how to check is iphone4 locked?

You can't check if the iPhone 4 is locked without inserting different network SIMs in it and finding out which it works with.

The model number is not an indicator of whether the iPhone is locked or not.

GoodManTheLalTain wrote:
hi,
had purchused an iphone4 from canada by checking on one of the site that some set of model number (MC603C/A - 16GB Black) mentioned can be used with any carrier. the same i carried to india and now trying to used with vodafone but on inserting the SIM the phone is not working and the error which shows is "No Service"

details Version : 4.1 / Firmware 02.10.04

Did you purchase the phone through Canada apple online store? Or did you buy it in store? I believe that if you buy the iphone 4 through the online store in Canada that it comes as factory unlocked iphone.

Julians's advice is correct, but won't distinguish an officially unlocked phone from one that's been hacked. First, update it to the latest firmware, 4.2.1. A hacked phone will re-lock to its original carrier or get bricked.

I don't get it...we get posts almost every day from folks in India, just like you... buying iPhones in the US, Canada...trying to save a buck...virtually all of these phones are carrier locked with no way to officially unlock them...why don't you just purchase a phone where you live...you know its gonna work & your warranty will be valid where you live...must be thousands of these phones stuck in drawers all over India with no way to make them work where you live.

Sounds like the iPhone is locked to a carrier.

If the iPhone 4 was purchased directly from Apple at full price (ie the Apple Store, or online via the Apple Store) then the iPhone will be unlocked. Buying an iPhone from a carrier or a carrier's store will result in you buying a locked iPhone. It doesn't matter if the iPhone was purchased at full price or not, but a phone purchased from a carrier will be locked to that carrier.

What is happening, is that many people are getting iPhone 4's from carriers at a discounted price and then hacking them to unlock them. From there they stick the up online for sale for less than retail price and selling then as unlocked. There is no way to know if a used iPhone is hack to be unlocked or if it is a legit unlocked iPhone 4 purchased directly from Apple.

If you do need an unlocked iPhone you can purchase them in Canada, however the only way to ensure that it is unlocked is to purchase it at full price directly from Apple in person at an Apple Store. Purchasing them online requires a Canadian address to ship the iPhone to.

Agreed, but unfortunately the carriers have not brought the iphone 4 to India yet. I'm in the same position, my iphone 3G has died on me and need to replace but there is no sign of when / if the carriers are bringing the 4 to India. Price is not that big of an issue, am willing to pay for a full price, non-subsidized official iphone 4.... alas nothing is available. May just have to cave in and go with an Android phone

Step 1 : Get a sim from a friend who uses non ATT network.
Step 2: insert sim and try
Step 3. Loop

-
Taran

unfortunately the carriers have not brought the iphone 4 to India yet.

That's odd. Apple shows 2 official iPhone carriers in India - Airtel and Vodafone - which have been listed for some time.

Like many locations, they sell only carrier locked phones and don't offer unlocking, just as in the USA.

http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1937?viewlocale=en_US

Message was edited by: modular747

Apple shows 2 official iPhone carriers in India - Airtel and Vodafone - which have been listed for some time.

Yeah, but Apple hasn't launched the iPhone 4 there yet. iPhone 3GS is still the most recent iPhone model you can buy officially in India.

Hey even i have a factory unlocked iphone 4 and m using it just fine in india. From what you have written, it looks like, if your phone is actually unlocked, that your phone is not activated. You have to connect it to the itunes and create an apple id( if you already dont have one) and then activate it. Once activated with that particular simcard, it should work just fine.

Let me know if that works.