Topic Wiki

I think there is a big misunderstanding what locked/unlocked means.

All phones that are made are always assigned to a carrier (yes even the ones that say "Factory GSM Unlocked") to prove that just look up the model of the phone and you will see what carrier it was assigned to.

In order for a phone to have service the company has to know that you want service on this phone.

In the past company's like Sprint and Verizon did not work with a sim card they worked with the id of the phone to recognize what kind of phone / what carrier it was assigned to. This is know as CDMA. Yet company's like att/t-mobile did that too but the service was applied by using a sim.

Once LTE came out for what ever reason all company switched to the "Sim technology". There is still one thing that did not change, each carrier has their assigned bands that they have from the FCC that they are allowed to use.

Being that there are standard bands that every one uses (for international or the like) these are included in every phone. So.... All verizon phones will work on att, BUT will only have the bands for slower internet since those are standard bands.

Now verizon's LTE band is NOT a standard nor is their CDMA a standard so an att or a t-mobile phone will NOT be able to accept a Verizon sim.

Now lets go to sprint phones,

All other company's when they had the phones made for them all they do is have it customized for its own use (Read: their own LTE bands). Sprint on the other hand not only did they have them customize it they put a lock in the software blocking all local USA bands (Verizon ATT and Tmobile).

They even go a step farther and they still do the old way of checking the device ID to see if its a sprint phone or not.

Hope this explains a few things feel free to ask any questions.

Att has an easy way to ask for an unlock https://att.com/deviceunlock

How to check a Sprint iPhone (only): You cannot check it with an american sim you must put in a foreign sim. You DO NOT have to backup and restore as sprint sends in the email! Connect to wifi before starting this procedure.

When you put the sim in one of 3 things will happen.
1. It will say no service in the top right corner = Unlocked
2. It will do a soft restart and ask you for your apple id password = Almost unlocked, after putting in the password its unlocked
3. It will do a soft restart and say "Sim not valid" = Phone is locked

If you got number 2. and you dont know the password just put in your old sim and all will return. When you find out the password repeat the steps.

Willmyphonework.net Can check if the phone will work
« Last edited by yakov116 on June 29, 2016, 01:34:42 PM »

Author Topic: cell phone unlocking  (Read 157866 times)

Offline ethana

  • Dansdeals Platinum Elite
  • ****
  • Join Date: Mar 2013
  • Posts: 475
  • Total likes: 9
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 0
    • View Profile
  • Location: new york
Re: cell phone unlocking
« Reply #140 on: January 06, 2014, 09:56:29 AM »
Anyone know how to unlock an iphone 4?

Thanks

Offline elikay

  • Dansdeals Lifetime Presidential Platinum Elite
  • *********
  • Join Date: May 2010
  • Posts: 5400
  • Total likes: 38
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 2
    • View Profile
Re: cell phone unlocking
« Reply #141 on: January 06, 2014, 03:03:28 PM »
If you can jailbreak it, it should be easy.

Offline SrulyP

  • Dansdeals Platinum Elite + Lifetime Silver Elite
  • *****
  • Join Date: Jul 2013
  • Posts: 665
  • Total likes: 7
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 0
    • View Profile
  • Programs: SPG Gold; Hyatt Platinum; National Emerald EE; Hertz five star; Avis Five Star
Re: cell phone unlocking
« Reply #142 on: February 03, 2014, 06:04:00 PM »
Has there been any update on unlocking an iPhone 5 AT&T that is still on contract? Would love to be able to do this...

Offline stevendre

  • Dansdeals Silver Elite
  • **
  • Join Date: Oct 2011
  • Posts: 74
  • Total likes: 0
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 2
    • View Profile
  • Location: New York
Re: cell phone unlocking
« Reply #143 on: February 03, 2014, 10:53:59 PM »
Anyway to use a Verizon galaxy s4 in Israel?

