hand which is locked to EE, but it works with Orange, T-Mobile and EE sim cards... now if I wanted to get it officially unlocked through EE they ask me to specify if its locked to Orange / T-mobile / EE?

Which one do I choose?

You may run into problems getting it unlocked as it is only the original owner who is able to request the unlock

dpwykes · 05-12-2014, 13:59

Not sure what network you're planning to use it on if you do get it unlocked, but are you aware it won't work on 4G with O2 and Vodafone

The Lord Lucan · 05-12-2014, 14:01

As mentioned above it doesn't have a 800Mhz 4G modem so cannot access the 4G services from o2 & Voda at all and some of the 4G coverage from Three & EE.

EE as also mentioned only allows the original customer to unlock the iPhone. It does;t matter which of the Ora-T-Mob-EE brands it is locked to.

Just so you know.

Jack_Wilson2 · 05-12-2014, 16:31

Quote:

Originally Posted by rasseru16

Hi, so my friend has bought an iPhone 5 second-hand which is locked to EE, but it works with Orange, T-Mobile and EE sim cards... now if I wanted to get it officially unlocked through EE they ask me to specify if its locked to Orange / T-mobile / EE?

Which one do I choose?

Never buy a Second Hand locked phone. (Can cause problems getting it unlocked)

You'll have to go to a random street Phone Shop to see if they will or even can unlock it as you'll be asked for the original phone owner of the device to unlock it at the EE store...

d123 · 05-12-2014, 17:09

Quote:

Originally Posted by rasseru16

Hi, so my friend has bought an iPhone 5 second-hand which is locked to EE, but it works with Orange, T-Mobile and EE sim cards... now if I wanted to get it officially unlocked through EE they ask me to specify if its locked to Orange / T-mobile / EE?

Which one do I choose?

It'll cost you £1.29 to find out the specific network.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/GSX-iPhone...item20e523c182

You have to have used the phone for at least 6 months on the network for the unlock to be processed.

alanwarwic · 06-12-2014, 06:22

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jack_Wilson2

Never buy a Second Hand locked iPhone. (Can cause problems getting it unlocked)...

Corrected for you.
Android phones are usually cheap to unlock, my LG G2 costing 99p, about the same price as a Moto G unlock.
However, if you read the OPS post, you might just deduce that the iPhone in question is already 'officially unlocked'. (though it could be locked to EE, which is 'Orange/t-mobile/EE' )

It is also worth noting that, (at least from one other thread here), the use of the word 'official' is adopted by the scammers of the unlock world.

Mark C · 06-12-2014, 08:46

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jack_Wilson2

Never buy a Second Hand locked phone. (Can cause problems getting it unlocked)

I wouldn't say NEVER, it's still perfectly usable as a phone on its 'locked to' network, isn't it ? As long as you're aware of that limitation, what's the big deal ?

corf · 06-12-2014, 08:50

Quote:

Originally Posted by alanwarwic

Corrected for you.
Android phones are usually cheap to unlock, my LG G2 costing 99p, about the same price as a Moto G unlock.
However, if you read the OPS post, you might just deduce that the iPhone in question is already 'officially unlocked'. (though it could be locked to EE, which is 'Orange/t-mobile/EE' )

It is also worth noting that, (at least from one other thread here), the use of the word 'official' is adopted by the scammers of the unlock world.

A T-Mobile locked iPhone works with EE in my experience. I don't think you can deduce anything from the op.

Mark C · 06-12-2014, 08:50

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Lord Lucan

As mentioned above it doesn't have a 800Mhz 4G modem so cannot access the 4G services from o2 & Voda at all and some of the 4G coverage from Three & EE.

No, but it will still be perfectly usable on 3G, not everyone wants to use their phone
every moment of their waking day (or can even afford to), to watch Holywood movies, or download tetrabytes worth of data

alanwarwic · 06-12-2014, 15:46

Quote:

Originally Posted by corf

A T-Mobile locked iPhone works with EE in my experience. I don't think you can deduce anything from the op.

