Level 1

0 points

I got a Sim Free 64GB Iphone 5 from Carphonewarehouse in UK n gifted the same to my Bro in law in India. He inserted the nano sim and can see the carrier and 3G symbol but the phone asks for activation. Its a SIM FREE phone, why cant he use it?

Hi,

Please help me with this as the phone is currently lying as a dead paperwieght with my brother in law. The phone, even though bought as SIM FREE, keeps asking for ACTIVATION!!!

Does it mean that I need to activate it with a SIM of one of the carriers that offers a contract and then I am free to use it with any SIM anywhere in the world?

Please assist in as much detail as you can.

Thanks.

iPhone 5, iOS 6, 64GB, SIM FREE

Posted on Oct 1, 2012 10:24 AM

25 replies

FelipeV

Level 6

12,077 points

Jan 20, 2013 7:32 PM in response to Shaps72

You are incorrect. Once the SIM free phone has been locked, it can only be unlocked by the carrier.

Feb 10, 2013 3:12 PM in response to Gandhir

I have absolutely the same problem and I even bought an iphone FROM APPLE store London Covent Garden which was paid 530 pound as SIM FREE but when I came back to my country and putted my local network sim it reuqired activation ! I dont even use O2 with that phone just GIFFGAFF for 10 days that is all.I am still trying to solve this problem with co-op of Apple and O2 If I have any process I will let you know my friend and please you do so.

deggie

Level 10

167,525 points

Feb 10, 2013 3:14 PM in response to Gokay AYdin

If you bought it from an Apple Store, unlocked, then you absolutely do not have the same problem.

Feb 10, 2013 3:25 PM in response to deggie

Maybe yes but the situation is same almost and I think this is not the problem like it is locked with the first sim encountered it is all because of shop clerk's fault by giving wrong phone which has IMEI number activate by only network it belongs.So do you have any idea about solution my friend ?

deggie

Level 10

167,525 points

Feb 10, 2013 3:27 PM in response to Gokay AYdin

No, it really isn't.

If you have changed providers it always requires activation with that cell provider. That is normal.

Feb 10, 2013 3:32 PM in response to deggie

but the problem is activation can not be done and I talked to apple through my friends who s in the UK currently and they accepted it and said it is locked by O2 so it is unable to work with my local network here in Turkey.This is the problem

deggie

Level 10

167,525 points

Feb 10, 2013 3:34 PM in response to Gokay AYdin

Check the receipt for this iPhone. If it shows to be locked to O2 and you specified unlocked then call the Apple Store to straighten it out.

Gandhir Author

Level 1

0 points

Feb 17, 2013 8:35 AM in response to Gandhir

Thanks to all who replied and tried to assist me..

I have finally found a simple solution to the whole Locking issue, inexpensive and has been working great for the past month.. before that my phone was a paperweight.. now its doing everything an iphone 5 is supposed to be doing..

the solution is RSIM 7+ .. works like a charm..

thank you RSIM team !!

FelipeV

Level 6

12,077 points

Feb 18, 2013 5:16 AM in response to Gandhir

R SIM is a hack/jail break. For future FYI you will not be able to get support for you phone in this forum.

wegras

Level 6

15,311 points

Feb 18, 2013 7:22 AM in response to FelipeV

OR from Apple and the warranty is now useless even in UK

This thread has been closed by the system or the community team. You may vote for any posts you find helpful, or search the Community for additional answers.

I got a Sim Free 64GB Iphone 5 from Carphonewarehouse in UK n gifted the same to my Bro in law in India. He inserted the nano sim and can see the carrier and 3G symbol but the phone asks for activation. Its a SIM FREE phone, why cant he use it?