igmackenzie

Q: Do bought from Apple Store iPhones get locked to first sim carrier?

I have bought many iPhones for myself and my family over the years and always on contract, UNTIL the iPhone 5.  When it came out, I decided to avoid all the unlocking mess and contract handset subsidy thing and buy an unlocked (or so I thought) iPhone 5 from Apple.  Now, someone told me the other day, that the 'unlocked' handset becomes locked to the carrier of the first sim that is inserted.

Surely this can't be true, is it?

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Posted on Dec 18, 2012 1:40 AM

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Q: Do bought from Apple Store iPhones get locked to first sim carrier?

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  • by wjosten,

    wjosten wjosten Dec 18, 2012 1:46 AM in response to igmackenzie
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    Dec 18, 2012 1:46 AM in response to igmackenzie

    igmackenzie wrote:

    Surely this can't be true, is it?

     

    No. In the UK, Apple is, in fact, the ONLY source for officially unlocked iPhones. What you describe only happens to iPhones purchased from places like Carphone Warehouse.

  • by igmackenzie,

    igmackenzie igmackenzie Dec 18, 2012 2:00 AM in response to wjosten
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    Dec 18, 2012 2:00 AM in response to wjosten

    Thanks for that.  Part of the reason I ask is because I bought a iP4 for my son second hand which was advertised as being unlocked as it was bought from an Apple Store, but on receipt, it is locked to O2.

    The seller was surprised about this and rang Apple. They confirmed that the handset woould be locked to the carrier of the first sim, and that we would have to go to them to get it unlocked.

    I'm confused!

  • by wjosten,

    wjosten wjosten Dec 18, 2012 2:07 AM in response to igmackenzie
    Level 10 (94,627 points)
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    Dec 18, 2012 2:07 AM in response to igmackenzie

    Again, in the UK, Apple is the only source for officially unlocked iPhones. Apple stores do, however, sell both: officially unlocked and locked without contract. If you purchase an officially unlocked iPhone, directly from Apple, it is, in fact, officially unlocked.

     

    Sounds like you need to question the veracity of the seller's statements.

  • by igmackenzie,

    igmackenzie igmackenzie Dec 18, 2012 2:13 AM in response to wjosten
    Level 4 (2,305 points)
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    Dec 18, 2012 2:13 AM in response to wjosten

    Why would a store sell a locked one without contract?

  • by wjosten,

    wjosten wjosten Dec 18, 2012 2:23 AM in response to igmackenzie
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    Dec 18, 2012 2:23 AM in response to igmackenzie

    Because some folks prefer the same carrier, have no intention of using any other carrier, but don't want to be locked into a long-term contract.

  • by igmackenzie,

    igmackenzie igmackenzie Dec 18, 2012 2:33 AM in response to wjosten
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    Dec 18, 2012 2:33 AM in response to wjosten

    But if they bought it unlocked, they could still use the carrier of their choice. I just can't see the benefit or reason for Apple to sell a locked handset.

  • by wjosten,

    wjosten wjosten Dec 18, 2012 2:39 AM in response to igmackenzie
    Level 10 (94,627 points)
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    Dec 18, 2012 2:39 AM in response to igmackenzie

    igmackenzie wrote:

    I just can't see the benefit or reason for Apple to sell a locked handset.

     

    You can't, but Apple's partner carriers can. Apple does this to protect their relationships with their partner carriers. Typically, when an iPhone model is first introduced, Apple will only sell locked without contract phones for the first month or so. Once launched, then Apple will start selling officially unlocked models. Again, this is done to protect the relationships Apple has with the various carriers. Remember, Apple doesn't own any networks, they just make the hardware & are dependent on carriers to make the phone available on various networks.

  • by Ihavenoideas,

    Ihavenoideas Ihavenoideas Dec 18, 2012 2:47 AM in response to wjosten
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Dec 18, 2012 2:47 AM in response to wjosten

    Hi all,

     

    I am the seller of this particular iPhone 4. The phone was bought from Exeter Apple store for £599. As I paid for the phone I expected it to be usuable on any Netwrok, no mention was made at the point of sale that it was only valid on one carrier.

     

    Apple support told me today that it locked to the first SIM inserted.

     

    02 support told me today they had seen iPhones become locked to thier network even though they were bought SIM free.

     

    Either way it's a complete Nightmare sorting out what's going on here!

     

    Seb

  • by igmackenzie,

    igmackenzie igmackenzie Dec 18, 2012 3:01 AM in response to wjosten
    Level 4 (2,305 points)
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    Dec 18, 2012 3:01 AM in response to wjosten

    I think what I mean is, why would a customer walk into a store and buy a locked handset?

  • by wjosten,

    wjosten wjosten Dec 18, 2012 3:03 AM in response to igmackenzie
    Level 10 (94,627 points)
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    Dec 18, 2012 3:03 AM in response to igmackenzie

    As already provided:

     

    "Because some folks prefer the same carrier, have no intention of using any other carrier, but don't want to be locked into a long-term contract."

  • by igmackenzie,

    igmackenzie igmackenzie Dec 18, 2012 3:09 AM in response to wjosten
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    Dec 18, 2012 3:09 AM in response to wjosten

    Sorry, wjosten, maybe I'm not making my self clear.  Why would they buy a locked handset when they could use the carrier of their choice in a unlocked handset?  I can see no benefit or logical reason for them to do that.

  • by igmackenzie,

    igmackenzie igmackenzie Dec 18, 2012 3:14 AM in response to Ihavenoideas
    Level 4 (2,305 points)
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    Dec 18, 2012 3:14 AM in response to Ihavenoideas

    Ihavenoideas wrote:

     

    Apple support told me today that it locked to the first SIM inserted.

     

    02 support told me today they had seen iPhones become locked to thier network even though they were bought SIM free.

     

    Either way it's a complete Nightmare sorting out what's going on here!

     

    Seb

    Apple support have told me today that their unlocked handsets are locked to the carrier of the first sim card inserted. BUT, they also said that doing a forced restore in iTunes with a different carrier's sim will then lock it to that carrier.

    However, I was also told that certain sim cards can totally lock handsets.  This I find disturbing.  Take the scenario that you want to check to see if a handset is unlocked.  Standard procedure is to try a sim from another carrier. You'd get a bit of a suprise when you put your original sim back into your phone to find that it no longer works as it's been locked to another carrier!

  • by wjosten,

    wjosten wjosten Dec 18, 2012 3:15 AM in response to igmackenzie
    Level 10 (94,627 points)
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    Dec 18, 2012 3:15 AM in response to igmackenzie

    I don't know what else to say. Whether you see or don't see any benefit is immaterial, as the fact is, Apple stores, in many countries, sell both: iPhones officially unlocked, and locked without contract, both at full price. And guess what? Folks purchase both.

  • by igmackenzie,

    igmackenzie igmackenzie Dec 18, 2012 3:17 AM in response to wjosten
    Level 4 (2,305 points)
    iTunes
    Dec 18, 2012 3:17 AM in response to wjosten

    wjosten, I'm not doubting what you say for a moment, I just can't see a circumstance why anyone would choose to buy a locked handset given the alternative at the same price point.  Now, if there was a finanical incentive...

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