IPhone 6 (or Plus) contract-free and unlocked to work outside the USA?

I'm from Italy, and we have the highest prices in the whole world for the 6.
I want to buy one from the online US Apple Store, since I can't fly over just for a phone.
Yes I am aware I would then not have any warranty, since it's not international.
From what I've gathered the 3 carriers-with-contract options are obviously locked phones, respectively with those 3 carriers.
Even if you first activate them with a different SIM (different country&carrier), they wouldn't work and/or stay locked.
Also since they're made for those 3 carriers, they would obviously not support the 4G/LTE bands in my country.
The 4th option is this contract-free T-Mobile one, it's apparently unlocked, and works with other SIMs, from other countries too.
But there's still the network bands issue, and apparently even that T-Mobile one is not the proper model to work in my country.
At least for my country the model must be the following:
A15486 (iPhone 6 GSM) and A1522 (iPhone 6 Plus)
Bottom line is, the carrier-locked ones are no good, for various reasons, but the unlocked one is no good either!
Does anyone anywhere know (or can gather US info for me) WHERE I can find those 2 models?
If they're on sale in the US at all? Which ones on the online store are those 2?
It would make sense that the unlocked one would also have the proper bands to work abroad, since it does work with foreign SIMs!
But various people say it is not the proper model, I wonder which one is, at this point.
They do exist, if the model numbers have been published!
Anyone? :/

Thanks for your response Peter
Why would you want to buy a leading edge iPhone and not be able to use 4G
I wouldn't, which is why I'm asking if anyone has 1st hand experience of trying it.
If Apple could produce an iPhone that covered 4G worldwide why would they actually have to make 2 different models
Beats me! The reason I'm curious is my friend has an iphone 5s purchased from an Apple Store in the US which works perfectly on 3G, 4G, etc. using a Tesco sim in the UK. Just wondering if the 6 (which I've read is more LTE 'versatile' - although I could be mistaken) can do the same.
To reiterate, has anyone out there actually brought back a US iphone 6 and found that it works (or does not work) with 4G?
Cheers!

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I recently buyed totally unlocked sprint iphone which was legally contract free and i am using that phone in india but i am not able to send sms .everything is working fine except sending sms. i have tried everything plz help me !!

i recently buyed totally unlocked sprint iphone which was legally contract free and i am using that phone in india but i am not able to send sms .everything is working fine except sending sms. i have tried everything plz help me !! i have tried everything i.e. reset iphone /hard reset/network setting reset /sms service no i have also changed but i am still not able to send sms.. please help me as i am really worried .. thank you !!

I had the same problem. Kept getting message of waiting for activation or check network connections. I also tried every solution out there and nothing worked. This did though: I download the newest version of itunes (through Internet Explorer - Google Chrome wouldn't work). It pulled in my entire library thank goodness and then I plugged my iphone 4s into the computer. I let itunes find it, did a complete backup in icloud, then did a restore. Entire process took a couple of hours, but I now have imessage and facetime back. I was about ready to give up on Apple and go get a different phone ~

Is t-mobile contract free iphone6 unlocked or not outside usa?? Is any one using it with other carriers??

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i have a contract free t-Mobile iPhone 6 plus which Im using on ATT - i havent yet tried it outside the USA - but last year i bought a contract free T-Mobile 5s and it worked fine outside the US - so im hopeful nothing has changed

When I add a new contact number to my iphone 5c and I try to select the iphone choice is not showing up; and it was working fine the day before. ?

when I add a new contact number to my iphone 5c and I try to select the iphone choice is not showing up; and it was working fine the day before. ?Also when I try to send an imessage is not going trough as an imessage, it makes me send it as a message.

You're using Exchange Active Sync to synchronize contacts and calendars with your company Exchange Server. If the default calendar/address books are set to the Exchange account, it will sync automatically. This is normal.
Go to Settings>Mail, Contacts, Calendars to change the default address book and calendars to a something else, iCloud or something synced from your home computer instead.

If I use Verizon Edge with Iphone 6, Can i just buy SIM when i travel outside the USA?

