Sprint slaps lock on iPhone 4S SIM

**corrupt81** · 11-11-2011, 11:00 AM

Apple giveth, and Sprint taketh away. Just as official unlocked iPhone 4S sales kick off through Apple’s own webstore, news surfaces that Sprint will, from today, be locking the SIM slot of the iPhone 4S handsets it supplies. Until now, Sprintfeed reports, the CDMA carrier has been quietly supplying the fifth-gen Apple smartphone unlocked, meaning users could drop in their own choice of microSIM when abroad and bypass Sprint’s international roaming fees.

http://www.slashgear.com/sprint-slap...-sim-11194788/

**Protagonist** · 11-11-2011, 10:20 PM

Absolutely pointless and stupid. Good job S.

**xcharles718** · 11-11-2011, 11:19 PM

Originally Posted by Protagonist

Absolutely pointless and stupid. Good job S.

Agreed. Prevent someone buying one and ending service. Even with the ETF, it still works out cheaper that buying a iPhone outright.

Sent from my SGSIIE4GT using the HowardForums app for Android

**mbaverizon** · 11-24-2011, 11:14 PM

so how do you know if its locked or not, i got mine a week ago

**Protagonist** · 11-25-2011, 05:32 PM

If that is after 11/11/11, then it is locked.

**mbaverizon** · 11-25-2011, 09:12 PM

Originally Posted by Protagonist

If that is after 11/11/11, then it is locked.

i got it on 11/21/11 but hoping it wasnt or got to it, just like the update 5.0.1 was out and they didnt update that!! so i hope!!

**Mr.Cell** · 11-26-2011, 04:06 AM

Originally Posted by Protagonist

If that is after 11/11/11, then it is locked.

I have two iphones one was purchased in launch date it is unlocked for international SIM.

I got a second one in November 14 and i tried a Mexico Telcel SIM and it was locked i was getting the message to activate and will tell me the SIM was invalid.

So i called Sprint's international department on the 21 and requested it to be unlocked they told me to plug in into Itunes and 8 hours and that i will unlock. I did that and didn't so on the 22 i called and they told me they have sent the request to apple and to try it on friday. I just tried it and when i put my SIM card in it took me to the activation and it was successfully. Here is the proof. Name: IMG_0100.PNG
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**Mr.Cell** · 11-26-2011, 04:10 AM

Just to add its only unlocked for international SIM. I tried an AT&T SIM and didn't work, i got the invalid sim message.
Also you see it show No Service and that is because the Mexico(Telcel) sim is not active.

Sorry about the image sizes!

**AndroidFoneFan** · 11-26-2011, 05:17 AM

I must be missing something?
Sprint is CDMA. They don't use sim cards. Is the 4S magical or something or is it a GSM phone that some how fakes CDMA function through a sim card.
I don't get it?

**Mr.Cell** · 11-26-2011, 05:34 AM

Originally Posted by AndroidPhoneFan

I must be missing something?
Sprint is CDMA. They don't use sim cards. Is the 4S magical or something or is it a GSM phone that some how fakes CDMA function through a sim card.
I don't get it?

Sprint is CDMA and all iphone 4s are CDMA/GSM. Sprint uses a sim for international roaming but if you have them unlock your phone it will work with a local sim car outside the US.