vB Easy Archive - AT&T Willingly Unlocks iPhones for Departing Subscribers?

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AT&T Willingly Unlocks iPhones for Departing Subscribers?
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Posted by: _brando_

File this under “Too good to be true”, but one commenter and two other people emailing me claim that AT&T salespeople unlocked their iPhones after canceling service. Sound credible to you? Me neither. But according to a user named RAJ…

2 OF MY FRIENDS HAD THE CONTRACT WITH AT&T. THEY TOOK IT ON 29 JUNE WHEN I-PHONE WAS LAUNCHED, TODAY ON 1ST AUG JUST AFTER ONE MONTH OF THEIR CONTRACT THEY SIMPLY CANCELED THE CONTRACT BY PAYING EARLY CONTRACT TERMINATION FEES OF 175 ( ALTHOUGH THE FEES WAS ALSO WAIVED OFF FOR THEM FOR SOME REASON). THEN THE AT&T HAD UNLOCKED THEIR I-PHONES BY PUTTING SOME CODES. NOW THEY SAID THAT THEY CAN USE THEIR I-PHONE WITH ANY OTHER CARRIER TOO….

Now, this has to be true because it was typed in All-caps. Anything typed completely in uppercase characters must be taken seriously.

So there you have it. Whether this is true or not I cannot verify, so don’t shoot me - I’m just the messenger.

Sorce - http://www.theiphoneblog.com/2007/0...ng-subscribers/

Posted by: Fray Adjacent

Well, I knew a guy that had a friend who's cousin's mother's coworker's son did the same thing. THAT is a reliable source.

Posted by: Martin C

My uncle's mothers' daughter's son did the same thing! Oh wait, that's me.

Posted by: xcharliemx

Did it say at the end "FORWARD TO 20 PEOPLES IN 10 MINUTES OR SOMETHING BAD WILL HAPPENZ IN SEVENS DAY!!!11" ?

Posted by: chinese_fury

What is the unlock code for my iPhone? Print It
QUESTION:
What is the unlock code for my iPhone?
How do I unlock my iPhone?
What is the subsidy unlock code for my iPhone?
What is the subsidy password for my iPhone?
ANSWER:
iPhone cannot be unlocked, even if you are out of contract. If you are traveling internationally, iPhone is a quad-band phone and will work in many countries across the globe. Stay connected while traveling to over 190 countries, plus get discounted rates in over 80 of those countries when you sign up for AT&T World Traveler

If you are viewing information on devices or services, please note: content reflects instructions for devices and services purchased from AT&T.
Some differences may exist for devices not purchased from AT&T

Posted by: chinese_fury

Check this out. I found this sent to AT&T customer service.

The iphone is purchased outright by the customer and not Subsidized by AT&T. Therefore AT&T MUST by law provide the unlock codes at the customers request. Otherwise a class-action lawsuit will enfold.

Posted by: ~W~

Quote:

Originally Posted by chinese_fury

Check this out. I found this sent to AT&T customer service.

The iphone is purchased outright by the customer and not Subsidized by AT&T. Therefore AT&T MUST by law provide the unlock codes at the customers request. Otherwise a class-action lawsuit will enfold.

OK... well has anyone ask for the unlock code?

Posted by: akura2

well it's true enough that is we are buying the iPhone at full price from the Apple store, or ANY retailer for that matter, we should have the option of what carrier we want to use it with... or give us an activation/new contract/extended contract rebate or discount..

I can't believe we have to pay full (unlocked phone) price for a locked phone that we can't use anywhere we want..

I'm on T-Mobile and I would have bought the iPhone in a heartbeat (even with all of its current flaws) if it were unlocked... but I'm NOT going to change my service AND pay full price AND get locked into a contract.... I like my price for what I'm getting for my service...

Posted by: chinese_fury

Let me clarify - that the above message was sent to AT&T asking them to provide the unlock codes for the iphone.

Posted by: akura2

well I was ranting at the fact that the phone is locked in the first place...

I think it's dumb to charge people full price for a locked phone

Posted by: chinese_fury

Admittedly I'm surprised this coming from Apple, I would expect something like this from Microsoft.

Posted by: _brando_

So, are any AT&T customers going to demand their unlock codes?

Posted by: homegeek

Quote:

Originally Posted by _brando_

So, are any AT&T customers going to demand their unlock codes?

People can demand all they want but I don't see ATT giving in because they don't have to. We are not even sure what will work on a non ATT network.

Posted by: Munitalp

Quote:

Originally Posted by chinese_fury

You couldnt be more WRONG. The law about unlocking states that a carrier or company cannot prosecute you for unlocking the device yourself or by a 3rd party. Nowhere does it state that they MUST provide the unlock code to you. If this was true then there would be an abundance of unlocked iPhones everywhere in the U.S. as well as overseas.

Posted by: scaredpoet

Quote:

Originally Posted by Munitalp

You couldnt be more WRONG. The law about unlocking states that a carrier or company cannot prosecute you for unlocking the device yourself or by a 3rd party.

