scott kenedy

Q: unlocked iphone 6 in japan

I found out that apple store in japan is selling sim free iphone6  below url

=> http://store.apple.com/jp/buy-iphone/iphone6/5.5インチのディスプレイ-128gb-スペースグレイ-simフリー

 

I wonder is that unlocked iPhone ? (Carrier unlock, Country unlock)

 

I knew japan's carriers do not sell unlocked iPhone. (below url)

there are countries list of selling unlocked iPhone

and there is not japan.

 

iPhone: Wireless carrier support and features

Learn more

iPhone is available for purchase and activation through Apple, wireless carriers, and authorized resellers (not all options are available in all countries or locations). In most countries, the place of purchase will verify that you have an account with the carrier, and then give you instructions on how to activate your iPhone. Verification of carrier account is not required in countries in which unlocked iPhones are available for sale.

Apple Online Store sells unlocked iPhone in the following countries: Australia, Austria, Belgium (French, Dutch),Brazil, Canada (English, French), China, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Hong Kong (English,Chinese), Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Netherlands, Norway, Poland,Portugal, Singapore, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland (French, German), Taiwan, Thailand, TurkeyUnited Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, and United States.

 

 

Is it changed from iphone6? or same(I misunderstanding)?



Posted on Sep 13, 2014 10:39 PM

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Q: unlocked iphone 6 in japan

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  • by ChrisJ4203,

    ChrisJ4203 ChrisJ4203 Sep 23, 2014 3:14 PM in response to eltonjpt
    Level 9 (58,708 points)
    iPhone
    Sep 23, 2014 3:14 PM in response to eltonjpt

    eltonjpt wrote:

     

    I am not really sure where people heard that Japanese iPhone's are "locked" even though they are SIM-Free. But I just wanted to let you guys know that today I bought a 6 Plus from Tokyo Apple store, SIM-Free, and I asked if it would work with my USA SIM card. The guy said yes. Well, I got home and plugged in my T-Mobile SIM, and it does work. I am roaming (free of charge) under T-Mobile. Previously, I had this SIM card in my iPhone 5S (unlocked and bought in the USA).

     

    I also have a Japanese pre-paid SIM that also works on my new 6 Plus.  So "unlocked" or not, I just wanted to let you people know that my SIM-Free Japanese iPhone 6 Plus works on my Tmobile SIM card!

    I just wonder if it will work with the LTE bands in the US, since this is a foreign phone. That might be something you would like to report back to the other users when you return to the US. That is generally the problem people encounter, along with the fact that the warranty will only be good in Japan.

  • by iHadeel,

    iHadeel iHadeel Sep 25, 2014 2:44 PM in response to eltonjpt
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Sep 25, 2014 2:44 PM in response to eltonjpt

    I want to buy iPhone 6 plus from Japanese store but i don't know is it unlocked or what ?

    coz i think there's a diff between SIM-Free and unlocked ?

     

    In UK store it is Unlocked iPhone but in japan store it's SIM Free ??

     

    So i don't know i really want to buy from Japanese because i have an address there I am worried ...

  • by iHadeel,

    iHadeel iHadeel Sep 25, 2014 3:50 PM in response to charlestoni
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Sep 25, 2014 3:50 PM in response to charlestoni

    Did you bought it ? Or not yet

     

    plz tell me about your experience

  • by charlestoni,

    charlestoni charlestoni Sep 25, 2014 5:06 PM in response to iHadeel
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Sep 25, 2014 5:06 PM in response to iHadeel

    Not yet, i'll be in tokyo next week and back to Brazil only on 06/10.

    And you??

  • by iHadeel,

    iHadeel iHadeel Sep 27, 2014 4:35 AM in response to charlestoni
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Sep 27, 2014 4:35 AM in response to charlestoni

    I'm waiting for you

  • by Ikari7789,

    Ikari7789 Ikari7789 Sep 27, 2014 5:42 AM in response to scott kenedy
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Sep 27, 2014 5:42 AM in response to scott kenedy

    SIM free is simply Japan's way to say "unlocked."

