Unlocked German iPhone not working

"....Could you provide a link to anything in the EU charter that says ALL countries in the EU must sell globally unlocked phones?..."

Blah blah EU charter. French law and commercial precedent is clear on this subject, it is not some mystery. Every day in France Orange sell thousands of SIM unlocked phones. 100% of these phones are unlocked and once unlocked adhere to the GSM standard of interoperating with ANY valid GSM SIM card.

I have no idea why you quote some mythical EU charter. The EU has laws, specific laws. France has additional laws to protect the rights of consumers.

In France I can buy a radio. If I take this radio to germany and it ceases to function, french law offer me protection because as described ("radio") the item must work anywhere one might reasonably expect to use a radio.

In France I can buy a phone. I can additionally pay or in other circumstance ask for an unlock of any SIM lock. I can then take this phone anywhere a country has a GSM network and where they use GSM SIMs and have a reasonable expectation that the phone will work with any GSM SIM.

This happens THOUSANDS of times a day all over Europe. People go from one country to another with radios, phones, cars etc which work as expected in a new country.

French law cannot deny any EU citizen the right to buy any item in France, including an iphone. French law mandates a phone must be SIM unlocked under either a period of time or upon a payment. French law does not quibble or state that this SIM unlock actually be a network lock while maintaining a country lock. The law is clear - it orders SIM unlock.

Kevin Brown2 wrote:
I have no idea why you quote some mythical EU charter. The EU has laws, specific laws. France has additional laws to protect the rights of consumers.

Such laws can only protect french consumers or vistors in France.

In France I can buy a radio. If I take this radio to germany and it ceases to function, french law offer me protection because as described ("radio") the item must work anywhere one might reasonably expect to use a radio.

Really? So if you take it to a country that uses a different volatage and amperage power system and plug it in sans adaptor your covered?

In France I can buy a phone. I can additionally pay or in other circumstance ask for an unlock of any SIM lock. I can then take this phone anywhere a country has a GSM network and where they use GSM SIMs and have a reasonable expectation that the phone will work with any GSM SIM.

Cite that law or stop quoting it.

This happens THOUSANDS of times a day all over Europe. People go from one country to another with radios, phones, cars etc which work as expected in a new country.

Common practice does not make law.

French law cannot deny any EU citizen the right to buy any item in France, including an iphone. French law mandates a phone must be SIM unlocked under either a period of time or upon a payment. French law does not quibble or state that this SIM unlock actually be a network lock while maintaining a country lock. The law is clear - it orders SIM unlock.

France can only enforce laws in france, as I have said many times. Your ignorance of this fact amuses me.

".....You seem to have no realization of what the laws of an autonomous nation can control......"

Blah blah. I quote facts. Yes it is. No it isn't. Any nation and it;s courts have laws control trade descriptions and consumer rights. France has a clear cut law mandating SIM unlocking.

I have in my house 3 phone bought with no SIM lock from Orange which work with any SIM in the world.

A GSM phone coupled with a SIM unlock is a specific item well understood as a concept under French law. It is early days yet, but if Orange and Apple not fix the issue IN FRANCE, there will be court proceeding.

Tell me more about the color red.

"....GSM phones are not required to be unlocked in many countries. ...."

But the GSM spec is VERY clear. All GSM phones must be capable of interoperating with any GSM SIM card. Apple know this. I know this. Orange know this. Locked or unlocked, it is still a GSM phone and once the lock is removed it MUST by definition be capable of using ANY GSM SIM card.

You refuse to believe this? I cannot educate you to a standard today that allows you to comprehend these simple principles.

In France, the iphone MUST be offered with an option with no contract and a SIM unlock.

What does SIM unlock mean? Not locked to any particular SIM. French law makes no mention of Bouyges or SFR or Orange. It mandates clearly a SIM unlock. French law does not mention an unlock limited to French Borders. This conversation is astounding in terms of human capability to avoid reality.