An Orange Sim does too I have been told, yet an EE Sim or t-mobile Sim would not work in an Orange phone, Orange, now part of EE who adopted the t-mobile system for running EE.

d123 · 06-12-2014, 16:17

Quote:

Originally Posted by alanwarwic

An Orange Sim does too I have been told, yet an EE Sim or t-mobile Sim would not work in an Orange phone, Orange, now part of EE who adopted the t-mobile system for running EE.

Ive used T-Mobile sims in Orange locked handsets in the past..

rasseru16 · 06-12-2014, 16:35

My friend isn't at all fussed about 4G as she only tops maximum of 100mb of data if that for basic e-mails and whatsapp messages.

alanwarwic · 06-12-2014, 17:51

Quote:

Originally Posted by d123

Ive used T-Mobile sims in Orange locked handsets in the past..

Maybe it was a post independent Orange handset.

d123 · 07-12-2014, 00:12

Quote:

Originally Posted by alanwarwic

Maybe it was a post independent Orange handset.

Handsets, not handset. As in 10s of handsets...

I'll go through the old scraps box and see if I can find a really old Orange locked handset and try it as well.

05-12-2014, 11:45	#1
rasseru16 Forum Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Suffolk, East Anglia Posts: 666	iPhone 5 bought second-hand, how to tell EE network lock? Hi, so my friend has bought an iPhone 5 second-hand which is locked to EE, but it works with Orange, T-Mobile and EE sim cards... now if I wanted to get it officially unlocked through EE they ask me to specify if its locked to Orange / T-mobile / EE? Which one do I choose?

05-12-2014, 12:17	#2
Kingsd316 Forum Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Posts: 796	Quote: Originally Posted by rasseru16 Hi, so my friend has bought an iPhone 5 second-hand which is locked to EE, but it works with Orange, T-Mobile and EE sim cards... now if I wanted to get it officially unlocked through EE they ask me to specify if its locked to Orange / T-mobile / EE? Which one do I choose? You may run into problems getting it unlocked as it is only the original owner who is able to request the unlock

05-12-2014, 13:59	#3
dpwykes Forum Member Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Lichfield Posts: 362	Not sure what network you're planning to use it on if you do get it unlocked, but are you aware it won't work on 4G with O2 and Vodafone

05-12-2014, 14:01	#4
The Lord Lucan Forum Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Scotland Posts: 4,966	As mentioned above it doesn't have a 800Mhz 4G modem so cannot access the 4G services from o2 & Voda at all and some of the 4G coverage from Three & EE. EE as also mentioned only allows the original customer to unlock the iPhone. It does;t matter which of the Ora-T-Mob-EE brands it is locked to. Just so you know.

05-12-2014, 16:31	#5
Jack_Wilson2 Forum Member Join Date: Mar 2014 Location: Yorkshire, United Kingdom Posts: 561	Quote: Originally Posted by rasseru16 Hi, so my friend has bought an iPhone 5 second-hand which is locked to EE, but it works with Orange, T-Mobile and EE sim cards... now if I wanted to get it officially unlocked through EE they ask me to specify if its locked to Orange / T-mobile / EE? Which one do I choose? Never buy a Second Hand locked phone. (Can cause problems getting it unlocked) You'll have to go to a random street Phone Shop to see if they will or even can unlock it as you'll be asked for the original phone owner of the device to unlock it at the EE store...

05-12-2014, 17:09	#6
d123 Forum Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Posts: 3,993	Quote: Originally Posted by rasseru16 Hi, so my friend has bought an iPhone 5 second-hand which is locked to EE, but it works with Orange, T-Mobile and EE sim cards... now if I wanted to get it officially unlocked through EE they ask me to specify if its locked to Orange / T-mobile / EE? Which one do I choose? It'll cost you £1.29 to find out the specific network. http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/GSX-iPhone...item20e523c182 You have to have used the phone for at least 6 months on the network for the unlock to be processed.

