iPhone 4S locked by SoftBank Japan

As in the US, there is no law in Japan that requires carriers to unlock phones. The phones are sold as carrier locked, it is up to the carrier whether they will or not. Apple has no say in the matter. I don't think the law will do anything for you. You got exactly what you paid for. An iPhone that did not require you to commit to a term contract commitment.

Sell it to someone in Japan who can use it.

ABPostelnicu wrote:

How come is this posible, i've bought the phone with NO CONTRACT, the ones with contract where 50-70% cheaper

No Contract and Unlocked are NOT the same. Most carriers in the U.S. subsidize the price of phones in return for the customer agreeing to sign a (usually) 2 year contract. Without signing a contract, it's stil possible to get the phone and the service but the price of the phone is not subsidized. Some carriers will unlock phones at the end of a contract. Some will sell unlocked phones outright. However, in the U.S., AT&T, which will unlock other phones at the end of contracts, will not unlock iPhones. Sounds as if Softbank has the same type of policy. There is nothing Apple can do as unlocking is purely at the discretion of the carrier. You could try contacting the manager of the store where you purchased it but, beyond that, I don't think you've much recourse. Sorry.

All iPhones sold in Japan are sold as carrier locked with NO WAY to get them officially unlocked. None of the Japanese carriers will unlock an iPhone for anyone for any reason. You were either lied to or you misunderstood what was told to you. Your options are not good as you will not be able to use that phone where you live.

ABPostelnicu wrote:

hello Meg St._Clair offtopic do you have a russian blue cat 🙂 My girlfriend has one and they are lovely.

She's actually a Chartreux. 🙂

BUT i would have expected to be unlocked at the end of the contract since that PHONE is MY PROPERTY. It is a pitty that i din't buy the phone from an EU ( Europe United ) country this would have been sorted out much easier 😟.

Unfortunately, not all companies or coutries are required to unlock phones, even at the end of contracts. And your English is fine.

Because you purchased the phone in Japan, Romanian (or EU) consumer protections do not apply. If Japan does not have any laws that require that carriers unlock phones, then there's not much you can do. Apple cannot unlock your phone. Unlocking phones is at the discretion of the carrier.

Apple cannot do anything for you, their agreement with cell phone providers prohibits them from unlocking phones at their own discretion or from direct requests from users. It is not a technical issue it is a legal issue. Also you have misunderstood what no contract means in your purchase, it does not guarantee you can use it with other systems, it means you can use it with Softbank.

If I were you I would instruct your attorney to stick with your claim that you were told it was an unlocked iPhone and ask that your money be refunded and then return the iPhone to Softbank. Or some portion of your purchase price less the time you used it in Japan. You will not win if you insist that Softbank unlock your iPhone.

I don't know what attorneys cost in Romania but it seems to me that instead of paying an attorney's fees, long distance calls to Japan and other related expenses, you could have sold the phone to someone who's traveling to Japan, purchased another one in the EU and still have paid less.

The purchase was made in Japan. Japanese law is what it's governed by. You're wasting your energy trying to fight it. Consider it a lesson learned and move on.

You're trying to push water uphill, good luck with that.

I find out that SOFTBANK is cheating many foreigners the same way .I also purchased my Iphone from softbank but they refused me to unlock it . They told it is the policy of every japanese company . If you purchase from docomo or au they also give you the locked one and so you are forced to use the services of that particuler carrier only .I think its ridiculeous .But I am trying to find a way out from this .Is this really legel in Japan ?or the cell phone companies cheating only foreigners .

They're not cheating anyone. That's their policy. It's stated clearly. Lots of carriers operate that way. There is no law requiring them to ulock phones at all. Not just iPhones, any phones.