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70 Comments
- badqat, on 11/09/2009, -0/+32Unlocked or not, you won't be using it on Verizon. T-Mobile, yes. Regional GSM carriers, yes. CDMA carriers like Verizon or Sprint - nope, not going to happen with any current iPhone.
- asskicker32, on 11/09/2009, -5/+37Seriously? I hate how people think the iphone is going to work on verizon because
a) Verizon has worse customer service than AT&T
b) Verizon is CDMA and the iPhone is GSM only. They are different technologies. They would need a NEW iphone only for Verizon; a CDMA compatible version.
A "carrier unlock" doesnt change the technology inside. - WolfHook, on 11/09/2009, -0/+13@plastikfracture, you honesty think that Apple will let major retailers use Ultrasn0w to unlock iPhones for customers?
You think that the development team at Apple will let that happen and not provide their own official unlock tool?
I wonder how long till the official unlock software leaks on torrent sites and the like. - Otto, on 11/09/2009, -1/+11To officially unlock any phone, it's basically the same process. You give them the code in the phone somewhere, the carrier contacts the manufacturer to get the unlock code, which you then type in. This unlocks it.
It has been reported that Apple has no official channel set up with AT&T to provide unlock codes at present. However, the functionality is known to exist, and there is a way for them to generate unlock codes for iPhones. - Rabid_Llama, on 11/09/2009, -0/+9They sell officially-unlocked iPhones in Europe already in the first place. So they'll use whatever official means that Apple uses in Europe to unlock the phones.
- Jnewman83, on 11/09/2009, -1/+8While you would need a new phone indeed, I would settle for sub par customer service when I can get better actual phone service. Besides, I can't remember the last time I called Verizon for support, and the in store reps have always been accommodating for whatever issue I may have.
I can't tell you how many of my iPhone friends have horrible signal when I'm running on at least a couple bars most of the time. And thats in Buffalo, New York - darkism, on 11/09/2009, -0/+7So the question becomes "how does one *officially* unlock the phone" ? I'm sure they're not running it through ultrasn0w.
- evilhomer2300, on 11/09/2009, -5/+11You know whats funny?
A) Verizon Actually has the best customer service, and JD Power even thinks so: <A class=user href="http://www.cioupdate.com/news/article.php/3748771/ ... rel=nofollow>http://www.cioupdate.com/news/article.php/3748771/ ...</A>
B) Qualcomm's "worldmode" hybrid component chipset will allow for both Verizon and other GSM carriers to have the SAME phone, allowing for all carriers to use the same handset. They will NOT need a special "Verizon iPhone."
<A class=user href="http://www.appleinsider.com/articles/09/11/06/repo ... rel=nofollow>http://www.appleinsider.com/articles/09/11/06/repo ...</A>
Also, remember that Verizon is the only carrier that has the LTE network running, and is going to launch it next year commercially. And that is also based on the same GSM SIM card style technology that the current generation of iPhone uses. - dkla, on 11/09/2009, -0/+5Pwnage jailbreaks, Ultrasn0w then unlocks.
- Fleagleman, on 11/09/2009, -0/+5Shoulda coulda woulda.
This is great...for the 7% of Digg users that are in the UK. If we see something promising for the States, then I'll get excited. I won't hold my breath. - herchu, on 11/09/2009, -0/+5In a Spanish forum some people who successfully free their iPhone wrote that they sent Telefonica the IMEI, contract details and all sort of information and after a couple of days when they sync phone with iTunes the program reports that they can use the device with any SIM.
(I can't certify how trustful are these reports...) - Kardall, on 11/09/2009, -0/+5In Canada, Telus and Bell are the two CDMA carriers, while Rogers is the only GSM carrier. Rogers has had the iPhone for a while now, and on Nov. 5th, Telus and Bell both got the iPhone.
The only way we could get it, is by launching our own HSPA+ (3G.5) network in Canada. That is what Telus did, and a bunch of red tape to go through with apple to get it. However, it took a while and it's here now. I'm pretty sure that's what Verizon would have to do to get it. - raynar, on 11/09/2009, -0/+5then you believe wrong. it unlocks as well.
- superkendall, on 11/09/2009, -1/+5Verizon has a new network going in, but the coverage for that is going to be pretty spotty for a while - and the whole reason to go with Verizon is coverage.
- Skootles, on 11/09/2009, -0/+4Here in Canada, the two major CDMA carriers (Bell and Telus) just launched their HSPA networks with the iPhone. With that, Bell said that they'll provide unlock codes for carrier-bought phones.
The only catches are that you have to have an account open for 30 days, and you have to pay a fee, but it's still progress. - evilhomer2300, on 11/09/2009, -1/+4Asskicker, check your dates. Those rankings were from 2007, I'm talking the latest rankings, the 2009 version. Not two years ago.
