Now that Apple is selling unlocked iPhones...

Look, no one lied to you. It's the carrier who is requesting the phone be locked to their network. Not the manufacturer. Apple had an agreement with AT&T such that AT&T would be the excusive provider from such and such a date until such and such a date. That meant that during that time period, Apple could only sell iPhones that were locked to the AT&T network (in the US). Apple did so. It's up the the carrier who requested the phone be locked to their network to agree to unlock it. They (the carrier) and only they, can legally permit the phone to be unlocked...not even Apple had (or still has) a legal right to unlock US iPhones. If they did so, AT&T would have had a HUGE civil suit against Apple. What's the point of locking a phone to a carrier if the manufacturer is selling unlocked versions? Apple was contractually bound from day one until the end of the exclusivity agreement to make all iPhones sold in the US locked to the AT&T network. Get it? The definition of exclusive means that there's only one source (in this case... source of cellular carrier services). Most carriers (including AT&T) will generally unlock a phone after it's out of subsidy (paid for in full). The carrier is not bound to do so, but generally does. In the case of the iPhone, AT&T has said, from day one (including the day you bought your phone) that they will not ever, under any circumstance, ever permit AT&T locked iPhones to be unlocked. Period, end of sentence. Is it unfair? Sure, I think so. I think that a paid for (unsubsidized or out of subsidy) phone should be allowed by law, and the carrier legally bound, to unlock the phone from the network upon request. The entire point behind locked phones is because carriers subsidy the purchase. In other words, they sell you a $500 phone for $200 bucks in return for your agreement to maintain service (at a fixed, contractual rate) with the carrier through the subsidy period (typically 2 years). This permits the carrier to recover the $250 difference (the carrier pays around $450 for a $500 iPhone). Once that agreement has been fulfilled, there's really no reason for the carrier to keep the phone locked to their network, and should be required by law to provide the unlock sequence to the customer. ...but that's not how it is... live with it, write your congressman, whatever, but quit saying you were lied to, because you were not. If you were concerned about being able to unlock your phone, you should have inquired with AT&T before your purchase rather than assuming they would do so once the exclusivity agreement ended. In the end... YOUR LACK OF DUE DILLIGENCE DOES NOT EQUATE TO BEING LIED TO.

Thank you Allan Sampson for your history lesson. I believe you and also John Laury did not fully understand the my original comment. When I mentioned that Apple lied to us I was referring to Salentojeff's post that mentioned that Apple did not have the power to unlock iPhones. But since the both of you are "uninformed and/or clueless" you would not understand what I meant. Go back and read it his post.

I have spoken with both Apple and AT&T over the phone and each has pointed the finger that that only the other one has the power to unlock the iphone. This is obviously not true. As Salentojeff mentioned in his post and which is now being reported:

http://9to5mac.com/2011/06/26/apple-stores-now-capable-of-unlocking-full-price-a tt-iphones-at-checkout/

http://www.slashgear.com/apple-unlocking-att-iphone-4-handsets-to-sell-contract- free-26161423/

Julian Wright do you still think Apple cannot unlock iPhones without the approval of AT&T?

So to sum up my original point, I purchased my iPhone outright (full price unsubsidized by the carrier) I would hope that an option should be given to me to have my phone unlocked. But as of now that option has not been given to me. I see that John Laury also agrees: "Sure, I think so. I think that a paid for (unsubsidized or out of subsidy) phone should be allowed by law, and the carrier legally bound, to unlock the phone from the network upon request."

I believe that if I purchased something with my hard earned cash it is mine to do as I please. When I bought my car I was not given any fine print with it that says I can only put from one type of gas station or use one brand of oil. Perhaps you all are happy not having a choice? Not me last time I checked I still live in the United States

Oh and Allan Sampson exclusivity with the iPhone ended when Verizon began carrying the phone. So hopefully AT&T will change there policies soon. I hope so which is why I'm being patient.

"Get it?"

Apple technologically speaking could always unlock any iPhone. Under their agreement with various cell provider ( and this is tru for all cell phone manufacturers) they will not unlock one unless the cell provider that it was locked with makes such a request.

As far as Apple unlocking an AT&T iPhone if they need an unlocked one, that phone has never been placed in service or authorized by AT&T. All Apple needs to do is reimburse AT&T for the cost of the iPhone and return the microSIM to them. Or wait until another shipment comes in and replace that AT&T with an unlocked phone (that they would then lock to AT&T) and place the microSIM in it.

