how to unlock Iphone 4S

[MichelleD1977]

I was just given an iphone 4s from my friend as she upgraded hers from Verizon. She says she unlocked the phone with them, and I was at least able to put in my apple user name/password and get it set up for me. but when I put in the sim card from airvoice which I used on my iphone 3 it says the phone won't work with that sim card. Unfortunately, I cut the sim card to fit so now it won't go back in my old phone and I don't have a phone right now! The price I pay for impatience. Now I am surfing the internet looking for advice, and thought I would ask you folks who give the best. How can I unlock this phone, do I need to call Verizon (probably won't work) or would anyone reccommend one of these "unlocking" sites on the internet?

[Daley]

SIM unlocking on a Verizon iPhone 4S is only for "global roaming" bands, or the GSM 900/1800 bands. So basically, if you went to Europe, you'd be able to pop in a SIM card from a local provider in say France. SIM unlocking does not apply to the GSM 850/1900 bands used in the United States, so no taking the thing to any sort of MVNO like Airvoice.

There might be ways around this, but they are highly technical and technically illegal thanks to the DMCA.

Your best bet is to order a new SIM card for Airvoice and migrate your current account to the new SIM card to keep using your old phone. Most micro SIM to mini SIM adapters can damage the contact points for the SIM card in a lot of phones, though they do exist. Noosy makes the best ones on the market.

It's that or you try to find someone who has a proper carrier unlocked AT&T or T-Mobile GSM 4S that you can trade for with your Verizon device. Or you could switch to Page Plus if you're that hard up for your Apple fix, they're activating the things now.

[el_beardo]

The Verizon 4S can't be unlocked for use in the US, but it will work internationally.

You're best bet might be to ebay-it and buy an unlocked AT&T 4S - that's what I did when I moved from Verizon to TMobile - I sold the 4S to a friend in Mexico.