No such thing as an unlocked, SIM free iPhone !

My wife bought an unlocked, SIM iPhone 4S so that she could change network provider at will if she had problems. Trouble is that she has now found out that when you start an SIM only contract Apple locks the phone to the provider when you first connect to iTunes. She now has to unlock her iPhone in order to change provider. Why does Apple do this? It makes buying an unlocked iPhone pointless and also seriously devalues the iPhone.

For the last time an iPhone purchased from an Apple Corporate store does not lock to ANYTHING or any carrier
Fact
Your wife buys a sim only contract from Vodafone
That will not lock the iphone however if you are convinced the iPhone has locked to Vodafone then take the iPhone straight to the Apple Store .If you paid full retail price and it has locked to a carrier that is wrong ,and Apple will rectify the issue without debate
They actually advertise the benefits of buying from them and also the flexibility of not being locked to a carrier
Don't wait for vodafone
something is not correct Apple will resolve it

Similar Messages

  • Unlocked sim-free Iphone 5S in retail store

    Can I buy an unlocked sim-free Iphone 5S in any Apple retail store? I cannot buy it online as I'm abroad but coming to US next month.

    Buy the AT&T version of the phone from the Apple store. Do not activate the phone with the AT&T sim and instead use the sim from the provider that you are going to use.
    You also may not have 4G/LTE data when you get back to your home country. You will also have no warranty on the phone outside of the US. If you have a problem with the phone you will have to return (or just the phone) to the US. You cannot ship to Apple for repairs either. Is that risk worth saving some money? Only you can decide.

  • I am from Nepal and want to buy unlocked sim free iphone 5s from USA. So will it work in Nepal?

    I want to buy sim free iphone 5s from USA. So can I be able to use it here in Nepal with either of NCELL or NTC network?

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  • How Many Versions of Unlock/Sim-free iPhone 3g?

    I'm getting confused on the various Unlocked versions of iPhone 3G sold throughout the world especially in countries like Hong Kong, NZ, Italy, Singapore etc.
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    Certain Wireless carriers will sell them Unlocked.
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  • Can I buy an unlocked (sim free) iPhone 5 in USA?

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  • Unlocked Sim-Free Device-VZW Prepaid? Will it work?

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    Call Verizon and ask.
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  • Is there any difference between an unlocked and sim free iPhone?

    Is there any difference between an unlocked and sim free iPhone?

    I think in the context you're using, they are pretty much the same thing. The only carrier on the planet as of this writing with the CDMA iPhone, which does not use SIM cards AT ALL, is Verizon in the U.S.
    There is a difference between an unlocked iPhone and an iPhone sold without a contract, but still locked to a carrier.
    This list details all of the currently supported iPhone carriers. http://support.apple.com/kb/ht1937
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  • Using AT&T prepaid nano sim card on unlocked and sim free iPhone 6

    I'm currently a Boost Mobile customer and planing to get a unlocked and sim free iPhone 6 (model:A1586). If I buy AT&T prepaid nano sim card, will this work? How do I activate the sim card with keeping my current phone number?

    It should work, You are going to have to contact AT&T and have the number ported to your AT&T gophone account.

  • If i buy a sim-free iphone 5s in America, can i use it in China with a Chinese sim card?

    i've bought a sim-free iphone 5s  in apple store in America but i am worried that i cannot use it with a Chinese sim card. Can someone help me?
    Thank you very much!

    The iPhone is sold as "unlocked and contract-free" when purchasing that option from the Apple Store, though Apple's verbiage is using "unlocked" and "SIM-free" rather interchangeably:
    The unlocked iPhone includes all the features of iPhone but without a wireless contract commitment. You can activate and use the unlocked iPhone on the supported GSM wireless network of your choice, such as AT&T or T-Mobile in the United States. The unlocked iPhone will not work with CDMA-based carriers, including Sprint and Verizon Wireless.
    If you don’t want a multiyear service contract, or if you prefer to use a local carrier when traveling abroad, the unlocked iPhone is the best choice. If you choose T-Mobile, your iPhone comes with a T-Mobile SIM card already installed. You will need to contact T-Mobile or visit an Apple Retail Store to activate your iPhone.
    Otherwise, the unlocked iPhone does not come with a micro-SIM card for iPhone 4s, or a nano-SIM card for iPhone 5c or iPhone 5s so you’ll need to get one from any supported GSM carrier worldwide. To start using your iPhone, simply insert the SIM card into the slot and turn on iPhone by pressing and holding the On/Off button for a few seconds. Then follow the onscreen instructions to set up your iPhone.
    Purchasing an unlocked iPhone means you will not qualify for the lower iPhone price associated with a contract. The unlocked iPhone 5c model is A1532 (GSM). The unlocked iPhone 5s model is A1533 (GSM).
    To help decide whether the locked or unlocked option is right for you, compare wireless service plans. Or call our iPhone Specialists at 1-800-MY-APPLE.
    Be aware that if you purchase an iPhone in the US, that will be the only place you will get support from Apple should you need it. You will not get any support for a US-sold iPhone in China.
    Regards.

  • Issues with VoLTE on SIM-Free iPhone 6 on AT&T

    I have noticed that AT&T does not appear to support VoLTE calls on the new SIM-free iPhone 6 (A1586).  I have a Verizon iPhone 6 (A1549) and just bought the new SIM-free iPhone 6. I can insert my Verizon SIM card into either phone and make calls over VoLTE. Similarly, I can insert my AT&T SIM card into my Verizon iPhone 6 (A1549) and make calls over VoLTE, but if I insert the SIM into the SIM-free iPhone 6, calls on AT&T drop down to 4G. I checked the LTE settings on the phone, and even had a support chat with AT&T where they confirmed that VoLTE was active on my account when the SIM was inside the A1586 model, but for whatever reason calls would always drop down to 4G.
    Has anyone been able to resolve this, or is this an issue on AT&T's side?

