iPhone contract is over - can I unlock to any network?

Totality · 5 Oct 2009 at 16:57

My iphone contract expired in August and I've just transferred the number to PAYG as I'm off to Australia.

Can anyone confirm if it's possible to convert the phone to a sim-unlocked phone so that I can use it in Oz with a local telecom provider? I've been told that this isn't officially supported which I don't understand given I've completed a 18-month contract so the phone is now mine!

EDIT: Just found a thread about it and looks like you can't! How crap. What gives Apple the right to keep the phone locked to a certain provider AFTER you've finished paying for it! Does anyone know of a legal way to sim-unlock it so the phone doesn't basically become a paper weight when I go abroad?

JAMAL · 5 Oct 2009 at 17:10

Is this a 2g iphone?

BlizzardX · 5 Oct 2009 at 17:10

Totality said:
My iphone contract expired in August and I've just transferred the number to PAYG as I'm off to Australia.

Can anyone confirm if it's possible to convert the phone to a sim-unlocked phone so that I can use it in Oz with a local telecom provider? I've been told that this isn't officially supported which I don't understand given I've completed a 18-month contract so the phone is now mine!

EDIT: Just found a thread about it and looks like you can't! How crap. What gives Apple the right to keep the phone locked to a certain provider AFTER you've finished paying for it! Does anyone know of a legal way to sim-unlock it so the phone doesn't basically become a paper weight when I go abroad?

I asked the same question and was told that Apple will not unlock your phone, even after the contract has expired. You have to ask, who actually owns the phone...

NickK · 5 Oct 2009 at 17:46

In theory pay as you go - you pay for the phone up front anyway (they can't guarantee they'll make the money back in usage charges).

I think that Apple will find a steadily growing churn to be honest if they continue this policy. After all it's the phone company that has mandated it to reduce subscriber churn.

Now with other networks having iPhone, I think that Apple may be pressurised to allow migration to other iPhoned operators.

UK operators are compelled by law to allow migration of numbers but I don't think it covers handsets. Not sure about SIM-locked post-contract and the law.

ethan · 5 Oct 2009 at 20:24

Can someone provide some clarification on the above as I have a 3g coming to the end of its contract on 02 and it had been my intention to throw an orange sim in it?

Feek · 5 Oct 2009 at 20:28

At the moment O2 will not unlock your handset because they are the only network allowed to carry the device by the manufacturer.

Of course, that will change later this month and I'll be incredibly surprised if they still continue to refuse to unlock out of contract iPhones.

ethan · 5 Oct 2009 at 21:45

Thanks for that Feek. Hope you are right.

sepulchre · 6 Oct 2009 at 09:32

I dont think you will get a complete answer to this question from this board tbh, as there are certain things pertaining to iphones we cant discuss here.

trefaes · 6 Oct 2009 at 09:49

Read this post. Then use Google.

I think that's about all that can be said on the matter here.

allosunshine · 6 Oct 2009 at 12:40

trefaes said:
Read this post. Then use Google.

I think that's about all that can be said on the matter here.

But the op is asking if it can be done legitemately through the network. He isn't asking how to do it illegally against Apples EULA.
According to this article on stuff.tv, O2 are sitting on the fence.

NickK · 6 Oct 2009 at 12:51

allosunshine said:
O2 are sitting on the fence.

That's because (a) it suits them todo so at the moment, (b) they won't commit to a 'no' for customer relations/possible pending EU laws, (c) O2+telefonica are so large that it may take them that amount of time to react..

trefaes · 6 Oct 2009 at 12:54

allosunshine said:
But the op is asking if it can be done legitemately through the network. He isn't asking how to do it illegally against Apples EULA.
According to this article on stuff.tv, O2 are sitting on the fence.

As far as I can see, the OP is just asking whether it's possible to legally unlock the phone - breaking Apple's EULA certainly isn't illegal.

Nice to see O2 are considering it though, maybe Orange/Vodafone will take the initiative this time next year...

Vonhelmet · 6 Oct 2009 at 13:10

O2 will dither for the time being, as they know your only choice at present is to take another O2 contract or get a PAYG deal with them.

You might stand a better chance once the other networks get the Iphone.

sepulchre · 6 Oct 2009 at 13:27

trefaes said:
As far as I can see, the OP is just asking whether it's possible to legally unlock the phone - breaking Apple's EULA certainly isn't

Last I heard Apples statement about it being illegal was under question, anyone know if this is still the case?

Vonhelmet · 6 Oct 2009 at 13:33

sepulchre said:
Last I heard Apples statement about it being illegal was under question, anyone know if this is still the case?

EULAs have yet to be shown to be legally binding, but they still provide a handy stick to beat people with.

sepulchre · 6 Oct 2009 at 13:56

Lmao roger that

peter_hutson · 6 Oct 2009 at 14:56

It looks like it's going to be interesting times ahead for the iphone in the UK. If O2 continue to refuse to unlock out of contract phones once orange/vodafone have the iphone, I can see someone challenging them in court. Which I would love to see

Their whole attidude stinks.

Totality · 6 Oct 2009 at 16:25

Ah right, interesting stuff! Looks like I have no option but to go down the unofficial route if I want it sim-unlocked... The whole naff 3G signal from O2 and now this is putting me off wanting to get another iPhone when the next one comes out. I work a lot in London and the 3G is up and down like a yoyo! Sometimes I have full 3G signal but get connection errors which is infuriating!

Tempted to just sell the thing via that mobile phone place in the adverts and just get a cheap nokia for travelling. I'd probably lose it anyway and if I can't migrate to Vodafone for better reception whilst in London it makes the iPhone pretty useless anyway