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Unlocking iPhone 4S While Abroad?

Hello!

From these forums, I understand it is possible to unlock the iPhone 4S for international usage of a foreign SIM card. Currently, I am in Singapore for the next six weeks and I did not unlock the phone before I left.

I want to unlock the phone, but I think it needs to be on a cellular network for this to be done. Singapore only uses GSM, so I would not be able to pick up any cellular service whatsoever. I do have access to WiFi, therefore I can make voice calls... but I'm guessing this is not enough to unlock the phone. Am I correct in assuming this?

Thank you for your time.

Comments

Verizon_Support

Hey there pniall,

Greetings from the United States. I hope you are having a wonderful time while travelling in Singapore.

You can unlock your iPhone 4s for international use if you meet the following qualifications:

-Must be a current VZW customer. VZW only unlocks devices for VZW customers.

-The device being unlocked must be active on a VZW line of service.

-The line of service must be active for at least 60 days.

-The line of service must be in good standing for the past 60 days.

Note: Good standing is defined as:

• Balance must be current.

• No service suspensions or hotlines in the past 60 days.

-Customer may only have one 3G SIM unlock per line every 10 months.

If you meet these qualifications, please reach out to our global support team at 800-711-8300 and they'd be able to better assist.

Safe travels!

Nicholas_VZW

Please follow us on twitter @VZWSupport

socencounter

Hi There

I have a Verizon iPhone 4S which is on Verizon PREPAID with clean ESN and is activated on my prepaid line. However they tell me prepaid phones can be unlocked for overseas use (on foreign GSM networks) only after 6 months of use. Could you please check if IMEI is blacklisted or as to why the delay in processing?

Is it possible to unlock this phone?

Thanks

Ann154

They who? VZW Global Support? Prepaid customer service?

budone

I know that is the rule for postpaid.

socencounter

Yes, VZW global support! Please help! I have a very expensive iPod right now !

socencounter

For postpaid its 60 days! Any idea about prepaid?

Verizon_Support

Thanks for reaching out to us socencounter. I checked and it looks like prepaid phones are not eligible to have the SIM card unlocked. The 6 month requirement you are referring to is when a prepay phone can be switched to a postpaid account. I apologize for any inconvenience.

MarquiaF_VZW

Follow us on Twitter @VZWSupport

socencounter

Thanks for the info. I am pretty sure that Verizon global support suggested to go postpaid and there is no 6 month delay to qualify for postpaid migration. Is there any other way I could get the iPhone 4S unlocked through Verizon/Apple? It has clean ESN and everything! May be I could pull it off my account and ask someone to hook it up their postpaid line and then get it unlocked that way since it wont be on prepaid anymore! Comments?

Hbennett

Could you tell me if Verizon successfully unlocked the phone if/when you called them from Singapore? I'm in the same boat, but haven't had any luck yet. Verizon confirmed that they unlocked the phone and I've synced and restored in iTunes, but the new Singapore SIM card (one that works on another phone and has been activated) is not being located by my phone. Just thought I'd see if maybe it's an issue with being overseas rather than in the U.S. when I requested the unlock.

mcfong

Hello,
I am struggling with unlocking my iphone 4s. I read on the forums prior to my trip that the Iphone 4s already comes unlocked for international travel. I am traveling throughout Europe and settling in Hungary for about 3 months so I took my iphone with me with the intention of buying a sim once i got to Hungary. Because i operate as part of a family plan, I temporarily suspended my account so as to not affect my family's data and calling plans due to my activity abroad.

I am in Hungary now however, and the carrier here say that my phone is not unlocked for international travel. I start work soon, and tried to get my mother, another manager of the account to call Verizon on my behalf to unlock the phone for travel as I have no working phone number here. My account meets all of the above requirements minus the temporary suspension that I made prior to the trip that has since been reactivated since my mother's phone call.

My question is what can be done at this point? I will be starting work soon and need a mobile device. I purchased with iphone 4s with Verizon knowing that it had international use capabilities. My family and I have been with Verizon for more than 5 years all in good standing, am i supposed to now purchase a phone here in Hungary to use for 3 months?

Any help would be appreciated since I havn't been able to reach anyone via the support hotlines.

Verizon_Support

Hello mcfong!

We can definitely get you ready for international use! As long as the iPhone 4s meets all of the requirements, it can be unlocked for you. However, the line does have to be active in order for it to be unlocked. Please remove the suspension on the line. I will be sending a Direct Message to you so I can assist if needed.

Thanks!

ChristinaB_VZW

Follow us on Twitter @VZWSupport

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