Cubericana
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Q: Can I use my sprint iPhone 4S with another carrier if it's unlocked

Can I use my sprint iPhone 4S with another carrier if it's unlocked. Sprint will only unlock it if it's international. they will not unlock it if I want to use the iphone4s with another USA carrier.  Why? I have paid for the phone and don't have a contract.  I wanted to switch the SIM card and use tmobile or another provider because I am very dissatisfied with sprint service. Lots of drop calls and texting takes 15 to reach the other person.  It is horrible,,,, I hate sprint!,

iPhone 4S

Posted on Jan 2, 2014 9:55 PM

by Narutakikun,Solvedanswer
Narutakikun Narutakikun
Level 1 (15 points)
A:

Sorry, but no, it isn't. Again, the 4S is completely hardware capable of doing both GSM and CDMA, which means it's totally usable on both AT&T and T-Mobile. If Sprint says that it can't unlock it for use with domestic GSM carriers, that's just an outright lie (unless by "can't" they simply mean "won't"). If they can unlock it for use with international GSM carriers, they could unlock it for use with domestic carriers. they simply refuse to.

 

I repeat: the 4S is 100% hardware capable of doing both GSM and CDMA. There is zero hardware difference between a 4S you get from AT&T, Verizon, or Sprint. There was for the 4, but not the 4S.

Posted on Jan 24, 2014 5:27 PM

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Q: Can I use my sprint iPhone 4S with another carrier if it's unlocked

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  • by deggie,

    deggie deggie Jan 24, 2014 5:52 PM in response to ChrisJ4203
    Level 9 (54,749 points)
    iPhone
    Jan 24, 2014 5:52 PM in response to ChrisJ4203

    Sorry Chris, hit the wrong reply button. But he is referring to this: http://blog.ctia.org/2013/12/12/ctia-announces-voluntary-principles-unlocking-wi reless-devices/

  • by ChrisJ4203,

    ChrisJ4203 ChrisJ4203 Jan 24, 2014 6:41 PM in response to deggie
    Level 9 (59,467 points)
    iPhone
    Jan 24, 2014 6:41 PM in response to deggie

    Thanks. I'll take a look at it.

     

    EDIT: If you read through that, no where do I see where it says that an unlocked Sprint phone is going to be able to be used on another domestic carrier. It mentions "attempt" to be activated on another carrier, as well as the explanation that unlocking does not mean they will be able to use on different carrier types. I'll believe it when I see it.

     

    Message was edited by: ChrisJ4203

  • by Allan Sampson,

    Allan Sampson Allan Sampson Jan 24, 2014 6:40 PM in response to Narutakikun
    Level 10 (123,464 points)
    Jan 24, 2014 6:40 PM in response to Narutakikun

    IMG_0972.PNG

  • by Cubericana,

    Cubericana Cubericana Jan 24, 2014 7:23 PM in response to Narutakikun
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Jan 24, 2014 7:23 PM in response to Narutakikun

    I spoke to sprint again and for the first time I got someone who cooperated with me because I was firm with them and told them they have to unlock my iPhone 4S. It's mine, I paid for it, and I am not under contract.   I told her it was going to be the last time I call and that I will take legal action if I did not get this resolved. I told her I wanted to try out my phone with tmobile or another carrier but needed to be unlocked for domestic use.  We spoke on the following 1. Find another old sprint phone and activate it with my same phone number and switch my iphone with spare phone. I can do this online  (this is in case I decide to continue with sprint because they charge an activation fee if I have to open up new line again). 2. Deactivate my iPhone 4S and call sprint to unlock the phone for domestic use. 3. Go to the carrier provider I choose and have them put  their SIM card on my iPhone 4S and see how it works. Nice thing about this I have 30 days to try it out with the new carrier. 4. If I decide to stay with sprint, which I doubt it if the other carrier works well, then I can go back and activate my iphone again by switching the old sprint phone with iphone. If I decide to stay with new carrier then excellent, mission accomplished! If I decide to sell my unlocked phone then it's another option. Heard best buy gives good credit for unlocked phones.

    I will attempting the above 4 steps sometime next week.

    Thx for all your input !

  • by edtol,

    edtol edtol Feb 21, 2014 7:32 AM in response to Cubericana
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Feb 21, 2014 7:32 AM in response to Cubericana

    Cubericana,

     

    Could you give us an update from your last post? Thank you!

  • by Cubericana,

    Cubericana Cubericana Feb 22, 2014 7:38 PM in response to edtol
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Feb 22, 2014 7:38 PM in response to edtol

    Sorry. I haven't had time . It has been a busy month for me.  I will keep you posted.