    SIMフリー translates to unlocked. The iPhones you buy from a carrier will most definitely be locked, but if you buy it direct from the Apple store without signing up for a contract with a specific company and choose the SIM free option, it is most definitely unlocked. I can't say whether or not Japan sold SIM free phones in the past or not, but I know that within the next year or so, carrier phones in Japan will also be moving towards an unlock-able type environment due to new laws that are being pushed forward in government.

  • by Gh05t_MBA,

    Gh05t_MBA Gh05t_MBA Sep 28, 2014 6:57 AM in response to Ikari7789
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Sep 28, 2014 6:57 AM in response to Ikari7789

    I Can confirm that Japan now sells unlocked iPhones 6 in Japan. It's the first time they've done it and several Chinese buyers were camped out to purchase at launch. I will be in Japan next week and will be looking to see if I can get lucky and grab one.

  • by ordinarygirlPH,

    ordinarygirlPH ordinarygirlPH Sep 28, 2014 9:07 PM in response to eltonjpt
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Sep 28, 2014 9:07 PM in response to eltonjpt

    yay thanks for this confirmation! Would you have any idea what stocks of the iPhone 6 Plus is like in Tokyo? i'm going to Tokyo in 3 weeks

  • by Gh05t_MBA,

    Gh05t_MBA Gh05t_MBA Sep 28, 2014 10:41 PM in response to ordinarygirlPH
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Sep 28, 2014 10:41 PM in response to ordinarygirlPH

    I Checked last week and if you ordered online there would be approximately a 3-4 week wait for delivery (deliveries only in Japan). So you might get a small window of opportunity as everyone might have purchased their phones by that time. I remember for the original ipad launch you could occasionally walk into a store and wait in line for one despite the long waiting list online.

  • by charlestoni,

    charlestoni charlestoni Sep 29, 2014 3:35 AM in response to Gh05t_MBA
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Sep 29, 2014 3:35 AM in response to Gh05t_MBA

    Physical apple stores in Japan are out of stock of Iphone 6 and Iphone 6 Plus??

  • by Zapies,

    Zapies Zapies Sep 29, 2014 8:57 AM in response to carl wolf
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Sep 29, 2014 8:57 AM in response to carl wolf

    Is that so? Can you be more specific on what's the different between SIM Free and Unlocked?

    In my knowledge, unlocked phone also means SIM Free, and from your post here, sounds like SIM Free does not necessary means its unlocked?

    Cause people bought the SIM Free version and use them back in their home country.

  • by Ramuk69,

    Ramuk69 Ramuk69 Oct 1, 2014 10:43 PM in response to lucnoken
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Oct 1, 2014 10:43 PM in response to lucnoken

    I am not sure if this will be of help, but here goes, I purchased a iPhone 6 in Tokyo on Sunday 28, SIM free (Unlocked) my UK SIM worked there and is working fine now I am back in the UK. I had to pre-book online the the day before, and collected it from the Shibuya store. At the time not all configurations were available, but this may have changed by now.

     

    It was confirmed in the store by staff that it would work in other countries, with the caveat about 4G LTE and providers. I saved about £200.00.

  • by Alfred DeRose,

    Alfred DeRose Alfred DeRose Oct 1, 2014 11:41 PM in response to scott kenedy
    Level 5 (7,165 points)
    Mac OS X
    Oct 1, 2014 11:41 PM in response to scott kenedy

    Surprisingly, Ebay has published a great article explaining the difference between sim-free and unlocked phones:

     

    http://www.ebay.com/gds/What-Are-the-Differences-Between-Unlocked-and-SIM-Free-M obiles-and-Smartphones-/10000000177589819/g.html

     

    In particular, read this:

     

    Network Restrictions on SIM Free Mobiles and Smartphones

    Unlike unlocked phones that can be used on any network, SIM free phones may still be tied to a particular network. This is a vital point, and one that sometimes needs reiterating, as many customers believe that SIM free automatically means the phone can be used on any network. It is important to read the small print and check that using the phone is not dependent upon using a specific SIM card, even when the card is not included. Often this is not the case, though, and the phone can be used on any network and with various types of SIM card, including both contract and pay-as-you-go SIM cards. Indeed, it is becoming more common for networks to offer SIM card only contracts, in which only the SIM card and the contract is provided by the network, while the customer provides their own handset. The attraction here, possibly besides price, is that there are fewer restrictions on the way in which the phone is used. There are some instances when a SIM free phone will not be compatible with any SIM card.

