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iPhone How does unlocking AT&T iphone work?

The IMEI number needs to be added to the Apple "white"list; when the phone communicates with apple through itunes it needs to be in the database with factory unlocked phones.

Someone needs to get it there, it takes effort and that is why it costs a bit of money.
 
TriJetHero said:
The IMEI number needs to be added to the Apple "white"list; when the phone communicates with apple through itunes it needs to be in the database with factory unlocked phones.

Someone needs to get it there, it takes effort and that is why it costs a bit of money.
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Thanks. Btw, if you had locked iphone 5 under at&t would it be possible unlocking it? The link says it would be possible, but I don't understand why it would work - it is locked phone which should only work with at&t ( for 2 years). That's the part I don't get.
 
macNewbie02 said:
Thanks. Btw, if you had locked iphone 5 under at&t would it be possible unlocking it? The link says it would be possible, but I don't understand why it would work - it is locked phone which should only work with at&t ( for 2 years). That's the part I don't get.
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An AT&T iPhone can be unlocked with an imei service, contract or not.
 
macNewbie02 said:
Thanks. Btw, if you had locked iphone 5 under at&t would it be possible unlocking it? The link says it would be possible, but I don't understand why it would work - it is locked phone which should only work with at&t ( for 2 years). That's the part I don't get.
Click to expand...

That IMEI is in the AT&T list and will only activate using itunes when an AT&T SIM is in, when you get the IMEI listed in the factory unlocked database it is no longer locked to AT&T, simple software issue not hardware related.
 
your getting what is equivalent to a factory unlocked phone for a few extra bucks but you will still be under your contract. it's pretty darn simple. your phone instantly becomes worth more and freedom to use another carrier. if that's not worth a few bucks to you then don't worry about it.. buy a happy meal instead.
 
To add to what's already been said, it's pretty much useless until your contract is up, at which point AT&T should unlock it for you at your request, anyways.

Why?

Even if you buy it under contract, in order to use it on a different service provider, you have to first cancel payment on your existing plan with AT&T. Well, you don't have to, but if you don't, you're then paying the new carrier AND AT&T every month. To buy a phone under contract and cancel the plan, would cost the same as an unlocked phone, anyways.

The only exception to this is if you need it for international travel and intend of continuing to pay your AT&T domestic bill. That's because using AT&T's international services tends to be a huge rip off.
 
Dwalls90 said:
To add to what's already been said, it's pretty much useless until your contract is up, at which point AT&T should unlock it for you at your request, anyways.

Why?

Even if you buy it under contract, in order to use it on a different service provider, you have to first cancel payment on your existing plan with AT&T. Well, you don't have to, but if you don't, you're then paying the new carrier AND AT&T every month. To buy a phone under contract and cancel the plan, would cost the same as an unlocked phone, anyways.

The only exception to this is if you need it for international travel and intend of continuing to pay your AT&T domestic bill. That's because using AT&T's international services tends to be a huge rip off.
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You're forgetting an option…

Selling your freshly IMEI unlocked phone and with that money buy yourself a new unlocked IP5 while still under contract….
 
TriJetHero said:
You're forgetting an option…

Selling your freshly IMEI unlocked phone and with that money buy yourself a new unlocked IP5 while still under contract….
Click to expand...

But if the phone you're selling is under contract you have no upgrade thus you'll have to buy an unlocked variant anyways at full retail anyways. Unlocking your phone hardly has any value nowadays as its cost a few bucks and a day on eBay.
 
Subsedized phones are always more expensive than paying full retail, carriers are financing your phone partly for you partly you pay yourself, in the end you pay 10-20% more that way. At the end of your contract you are free to move to whatever carrier you want. Tmobile USA just announced they are moving away from subsedized phones, in europe it is very common to use SIM-only contracts, those are way cheaper than the subsedized ones.

It sounds real nice an "upgrade" in the end it means a downgrade of your bank account.

Besides the money issue, apple now allows IMEI unlocking, but for how long? Ebay just started to oust unlock advertisments because of copyright issues.

I was thankful fir ultrasn0w but it only factory unlocks for me!
 
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