Is there a way to tell if my phone is unlocked without using a sim card?

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Level 4

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Is there a way to tell if my phone is unlocked without using a sim card?

I updated my still under contract AT&T iPhone 4S to iOS 6.1.2 and when it completed the process iTunes popped up a message saying, congratulations your phone is unlocked. This was not the message I was expecting but it got me thinking, why would I get this message unless iTunes unlocked my phone.

I don't have any other sim cards to test this with. Is there a way to tell if it is unlocked or not without using another carrier's sim card?

I have tried to get AT&T to unlock it for me in the past when I went out of the country and they refused because it was under contract. So I just barely used my phone and only did email, texts, etc on WiFi in the hotel.

iPhone 4S, iOS 6, White 32 GB

Posted on Apr 26, 2013 10:52 AM

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Answer 1

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jesterwylde

Level 4

1,377 points

Apr 26, 2013 10:55 AM in response to Thom_D

If you can provide the IMEI number to the original carrier, they can probably confirm it for you.

AppleCare advisors might be able to see it, but I'm not sure about that and as far as I know, they're not allowed to provide that information, only confirm it.

so my advice is to contact the carrier 🙂

Message was edited by: jesterwylde

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Answer 2

Thom_D Author

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1,161 points

Apr 26, 2013 11:01 AM in response to jesterwylde

so my advice is to contact the carrier 🙂

I will give them a call.

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Answer 3

Thom_D Author

Level 4

1,161 points

Apr 26, 2013 3:40 PM in response to jesterwylde

I got in touch with AT&T and apparently at some point someone there too pity on me and submitted my request to have my phone unlocked to Apple, so that it did actually get unlocked the other day when I updated my firmware.

So Yay!! Now I just need to figure out which sim card to buy when I get where I am going next time I go overseas.

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