Hi,
I plan to switch to Verizon Egde with Iphone 6, but i just want to make sure if i can buy SIM to use with it when i travel outside the USA? Do i need to unlock the phone?
thanks.

i chatted with the rep, and i was told that unless iphone 6 paid off ( i was asking about Verizon Edge), the phone is Locked! And if i have to use it outside the USA, i have to call the the customer care..not sure what for.
I just want a phone and put new SIM in to use. No more, no less. I think Verizon makes thing more complicated for the customers (i've been with Verizon since 2005).
If thing is so complicated, i'd better look for another solution then.

Getting Siri to understand home and work outside the USA

I've just written this up in my blog
You've told Siri which contact is you. You ask Siri "Remind me to talk to Michael when I arrive at work" but it just replies telling you that it doesn't know where your office is - but you've got an entry in the address book for "work"!
It's probably iCloud and Mac OS X working against you.
Address Book on OS X supports multiple address formats - some of which looks very much like the location you're in and you may not have changed them.
To persuade Siri to understand you need to change the address format - locate the contact in Address Book and click edit. Click the label on the offending address and a context menu will appear - at the bottom there's a sub-menu which allows you to change the address format. Choose the appropriate one and click Done.
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I too had the same problems as everyone else on here but I've sussed it out how to do it. Go on google maps on your phone and find your home or work etc on the map. Now on your home press your finger on the screen and it drops a pin with a blue arrow.
Click on the blue arrow
click on add to contacts
click on add to existing contact
find your own contact details and click on it
your details open up with the address you dropped the pin on now in your address field.
click on edit at the top right hand side of the screen
now scroll down to the address and click on the address description at the side of the listed address and select either home, work other or add custom label.
The custom label is good for anything else you need to name. I have all our branches now listed under say, wolverhampton brach, telford branch etc. This way I can get siri to remind me where ever I want to go such as " remind me to get my tools back when i get to the "wolverhampton branch". Works 100% every time this way.
Hope this helps you guys out.

Does IPhone 6 T-Mobile Contract free mean its unlocked ?

Hi, I am thinking to buy an Iphone 6 plus. will IPhone 6 T-Mobile Contract free work in Turkey with any carriers?
iPhone: Wireless carrier support and features there is a column says Carrier offers unlocking.
What does that mean ?

Enes,
There are 2 ways of buying a T-Mobile iPhone 6 (Model A1549) in the US. The first one is directly from a T-Mobile shop where, like imobl stated, you must activate T-Mobile contract for 40 days after which you can end the contract. The second one is directly from Apple Retail Stores or Apple.com, where the phone comes with a T-Mobile SIM card which you may opt not using it. Essentially the iPhone 6 you would get in the second option will be contract free and unlocked and you would not have to wait 40 days to use your Turkish SIM card.
2G and 3G networks will perfectly work in Turkey. To the best of my knowledge as of now there is not any Turkish mobile operator utilizing 4G/LTE and it is not possible to know which 4G/LTE bands they would use in the future. We may assume Turkish operators would utilize one of the several bands used in Europe in the future, in which case your T-Mobile iPhone 6 purchased in the US most likely would not support 4G/LTE. I used and have been using my T-Mobile iPhone 5s (Model A1532) without any problem in the US and Turkey, respectively, and my T-Mobile iPhone 6 (Model A1549) is on its way to Turkey which I will receive from a relative who has recently visited the US for a week. (Other iPhone 6 Models marketed for other operators in the US such as AT&T, Verizon etc. may have wider band coverage which may work in Turkey's 4G/LTE when it becomes available. However you must review their contract terms and conditions as well as their capability of being unlocked very carefully before purchasing such a Model.)
All in all, I would say, considering that 1) it may take quite a while for Turkish operators to adopt 4G/LTE, 2) even after being adopted, it will likely be very premature, unstable and slow for which you may have to pay price premium for a while after its adoption, all of which had been the case in regards to 3G in Turkey; and 3) the price difference between iPhone 6 in the US and Turkey even Europe is huge, I would import iPhone 6 from the US. If 4G/LTE were ubiquitously available in Turkey (at least all over the major cities) and in a stable and fast fashion, then I might have given a second thought from importing it from Europe or even buying directly from Turkey, especially due to superior warranty coverage in Turkey.

