AT&T To Unlock Out-of-Contract iPhones

NicknamesAreStupid writes "Many outlets are reporting that AT&T will allow owners of iPhones whose contracts have expired to unlock their devices. One might think that a call or a quick trip to their local AT&T store would do the trick, and they do provide this service to people who are currently under contract with a newer phone and want to use their older one. However, AT&T has never made anything free to be easy, and this may not bode well for former customers who offer no profitable revenue. For example, when AT&T bought Bell South, they were ordered by the court as part of the acquisition to offer $10/month 'DSL lite' service. The maze in their website which led to this opportunity is now a story of legend. Will the key to this unlocking the iPhone be as byzantine for former customers?"

Comments

Seriously?

[Xacid]

I've just called customer service, gave them the IMEI, they submitted a request to the manufacturer, and I got an unlock code about 3 days later. There wasn't anything painful other than taking the time to just call. Mind you - I did this as a former customer and this was maybe a couple months ago.

Re:Seriously?

[schnell]

Yes, AT&T has always unlocked phones except for the iPhone - this was a legacy of their early exclusivity with Apple. Now they unlock iPhones too. It has never been terribly hard from my experience (with two non-iPhones over the past 10 years).

But remember this is Slashdot. If it the article is about AT&T, Microsoft, Apple or any cableco, the story must be written such that even if the company is doing something good the summary must be negative. I'm guessing there is a step two for Slashdot somewhere and step three is profit.

former customers?

[YesIAmAScript]

Some of us are current customers, just we have had our phone for more than 2 years.

Anyway, I find this ridiculous. Why does AT&T have to wait until the contract is up before unlocking? I already am under contract with an ETF penalty if I try to stop using their service.

So unlock it earlier, like Verizon does.

Hell, stop locking the dang things.

Re:former customers?

[puto]

I work for ATT and might not agree with some of their policies, the unlocking of the Iphone is a contractual obligation the company has with Apple.

Re:former customers?

[yuhong]

See this story:
http://www.cultofmac.com/154873/tim-cook-forces-att-to-unlock-customers-phone/

Re:What about older devices?

[Patent Lover]

google "jailbreak oldass iphone"

Re:What about older devices?

[Anonymous Coward]

Jailbreak != Unlocking

Jailbreaking is gaining root-level permissions on your phone.
Unlocking is removing the carrier restriction on the phone, e.g. allowing your ATT branded phone to be used on Verison's network.

Re:My experience

[Anonymous Coward]

You are a SEVERE minority. I envy you.
Maybe you are very young. Or have been lucky enough NOT to need to deal with at&t often.
Or you might be one of the lucky few who got what they paid for and never had a problem where you needed to talk to at&t.

The rest of us however... Despise at&t for how confusing, incompetent and evil they can be.
It's an old hate tho. And after this many decades the fury has changed to depressed resignation when we have to deal with them.

But just because we're all not still frothing with red hot rage at at&t... Don't believe they've gotten any better.
We've just gotten tired and worn out with their special brand of incompetent clueless.