Looks like no one’s replied in a while. To start the conversation again, simply ask a new question.

I need to unlock my iPhone 4S Desperately !

LONG story short, I need to unlock my iPhone 4S to work on T-Mobile USA, i bought the iPhone from sprint through my cousins number, then swapped the number back to his old phone, and i kept the iPhone, I tried to call sprint alot to unlock it for me, they sent in requests for unlock, but I never got the ''Congratulations, Your iPhone is now unlocked'' screen on iTunes, I think its because I lost the International Sprint SIM Card that was in there, now before you comment back and tell me im stupid and that the Sprint unlock only works for international, I CONFIRMED with Apple, that if Sprint actually sends in a Unlock Request and I unlock the iPhone through iTunes, the iPhone will indeed work on T-Mobile USA or any other GSM carrier in the world! By the way when sprint was sending unlock requests , my cousins number that the iPhone was purchased on, was active on the line, But I did lose the White Sprint SIM Card thing. So I don't know if that is affecting it, I really need to unlock it, I don't think going to an Apple store in the US and paying a fee can get it unlocked, But my brother lives in Cairo,Egypt, and I heard Apple Stores over there are kind of less strict with the iPhone Unlocking and maybe they could do it remotely if I give my IMEI and Serial number to my brother, and I have a Cousin in Kuwait, he has a contract with viva kuwait, and had the iPhone 4, if he goes to an Apple store over there, would they unlock mines through iTunes ? I really need to unlock it, I will pay a fee if i have to, Please help ! thanks

iPhone 4S, iOS 5.0.1, Sprint 16GB Black

Posted on Dec 26, 2011 12:21 AM

Reply
10 replies

Dec 26, 2011 1:34 AM in response to MarioWWE

If you wanted an officially unlocked iPhone 4S, why in the world did you purchase a Sprint model? You do realize that this model iPhone can NEVER be officially unlocked. The unlocking of the GSM portion is just for International travel in order to use local sims. You still have to pay Sprint for the use of their international GSM partner’s network on a “pay as you go basis”.


The smartest thing you can do is return the phone for a refund, if still within the 30 day return window. Good luck.

Dec 26, 2011 1:37 AM in response to wjosten

But Sprint is the easiest to unlock, Verizon is harder and its also CDMA, and AT&T , no matter how hard you try, they are never going to unlock your iPhone, I bought this iPhone about 2 months ago, I don't think I can return it, and if its an ''international'' unlock , then I can pop in a sim card from outside the country right ? for example, MobiNil or Vodafone EG from Egypt, because they have absoulotely no connection with sprint

Dec 26, 2011 1:40 AM in response to MarioWWE

You need to do more research before you make purchases like this. You've wasted your money. The ONLY officially unlocked iPhone model sold in the US is the GSM model, and that model is only sold by Apple. That's the model iPhone you should have purchased.


Did you read & understand my initial post? Especially this part:


The unlocking of the GSM portion is just for International travel in order to use local sims. You still have to pay Sprint for the use of their international GSM partner’s network on a “pay as you go basis”.

Dec 26, 2011 2:07 AM in response to MarioWWE

Apple doesn't unlock iPhones, Apple only sells officially unlocked iPhones. Only the carrier an iPhone is locked to can authorize the phone's official unlocking. In the case of the US carriers, NONE offer official unlocking. What you're confused about is the GSM sim in the CDMA phones from both Sprint & Verizon. Yes, both carrier's will unlock the GSM side(designed for International Travel), but the phone itself can never be officially unlocked.

Apr 8, 2012 5:05 AM in response to wjosten

wjosten... you are so sadly mistaken. AT&T just sent a request to apple to unlock my iPhone today. Telling people that an unlock is not possible for a locked phone is not true. Apple controls the codes to the carrier locked phones and will only release them with valid justification. The best thing that apple customers can do is keep complaining about these types of issues as it has now forced AT&T to unlock it's customers who have accounts in good standing.

Apr 8, 2012 5:18 AM in response to Drakeshadow3

Drakeshadow3 wrote:


wjosten... you are so sadly mistaken. AT&T just sent a request to apple to unlock my iPhone today. Telling people that an unlock is not possible for a locked phone is not true.

I'm afraid you are incorrect. If you look at the date of wjosten post you will see it was posted in December 2011 and the information supplied was indeed correct at the time. Only today (Sunday 8th April 2012) have AT&T begun to take requests to officially unlock iPhones.

Apr 8, 2012 5:18 AM in response to Drakeshadow3

Drakeshadow3 wrote:


wjosten... you are so sadly mistaken. AT&T just sent a request to apple to unlock my iPhone today. Telling people that an unlock is not possible for a locked phone is not true.

Check the dates of the post. At the time wjosten wrote that, 12/26/11, ATT did NOT offer unlocking. They just started doing that today. It's important, when posting to threads that have been dormant for four months, that you remember things change over time.

I need to unlock my iPhone 4S Desperately !

Welcome to Apple Support Community
A forum where Apple customers help each other with their products. Get started with your Apple ID.