"Unlocking" iPhone 5

[daryl66]

SWMBO's iPhone 5 (Verizon Wireless) contract will be fulfilled  next month so she will take title of the phone at that time.  Exploring options at this time.  No complaints with Verizon Wireless service, but it would be nice to have have some options. RITE??

Perusing around the web I cannot seem to get a a definite  picture in this aging brain.  Can "Unlocking" the iPhone be as simple as replacing the Nano Sim card???    All of the major players seem to have some sort of "pay as you go" plans

I do realize that there are no "free lunches" out there so "options" may or may not really exist. But not being tied to a long term contract has  appeal. AND I am going to bail on the "share everything" data plan. 20/20 hindsight.  NOT a great plan for this household.

AND awaiting delivery of the new refurb iPad mini (the apple stuff just keeps adding up)

Daryl

[tacit]

QUOTE(daryl66 @ Aug 16 2014, 03:24 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

SWMBO's iPhone 5 (Verizon Wireless) contract will be fulfilled  next month so she will take title of the phone at that time.  Exploring options at this time.  No complaints with Verizon Wireless service, but it would be nice to have have some options. RITE??

Perusing around the web I cannot seem to get a a definite  picture in this aging brain.  Can "Unlocking" the iPhone be as simple as replacing the Nano Sim card???    All of the major players seem to have some sort of "pay as you go" plans

I do realize that there are no "free lunches" out there so "options" may or may not really exist. But not being tied to a long term contract has  appeal. AND I am going to bail on the "share everything" data plan. 20/20 hindsight.  NOT a great plan for this household.

AND awaiting delivery of the new refurb iPad mini (the apple stuff just keeps adding up)

Daryl

Just putting a new SIM in will not unlock the phone. If the SIM is from a non-Verizon carrier, it won't work. You do need to unlock the phone, which you can do by taking it to a Verizon center, before you can use another SIM with it.

[daryl66]

QUOTE(tacit @ Aug 15 2014, 11:57 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

QUOTE(daryl66 @ Aug 16 2014, 03:24 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Just putting a new SIM in will not unlock the phone. If the SIM is from a non-Verizon carrier, it won't work. You do need to unlock the phone, which you can do by taking it to a Verizon center, before you can use another SIM with it.

Thank you Tacit. The fog is now lifted. KISS not applicable. If it sounds/seems to be to good to be true, it probably is.

Daryl

[Paddy]

Uh, Daryl, are you sure it's not already unlocked? Verizon sells the iPhone 5 unlocked; I don't know how long they've been doing that, though, but judging from the date of the article linked below, yours may be unlocked. If not, you can take it to them and they'll do it for free (lucky you - our carriers must do it if requested 90 days into a contract or if you buy the phone outright, but they all charge $35-50 to do it!!).

See: http://www.cultofmac.com/192835/the-real-r...ctory-unlocked/

[daryl66]

QUOTE(Paddy @ Aug 16 2014, 01:40 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Uh, Daryl, are you sure it's not already unlocked? Verizon sells the iPhone 5 unlocked; I don't know how long they've been doing that, though, but judging from the date of the article linked below, yours may be unlocked. If not, you can take it to them and they'll do it for free (lucky you - our carriers must do it if requested 90 days into a contract or if you buy the phone outright, but they all charge $35-50 to do it!!).

See: http://www.cultofmac.com/192835/the-real-r...ctory-unlocked/

Welll now that is an interesting read. This phone was one of first iPhone 5's available from VW here.  Had to wait about 2 weeks before they could deliver it.  I do not have a clue as to whether  or not it is "unlocked", I just assumed that it was. Short of replacing the nano sim card and trying it, do you know how I might check it?

