Unlocked Iphone 4S option available on Apple store??
somnia
Newbie

On the preorder page it says the unlocked iphone 4s is coming in Nov. I don't quite get what's the point of having an unlocked version. Isn't the only advantage is letting you to switch between carrier in US meaning you don't have to stick with either Verizon or ATT? It says that the "unlocked Iphone 4" not "Iphone 4S" and also it can be used on GSM which is redundant since Iphone 4S is capable on GSM as well. Is it Apple or am I missing something here?

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Re: Unlocked Iphone 4S option available on Apple store??
NYCmark
Newbie

I think it may allow you to switch out the micro sim to a local carrier when you travel abroad.  so if forexample you were going to the UK for a month, you could just pop in a local tmobile store there when you arrived and buy a sim with 20 pounds on it and then top up every so often.   Then all you incoming calls are free, and your outgoing calls are WAY cheaper..

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Re: Unlocked Iphone 4S option available on Apple store??
somnia
Newbie

Isn't it a given that the regular Verizon iphone 4S can do just that? That's why it's called world phone isnt it?

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Re: Unlocked Iphone 4S option available on Apple store??
NYCmark
Newbie

Nope a locked phone can roam on another providers GSM network, but you still have your sim, your number, and pay a high rate.   If you actually had an unlocked phone and swapped out the sim for a local one, you'd have a different number (a local one) and your calls would be much cheaper.  in fact in most european countries if you are on your home GSM network (not roaming) all incoming calls are totally free..

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Re: Unlocked Iphone 4S option available on Apple store??
silver6055
Specialist - Level 1

Also, that same apple page implies that the unlocked version will not be able to use CDMA:

 

CDMA available only if iPhone 4S is sold and activated for use on a CDMA network.

 

so Verizon users shouldn't buy that version!  The hope is that VZ will allow the phone to be unlocked once you buy it on Verizon.

They do this with other world phones (with conditions) but no-one knows if they will do it for this phone (AT&T unlock policy was different for their iPhone than for their other phones).

 

This is really quite important, as the standard VZ international roaming rates are very high for both data and voice.

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Re: Unlocked Iphone 4S option available on Apple store??
kaebfly
Champion - Level 3

silver6055 wrote:

Also, that same apple page implies that the unlocked version will not be able to use CDMA:

 

CDMA available only if iPhone 4S is sold and activated for use on a CDMA network.

 

so Verizon users shouldn't buy that version!  The hope is that VZ will allow the phone to be unlocked once you buy it on Verizon.

They do this with other world phones (with conditions) but no-one knows if they will do it for this phone (AT&T unlock policy was different for their iPhone than for their other phones).

 

This is really quite important, as the standard VZ international roaming rates are very high for both data and voice.



VZW users can't buy that phone. The option doesn't exist. It can only be purchased for GSM networks such as AT&T...the Apple site says this clearly.

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Re: Unlocked Iphone 4S option available on Apple store??
silver6055
Specialist - Level 1

I think we agree!   However, my comment was really towards the OP,  Clearly Verizon Wireless customers will be able to order the unlocked phone from the Apple site, they just shouldn't if they plan to use it on Verizon.

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Re: Unlocked Iphone 4S option available on Apple store??
21stNow
Master - Level 1

The iPhone 4S that is available for pre-order now is a world phone that is still locked to your carrier. 

 

The unlocked iPhone 4S that is coming in November is an unlocked GSM phone that will work for any GSM carrier, including those in the US.  In other words, if an AT&T customer bought the unlocked iPhone 4S, she could use the same phone on T-Mobile, even though there will be no access to high-speed data from T-Mobile.  That same AT&T customer is free to go to Europe and use a local SIM card, with no further unlocking action needed on the customer's part.

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Re: Unlocked Iphone 4S option available on Apple store??
jthespartan
Newbie

You've got it right.  You buy the Verizon version = you use Verizon's network in the US.  You can also use Verizon's network abroad and pay the massive international fees.

 

With most world phones from Verizon (all?), you can call in and have them unlock it for you when you're abroad.  I did this when I went to West Africa.  It allowed me to purchase a local sim, pop it into my phone, and use that while I was abroad.  It gave me a local Ghanain phone number and data rates.  So instead of the phone looking for Verizon's overseas roamer (i.e. Vodaphone as the SIM is a Vodaphone SIM), it looked for a Ghanain roamer.

 

In other words... the phone operates like this.

 

1. Look for Verizon CDMA

2. Look for Vodaphone GSM (because the SIM is GSM)

3. Use the other SIM and look for that

 

Then, when I came back I threw away the SIM card and was back on Verizon's network.

 

But here's the MAJOR question.  Will Verizon and/or Apple allow Verizon to unlock the iPhone 4s so it can even use a non-Vodaphone SIM card while you're abroad???  THAT is the issue.

 

 

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