Contract free iPhone 5S Verizon

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Contract free iPhone 5S Verizon

I'm researching about the contract free iPhone 5S. I purchased the contract free iPhone 5S at the Apple Store in Las Vegas 2 weeks ago. I thought the iPhone is unlocked because I paid about 890$ to get the iPhone 5S 64 GB. However I just found out my iPhone is locked by Verizon from the another Apple Store. I'm moving to Australia in this month. I need to use the iPhone in Australia. Do you think is it possible to use it in Australia? I tried to insert the three different SIM cards from Japan. It seems like works fine however the carrier is using CDMA. I'm wondering if my phone is possible to use GSM carrier. Please let me know if you have any ideas!

Thanks,

iPhone 5s, iOS 7.0.3

Posted on Nov 1, 2013 5:39 AM

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Answer 1

Nov 1, 2013 5:43 AM in response to pinyacolada

There are conflicting reports about the locked status of Verizon iPhone 5S's. The Verizon iPhone 5 is unlocked. Some people have said that they have successfully used a Verizon iPhone 5S on other carriers. Others have reported failure.

You shoud be able to verify the status with AppleCare. If it is locked, you will not be able to get Verizon to unlock it unless you are a Verizon customer for at least 60 days.

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Answer 2

pinyacolada Author

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Nov 1, 2013 8:53 AM in response to IdrisSeabright

Thank you for the response. I talked to Apple Care and they said my iPhone is currently locked by Verizon even I paid full price to get the iPhone 5S. However my phone works three different carries from Japan. I hope the iPhone works in Australia too but I'm not sure. I called to Verizon about this issue but the person told me there is no way to unlock the iPhone now. The person mentioned me the iPhone should be unlocked and able to use outside of U.S. However if I'm living in US, the phone will be locked by Verizon. That means this iPhone allows me to use any carriers outside of U.S. and Verizon except other carriers in US. I hope my consideration is correct. Please let me know if anybody knows more information.

Thanks,

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Answer 3

KiltedTim

Level 10

195,627 points

Nov 1, 2013 9:10 AM in response to pinyacolada

The GSM portion of the phone is unlocked per FCC regulations. However...

Before you can use the GSM portion of the phone, you MUST activate the phone with Verizon.

That appears to be the way the Verizon 5s and 5c are being configured, which is different from the 5. US law required the GSM portion be unlocked, it does not, however, require that the phone be usable without first activating it with Verizon.

The Verizon iPhone 5 was in high demand by people from outside of North America because it was generally compatible with European LTE networks and was unlocked out of the box for use on other GSM networks. This had several side effects.

One was to reduce the number of iPhone 5's available for purchase by actual Verizon customers, thus reducing Verizon's ability to generate ongoing revenue from contracts for service. As you can imagine, they were not happy about that. Perhaps they found a clause in the law that permits them to keep the phone entirely locked until it is activated for service on their network.

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Answer 4

pinyacolada Author

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Nov 1, 2013 9:36 AM in response to KiltedTim

That's interesting. I activated the iPhone with the Verizon SIM card at the first time and I inserted Japanese SIM cards and it worked fine. I won't be able to make a contract with Verizon because I'm living outside of US, however the iPhone seems like work in Japan. I don't have any SIM cards from Australia but if the iPhone will work with a carrier from Australia, my problem will be solved.

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Answer 5

KiltedTim

Level 10

195,627 points

Nov 1, 2013 9:41 AM in response to pinyacolada

If you were able to activate the phone, then what, exactly is your question?

You implied that you purchased a Verizon iPhone 5S and were unable to activate it and that you were told you had to activate it with Verizon.

If the phone activated and works with a Non-Verizon SIM, then it is unlocked and will work on any compatible GSM carrier.

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Answer 6

Nov 1, 2013 10:37 AM in response to KiltedTim

KiltedTim wrote:

The Verizon iPhone 5 was in high demand by people from outside of North America because it was generally compatible with European LTE networks and was unlocked out of the box for use on other GSM networks. This had several side effects.

Another side effect was the increase in robberies, some them armed, from stores that carried them.

Thanks for the rest of the information. It jibes with most of what I've seen.

Best of luck.

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