Leewake
Level 1 (0 points)

Q: SIM free phone locks to first carrier

I have just bought a new iPhone 6 Plus from Carphone Warehouse. I was told the phone would lock to the first SIM carrier that was inserted but I was not told that if I bought the phone from Apple directly I could avoid this hassle. I have paid full list price do don't see why I should be disadvantaged. Is there some way to have phone truly Carrier agnostic?

Thanks

iPhone 6 Plus, iOS 8.1.3

Posted on Feb 22, 2015 6:20 AM

Close
Leewake

Q: SIM free phone locks to first carrier

  • All replies
  • Helpful answers

  • by roaminggnome,

    roaminggnome roaminggnome Feb 22, 2015 6:28 AM in response to Leewake
    Level 10 (97,404 points)
    Feb 22, 2015 6:28 AM in response to Leewake

    The only way is to ask the carrier to which it gets locked to unlock it.

  • by wegras,

    wegras wegras Feb 22, 2015 6:48 AM in response to Leewake
    Level 6 (15,194 points)
    Wireless
    Feb 22, 2015 6:48 AM in response to Leewake

    Go and complain to CPW ,they have been doing this for years

    Who did you expect to tell you to go to Apple

    Buyer beware

     

    is there some way to have phone truly Carrier agnostic?

    Yes buy from Apple ,they have always been the only source of unlocked iPhones in the UK as we continually respond here

  • by KiltedTim,

    KiltedTim KiltedTim Feb 22, 2015 6:47 AM in response to Leewake
    Level 9 (56,501 points)
    Mac OS X
    Feb 22, 2015 6:47 AM in response to Leewake

    Sim Free does not equal "unlocked. CPW does not sell unlocked phones. They sell Sim free phones that will lock to the first UK carrier used. The only source for new unlocked iPhones in the UK is directly from Apple.

     

    Contact the carrier it's locked to. They are the only ones who can authorize unlocking it.

  • by Leewake ,

    Leewake Leewake Feb 22, 2015 3:19 PM in response to KiltedTim
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Feb 22, 2015 3:19 PM in response to KiltedTim

    Thanks Tim. To me SIM Free does equal "unlocked"  SIM Free once, does not. CPW are selling SIM Free Once. That to me is a lot more transparent.

     

    Anyway lesson learnt. Thing is when I insert my EE SIM, EE will have no record of the handset and I am thinking of the journey to come in a years time when I need an unlock code!......

  • by wegras,

    wegras wegras Feb 23, 2015 4:16 AM in response to Leewake
    Level 6 (15,194 points)
    Wireless
    Feb 23, 2015 4:16 AM in response to Leewake
    Anyway lesson learnt. Thing is when I insert my EE SIM, EE will have no record of the handset and I am thinking of the journey to come in a years time when I need an unlock code!......

    If you use an EE contract either PAYG or a sim only monthly that will establish the business relationship and then after 6 months they shoud unlock it

    There is no "code "

    This is how it works with iPhones

    How to unlock your iPhone for use with another carrier - Apple Support