are iphones unlocked?

helpimcrap · 2 Jan 2011 at 16:55

or are they locked to a network as per normal mobiles? :confused:

Deleted member 77746 · 2 Jan 2011 at 17:01

Somes unlocked, somes locked.

helpimcrap · 2 Jan 2011 at 17:03

gotcha. can a locked one be unlocked by the bloke on the market or is it software stuff?

Morba · 2 Jan 2011 at 18:36

Do it yourself, most versions of ios can be done yourself

Deleted member 77746 · 2 Jan 2011 at 22:42

helpimcrap said:
gotcha. can a locked one be unlocked by the bloke on the market or is it software stuff?

Is this phone from a random or do you no where and who your getting it from? Check to see what network it would be locked on and make sure it's not blacklisted by trying a sim of that network that it's on.

Supertaff · 3 Jan 2011 at 20:45

I bought my 3GS from O2 as part of a contract, when I wanted to move to Orange I had to get O2 to unlock it and then when you synch with iTunes the unlock information is sent to the phone so that you can use it on other networks.

Don't know if that's the same for all sellers though. Carphone for instance may have unlocked phones and then put any Sim into they want. As that's what they normally do with all other phone types.

Taff

Fr0dders · 4 Jan 2011 at 07:56

helpimcrap said:
gotcha. can a locked one be unlocked by the bloke on the market or is it software stuff?

Yes / No

it can only be properly unlocked on all firmwares by the carrier as far as i'm aware.

However, you can get software unlocks which can be installed when you jailbrake it. These disappear as soon as you remove the jailbreak firmware however, and if you've got the latest firmware on your phone, the only jailbrake currently available for the latest firmware is a tethered one - ie one that means the jailbreak disappears every time you sync it with itunes

Contract Mobiles come locked to their Network, and the point at which the carrier will offer to unlock the phone varies. Vodafone for example, won't unlock till after your contract has run out.

O2 however, will unlock it mid contract. Think its 6 or 12 months or something.

If you buy the phone PAYG directly from Apple (New), it comes unlocked.

If somebody is selling a contract phone still locked to a network, dont buy it unless they can get their carrier to unlock it.

Sorry to go on so much, but in short, make life easier for yourself and make sure you buy an unlocked one. There are plenty around as O2 are quite happy to unlock after 6/12 months ish, and O2 had the monopoly on iphones for a long time.