Topic 'Re: Unlock iPhone for $4 bucks...' in forum 'All Things Macintosh' - dslreports.com

Re: Unlock iPhone for $4 bucks...

Mon, 28 Jan 2013 14:54:30 EDT

ztmike posted : Does anybody know a cheap unlock solution for the Canadian carrier Bell for a iPhone 5?

Only thing I've found so far is this site: »www.unlockboot.com/2012/11/offic···ory.html

But a little confused on their prices on that menu there their asking for $204 but if you click on Bell and go into that page there's another price of around $31

Edit: It seems the second price is only to preorder the unlock.. which I assume that price gets deducted from the crazy $204 price..

But the serial number on the iPhone 5 ends in 1hdttq and it seems they don't even offer the unlock for that serial number yet..

Anyone know if any alternatives here?

Re: Unlock iPhone for $4 bucks...

Tue, 18 Dec 2012 23:56:53 EDT

happy4ya posted :

said by TCO1962:

I'd say it adds $50 minimum. Maybe even more if it's a mint condition phone.

That would be nice. I'm not sure why they still pay so much, but I just sold a used but in perfect condition 8GB iPhone 4 white, locked to AT&T on ebay for $265. This one is a brand new warranty replacement from Apple, same phone never used yet with the unlock. If I get a little more than the last one I'll be happy.

Re: Unlock iPhone for $4 bucks...

Tue, 18 Dec 2012 19:37:46 EDT

TCO1962 posted :

said by happy4ya:

I'm getting ready to put it on eBay and figured the added value of an unlocked iPhone would be worth more than the $3.15 I spent to have it unlocked.

I'd say it adds $50 minimum. Maybe even more if it's a mint condition phone.

Re: Unlock iPhone for $4 bucks...

Tue, 18 Dec 2012 01:55:29 EDT

happy4ya posted : I did this a few days ago to a brand new replacement iPhone 4 I got from Apple and it worked great. I'm getting ready to put it on eBay and figured the added value of an unlocked iPhone would be worth more than the $3.15 I spent to have it unlocked.

Re: Unlock iPhone for $4 bucks...

Mon, 17 Dec 2012 21:11:45 EDT

Thinkdiff posted : Once your device is on the whitelist, it cannot be removed (per Apple policy). At least, no device has been re-locked yet after many years of shady unlocks.
--
University of Southern California - Fight On!

Re: Unlock iPhone for $4 bucks...

Mon, 17 Dec 2012 20:43:41 EDT

Defcon888 posted : Has anyone tried wiping their newly unlocked iPhone to see if the unlock stays? I wonder if this is truly a permanent unlock that sticks with the phone, or if it'll require a new user to plug the phone in each time and have iTunes "unlock" it every time someone resets their phone.

Reason I ask this is because it seems to be cheaper for someone to just go buy a contracted phone, pay the ETF, keep the phone, and go this route of an unlock and end up paying less than purchasing a truly unlocked iPhone directly from Apple...

Re: Unlock iPhone for $4 bucks...

Mon, 17 Dec 2012 17:51:00 EDT

Elite posted : Out of curiosity, I called AT&T a couple months ago to try and get my iPhone 5 unlocked (which was purchased with a 2 year contract through AT&T).

The silly support rep claimed that they could NOT, under any circumstance, unlock my iPhone 5. AT&T claimed that they submitted the requests directly to Apple, and that Apple would deny my request because the phone was only about a month old.

Sounded like bullshit to me, but my phone remains locked. On a related note, I was able to use the online AT&T unlock request form back in September though, and AT&T successfully unlocked my (at the time) 11 month old iPhone 4S, despite me still having about 13 months left on the contract.
--
QUAD!!!!

Re: Unlock iPhone for $4 bucks...

Sun, 16 Dec 2012 16:32:48 EDT

Defcon888 posted : Just did it on my iPhone 5! Worked for $3.15 :)

Re: Unlock iPhone for $4 bucks...

Sun, 16 Dec 2012 13:14:21 EDT

TCO1962 posted :

said by RiseAbove:

said by TCO1962:

Have to thank the OP for posting this! Yet another successful unlock via this method last night. So simple, "clean", and damn near free. My family is all set now.

