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Level 1

9 points

iPhone 4S verizon unlocked for overseas use without roaming

I am planning to get a new iPhone 4S in the United States. I travel to India once every two years. I heard that Verizon would let it's subscribers unlock the iPhone 4S after 60 days with good standing. This would allow verizon subscribers to use a local micro-SIM number overseas to avoid Verizon roaming fees.

To confirm this, I recently spoke with one of the Verizon customer rep that handles the international dept. She confirmed that this is true. She said Verizon would unlock the iPhone 4S like I have heard and that the unlocked iPhone 4S from Verizon would work only in places like Europe where there are only GSM carriers. In country like India, where there are CDMA and GSM carriers, the unlocked iPhone 4S with it's current software capability would identify the CDMA carriers first and would ignore the GSM carriers. And thus the unlock becomes useless there and I would end up roaming with my Verizon number instead of the local SIM number there.

Any one heard of this?

iPhone 4S-OTHER, iOS 5, iPhone 4S Verizon

Posted on Oct 26, 2011 3:00 PM

189 replies

Ridash

Level 1

0 points

Mar 30, 2012 2:08 AM in response to Chennaivaasi

Hello, I am facing the same problem but mine is an Iphone 4 and moreover I don't see any slot to insert a sim card. Can you help me out please. I have moved to India after a stint in US.

KiltedTim

Level 10

195,747 points

Mar 30, 2012 4:39 AM in response to Ridash

The Verizon iPhone 4 is CDMA ONLY. There is no SIM slot. It will not function on any service other than Verizon. And before you bother, no, jailbreaking / hacking will not help you. You can't physically connect it to a GSM network at all.

Chennaivaasi Author

Level 1

9 points

Mar 30, 2012 7:03 AM in response to Ridash

Ridash, this topic is for iPhone 4S Verizon only. iPhone 4 for Verizon is not a world phone. Also, as KiltedTim replied, it does not have a SIM slot to use GSM.

iPhone 4 for AT&T on the other has a SIM slot and it uses GSM.

KiltedTim

Level 10

195,747 points

Mar 30, 2012 7:45 AM in response to Chennaivaasi

It should be noted that an iPhone locked to AT&T can NOT be unlocked. AT&T does not unlock iPhones under any circumstances.

chakky99

Level 1

0 points

Apr 3, 2012 3:51 PM in response to junglekingmowgli

I am going to buy a 10 days old Verizon iPhone 4S from craigslist... I assume that the seller will be deactivating his connection before giving it to me...

Question is - if I take that phone to India without JB or Unlocking will it work on GSM networks..?

I know that people are calling after 60 days to unlock. What is that 'Unlock'? Is that for GSM or CDMA? Isnt the phone already unlocked to use on international GSM networks?

I bought a Verizon iPhone 4 on Craigslist last year and my brother was able to activate in Reliance (CDMA) without any issues.. Worst case, can't I do that with this 4S?

KiltedTim

Level 10

195,747 points

Apr 3, 2012 4:07 PM in response to chakky99

No. It will not work on any network other than Verizon. If you buy it, you will be throwing your money down the toilet.

Apr 3, 2012 6:27 PM in response to KiltedTim

If you got the last update you can go to settings - general - network - roaming - and there is a choice for international cdma and if u turn this off when u travel internationally it wont roam on verizons cdma partners and will just connect to the gsm network of the sim u put in

Apr 3, 2012 6:42 PM in response to nicholasthegeek

nicholasthegeek wrote:

If you got the last update you can go to settings - general - network - roaming - and there is a choice for international cdma and if u turn this off when u travel internationally it wont roam on verizons cdma partners and will just connect to the gsm network of the sim u put in

This is only true if you've had Verizon unlock it for you. In order for them to unlock it, you need to be one of their customers.

KiltedTim

Level 10

195,747 points

Apr 3, 2012 6:50 PM in response to IdrisSeabright

Don't know if you can confirm this, Meg, but my understanding is that even if this is done, if Verizon service is terminated on the phone, they will remove the lock. If it is ever plugged back into iTunes, the SIM slot will be re-locked and will only work with a Verizon roaming-SIM.

Apr 3, 2012 7:06 PM in response to KiltedTim

I have not been able to confirm that but it seems reasonable and I'm sticking with it as the most conservative answer. I'll be talking to Verizon's global support team soon to get my iPhone unlocked for international travel. I don't know if I'll be able to get the answer from them but I plan on trying.

chakky99

Level 1

0 points

Apr 4, 2012 5:03 PM in response to KiltedTim

Looks like Gevey sim has been released for Verizon 4S running 5.1.. But it needs to JB before.. So, I could make it work that way ?? !!

KiltedTim

Level 10

195,747 points

Apr 4, 2012 5:25 PM in response to chakky99

The Gevey SIM is illegal in every country on the planet.

Odogxb

Level 1

0 points

May 25, 2012 12:25 AM in response to Chennaivaasi

Thanks for this Topic it was Helpful, So after having the phone unlock do i need to plug it into itunes in the states on my main computer too confrim with apple its unlocked, I seen on a few sites for Sprint 4s that they are claming u have to do this, is it the same for Verizon or just the unbricking after installing international sim card ?

Thanks

Odogxb

Level 1

0 points

May 25, 2012 12:33 AM in response to junglekingmowgli

Did u hit *228 before leaving the country ? Did u turn off your network and data when u left and left it off until u installed International sim card ? The Verizon Rep told me to do this do I need too ? Did u see any charges on your bill if u did not turn any of this off ?

Thanks

May 25, 2012 6:48 AM in response to Odogxb

I'm going to clear this up for everyone--

Once an iPhone has been unlocked by the carrier, that specific devie is unlocked forever. It will not be locked again when you connect it back to iTunes.

No you do not have to hit *228.

I did not turn off my network data. I used 2g and 3g services in India. I also used it as a hot spot. There were no extra charges at all. But, I had frozen my accoutn when I travelled. There was no reason to pay for data and voice in USA when I was travelling for 3-4 weeks. Saves alot of money. This can be done on the verizon website.

No you do not need to check if its unlocked. Once the global team verifies it is unlocked, it will be. You only need to unbrick once you enter a foreign sim into the phone.

I have already provided detail instruction and directions based on my experience.

The iphone will default to the carrier of the foreign sim or its partners. I used Airtel in India, it defaulted to O2 Orange in Swtizerland, an then T-mobile in USA. I put my verizon sim back in USA, carrier defaulted to Verizon and I was able to continue my service.

I have no experience with Sprint phones. This is a Verizon iPhone 4s thread only.

iPhone 4S verizon unlocked for overseas use without roaming