IPhone 6 T-Mobile Contract free, does that mean its unlocked? And I can use it worldwide?

HI there,
IPhone 6 T-Mobile Contract free, does that mean its unlocked? And I can use it worldwide?
please advise me?

As long as you do not activate the phone with the T-Mobile sim card initially and just use the sim card you want, then the phone should remain unlocked.
These were exactly the same questions asked when the iPhone 5s was released - if you want the phone to be unlocked then purchase the sim free T-Mobile phone, but DON'T activate it with the T-Mobile sim card. If you do activate it with the T-Mobile sim, then the phone will be locked to T-Mobile, but if you activate it with another sim card, then it should remain unlocked.
The problem with sim free is that it normally locks to the first sim card that you put in the phone and if you activate it with the T-Mobile sim, then it will, so don't use that, but the sim card that you want instead.
Other than that, it normally takes about 6 months after the initial release date before Apple starts selling unlocked phones.

If i bought an Iphone 6 from usa (contract free,T-mobile) can i use in srilanka (outside the usa) ? and to activate it should i have t-mobile sim?

if i bought an Iphone 6 from usa (contract free,T-mobile) can i use in srilanka (outside the usa) ?
and to activate it should i have t-mobile sim ?

As Ethmoid says, it is still a CDMA phone as I told you earlier, and it will not work with t-mobile. Even if Sprint unlocked the phone, it would only unlock the GSM side for international use. They will not unlock the GSM side for domestic use in the US.

HT3939 iPhone 5s T-Mobile contract free version from Apple Store: LOCKED or UNLOCKED?

If i buy an iPhone 5s T-Mobile contract free version from Apple Store will it be LOCKED or UNLOCKED? Can i use it Europe with a local carrier? Cannot find a clear answer to this question anywhere! Thank You!

According to a chat with an Apple support representative, the iPhone 5s is not yet sold fully unlocked. But it is unlocked for international use. This means that it won't work on any GSM carrier in the US other than T-Mobile. But it will work with any GSM carrier outside of the US using a SIM card. You should make sure the frequency bands are compatible with your local carrier.
See chat:
Now Chatting with Destiny
Hi Destiny
Thank for contacting the Apple Online Store. I hope you are well. How may I assist you?
I placed an order for 2 iPhone 5s
this is the T-Mobile version, so I'm paying full upfront price... almost $2000 altogether
My uderstanding is that these phones are factory unlocked, but the wording at the website is a little misleading. I want to verify that they are indeed fully factory unlocked because I plan on uisng them with AIO Wireless
This may not be the option for your then. These iPhones come preinstalled with a T-mobile for use domestically and can be used internationally with a local GSM carrier.
You would need to contact AIO wireless directly to see if it would be compatible.
so they aren't truly unlocked?
They are unlocked in the sense that they can be used internationally. I can see how that would be confusing. The option you are looking for would be the contract free and SIM free iPhone 5s.
We have not released the unlocked iPhone at this time.
We do have the iPhone 5c unlocked available. Have you considered that option?
I have an iPhone 5, so the 5c isn't attractive for me
Do you have any idea when the iPhone 5s would be released contract free and SIM free?
At this time we do not have a release time frame. I'm sorry I don't have more information available for you.
I recommend checking apple.com/hotnews for updates on it's release.
ok, thank you.
You're welcome. I apologize for the confusion.
Is there anything else I can assist you with?
This is all, thank you. I will cancel my order.
Do you know how to cancel your order?
yes
Excellent! It has been a pleasure.
Thank you for choosing the Apple Store. If you have any additional questions, please chat with us again.

Quisiera saber si el iphone 5S T-MOBILE Contract free que ofrecen en la pagina es unlocked y lo puedo comprar para usar en Argentina

Quisiera saber si el iphone 5S T-MOBILE Contract free que ofrecen en la pagina es unlocked y lo puedo comprar para usar en Argentina

Quisiera saber si el iphone 5S T-MOBILE Contract free que ofrecen en la pagina es unlocked y lo puedo comprar para usar en Argentina

When will iPhone 5 be available contract-free @ the US Apple Store?