And again, you didn't read what I said. It's a world phone available on all carriers. The new chip allows it to work with any CDMA or GSM network. What I am trying to say, is that ATT, VZW, T-MO, and even Sprint could all have the iPhone, bringing down not only the cost of the device, but possibly the cost of data as well. I want the phone on EVERY CARRIER, price wars are good for consumers, and with that new chip, it becomes possible. - herchu, on 11/09/2009, -0/+3AFAIK it's the usual behavior of European carriers and it's not tied to any particular brand of device. At least in Spain, at the end of minimum period you can ask the carriers to provide you with the codes that unlock your device (you need to tell them the IMEI number).
Strictly speaking, whether it's enforced by law, contract or just kindness to their customers depends on the country and TOS. - satori3000, on 11/09/2009, -0/+3yeah, it's the CDMA part that makes Verizon not able to use the iPhone. TELUS just launched a new G3 network to carry the iPhone at massive expense. I haven't read anything about Verizon even attempting this sort of infrastructure build up.
- SummerofGeorge, on 11/09/2009, -2/+5elranzer, you fail at reading comprehension
- stuffradio, on 11/09/2009, -1/+4The plans are the same as Rogers/Fido though. So it's not that great, I'm at Fido and there is no reason to switch.
- trejrco, on 11/09/2009, -1/+4And Verizon has the Droid ... ;)
- Otto, on 11/10/2009, -0/+3@beetleshark: People are calling you because Apple won't give them the time of day.
AT&T is the correct place to call. They can't actually do it, but legally, they're supposed to be able to do so. The fact that they won't is going to be a real big problem when the FCC finally gets around to fining them for breaking the law and not providing the channel for unlocking that they are legally obligated to provide.
Contractually, AT&T is supposed to provide unlock codes on request after the contract has expired. They do for all other phones. Now, other carriers have said that Apple will take IMEI's and generate unlocks which go to the phone via iTunes on the next sync. Which is fair enough, but the IMEI's MUST come through the carrier (AT&T). So AT&T needs to get off their ass and provide a way to pass those IMEI's along to Apple. - roguewriter, on 11/09/2009, -0/+3"a) Verizon has worse customer service than AT&T "
Only if you're on serious drugs. Verizon has no CS centers outside the US, and they do not use scripts. I've had numerous dealings with Verizon CS, and I've never had a problem or complaint with the quality of CS I've received.
Do they overcharge for a lot of their services? Yes. No question whatsoever. But they have phenomenal customer service. - MacHarborGuy, on 11/09/2009, -0/+3because people want choice, even if they would never choose it to begin with, they want the option of choice.
as a friend on Twitter said, "Why call the GSM/CDMA phone a "world phone" when much of the world uses GSM anyway", to which my reply was "iPhone, 100% US Compatible" - linuxinsidev2, on 11/10/2009, -0/+3It will work the same way it works over here in Australia
You contact the carrier who will get your IMEI and confirm that you purchased the phone through them, they lodge a request with apple who then sends out an unlock token to the phone via iTunes, you restore the phone and it's then carrier unlocked. - ohreilly, on 11/09/2009, -0/+3"for the 7% of Digg users that are in the UK."
Don't you mean the even tinier proportion that have iPhones? - cport1, on 11/09/2009, -5/+7Android 4 Life.
- SPECOPS, on 11/09/2009, -1/+3yeah maybe for large businesses, but not for individuals like me. They do not treat you (as an individual) as well as T-Mobile that's for sure. Then they become snooty and pompous when you even mention terminating the service (after a 2 week saga with the BB Storm) ---- FTA: "Having a single point of contact for sales and service allows a business to quickly resolve issues, which undoubtedly leads to a more positive customer experience, and therefore, higher satisfaction," said Kirk Parsons, senior director of wireless services for J.D. Power and Associates, in a statement. "Smaller businesses that don't have a dedicated sales representative may have to spend more time finding the right person help resolve their issues, which, understandably, can be frustrating."
- Fleagleman, on 11/10/2009, -0/+2That's great, dude. You go and do that. If there's one thing AT&T are known for, it's listening to random people that contact them. And the FCC definitely has our best interest--not the telecomm companies--in mind.
I love this idea. - asskicker32, on 11/09/2009, -0/+2evil, did you read my link? Its the same thing. Its a world phone with support for CDMA and GSM based technologies.
Dates: duly noted. - Elranzer, on 11/09/2009, -1/+3I wonder if a US customer could import a Canadian Telus/Bell iPhone and activate it on Verizon or Sprint. Since the iPhone has such a large userbase, we'll probably know the answer a few days after it comes out.
