Q: When will Apple finally release iPhone 7 unlocked

Why do so many people not tell the truth here and invent stories?  Or are you writing about the iPhone 6 and 6S series and foolishly assume the 7 is the same?

Apple has already stated that the full-priced iPhone 7 is unlocked, but must be activated on one of the four carriers beforehand.  Apple has already stated there are NO exceptions until they release the SIM-Free & Unlocked versions.

I and my neighbor bought several iPhones.  I bought a Sprint phone at full price.  After activation, I inserted a China Mobile SIM card and it worked.  My son took it to Hong Kong and it worked both on Sprint roaming and also when inserting a HK Telecom SIM. 

My neighbor bought two full-priced T-Mobile iPhones.  After removing the T-Mobile SIM the phone was impossible to activate.  Inserting China Mobile SIM cards, the phones would not activate.  Inserting HK Telecom SIM cards resulted also in activation not possible.  He had to return the phones at the Apple Store where they promptly told him the phone MUST be first activated on the T-Mobile network. 

Regarding warranty service, you must certainly can get warranty service overseas.  I've had two iPads completely replaced overseas.  Granted, both were on Apple Care and at first the Apple Store resisted, but after they checked with Apple Care they replaced them.  We had an iPhone 6S replaced overseas.  We had to agree to accept a different model number since they didn't carry the specific model number we had, but they did replace it.  Maybe this wouldn't work in some third-world cesspool like Ghana, but it works in civilized Europe and also Hong Kong. 

Some posters may need remedial reading classes.  Try reading the actual Apple warranty document that comes with your phone.  "Apple *MAY* restrict warranty service to the country where you purchased your device."  May.  As in maybe will, depending on model availability and customer acceptance of alternate models.  Reading really is fundamental, folks.

did you buy it from Apple Store if so then you should know there's two code of iPhone even if it's factory unlocked one support GSM only and the other one support CDMA and GSM,like Verizon and sprint, personally I had T mobile one and I put Dubai SIM card it works then I install AT&T works fine so you need to check your SIM card from your carrier if it's under any rules or contract.

note: AT&T and T-Mobile in the United States (it does not support CDMA networks such as those used by Verizon and Sprint), but it does support carriers in Canada, the UK. Australia, the EU, and just about everywhere else in the world except for China, Hong Kong, and Japan.

You are obviously confused.

T-Mobile iPhones do support carriers in China and Hong Kong. 

Further, you claim that you bought a full-priced T-Mobile iPhone 7 and activated it with a Dubai SIM card is not credible.  Apple says it's impossible.  From personal experience it's impossible.  The T-Mobile iPhone 7 you buy at the online Apple Store cannot be activated unless on T-Mobile network.  After activation, however, it is unlocked and will work on any other carrier SIM.

I Don't know sir ,but when  I bought my iPhone from Apple Store this is what I did the guy told me T mobile phone not connected to any service for T mobile so I removed the card before I switch it on and i put my sim card and then connected t iTunes and I finished the setup it works,and then I remover Dubai sim card  to try AT&T it works so it's unlocked ,I know T mobile support carriers in china,  but  apple selling that iPhone comes with t mobile SIM card support GSM only model number 1784 , and this model will not work in China and hong kong and I don't know why.....

0p3raGh05t wrote:

 

Regarding warranty service, you must certainly can get warranty service overseas.  I've had two iPads completely replaced overseas.  Granted, both were on Apple Care and at first the Apple Store resisted, but after they checked with Apple Care they replaced them.  We had an iPhone 6S replaced overseas.  We had to agree to accept a different model number since they didn't carry the specific model number we had, but they did replace it.  Maybe this wouldn't work in some third-world cesspool like Ghana, but it works in civilized Europe and also Hong Kong. 

 

iPads are not iPhones.  You cannot get warranty service for iPhones outside of the country of purchase. This has been proven countless times over the years with people trying to get an iPhone repaired in a country they did not buy it and and being rejected.  Actual experience, and evidence by numerous people in these forums will show that.

non-cellular iPads (Wifi only) and other apple hardware do not have this constraint and can get warranty service anywhere in the world that Apple has a presence or Authorized service providers.

Unlocking only applies to GSM.  If buying a Sprint or Verizon Phone, the GSM portion can be immediately used on any GSM carrier around the world, but the CDMA portion will likely not be activated with any CDMA carrier except Sprint or Verizon.

Beyond that, yes you need active service when buying a Sprint, Verizon, or even AT&T iPhone, but, here's the real kicker, the GSM sim slot is still unlocked, so you can simply replace the sim card with a sim card from a supported GSM carrier and it will work.

