Jailbreaking the Apple iOS 9 platform is deliberately not easy. In fact it’s the Twin Towers tightrope walk of jailbreaking in that you have to be either very brave or very determined to break it because it apparently runs a security system dubbed ‘rootless’ and it’s designed to seek out malware, therefore most all attempts to jailbreak it get recognized and promptly stopped.
But now a hacking team from China called Pangu have found a way to jailbreak the iOS 9 platform and prior to this platforms iOS 7.1 to 8.1. But it’s their latest coup that has created a storm of controversy amongst the jailbreaking community, not least because there may well be some industry jealousy that they got there first.
The Pangu jailbreak consists of a Windows software package that allows for what is known as an “untethered” jailbreak. This means your device does not need to be plugged into your computer to run. The jailbreak reportedly works on iPhones, iPads and iPod touch devices running iOS 9 through 9.0.2.
Pangu claim they can jailbreak phones including the iPhone 4s, 5/5c/5s, 6/6 Plus, and 6s/6s Plus as well as the iPad 2, 3 and 4, iPad Air/Air 2, iPad mini, iPad mini 2/3/4, and the 5th and 6th generations of the iPod touch – a long list of both current and older devices.
Once jailbroken, users can install a framework known as Cydia that enables the user to install unofficial packages that can enable your device to run apps or make changes to the iOS operating system which it would otherwise prevent.
About Pangu
Pangu is a team of dedicated cellphone jailbreakers based in China. Working with sponsorship, their first untethered jailbreak tool was Pangu 7, introduced in June 2014. Some of their success has been achieved by Apple users passing on to the expired enterprise certificates to assist them in developing the software. Pangu 7 and 8 has been downloaded by many millions of users around the world, and they have big expectations for Pangu 9. The software developers are currently releasing the Pangu download for free and even sharing details of the tools they are using. This certainly flies in the face of the Apple philosophy to premium price everything they offer.
Should you risk jailbreaking your phone with Pangu?
Well, industry insiders have been quick to be pretty scathing of Pangu’s achievements, claiming that first of all, the jailbreak will void your End User License agreement so that you will receive no further assistance from Apple when things go wrong.
Furthermore, it is claimed that many of the apps which can be installed once your phone is jailbroken still require several tweaks and elimination of bugs before they are ready. But no doubt some brave souls will want to beta test the new jailbreak that Pangu has created.
Meanwhile Apple have been quick to point out that malware such as Keyraider, which affected some 225,000 phones, was aimed specifically at those that had jailbroken their phones. The Keyraider malware attempts to steal account names, passwords, device IDs and more.
There is also a possibility that your phone could experience what is known as the Boot Loop of Death. This is not a new phenomenon, it frequently happens to Playstations when user try to play pirated video games.
In the case of Apple iPhones, the Boot Loop of Death (BLoD) occurs when the phone repeatedly blue screens far more than the three or four times that is normal while installing the Pangu software.
That said it is fixable by restoring your iOS device and does not in any way damage your iOS device beyond a restore. Also, Pangu team does advise you to back-up your phone prior to install in case of problems, even though they state that their jailbreak software is stable, simple and fast.
Want to give it a go? Here’s the Pangu website.
Or start by taking a look at this tutorial from our friend from TheUnlockr.
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The authors of this web site are not sponsored by or affiliated with any of the third-party trade mark or third-party registered trade mark owners,
and make no representations about them, their owners, their products or services.
Prepaid phone plans, often referred to as a pay-as-you-go plans, can be one of the best ways to save money while enjoying the many advantages of owning a cellphone. In just a handful of years, the advance of the cellphone has taken the world by storm, and people from all across the globe and from all walks of life and all income levels spend hours with their faces gazing down upon the lighted screen of a smart phone. With a pay as you go plan you only pay for the minutes you use, and you’re not tied in to a lengthy service contract. This can work out very well for the consumer, but make no mistake, your cellular carrier will certainly try to tempt you with a contract that not only gives you a ‘free’ phone, but also hundreds of voice minutes, gigabytes of free data and thousands of free text messages, all to ensure that every month you are paying them a sum of money for the privilege.