- Apocalyptic0n3, on 11/09/2009, -0/+2They would still have to release an entirely new iPhone for it to work on Verizon. They might be able to keep it to one phone for all the carriers, but they would have to create an entirely new phone just to do that.
asskicker32 was right; a carrier unlock won't allow you to run the iPhone on Verizon or Sprint or any other CDMA carrier. The dual-carrier chip may be a good route for Apple to take (depending on how it eats up the battery, of course), but it isn't one they have taken yet. For now, in the US at least, you have a choice between AT&T and T-Mobile. That's it. - Apocalyptic0n3, on 11/09/2009, -0/+2While I agree with point B (nothing to really disagree with there, it's a simple fact), AT&T has absolutely dismal customer service. This is a thread that I started on the AT&T boards about their "QuickFire" phone (which may very well be the worst phone ever released). Read it and see what I mean. http://forums.wireless.att.com/cng/board/message?b ...
- ultrafez, on 11/09/2009, -0/+2It's great because in the UK, we only have GSM mobiles - no CDMA for us!
- Elranzer, on 11/09/2009, -0/+2Asskicker, people are only digging you up about the CDMA remark. No one agrees with you about Verizon's customer service.
In fact, NO ONE has worse customer service than AT&T. It's simply impossible... unless maybe you include AOL. - castingshade, on 11/09/2009, -1/+3This shouldn't be news, but since all (barring 1 or 2 exceptions) cellular providers are bastards, it is.
- balaenidae, on 11/09/2009, -0/+2Very glad to hear this, I'm off to China for a while soon and with any luck with the launch of the iPhone on China Mobile (I think), I won't have to purchase a cheap phone to use while I'm there. I'll stick with O2 when I get back though, their customer service is great and the data plan is very good. With any luck this will boost the likelyhood of a price war and that can only be a good thing.
- aristotle0dude, on 11/10/2009, -0/+1Fleagleman, must work for AT&T since he is trying to convince all of you of the futility of trying to change the mind of AT&T through customer feedback. Calling a call center will get you nowhere but sending feedback in writing will do something if enough people make the effort and provide it in a constructive manner.
- digjam, on 11/12/2009, -0/+1How can I unlock 3G version ?? If I ve upgraded earlier.. and my baseband id 5.11 how do I unlock it... ultrasn0w does it still??
- seanwuzhere, on 11/09/2009, -0/+1It surprises me that people STILL seem to want iPhone on Verizon even though the CEO just recently came out against net neutrality.
- Kardall, on 11/11/2009, -0/+1Telus' system has the ability to check compatibility. Basically, we enter the IMEI of your device, and it tells us if it works on the network. We use it for people going from Rogers to Telus and their iPhones basically. If you are switching, it'll tell us if it'll work or not. I don't know about other devices though, haven't run into that yet.
- Fleagleman, on 11/10/2009, -0/+1Thank you. That's the funniest thing I've read all day.
- JohnnySoftware, on 11/10/2009, -0/+1Article should have had the world "British" at the beginning of title. I think I read somewhere that Britain had two iPhone carriers. So, that is not super surprising. Europe has more freedom to switch cell phones from one carrier to another than US customers usually get.
- krisrm, on 11/10/2009, -0/+1You think it's *just* to carry the iPhone? There are plenty of good reasons to have a GSM network, the iPhone just being one of many.
- iseth, on 11/09/2009, -0/+1@SPECOPS
Sort of... if you have an EVDO phone (connected to an EVDO network), this should NOT happen. - digjam, on 11/12/2009, -0/+1Verizon SUX PERIOD! no matter how many CS are in USA.. they are good for nothing..they might help u pay your bill but will not do anything to reduce it or help u out.
- evilhomer2300, on 11/09/2009, -0/+1Yes, I misread what you posted, that's my bad. And NICE SUBARU!
- colincornaby, on 11/10/2009, -0/+1Honestly, I don't get the big deal about Verizon. When I lived in Seattle, I got either one bar or no bars on my Verizon RAZR at my house, which was in a pretty urban area. I got a lot of dropped calls if I moved while I was on the phone. Always had full bars on ATT with my iPhone.
I noticed when I still had both phones that Verizon performed better out of the city, but still, Verizon is not all that and a bag of chips. As an urbanite, I've been happy with ATT. - satori3000, on 11/10/2009, -0/+1@krisrm, no argument on your point, it's just hugely expensive, and why not leap frog over the expense of putting in a GSM network when you can leap-frog over and install the next generation network when GSM has been around for years and the next gen is only a couple of years away. If I were Verizon at this point I'd sit on my piggy bank and wait for a better investment.It's also what the industry pundits say that they'll do.
- richlw, on 11/10/2009, -0/+1WHO WAS PHONE?
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