SO much better than all the old school hacking around crap! I just wonder if it's all going to come to a screeching halt soon. Seems too good to be true! :)

I actually don't mind paying the few bucks to make sure it gets done quick and easy.

Same here! SO cheap and easy. I know I'd pay more for sure.
I bet the Gevey folks aren't too happy! lol

I see they're now offering an IMEI unlock for the low low price of $49.99! :uhh:

»www.gevey.com/att-iphone-imei-pe···-unlock/

Re: Unlock iPhone for $4 bucks...

Sun, 16 Dec 2012 12:48:21 EDT

RiseAbove posted :

said by TCO1962:

My guess the person running this auction is either an Apple employee who has access to the database directly or it is someone working for a wireless provider who has access as well. I would bet it's someone overseas making hand over fist on their access to the database and helping people out. I tried to get some of mine unlocked through ATT and it was a nightmare and they do everything they can to make sure you don't get it unlocked. I actually don't mind paying the few bucks to make sure it gets done quick and easy.

Re: Unlock iPhone for $4 bucks...

Sun, 16 Dec 2012 12:38:42 EDT

TCO1962 posted : Have to thank the OP for posting this! Yet another successful unlock via this method last night. So simple, "clean", and damn near free. My family is all set now.

SO much better than all the old school hacking around crap! I just wonder if it's all going to come to a screeching halt soon. Seems too good to be true! :)

Re: Unlock iPhone for $4 bucks...

Sun, 16 Dec 2012 12:27:51 EDT

Daemon posted :

said by skeechan:

It is a special unlock that only then works with certain SIMs, or is it "unlocked" forever unlocked.

If you were referring to KevNYC's post, his reply is correct. If you were referring to the OP, then the answer is that it will unlock AT&T phones to use any GSM compatible SIM world wide, forever.
--
-Ryan
I use Linux, OS X, iOS and Windows. Let the OS wars die.

Re: Unlock iPhone for $4 bucks...

Sun, 16 Dec 2012 12:25:09 EDT

RiseAbove posted : I did this unlock for all of my AT&T iPhones, 3GS, 4, 4S, and 5 and it worked great. On my older phones to avoid having to go up to iOS 6 I just factory reset them and then when you go through the activation I told it to use iTunes for activation. Two seconds later it came up with the unlock message.

Re: Unlock iPhone for $4 bucks...

Sun, 16 Dec 2012 12:23:18 EDT

RiseAbove posted :

said by KevNYC:

said by skeechan:

Too bad Sprint isn't as easy. It's why I held only my old AT&T unlocked iPhone 4. I can roll into Softbank for a SIM while traveling and avoid the $200+ international data fees.

Sprint will unlock your iPhone 5 for international SIM's on request. The key is calling their international team, I unlocked my phone a week after starting service with Sprint since I was traveling to Europe that same month.

That's odd Sprint is locking their iPhone's. Verizon's iPhone 5's are unlocked out of the gate, you can toss in ATT or Tmobile sim cards and it works all day long on 4G HSPA speeds.

Re: Unlock iPhone for $4 bucks...

Sun, 16 Dec 2012 11:58:39 EDT

KevNYC posted : It only works with international SIMs.

Re: Unlock iPhone for $4 bucks...

Sun, 16 Dec 2012 02:48:33 EDT

skeechan posted : It is a special unlock that only then works with certain SIMs, or is it "unlocked" forever unlocked.

Re: Unlock iPhone for $4 bucks...

Sat, 15 Dec 2012 23:15:39 EDT

KevNYC posted :

said by skeechan:

Too bad Sprint isn't as easy. It's why I held only my old AT&T unlocked iPhone 4. I can roll into Softbank for a SIM while traveling and avoid the $200+ international data fees.

Re: Unlock iPhone for $4 bucks...

Thu, 13 Dec 2012 10:00:57 EDT

skeechan posted : Too bad Sprint isn't as easy. It's why I held only my old AT&T unlocked iPhone 4. I can roll into Softbank for a SIM while traveling and avoid the $200+ international data fees.

Re: Unlock iPhone for $4 bucks...

Thu, 13 Dec 2012 08:30:20 EDT

TCO1962 posted : FYI.
My son and I unlocked two 4S' yesterday. $3.15 each. Awesome! Have another 4S on the way from a member here (locked to AT&T) and we'll do it too. Sweet deal if ya need it.

