iPhone 4 is unlocked in Canada, too
By Chris Ziegler 
posted June 15th 2010 6:41PM
posted June 15th 2010 6:41PM
[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]
posted June 15th 2010 6:41PM
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Unlocked iPhones in the US? I'll be waiting
Another example of AT&T being stupid. Why lock your device? So someone can't go use it on EDGE on T-Mobiles tiny network? Why does AT&T care if I move to Canada with my AT&T iPhone?
Even if I bring a Canadian one to AT&T I HAVE to have a data plan which is where they make their $ and they don't have to subsidize it.
AT&T blah.
@JonNRb
too bad is still said coming soon, will get one if work t-mobile without jailbreak at all.
@treats T-Mobile's unlock policy: After having thirty days of service, you can request the unlock code from customer support. That way, you can travel out of the country and use a SIM card from the foreign country without having to pay as obscene of a price.
@JonNRb Actually if the "unlocked" phone is more than the commitment price plus the ETF price then it is a BS marketing scam. Just like your monthly payment not going down after your contract is over.
@fastm3driver
Feeling jealous of Canadians right now! :)
@Smurf I believe that AT&T's unlock policy is similar (maybe 60-90 days) but just like all other carriers they will not unlock a device that it exclusive to that carrier in their country. If I had a RAZR and was a customer for 30+ days I could probably get it unlocked but because no other US carrier has the iPhone (AT&T pays a ton for this) then they do not have to unlock the device. Trust me, I have argued with AT&T to get my 3G unlocked so that I can sell it to get the iPhone 4... they will not budge (I'm not even sure they hold the key to unlock them, Apple may reserve that right)
@JonNRb
Here's to living 30 minutes from the border :)
@mikefletcher85 AT&T told me that they don't have to unlock the iPhones because they are 'multimedia devices' with a phone option. After we upgraded to 3GS's, I called to get our first-gen iPhones unlocked to send to my in-laws in Chile, but AT&T refused on those grounds.
@fastm3driver
Not if you travel to other countries where you can, with an unlocked phone, just buy a local SIM card and not be screwed by outrageous data roaming charges that are 50-200X what an in-country data charge would be. That's a major benefit for unlocked phones.
@Smurf I have Tmobile and i called and told them I travel international and they said Sure, we can provide you with an Sim unlock code, Whats your email and said You will have your code within 24 hours after your manufacture has accepted the request. I had it in 5 hours and in 10 seconds my phoen was unlocked.
@JonNRb what would happen if i buy it in the states, and update with the firmware from canada?? unlocked iphone in the states?
@who said what
Min iphone plan in Canada is $50 for 100-150 mins (most double it with "bonus" mins) and 500Mb data.
The 3GS (16GB) is currently $199 on a 3 YEAR plan, and $699 without a plan. You guys can do better.
@JonNRb
Dumb question... those of us who currently own a 3GS ... will our phones be unlocked? I would love to give mine to my girl when I upgrade. Buying two phones in full is going to hurt...
@fastm3driver Since it is commitment free it is likely the full retail, thus no ETF. If that was in the US it would be $499, $599 and $699.
@mikefletcher85 Just FYI, the largest carrier in the US will allow SIM unlocks on all their phones. You just have to meet a few qualifications and they'll do it. Gotta be a customer, gotta have an active line, can't be in collections or anything like that. And can only do one sim unlock every 10 months. Not heartless or anything, just gotta ask for it. If the person doesn't know what you're talking about or sounds unsure, ask another person as not everyone knows about sim unlocks.
@techlord
I might wait a few months on that, Apple's goal now is to go multicarriers. I'm not saying they will get a aws version, in fact doubt it, but stranger things have occured.
Holy hell, Canada didn't get screwed on something!
@d0mth0ma5 Apart from likely price, minutes, data etc...
@d0mth0ma5 Give the Canadians their moment. This is the biggest thing to happen to Canada since the Olympics. ^.^
@d0mth0ma5
Actually, in Canada, Rogers is the ONLY gsm carrier (Fido is owned by Rogers).
So unless u travel a lot or are an American wanting to gid rid of AT&T, I don't think unlocking the phone matters much up there.