Daryl

 

Just spent about 10 days north of the border and EVERYTHING up there is expensive.  We are seeing more and more BC and Alberta cars in the parking lots of the big box stores, and the mall(s) both here and over in WA

[daryl66]

[quote name='daryl66' date='Aug 16 2014, 03:00 PM' post='201198']
[quote name='Paddy' post='201196' date='Aug 16 2014, 01:40 PM']

Welll now that is an interesting read. This phone was one of first iPhone 5's available from VW here.  Had to wait about 2 weeks before they could deliver it.  I do not have a clue as to whether  or not it is "unlocked", I just assumed that it was. Short of replacing the nano sim card and trying it, do you know how I might check it?

Daryl




Well I may have found the answer here.  http://www.idownloadblog.com/2012/10/31/ho...ctory-unlocked/

SWMBO is traveling today with the device so wont be able to check it out until she returns tomorrow.

Thanks Paddy

[daryl66]

QUOTE

Well I may have found the answer here.  http://www.idownloadblog.com/2012/10/31/ho...ctory-unlocked/

This site is now a "subscription site".  I did bite the bullet and pony up for the $2.99 because I am curious. The site took the IMEI info and then displayed all of the pertinent  info EXCEPT the lock/unlock status.   After registering it acknowledges  the info then displays a screen with  "progress" info.  It also states that it could take from 1-24 hours.  Guess we shall see what we shall see.  The site appears to be in Poland.

Daryl

[Paddy]

QUOTE(daryl66 @ Aug 17 2014, 01:16 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

QUOTE

Well I may have found the answer here.  http://www.idownloadblog.com/2012/10/31/ho...ctory-unlocked/

This site is now a "subscription site".  I did bite the bullet and pony up for the $2.99 because I am curious. The site took the IMEI info and then displayed all of the pertinent  info EXCEPT the lock/unlock status.   After registering it acknowledges  the info then displays a screen with  "progress" info.  It also states that it could take from 1-24 hours.  Guess we shall see what we shall see.  The site appears to be in Poland.

Daryl

Um...might want to read this: http://forums.macrumors.com/showthread.php...2190&page=2

Apparently, they often show ALL phones as locked, since they're in the business of selling unlocking.

You could try here: http://www.iphoneimei.info (free) - it told me my lock status was "unknown" - not sure whether that's because it's not a US phone or what. I *know* mine IS locked to the Rogers network - just wanted to see if it actually worked.

Or...just call Verizon customer service. I'm sure they can tell you, in a lot less time than either of us have probably now spent.

[daryl66]

QUOTE

You could try here: http://www.iphoneimei.info (free) - it told me my lock status was "unknown" - not sure whether that's because it's not a US phone or what. I *know* mine IS locked to the Rogers network - just wanted to see if it actually worked.

Or...just call Verizon customer service. I'm sure they can tell you, in a lot less time than either of us have probably now spent.

Verizon?

Aww Paddy, you take all the fun out.

Your site says mine is  also "Unknown"   also so there must be some validity to the claims.

[daryl66]

QUOTE(daryl66 @ Aug 17 2014, 02:05 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Verizon?

Aww Paddy, you take all the fun out.

The saga  continues.     IMEI  responded sometime during the night with all of the "pertinent" stuff.  They say that the phone is "UNBRICKED" whatever that means and the phone is Locked.

So happens we are going out this morning, intend to stop by the Verizon Wireless store here and see what they say.

Daryl

[Xairbusdriver]

"BRICKED" is what you call a phone that has an OS "modified" to load "unauthorized" code (apps/resources/etc). The phone becomes similar to a real brick in the sense that it is pretty much useless for anything.

I would assume, paranoid user that I am, that they attempted to download/access your phones OS. For testing purposes, of course! I highly recommend you clear the caches on Safari, Reboot the phone and probably Restore from iTunes. Wait! It's not an iPhone, is it? Oh well, just double-check sites before accessing them in the future, especially those behind the rusted Iron Curtain, China, most of Africa and anywhere else you've never visited recently. As Paddy says, it's quick to let a Version clerk tell you if it is locked.

