Unlocking iPhone 5

[Anonymous]

Been looking on the internet on how to unlock the iPhone 5... Mostly curiosity. 

And came across a few sites where they do a IMEI unlock.... I was wondering how they do it? Surely it must be illegal?

But to my main point (Last sentence), is this true?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SIM_lock#United_Kingdom

[Anonymous]

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@Anonymous wrote:

^^ Shockingly bad CS in my opinion, every other carrier is unlocking them yet o2 are not .. seems strange to me, I wanted my iphone5 unlocked to put in a work sim whilst out of the country, all my contacts, emails and schedules are linked to my phone before anyone says use another phone.

I have been with o2 for 15 years but in the last few of them I have noticed that they are starting to look after their customers less and less.

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I agree with you Clare, I think its a terrible decision too, but O2 always do it with the iPhone.  They refuse to unlock it until around 6-9 months from when it first goes on sale.  They have their reasons- which is that they don't want people buying an iPhone from them and selling it on during the initial sales rush where there is less stock availability.

[Anonymous]

Yes, I understand that argument and think it is propbably quite fair.

However, I point out that I paid the full unsubsidised price on PAYG and only want to change because the service (in the sense of coverage) is so very poor. I too am caught in this trap and that seems, to me, to be unfair.

[Anonymous]

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@Anonymous wrote:

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@Anonymous wrote:

Spanish business philosophy. We are going to get them unlocked mañana. 

Wilson

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Operational decisions aren't run from Spain.  O2 is run as a standalone company, with a UK-Based CEO and full UK board.  Input from the parent company comes with regular meetings but I imagine they don't decide something like when O2 starts unlocking iphones.  I think they'll trust the UK board to decide something like that.

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Pablo,

It was not a serious comment but maybe expressing our frustration with O2, who seem to be out of step/behind the curve, in comparison with their UK competitors.

As I said before, someone at a senior level of management needs to take ownership of this issue and at least match the competition or even better, improve on it. These are the sorts of nitpicking issues that eventually can lead to a company becoming an "also ran". Just think of what has happened to the once powerful Nokia and Motorola (where are they now). This is a fast moving business and if people don't like the way you are doing business, they will vote with their feet. Perhaps you could gain some kudos for yourself by bringing this issue up at an internal meeting.

Wilson

[Anonymous]

I'm frankly gobsmacked at how I've been treated by O2. I purchased my handset on release day at the full cost, I own it outright, selling my iPhone4s so I could upgrade the handset and keep my existing contract.

I'm now at the end of the contract and have tried to leave for another network who offer a better deal on data usage (another bug-bare of mine with O2). They refuse to unlock the handset in order to protect stock for 'genuine' customers. I find this insulting. I've been a customer for 8 years, I own the handset outright and so how can they control how I use it. I've checked the T&C's and cant find anything and even OfCom advice is that once the 'subisdy' has been recovered, unlocking should be allowed (no subsidy in this case). I'm effectively forced to remain as an O2 customer. Disgusting.

[Anonymous]

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@Anonymous wrote:

I'm frankly gobsmacked at how I've been treated by O2. I purchased my handset on release day at the full cost, I own it outright, selling my iPhone4s so I could upgrade the handset and keep my existing contract.

I'm now at the end of the contract and have tried to leave for another network who offer a better deal on data usage (another bug-bare of mine with O2). They refuse to unlock the handset in order to protect stock for 'genuine' customers. I find this insulting. I've been a customer for 8 years, I own the handset outright and so how can they control how I use it. I've checked the T&C's and cant find anything and even OfCom advice is that once the 'subisdy' has been recovered, unlocking should be allowed (no subsidy in this case). I'm effectively forced to remain as an O2 customer. Disgusting.

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The reason they'll have said no to you (despite you buying your phone outright) is that if they do it for you, they then can't refuse to do it for anyone else.

[Anonymous]

Not sure I agree. Decisions should be made on a case by case basis. I really fail to see how they have any legal right to control my phone, there's nothing in my Terms & Conditions.

[Anonymous]

Absolutely! I am in the same boat as you, paid full price, no subsidy.
The problem is all the people who, at best, have a pathological brand loyalty that makes it worthwhile NOT to provide a good service because enough of these customers will stick with and support them no matter what.

[RueDrBouree]

Hi James

I have an iPhone 5 that I would love O2 to let me unlock. I am still under contract and have no plans to leave O2 but an unlocked handset would be better for me. 

Can I just ask if you paid the full price for the handset, why didn't you buy it unlocked from Apple? This is just a question, nothing else. 

Alex

[Anonymous]

Being a little bit sad, I went and joined the queue at Apples store in Birmingham on release day but they ran out of stock long before I got near the front. I assumed I was getting the same thing from O2 when I paid the full price in store on release day!

[Anonymous]

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@Anonymous wrote:
Being a little bit sad, I went and joined the queue at Apples store in Birmingham on release day but they ran out of stock long before I got near the front. I assumed I was getting the same thing from O2 when I paid the full price in store on release day!

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James,

Can you remind us when release was? I am hoping, crossed fingers, that when we get to 6 months from release date, O2 might just have the courtesy to agree to unlock fully paid and long term monthly contract iPhone 5's.

In your case, given that you paid full price, I think it is disgraceful that O2 are not prepared to unlock the phone immediately. I guess it would be too much hassle but I think this could fall under the Unfair Contract Terms Acts 1977 and 1999. It might be worth approaching your Trading Standards office to see what they say. I am thinking of starting a FaceBook page "I hate O2" if there is not one already there.

If I had had an inkling that O2 and only O2 were not unlocking pay monthly phones, when I signed up for another 24 months, I would have gone to another service provider. Travelling overseas as much as I do, the ability to switch SIM's between my principal and secondary phones is essential. My fault I suppose, I just thought that all providers would offer roughly similar benefits to their customers. No of course I did not wade my way though 20+ pages of tiny print T&C's!

Wilson