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AT&T's iPhone unlock process accomplished through Apple's iTunes - Page 2

post #41 of 54
4/10/12 at 11:04am
Quote:
Originally Posted by dbenampaka View Post

In the US companies like AT&T subsidize many iPhones; hence they want them locked to THEIR service.

That wasn't the question. The question is why does the unlock with AT&T require a restore through iTunes.

"My 8th grade math teacher once said: "You can't help it if you're dumb, you are born that way. But stupid is self inflicted."" -Hiro. Sometimes it's both.

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"My 8th grade math teacher once said: "You can't help it if you're dumb, you are born that way. But stupid is self inflicted."" -Hiro. Sometimes it's both.

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post #42 of 54
4/10/12 at 11:18am
I bought my 3gs in 2009 from someone who got it from at&t with a contract. Used it for couple of months with my own at&t SIM card. I have been overseas since the end of 2009 and has been using the phone through "unofficial" unlock. I would like it to be unlocked officially by at&t. Is it possible?? Btw, I don't have the contact of the person I bought the phone from anymore, so no idea how his account standing with at&t is nowadays. Is there anyone in this kind of situation too??
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post #43 of 54
4/10/12 at 12:57pm
Can iPhones purchased from eBay/Craigslist, etc. be unlocked by the buyer with the IMIE only and no access to info from the original AT&T account holder?
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post #44 of 54
4/10/12 at 1:06pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Tulkas View Post

That wasn't the question. The question is why does the unlock with AT&T require a restore through iTunes.

Actually there was no question; Therbo made a statement. Anyways, AT&T does not "unlock" the iPhones; Apple does. AT&T forwards the IMEIs to Apple, Apple updates their data base, and when you restore though iTunes, the unlock code (command) is then transmitted to your phone. You recall that iTunes can re-lock jailbroken and unofficially unlocked iPhones, right? Same philosophy.
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post #45 of 54
4/10/12 at 1:13pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Therbo View Post

Its weird, us Europeans have never ever had to restore our iPhones when unlocking them, and we've been able to unlock them for 4 years.

I was about to say the same thing. I thought all iPhones were unlocked before reading that they weren't from here. Why would the carriers do that, isn't the phone yours? Reason number 212 why I buy my phones outright and not lease them threw a carrier. It always pay's out in the long run, always. Besides I only get one year contracts. I replace my phone every 6 months, for the price of one phone I can have a new one every 6 months for 3 years. I just sell them every 6 months and only loose a maximum of 100 bucks off of the original price.

The trick is always buy a popular phone with a screen protector and case to make sure they are in perfect condition when you sell them. I have always been able to sell them and have never lost more then 90 bucks off of the purchase cost. Always shop around for the best price as possible to.
I've seen things you little people wouldn't believe. Attack ships on fire off the shoulder of Orion bright as magnesium. I rode on the back decks of a blinker and watched c-beams glitter in the...
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I've seen things you little people wouldn't believe. Attack ships on fire off the shoulder of Orion bright as magnesium. I rode on the back decks of a blinker and watched c-beams glitter in the...
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post #46 of 54
4/10/12 at 1:18pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by dbenampaka View Post

Actually there was no question; Therbo made a statement. Anyways, AT&T does not "unlock" the iPhones; Apple does. AT&T forwards the IMEIs to Apple, Apple updates their data base, and when you restore though iTunes, the unlock code (command) is then transmitted to your phone. You recall that iTunes can re-lock jailbroken and unofficially unlocked iPhones, right? Same philosophy.

uhhh, yeah. And whether a restore through iTunes is required to complete the unlock or not has nothing to do with your subsequent comment "In the US companies like AT&T subsidize many iPhones; hence they want them locked to THEIR service."

So again, given that with other carriers, when they perform the identical unlock through Apple's mechanism, why does AT&T's instructions require an iTunes restore? I have had multiple iPhones unlocked through my carrier and I only used iTunes to restore the first. The second one I simply inserted a SIM from another carrier and presto, it accepted it. Worked for the next two as well.

