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iPhone 6S Activation Issues

So I've got an interesting and a bit of challenging problem here. My wife recently moved from London to the US. She purchased an iPhone 6s from the Apple store and has been using it with a Vodafone SIM card in London with out any issues. The specific iPhone 6S model is an A1688, and from everything that I can research is the same model Verizon would have provided.

The plan was to get a Verizon SIM card and just add her to my plan as a new line. We and two separate Verizon stores did the checks of the IMEI and other information to see if the phone was compatible with the Verizon network. All checks came back good and that the phone would work. However, when we put in the Verizon SIM card there is an initial several seconds that it appears that it will work and then it goes to NO SERVICE. We looked into things a little more and when you go to the "Cellular" option, "Cellular Data Options", and then "Enable LTE" Data Only is selected. When you try and select "Voice & Data" it brings up a prompt that says "Cannot Activate LTE Calls" and gives you a link to the following page: Wi Fi Calling "Cannot Activate LTE Calls" error message | Verizon Wireless

I did some more testing last night and wiped the phone. Upon my surprise after wiping the phone it was showing signal and connected to the Verizon network. However, when I moved to the "Activation" phase of the phone it loses signal and then says No Service. Check out the video below. I'm not sure if there is any additional activation or configuration that is needed from Verizon. If anybody has any suggestions or input it is very welcome!

iPhone 6s Activation Issues - YouTube

Thanks

Josh

Comments

Verizon_Support

Legacy777, I hope your wife has transitioned to the U.S. well. I know change can be hard for all of us, especially such a drastic change.

I did get a chance to watch the video. From what I can see, you have the phone connected to WiFi. Upon initial activation, WiFi needs to be OFF, and connected to Cellular Data only. Please try turning WiFi OFF, restart the phone, and then power it back ON. Once it is ON, it should complete the activation and programming.

Please confirm if you are able to activate the phone successfully.

Vanessa_VZW
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If my response answered your question please click the _Correct Answer_ button under my response. This ensures others can benefit from our conversation. Thanks in advance for your help with this.

Legacy777

Vanessa,

Thank you for the feedback. I tried the suggestion you provided and it did not work. I also called and spoke with a tier 2 Verizon Support person and they indicated that the phone needed to be added to the Verizon database. They submitted a form and we tried activating it again. Unfortunately that did not work so we've kind of resolved ourselves that this phone isn't going to activate on the Verizon network.

Thanks

Josh

tracyb_vzw

We definitely want to resolve this for you, Legacy777. Your efforts so far are appreciated. I would like to check more information. Please check your private messages so I can gather details.

TracyB_VZW

If my response answered your question please click the _Correct Answer_ button under my response. This ensures others can benefit from our conversation. Thanks in advance for your help with this!!

Salisbury

Hi Legacy777, based on reading your post that iPhone would be locked and will not activate on a Verizon network unless it is unlocked. My guess is the iPhone was purchased at a Apple store in London and locked to Vodafone, a British telecommunications company based out of London, England. iPhones sold by Verizon are sold unlocked.

Basically what locked and unlocked means. Is a locked iPhone is locked to a specific carrier, in this case Vodafone. Where an unlocked iPhone will activate with any carriers by way of - subscriber identity module card or SIM card.

Now this iPhone can probably be unlocked to accept a Verizon SIM card and activate on the Verizon network. How to go about that, I am not

Legacy777

Salisbury,

Thank you for the reply. As noted it was purchased as unlocked directly from Apple. All indications we have is that it was and still is unlocked. Is there a way you would suggest to determine whether the phone is truly locked to Vodafone?

Thanks

Josh

Salisbury

Legacy777, if a iPhone was purchased at a Apple Store in the USA it would be unlocked. Where was it purchased? From what I've read an iPhone purchased in the UK is not necessarily unlocked. And in some cases will not work with non UK SIMS. I believe the iPhone is locked. Because if not, when installing a Verizon SIM it would more than likely work, and with other carrier SIM cards as well.

I don't have the knowledge to tell you how to get it unlocked. I would suggest doing an online internet search that can provide more info. But do post back, your post is very interesting.

regards Salisbury

Legacy777

Well I've done some more research and from the checks I performed online with free IMEI checkers the phone is not locked. I also checked vodafone's website and they say the phone is not locked.

Use your Network Unlock Code | Unlock your phone | Vodafone

I just tried swapping the SIM cards to see if it could be an issue with the phone's info not populating in the database, but it's been several days now so I don't think that's the case either.

At this point I'm all out of ideas, but if anyone has any info/feedback please let me know.

Thanks
Josh

lorenzop_vzw

Legacy777, we appreciate the effort you've put into activating your wife's iPhone 6s on our network, and I want to ensure that we don't overlook any options to complete activation. Have you used our self-service page to verify compatibility on our network? Bring Your Own Phone or Device - BYOD | Verizon Wireless In addition, I have sent you a Private Message. Please check your inbox.

LorenzoP_VZW

If my response answered your question please click the "Correct Answer" button under my response. This ensures others can benefit from our conversation. Thanks in advance for your help with this!

Legacy777

Yes I have used the BYOD check website and it says the device is compatible with Verizon's network.

I responded to your PM.

Thanks

Josh

deloused

Does removing the Verizon SIM, resetting the iPhone‘s network settings and re-inserting the SIM help?

Legacy777

We tried that before and it did not seem to change anything or make a difference.

Thanks

Verizon_Support

Thank you for providing us with this updated information, Legacy777. In most cases our 4G devices are unlocked. Can we have you provide any more details in regard to what happens when you enter your IMEI?

Legacy777

I don't recall the exact message. I checked it and both Verizon stores checked it and it was compatible.

Unfortunately I don't have time to perform the same checks over an over again. At this point, unless someone has some new suggestions I just don't think the device is going to work.

Thanks

Josh

NedShuput

I have the same issue now. iPhone 6s, will not active on Verizon. It is reconfirmed from apple and on various websites that the phone is unlocked and can be used with any GSM Carrier. Did all those steps you described in this thread to no avail. Phone works like listening on other networks, TMobil, ATT..

Verizon is hoggin IMEIs of the phone tying them to their Sim IDs. Even when you cancel the service they are hogging your phone that you own for 50 days.

Verizon_Support

This is not the experience that we want you to have when activating your phone and we want to help in any way that we can. Are you getting any errors when going through the activation process? Are you activating a new account or swapping out devices on one of your lines? Please send us a Private Message to further assist.

RogerZ_VZW

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