Hello everyone!
Would anyone know when will iPhone 5 be available contract-free @ the US Apple Store?
Thnx in advance

No contract iPhones will likely be available on the 21st when the iPhone 5 becomes available for retail sales. Note though that you can buy an unsubsidized, contract free iPhone which will still be locked to a specific carrier.
If you want an unlocked iPhone, that is also sold at the full retail, unsubsidized price, but Apple has not announced yet when unlocked phones will be available.
Just beware that contract-free does NOT necessarily mean unlocked, so make sure you are buying what you actually want.
Also note that the new iPhone 5 GSM only phone comes in two versions - one for NA LTE channels, and one for European/Asian LTE channels, so be sure you get one that will work with the data networks available where you plan to use it (the non-NA LTE channel version will not be sold in the USA).

My 2 cents on iPhone 6 T-Mobile "Contract Free" based on iPhone 5S experience

Hi all,
So, here is my opinion on iPhone 6 "T-mobile" option based on my experience with iPhone 5S:
I reside in Pakistan and had a friend order an iPhone 5S "T-mobile" (A1533-GSM) mid-October 2013 directly from Apple website in USA which came installed with a T-Mobile nano-SIM. I took this SIM out before turning on the phone and inserted my SIM (another Pakistan GSM carrier) and went ahead with normal activation of the iPhone. It worked fine and accepted my GSM carrier.
Since then, I have used my iPhone 5S in different countries (Turkey [TurkCell], UK [3], Thailand [DTAC], Italy [Wind] etc.) with local SIMs and it has worked perfectly.
I have now ordered an iPhone 6 "T-mobile Contract Free" again from USA to be used primarily in Asia & Europe.
Since I have been reading a lot of discussions on forums about "T-mobile Contract Free" option being a true factory-unlocked device and a lot of confusion surrounding it, I just wanted to share my experience to help some of you who may be getting conflicted reports on ordering for such option and your potential use in foreign country(ies).

Then why are you asking us? Apparently you have the answer you want from the Apple specialist. We have supplied you with the information that we have. There is nothing more we can tell you at this point.
Cheers,
GB

IPhone 6 T-Mobile contract free (gsm)

HI
I ordered IPhone 6 T-Mobile contract free (gsm)
on apple compare no words about IPhone 6 T-Mobile contract free (gsm), only with contract and Unlocked.
can anyone help me? im gonna get the phone in California and about a day after going back to middle east.
will it work for me with a local sim card? not t-mobile?
do i need to physically go to T-mobile to unlock it? or its just locked for USA use but international use is unlocked?
Thanks for the help.

Sim-free does not mean UNLOCKED. You will need an unlocked phone to use in the middle east. In the US, UNLOCKED phones are not for sale yet. You have purchased a phone that is useless to you. T-Mobile will unlock their phones only after 40 days of continuous (and paid) service.

Buy Iphone 5s T-mobile contract-free

I'd buy an I5s on Apple.com contract free, my question is linked to the sentence on the apple store page:
--> If you buy iPhone for T-Mobile, it will arrive with a nano-SIM card already installed that you can activate by visiting an Apple Retail Store or a T-Mobile store or by calling T-Mobile. When you travel internationally, you can use a nano-SIM card for iPhone 5s from a local GSM carrier... <--
Since I travel a lot, I'll need to activate my Iphone in Italy with an italian nano-SIM card...Can I do it or I must do the first activation with a T-mobile sim in USA ?

There are conflicted information in this forum. The contract free T-mobile 5s is not "unlocked" in US, it is supposed to be unlocked for overseas GSM. However, it is not clear whether you need to activate it on T-mobile first and wait for 40 days for unlock code to unlock it before you can use it overseas.
I contacted both Apple and T-mobile multiple times. None of them answered question with a clear answer.
The best way to confirm this is to purchase the 5s from the Apple Store. Remove the T-mobile SIM before you turn 5s on and replace the SIM with your international SIM. Turn it on and go through the initial setup to see if the iPhone is lock or not.
If it is locked, simply return to the Apple store with full refund in 30 days. Since Apple is not answering the question, why not try it yourself on their dime?

IPhone 6 (or Plus) contract-free and unlocked to work outside the USA?

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