On the other hand, for those who prefer to pay only for what they use, a pre-paid service is simply a matter of choosing a phone and then paying a certain amount through regular top-ups based purely on consumption.
The question is, what makes more sense for you; a regular contract with a monthly allowance of calls, data and messaging, or just a pay as you go plan?
Pay as you go or no? Pre-paid pros
No waste
One of the greatest benefits in using a pay-as-you-go cellphone is the amount of money you can save on contract fees and purchased minutes. All you need is to top-up the phone as and when you run low on credit. If you tend to use free communication apps such as Facebook, Twitter, Whatsapp or Skype, this kind of plan can make a lot of sense, as you are not even using any call credit, and yet you are still communicating. Pre-paid users only buy minutes they think they will use with the option to buy more as they need it. Top-ups can be as little as $5.00 (US).
On the other hand, with a set monthly contract you might, for example, have 500 voice minutes assigned to you each month. If you only consume 200 minutes, you are paying for 300 minutes per month that you do not use. Paying for minutes as you need them makes it easy to control your phone usage and assures that there are no eye-watering surcharges, should you exceed your allotted call minutes.
No contract
Pay as you go also means you are not tied to any contract. You are free to try various service providers to arrive at the best solution for your needs. You have no monthly bills, no contracts to sign, and no early termination fees. Also, and just as importantly, there are no credit checks for pay as you go, so there is no fear of rejection by any cellphone carrier should you be a low income earner.
Parental control
Pre-paid plans can also work extremely well for children and teens, as it means you are in control of how much they consume. This way you won’t have to worry that they are logging on to costly online video games, which produce nasty surprise bills that can often run to hundreds of dollars.
Pay as you go or no? Pre-paid cons
Lack of cellphone choices
If you visit the large, high-end cellphone carriers you will quickly discover that most of the cellphones available for pre-paid plans tend to be entry level models, and the store assistant has been trained to be dismissive of such plans, trying instead to tempt you into a big fat 24 month contract. The pre-paid phones they offer lack features, processing power, and the quality that you might want. If you want a cellular device designed with a high pixel rate camera, a great music player, high processing power and access to a wide variety of apps, a traditional pre-paid cellphone may not satisfy your needs.
However, as reliable online cellphone unlock services such as UnlockBase are proving every day, what once was a distinct disadvantage for pre-paid plans – a very limited choice in pre-paid handsets – is rapidly becoming a thing of the past.
UnlockBase has a huge database of cellphones of all types and hundreds of cellphone carriers from all over the world. With a simple code they can help the customer to simply ‘jail-break’ the cellphone model of their choice.
Lack of cellphone credit
The other disadvantage with a pre-paid plan is that you need to keep a regular check of your available credit, because you will literally be cut off in mid-sentence once your credit runs out. Imagine if your car happens to breakdown in a cold and lonely spot miles from anywhere or anyone, this can quickly become a real and dangerous problem. It’s also highly inconvenient even if you are simply trying to have a conversation.
One way to overcome this problem is to always carry an extra top-up card with you in case of emergencies.
Pay as you go or no? So should I opt for pre-paid?
Pre-paid plans are ideal for those who do not consume excessive amounts on phone calls and for controlling the spending habits of children and teenagers. These plans also work well for those with few cellular needs. New SIM deals such as Vectone, Lycamobile and Lebara also offer pay as you go with the benefit of significant savings on overseas texts and calls – and free calls if made from one Lycamobile number to another in certain countries.
Decide what you need most with your cellular plan and see if a pay-as-you-go deal works best for you!
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The authors of this web site are not sponsored by or affiliated with any of the third-party trade mark or third-party registered trade mark owners,
and make no representations about them, their owners, their products or services.
There is a great deal of confusion over the act of ‘jailbreaking’ a cellphone, and it’s certainly not made any clearer by the cellphone carriers who want you to stick with them for the full term of a 24 month contract. According to U.S. wireless carriers, unlocking a phone bought after January 26 2012 without your carrier’s permission violates the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (“DMCA”) whether the phone is under contract or not.
