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n2jtx
join:2001-01-13
Glen Head, NY

n2jtx

Member

People Getting Smart?

Maybe word is slowly leaking out that buying a locked dual mode device (GSM and CDMA) from Sprint means it will be forever locked domestically to Sprint.

My employer made the "mistake" of purchasing iPhone 4S's from Sprint back in 2011. They are now off contract and Sprint refuses to remove the domestic SIM lock from the phones (they are basically on record as stating they never will remove the lock). As such, if we upgrade to new iPhone's, these 4S's will become bricks as only Sprint can provide service to them in the United States. The only possible "light" is that Sprint indicates they will work with manufacturers to sell unlockable devices AFTER February 2015. That means everyone who, to date, has purchased iPhone's from Sprint will never have them unlocked for use on any other United States carrier.

Knowing this, why on earth would anyone plunk down hard earned money on a device that will be permanently crippled? It would be like buying a car and having the bank refuse to ever remove a lien from it.

IPPlanMan
Holy Cable Modem Batman
join:2000-09-20
Washington, DC

1 recommendation

IPPlanMan

Member

At least Sprint unlocks devices for International GSM usage only 3 months into a contract.

T-Mobile will gladly take that locked Sprint phone off your hands.

I agree though. It sucks.
78036364 (banned)
join:2014-05-06
USA

78036364 (banned) to n2jtx

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to n2jtx
said by n2jtx:

My employer made the "mistake" of purchasing iPhone 4S's from Sprint back in 2011. They are now off contract and Sprint refuses to remove the domestic SIM lock from the phones (they are basically on record as stating they never will remove the lock). As such, if we upgrade to new iPhone's, these 4S's will become bricks as only Sprint can provide service to them in the United States.

Sprint is not removing the lock because they don't want to its because they can't. Blame Apple.

IPPlanMan
Holy Cable Modem Batman
join:2000-09-20
Washington, DC

1 edit

IPPlanMan

Member

Blame Apple? And you believe this because....

Explain how Apple makes Model A1533 of the iPhone 5S which supports AT&T, T-Mobile and Verizon. Sprint required a specific model for itself, A1453.

Edited to add: "Although a phone manufacturer may manufacture the same device model and name for different wireless carriers offering wireless service in the United States, Sprint devices are specifically designed to function on Sprint’s network and Sprint’s frequencies and technologies."

From: »www.sprint.com/legal/unl ··· icy.html

So, who built in this lock? You really believe it was Apple?

whiteshp
join:2002-03-05
Xenia, OH

whiteshp to n2jtx

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You can still take a Sprint phone to a Sprint MVNO. We moved some Iphone 4S phones over to Ting.com which has a LOT better pricing and includes Verizon voice coverage.
pika2000
join:2005-10-13
Seattle, WA

1 recommendation

pika2000 to 78036364

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to 78036364
quote:
Sprint is not removing the lock because they don't want to its because they can't. Blame Apple.
Please don't tell me that you still believe that. This is the same lie that AT&T put out when they refused unlocking iPhones, despite foreign carriers have no problem unlocking iPhones. There's no reason for Apple to lock their iPhones. It's dictated by the carrier, in this case, Sprint. Sprint could simply put a flag on the phone that it's unlocked so when a user connect it to iTunes, it would be unlocked.