Offline Name Changed

  • Dansdeals Presidential Platinum Elite
  • ********
  • Join Date: Sep 2011
  • Posts: 4831
  • Total likes: 6
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 13
    • View Profile
  • Location: Lakewood
  • Programs: Avis Presidents Club, National Executive Elite, Hertz Presidents Circle, Sixt Platinum, SPG Gold, eBay Platinum
Re: cell phone unlocking
« Reply #144 on: February 03, 2014, 10:57:42 PM »
Anyway to use a Verizon galaxy s4 in Israel?
Comes unlocked

Offline stevendre

  • Dansdeals Silver Elite
  • **
  • Join Date: Oct 2011
  • Posts: 74
  • Total likes: 0
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 2
    • View Profile
  • Location: New York
Re: cell phone unlocking
« Reply #145 on: February 03, 2014, 11:00:39 PM »
Yes it does.  But theres no place to add a new apn for data.  So basically its unlocked for voice.   Is there a way to get data working?

Offline notanonymous

  • Dansdeals Lifetime Platinum Elite
  • *******
  • Join Date: May 2013
  • Posts: 2111
  • Total likes: 2
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 0
    • View Profile
Re: cell phone unlocking
« Reply #146 on: February 04, 2014, 01:49:28 AM »
Yes it does.  But theres no place to add a new apn for data.  So basically its unlocked for voice.   Is there a way to get data working?
##3282#?

Offline elit

  • Dansdeals Lifetime Platinum Elite
  • *******
  • Join Date: Jun 2008
  • Posts: 1349
  • Total likes: 119
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 0
  • Gender: Male
    • View Profile
Re: cell phone unlocking
« Reply #147 on: February 19, 2014, 09:20:41 PM »
Whats the current situation with unlocking an att iphone 4s?  I am under contract and not going oversees and don't want to say I am in the army etc....

Offline DovtheBear

  • Dansdeals Presidential Platinum Elite
  • ********
  • Join Date: Nov 2012
  • Posts: 2915
  • Total likes: 9
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 14
    • View Profile
  • Location: ליבי במזרח ואנכי בסוף מערב
  • Programs: Regus Gold, Hertz 5 Star, National Executive, Sixt Platinum, Chase Debit, Rav Kav Emerald
Re: cell phone unlocking
« Reply #148 on: February 24, 2014, 06:55:16 PM »
Is it possible to get a Boost or Virgin Mobile phone to work on Verizon?
How about to work on Sprint?
"להסתובב זה לא אומר להיות חופשי"

Offline cozmohoot

  • Dansdeals Presidential Platinum Elite
  • ********
  • Join Date: Jan 2012
  • Posts: 4440
  • Total likes: 95
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 5
    • View Profile
  • Location: NY
Re: cell phone unlocking
« Reply #149 on: February 25, 2014, 07:56:05 PM »
Is it possible to get a Boost or Virgin Mobile phone to work on Verizon?
How about to work on Sprint?
definitely possible. U need a flashing specialist

Offline elikay

  • Dansdeals Lifetime Presidential Platinum Elite
  • *********
  • Join Date: May 2010
  • Posts: 5400
  • Total likes: 38
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 2
    • View Profile
Re: cell phone unlocking
« Reply #150 on: February 25, 2014, 08:12:55 PM »
Is it possible to get a Boost or Virgin Mobile phone to work on Verizon?
How about to work on Sprint?
Pageplus should be the easiest, though if the port is locked you won't be able to flash it anywhere.

Offline DovtheBear

  • Dansdeals Presidential Platinum Elite
  • ********
  • Join Date: Nov 2012
  • Posts: 2915
  • Total likes: 9
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 14
    • View Profile
  • Location: ליבי במזרח ואנכי בסוף מערב
  • Programs: Regus Gold, Hertz 5 Star, National Executive, Sixt Platinum, Chase Debit, Rav Kav Emerald
Re: cell phone unlocking
« Reply #151 on: February 25, 2014, 08:14:31 PM »
definitely possible. U need a flashing specialist
That's why I'm here. :)
Pageplus should be the easiest, though if the port is locked you won't be able to flash it anywhere.
Google translate no worky.
I'm looking to Sprint and/or Verizon.
"להסתובב זה לא אומר להיות חופשי"

Offline macher

  • Dansdeals Bronze Elite
  • *
  • Join Date: Nov 2011
  • Posts: 47
  • Total likes: 0
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 0
    • View Profile
  • Location: nyc
Re: cell phone unlocking
« Reply #152 on: March 10, 2014, 05:30:42 PM »
Looking to unlock a iphone 5.