However what this really refers to is the fact that the DMCA prohibits “circumventing” digital locks that “control access” to copyrighted works including movies, music, books, games, and software. In fact this broad and vague ruling bans a lot of useful, and important activities, however, there are exemptions for mobile phones to run unapproved software, and for using clips from DVDs and internet video in non-commercial videos.
Really? Who cares? The vast majority of people who want to jail-break their phone wish to do so in order to avoid lengthy contracts that do not best suit their needs, and they feel locked into a bad relationship.
Unfortunately, wireless carriers such as AT&T, and many others, do not have much sympathy if you want to end your contract. You need to pay an Early Termination Fee, which of course has its own acronym, (ETF) that can add up to hundreds of dollars. In fact AT&T and most major carriers, such as Sprint and Verizon, will charge you an ETF of up to $350, unless you happen to cancel within the first two weeks. T-Mobile users pay up to $200 depending on how many days are left on their contract.
But the reality is, you can still break free or jail-break without handing over rip off penalty fees for the simple reason that carriers are unlikely to start suing customers en-masse.
Here are some crafty ways to get out of a contract that is holding you back.
Unlock Your Phone
This is probably the simplest and most permanent solution of them all. In minutes and for a low cost, online cellphone unlock services such as UnlockBase can send you a code that unlocks your phone so that you can use it SIM free and choose any SIM free plan that takes your fancy. It’s quick, easy, safe and comprehensive, as UnlockBase offers a huge database of phones and service providers from around the world that they can unlock.
Sell Your Plan
You read it correctly. If you want to get out of your contract plan there may be someone interested in buying yours. Sites such as Cellswapper or Trade My Cellular specialize in this. They have found a loophole in most carrier’s rulings that means your carrier will only charge you an Early Termination Fee (ETF) if you do not have somebody to pay the monthly fees for the remainder of the contract. So if you can find someone to take over your plan, this will not violate your terms of service as the other party is fulfilling the terms of your original contract. This means you can also test another carrier’s service. You can trade contracts with someone for 3-6 months and see if you want to jump to that carrier.
Track Changes to Your Contract
Keep abreast of changes to you contract. Cellular carriers regularly make “material changes” to a contract. A material change can be anything from additional service or maintenance fees, to adjustments in the rates you’re charged, or changes in discounts applied to your account. Should you spot a material change, you should be able to contact customer service and end your contract. Cellbreaker helps track these sorts of changes so you can break your contract.
Find a Carrier That’ll Pay Your Cancellation Fee
Yes, it’s true. Did you know that some smaller carriers such as Virgin Mobile, Credo Mobile, and Boost Mobile will let you prepay or pay by the month? Some of these carriers will even pay your cancellation fee for you, and you may even be able to keep your phone too! T-Mobile even promises to pay up to $650 to cover the costs of your Early Termination Fee (ETF) if you switch to one of its plans. A useful option if you just want to switch.
Don’t be held back by a cellphone contract you no longer want, get creative and unlock your phone!
All products, and company names, logos, and service marks (collectively the "Trademarks") displayed are registered® and/or unregistered
trademarks™ of their respective owners.
The authors of this web site are not sponsored by or affiliated with any of the third-party trade mark or third-party registered trade mark owners,
and make no representations about them, their owners, their products or services.
Did you know you can still benefit from everything that is so clever about a BlackBerry including BlackBerry Blend for seamless phone to PC synchronization, and the quality and slickness of the BlackBerry operating system without having to put up with a way too costly network provider? If you’re happy with your BlackBerry, but not with your service provider, we have good news. We’ve just released a new update for UnlockBase Cell Phone Unlocker Software (v1.0.1.0). This major new update to our software enables anybody to unlock by cable an amazing 372 BlackBerry and /or Samsung models, quickly, easily and safely.