"My 8th grade math teacher once said: "You can't help it if you're dumb, you are born that way. But stupid is self inflicted."" -Hiro. Sometimes it's both.

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"My 8th grade math teacher once said: "You can't help it if you're dumb, you are born that way. But stupid is self inflicted."" -Hiro. Sometimes it's both.

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post #47 of 54
4/10/12 at 1:33pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Tulkas View Post

That wasn't the question. The question is why does the unlock with AT&T require a restore through iTunes.

My question is why does anything have to be done threw iTunes. It's great that we finally have OTA after what 4 and half years but how about severing all ties with a music player and give us a fikemanager Apple, please, I promise to eat all of my vegetables. While your at it I could really use a miniSD slot. Thanks, your friend Relic.
I've seen things you little people wouldn't believe. Attack ships on fire off the shoulder of Orion bright as magnesium. I rode on the back decks of a blinker and watched c-beams glitter in the...
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I've seen things you little people wouldn't believe. Attack ships on fire off the shoulder of Orion bright as magnesium. I rode on the back decks of a blinker and watched c-beams glitter in the...
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post #48 of 54
4/11/12 at 4:12pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by cheviot View Post

Have any non-AT&T customers attempted to get their long out-of-contract phones unlocked? Success?

Yes I had my iPhone 4 unlocked without ever having an account I just said I was given it.

00 1-800- 331-0500
AT&T from the UK
Press 1
Press 0
Your in
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post #49 of 54
4/11/12 at 4:14pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by M3mph15 View Post

I bought my 3gs in 2009 from someone who got it from at&t with a contract. Used it for couple of months with my own at&t SIM card. I have been overseas since the end of 2009 and has been using the phone through "unofficial" unlock. I would like it to be unlocked officially by at&t. Is it possible?? Btw, I don't have the contact of the person I bought the phone from anymore, so no idea how his account standing with at&t is nowadays. Is there anyone in this kind of situation too??

I had a similar situation they will never know if you unofficially unlocked it it's worth giving them a call
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post #50 of 54
4/11/12 at 5:03pm
Can anyone confirm that we can unlock without iTunes (by unseating the SIM)?

I'm in Japan right now and will be traveling to China on Saturday with nothing but my iPhone and iPad. I won't have access to my computer until next month.

It would be great if I could simply buy a Chinese GSM sim card in Shanghai and have it "just work." I'm very weary about using my AT&T SIM abroad, even for a moment, as I'm unsure of what kind of crazy roaming charges I might incur.

I just received the confirmation email from AT&T giving me the goahead to unlock my phone via iTunes.

Has anyone received the unlock confirmation from AT&T and then just popped in a foreign SIM? Any thoughts or advice?
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post #51 of 54
4/18/12 at 5:23pm
Called in today to unlock a couple of phones. I bought these phones for my FIL contract free almost 2 years ago. They were promptly sent overseas and were never activated on AT&T's network. The rep said that I would need to provide proof of purchase for these phones before it can be unlocked, or the request will be rejected. I told her that these were bought almost 2 years ago, and I don't have the receipts for them anymore. She said she will open the case for me but it will most likely be rejected. I've been reading that people are getting their notice in less than an hour, and it's been a few hours since I called, and still haven't gotten anything from AT&T. The rep said that I would need to wait about 7 business days, so I guess it's thumb twiddling for me till then....
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post #52 of 54
4/18/12 at 10:55pm
i called at&t on monday the 9th to request an unlock for my 4s, & i received an email on thrusday the 12th saying that all i need to do is restore through iTunes. I really didn't expect them to unlock my phone, i just thought i'd give it a shot.
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post #53 of 54
7/16/12 at 3:32pm

Could someone guide me with my iphone: it is a ATT phone locked however when I check in Apple's website it indicates that has been replaced. Does this means that it can't be unlocked? or just with the Imei even If I didn't purchase the phone they can help me?

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post #54 of 54
8/29/12 at 10:18pm
Can this be done with the new iPad? My computer crashed. Can I use the iCloud?
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