AT&T iPhone 4 unlock without the original AT&T sim: possible?

Question

Level 1

0 points

AT&T iPhone 4 unlock without the original AT&T sim: possible?

Hi,

I have an AT&T iPhone 4 that is eligible to unlock via the code they send you via email. However, my iPhone does not have the AT&T sim card it was originally equipped with, no will I be able to get it back. I already restored the phone (via the phone's "reset all settings and content" option in the settings app) and now I'm running into a problem where I can't get past the activation screen in the iPhone set up with (or without) my new European sim card. I'm worried that the AT&T unlock will now become impossible.

The phone was never hacked, previously unlocked or jailbroken.

Does anyone have any experience with a problem like this?

Please, any help will be tremendously appreciated.

Thank you.

iPhone 4, iOS 6.0.1, Never jailbroken or unlocked

Posted on Jan 25, 2013 6:49 AM

Reply

Answer 1

wjosten

Level 10

95,321 points

Jan 25, 2013 6:50 AM in response to november2nd

Follow the directions here:

http://support.apple.com/kb/HT5014

Reply

Answer 2

november2nd Author

Level 1

0 points

Jan 25, 2013 6:53 AM in response to wjosten

Thank you, I've read that page multiple times. However, when I connect the phone to my computer and iTunes, it displays this message: "We're sorry, we are unable to continue with your activation at this time. Please try again later, or contact customer care."

Reply

Answer 3

KiltedTim

Level 10

195,207 points

Jan 25, 2013 6:55 AM in response to november2nd

Was the phone hacked or jailbroken to unlock it before you requested a legitimate unlock from AT&T?

Reply

Answer 4

wjosten

Level 10

95,321 points

Jan 25, 2013 6:55 AM in response to november2nd

Great that you read it, but the question is, did you follow those directions or not?

Reply

Answer 5

wjosten

Level 10

95,321 points

Jan 25, 2013 6:56 AM in response to KiltedTim

From the OP's initial post:

"The phone was never hacked, previously unlocked or jailbroken."

Reply

Answer 6

november2nd Author

Level 1

0 points

Jan 25, 2013 6:58 AM in response to KiltedTim

No the phone was never previously unlocked or jailbroken before I requested the AT&T one. And yes wjosten I followed the directions. It showed the error message I stated in my previous post.

Reply

Answer 7

wjosten

Level 10

95,321 points

Jan 25, 2013 7:02 AM in response to november2nd

OK, I've seen this before...AT&T tells you the unlock has been processed, when in fact it has not. Don't know if that's your issue, but you need to rule that out. Only way to do so is to call AppleCare...you'll pay for the call. They can confirm whether the unlock request has in fact been processed.

Reply

Answer 8

KiltedTim

Level 10

195,207 points

Jan 25, 2013 7:06 AM in response to wjosten

I would expect to see a message instructing the user to inser a Valid SIM from a supported carrier in that case, rather that simply "We're sorry, we are unable to continue with your activation at this time. Please try again later, or contact customer care."

November2nd: Are you the original purchaser of this phone?

Reply

Answer 9

november2nd Author

Level 1

0 points

Jan 25, 2013 7:21 AM in response to KiltedTim

Yes, the message telling me to "insert a valid SIM card from a supported carrier" already appeared, but when I put the european SIM card in it still didnt work, so I tried taking it out and putting it back in and that's the message that appeared.

The original purchaser of this phone is my boyfriend, but he is also the one who took the AT&T sim card out and requested the unlock via AT&T.

wJosten - that's a good idea, I will do that, thank you

Reply