We've ran iPhones for quite awhile now with our local carrier. Had to be unlocked though. Wish this method had been around along time ago!!

OT but we've moved away from our local carrier with all but one phone (just in case we want to move back). We're testing out Straight Talk and have nothing but good things to say about it. Have been all over the place geographically and have had zero problems. Sons both use a pretty healthy amount of data and have had no problems at all.

Re: Unlock iPhone for $4 bucks...

Sat, 17 Nov 2012 23:52:12 EDT

cablesurfer posted : FYI to all Jail Brake users that unlock with this method.

You DO NOT have to restore to re-activate and unlock your phone. You can simply download SAM from Cydia and use the "Deactivate" button under Utilities.

Then open iTunes and you will get the "Congratulations you are unlocked" message.

Re: Unlock iPhone for $4 bucks...

Thu, 15 Nov 2012 11:40:22 EDT

Rob posted : I bet in 3 months the price on eBay will be much, much, less.

Re: Unlock iPhone for $4 bucks...

Thu, 15 Nov 2012 00:13:02 EDT

joako posted :

said by Rob:

AT&T will unlock a customer's iPhone for free, but only after the customer's contract is up and that they don't have an outstanding balance.

While under contract, AT&T won't unlock the phone, forcing customers who travel overseas to pay AT&T the roaming fees.

For the iPhone, to unlock it, they add the IMEI # to Apple's database, and then when the customer syncs their phone with iTunes, the Apple database will unlock the phone.

I understand that's always been their policy, but they unlocked my iPhone 4 while it was still under contract and I had my iPhone 5 unlocked after just a few weeks.

Just keep on submitting the request to AT&T. They asked for my receipt, I called AT&T and asked for one, they sent it and then I faxed it right back to them and they unlocked the phone. AT&T's receipt shows there was a discount/contract. They sent me all sorts of emails, sometimes different ones on the same day:

quote:
To request an
unlock for this device and account, log in to your myAT&T account and contact us by email or
chat.

We cannot complete your request because the service commitment for this iPhone has not been completed or no valid current/ former mobile number is associated with the request.
If you have questions, review the general eligibility requirements for unlocking an iPhone

In order to process your unlock request, we must receive a faxed copy of your original receipt. Please fax us a copy of the receipt including your Request Number and IMEI

We have reviewed your request and confirmed that you are eligible to have the requested iPhone unlocked.

I could understand they don't/won't unlock the phone on a new account but if you've been with them 2-3 years they should be able to get it unlocked.
--
PRescott7-2097

Re: Unlock iPhone for $4 bucks...

Wed, 14 Nov 2012 15:04:09 EDT

Zac posted : Us lucky Canadians.
»www.ebay.com/itm/UNLOCK-APPLE-IT···c30554dc

Same seller, guess ill just wait until its been 3 months since I've got my iPhone 5, and call Telus. They'll unlock it for $50 and just charge the fee to my account.
--
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Re: Unlock iPhone for $4 bucks...

Wed, 14 Nov 2012 14:57:43 EDT

Thinkdiff posted : That won't work. The only reason the seller is able to offer this service is that they're paying off AT&T customer service reps to input the IMEI into the AT&T whitelist that gets synced with Apple's servers. I doubt it would accept an IMEI from a non AT&T phone.
--
University of Southern California - Fight On!

Re: Unlock iPhone for $4 bucks...

Wed, 14 Nov 2012 14:54:26 EDT

Zac posted : Curious if any Canadians have tried this with any success yet? :) Id like to unlock my iPhone 5 from Telus, purely for the future if I decide to travel to the States so I can just get a SIM card and not worry about being raped with roaming charges, or massively overpriced and limited data. I usually buy my iPhones unlocked right from apple, but preordered mine from TELUS, and got it launch day, got it for $500 total including AppleCare+ so saved about $500 on it by extending my contract another 3 years. Very happy with my provider though.

If so, does one just pay for the AT&T unlock and provide the IMEI even though its Telus? ;)
--
~There is no Normal or Abnormal... Just Diversity.
Member of Team Helix - Join Us?

Re: Unlock iPhone for $4 bucks...

