Iphone 4g unlocking issues

Question

This is a strange and very frustrating situation:  I bought an AT&T iphone from someone, and she had it unlocked with AT&T, and I then activated it with Net10, completing the process as instructed with ATT (backup and restore in itunes, etc.).  I then updated the apn by downloading a new apn at apnupdatetfdata.net10.com.  Worked for about 24 hours, then 3G ceased to work, voice no problem.  I've since (in the last two weeks) spent about 10 hours on the phone with Net10 tech, even had my issue elevated, and have updated the apn several times - at least 10, using both the above apn, and by going to an apn changer site and trying various apn profiles (ATT, Net10tf, net10att, net10iphone, etc), to no avail.  Twice I was told that the phone is not completely unlocked, as I don't have a "network data" file in my settings, and "TFW" is not showing up in the status bar.  It does show signal strength and 3G status, however.
I'm pretty confident the woman I bought it from did go through the unlocking process, she brought it right to her local dealer and they assisted her.  Is it possible that it has not been completely unlocked?  OR, does anyone have any other advice (besides ditch Net10)?
Thanks very much,
Bryan

Answer 1

Bryan3311 wrote:
OK, now I think I understand.
Apple has made it hard for people to use MVNOs, by inserting patches in V6 updates, disabling access to cellular data network settings, thereby making it very difficult to rewrite the settings.
No, Apple has made it easy to use the phone on any supported network because the phone already has the correct settings stored in the firmware.
BUT, there seems to be a way to access these settings by inserting a T-Mobile sim, changing settings, then switching back to the Net10 or ST sim.
That was true before T-Mobile was a supported carrier. Now, not so much.
The thing I don't understand is that Apple sells unlocked phones now, so it doesn't seem like they'd do that to someone who just dropped big coin on a new iphone, only to find out they can't use it with the GSM carrier of their choice.
You can use it with the carrier of your choice. It's up to the carrier to support it, though. This particular problem is somewhat unique to the U.S. If you want to use a discount carrier, there are plenty of CDMA carriers to choose from that carry the iPhone now. Of course, you can't use an unlocked phone on a CDMA network, but CDMA is, with a very few exceptions, unique to the U.S. as well. The discount CDMA carriers are MVNOs as well, but because of the way CDMA works, and the fact that the phones for use on their network are made specifically for them, they don't have this problem.
The other thing I don't understand is that if NET10 and Straight Talk are supposedly buying data bundles from ATT and others, why can't everybody just play nice?  Why does Apple want to do their own thing and be the bully in the sandbox?
Apple's not being a bully. Apple has designed the iPhone to be easy to use. If you choose to use an unsupported carrier, you're going to run into issues. It's not Apple's problem. I'm sure that Net10 could probably get themselves certified as compatible if they wanted to spend the necessary money and put the resources into it to do so. Of course, that would probably raise prices for consumers...
StraightTalk IS a supported carrier, but NOT for GSM service. There is a CDMA StraightTalk phone available now. StraightTalk no longer supports GSM iPhones on their service. If it works for you, great. If not, they'll tell you to buy one of their iPhones instead.