How to buy a fully unlocked iPhone 6/6+ Model 1586/1524 in the U.S.?

Question

How to buy a fully unlocked iPhone 6/6+ Model 1586/1524 in the U.S.?

Below is a chat I had this morning (September 13, 2014) with an Apple sales associate about the iPhone 6. The bottom line is that it appears that Apple currently does not know how to sell its U.S. customers a fully unlocked iPhone 6/6+ Model A1586 or A1524. They are also unwilling to answer whether these models will work with U.S. GSM carriers such as T-Mobile or AT&T (they should work).

However, according to these two documents and prior knowledge of how AT&T & T-Mobile work in the U.S., we should be able to buy a prepaid fully unlocked iPhone 6 model A1586 or A1524 from U.S. Cellular and have them work with U.S. GSM carriers as well as overseas international GSM carriers.

https://www.apple.com/iphone/LTE/

http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1937

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Apple: Now Chatting with UNNAMED REP

Customer: Hi I have two questions about the iPhone 6.

Customer: Is an Apple unlocked iPhone 6 Model A1524 be able to be used with T-Mobile and AT&T in the USA?

Customer: or Model A1586 for that matter.

Customer: that's my first question.

Apple Rep: Hey there.

Apple Rep: My name is UNNAMED REP and I will be more than happy to help you with your iPhone 6 and 6 Plus inquiries.

Customer: thanks, did you get my first question above?

Apple Rep: Yes.

Apple Rep: In order to check network compatability we recommend you check with the respective carrier

Customer: Let's say I got an unlocked iPhone 6 from Australian carrier.

Customer: or if I buy a prepaid iPhone 6 from US Cellular and they send it to Apple to have it unlock on my behave.

Customer: both should be the A1586 or A1524 variety.

Apple Rep: At this time, there is no information available for the iPhone 6 or iPhone 6 Plus unlocked.

Customer: I have checked with U.S. Cellular, they are willing to sell me an iPhone 6 or 6+ prepaid at full price and they are willing to send it to Apple to request to have it unlocked. I need to know what will Apple do if I make this order.

Apple Rep: Please be aware, Apple does not lock phones.

Customer: and whether that phone will be supported on T-Mobile or AT&T.

Apple Rep: Respective carriers lock their phones to their network.

Apple Rep: Apple does not provide information on unlocking carrier phones.

Customer: Based on this table, U.S. Cellular support unlocking of iPhone with no restrictions unlike Sprint: http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1937

Customer: I just need to know whether this is how it works before I decide to spend $950 on an iPhone.

Customer: I want an globally unlocked iPhone 6+ A1524 that works with all U.S. GSM carriers.

Apple Rep: OK, here is what we can do

Apple Rep: I recommend we get you in touch with our dedicated iPhone support team, and they will be able to assist with the information

Customer: can provide me with their contact info?

Apple Rep: Click here for dedicated iPhone support

Apple Rep: Did it work?

Customer: yes it took me to the iphone support contact page. I'm trying to figure who to contact exactly. so I just spoke to U.S. Cellular and now with you. I'm not sure exactly who I should talk to next.

Apple Rep: While you have me, did you have any other questions regarding the Apple Online Store?

Customer: no, I'm very familiar with apple. just have this one question.

Apple Rep: Awesome, yes it sounds like you are very knowledgable.

Apple Rep: Thank you for taking the time to visit the Apple Online Store. We appreciate your business! Please feel free to chat with us again if you'd need any further assistance.

Customer: U.S. Cellular asked me to contact Apple after I called them.

Customer: I'd say my question is not fully answered because the support page is not clear with contact info.

Apple Rep: Do you prefer to call support?

Customer: which number do you recommend I call?

Customer: I had originally thought that you'd be able to address this question. but if you can't, all that I have now is a generic Apple world wide number since I have already spoken to U.S. Cellular.

Apple Rep: We do not have that information, I apologize for the inconvenience.

Customer: This is very frustrating. I might be buying three iPhones at full prices for my family if I have the complete information. they live at different parts of the world and travels. now I can't make any purchase decision until Apple has the 'information'. it's surprising that you don't since you make the iPhones.

Apple Rep: At this time, there is no information available for the iPhone 6 or iPhone 6 Plus unlocked or full price.

Customer: and you have no information as to when such information might become available?

Apple Rep: Please check back with the Apple.com

Apple Rep: updates are coming very fast

Apple Rep: Stay tuned.

Customer: okay, thanks.

Apple Rep: Thank you for taking the time to visit the Apple Online Store. We appreciate your business! Please feel free to chat with us again if you'd need any further assistance.

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Posted on Sep 13, 2014 9:45 AM

Reply

Answer 1

KiltedTim

Level 10

195,933 points

Sep 13, 2014 9:47 AM in response to truedichotomy

You seem to be overlooking the fact that US Cellular does not sell unlocked phones. They are a CDMA carrier.

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Answer 2

Sep 13, 2014 9:52 AM in response to KiltedTim

The CDMA issue is irrelevant to me since I don't plan on using Verizon or any overseas CDMA networks. I know unlocking CDMA portion of the baseband is more than a pain in the rear end. But I do want to access GSM LTE networks in the U.S. and overseas at places like Asia and Europe.

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Answer 3

KiltedTim

Level 10

195,933 points

Sep 13, 2014 9:52 AM in response to truedichotomy

Then buy an unlocked phone in Asia or Europe.