@d0mth0ma5 Think again. Even if we pay 100$ a month we only get 3 GB (or less) of data.
Check out our plans:
- http://www.bell.ca/shopping/PrsShpWls_RtpLanding.page
- http://www.rogers.com/web/content/wireless_plan_landing
- http://www.telusmobility.com/en/ON/plans/index.shtml
@AvengerLE
Urm. Bell and Telus have launched HSPA networks, and both sell the iPhone. While they do not also have 2G GSM nets, this does not make an unlocked phone "pointless".
@Smurf
Yeah your right.
Its better then a catastrophic oil spill though...
@d0mth0ma5
Well, paying possibly $600 for an iPhone is not called being Screwed? And THREE year contracts? That is being screwed...
@kapanak
If the iPhone unlocked is $600 they will be sold out for months, which is why I believe it's very unlikely. When the 3GS came out up here, it was $799 and $899 respectively. There has to be catch... it's either going to be insanely expensive or all the carriers are probably going to have the same voice & data plans.
@AvengerLE
Not true Bell and Telus has HSPA networks too and they carry the iPhone 3GS
@kapanak
Actually, you don't HAVE to get a contract with any phone company. It just means you don't get a subsidized phone.
Moreover, there are also two new mobile companies in Canada: Wind Mobile and Mobilicity. The plans with these companiese are cheaper than Robellus (FYI, that means Rogers, Bell, and Telus)
They work with the new AWS (1700 band), and with the iphone 4 being a penta HSPDA+ phone, you have all five carriers to choose from.
@adamo
Sorry man, it's already been confirmed. That extra 3G band in the iPhone 4 is not band 1700 (also known as AWS). It's actually a 3G band for Japan. It's sad though, if it was AWS, everyone would be going to WIND & Mobilicity for unlimited data and voice.
@adamo
Actually, there is another new carrier in Canada: Public Mobile. But I think they use CDMA, so the iPhone is not going to work on their network as well.
@Plazmic Flame
correction:
mobilicity is unlimited surfing(no tethering)
wind is unlimited data(tethering)
huge difference
America, f*ck yeah!
So it's a phone with benefits?
@KnoxHarrington Fun and exciting at first, but it's pricier and you have to use an older/different contract in the long-term, so it's a bit like using a prostitute.
@KnoxHarrington Give the accessory developers a little while on that one.
Fuck yesssss!!!
I guess that's why us Canadians had to wait, or something :)
@SmadaLeinad
Actually, Canadians have to wait because the big 3 carriers of the iPhone in Canada collectively decided to wait until after new wireless phone regulations governing the province of Quebec come into effect on June 30. Since Quebec will be making some sweeping changes to the rules in that province with respect to wireless phone service, the Canadian big 3 decided to push the iPhone back to July to deal with the change over of the rules in Quebec at the end of this month first before taking on the launch of one of the most highly anticipated devices in history.
In a nut shell, it's Quebec's fault (though the new rules in Quebec are pretty awesome for consumers - no more ridiculous ETFs there and no more hidden fees or activation fees either. Pretty sweet deal for customers)
@KC Oh, ok. Just as long as we get the iPhone 4 at some point, I'll be happy :)
@KC Hopefully other provinces will take note and start overhauling the wireless regs.
@KC Always us screwing up launch dates eh? Well at least I won't have any hidden fees when I get my iPhone :). Also, I just saw that Virgin Mobile will be getting the iPhone 4 too. It's gonna be huge in Canada.
@anttotarella I'll go with Bell when when the contract on my old LG Neon (it sucks!!!) finishes. It seems to have the best service for where I live, compared to Rogers.
@KC Zer's no Canada like French Canada. It's ze best Canada in ze land.
is there anything to stop americans from driving across the border and buying one from a canadian Apple store?
@aphxtwn Me
@aphxtwn AT&T Mercenary Mounties
@aphxtwn
Me Canadian singing: Dancing in the rain, dancing in the rain, what a wonderful feeling, I get and unlocked iPhone again.
And yes the mounties will stop you. Jokes!
@Lord Vader Ok, I have to admit, that was kinda funny.
@aphxtwn Taxes! - You would have to stay in Canada for a bit also.. You can't take a lot over the border.
@Lord Vader lol. touché