Oh by the way? It's not even a law. The whole business about not being prosecuted is merely a legal opinion offered by the Library of Congress.

You can STILL be sued if you attempt to unlock your phone. More likely than not, you'll win if you have the financial mettle to stay with the case and keep paying your attorney bills. That's all.

Quote:

Originally Posted by akura2

I think it's dumb to charge people full price for a locked phone

Then don't buy it.

Seriously. I'm not saying that facetiously. If people didn't want to buy it and it was clear that sales were floundering because it was locked to AT&T, Apple might rethink its strategy on this. But I still see people buying the things, so i guess it doesn't bother people that much. And clearly, it's not such a dumb move, now is it?

Posted by: akura2

well I think they'd sell way more if it were unlocked...

and I didn't take your statement to heart... that's the same thing I say to others who are completely downing the phone, or calling people who defend the phone "dumb fanboys"... but I really want one myself and I would have bought one if there were at least SOME sort of discount structure for locking yourself into AT&T (if you aren't already on AT&T)

so I don't think it was THAT dumb to lock the phone to one carrier as there are people still clamoring to get the phone... but I think there would be happier users out there if it weren't locked or if there was some sort of discount for it being locked....

there wouldn't be so many people feverishly trying to unlock the phone, and thousands of others waiting for the elusive "unlock secret," if it wasn't THAT important...

many of the same ones who spent their money for the locked iPhone are the same ones that are even now holding out for the unlock, taking their phones back to AT&T, or not activating their phones and using them as expensive iPods/Wifi devices

Posted by: tann1001

Considering the sales price is an arbitary (as far as the consumer is concerned) point, and is set at whatever they like... Would it make you feel better if they said the iPhone costs $800 but you get a $200 discount for being locked into a contract?

Posted by: cowboy1964

Quote:

Originally Posted by akura2

well I think they'd sell way more if it were unlocked...

Apple would probably have to sell twice as many to make as much money as they are now considering they make something like $10-$12 per month per subscriber. That's about $240-$290 over two years. That's about the entire profit margin on the iPhone itself.

Posted by: akura2

Quote:

Originally Posted by tann1001

Considering the sales price is an arbitary (as far as the consumer is concerned) point, and is set at whatever they like... Would it make you feel better if they said the iPhone costs $800 but you get a $200 discount for being locked into a contract?

nope.. it would make me feel better seeing the price of the phone at $600 and getting the $200 discount from THAT with a contract...OR.... sell it at $600 unlocked

but in the end it's up to me as the consumer to buy the phone or not, unlocked or not... I just figured that many people who are on other services (t-mobile), or others who are feverishly trying to unlock the iPhone would be happier if the phone was already unlocked... especially w/o a price break for a contract... that's all

Posted by: kernel843

actually it would make me feel better, b/c that means i have the option to pay $200 more ($800 total) and not have to sign a 2 year contract.

Posted by: chinese_fury

Why is everyone speculating that Apple or AT&T need to jack up the price of the already over-priced iphone in order to offer it unlocked? Please explain. If anything the price should drop because of not having to be tied down to a crappy carrier like AT&T.

Posted by: toomer

Quote:

Originally Posted by kernel843

actually it would make me feel better, b/c that means i have the option to pay $200 more ($800 total) and not have to sign a 2 year contract.

If you got a contract, and then simply paid the $175 ETF whenever you felt like it ... um... wouldn't the net result be the same? (Actually, $25 cheaper)

That way, it's $775 to own an iPhone with "no 2-year contract", right?

Posted by: melmac

Quote:

Originally Posted by toomer

Ya...then instead of having a $600 touchscreen iPod, you have a $775 iPod, because it will still be locked to ATT network.

Posted by: samab

Quote:

Originally Posted by chinese_fury

Why is everyone speculating that Apple or AT&T need to jack up the price of the already over-priced iphone in order to offer it unlocked? Please explain. If anything the price should drop because of not having to be tied down to a crappy carrier like AT&T.

Simple --- it's called supply and demand.

There will be enough extra people wanting to buy a unlock iphone --- that will guarantee the price would go up instead of down.

Posted by: YoungXO

I don’t know if anybody has herd about that new law that’s suppose to take place next year no later then Jan. 28, 2008. supposedly you’ll be able to use any device with any software on any carrier

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/20056511/

Posted by: homegeek

Quote:

Originally Posted by YoungXO

I don’t know if anybody has herd about that new law that’s suppose to take place next year no later then Jan. 28, 2008. supposedly you’ll be able to use any device with any software on any carrier

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/20056511/

So you are saying that Cingular will be required to let me use a CDMA phone on their service? I don't think so! The article is talking about the 700 band. Cell companies do not use it.

Posted by: samab

Quote:

Originally Posted by YoungXO

(1) It's not a law, it's the FCC rules governing the 700 Mhz auction.
(2) It's not guarantee that the auction will meet the minimum set auction price. If not, then we go back to the old rules which doesn't have any restrictions.
(3) Even if the rules are in place, if AT&T and Verizon win the auction --- there are plenty of technical things that they can do that will completely neutralize the legal restrictions.