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.

 

[GDSman]

Hi. I tried this before a recent trip to the UK. "How will I know it worked?" I asked Telstra. "Wait 3 days, connect to iTunes. You won't see anything different, but don't worry it'll be fine...." So in two separate calls, and at a Telstra shop I checked that there was no prompt of success, and 'unlocked' 2 iPhones.

In the UK they didn't work.

On return to Aus I was advised that I should have received a 'Carrier update' notification when I synched to iTunes.

I was pretty frustrated by this at the time so my advice is to do the unlocking a couple of weeks before your trip so that if you have problems, and don't see the 'carrier update' notification, you will have time to get it fixed.

 

[munitalP]

Hi. I tried this before a recent trip to the UK. "How will I know it worked?" I asked Telstra. "Wait 3 days, connect to iTunes. You won't see anything different, but don't worry it'll be fine...." So in two separate calls, and at a Telstra shop I checked that there was no prompt of success, and 'unlocked' 2 iPhones.

In the UK they didn't work.

On return to Aus I was advised that I should have received a 'Carrier update' notification when I synched to iTunes.

I was pretty frustrated by this at the time so my advice is to do the unlocking a couple of weeks before your trip so that if you have problems, and don't see the 'carrier update' notification, you will have time to get it fixed.

My unlock took minutes. Quote the puk or whatever to the guy on the phone and it's done. Reset the phone using iTunes and you get a message saying phone unlocked. Obviously something went wrong in yOur process. Sent from telstra iPhone with vodafone sim

 

[milehighclub]

I wasn't even in Australia when I unlocked it (as I had read about it whilst away) and it worked perfectly, by calling the toll free number on Skype.

 

[drewbles]

Hi. I tried this before a recent trip to the UK. "How will I know it worked?" I asked Telstra. "Wait 3 days, connect to iTunes. You won't see anything different, but don't worry it'll be fine...." So in two separate calls, and at a Telstra shop I checked that there was no prompt of success, and 'unlocked' 2 iPhones.

In the UK they didn't work.

On return to Aus I was advised that I should have received a 'Carrier update' notification when I synched to iTunes.

I was pretty frustrated by this at the time so my advice is to do the unlocking a couple of weeks before your trip so that if you have problems, and don't see the 'carrier update' notification, you will have time to get it fixed.

As munitalP mentions, you need to restore your iPhone. The person on the phone has given you the wrong information.

To unlock your phone, you must 'restore' via iTunes. Ensure you sync your phone before you restore so you don't lose any sms/call data or any app data. Then, click 'restore' and wait. When done iTunes will display:

Then, and only then, are you good to go

Carrier updates have no relation to the phone being unlocked. Your carrier needs to send your UDID and IMEI to Apple, who add it to a database of unlocked handsets. When you restore your phone, it contacts the Apple Activation Servers, and unlock your handset in this process.

Telco Call Centre staff are not technical people unfortunately, and often aren't armed with enough info to help so make stuff up like this

 

[rsellens]

Got this off the Telstra internet site


Question:

How do I unlock my Apple iPhone to use on other networks?


Answer:


There is no fee to unlock your Apple iPhone from Telstra.
Step 1 of 4: On your iPhone, tap Settings, then General, then About.
Step 2 of 4: Write down the IMEI number which is displayed. We'll need this to unlock your iPhone.
Step 3 of 4: Call 125 111 and say "Unlock" when asked why you're calling.
Step 4 of 4: After you've spoken with a consultant, it usually takes around 72 hours for Apple to unlock your iPhone. After 72 hours have passed, connect your iPhone to your computer and sync with iTunes. You'll see a notification that a carrier update is available. Install this update, and you will then see a "Your iPhone has been unlocked" message.

 

[drewbles]

Got this off the Telstra internet site


Question:

How do I unlock my Apple iPhone to use on other networks?


Answer:


There is no fee to unlock your Apple iPhone from Telstra.
Step 1 of 4: On your iPhone, tap Settings, then General, then About.
Step 2 of 4: Write down the IMEI number which is displayed. We'll need this to unlock your iPhone.
Step 3 of 4: Call 125 111 and say "Unlock" when asked why you're calling.
Step 4 of 4: After you've spoken with a consultant, it usually takes around 72 hours for Apple to unlock your iPhone. After 72 hours have passed, connect your iPhone to your computer and sync with iTunes. You'll see a notification that a carrier update is available. Install this update, and you will then see a "Your iPhone has been unlocked" message.

Step 4 isn't quite right, you actually need to do a full restore of your phone not just a sync. It's a pain