Hi. Can Apple tell me if they would accept an unlock request from Talkmobile if I give them the IMEI number? Talkmobile say they I need to check with Apple first and will charge £20 but only if Apple accept the request. Which email address for Apple would I use? Thanks
The process is contact your network supplier .
Ask IF they offer unlocking.
IF yes request the unlock and pay any fees requested.
The Network will then request the IMEI number and they will ping it on the check and confirm its active on the home network
Your network supplier then contacts Apple to request the White listing (Unlocking) of your phone on the iTunes servers.
Apple do this -It takes anything from 3 days to several weeks to complete.
On completion Apple confirms this back to your Network supplier (NOT YOU)
Your network supplier contacts you via email or SMS inviting you to connect your iPhone with your computer via the supplied USB cable and launch iTunes and follow on screen prompts through to the "Congratulations your iPhone is now unlocked" screen.
All these steps need to be carried out with the ORIGINAL SIM and by REGISTERED account holder used when setting up the phone.
Once the Congats...... screen has been reached you can swap out the REGISTERED SIM and replace with a compatable SIM on another network.
CAVEATS
Only the original SIM and Account holder can initiate an unlock- If you bought the phone used/second hand you CAN NOT UNLOCK through official routes
Once unlocked use of a Mobile Virtual Network SIM may result in difficulties sending SMS messages.
You may have to go into Setting /Network/Cellular/Cellular Data Network and enter the correct settings manually.
Further caveat Cellular Data Network menu is SIM card dependant if its not supported you CAN NOT change the settings manually then you may need to contact the SIM card company - They can send a setup SMS if they support this process.
Sorry for the lecture.
PRESEE -
ONLY REGISTERED ACCOUNT HOLDER AND SIM CARD CAN BE USED TO UNLOCK THROUGH OFFICIAL ROUTES
You arrange it through the Carrier and not directly with Apple.
Hi. thanks for yhe reply. The phone was on a Vodafone contact and the original owner is now unlocking it via Vodafone before I buy it. I have a Talkmibile monthly contract on my Blackberry and want to put the sim into the iphone. Talkmobile say it will lock to Talkmobile but they will unlock it for £20 but only if Apple will accept their request. They said to give Apple my IMEI number to check if the request would be accepted.
Talkmobile is a MVNO owned by Carphone warehouse. Carphone warehose does not sell officially unlocked iPhones & Talkmobile is not an official iPhone carrier. Talkmobile uses the Vodafone network, so I suspect your phone is actually locked to Vodafone...you can call AppleCare to confirm.
Bottom line, I doubt there is any way to get this phone officially unlocked. If locked to Vodafone, only Vodafone can authorize the phone's official unlocking, but since you are not actually using it through them, I doubt they can/will authorize the phone's unlocking.
Apple can't/won't help you, so don't waste your time calling Apple about this. However, do call AppleCare to confirm the locked/unlocked status of your phone & what carrier it is actually locked to.
Unlock iphone 4s on Talkmobile
