One sim works , one doesn't !

Question

Level 1

8 points

One sim works , one doesn't !

I have two sim cards - for different carriers , one works and one doesn't - but they both work in a another phone - is this a sim issue or could be a hardware fault in the phone ?

iPhone 5

Posted on Aug 2, 2014 5:44 PM

Reply

Answer 1

stedman1

Level 10

265,108 points

Aug 2, 2014 5:50 PM in response to KarryGee

KarryGee wrote:

I have two sim cards - for different carriers , one works and one doesn't - but they both work in a another phone - is this a sim issue or could be a hardware fault in the phone ?

Can we assume this is the same phone you had previously attempted to unlock by using a "Hack site". The discussion that has now been pulled?

Reply

Answer 2

Aug 2, 2014 5:54 PM in response to KarryGee

If the sims work in another iPhone known to be unlocked, and Apple lists this iPhone as unlocked, then you need to take the iPhone and both sims to an Apple store genius bar and have the techs check them out.

Reply

Answer 3

KarryGee Author

Level 1

8 points

Aug 2, 2014 5:56 PM in response to KarryGee

And if it was a "hack site " that unlocked the other , thats not a technical issue here , or the question but this is - this is a brand new phone , bought from Carphone warehouse - that is supposed to be unlocked ( it is - Apple have confirmed this )

Reply

Answer 4

stedman1

Level 10

265,108 points

Aug 2, 2014 5:57 PM in response to KarryGee

KarryGee wrote:

And if it was a "hack site " that unlocked the other , thats not a technical issue here , or the question but this is - this is a brand new phone , bought from Carphone warehouse - that is supposed to be unlocked ( it is - Apple have confirmed this )

And therein lies the problem: Phones sold by CarPhone Warehouse will lock to the first SIM used.

Reply

Answer 5

KarryGee Author

Level 1

8 points

Aug 2, 2014 5:58 PM in response to stedman1

It is a brand new phone from Carphone warehouse - and its not locked to a carrier - after the last problem,I wasn't going down that route again so I made sure this one wasn't locked to anyone when I bought it BUT my sim isn't recognised at all , it works in my old Samsung but not in the new iPhone .

Reply

Answer 6

KarryGee Author

Level 1

8 points

Aug 2, 2014 6:01 PM in response to stedman1

Ah , is that really so ? Do all iPhones lock to the first sim in them ? I only tried my reserve sim when my normal number wouldn't work - didn't realise this was the case - have never encountered this before either -seems me and iPhones are fated to fail . Will Carphone warehouse be able to lift the block ?

Reply

Answer 7

Aug 2, 2014 6:01 PM in response to KarryGee

iPhones sold by Carphone are "sim free" which means they are unlocked as sold but lock to the carrier of the sim used to activate them. Your iPhone is now locked to the carrier of the first sim you inserted. It is up to them to now unlock the iPhone.

Reply

Answer 8

Aug 2, 2014 6:04 PM in response to KarryGee

Only iPhones sold by Apple as unlocked are unlocked for all carriers. Those sold by Carphone are OT truly unlocked and Carphone is OT going to be able to unlock the iPhone. Only the carrier it is ow locked to can unlock it.

Reply

Answer 9

KarryGee Author

Level 1

8 points

Aug 2, 2014 6:05 PM in response to Ralph Landry1

Thank you Ralph - a useful reply - but reading your link it seems that all iPhones lock to the first sim card received , not just Carphone Warehouse ones - but , I still have my old iPhone 4s which didn't do this at all - is this unique to the 5 ?

Reply

Answer 10

deggie

Level 10

167,537 points

Aug 2, 2014 6:08 PM in response to KarryGee

You are incorrect, unlocked iPhones sold by Apple do not lock to the first sim received. iPhones bought through a carrier are locked to that carrier and come with their SIM. The issue you have is specific to Carphone Warehouse.

Reply

Answer 11

stedman1

Level 10

265,108 points

Aug 2, 2014 6:08 PM in response to KarryGee

Nope, as stated by Ralph, iPhones sold by Apple as unlocked will remain unlocked, forever. CarPhone Warehouse has a notorious reputation for unhappy customers due to their policy. There are dozens of similar posts here on the forum.

Reply

Answer 12

KarryGee Author

Level 1

8 points

Aug 2, 2014 6:14 PM in response to stedman1

Sorry - I had no idea that this was the case - it has never been explained to me even when I bought the phone from Carphone Warehouse and they didn't offer the information either, so when my old sim didn't work , I put in my spare Pay as You Go sim to try and get the phone activated and it has locked to it ! I guess Carphone Warehouse are responsible and will hopefully see what has happened and activate the unlock - fingers crossed . I wont ever buy a phone again from a carrier - luckily , my 4s is still very functional .

Reply

Answer 13

KarryGee Author

Level 1

8 points

Aug 2, 2014 6:16 PM in response to stedman1

Thank you for your courteous and enlightening answers - I have discovered a great deal that I didn't know and was never told by CW - I assume that most carriers work in the same way and effectively lock the phone with the first sim inserted ?

Reply

Answer 14

Aug 2, 2014 6:18 PM in response to KarryGee

KarryGee wrote:

Sorry, posts crossed , my iPhone 4 is an Apple purchase so thats why its usable with any sim on any network .

That is correct...an unlocked iPhone from Apple is an unlocked iPhone. There is a difference between unlocked and sim free. The former will work on any carrier, the latter will work only on the first carrier's sim that is inserted.

After that it is up to the user to get the carrier to unlock the iPhone so that it can be used on other carriers. Apple will not do that. Only the carrier can unlock.

Reply

Answer 15

KarryGee Author

Level 1

8 points

Aug 2, 2014 6:25 PM in response to stedman1

What is really upsetting is that had I known , would have just bought the phone from Apple as I did with my 4s ( which has never been a problem) - I think its a very grey area personally and it does seem like a raw deal - however , I honestly did not know carriers operated this kind of lock on iPhones - having had quite ordinary phones for many years , I have never come across it before - phones don't interest me other than as phones . Its not as though the phone was "free" with a contract deal , I bought the phone from CPW but not from Apple (sigh) - now I also understand the grey area of the unlocking sites and why they cannot possibly work and maybe I phrased my whole argument badly - I did research it as thoroughly as I could , but had I known about this carrier locking issue from CPW , I would have understood the issue better and tackled it better ..... you live and learn .

Reply