Carrier eSim locked to carrier?

[JoeTomasone]

Multiple sources I asked at AT&T - while generally saying that they hadn't been given much/any information yet - all seemed to conclude that a phone locked to AT&T would have the eSim locked as well, and that to unlock the eSim for use overseas, you'd need to purchase the phone outright. Anyone else know if this is true, checked with their carrier, etc?

Complicating this is the fact that i bought the XS Max at Best Buy and got the MT5D2LL/A, which according to multiple sites is the United States – Unlocked SIM-free version. It is definitely locked to AT&T on the main SIM - I've tried swapping it - but the question is the eSim. If it's locked to AT&T as well, that rather diminishes the point of having it - unless you want to pay it off and go through the unlock procedure.

I have an overseas trip coming up in December and really would like to get an eSim for data from a local provider (or simply get a T-Mo eSim here and use their roaming).

Anyone know anything about this?

 

[razmonster]

i think i read we're waiting on an update for eSim to even be active for use

 

[Renho]

Multiple sources I asked at AT&T - while generally saying that they hadn't been given much/any information yet - all seemed to conclude that a phone locked to AT&T would have the eSim locked as well, and that to unlock the eSim for use overseas, you'd need to purchase the phone outright. Anyone else know if this is true, checked with their carrier, etc?

Complicating this is the fact that i bought the XS Max at Best Buy and got the MT5D2LL/A, which according to multiple sites is the United States – Unlocked SIM-free version. It is definitely locked to AT&T on the main SIM - I've tried swapping it - but the question is the eSim. If it's locked to AT&T as well, that rather diminishes the point of having it - unless you want to pay it off and go through the unlock procedure.

I have an overseas trip coming up in December and really would like to get an eSim for data from a local provider (or simply get a T-Mo eSim here and use their roaming).

Anyone know anything about this?

Esim isn’t active yet

 

[JoeTomasone]

Right - but the question isn't "is eSim available today?", it's "when 12.1 comes out and the feature IS available, will the eSim be locked to the carrier?".

 

[0970373]

Right - but the question isn't "is eSim available today?", it's "when 12.1 comes out and the feature IS available, will the eSim be locked to the carrier?".

If you owe $ on the handset to the carrier it will be. If you bought it unlocked (full price or through the Apple Upgrade Program), it should remain unlocked. eSIM or physical SIM wouldn't change this. From the Apple Support document:

 

[Apple_Robert]

Multiple sources I asked at AT&T - while generally saying that they hadn't been given much/any information yet - all seemed to conclude that a phone locked to AT&T would have the eSim locked as well, and that to unlock the eSim for use overseas, you'd need to purchase the phone outright. Anyone else know if this is true, checked with their carrier, etc?

Complicating this is the fact that i bought the XS Max at Best Buy and got the MT5D2LL/A, which according to multiple sites is the United States – Unlocked SIM-free version. It is definitely locked to AT&T on the main SIM - I've tried swapping it - but the question is the eSim. If it's locked to AT&T as well, that rather diminishes the point of having it - unless you want to pay it off and go through the unlock procedure.

I have an overseas trip coming up in December and really would like to get an eSim for data from a local provider (or simply get a T-Mo eSim here and use their roaming).

Anyone know anything about this?

Unless you are on a payment plan with AT&T, your SIM free phone should not be locked, in my opinion.
[doublepost=1538160767][/doublepost]I have the SIM-Free version in gold 256with a model #MT5F2LL/A

 

[mcorf]

The e-sim will be locked to ATT, but the nano SIM should be unlocked for overseas is what I was told.If you get it through the Apple Upgrade Program. If you get it through ATT, it might be locked.

 

[razmonster]

Right - but the question isn't "is eSim available today?", it's "when 12.1 comes out and the feature IS available, will the eSim be locked to the carrier?".

you didn't say that in your OP

 

[Wags]

you didn't say that in your OP

Not sure if asking will they lock they esim after the fact when it becomes an option.

 

[JoeTomasone]

you didn't say that in your OP

Huh?

“a phone locked to AT&T would have the eSim locked as well, and that to unlock the eSim for use overseas, you'd need to purchase the phone outright. Anyone else know if this is true, checked with their carrier, etc?”

 

[ttentelh]

Multiple sources I asked at AT&T - while generally saying that they hadn't been given much/any information yet - all seemed to conclude that a phone locked to AT&T would have the eSim locked as well, and that to unlock the eSim for use overseas, you'd need to purchase the phone outright. Anyone else know if this is true, checked with their carrier, etc?

Complicating this is the fact that i bought the XS Max at Best Buy and got the MT5D2LL/A, which according to multiple sites is the United States – Unlocked SIM-free version. It is definitely locked to AT&T on the main SIM - I've tried swapping it - but the question is the eSim. If it's locked to AT&T as well, that rather diminishes the point of having it - unless you want to pay it off and go through the unlock procedure.

I have an overseas trip coming up in December and really would like to get an eSim for data from a local provider (or simply get a T-Mo eSim here and use their roaming).

Anyone know anything about this?

if your phone is not unlocked by manufacturer, then you are stock with the carrier locked with. Only if you paid off the phone you can request to unlock it, therefore you may use any carrier you want, except Verizon and sprint