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IPhone Locked To First Sim ?? |
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#26 |
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Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: Hertfordshire
Posts: 2,938
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It definitely used to be possible to sign up to a subsidised contract in Apple retail stores.
I bought my iPhone 5 on launch weekend from Brent Cross and the person in front of me in the queue was signing up with O2. |
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#27 |
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Join Date: Mar 2000
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Quote:
The Apple Store in the Oracle, Reading - as I believe all stores - had handsets for sale only (but they COULD supply from a selection of most PAYG SIMs if you wished) all times I have been in!
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#28 |
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Join Date: Aug 2014
Location: United Kingdom
Posts: 2,887
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I think when it was possible, the iPhone must have have locked itself to the carrier network in question. That is why this person's phone was locked to O2: they bought it from the Covent Garden Apple Store (I think).
Apparently a workaround for the CPW problem is to put a Three PAYG SIM in and then restore the phone through iTunes. Apparently that unlocks it permanently (says the Three staff on their blog anyway). |
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#29 |
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Join Date: Apr 2014
Posts: 296
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Ok bit worried after reading this. We've just bought a secondhand IPhone 4 but dont know whether it is unlocked or u blocked to a particular network.
Was hoping that restoring to factory settings would sort the problem out? Can anyone suggest what we can do please |
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#30 |
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Join Date: Jul 2007
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Quote:
Apparently a workaround for the CPW problem is to put a Three PAYG SIM in and then restore the phone through iTunes. Apparently that unlocks it permanently (says the Three staff on their blog anyway).
What WILL work is to A) Put a 3 SIM a CPW handset - it WILL lock to 3!!!!!! B) Request 3 to unlock it for free - via a web-form C) When 3 say they have done this then put another SIM in it |
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#31 |
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Join Date: Aug 2014
Location: United Kingdom
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This won't work quite as you have described! Putting a different networks SIM In will cause iTunes to recheck the locking from Apple's central servers.
What WILL work is to A) Put a 3 SIM a CPW handset - it WILL lock to 3!!!!!! B) Request 3 to unlock it for free - via a web-form C) When 3 say they have done this then put another SIM in it |
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#32 |
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Join Date: Jul 2007
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Quote:
Was hoping that restoring to factory settings would sort the problem out?
Can anyone suggest what we can do please Most iPhone sellers will say whether an iPhone is locked. As otherwise they would have to say which networks it can be used with! Check locking for certain by trying any PAYG SIM from a different network. If it comes up to the normal screen it is unlocked. |
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#33 |
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Join Date: Mar 2000
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Quote:
I think when it was possible, the iPhone must have have locked itself to the carrier network in question. That is why this person's phone was locked to O2: they bought it from the Covent Garden Apple Store (I think).
When you unlock an iphone the network gets Apple to update the database. After that the first different network SIM you insert into the phone causes the phone to go back to apple and check (so needs WiFi or data) and once the latest profile is downloaded, the phone is unlocked. After that you can swap SIM without having to reboot/power down etc. If the phone is still locked, the first different SIM will cause a request to activate, and it will fail, and until you put back an appropriate SIM the phone won't be usable. Jailbreaking was invented in the US to get around this back when AT&T would not unlock iPhones even when out of contract. |
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#34 |
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Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: Kent
Posts: 8,954
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Quote:
Ok bit worried after reading this. We've just bought a secondhand IPhone 4 but dont know whether it is unlocked or u blocked to a particular network.
Was hoping that restoring to factory settings would sort the problem out? Can anyone suggest what we can do please Open settings, then General, the About, have a look at Netwok & Carrier as these should tell you which was the last network the phone was locked to. http://osxdaily.com/2015/02/08/check...r-iphone-uses/ |
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#35 |
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Join Date: Dec 2001
Location: Hampshire
Posts: 8,104
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Quote:
The Apple Store in the Oracle, Reading - as I believe all stores - had handsets for sale only (but they COULD supply from a selection of most PAYG SIMs if you wished) all times I have been in!
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#36 |
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Join Date: Mar 2000
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I bought an iphone in that very store last year. Completely unlocked. I was offered a PAYG SIM from more than one network, (I can't remember the list) at the same time.
Under £200 and its on a contract and will be locked, over £300 and its unlocked / SIM-free. Prices on Apple.com/uk are those for SIM-free unlocked as no contract subsidy. |
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#37 |
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Join Date: Mar 2010
Posts: 249
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Quote:
I think you are incorrect! Apple Stores in the US will give you a new SIM for one of several networks for your new handset - but this is a customer convenience and, AFAIK, they do not otherwise set up any contracts!
They do not. |
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#38 |
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Join Date: Aug 2014
Location: United Kingdom
Posts: 2,887
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Apple Retail stores offer both contract iPhones and unlocked iPhones. If you purchase a contract iPhone then it will be locked to that network.
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#39 |
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Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: Totnes, Devon
Posts: 6,694
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God, this thread is really wearing me down.
What a nightmare. I bought an iPhone 6 from EE and it was locked, to EE!! I paid them a few quid and they unlocked it. I dunno, 8 EDIT: (or 9 : ) quid or something.... I was happy. The end! |
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