Mon, 12 Nov 2012 15:15:43 EDT

Thinkdiff posted :

said by tommy3rd:

just got it for the lowered price $3. it works. just hoping there's no catch whatsoever.

Once it's in the AT&T / Apple whitelist, it won't be removed. The only catch is when AT&T finds the service reps doing this and fires them.
--
University of Southern California - Fight On!

Re: Unlock iPhone for $4 bucks...

Mon, 12 Nov 2012 13:57:42 EDT

tommy3rd posted : just got it for the lowered price $3. it works. just hoping there's no catch whatsoever.

Re: Unlock iPhone for $4 bucks...

Sun, 11 Nov 2012 20:18:31 EDT

Post Op posted : I guess that would have helped.

Re: Unlock iPhone for $4 bucks...

Sun, 11 Nov 2012 10:59:57 EDT

aztecnology posted :

said by Post Op:

If one had this done could you take an iphone 4s used on sprint and activate it on verizon?

If you go to the eBay link you will find the enlightenment that you seek...
--
.:|:. aztec being aztec...�

Re: Unlock iPhone for $4 bucks...

Sun, 11 Nov 2012 10:35:55 EDT

Post Op posted : If one had this done could you take an iphone 4s used on sprint and activate it on verizon?
--
I'd rather have a bottle in front of me than a frontal lobotomy.

Re: Unlock iPhone for $4 bucks...

Sun, 11 Nov 2012 09:09:09 EDT

Rob posted : They lowered the price to $3.13 now.

Re: Unlock iPhone for $4 bucks...

Sat, 10 Nov 2012 21:12:49 EDT

ptrowski posted :

said by clevere1:

said by ptrowski:

Just plug it in.
A factory unlocked phone versus the jailbreak unlock should net you a few extra bucks if you eBay it.

umm .. no. To unlock an iphone it has to be restored.

No it doesn't. When I had AT&T unlock my 3GS it did not have to be restored.
--
"So, Lone Starr, now you see that evil will always triumph because good is dumb."

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Re: Unlock iPhone for $4 bucks...

Sat, 10 Nov 2012 19:29:00 EDT

happy4ya posted : Someone just bought it about an hour ago so I guess it doesn't matter anymore. Thanks for the info.

Re: Unlock iPhone for $4 bucks...

Sat, 10 Nov 2012 16:37:22 EDT

clevere1 posted :

said by ptrowski:

Just plug it in.
A factory unlocked phone versus the jailbreak unlock should net you a few extra bucks if you eBay it.

umm .. no. To unlock an iphone it has to be restored.
--
Where's th' DAFFY DUCK EXHIBIT??

Re: Unlock iPhone for $4 bucks...

Sat, 10 Nov 2012 16:33:09 EDT

ptrowski posted : Just plug it in.
A factory unlocked phone versus the jailbreak unlock should net you a few extra bucks if you eBay it.

Re: Unlock iPhone for $4 bucks...

Sat, 10 Nov 2012 15:19:04 EDT

happy4ya posted : To do this unlock, do you actually have to restore the phone or just plug it in and sync it? I have an 8gb iPhone 4 that I am selling and would like to have it unlocked but it is jailbroken and don't want to risk anything where I may have to restore it to IOS 6 and lose the JB.

Re: Unlock iPhone for $4 bucks...

Wed, 07 Nov 2012 09:04:29 EDT

Snakeoil posted : Thank you.
So the 4 dollar charge makes sense on the newer phones.

Re: Unlock iPhone for $4 bucks...

Wed, 07 Nov 2012 09:01:18 EDT

Rob posted : AT&T will unlock a customer's iPhone for free, but only after the customer's contract is up and that they don't have an outstanding balance.

While under contract, AT&T won't unlock the phone, forcing customers who travel overseas to pay AT&T the roaming fees.

For the iPhone, to unlock it, they add the IMEI # to Apple's database, and then when the customer syncs their phone with iTunes, the Apple database will unlock the phone.
--
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Re: Unlock iPhone for $4 bucks...

Wed, 07 Nov 2012 07:19:03 EDT

Snakeoil posted : For as much money as is being spent on the phone, why isn't it a free service?

Is there something they have to do physically to the phone, or is it a software thing that they do to unlock it?

