topic Re: Game now unlocking handsets in Discussions & Feedback

Game now unlocking handsets

viridis — Tue, 02 Jun 2015 17:07:15 GMT

No longer just dodgy market stalls it seems....

Unlock your phone at GAME!
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Re: Game now unlocking handsets

Cleoriff — Tue, 02 Jun 2015 17:13:33 GMT

Well there you go! Thanks for the heads up @viridis. I see the iPhone range is very expensive:smileywink: No surprise there..

Re: Game now unlocking handsets

viridis — Tue, 02 Jun 2015 17:12:56 GMT

Yep at 29.99

Re: Game now unlocking handsets

Cleoriff — Tue, 02 Jun 2015 17:14:14 GMT

@viridis wrote:
Yep at 29.99

Sorry I edited my post....:smileywink:

Re: Game now unlocking handsets

Bambino — Tue, 02 Jun 2015 17:21:19 GMT

No more expensive than their price for Windows phones.

Re: Game now unlocking handsets

Cleoriff — Tue, 02 Jun 2015 18:04:20 GMT

@Bambino wrote:
No more expensive than their price for Windows phones.

Yes I have just noticed that as well @Bambino It must mean that Android phones are dead easy to unlock..:smileywink:

Re: Game now unlocking handsets

anticpated — Tue, 02 Jun 2015 18:12:12 GMT

Well....I still rather do it through a network or myself, than pay someone else to do it.

Re: Game now unlocking handsets

Cleoriff — Tue, 02 Jun 2015 18:18:38 GMT

I think the people it will help most are iPhone users who seem to have major problems getting their new phones unlocked (from O2 anyway)

Re: Game now unlocking handsets

Anonymous — Tue, 02 Jun 2015 22:10:10 GMT

@Cleoriff wrote:
I think the people it will help most are iPhone users who seem to have major problems getting their new phones unlocked (from O2 anyway)

The simple moral is don't buy them from Carphone Warehouse

I can understand why people fall into that trap though, as CPW will usually undercut Apple. But then you're buying yourself a whole lot of trouble for later on

Re: Game now unlocking handsets

viridis — Tue, 02 Jun 2015 22:11:57 GMT

They all undercut apple, the problems arise when networks lock people in.

Re: Game now unlocking handsets

Cleoriff — Tue, 02 Jun 2015 22:13:33 GMT

Or get it from o2 on the refresh deal...then run along to Game and get it unlocked. If that works of course....

Re: Game now unlocking handsets

viridis — Tue, 02 Jun 2015 22:15:00 GMT

It'll work.
They can't really afford to screw up a load of iPhones.

Re: Game now unlocking handsets

perksie — Tue, 02 Jun 2015 22:17:16 GMT

@Anonymous wrote:
@Cleoriff wrote:
I think the people it will help most are iPhone users who seem to have major problems getting their new phones unlocked (from O2 anyway)
The simple moral is don't buy them from Carphone Warehouse

I can understand why people fall into that trap though, as CPW will usually undercut Apple. But then you're buying yourself a whole lot of trouble for later on

The warning notice is still on their sales page (at the very bottom).

iPhone will lock itself to the network of the first SIM card that is used in the phone. Subsequently attempting to use it on any other network, for example by replacing the SIM card, may mean it becomes permanently unusable. SIM free iPhones can only be used with a UK-network SIM card, and will not accept foreign SIM cards.

Re: Game now unlocking handsets

Cleoriff — Tue, 02 Jun 2015 22:18:40 GMT

@viridis wrote:
It'll work.
They can't really afford to screw up a load of iPhones.

I meant I wondered whether Game would put a disclaimer in to say they wont touch those iPhones?

Re: Game now unlocking handsets

Anonymous — Tue, 02 Jun 2015 22:18:44 GMT

That's why I always buy mine from the Apple Store

Re: Game now unlocking handsets

Anonymous — Wed, 03 Jun 2015 08:02:25 GMT

@perksie wrote:
@Anonymous wrote:
The simple moral is don't buy them from Carphone Warehouse

I can understand why people fall into that trap though, as CPW will usually undercut Apple. But then you're buying yourself a whole lot of trouble for later on

The warning notice is still on their sales page (at the very bottom).

iPhone will lock itself to the network of the first SIM card that is used in the phone. Subsequently attempting to use it on any other network, for example by replacing the SIM card, may mean it becomes permanently unusable. SIM free iPhones can only be used with a UK-network SIM card, and will not accept foreign SIM cards.

One would hope that point is made clear by staff in their high street stores, but sales advisors don't always give the best advice. It's interesting to read that they won't accept foreign sims (for me that's another reason not to buy from them). But putting this issue into perspective, most of CPW's customers are probably quite happy to buy an iPhone on that basis. I prefer to buy unlocked handsets because I like the freedom to change networks whenever I want, and also because they tend to attract a higher price if you decide to sell them.

One thing that I have noticed on other forums, is sometimes people aren't always clear on how they've "bought" their iPhone, with many believing that paying an upfront cost qualifies as a purchase, when in reality they've simply entered into a contract. But you can only take people's comments at face value, and it's often difficult to advise them on the best course of action, particularly as we're not sure whether O2 are unlocking handsets in these situations because they're legally obliged to, or whether there's an element of goodwill involved in the resolution.

Re: Game now unlocking handsets

perksie — Wed, 03 Jun 2015 10:32:38 GMT

@Anonymous wrote:
One thing that I have noticed on other forums, is sometimes people aren't always clear on how they've "bought" their iPhone, with many believing that paying an upfront cost qualifies as a purchase, when in reality they've simply entered into a contract. But you can only take people's comments at face value, and it's often difficult to advise them on the best course of action, particularly as we're not sure whether O2 are unlocking handsets in these situations because they're legally obliged to, or whether there's an element of goodwill involved in the resolution.

Good point, we can only go on what we're told and the position of O2 is not clear.

Re: Game now unlocking handsets

anticpated — Wed, 03 Jun 2015 17:31:36 GMT

Yes under the terms of my contract I still don't officially own my phone. Besides it is not locked to any network.