Is activation of a T-Mobile 5s not possible on another carrier?

[B1ue_B1aze]

Hi,

I just spoke with an Apple sales rep, and they told me I may be forced to activate my new iPhone 5s on T-Mobile. I don't want to do this. I thought these were unlocked? I want to use it with Aio wireless. I thought unlocked meant I could use the iPhone anywhere. As anyone activated an iPhone that was unlocked but meant for T-Mobile on another carrier?

 

[B1ue_B1aze]

Ok, I just spoke with a T-Mobile rep, and they told me there should be no issue in activation. They also confirmed all T-Mobile iPhone's being sold directly through Apple are always unlocked.

 

[anon(5828343)]

Ok, I just spoke with a T-Mobile rep, and they told me there should be no issue in activation. They also confirmed all T-Mobile iPhone's being sold directly through Apple are always unlocked.

Can you please confirm whether or not you were able to activate the T-mobile unlocked iPhone 5S on Aio? I got the same information from an Apple Store rep. They told me that while the T-mobile iPhone 5S was indeed unlocked, it was "carrier locked" in the U.S. (makes no sense to me).

 

[B1ue_B1aze]

Can you please confirm whether or not you were able to activate the T-mobile unlocked iPhone 5S on Aio? I got the same information from an Apple Store rep. They told me that while the T-mobile iPhone 5S was indeed unlocked, it was "carrier locked" in the U.S. (makes no sense to me).

I ordered my iPhone 5s from Apple.com right when the store went live last night. I'll definitely post back when I get it. But as I said above the T-Mobile rep did say it will work, so I don't know who to believe, Apple or T-Mobile. I'm leaning towards that the T-Mobile rep is correct as the Apple rep told me to contact then about service questions like this one, as Apple doesn't have this information.

 

[swarlos]

I ordered my iPhone 5s from Apple.com right when the store went live last night. I'll definitely post back when I get it. But as I said above the T-Mobile rep did say it will work, so I don't know who to believe, Apple or T-Mobile. I'm leaning towards that the T-Mobile rep is correct as the Apple rep told me to contact then about service questions like this one, as Apple doesn't have this information.

Same thing when I went to the Apple they only had Space Gray and when I asked about the t-mobile phone being unlocked the guy said they were only off contract and I was like no on the website it says they're unlocked so I'm confused.


Carried by a raven from The Wall.

 

[Eileen89]

Same thing when I went to the Apple they only had Space Gray and when I asked about the t-mobile phone being unlocked the guy said they were only off contract and I was like no on the website it says they're unlocked so I'm confused.

Apple has changed their website and it no longer says unlocked. Instead it reads as "T-Mobile contract-free".

 

[B1ue_B1aze]

I've been looking this up, and people who got them in store have been saying that they are indeed unlocked. They have said they used AT&T SIM cards without issue, and did activate with it.

 

[M.Rizk]

Apple has changed their website and it no longer says unlocked. Instead it reads as "T-Mobile contract-free".

Yes, but it also says when traveling abroad you can place any Nano SIM for a local carrier and it will just work...

If you buy iPhone for T-Mobile, it will arrive with a nano-SIM card already installed that you can activate by visiting an Apple Retail Store or a T-Mobile store or by calling T-Mobile. When you travel internationally, you can use a nano-SIM card for iPhone 5s from a local GSM carrier. For details on LTE support, see www.apple.com/iphone/LTE.

 

[Eileen89]

Yes, but it also says when traveling abroad you can place any Nano SIM for a local carrier and it will just work...

I understand this. I was simply responding to the post that I quoted above in regards to the wording on the site.


Sent from my iPhone 5S using iMore Forums mobile app

 

[M.Rizk]

I understand this. I was simply responding to the post that I quoted above in regards to the wording on the site.


Sent from my iPhone 5S using iMore Forums mobile app

Now I understand , btw also they same with the iPad. I got my iPad from the US, and it is unlocked. I didn't even need to activate my AT&T SIM.

iPad mini with Wi-Fi + Cellular can roam worldwide on GSM/UMTS networks. In countries without compatible LTE networks, iPad mini will operate on GSM network technologies such as HSPA+ and DC-HSDPA. When you travel internationally, you can use a nano-SIM card from a local carrier.

 

[anon(5828343)]

I've been looking this up, and people who got them in store have been saying that they are indeed unlocked. They have said they used AT&T SIM cards without issue, and did activate with it.

Apple needs to clear up this confusion. Thanks for the research!

 

[mustangboy88]

On the receipt it says Unlocked...

 

[swarlos]

I understand this. I was simply responding to the post that I quoted above in regards to the wording on the site.


Sent from my iPhone 5S using iMore Forums mobile app

Aren't the phones only locked if you get them on contract or since both models have all the Bands you can use any SIM card?


Carried by a raven from The Wall.

 

[HBcubs]

Mine says "unlocked" as well. I'm on AT&T.

 

[M.Rizk]

Mine says "unlocked" as well. I'm on AT&T.


View attachment 38533

I can see you used Standard Shipping, since I never ordered something from Apple.com before, do you get other options for faster shipping? if yes, do you have any idea how much it costs?

 

[HBcubs]

the rushed shipping was $10.

 

[Peter Cohen]

Carrier locked iPhone 5c and 5s models are available for sale directly from T-Mobile. All iPhones sold by Apple with pre-installed T-Mobile SIMs are contract-free, so they're _not_ carrier locked, though they do ship with a T-Mobile SIM preinstalled. That's why they cost the full price of the phone, not a carrier-subsidized price. The phones you buy through T-Mobile stores and through the T-Mobile web site at the lower price are, indeed, carrier-locked.

I bought an 32GB iPhone 5s with a T-Mobile SIM preinstalled from the Apple Store on Friday. It cost $749. It is unlocked. If I remove the SIM, I can use it AT&T, AIO, Straight Talk and any other PAYG GSM-compatible service with the appropriate SIM installed.

 

[swarlos]

Carrier locked iPhone 5c and 5s models are available for sale directly from T-Mobile. All iPhones sold by Apple with pre-installed T-Mobile SIMs are contract-free, so they're _not_ carrier locked, though they do ship with a T-Mobile SIM preinstalled. That's why they cost the full price of the phone, not a carrier-subsidized price. The phones you buy through T-Mobile stores and through the T-Mobile web site at the lower price are, indeed, carrier-locked.

I bought an 32GB iPhone 5s with a T-Mobile SIM preinstalled from the Apple Store on Friday. It cost $749. It is unlocked. If I remove the SIM, I can use it AT&T, AIO, Straight Talk and any other PAYG GSM-compatible service with the appropriate SIM installed.

Thanks for clearing that up Peter! When I went to the Apple store Friday one of the employees told me the T-Mobile weren't unlocked just contract free.


Carried by a raven from The Wall.

 

[mustangboy88]

Thanks for clearing that up Peter! When I went to the Apple store Friday one of the employees told me the T-Mobile weren't unlocked just contract free.


Carried by a raven from The Wall.

This is what I was told at the Apple Store as well. However, 3 different Apple reps from the online store confirmed they were unlocked.

 

[B1ue_B1aze]

Although it's already answered, I said I'd post back when I got my 5s. Well I have my T-Mobile Unlocked 5s in hand that I purchased from Apple.com, and I have it running on AT&T with no problem. I can confirm that it was unlocked, and accepted the AT&T SIM without any issues.