  • by GB4Apple,

    GB4Apple GB4Apple Jun 15, 2014 11:04 PM in response to Cubericana
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Jun 15, 2014 11:04 PM in response to Cubericana

    I have and iPhone 4s with Sprint for over two uears and i called them to request them to unlocked it, at the beginig they said that it can be only done for international use but I told them that is my phone and paid for it and Sprint has no right to forze me to only use  my device with them and the agent transfered me with someone else and told me that I was right and it can be unlocked as long as you fulfill the requerements of being in no contract, current in payments and becasue I met the requirement they unlocked for me so I can use it anyway I want. The representative from Sprint was pretty friendly and gave me the unlock code and then I had to conect my iPhone to iTunes back it up and restore it again, once this is done apple or Itunes will give you a message that your iPhone has been succesfully unlocked and now I'll try to activate it with another carrier to see if it works! I hope this can help! i think after we complete the agreement with our carrier and paid for our device the carrier should give is the freedom to do whatever we want since we own our device

  • by Allan Sampson,

    Allan Sampson Allan Sampson Jun 16, 2014 4:53 AM in response to GB4Apple
    Level 10 (123,464 points)
    Jun 16, 2014 4:53 AM in response to GB4Apple

    Please include where your entered the unlock code that Sprint gave you with iTunes or on your iPhone.

  • by ChrisJ4203,

    ChrisJ4203 ChrisJ4203 Jun 16, 2014 8:57 AM in response to GB4Apple
    Level 9 (59,467 points)
    iPhone
    Jun 16, 2014 8:57 AM in response to GB4Apple

    You can try and activate with another carrier, but you will not be able to activate it with another domestic carrier within the US. This is something between the US domestic wireless carriers. The same with trying to unlock a Verizon 4 or 4S. With the 4, it is a CDMA only device and can only be activated by Verizon and cannot be unlocked to use on another carrier since there is no SIM slot.

  • by ChrisJ4203,

    ChrisJ4203 ChrisJ4203 Jul 5, 2014 7:31 AM in response to ChrisJ4203
    Level 9 (59,467 points)
    iPhone
    Jul 5, 2014 7:31 AM in response to ChrisJ4203

    ,

  • by mksh1991,

    mksh1991 mksh1991 Jul 5, 2014 7:47 AM in response to Cubericana
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Jul 5, 2014 7:47 AM in response to Cubericana

    dear how to check carrier in free

  • by Lawrence Finch,

    Lawrence Finch Lawrence Finch Jul 5, 2014 7:49 AM in response to mksh1991
    Level 8 (38,253 points)
    Mac OS X
    Jul 5, 2014 7:49 AM in response to mksh1991

    Call Apple support. Contact Apple for support and service

  • by storkslair,

    storkslair storkslair Aug 24, 2015 8:25 PM in response to Cubericana
    Level 1 (4 points)
    Applications
    Aug 24, 2015 8:25 PM in response to Cubericana

    We are much later in time now. A bunch of updates to the links posted. I am trying the same.

     

    It looks like GSM in the US is not exactly the same as it is abroad. I see no information anywhere of a successful unlock of a 4s onto AT&T. If you see one, please post back to this thread.

     

    Sprint does indeed unlock newer phones including the 5s 6 and 6 plus to any other network. The 4s... not so much. This is purely a technology issue.

  • by deggie,

    deggie deggie Aug 24, 2015 8:28 PM in response to storkslair
    Level 9 (54,749 points)
    iPhone
    Aug 24, 2015 8:28 PM in response to storkslair

    Yes, GSM is the same in the US as it is abroad. And unlocked Verizon iPhone will work with AT&T. Sprint has made some changes to their policy but I do not know whether they are still locking out domestic use. It is not a technology issue on the 4s. On the iPhone 4 it is.

  • by Anime1stop,

    Anime1stop Anime1stop Feb 23, 2016 6:24 PM in response to Cubericana
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Feb 23, 2016 6:24 PM in response to Cubericana

    I have recently got my sprint iphone unlock domestic. Yes it took along time but it was well worth it. First You will just need to switch over to verizon. After that you will need to call sprint ( keep in mind you are still at the verizon store). To speed process directly ask to transfer to finance department. Pay off what ever remaining balance you owe including any fee for early termination to there department. (so have a card payment ready when you are on the phone with them) Next ask to get transfer over to technical support. Ask Tech support to release your iphone lines. ( have your EMI number ready which verizon will have for you ready to go) Do that with all your iphone associated with sprint. Thats it.. all done 100% work.. thank you

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