There is no conspiracy here, or lies, or anything.

Are we arguing syntax? Did you not fully understand my post?? Of course Apple has the capability to unlock any iPhone anytime, anywhere. They invented the thing, including the subsidy locking system used, which, of course means they have the technical capacity to unlock any iPhone any time. The thing is legality. They were under an agreement with AT&T which prohibited them from unlocking the phone. Who specifically did you speak to??? Store reps? Customer care reps? Both parties are fairly clueless (and I'm a customer care rep, so trust me, I know). They train their employees to never appear to not know the correct answer to something weather they know it or not. This is not to obfuscate or lie to consumers, it's to keep consumers from escalating a call to a supervisor, who, in many cases (but less so), are just as clueless. Combine that with the fact that most reps have a "job" and not a "career". In other words, they're not well versed in anything dealing with cell phones. They look up procedures and policies for everything, that's what they're trained to do. You can call 611 and ask 5 different reps the same question and get 5 different answers... all spoken with the same conviction. That's why AT&T reps point the finger at Apple and vice versa. The reality is that they don't know the truth. The truth being, AT&T refuses to allow AT&T locked iPhones to be unlocked, and, if you looked in the right places (the contracts, and terms of service and such which are available on the web, and written by laywers). That's where the truth lies. Store reps are salesmen who will say the sky is green if you'll sign on the dotted line, and customer care reps are just bots trained to find procedures & policies to fix billing & handset issues (primarily). When you come out of left field with a question that there's no policy or procedure telling them what to say or do, they just confidently tell you what they think. It's up to you, the consumer to do the proper research and never depend on what a salesman or care rep says.

You are most welcome.

I fully understand your original comment which is still hogwash.

Once again which has been provided several times, Apple cannot unlock an iPhone that was sold as carrier locked with AT&T unless requested by AT&T - for those with reading comprehension problems I'll repeat - Apple cannot unlock an iPhone that was sold as carrier locked with AT&T unless requested by AT&T, or that was sold as carrier locked with ANY carrier unless requested by the carrier. Only the carrier an iPhone was sold as carrier locked with can initiate the unlocking of the iPhone.

So to sum up my original point, I purchased my iPhone outright (full price unsubsidized by the carrier) I would hope that an option should be given to me to have my phone unlocked. But as of now that option has not been given to me.

You purchased an iPhone at AT&T's no-contract or full retail sales price, which Apple cannot unlock without an unlock request initiated by AT&T for the iPhone. AT&T does not unlock an iPHone for any reason or under any circumstances.

I believe that if I purchased something with my hard earned cash it is mine to do as I please.

Not with a phone purchased as carrier locked unless the carrier is willing to unlock the phone.

When I bought my car I was not given any fine print with it that says I can only put from one type of gas station or use one brand of oil.

One **** poor analogy.

Perhaps you all are happy not having a choice? Not me last time I checked I still live in the United States

Was the iPhone the first cell phone you purchased? Sure sounds like it, since this has been the same with all carriers and all cell phones sold in the U.S. long before the iPhone became available. As already provided, AT&T will unlock some phones that were subsidized by AT&T during the contract period or after the contract has been fulfilled and the same for some phones purchased at AT&T's no-contract price, but not for all phones sold as carrier locked with AT&T, which is up to AT&T and AT&T only. AT&T does not unlock an iPhone for any reason or under any circumstances. It isn't a question about what anyone is happy about, it is a question about facts and law. There is no law in the U.S. that requires AT&T to unlock any phone sold as carrier locked with AT&T, and the same for cell phone manufacturers.

Oh and Allan Sampson exclusivity with the iPhone ended when Verizon began carrying the phone.

It ended before that which changes absolutely nothing in this regard.

So hopefully AT&T will change there policies soon. I hope so which is why I'm being patient.

AT&T might, but there is no motivation or U.S. law that requires AT&T to do so.

"GET IT?"

Thanks Allan. But yet again you fail to read and understand. Perhaps you should start over and READ my posts again.

You must also believe in the Tooth Fairy and Santa Clause as well. Goodluck to you.

OMG, give it up already, Luis.

Bottom line is it doesn't matter if you're right, Allan's right (which he is), or the late Osama Bin Laden is right. You can't unlock your AT&T iPhone at this time. Period. It's over. Move on.

hey guys, stop fighting over nothing...apple is now selling UNLOCKED iphone in the USA.