I'm just curious because I've never owned a smartphone, let alone an Iphone.
--
Is a person a failure for doing nothing? Or is he a failure for trying, and not succeeding at what he is attempting to do? What did you fail at today?.

Re: Unlock iPhone for $4 bucks...

Wed, 07 Nov 2012 07:09:24 EDT

Rob posted :

said by Thinkdiff:

Maybe I'm missing something - is there any benefit to doing this if you don't travel? With AT&T now unlocking phones for free out of contract, I'm guessing this is pointless?

In a way, yes, but you never know when you might have to travel and need this feature.

Plus, it's a big FU to AT&T. :D
--
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Re: Unlock iPhone for $4 bucks...

Wed, 07 Nov 2012 07:07:41 EDT

Rob posted :

said by banditws6:

I received confirmation that my unlock went through, so I restored my iPhone. iTunes reported the "Congratulations, your iPhone is unlocked" message that is typical for this process (I had an old 3GS unlocked by AT&T, and it went the same way). Restored from backup. Looks like it worked. I don't have a non-AT&T SIM to test with, but this looks promising.

If you plug your IMEI # back into their online checker, it'll tell you that it's unlocked (a 2nd way of checking).
--
CheckSite.us | YourIP.us | Reverseip.us

Re: Unlock iPhone for $4 bucks...

Tue, 06 Nov 2012 22:26:28 EDT

HiVolt posted :

said by Thinkdiff:

Maybe I'm missing something - is there any benefit to doing this if you don't travel? With AT&T now unlocking phones for free out of contract, I'm guessing this is pointless?

No benefit at all, if you stay with your carrier and dont travel (or don't care for roaming charges).

Re: Unlock iPhone for $4 bucks...

Tue, 06 Nov 2012 21:42:21 EDT

Thinkdiff posted : Maybe I'm missing something - is there any benefit to doing this if you don't travel? With AT&T now unlocking phones for free out of contract, I'm guessing this is pointless?
--
University of Southern California - Fight On!

Re: Unlock iPhone for $4 bucks...

Tue, 06 Nov 2012 21:36:16 EDT

banditws6 posted : I received confirmation that my unlock went through, so I restored my iPhone. iTunes reported the "Congratulations, your iPhone is unlocked" message that is typical for this process (I had an old 3GS unlocked by AT&T, and it went the same way). Restored from backup. Looks like it worked. I don't have a non-AT&T SIM to test with, but this looks promising.
--
"The counsel of fools is all the more dangerous the more of them there are." -�lafr H�skuldsson

Re: Unlock iPhone for $4 bucks...

Tue, 06 Nov 2012 21:25:43 EDT

not quite right posted :

said by Elite:

said by Rob:

It's 4 DOLLARS. Are you really that frugal? :D

Yes. Because they've probably found a method to do it for free, and if so, are making nearly 100% profit. I could be those guys...

Wouldn't that be almost 400% profit?
--
Not many people know this, but I happen to be quite famous...

Re: Unlock iPhone for $4 bucks...

Tue, 06 Nov 2012 12:18:19 EDT

Elite posted :

said by Rob:

It's 4 DOLLARS. Are you really that frugal? :D

Yes. Because they've probably found a method to do it for free, and if so, are making nearly 100% profit. I could be those guys...
--
QUAD!!!!

Re: Unlock iPhone for $4 bucks...

Tue, 06 Nov 2012 12:16:20 EDT

Rob posted :

said by Elite:

Now to find a method to do it for free...

It's 4 DOLLARS. Are you really that frugal? :D

Re: Unlock iPhone for $4 bucks...

Tue, 06 Nov 2012 12:14:27 EDT

Elite posted : I see a lot of places offering iTunes based unlocks for sub-$40. I really wonder how the hell they do it, since there seem to be a ton of people offering this service.

Now to find a method to do it for free...
--
QUAD!!!!

Re: Unlock iPhone for $4 bucks...

Tue, 06 Nov 2012 12:14:16 EDT

Elite posted : double post - mods please delete

Re: Unlock iPhone for $4 bucks...

Tue, 06 Nov 2012 10:41:28 EDT

Rob posted :

said by Mike:

How did they get this data?

Probably has someone in the inside?