iPhone 6 come unlocked until sim inserted then locked?

[Anonymous]

Just wondered if O2 Pay Monthly iPhone 6's come unlocked, and only lock to the first sim which is inserted? 

I ask as I currently have an iPhone 6 which I got from Three Pay Monthly (Assuming therefore it is unlocked), however I would like to get the 6 Plus, my sister therefore has an upgrade with O2 at the moment, so I can give her my 6, and take her 6 Plus....Is this viable?

Will be bought from O2 online / Phone. So if I put my three sim inside when it arrives it'll accept it? And her O2 sim will work in my three (unlocked) iPhone 6, which is confirmed to work, tested tonight. 

Thanks

[viridis]

No I believe only handsets from carphone warehouse lock to first sim.
O2 iPhone will be pre locked

[viridis · Accepted solution]

Three have made it policy in the last year to sell all handsets unlocked which is why the o2 sim works in the three handset.
If the refresh option is not a deal breaker, your sister can do her o2 upgrade at carphone warehouse and get standard tariff.
That phone will be unlocked until first sim.

[Anonymous]

Would it therefore be best to solve my issue (which really is annoying, all phones should be unlocked to be fair!) ... She should 'upgrade' her contract instore at Carphone Warehouse and stick my sim inside it first?

[viridis]

If the important thing is to upgrade an O2 account to a handset that will accept a three sim then yes,
I would however first clarify the lock status with the sales person at cpw first and also any warranty implications in doing this.
Just to cover your own butt really.

[viridis]

The reason. I say clarify first...
"iPhone is unlocked when you buy it SIM free but Apple's software means it locks to the first network you use it with. To find out about a particular model or using your phone abroad, ask in store or give us a call on 0870 087 0870."

It states "sim free"
Make sure you get that clarified.

[Anonymous]

Thanks for your reply, so basically, check at the CPW store, if it is sim free, up until the first insertion of the Sim. - That is the only work around for this scenario I assume?

[Cleoriff]

Hi

The Iphone 6 is only unlocked if bought directly from Apple

If you buy it from O2 it will be locked to O2

If you purchased the directly from Apple through either one of their own stores or the Apple Store website it will be fully unlocked and remain so permanently.

If you purchase through a network or other mobile phone retailer it will either already be locked or will lock to the network of the first sim that is used.

It takes up to 6 months to be able to unlock

Edited to add. I realise that all phones bought from 3 are unlocked. I believe they started this in Aug last year..

[Cleoriff]

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@Anonymous wrote:
Thanks for your reply, so basically, check at the CPW store, if it is sim free, up until the first insertion of the Sim. - That is the only work around for this scenario I assume?

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This would be best to check as you say

Currently...If you buy sim free from CPW it will lock to the first network sim you insert

[MI5]

CPW will probably force you to insert an O2 sim if you are upgrading an O2 account esp as CPW don't deal with Three so I'm not sure how the specific CPW software would cope with it considering Three don't lock their phones.
You may be best to upgrade in an Apple store which will be permanently unlocked phones.