Using iPhone 6 without SIM card

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Using iPhone 6 without SIM card

Hello,

I am from Austria and currently living in the United States. I want to buy the new iPhone 6 (Contract free)here in the U.S., however, as I only have a micro SIM card from my Austrian carrier, I won't be able to activate it. Therefore my question is if I can still use the iPhone (similar to the iPod with wifi and so on) without actually activating it.

I don't want to activate it with the included T-Mobile SIM card as I'm not sure if it will work later in Austria with my home carrier nano SIM card (not T-Mobile) when I activate it with the T-Mobile SIM first.

Thank you for your help!

iPhone 6, iOS 8

Posted on Nov 16, 2014 8:54 PM

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Answer 1

Nov 16, 2014 9:01 PM in response to raindrops711

If you purchase a contract-free iPhone 6, it will still be locked to a carrier. You cannot currently buy an outright unlocked iPhone. However since it's not on a contract, the carrier should unlock it for you.

Additionally, you cannot use an iPhone without activating it, which needs a SIM card.

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Answer 2

raindrops711 Author

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Nov 17, 2014 9:31 AM in response to stevejobsfan0123

So it will be locked to the carrier of the first SIM card with which I turn on the iPhone?

Moreover, is there a possibility for a tax refund when I leave the U.S.? I heard that this worked in the UK for a friend of mine, but I am not sure whether it will work at a U.S. airport too.

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Answer 3

Nov 17, 2014 9:32 AM in response to raindrops711

In the US, you can buy the T–Mobile iPhone at full price and it will be unlocked by default for use on all carriers.

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Answer 4

raindrops711 Author

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Nov 17, 2014 6:29 PM in response to Templeton Peck

Are you sure? stevejobsfan0123 said that it will still be locked to a carrier. I'm confused now.

Does this mean I can activate the contract-free iPhone 6 (bought on the U.S. Apple homepage) with the included T-Mobile SIM and use it with my Austrian carrier later, as soon as I return back to Austria?

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Answer 5

Nov 17, 2014 6:36 PM in response to raindrops711

If you buy it directly form an Apple store, the T-Mobile contract free version is fully unlocked.

With that said, you will need a nano sim card in the iPhone to activate it before you can use it in any way.

You can activate with the included T-Mobile sim without worry, It will not lock to T-Mobile.

However make sure you do not activate a monthly plan while you do it.

The iPhone activation is independent of the service plan.

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Answer 6

Nov 17, 2014 6:40 PM in response to raindrops711

There is a distinction between "contract free" and "unlocked." You asked about getting a contract-free phone, but Templeton is correct that the T-Mobile version is fully unlocked.

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Answer 7

raindrops711 Author

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Nov 17, 2014 7:10 PM in response to stevejobsfan0123

Yes I know this distinction, but as Apple is only selling "contract free" iPhones so far, I am talking about it. But as the T-Mobile version is unlocked, it is kind of both.. very strange to me.

Phil0124 thank you for your explanation. Last follow-up question: As you said I can activate it with the T-Mobile sim, is this possible without activating a monthly plan?

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Answer 8

Nov 17, 2014 7:28 PM in response to raindrops711

As I said, yes. you can activate the iPhone without activating a monthly plan.

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