I am looking at buying an iphone 5 that was bought to be used on the orange network. It is still wrapped so has no been activated yet. Is it true i can put my o2 sim in it when I first turn it on and it will lock to that network? Its fine by me, I just dont want it if it only work on orange.
iphone 5 locks to first network?
- Thread starter sieze2
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Soldato
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It was my understanding that when you get a replacement handset from the apple store (Which I've done before) It is open to any network. Then iTunes locks in the carrier lock when you first connect it to iTunes.
I know this because I got a replacement handset which I was on under my Orange contract via the Apple Store and fired it up before selling it on. The guy I sold to phoned me up saying it was locked to Orange. I think if I hadn't of opened it and used it he could have put his Vodafone sim in it just fine.
(I am assuming its exactly the same for a new phone too via any store as it will be in a manufactured sealed box directly from Apple)
I know this because I got a replacement handset which I was on under my Orange contract via the Apple Store and fired it up before selling it on. The guy I sold to phoned me up saying it was locked to Orange. I think if I hadn't of opened it and used it he could have put his Vodafone sim in it just fine.
(I am assuming its exactly the same for a new phone too via any store as it will be in a manufactured sealed box directly from Apple)
If you buy it directly from Apple, SIM free - it will work on any network and won't lock to any of them.
If it's from the Carphone Warehouse, it will lock to the first SIM you put in it (even if it's SIM free).
Refurb/replacement handsets have been known to lock to the first SIM when perhaps they shouldn't, but a factory reset often fixes this.
If Orange have sent the person the phone, it will probably be pre-locked to Orange.
If it's from the Carphone Warehouse, it will lock to the first SIM you put in it (even if it's SIM free).
Refurb/replacement handsets have been known to lock to the first SIM when perhaps they shouldn't, but a factory reset often fixes this.
If Orange have sent the person the phone, it will probably be pre-locked to Orange.
OK thanks for the info. I just bought a 16gb iPhone 5 from a seller for £360. Its a week old and has never been activated (still in box). I checked it on checkmend.com and its not registered as stolen or blocked, so I hope its fine. It was bought from an O2 shop, and I intend to use an O2 sim in it, so hopefully there will be no problem.
Soldato
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Sieze i dont think o2 shops sell sim free or unlocked yet.
So likely it will lock to o2
So likely it will lock to o2
Thats fine, as I am with o2. Originally I was going to get an orange phone (which as unactivated) , but then this o2 one came up, and seemed a safer bet.
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O2 Iphones are cheap to buy due to o2 not unlocking them... they usually come sealed and are fine...
I bought my iphone 5 64gb white for 520quid locked to vodafone... in original packaging completely sealed and un-activated at all. Paid 20 quid to vodafone and voila in 12 hours my iphone 5 was unlocked.
I bought my iphone 5 64gb white for 520quid locked to vodafone... in original packaging completely sealed and un-activated at all. Paid 20 quid to vodafone and voila in 12 hours my iphone 5 was unlocked.
Can I just tack onto this and ask what the deal is with unlocking phones out of contract?
My 4S was provided on contract via Vodafone but is now out of contract, although I'm still on Voda. I presume it's locked to their network so, if I wanted to switch to another provider, can I get it unlocked? Do Vodafone have to give me an unlock code now I'm out of contract?
My 4S was provided on contract via Vodafone but is now out of contract, although I'm still on Voda. I presume it's locked to their network so, if I wanted to switch to another provider, can I get it unlocked? Do Vodafone have to give me an unlock code now I'm out of contract?
Actually I think you mean orange. O2 are very good at unlocking. They will do it for free if you have a contract. Otherwise just buy an O2 PAYG SIM and put £20 on it then fill in the form https://www.o2.co.uk/apps/help/help?qid=1&q1=2&route=unlocking&case=Handset%20Unlocking%20Form and they will do it for £20.
Either way I am with O2 anyway, so it is not a problem now.
Actually on further reading O2 are not unlocking the iphone 5 yet :
http://community.o2.co.uk/t5/Apple-iOS-Devices-iPhone-iPad/Unlocking-iPhone-5/td-p/325764/page/4
http://community.o2.co.uk/t5/Apple-iOS-Devices-iPhone-iPad/Unlocking-iPhone-5/td-p/325764/page/4
Absolutely I can vouch for that personally (tesco mobile running on O2 locked phone)