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Permanently Unlocking my iPhone 4S

OK, I have been reading posts about unlocking the 4S. I have been with Verizon for more than 60 days, I am in good standing, I am currently living in the United States. My concern and question might be redundant but I need clarification on this unlocking business. Since the 4S is a world phone, if I go to my local Verizon store to ask and request my 4S to be unlocked, will it be permanent? I do not wish to switch carriers but I am planning to go to Europe and I may be traveling to several countries. I am a permanent resident of Hungary but I do have friends thru out the EU. So if I go ahead and ask for my 4S to be unlocked will it work in the entire EU? So in theory how exactly does this work? I do have a pre-pay as you go for T-Mobile Hungary and has to reloaded. Will I get a guarantee that my 4S will work 100% as it is currently now? As well when and if I get my 4S unlocked will I be able to use it while still in America with my Verizon account? You see when you have a unlocked mobile/phone you are free to use which ever sim card you choose at will with no hick ups or questions asked, you just have to have an active carrier account or get a pay as you go with the carrier of your choice. While I am still in America must I get a sim card from AT&T or T-Mobile for my 4S to work properly? And what is the full definition permenently unlocked? Does this mean it will be true unlocked mobile/phone or will it be for certain amount of time?

Sorry for asking so much and thank you for everyones replies.

Comments

kaebfly

I can tell you that you can't get a sim card from T-Mobile or AT&T and use it in your Verizon iPhone...it will not roam on domestic GSM networks. When you are in the US your phone will continue to work on the Verizon Network as long as you have an active account. Once the simlock is unlocked, you will be able to use foreign simcards to roam while traveling overseas and pay cheaper prices then the Verizon global rates.It is my understanding that once the simlock is removed it is permanent, but it's not the same as getting a factory unlocked phone (such as the ones you can buy from Apple directly). Those only work on GSM networks so Verizon customers can't purchase an unlocked device and use it with Verizon.

belto

This is where my confusion starts. While I was living in Europe (15 years) I always got a unlocked mobile/phone and had no problems with getting sim cards to work. So what you are saying is that my current sim card from Hungary will work. But I am under the impression that I must be in Hungary to activate my 4S. What if I have a VPN and activate it this way? You see my T-Mobile Hungary is roaming while I am in the States but it clearly states that it is running on T-mobile HU but I get warning messages about roaming charges right from the start. I get my SMS text messages, etc with out a glitch. This is why I like GSM. GSM carriers have agreements with multiple GSM carriers worldwide for decades. On my experiences while going back and forth from Hungary to the USA I was always roaming on T-Mobile HU, I just incurred the roaming rate from Hungary.

belto

Thanks for your input.

kaebfly

Well if you weren't planning to switch to a pre-paid sim card while out of the US then your iPhone 4s would roam on GSM networks internationally, but it would roam at Verizon's international rates. You wouldn't need a sim unlock for that...you would need to make sure you have a global plan on your account though. The sim unlock just allows you to use foreign simcards for roaming while gone abroad. You would not be able to roam on GSM networks in the US though. Once back in the US it would roam on the Verizon Network as usual. Your Verizon iPhone would not be able to be activated on another network as it's native service provider (at least that it my understanding)....well, I know for sure that it can't be activated on a different domestic US carrier (AT&T/T-Mobile/Sprint). It is not a fully unlocked phone like you may be used to when it comes to unlocked devices provided by GSM carriers. It will only be a sim unlock allowing foreign sim cards to be used while traveling abroad. Someone else may be able to explain this better. Or you might need to contact Verizon directly so they can clearly explain the process and what can and can't be done in your situation.

belto

So then can you explain this for me "we will unlock your phone once every 10 months" this is really confusing because to me this is saying that my 4S will only be unlocked for 10 months. Or are they saying I can only request a unlock for one phone once every 10 months? Please clarify this for me. Thank you.

gina7239

This is a post about unlocking an iPhone.

ArnettH_VZW

replied 11 hours ago

Good morning frank-bao,

In order for us to assist with unlocking your iPhone, there are some requirements that needs to be met. Please see below to verify that they are applicable to your situation.

Must be a Verizon Wireless customer. Verizon Wireless only unlock devices for Verizon Wireless customers.

The device being unlocked must be active on a Verizon Wireless line of service.

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

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

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

The customer's manufacturer's device warranty is not affected by a 3G SIM unlock as long as the customer remains with Verizon Wireless.

If you meet all of these requirement then we can certainly unlock your iPhone for you, assuming that it's not unlocked already. To get this process started or to inquire on if your device is unlock then please reach out to our Global support team at 800-711-8300. If you are already or still out of the country then we can be reached at 908-599-4899. Let me know if there is anything else that I can do to help.

JerryLuker2012

I purchased a Commando,and my daughter will going on a mission trip to Ghana Africa.She needs a phone to communicate with me.With the phone I have, what phone should we choose for our needs,in terms of cost,and international rates.Also,would it be compatable, as far as getting reception ,as here in the states?Jerry....

silver6055

JerryLuker2012 wrote:
I purchased a Commando,and my daughter will going on a mission trip to Ghana Africa.She needs a phone to communicate with me.With the phone I have, what phone should we choose for our needs,in terms of cost,and international rates.Also,would it be compatable, as far as getting reception ,as here in the states?Jerry....

Well, first thing is you do not want to pay Verizon international rates!

http://businessportals.verizonwireless.com/international/traveling_to/Africa/Ghana.html

shows calls are a minimum of $2.29 per minute, and implies that only PAYG data is available at $20 per MB (not GB!)

So, if she is there for a reasonable amount of time, it makes sense to get a GSM phone and use a local SIM. If she doesn't need a fancy phone, she can get an unlocked basic phone from any number of US sites, or you can go somewhere like http://www.cellularabroad.com/packages-ghana.html and buy a phone and SIM together. This site is 89c per minute for calls from Ghana to the US, if she purchases locally (i.e. once in Ghana) she can almost certainly get a much better rate.

Ghana requires everyone to register their SIMs, so she will need her passport when purchasing.

Hope that helps.

Verizon_Support

A trip to Ghana sounds amazing! I envy your daughter, JerryLuker2012. The Commando is not a device that is able to be used in Africa. http://bit.ly/xZd3pS or http://bit.ly/n9PFe9 is a great help with international travels. It will tell you pricing and compatible devices.

If you don't have a global capable device, we do have an awesome global rental program. If you are interested in this program, please contact our Global Support team (800)711-8300 Monday-Friday 9a-6p ET.

Wishing your daughter safe travels!

Tamara H.

Follow us on Twitter @VZWSupport

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