Locked with t-mobile due to failure to pay bill ( Bought on craigslist )


Let me know if you can do it, or what are my options

Offline Jay the PRESIDENT

  • Dansdeals Platinum Elite + Lifetime Gold Elite
  • ******
  • Join Date: Oct 2008
  • Posts: 823
  • Total likes: 4
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 0
  • Gender: Male
    • View Profile
Re: cell phone unlocking
« Reply #153 on: April 02, 2014, 10:35:51 PM »
Has anyone recently used a friends AT&T account to unlock AT&T iphone (purchased on ebay etc.)?
it looks like officially the AT&T account has to be associated with the iphone.

Offline Jay the PRESIDENT

  • Dansdeals Platinum Elite + Lifetime Gold Elite
  • ******
  • Join Date: Oct 2008
  • Posts: 823
  • Total likes: 4
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 0
  • Gender: Male
    • View Profile
Re: cell phone unlocking
« Reply #154 on: May 18, 2014, 05:48:18 PM »
Does a  "factory unlocked iphone" necessarily mean it will work with all GSM carriers (and LTE)? or are there 2 factory unlocked versions: one for CDMA and one for GSM?

Offline DanH

  • Dansdeals Lifetime Platinum Elite
  • *******
  • Join Date: Oct 2011
  • Posts: 2181
  • Total likes: 26
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 2
    • View Profile
Re: cell phone unlocking
« Reply #155 on: May 18, 2014, 05:54:13 PM »
Does a  "factory unlocked iphone" necessarily mean it will work with all GSM carriers (and LTE)? or are there 2 factory unlocked versions: one for CDMA and one for GSM?
I've never heard of a factory-unlocked CDMA phone.  At best, the CDMA company will unlock it, but not Apple.
For tech help feel free to Telegram me @DanTechSupp

Offline Jay the PRESIDENT

  • Dansdeals Platinum Elite + Lifetime Gold Elite
  • ******
  • Join Date: Oct 2008
  • Posts: 823
  • Total likes: 4
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 0
  • Gender: Male
    • View Profile
Re: cell phone unlocking
« Reply #156 on: May 18, 2014, 05:55:31 PM »
I've never heard of a factory-unlocked CDMA phone.  At best, the CDMA company will unlock it, but not Apple.
Thanks!

Offline DanH

  • Dansdeals Lifetime Platinum Elite
  • *******
  • Join Date: Oct 2011
  • Posts: 2181
  • Total likes: 26
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 2
    • View Profile
Re: cell phone unlocking
« Reply #157 on: May 18, 2014, 06:10:13 PM »
I've never heard of a factory-unlocked CDMA phone.  At best, the CDMA company will unlock it, but not Apple.
Confirmed:
https://discussions.apple.com/thread/4575189?tstart=0
For tech help feel free to Telegram me @DanTechSupp

Offline Jay the PRESIDENT

  • Dansdeals Platinum Elite + Lifetime Gold Elite
  • ******
  • Join Date: Oct 2008
  • Posts: 823
  • Total likes: 4
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 0
  • Gender: Male
    • View Profile
Re: cell phone unlocking
« Reply #158 on: May 18, 2014, 06:28:54 PM »
Confirmed:
https://discussions.apple.com/thread/4575189?tstart=0
Thanks again...
Would a verizon iphone 5 would work with a US GSM carrier (tmobile) ?


Offline AbrahamS.NY

  • DansDeals Copper Elite
  • *
  • Join Date: May 2014
  • Posts: 2
  • Total likes: 0
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 0
    • View Profile
  • Location: NY
Re: cell phone unlocking
« Reply #159 on: May 18, 2014, 06:45:26 PM »
Anyone with a AT&T account so that I can request to unlock my iPhone?