-
All replies
-
Helpful answers
-
Jan 26, 2014 10:59 AM in response to tncjhbby Limnos,I believe it should be possible to upgrade by connecting to iTunes. However, be careful. If the previous owner had Find My iPhone active, an upgrade will automatically start the new iOS7 Activation Lock which could result in a phone totally useless to you unless the previous owner removes the now activated lock. This is not the same as a cellular carrier "locked phone" but instead a thing that makes a stolen or lost phone useless.
As for being locked to a cellular service, only the carrier can unlock the phone. Contact the carrier tho which the phone is dedicated.
iPhone: About unlocking - http://support.apple.com/kb/HT5014 - Only some carriers offer the ability to unlock iPhone for use on any carrier. Follow the instructions in this article to unlock your iPhone.iPhone: Wireless carrier support and features - http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1937 - including a list of which ones offer unlocking.
-
Jan 26, 2014 11:01 AM in response to Limnosby tncjhb,Limnos,
Thanks for the great info. and warning. Can I find out if the previous owner has "Find My iPhone" active other than by asking him (if he remembers?)
-
Jan 26, 2014 11:04 AM in response to tncjhbby KiltedTim,tncjhb wrote:
Hi, I bought a locked iPhone 4 on ebay this summer. It was used on ATT, and I use it on Consumer Cellular.
If you're using an AT&T locked phone on Consumer Cellular, then your phone had to be hacked to unlock it. You can't get help here for your hacked phone.
-
Jan 26, 2014 11:06 AM in response to KiltedTimby tncjhb,Hi KiltedTim,
My phone is not unlocked. I purchased it as a "locked" phone on ebay. Consumer Cellular uses the ATT network, so it works fine with their SIM card in it. However, the MMS/picture messaging does not work.
-
Jan 26, 2014 11:10 AM in response to tncjhbby KiltedTim,Well, only AT&T can legitimately unlock it. Contact them. If you're not an AT&T customer, and you can't provide proof of purchase for a no commitment phone from AT&T, Apple, or an authorized AT&T agent, they won't do it. You're out of luck.
-
Jan 26, 2014 11:13 AM in response to tncjhbby Limnos,It would help to be clear on how the phone is "locked" since there are many ways. Are we talking carrier locked? Password locked? All? It sounds to me like you are using the phone now which suggests it isn't password locked to the previous owner (some people get used phones with this which should immediately raise red flags). In that case you have access to the Find My activation feature and don't need to worry. You can also upgrade iOS on it.
-
Jan 26, 2014 11:21 AM in response to Limnosby tncjhb,The phone is not password locked. It worked fine right when I got it, and I put my own password on it. He had deleted everything from the phone when he sold it to me. It IS carrier locked to the ATT network. I knew I wanted CC, so I bought it locked.
So, as long as it's only carrier locked, I should be ok doing the upgrade to 7.0.4?
-
Jan 26, 2014 11:22 AM in response to KiltedTimby tncjhb,Yeah, I already asked the original ebay seller (i have his email) if he is able to and willing to unlock it for me. He seems nice, so I think he'd do it if he was in good standing, etc. (ATT requires 5-6 things before they'll unlock the phone - original owner, phone #, account #, etc.)
-
Jan 26, 2014 11:27 AM in response to tncjhbby Limnos,I think you should be okay upgrading. I don't think iOS installation has anything to do with carrier locking, and you're otherwise cleared to use the device. I have no idea if it will resolve hte MMS thing though. For what it's worth, my wife has an ATT iPhone with iOS 5 still on it and she hasn't mentioned any messaging issues, even with video or photos (I rarely touch the thing so I can't speak firsthand).
-
Jan 26, 2014 11:34 AM in response to Limnosby tncjhb,I just wanted to make sure there wasn't something that would make the phone unuseable. I should have purchased an unlocked phone. It's worth a try to resolve the MMS issue. It ***** not having MMS. Is your wife using the ATT iPhone on ATT? I think the problem comes in when I am using the phone on CC. I heard they have some new settings that allow you to resovlve the MMS issue if you have iOS 7.0.4.
Is there a way to know if the previous owner had "Find My iPhone" active? If it was, can he give me information to get into the phone again? would it be his old password or something?
-
Jan 26, 2014 11:45 AM in response to tncjhbby Limnos,Yes, new phone always been with ATT. I was wondering if your issue could be more with the semi-new carrier than with the phone itself.
Find My iPhone is something activated on the phone itself. If you have the phone now under your ID and password it's yours.
iCloud: Troubleshooting Find My iPhone, iPad, iPod touch, or Mac - http://support.apple.com/kb/TS4006
Apple - iPhone 4S - Locate your missing iPhone with Find My iPhone - http://www.apple.com/iphone/icloud/#find and: iCloud: Find My iPhone overview - http://support.apple.com/kb/PH2696
iPhone: Troubleshooting activation issues - http://support.apple.com/kb/TS3424
iCloud: Find My iPhone Activation Lock in iOS 7 - With iOS 7, Find My iPhone includes a new feature called Activation Lock, which is designed to prevent anyone else from using your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch if you ever lose it. With Activation Lock, your Apple ID and password will be required before anyone can:
Turn off Find My iPhone on your device
Erase your device
Reactivate and use your device -
Jan 27, 2014 11:49 AM in response to Limnosby tncjhb,Thanks so much for the help!
We upgraded the OS to 7.0.4. It worked fine. She had to call Consumer Cellular, but it does get MMS just fine now!
I am now wondering if there is a way to have the iPhone ask her if she wants to retrieve an MMS when she is on Wifi mode? My old blackberry asks me if I want to retrieve an MMS before doing it; though, I always have data on and she doesn't.
-
Jan 27, 2014 1:53 PM in response to tncjhbby Limnos,Oh boy, that's a whole different question you might wish to ask in a new topic. I have a first time, $10, no-contract phone I have used for a total of 3 minutes (and not a single text message of any kind) since buying it mid-December so I'm no cell phone expert.
-
Jan 27, 2014 1:55 PM in response to tncjhbby KiltedTim,tncjhb wrote:
I am now wondering if there is a way to have the iPhone ask her if she wants to retrieve an MMS when she is on Wifi mode? My old blackberry asks me if I want to retrieve an MMS before doing it; though, I always have data on and she doesn't.
No. That's not a feature of the phone.