iPhone - Telstra will unlock your iPhone free of charge

[munitalP]

If you call 1800 474663 or 135111, Telstra will now unlock your iPhone free of charge. So helpful information if travelling O/S or if just sick to death of Telstra

munitalP

[pshepvic]

My understanding (as an ex-employee of the big T) is that there are a number of conditions around this. You must be under contract on the phone, or have been a Telstra customer for a certain length of time. And there are some other conditions too I can't quite remember. They've had this policy for at least 6 months now.

[pshepvic]

Btw, 1800 474 663 is 1800-IPHONE and can be used for all enquiries for iPhones - that might make the number easier to remember!

[munitalP]

My understanding (as an ex-employee of the big T) is that there are a number of conditions around this. You must be under contract on the phone, or have been a Telstra customer for a certain length of time. And there are some other conditions too I can't quite remember. They've had this policy for at least 6 months now.

Wrong on the contract bit. My iPhone was unlocked without question except some number I had to dial *??# to get. The phone was unlocked in minutes.

If this has been about 6 months, its the first time I have seen it.

[pshepvic]

Wrong on the contract bit. My iPhone was unlocked without question except some number I had to dial *??# to get. The phone was unlocked in minutes.

If this has been about 6 months, its the first time I have seen it.

Note that I said under contract OR a customer for a certain length of time. There are also a few different other conditions that allow it to happen, so you may have met one of the others (I can't remember what they all are). But as an example, if you bought a locked iPhone off eBay, put it on a non-contracted BYO or pre-paid plan, the policy is not to unlock for free (although what the customer service rep actually does could be completed different).

It's been around since approx Sept/Oct last year, as I had my phone unlocked free back then as soon as the policy came in.

[oz_mark]

If you call 1800 474663 or 135111, Telstra will now unlock your iPhone free of charge. So helpful information if travelling O/S or if just sick to death of Telstra

munitalP

Now why would you want an iPhone on any other network?

[milehighclub]

I've been with Telstra for 2 months and they unlocked it - took 2 seconds.

[straitman]

I've been with Telstra for 2 months and they unlocked it - took 2 seconds.

.... and I unlocked mine quite a few months ago without issue.

[pshepvic]

Generally when you call, they can determine by looking at the account if they can unlock for free, so they won't even mention the fact that there are qualifying criteria. It's only if the account suggests in some way that you don't qualify that they'll say anything.

[djfuzz]

Generally when you call, they can determine by looking at the account if they can unlock for free, so they won't even mention the fact that there are qualifying criteria. It's only if the account suggests in some way that you don't qualify that they'll say anything.

This may have been the case some time ago, but since October 2010 Telstra's policy has been to unlock iPhones bought from Telstra (and Telstra-locked phones bought from Apple) unconditionally for free.

Telstra removes unlock fee for Apple iPhone for jet-setting Aussies - iPhone 4, Next G | Telstra Exchange

That still may not have filtered down the chain to certain stores / resellers, but I've not heard of anyone having difficulties with it ringing the numbers linked to above.

Good on them too - if you're on contract to them, unlocking the phone is going to make no difference to them. On the other hand, if you're out of contract, keeping a one-to-two-year old phone locked to Telstra engenders more ill will than loyalty by being forced to stay with them or change phones.