As of today we have just added DIRECT UNLOCK support for the following 107 new BlackBerry models:
Our solutions allows you to Read Info and Direct Unlock any of these BlackBerry models, including a phone with MEP0 issue (Hardlocked BlackBerry caused by entering too many wrong codes). And in the meantime we have also improved this new version 1.0.1.0 of our software:
All products, and company names, logos, and service marks (collectively the "Trademarks") displayed are registered® and/or unregistered
trademarks™ of their respective owners.
The authors of this web site are not sponsored by or affiliated with any of the third-party trade mark or third-party registered trade mark owners,
and make no representations about them, their owners, their products or services.
Not sure how to unlock your Samsung phone? Don’t worry, look out for our Video Tutorial:
Samsung Galaxy Trend Lite 2 (SM-G318H) Unlock Tutorial
Samsung Galaxy Grand Plus (GT-I9060I) Unlock Tutorial
Samsung Galaxy J1 (SM-J100H) Unlock Tutorial
All products, and company names, logos, and service marks (collectively the "Trademarks") displayed are registered® and/or unregistered
trademarks™ of their respective owners.
The authors of this web site are not sponsored by or affiliated with any of the third-party trade mark or third-party registered trade mark owners,
and make no representations about them, their owners, their products or services.
Great news for Canadians! No matter if you bought your phone with Rogers/Fido, Bell Mobility, Sasktel or Telus you are always protected under the Canadian Radio-Television and Telecommunications Comission’s (CRTC) Wireless Code of Conduct. Here’s a quick rundown of some of the important points that you should know:
No cancellation fees after 2 years
Limit on data and roaming charges
Unlocked cellphones
Trial period
Clear language
Cancellation of Cancellation Fees
Customers who purchased their phone at a reduced fee in exchange for a three year contract can now cancel their plan without a cancellation fee provided that they have completed at least 2 years of their contract. Those who started their contract before June 3rd, 2013 will be able to cancel without incurring a fee. Those whose contracts were signed between June 30th, 2013 and December 2nd 2013 will pay a cancellation fee of up to $50, or 10% of “the remaining monthly charges under your contract”– whichever is lower.
A Limit on Data and Roaming Charges
The Wireless Code of Conduct states that carriers may not charge more than $100 in roaming fees without the permission of the subscriber. So, for example, if you were on your honeymoon or a vacation and accidentally incurred $100 in roaming fees, you should receive a courtesy text message or email from your carrier requesting your permission to continue services (and charges). However the best way to avoid roaming charges completely is to always unlock your phone so that you can use a local SIM card while on your travels.
The same courtesy text or email will be sent to those who incur $50 of data over usage fees while using their home network covered area.
Unlocked Cellphones
Service providers are now obligated to unlock phones without restriction after 90 days of use OR if the customer purchased the phone in full. However, be aware that as the Code has not stipulated any fixed cost for the unlock service, carriers are still able to choose how much they charge.
Trial Period
Customers now have 15 days to test the service. Within 15 days and within certain usage limits, you may now cancel your service and return the phone at no cost if you feel your phone deal does not meet your needs.
And finally, Clear Language
Limitations must be written in clear language so that everyone can understand. All contracts must be laid out and presented in simple language terms. Additionally, changes to the key terms and conditions may not be made without your permission, and you have the right to refuse changes.
This is just a brief overview, there are many more terms and rights that you should read up on in order to familiarize yourself with the new Code, especially when dealing with your service provider. For more information on the Wireless Code of Conduct click here: http://www.crtc.gc.ca/wirelesscode
How does this affect you?
Let us know in the comments below!
All products, and company names, logos, and service marks (collectively the "Trademarks") displayed are registered® and/or unregistered
trademarks™ of their respective owners.
The authors of this web site are not sponsored by or affiliated with any of the third-party trade mark or third-party registered trade mark owners,
and make no representations about them, their owners, their products or services.
