IPhone 4s locked by Verizon

lizdance40 wrote:

No, it cannot.

iPhones sold through CDMA networks have a different model number and are setup before shipping to work with CDMA only. Once unlocked by a carrier, they will work with another, CDMA network.

This is why an unlocked, former Verizon iPhone will not work with AT&T . And I just switched from Verizon to AT&T, I didn't make it up.

Not exactly accurate. CDMA only phones are neither locked nor unlocked. It's simply not something you can do with a CDMA phone. CDMA only phones will only work on the network for which they were originally sold.

Verizon will unlock the GSM side of an iPhone 4S for use on GSM carriers outside of the U.S.. They will only unlock the phones for currrent Verizon customers who have been in good standing for at least 60 days. Although it's technically possible for the phone to work on GSM carriers in the U.S., that ability is blocked.

Starting with the iPhone 5, Verizon iPhones are unlocked. You can use them on GSM networks in the U.S. (e.g. AT&T, TMobile). You may not get full 4G LTE service, however.

Best of luck.

Yes, Verizon will unlock the GSM for use out of the USA, while still using Verizon service. Once out of contract and discontinued service, Verizon only unlocks for CDMA

"Neither the Verizon nor Sprint model iPhones can be unlocked for use with any other CDMA carrier, as in the information from Apple that you quote yourself."

What I quoted, is apples sales policy. Not a carrier policy.

The sales policy refers to phones SOLD by Apple, subsidized and locked to a carrier for a contract term.

No where in the unlocked phone description, does it discuss LOCKED phones on CDMA network.

The unlocked phones are sold at a premium, retail price.

When a phone is out of contract, Verizon will (usually) unlock from their network for use with other CDMA networks. Most of these phones do work on Boost, Virgin and Metro PCS. Sprint will not allow outside phones, but many of their phones also work on the above networks.

In one place above you use the word "network", in another you use "carrier". It makes a difference. In the USA, phones are locked to a network, even if unlocked for a carrier.

"Liz, the Verizon iPhone 4S can be used with GSM carriers once unlocked. I believe you're thinking of the iPhone 4 which is a CDMA-only iPhone and could only be used with Verizon.

Regards."

No, I wasn't .

Both the 4 and 4S were sold in CDMA and GSM models in the USA. If you are referring to the internal configuration being GSM only or CDMA only, yes, the 4 was not dual configured and the CDMA version was produced for Verizon only when new Some of those, out of contract iPhone 4 are now being used on other CDMA carriers as Verizon unlocked them.

The 4s may have dual configuration, but they are network locked in the USA

I have a Verizon 4s in the drawer that will not work with GSM. Verizon unlocked for CDMA when we left them. They will not unlock for GSM in the USA.

http://support.apple.com/kb/HT3939

What I quoted, is apples sales policy. Not a carrier policy. The sales policy refers to phones SOLD by Apple, subsidized and locked to a carrier for a contract term. No where in the unlocked phone description, does it discuss LOCKED phones on CDMA network.

All CDMA iPhones are locked to a specific carrier for CDMA use. They can only be unlocked for GSM networks.

some of those, out of contract iPhone 4 are now being used on other CDMA carriers as Verizon unlocked them.

That is false. Verizon cannot and does not unlock the CDMA portion of any iPhone. If someone has used a CDMA Verizon iPhone with any other CDMA carrier, that person has hacked the iPhone.

CDMA iPhones cannot, I repeat cannot, be officially unlocked for use with any other carrier. That just doesn't happen. Verizon can unlock one of their models of iPhone 4S for use with foreign GSM carriers, but not for any other CDMA carrier.

In one place above you use the word "network", in another you use "carrier". It makes a difference. In the USA, phones are locked to a network, even if unlocked for a carrier.

Unless by "network" you are referring to CDMA or GSM, that is iagain incorrect. Once again, the Verizon-model iPhone 4S can be unlocked for use with foreign GSM carrers. It cannot be used with any other CDMA carrier.

Sorry, Liz, but your information is mixed up and, as you've stated it here, mostly wrong.

Regards.

lizdance40 wrote:

I have a Verizon 4s in the drawer that will not work with GSM. Verizon unlocked for CDMA when we left them. They will not unlock for GSM in the USA.

"Unlocking" is just not a concept that has any meaning for CDMA phones. As they are not "locked" to a CDMA network, they cannot be "unlocked". While it is theoretically possible to move a phone from one CDMA network to another but in practice, it can't be done. Firmware needs to be updated on the phone and then infomation needs to be loaded into the new carrier's database. And carriers, at least in the U.S., just won't do this. It is possible to use a phone from a CDMA carrier on one of that carrier's MVNOs in many cases.

EDIT: Meg makes a good point about MVNOs. Most likely that's what the people you know have done with their Verizon-model iPhones, used them with a Verizon MVNO who just in essence resell Verizon's network.

'nuff said. This thread started asking about use of a Verizon-model iPhone 4S with a French GSM cell carrier, and again, Verizon can and will unlock an iPhone 4S for such use, assuming of course that the iPhone's owner meets Verizon's requirements for unlocking.

Regards.

You said in your first post that you were given the phone. Why can't you have the person up who gave you the phone contact Verizon and have the phone unlocked?

Ethael wrote:

The only solution I've found is to use a xsim with a French carrier.

The xsim is illegal to use in every country on Earth.