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Unlocking iPhone 4
JoelP - 27/6/13 at 09:02 PM

Been covered before but I could use some pointers. It's locked to t mobile, and I've got a 3 sim for it. How can I unlock it when I can't even get the phone to turn on? I have no wifi to connect it to either. I get as far as 'slide to set up' but can't go any further.

Any ideas? Cheers!

Ben_Copeland - 27/6/13 at 10:01 PM

Plug it into a computer with iTunes!

NigeEss - 27/6/13 at 10:34 PM

Did you have the contract or original PAYG deal with T-Mobile, contact them, they will do it for free if you did.
If not you'll probably have to pay someone.

dave - 27/6/13 at 11:15 PM

I bought one locked to Vodafone and they unlocked it FOC even though it was blacklisted for non payment.

Charlie_Zetec - 28/6/13 at 12:54 PM

Before you go unlocking it (or paying someone to do it), I think you'll find the "3" network runs on a totally different system and the SIM cards are incompatible. Unless someone can tell me different?

But if that's not the case, you can call up the network operator (assuming you bought the phone from new and registered the contract in your name) and they will normally unlock it for a small fee - about £20. Else phone shops in town centres can usually unlock without "jailbreaking" it for similar cost.

JoelP - 28/6/13 at 01:41 PM

A chap in working with today mentioned that 3 sims are different to others - I was hoping that this was an old issue relating to voltage. Bugger. My dad got it new, so that might be one route. It does seem quite likely that it would be easier to sell it and buy the right one.

Cheers for the help people.

JoelP - 28/6/13 at 01:45 PM

Devastated! I've just noticed that t mobile do a tariff for 2 pounds less than the 3 one I've just signed up for! I could've just got that and saved all the headache!

craig1410 - 28/6/13 at 04:23 PM

Hi,

I don't think there are any differences in the 3 SIM cards, I'm a 3 customer and before I bought my iPhone 5, I bought an iPhone 4 from Tesco mobile then after the 12 month contract ended I got a 3 SIM card and used that for over a year without any problems. Obviously I got Tesco to unlock the phone first.

The other thing to advise you is not to go to high street "unlockers" to get the phone unlocked. The locking mechanism used on iPhones isn't trivial to defeat without potentially causing yourself some headaches later on. I won't bore you with the details (jailbreaking, baseband firmware changes etc) but by far the best bet is to unlock the phone with the original carrier as they will probably do it for free or for a small fee around £15. That way you get a properly registered unlock which will remain in place regardless of iOS software updates etc.

Finally, you probably have a 14 day cooling off period with your 3 contract so might be able to cancel and go with T-mobile. Check your contract.

Cheers,
Craig.

JoelP - 28/6/13 at 07:20 PM

Cheers Craig. I think i will do that, cancel the 3 sim and get a t mobile one instead. Hopefully the EE hook up has increased their signal round here, as it was in adequate 5 years ago.

Thanks again all.

britishtrident - 28/6/13 at 08:53 PM

EE have started selling new customer numbers to phone pest and SMS spammers -- I was with Orange payg for years I am now on contract with Orange/EE since I got the new phone (which was a very good deal) I have had to install a phone pest filter app. When my contract is up I am going to another provider.

[Edited on 28/6/13 by britishtrident]

britishtrident - 28/6/13 at 08:58 PM

3 Mobile is an exclusively 3G (soon also 4G) network so putting a 3 Mobile sim into any old phone (even if unlocked) often didn't work.

craig1410 - 29/6/13 at 12:37 AM

quote:
Originally posted by britishtrident
3 Mobile is an exclusively 3G (soon also 4G) network so putting a 3 Mobile sim into any old phone (even if unlocked) often didn't work.


True but since the iPhone 4 is a 3G phone, this is not a problem here. Perhaps more relevant is the fact the iPhone 4 uses a micro sim but three can easily supply one of these or you can cut down a full size SIM card to suit.

Peteff - 29/6/13 at 07:40 AM

quote:
Originally posted by britishtrident on contract with Orange/EE since I got the new phone (which was a very good deal) I have had to install a phone pest filter app.


I am on Orange/EE with an android phone and started getting the nuisance ware. It was due to a compass app I had installed which caused me to get texts and emails, they were all in Chinese and tried to install an app to the SD card. I found out what was causing it using another app called Addons Detector and uninstalled it and have had nothing since. According to Orange/EE they only pass on location and internet usage data as do other suppliers.

[Edited on 29/6/13 by Peteff]

JoelP - 1/7/13 at 10:09 AM

Thanks to everyone but in particular craig - 3 accepted cancellation without batting an eyelid, didnt even want the sim back. Just need to order the t mob sim now!

craig1410 - 1/7/13 at 02:52 PM

You're very welcome, glad you got it sorted. Most contracts whether for insurance, mobile phones, energy etc will have cooling off periods and I think 14 days is pretty common. There is no shame in invoking this even if all you've done is have a change of mind. Companies won't like it but they factor in the cost of this and can't avoid it really.

Once you get set up on t-mobile, enquire about when you can get the phone unlocked and get it done as soon as you can for free. That way you open up your options for later and increase the resale cost of the phone.

Cheers,
Craig.