After more than 10 years in the Remote Unlocking industry, this summer UnlockBase has finally launched its own unlocker software! This new software will be supported and updated on a regular basis to cater to the latest and most difficult to unlock cell phones and to ensure that all our dealers stay in complete control of future unlocking needs. With evolving security protection it becomes ever more challenging to unlock cell phones but with UnlockBase, you’re guaranteed a top notch team of Hacker and Reverse Engineers to support your unlocking needs.
At the moment this software support is only for Samsung
However no less than 276 models are ready for Direct Unlock (see full list below).
All products, and company names, logos, and service marks (collectively the "Trademarks") displayed are registered® and/or unregistered
trademarks™ of their respective owners.
The authors of this web site are not sponsored by or affiliated with any of the third-party trade mark or third-party registered trade mark owners,
and make no representations about them, their owners, their products or services.
Roaming charges – the sting that comes with any type of international travel! Let’s face it, none of us are likely to leave home without our phones while we are away – with no access to google maps to find our way back to the hotel, no Facebook and no way to call home to let people know we are safe. Luckily there are some sneaky tips that can make your roaming fees much more manageable…
Limit background data
Background data consists of things like app updates and emails. For apps that you don’t need you can go into your settings (usually in the menu that is called something like ‘wireless and networks’. Here you can choose which apps to limit. Better yet go to Play Store/Apple Store and turn off automatic updates (you can switch them to update when Wi-Fi is available).
Switch to Data Server mode
In Chrome you can switch to data server mode which restricts the amount of data that is used while browsing. In the Chrome settings it’s usually in the Advanced menu (Android) or the Bandwidth menu (IOS).
Switch your SIM
Your contract SIM might not give you such a good deal overseas, in which case a travel SIM is a good idea. Not only are they pay as you go so you can’t over spend, but you can receive calls for free in all the popular destinations (your regular provider will charge you for this). Plus you get access to significantly lower data rates and call charges worldwide.
Change your apps
There are lots of apps that do the same thing as some of the apps you might already have – although they don’t need a data connection. Switch Google Maps for maps.me for example, so you can navigate your way around with no data roaming charges. In addition disable any apps that have ads as this will eat through your data and cost you a fortune!
Get Onavo Extend
This uber cool app compresses data usage by as much as five times, meaning you get 5 times more data without the added costs. Better still – it’s free!
Automatically connect to Wi-Fi
You can change your settings to automatically connect to Wi-Fi when it’s available. This will potentially save you a lot of money. I say potentially as you should remember to keep safe with your online security – open networks are prone to hackers who could steal your private information (bank details, PayPal logins etc). Be careful and only connect to secured networks that you trust.
Take WiFi with you
With handy little portable WiFi gadgets, you can take WiFi with you. An unlocked WiFi hotspot will enable you to put any data SIM inside whether that be your contract SIM, worldwide data SIM or a local SIM. You can generally connect 10 – 15 devices, and then you can get online anywhere worldwide!
Don’t leave our data roaming on
I shouldn’t have to say it but just in case! Make sure you keep data switched off unless you need to update or get online.
All products, and company names, logos, and service marks (collectively the "Trademarks") displayed are registered® and/or unregistered
trademarks™ of their respective owners.
The authors of this web site are not sponsored by or affiliated with any of the third-party trade mark or third-party registered trade mark owners,
and make no representations about them, their owners, their products or services.
Every week, no, make that every day, at UnlockBase, we get customers writing in with a variety of problems relating to any number of different cellphones. In this article we look at a problem that occurs most often with Samsung phones but can apply to other Android phones in general. First, to acquaint you with the problem, here is a typical customer complaint:
“We kept getting the ‘Not registered on Network’ message when trying to make calls. Many times the network connection was lost for a while. Then we realized by trying to make a call that for a period of time people were unable to get a hold of us or send text messages. We tried everything to try to resolve the issue, and ultimately we replaced our phones with another Samsung Galaxy S5. Guess what, the issue is still there and we still get ‘Not registered on network’ errors. Is this an Android issue or an Android issue? It’s no surprise that Google said that it’s a T-Mobile issue and not an Android issue. Please help!”
