Verizon Says It Won't 'Relock' the iPhone 5

POST

MAIL

Posted September 24, 2012 at 6:48pm by Shalom Levytam

Verizon has confirmed that it won't prevent its version of the iPhone 5 from being used on AT&T's network.

Unexpectedly, users who purchased the iPhone 5 last week found that the Verizon version would accept SIM cards from AT&T and work on its slower 4G (3.5G) network. It will not work on AT&T's 4G LTE network.

According to the Associated Press, this is the first time Verizon has sold a phone that will work on a competing network with no unlocking procedure. Verizon spokeswoman Brenda Raney confirmed on Monday that Verizon does not plan to relock the device.

Sprint says its iPhone 5s are locked but customers in good standing for at least three months can request them unlocked for international use. AT&T will unlock your iPhone once your contract is up.

Read More

Verizon Says It Won't 'Relock' the iPhone 5

Get the iClarified Daily Newsletter

Apple news, rumors, tutorials, price drop alerts, in your inbox every evening, free.

Unsubscribe at any time.

no_ma'am - September 25, 2012 at 4:57am

Good for Verizon.

harry - September 25, 2012 at 3:20am

att is so stupid about this and I really hate it thinking to switch to verizon

Why - September 25, 2012 at 2:22am

Apple will release the unlock phone just not right now , if u guys remember when the 4s was release Last oct The unlock version didn't come out till that nov. so I'm sure it might be the same thing

Nick - September 25, 2012 at 12:29am

ATT phones are unlocked too, if bought at the full retail price

Mike - September 25, 2012 at 12:22am

This is brilliant on Verizon's part. I'm on a Family plan on AT&T. I'd love to switch to Verizon. But every year either me or my wife upgrade our iPhone, which extends the contract another year with AT&T. This allows me to buy a Verizon iPhone (at full price), use it on AT&T's network for a year, then switch to Verizon when my AT&T contract is up. I'll be able to then use the Verizon phone on Verizon and get the iPhone 6 on a Verizon contract. It's what I've wanted since Verizon was allowed to offer the iPhone!

Pakinto - September 24, 2012 at 10:23pm

Carl - September 24, 2012 at 10:01pm

So is there any advantage on waiting for Apple Factory unlocked iphone 5? I guess the Verizon's iphone 5 is the same! Will the unlocked version sold by apple have all the LTE bands? or will it be the same as verizon's ?

NoGoodNick - September 24, 2012 at 11:18pm

Technically, I'm not sure Apple will release an "unLocked" phone, since due to hardware limitations, they can't 'unlock' the 4G networks. But Apple has made no comments on the subject.

Mike - September 25, 2012 at 12:25am

What are you talking about? Apple already sells unlocked iPhone 4s'. The company has said it won't sell the unlocked iPhone 5 until a few weeks after this past week's launch of the new iPhone.

San - September 24, 2012 at 9:47pm

AT&T officially sucks now, I think its time to change my mobile service.

manzanita - September 24, 2012 at 9:30pm

AT&T sucks!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Why - September 24, 2012 at 7:54pm

They still suck lol

NoGoodNick - September 24, 2012 at 6:58pm

Good for Verizon. This is the kind of customer service that we need more of, not the punitive responses that ATT offers. There are plenty of US business people that travel overseas that need this service, and restricting them is pointless.