06-12-2014, 06:22	#7
alanwarwic Forum Member Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: the wild world web Posts: 28,132	Quote: Originally Posted by Jack_Wilson2 Never buy a Second Hand locked iPhone. (Can cause problems getting it unlocked)... Corrected for you. Android phones are usually cheap to unlock, my LG G2 costing 99p, about the same price as a Moto G unlock. However, if you read the OPS post, you might just deduce that the iPhone in question is already 'officially unlocked'. (though it could be locked to EE, which is 'Orange/t-mobile/EE' ) It is also worth noting that, (at least from one other thread here), the use of the word 'official' is adopted by the scammers of the unlock world.

06-12-2014, 08:46	#8
Mark C Forum Member Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Hampshire Posts: 8,102	Quote: Originally Posted by Jack_Wilson2 Never buy a Second Hand locked phone. (Can cause problems getting it unlocked) I wouldn't say NEVER, it's still perfectly usable as a phone on its 'locked to' network, isn't it ? As long as you're aware of that limitation, what's the big deal ?

06-12-2014, 08:50	#9
corf Forum Member Join Date: Jul 2002 Posts: 1,458	Quote: Originally Posted by alanwarwic Corrected for you. Android phones are usually cheap to unlock, my LG G2 costing 99p, about the same price as a Moto G unlock. However, if you read the OPS post, you might just deduce that the iPhone in question is already 'officially unlocked'. (though it could be locked to EE, which is 'Orange/t-mobile/EE' ) It is also worth noting that, (at least from one other thread here), the use of the word 'official' is adopted by the scammers of the unlock world. A T-Mobile locked iPhone works with EE in my experience. I don't think you can deduce anything from the op.

06-12-2014, 08:50	#10
Mark C Forum Member Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Hampshire Posts: 8,102	Quote: Originally Posted by The Lord Lucan As mentioned above it doesn't have a 800Mhz 4G modem so cannot access the 4G services from o2 & Voda at all and some of the 4G coverage from Three & EE. No, but it will still be perfectly usable on 3G, not everyone wants to use their phone every moment of their waking day (or can even afford to), to watch Holywood movies, or download tetrabytes worth of data

06-12-2014, 15:46	#11
alanwarwic Forum Member Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: the wild world web Posts: 28,132	Quote: Originally Posted by corf A T-Mobile locked iPhone works with EE in my experience. I don't think you can deduce anything from the op. An Orange Sim does too I have been told, yet an EE Sim or t-mobile Sim would not work in an Orange phone, Orange, now part of EE who adopted the t-mobile system for running EE.

06-12-2014, 16:17	#12
d123 Forum Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Posts: 3,993	Quote: Originally Posted by alanwarwic An Orange Sim does too I have been told, yet an EE Sim or t-mobile Sim would not work in an Orange phone, Orange, now part of EE who adopted the t-mobile system for running EE. Ive used T-Mobile sims in Orange locked handsets in the past..

06-12-2014, 16:35	#13
rasseru16 Forum Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Suffolk, East Anglia Posts: 666	My friend isn't at all fussed about 4G as she only tops maximum of 100mb of data if that for basic e-mails and whatsapp messages.

06-12-2014, 17:51	#14
alanwarwic Forum Member Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: the wild world web Posts: 28,132	Quote: Originally Posted by d123 Ive used T-Mobile sims in Orange locked handsets in the past.. Maybe it was a post independent Orange handset.

07-12-2014, 00:12	#15
d123 Forum Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Posts: 3,993	Quote: Originally Posted by alanwarwic Maybe it was a post independent Orange handset. Handsets, not handset. As in 10s of handsets... I'll go through the old scraps box and see if I can find a really old Orange locked handset and try it as well.

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iPhone 5 bought second-hand, how to tell EE network lock?