The ‘not registered on network’ error
This annoying problem is often found in Samsung Galaxy devices, particularly when users update their Galaxy phone to the latest Android version and something went wrong. Please take note of the following models:
Galaxy S7 Edge
Galaxy S7
Galaxy S6 Edge
Galaxy S6
Galaxy S5
Galaxy S4
Galaxy S3
Galaxy Note 5
Galaxy Note 4
Galaxy Note 3
Galaxy Note 2
What Does Not Registered on Network Error Mean?
The reason why you see Not Registered on Network error is because your SIM card is unable to connect to your carrier’s network. And when you can’t connect to the network, you won’t be able to make or receive calls and text messages. Aside from Samsung, this is a common issue among Android phones, regardless of who your carrier is or your phone’s make and model.
What causes Not Registered on Network error?
Based on the customer’s experience above, their device is unable to detect the network and up comes the “Not Registered on Network” message. There are many ways this can happen, and below are the reasons why:
The IMEI number was changed. This usually occurs after getting an update and the device IMEI number (serial number) is changed to “SN 0000″ and it shows that your device SN number has been broken and need to be fixed.
You’re APN or network settings are not properly set up. Another reason is when you try to use the SIM Card from a new Network Provider and your Samsung fails to keep up when you’re trying to switch networks and needs a little help from you involving manually providing the new APN settings / Networks name in order to fix it.
Your device has been blacklisted. Another reason for this error is if unfortunately your device has been Blacklisted, and by that we mean if your phone is reported as “Lost” or “Stolen” in the national blacklist database in your country. In this situation you have no choice but to take the following steps :
Go to the police and report the scam,
Try to get your money back from the seller,
Change the IMEI of your Phone (which is illegal),
Sell your cellphone overseas.
If the problem was the APN or network settings, the ‘Not registered on network’ error will show itself when you attempt to make a call or text. This occurs because your Service Provider is simply NOT notified of your IMEI number so on the screen you will see “Not registered on Network“. They even have the cheek to supply an OK button for you to press which does nothing to solve your problem at all! Frustrating, but don’t worry, we can solve this issue.
First you should be aware that your phone is already unlocked. It’s not the case that you have to unlock your device in order to remove the ‘Not registered on Network’ error.
For everybody else here are the four ways to fix this problem and finally have use of your cellphone.
How to Fix ‘Not Registered on Network’ – The Solutions
Here we provide several methods to help you overcome this issue, one of them should work for you. But before you do so, we’d like you to try the basic troubleshooting steps first to see if they could resolve your issue. Minor hiccups in your phone’s operating system can sometimes cause connection errors, so it’s worth trying these steps before going with the more complicated ones.
Restart your phone.
Disconnect from WIFI.
Re-insert the SIM card.
Update the operating system. Software updates fix bugs on our device.
Change the network mode either to 3G or 2G.
Reset network settings. Proceed with caution. Backup your device properly. This will put your phone back to its default factory settings. This will erase all passwords, data, settings, and applications.
Try using a different SIM card.
Call your carrier.
If these troubleshooting steps don’t work, you may proceed with the steps we detailed below. Warning: The following solutions require steps that might cause you to lose your device warranty. Please proceed with caution. We are not liable for any damages or warranty loss.
Method #1 – Manually select your new Network Provider:
Go to Settings.
Then go to Wireless and networks.
Tap Mobile Networks (If not found then tap first ‘More settings’).
Now tap Networks operators.
After you have completed searching select your Network Operator (Like AirTel, T-Mobile, Vodafone, O2, EE, Lycamobile, MetroPCS, Family Mobile, etc.).
That’s it, problem solved.
Updated Fix: In Mobile Networks, set Network mode as WCDMA only and restart your phone.
Method #2 – Root your device and Install a Patch:
Root your Galaxy device.
Download from Google Play and install “Busy Box” on your device.
Download this “Ariza patch” and install it on your Galaxy device.
Now, open the app from the app drawer.
Just click on the button saying “PATCH” and it’s done.
