Unlock my iPhone

Then you will need to contact your cellular provider to determine their unlocking policy, and if you qualify.

So what do you do when AT&T, my carrier, tells you that your request to unlock an iPhone is granted, but you have to go back to "apple.com" (with no other specificity) to complete the unlock?

That's not what AT&T normally says. They send an email with detailed instructions, which read like this (since I just did it):

Thank you for contacting AT&T Customer Care about unlocking your AT&T Mobile device.

We have reviewed your request and confirmed that the device may be unlocked.

Please allow 24 hours upon receipt of this notification to complete the unlock process.

To complete the unlock, simply

1. Open iTunes on your Mac or PC and verify that you have Internet connectivity.

2. Ensure a SIM card is inserted into your iPhone.

3. Connect your iPhone using the dock connector to USB cable that came with your iPhone.

4. Backup and restore your iPhone using iTunes. For information on backup and restore, please visit http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1414.

5. After restoring, your iPhone will be unlocked.

Additional information on unlocking can be found at http://support.apple.com/kb/TS3198

For questions regarding AT&T Mobile device, please visit the Phone/Device Learning Center.

Thank you for your business. For other questions about our AT&T wireless service or other Mobile devices, please visit att.com.

Sincerely,

AT&T Customer Care Team