     

    Buying a Sim-free iPhone is risky at best for the following reasons:

     

    • Your warranty on an iPhone is good only in the country of purchase, so if you are looking to purchase a sim-free phone and use it elsewhere, you will need to return it to the country of purchase for warranty replacement or repair.
    • It may not work at all. Sometimes a foreign SIM may work in the device while only restricting other carriers in the same country. Sometimes it may be locked to only a single carrier. You may not know until you try it.
    • With a sim-free iPhone locked to a carrier or subset of carriers, you will severely limit your ability to resell the iPhone when the time comes to do so. Though some carriers allow unlocking once you fulfill your contractual obligations, some do not. I've read Japan is one of those markets that do not.
  • by ordinarygirlPH,

    ordinarygirlPH ordinarygirlPH Oct 2, 2014 12:30 AM in response to Ramuk69
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Oct 2, 2014 12:30 AM in response to Ramuk69

    would you happen to still have the website? i have not seen any option on the Apple online store Japan

  • by Gh05t_MBA,

    Gh05t_MBA Gh05t_MBA Oct 2, 2014 2:21 AM in response to Alfred DeRose
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Oct 2, 2014 2:21 AM in response to Alfred DeRose

    For once and for all:

     

    This is from the Apple Store website for Japan and I've translated the relevant parts with google translate:

     

    SIMフリーのiPhoneについてさらに詳しく = Learn more about the iPhone SIM Free

     

    and once you click on the above link it will expand to explain:

     

    SIMフリーのiPhoneについて

    SIMフリーのiPhoneにはiPhoneのすべての機能が搭載されていますが、ワイヤレス契約義務はありません。NTTドコモ、KDDI、ソフトバンクなどの対応する ワイヤレスネットワークの通信事業者からお好きな事業者を選び、iPhoneをアクティベートして使用することができます。SIMが利用できるかどうか、およびSIMの詳 細については、利用する通信事業者にお問い合わせください。SIMフリーのiPhone 6とiPhone 6 Plusは、一部の国では4G LTEネットワークに対応しない場合があります。詳しくは通信事業者にお問い合わせください。

    複数年のサービス契約を結びたくない場合や、海外で地元の通信事業者を使いたい場合は、SIMフリーのiPhoneを選ぶことをおすすめします。SIMフリーのiPhon e 6とiPhone 6 Plusにはnano-SIMカードが付属していないため、対応する各国の通信事業者からカードを入手してください。このカードをiPhoneのスロットに差し込み、電 源を入れたら、スクリーン上の表示に従って設定してください。これでiPhoneを使い始めることができます。

     

    Which is this:

     

    For iPhone SIM Free

    All the features of the iPhone is equipped with the iPhone SIM Free , but there is no wireless contractual obligations . You can select your favorite businesses from telecom operators of wireless network corresponding NTT DoCoMo , KDDI, such as Softbank , and use it to activate the iPhone. For more information about SIM SIM and whether it is available , please contact your wireless service provider to use . The 6 Plus iPhone and iPhone 6 of SIM free , there are times when it does not correspond to the 4G LTE network in some countries . Please contact your wireless service provider for details.

    If you do not want the service signed multi-year agreements , if you want to use the communication operators of local overseas , it is recommended that you choose the iPhone SIM Free . Since the nano-SIM card is not included with the 6 Plus iPhone and iPhone 6 of SIM free , please obtain a card from the telecom operators of the corresponding countries . Is inserted into the slot of the iPhone this card , if you turn on the power , please set according to the display on the screen . You can start using the iPhone in this

     

    The only thing that's missing is whether your country has the corresponding frequencies for use.  That bit you can find out by searching the specs of the phone yourself.

     

    Please note that the text goes so far as to say "The 6 Plus iPhone and iPhone 6 of SIM free , there are times when it does not correspond to the 4G LTE network in some countries" and that would denote that it can in fact be used outside of Japan.

     

     

    With all this information I'm not sure why there's still a debate on IF the phone is unlocked or not... You can buy an unlocked iphone 6 in Japan.

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