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Answer 4

M5Marco

Level 1

37 points

Sep 13, 2014 9:57 AM in response to truedichotomy

I know that the Verizon iPhone 5 and 5s came unlocked from the factory. You could buy one at a Verizon store at full price and immediately throw in a AT&T sim inside and there would be no issue. As a matter of fact I personally know someone who did just that and took it to Europe and put in some SIM card over there and no issue.

I would assume the Verizon 6 and 6 Plus would be the same.

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Answer 5

Sep 13, 2014 9:57 AM in response to KiltedTim

I don't have the time and money to go overseas just to buy an unlocked iPhone right now. If I'm willing to pay full price, that purchase option should be available for U.S. customers, not a locked-phone crippled with 4 less LTE bands.

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Answer 6

Sep 13, 2014 9:59 AM in response to M5Marco

The problem is that you can't just walk into a Verizon store and buy a Verizon iPhone at full price. They won't even sell it to you unless you have a Verizon account or willing to start a new contract with them. Plus, Verizon iPhone is still the 16 band LTE variety not the international version with TD bands.

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Answer 7

M5Marco

Level 1

37 points

Sep 13, 2014 10:09 AM in response to truedichotomy

You may be right about needing an account, however I do not know myself. Many people have Verizon, let a buddy of yours buy it and you give him/her the cash. And yes the person I know walked right into the Verizon store and bought an iphone 5 full price without signing new contract. He was month to month with Verizon at the time. He then canceled the line with Verizon and took the phone to Europe.

as far as the TD bands go, that's some older legacy stuff that apple included for a rather small population of potential iphone users around the world.

Sorry I can't help you more but based on what i know the Verizon one seems to be the best option for you.

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Answer 8

Sep 13, 2014 1:22 PM in response to M5Marco

If I can get a Verizon iPhone 6 that is not attached to any Verizon account, I may consider it. The TD-SCDMA and TD-LTE bands are what is and will be deployed in China. That network will cover over 700 million people, I wouldn't say the TD bands are being used only by a small population. In any case, it is very puzzling to me why Apple would release a version of the iPhone 6 in the USA that has 4 fewer LTE bands than the international version with everything else being the same. In any case, I want that international version fully GSM unlocked in the states.

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Answer 9

KiltedTim

Level 10

195,933 points

Sep 13, 2014 2:10 PM in response to truedichotomy

The phones released in the US are intended to be used primarily in the US. If they don't fit your needs, then buy one intended for use in the region where you'll be using it.

There is no "international version" that will work on all LTE networks world wide. It just doesn't exist.

There is nothing anyone here can do about it.

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Answer 10

Sep 13, 2014 3:10 PM in response to KiltedTim

If I have $650 to spare, I'd try to go prove you otherwise. I don't know for sure but I believe that A1586 and A1524 are true international iPhones. I bet if you buy an unlocked iPhone in Australia, you'll be able to use it on LTE bands with AT&T and T-Mobile in the U.S., as well as all the other international GSM LTE bands listed for those two models. I suspect the reasons for the way things are not technical. I'd love to be proven wrong though. Maybe Apple is saving those four extra bands on for A1549 and A1522 for future U.S. LTE bands like 700a, and the 600 bands that will go on auction next year, but I seriously doubt that is the case. Apple has never added LTE bands to any version of their iPhones before.

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Answer 11

M5Marco

Level 1

37 points

Sep 13, 2014 3:32 PM in response to truedichotomy

http://www.apple.com/iphone/LTE/

According to Apple's list (link above) you will probably want to pick up a Sprint or US Cellular model. HOWEVER, as I mentioned above I know that the Verizon iPhones come unlocked from the factory (assuming it will be the same for iPhone 6 and 6+). I DO NOT KNOW if the Sprint and US Cellular models come unlocked. But I am sure some quick internet research will lead you to the answer.

I think your goal would be to get a Sprint or US Cellular version. Also I believe a law was just recently passed that allows someone to have a phone unlocked by the carrier no questions asked. So even if the Sprint and US Cellular iPhones are locked you can have them unlocked.

Update:

http://www.cbsnews.com/news/obama-signs-bill-unlocking-cellphones/

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Answer 12

julieda

Level 7

32,024 points

Sep 13, 2014 3:29 PM in response to KiltedTim

Approximately two years ago I purchased an unlocked iPhone from an Apple store, brought it to Italy and gave it to my cousin as a gift. He used a local telephone shop to activate it.

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Answer 13

Sep 13, 2014 3:36 PM in response to M5Marco

According to this Apple support document: iPhone: Wireless carrier support and features, it's the U.S. Cellular version that you'd want. All I'm trying to do is to get confirmation about this procedure from Apple and they refuse to give it as you can see from my exchange with Apple rep above. Thus my dilemma.

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Answer 14

Sep 13, 2014 3:43 PM in response to julieda

There is no problem with U.S. versions of iPhone 4/4S/5/5S/6 being used overseas for GSM voice and 3G data for most countries. It's just that when it comes to 4G LTE support, that's where things get messy and complicated. My discussion here is focused on the 4G LTE support.

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Answer 15

M5Marco

Level 1

37 points

Sep 13, 2014 3:47 PM in response to truedichotomy

There are websites you can purchase unlocked international phones from (not sure of site name). Lot's of online phone reviewers use those sites to get the international version of a phone for them to review and then post on youtube or wherever else. That's how they get to review the Exynos processor version of a Galaxy phone when that version isn't sold in the US.

Look into these sites.

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