[daryl66]

QUOTE

So happens we are going out this morning, intend to stop by the Verizon Wireless store here and see what they say.

Daryl

FWIW, and if anyone gives a tinkers d---.  The folks at the Verizon Wireless store were about as much help as Mumjubar (sp). After taking a number then waiting about 30 minutes we finally got a sweet young gal, who after explaining we only wanted to know if the iPhone 5 was locked or unlocked, we had to endure her pitch, humming and hawing and explaining that even if it WAS unlocked it may or may not work on AT&T's network.(who cares). When I finally  asked her point blank "is this phone locked or not". She disappeared for about 15 minutes into the back room (enlisting  more high powered help would be my guess) She advised:   This iPhone 5 was the very first iPhone that VW offered that came out of the box unlocked.

Would I want to bet my life's savings (abt 15 bucks) on that response,   I don't think so.  Doesn't really matter as we will probably stay with VW as there has been zero complaints about the service.  Just the 'Plans" that they offer.  Ohh well, what the heck.

Daryl  

[Xairbusdriver]

Oh! I didn't know you were going to their store! I should have warned you to download and print out their Form 931-FZ 2.3 version D in triplicate and send the canary copy (be sure you use that color paper, BTW) to the store first. They will then FAX headquarters to get a work-order approval code that you then take to the store. Be sure you arrive on-time, also; if you're more than five minutes late, you lose you slot and have to start over but with a different Form.

I think the easiest method is to drive to Paddy's next time!    Of course, you'll have to get directions to that fancy house-in-the-woods she likes to hide at in the Summer...

[daryl66]

QUOTE(Xairbusdriver @ Aug 18 2014, 03:39 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Oh! I didn't know you were going to their store! I should have warned you to download and print out their Form 931-FZ 2.3 version D in triplicate and send the canary copy (be sure you use that color paper, BTW) to the store first.

That explains it.  I only had 2 copies and it was version B. Jeeze Louise do I ever miss the $22 per month telephone that came with a rotary dial and all the whistles.

[Paddy]

QUOTE(Xairbusdriver @ Aug 18 2014, 04:39 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I think the easiest method is to drive to Paddy's next time!    Of course, you'll have to get directions to that fancy house-in-the-woods she likes to hide at in the Summer...

While I'd be happy to have visitors, if you go looking for me in the woods, you'll be looking for a while. We have some nice big maples and a couple of spruce, but there ain't no woods 'round here. This is farm country, although a bit of it in our vicinity is now housing. Instead of a 10 acre cow field across from us that I grew up with, we have a monster house and another 7 more normal, though not cheap (!) houses/houses-to-be. It's actually quite funny - there is a big sign in the lawn of the monster house (which was not built by the developer who built the other houses) advertising the other houses - "Active lifestyle bungalows" is the tag line, clearly marketed towards retirees. The thing is, nobody who has bought one of the houses is retired - several of them have very young families. They got the "active" part right, at least - they're chasing 3-year-olds around! The monster house tends to provoke a lot of comments from cyclists, joggers and walkers passing by. Cars slow down - sometimes even stop. I can hear them from behind the hedge when I'm working in the vegetable garden. Best comment so far, from a woman cyclist peddling by, to her friend, "Do you think that's what they mean by "active lifestyle bungalows"? Her friend said she didn't think so!

So...not really fancy, just comfortable...and no woods. And yes, that is Lake Ontario in two of the photos, but it's been doing that disappear-into-the-horizon thing all day today; it's been very calm. And COLD. It struggled up to about 68. Whither summer? Sure hasn't been seen around here lately!

Photo #1 - our view to the east along the shore, #2 - the neighbour's house across the road (aka "the monster house") and #3 - our cottage/lake house and view to the lake. Hmmm...maybe we should start a thread "what does it look like where you live?" We all know what Frances' neck of the woods (or lack thereof ) looks like - might be fun to see what everyone else's neighbourhood looks like!