So don't you think that all we need to do is prove to apple that our iphones are already ours and no contract with AT&T and we should be able to purchase the unlock...we don't have to talk legality here just common sense.

No rules are being broken anymore, we paid our dues, we paid $299 plus monthly $100 for 2 years, now that our contract is done...don't you think that is enough for the apple to unlock it...why should we talk to AT&T...they don't unlock them?

Erwin,

Do you even read before posting or are you really that dense? Have you read this thread or the answers to the other threads you've posted in?

APPLE WILL NOT UNLOCK YOUR PHONE.

Wow, all the lengthy posts here and you apparently can't read any of them.

There is an agreement in place between Apple & AT&T that Apple will not unlock any AT&T iPhones without a request from AT&T. This is not particularly different other expensive smartphones. There is no law requiring AT&T to grant permission to unlock the iPhone.

So there is no "proof", you can give to Apple and the agreement is between Apple and AT&T. That you have completed your contract has nothing to do with it. And it is this "legality" that controls it.

The fact that Apple now sells unlocked phones has no bearing on your phone or mine. If you want an unlocked phone order one from Apple.

i maybe dense i have to admit only because i thought apple would be reading this since all heading on top looks like it is an official apple site but as far as my question, then you too are dense...APPLE CAN UNLOCK YOUR PHONE... are you apple to be dead sure that they won't?

i was one of the lucky one who signed up early enough at www.cutyoursim.com when they offered unlock for $176...there were only a little over a thousand who was able to slipped by before apple closed it. all we did was submit our imei # and we paid $176, within two days, they were able to register my number at apple data base and i am now forever unlocked...all i needed to do when they sent me an email was update via itunes and it immediately pop up " congratulation, you have been unlocked"

with that said, my post was to ask apple to let us in since we are willing to pay anyway instead of risking our money on someone, why not officially do it since their contract with at&t expired already and the proof on that is the fact that they are now selling unlocked phones here in the states. .if you have been reading and you are who you thought you were, you will be informed that the site was recommended by musclenerd and if you don't know him then you really ought to read some more before you accuse someone of being dense.

please go to the website, maybe you will learn more.

Julian Wright do you still think Apple cannot unlock iPhones without the approval of AT&T?

In the examples you posted, Apple don't need to get the approval of AT&T because the phone is unlocked before it has even been sold. That process is simply to give the store more stock if they run out.

If the phone is sold as a locked AT&T iPhone Apple cannot unlock it without the authority of AT&T.

why not officially do it since their contract with at&t expired already and the proof on that is the fact that they are now selling unlocked phones here in the states.

Yes, Apple's contract terms with AT&T may have changed which now allows them to sell pre-unlocked iPhones.

However, that does not mean every AT&T customers' contract terms have changed, and does not suddenly give Apple the right to unlock an AT&T customers iPhone without AT&T say so. If AT&T did allow unlocking, they would first have to check that the customer has fulfilled all their contractual obligations before giving Apple permission to unlock the phone.

On every network, in every country and every phone, it is the phone network that dictates whether a SIM lock can be removed or not - NOT the phone manufacturer. Apple does not own the networks, so has no legal right to remove the locks for that network. Yes, technically Apple can do it, or through un-official methods, but due to contract terms between the phone manufacturer and phone network it can't be done legally without authority from the phone network.

Would it be legal for the manufacturer of your apartments doors and windows to remove all the locks on them without your (or more accurately your landlord's) permission?

Apple "lied" to you... wah..... and you visit Apple's website for technical support to whine about not being able to get your iPhone officially unlocked and what you think you should be entitled to. What a joke. I understand your type just fine.

Best of luck with your "hoping" that ATT will change their position and decide to unlock your iPhone. The tooth fairy and santa claus - you got it.

Here is a little tip for the not too bright. Sell your carrier locked iPhone and use the proceeds to purchase an unlocked iPhone. Instead of whining about it and "hoping" for an unlock by ATT, you can actually do something about it now.

No, you aren't dense, you just can't read. The Terms of Use makes it very clear this is a peer-to-peer site. And you don't have to shout, no one her has said Apple technology-wise cannot unlock AT&T phones, we have just said legally they cannot do so without a request from AT&T, who currently won't do this.

What you did was pay a lot of money to illegally unlock you iPhone. Congratulations, you have posted on a public forum that you are basically a thief. Don't know which iPhone you have but you could probably sell it for at least that and buy the legally unlocked iPhone.