Whether you still need to deal with AT&T, Verizon, or Sprint about the currently active service does not in any way stop the phone from being unlocked.

With that said, T-Mobile iPhones as has been the case since the 4s was introduced, have never required activation on T-Mobile prior to usage.

This is just a corporate line T-Mobile and Apple spew out. But again over the years, it has been proven by many many people you can in fact stick any sim card from a supported GSM carrier and the iPhone will activate.

For all those that don;t believe this, I activated a T-Mobile iPhone 7 bought at the U.S. online store with a Mexican carrier's sim card, and guess what? it activated fine.

So again, just to outline once more and attempt to pout this to rest:

1.  When buying an iPhone for Verizon, AT&T, or Sprint you need active service at the moment of purchase.  This means either a current number with the selected carrier, or to activate service with them at that time. This however has nothing to do with iPhone's actual activation.

2.  The T-Mobile version does not require active service, or activation with them at all.  Simply remove the T-Mobile sim and activate with sim card of a carrier of your choice.

3. Warranty is not, and has never been International on iPhones.    Apple specifically states this.

Reading is a good skill.  You should try to master it.

The Terms and Conditions in iPhone warranties specifically state "may" as previously pointed out.  The T&C of iPad warranties state the same.  You neeed to stop spreading your "unique understanding" and start telling the truth.  I have had iPhones replaced overseas.  The overseas Apple Store may hesitate, but as long as you are willing to accept, if necessary, the different model number they offer, you will be ok. 

You also invent stories about activation.  There is no such thing as activating GSM vs CDMA portion of the iPhone.  The phone itself will not activate unless on the network through which Apple sells the phone, period.  Until you activate the phone, the GSM SIM slot is useless on a Sprint device.   Again, Apple support has stated this several times. Many people have attempted and failed to activate their phone because they were using a SIM card other than the network to which the phone is initially bound.

Before unfortunate victims actually believe your story and lose money, they should contact Apple support.  Prior to activation a Sprint phone is just a brick.  It cannot be activated in any manner unless done over the Sprint network.  Once activated, you can use it on any other network you choose. 

0p3raGh05t wrote:

 

Reading is a good skill.  You should try to master it.

 

The Terms and Conditions in iPhone warranties specifically state "may" as previously pointed out.  The T&C of iPad warranties state the same.  You neeed to stop spreading your "unique understanding" and start telling the truth.  I have had iPhones replaced overseas.

 

Unique?

What part of the thousands of people that have posted on these forums and all over the internet, and that were denied service outside of the country where they purchased the iPhone in is unique?

Are you seriously suggesting that all those people are wrong?  They did not get denied? They were making it up? Apple will and in fact has denied a service for iPhones outside of the country of purchase. This is something that actually happens, there's evidence. It is not my unique understanding. It has been proven many many times, by many many people.  I'm not denying you got an iPhone serviced, you may have, but its not the norm, and I woudl not suggest this is true in every case.

0p3raGh05t wrote:

 

Reading is a good skill.  You should try to master it.

 

 

 

You also invent stories about activation.  There is no such thing as activating GSM vs CDMA portion of the iPhone.  The phone itself will not activate unless on the network through which Apple sells the phone, period.

This is again wrong. There is a difference between CDMA and GSM activation.  CDMA is tied to the carrier it was sold for yes.   GSM in unlocked iPhones is not.  The entire point of being unlocked, is that activation can be done with a GSM sim card from any carrier at all. Otherwise its not unlocked.

If you knew anything about CDMA and GSM, you'd know that CDMA carriers did not use sim cards until LTE was introduced.  Activation on CDMA requires the device exist in the carrier's database before activation.

Unlocking does not apply to CDMA and as such requires the original carrier the iPhone was sold for in most cases.

0p3raGh05t wrote:

 

 

Until you activate the phone, the GSM SIM slot is useless on a Sprint device.   Again, Apple support has stated this several times. Many people have attempted and failed to activate their phone because they were using a SIM card other than the network to which the phone is initially bound.

 

 

And again it is wrong.  Unlocked means unlocked. It does not mean locked until activated with some specific carrier.

The GSM slot is unlocked and can be used with a sim card from any carrier.

Otherwise, and here is the big problem with this, Apple and the carriers could be sued for misrepresenting the product as unlocked.  As in they would be lying by telling people it is unlocked when it is not.

The only one who needs to stop making things up, and trying to sound knowledgeable about things they have no idea  about this is you.

I've been doing this with iPhones since the 4s was released, and every year the same thing happens: confusion misinformation, and every year it ends up being the same. Unlocked iPhones are unlocked.  Period.

Stop misguiding people.

Good news apple start selling free sim Iphone no more worries if the phone is unlocked or not