    IIf you click on the "Learn more about the unlocked iPhone," on the order page at Apple, it shows this in a pop-up:
    About the Unlocked iPhone
    The unlocked iPhone includes all the features of iPhone but without a wireless contract commitment or a carrier installment plan. You can activate and use the unlocked iPhone on the supported wireless network of your choice, such as AT&T, T-Mobile, Verizon, or Sprint in the United States.
    If you don’t want a multiyear service contract, or if you prefer to use a local carrier when traveling abroad, the unlocked iPhone is the best choice. If you choose T-Mobile, your iPhone comes with a T-Mobile SIM card already installed. You will need to contact T-Mobile or visit an Apple Retail Store to activate your iPhone.
    Otherwise, the unlocked iPhone does not come with a nano-SIM card for iPhone 6, iPhone 6 Plus, iPhone 5s, or iPhone 5c so you’ll need to get one from any supported carrier worldwide. To start using your iPhone, simply insert the SIM card into the slot and turn on iPhone by pressing and holding the On/Off button for a few seconds. Then follow the onscreen instructions to set up your iPhone.
    Purchasing an unlocked iPhone means you will not qualify for the lower iPhone price associated with a contract or a carrier installment plan. The unlocked iPhone 6 model is A1586. The unlocked iPhone 6 Plus model is A1524. The T-Mobile iPhone 6 model is A1549. The T-Mobile iPhone 6 Plus model is A1522. For details on LTE network support, please see www.apple.com/iphone/LTE.
    To help decide whether the unlocked option is right for you, compare wireless service plans. Or call our iPhone Specialists at 1-800-MY-APPLE.
    This clearly states that the unlocked iPhone is compatible with all four major U.S. Networks. I added the bolding.

  • Sim free iPhone 6 - How does it work

    Can someone help me understand how the sim free iPhone 6 works with all carriers?  I understand how the sim card works between GSM carriers like ATT and T-mobile, but for Sprint and Version the sim is used for the LTE data network not voice.  It servers a different purpose on a CDMA carrier vs GSM.
    So, if you purchase the unlocked iPhone 6 can you switch back and forth between Sprint and T-Mobile?  What is the process for the swap?   i.e., how does the CDMA part of the phone get programed to work on the Sprint network?.

    According to Apple you can use the unlocked phone on Sprint and Verizon.  Here is a portion from the Apply page about the unlocked iPhone
    About the Unlocked iPhone
    The unlocked iPhone includes all the features of iPhone but without a wireless contract commitment or a carrier installment plan. You can activate and use the unlocked iPhone on the supported wireless network of your choice, such as AT&T, T-Mobile, Verizon, or Sprint in the United States.
    I was also told by a Sprint rep that they will activate the unlocked iPhone 6, iPad Air 2, and the new iPad Mini purchased directly from Apple, but they would not activate a device purchased from another carrier and then unlocked. 

  • Does sim-free iphone lock to the network?

    HI all,
    I've been asking different question here recently connected to iphones and now I have one more question. Does sim-free iphone lock to the carrier of the first sim used in it? I've been using mine for a while and now i'd like to change mobile carrier. So, aren't there going to be any problems with it? Thanks in advance.

    Apple does not use the term "SIM free" in any of their marketing materials.  If you bought the phone at Carphone Warehouse in the UK, it will lock to the first UK carrier used to activate it. It can not be activated on a foreign network unless unlocked by the UK carrier used to activate it. Other than that, so far as I'm aware, phones are "locked" or "unlocked". I don't know of anywhere else where things are done like they are at carphone warehouse in the UK.

  • Can i buy a sim free iphone 5s from a apple retail store ?

    Can i buy a sim free iphone 5s from a apple retail store in nyc or is it exclusively avaliable online ?

    You can buy it at an Apple store. But you do not want "SIM Free", which means that you can use it with any carrier, but the phone becomes locked permanently to the first carrier you use it with. You want to be clear that you want an "UNLOCKED" phone. Apple does not sell SIM Free phones, but some independent dealers (such as Carphone Warehouse in the UK) do.
    Also, note that if you plan to use it outside of the US you will not have warranty or repair service available for it; Apple will only fix phones (in or out of warranty) in the country of purchase. And it may not work on LTE (4G) networks outside of North America.

  • If I buy a Sim free iPhone in the UK will I be abel to use it on PAYG in Australia?

    If I buy a Sim free iPhone in the UK will I be abel to use it on PAYG in Australia? Or will in need jailbreaking? And what does this even mean?!
    Also, I'll still have a UK SIM (vodafone) that I'll want to check from time to time - will this work?
    thanks

    The iPhone4 and 4S use a microsim about half the size of the normal sim
    You would have to get replacements for your old sims to use a iPhone4/4S
    and no unlocked is unlocked will work anywhere with a GSM sim
    people use jailbreaking to get round not having an unlocked iPhone
    Go to an UK Apple Store
    you can reserve the night before online so you don't have a wasted journey
    http://www.apple.com/uk/retail/iphone/
    UK Apple stores only sell unlocked iPhones
    They will sell you one with a contract but you will have to go through a contract sign up process etc etc so there is no scope for error

  • Is there a sim free iphone 5 in the usa?

    Hello everyone,
    like the title says im looking for a sim free iphone, without a carrier?
    thank you in advance

    Currently Apple UK and Apple Canada are offering unlocked iP5 (when they have stock )
    Not available in US yet

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