Method # 3 – Update your Device and Samsung Account Software (Make sure you are connected to a wireless connection) :
Get Your Galaxy Up and Running. Charged and ready.
Place Your SIM Card In Phone.
Navigate to Settings of your Phone.
Scroll Down To the Extreme bottom.
Select Software Update.
Wait for the cellphone to reboot and complete update.
Method # 4 – Remove and Insert SIM:
Turn off your phone by holding both the Power Button and Home together.
While the phone is off, wait for 2 minutes.
After 2 minutes remove the battery and the sim card from the phone.
Press the Power button and the Home button together 10 consecutive times.
Next, hold the power and home key for 1-3 minutes.
Now insert your Sim card and battery.
Turn on your Samsung Galaxy.
With your phone on, remove then re-insert your sim card 5 times.
Still confused? Watch this easy to understand video for a better insight into how to resolve this issue easily.
All products, and company names, logos, and service marks (collectively the "Trademarks") displayed are registered® and/or unregistered
trademarks™ of their respective owners.
The authors of this web site are not sponsored by or affiliated with any of the third-party trade mark or third-party registered trade mark owners,
and make no representations about them, their owners, their products or services.
It can be well worthwhile shopping around for an iPhone from the States, especially if the dollar is at a competitive rate. Many customers buy an iPhone from there, either from a website, while enjoying a visit, or they can pick up a bargain deal for a used iPhone from home by visiting Ebay USA.
The fact is, the price of an iPhone from the USA is often cheaper than it is in Europe. For example, the Apple store price in the US for a 64GB iPhone 6 is $749, whereas in France it is €819. If we convert to euros, (taking a rate of $1.25/EUR on average over the last 12 months), that puts the price at around €600, a saving of almost €220!
However, the used iPhones sold from the United States are usually blocked by the cellphone service provider.
It’s therefore important to pay attention to whether the phone is SIM FREE, or UNLOCKED (i.e. free of any operator). If not, the cost of unlocking the phone will need to be added to the purchase price. If the phone is locked you might be able to convince the former owner to request that AT&T unlock the phone. If not, you will have no choice but to pay for an unlocking service.
Cost of unlocking a USA iPhone, contract or unpaid
To unlock an AT&T USA iPhone only costs about $9.9 and the service is usually activated within 24 hours. But if your iPhone is connected to an ongoing contract, or there are arrears on the account, then the rate and the period is higher (see the site for rates). So when you buy your used iPhone, be sure to ask the owner if it is in compliance with its operator and whether there are any “Unpaid Bills” or “Unpaid dues”. Usually AT&T will sell a phone with a 2-year subscription. So if the phone has only a few months of contract left, there is a good chance that it is “barred.”
Compare the total cost of unlocking an iPhone on Orange France vs AT&T USA
To do this, take the case of an iPhone under 3 months: iPhone 64GB + cellphone unlocking = total cost.
Pay close attention to the American cellphone provider
Be careful when you make your choice because a locked USA iPhone from other cellphone operators, e.g. T-Mobile, Sprint or Verizon can cost a lot more to unlock. T-Mobile USA, for example, costs four times more to unlock than AT&T, about €115.00!
Regarding Sprint and Verizon, there are two important points to note. First, make sure the iPhone has a compatible GSM network. Sprint and Verizon use a different technology which is prevalent in the United States. In general the recent iPhones are multi-network and are therefore compatible, but it is best to check before buying the IMEI number whether the iDevice is GSM or not.
Secondly, for Sprint USA if there are ANY arrears it will be impossible to unlock the phone. We receive many requests to unlock Sprint USA cellphones but in 70% of cases there are unpaid dues and the operator refuses to unlock the device. However when the client file attached to the phone is “clean”, Sprint and Verizon release the phone quite fast and at an affordable price of just €20.00
All products, and company names, logos, and service marks (collectively the "Trademarks") displayed are registered® and/or unregistered
trademarks™ of their respective owners.
The authors of this web site are not sponsored by or affiliated with any of the third-party trade mark or third-party registered trade mark owners,
and make no representations about them, their owners, their products or services.
