inisfad wrote:
Yes, I do have a 'free' worthless phone. And the fact that the US
Congress passed a law that requires carriers to unlock these phones for
consumers, as well as the fact that, while Verizon is 'complying' with
the law by allowing the ability, they do so in a way that continues to
protect their interest (the reason for locking in the first place) as
well as making it inconvenient for the consumer. There is absolutely no
benefit whatsoever that Verizon gains by not unlocking phones that are
situated beyond the boundaries of the US. It's unlikely that anyone
here can think of one. The phone is beyond the scope of the Verizon
network. And, funnily enough, if the phone was unlocked and I traveled
to the US, I would be compelled to use the Verizon network if I brought
the phone. So, in essence, it's not even a good business practice.
It is not inconvenient for the Verizon consumer. A simple call will get the phone unlocked.
No benefit to Verizon for not unlocking their phone? How about you STILL have to use a Verizon SIM in Ireland if you want to use the phone AND pay Verizon for doing so? How about the person who owns the phone can ONLY use it on Verizon until it is unlocked? That seems to be a benefit. Being used on another provider is certainly not a benefit to Verizon.
Funnily enough, IF the phone was unlocked and you traveled to the US, you could STILL use the same SIM card you were using in Ireland. You WOULD NOT have to use a Verizon SIM card. Again, not doing your research AND this is possibly yet another BENEFIT for Verizon NOT unlocking the phone as since it is NOT unlocked and you traveled to the US, you would have to use a Verizon SIM card for service instead of your SIM card from you Irish provider.
Simple solution. Sell the phone and purchase one for your network. Alternative solution, go on swappa.com and trade with someone for an UNLOCKED Verizon iPhone 4S. Another alternative would be to do nothing, continue to complain and STILL have an unlocked iPhone 4S. Me, I would prefer to do something which would get me a working phone like option 1 or option 2.
Good luck with whatever you choose to do.
inisfad wrote:
A bit of misinformation, I think
Not sure how, as nothing in your post contradicts anything I said.
inisfad wrote:
Geesh. You said this:
How about you STILL have to use a Verizon SIM in Ireland if you want
to use the phone AND pay Verizon for doing so?
And I believe I replied this:
Once unlocked, you have the choice of either using the Verizon
international sim - still retaining your original phone number, or a
local GSM sim with a local phone number
I don't believe that the two statements are synonymous....
ACTUALLY, I said this:
No benefit to Verizon for not unlocking their phone? How about you STILL have to use a Verizon SIM in Ireland if you want to use the phone AND pay Verizon for doing so?
Which stipulates the phone STILL being locked AND a benefit to Verizon in as much as you "STILL have to use a Verizon SIM in Ireland if you want to use the phone AND pay Verizon for doing so?"
YOUR statement about an UNLOCKED phone in no way contradicts my statement about a LOCKED phone.
Of course, if you simply don't read the first portion of my post, I can see how you can misinterpret.
But you are correct, 2 statements, one about a locked phone and another about an unlocked phone ARE NOT synonymous...
inisfad wrote:
Frankly, I still think you are mistaken, unless you can explain to me
HOW you can use ANY Verizon phone that is still locked in Ireland (or
most other places in the world). There is NO CDMA network here - the
phone must be unlocked so that it will use the GSM transceiver.....
The Verizon iPhone 4S is a Global device with BOTH CDMA and GSM radios and as such, you can activate Verizon's Global Plan in order to use it internationally on either a CDMA OR GSM network with Verizon's service partners internationally.
You can simply input the country and device in Verizon's Interactive Trip Planner in order to see if the device of a Verizon customer is eligible for this plan. Inputting the information of the iPhone 4S with a destination country of Ireland brings back the information listed below meaning you CAN use the iPhone 4S on a Verizon plan with a Verizon SIM card inserted in the iPhone 4S in Ireland.
I hope this is explanation enough on HOW a Verizon customer can use a LOCKED Verizon iPhone 4S in Ireland.
Of course, it would be cheaper for a Verizon customer to first unlock the iPhone 4S before making this trip in order that they would be able to get much cheaper rates from a local provider using a local SIM card, but this is not an option for you since you are not a Verizon customer. I along with many others on these forums have advised this to people asking this same question many times in the past as I along with many other feel Verizon's International rates are overpriced. While I don't intend to use their international rates, instead choosing to use a local SIM card via a local provider when making such a trip, I understand their right to charge the rates they decide upon.
inisfad wrote:
Now, just solely as a matter of principle, I would ask that you explain
how you can use a locked Verizon phone in a GSM network. The locked
Verizon phone will not work on GSM. And despite your information to the
contrary, once Verizon unlocks the sim, so that the GSM network is
recognized, if you are out of the country, you do not have to continue
to use the Verizon sim (and pay their rates). You can use a local sim.
I read your response again (and again) and I don't see how you are
saying that.
Not sure what you are saying here.
Verizon allows you to do this because that is how they have set it up thru Apple. Verizon allows use of THEIR SIM CARD without having the phone unlocked for use with other SIM cards. What part of that is so hard to understand? Simply because it does not work how you would like does not make it any different.
Despite my information to the contrary? It is not MY information, it is Verizon's information from their website. Whether or not you believe it makes no matter. This information supplied is directly from the Verizon website. Believe it or don't believe it. Doesn't matter to me.
Verizon's website is simply information telling a Verizon customer how to add a global calling/data/text plan to their phone using a Verizon SIM card, including a Verizon iPhone 4S phone. Verizon has a DIFFERENT method to UNLOCK a Verizon iPhone 4S for use with international SIM cards.
Knowing this information, though, doesn't matter ONE BIT. You obviously ARE NOT a Verizon customer and would like your Verizon iPhone 4S unlocked. The fact that you are unable to use your SIM card from an Irish provider tells you at least one thing, your phone IS NOT UNLOCKED.
Whether or not you believe the information on Verizon's website WILL NOT change that fact. Whether or not you believe Verizon is able to allow THEIR service on THEIR iPhone with THEIR SIM card while not allowing service with a SIM card from another provider will not change the fact you are unable to use a SIM card from your provider.
The fact that Verizon has requirements regarding an iPhone 4S unlock process, as described HERE, which ARE NOT required for adding global service to the account of a Verizon customer seems to make it obvious the 2 methods of unlocking the phone for international use(with Verizon service and without Verizon service) are different.
Yes, you are probably right, you really CAN use your iPhone with the SIM card from your provider. Simply try it again, I am sure it will work and all the info on Verizon's site is incorrect. You should also try calling Verizon again about unlocking your phone. I am sure all of the information you have been given is wrong and/or misleading and you will be successful in getting your phone unlocked thru Verizon.
Good luck.