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Model A1661 for AT&T

popkurn611

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Purchased one off of ebay and I popped my at&t sim inside and it says not compatible. I thought the A1661 models were unlocked? I have been doing some research and someone had said if it was bought outright that it needs to be activated from the carrier that it was purchased from. If it isn;t activated it remains locked, which I find weird since it is an unlocked sim free device per apple.
 

TwitchyPuppy

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It's also the Verizon model.
So if it was purchased from them, it might require an initial VZW activation before putting another SIM card in.
 

mogelijk

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I bought a 7 and a 7 Plus, Verizon models, from the Apple Store. Both worked fine and neither was ever activated on Verizon, I just replaced the Verizon SIM card prior to turning them on.
 

popkurn611

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I bought a 7 and a 7 Plus, Verizon models, from the Apple Store. Both worked fine and neither was ever activated on Verizon, I just replaced the Verizon SIM card prior to turning them on.
Yeah well apparently this one was bought full retail from metropcs. didn't even know they sold the iPhone 7. they somehow are locked but it's the unlocked model, makes no sense to me. MetroPCS told me I had to have service for 90 days before they can unlock it for me.
 

eyecrispy

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Yeah well apparently this one was bought full retail from metropcs. didn't even know they sold the iPhone 7. they somehow are locked but it's the unlocked model, makes no sense to me. MetroPCS told me I had to have service for 90 days before they can unlock it for me.

Boo. Have you contacted the seller? Any chance you can go to a metropcs store and ask someone to activate it for you?
 

popkurn611

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Boo. Have you contacted the seller? Any chance you can go to a metropcs store and ask someone to activate it for you?
been there done that. Went to metropcs yesterday. The girl there said I have to have their service for 90 days for them to be able to unlock it. The A1661 model says unlocked, yet the carriers can lock it somehow. I don't get it really.
 

eyecrispy

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been there done that. Went to metropcs yesterday. The girl there said I have to have their service for 90 days for them to be able to unlock it. The A1661 model says unlocked, yet the carriers can lock it somehow. I don't get it really.

Does metropcs have prepaid cards? Wonder if you can buy one of those and use it on prepaid for 90 days and then have it unlocked.
 

popkurn611

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Does metropcs have prepaid cards? Wonder if you can buy one of those and use it on prepaid for 90 days and then have it unlocked.
I returned the phone to the seller. Such a headache. I figured that model was "unlocked" so even though it was tied to MetroPCS I would be able to put my Sim in. Apparently this model is still locked if you buy it from a carrier. Lesson learned. I bought an AT&T model from Swappa. Will get it Saturday, so excited to finally ditch my s7 edge
 

eyecrispy

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I returned the phone to the seller. Such a headache. I figured that model was "unlocked" so even though it was tied to MetroPCS I would be able to put my Sim in. Apparently this model is still locked if you buy it from a carrier. Lesson learned. I bought an AT&T model from Swappa. Will get it Saturday, so excited to finally ditch my s7 edge

Glad the seller was willing to work with you. Enjoy your AT&T device!
 

AugustVance

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I dont know if this is always the case. It could be because it was a MetroPCS rule or something. I purchased a A1661 model from sams club. The only thing I read online was to just activate it with a inactive verizon sim to make sure it was fully unlocked. Then I stuck my ATT sim in it and it has been working perfectly since. I also did a restore in itunes and it gave me the "congratulations your iphone is unlocked" message. I have tried it with a tmobile sim and all is good.
 

popkurn611

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I dont know if this is always the case. It could be because it was a MetroPCS rule or something. I purchased a A1661 model from sams club. The only thing I read online was to just activate it with a inactive verizon sim to make sure it was fully unlocked. Then I stuck my ATT sim in it and it has been working perfectly since. I also did a restore in itunes and it gave me the "congratulations your iphone is unlocked" message. I have tried it with a tmobile sim and all is good.
Interesting, yeah i restored it as well and never got that message so it has something to do with MetroPCS
 

TheRewardisCheese

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Model A1661 for AT&T

I returned the phone to the seller. Such a headache. I figured that model was "unlocked" so even though it was tied to MetroPCS I would be able to put my Sim in. Apparently this model is still locked if you buy it from a carrier. Lesson learned. I bought an AT&T model from Swappa. Will get it Saturday, so excited to finally ditch my s7 edge

All models purchased from apple directly at full retail price or on apples upgrade plan are unlocked.

Any phones purchased from a carrier store are locked regardless if purchased at full price.

If the seller you got it from originally purchased it from metropcs, then it would locked by default regardless if he or she bought it from metro at full retail.
 

popkurn611

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Re: Model A1661 for AT&T

All models purchased from apple directly at full retail price or on apples upgrade plan are unlocked.

Any phones purchased from a carrier store are locked regardless if purchased at full price.

If the seller you got it from originally purchased it from metropcs, then it would locked by default regardless if he or she bought it from metro at full retail.
That's a good explanation. So crazy because people on Swappa list that model as unlocked which it is but depends where you bought it from.
 

TheRewardisCheese

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Model A1661 for AT&T

People posting on swappa , Craigslist, etc sometimes are not aware of the whole unlocked vs locked vs carrier-purchased vs apple-purchased. I know it's frustrating to say the least. I'm glad the seller at least refunded you.
 

popkurn611

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Re: Model A1661 for AT&T

People posting on swappa , Craigslist, etc sometimes are not aware of the whole unlocked vs locked vs carrier-purchased vs apple-purchased. I know it's frustrating to say the least. I'm glad the seller at least refunded you.
Yea it really is frustrating. Have to do all your research before purchasing. There is only so much you can get out of the seller and I don't blame them for not knowing, it's confusing
 

nikkisharif

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Re: Model A1661 for AT&T

All models purchased from apple directly at full retail price or on apples upgrade plan are unlocked.

Any phones purchased from a carrier store are locked regardless if purchased at full price.

If the seller you got it from originally purchased it from metropcs, then it would locked by default regardless if he or she bought it from metro at full retail.

With the exception of Verizon. All their iPhones are unlocked.
 

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