Telstra removes unlock fee for Apple iPhone for jet-setting Aussies
Filed under: Apple, consumer, customers, gadgets and gizmos, iphone, iPhone 4, lifestyle, mobile phone, Next G™, smart phone, unlocked
It is no secret that Telstra is changing and for the better. At the centre of this is looking at ways we can better serve our customers.
One way to do this is to no longer charge customers a fee for unlocking a Post-Paid Apple® iPhone™ they purchased from us.
All iPhones purchased from Telstra are locked to the Telstra mobile phone network and as a default will only work with a Telstra SIM card. This will still be the case.
Many of you have told us that when you travel overseas you would like the ability to put a local operator’s SIM into your iPhone™. However the network lock prevents you from doing this.
We’re now removing the fee to unlock your Post-Paid handset to give you the freedom to change the SIM in your iPhone™ when you travel overseas.
We are still confident, however, that the speed and reliability of the Telstra Next G™ network means you will have a better iPhone™ experience with us.
If you have purchased a Post-Paid iPhone™ 3G, iPhone™ 3GS or iPhone™ 4 from Telstra and would like to remove the network lock restriction, all you need to do is contact Telstra.
When you contact us, make sure you have your details: your mobile number, your iPhone™ serial number and your iPhone™ IMEI number. You can locate these by pressing the Settings app, scroll down and select General then press the About tab.
If you have purchased a Pre-Paid iPhone 3GS from Telstra, then the unlocking fee will remain.
To complete the unlock process you need to make sure you have the latest iTunes™ software on your computer. Once the unlocking has been processed, the next time you tether your iPhone™ to your computer, iTunes™ will unlock the phone.
Customers: call to access the iPhone IVR via (13 22 00 or 13 2000).
Business: call 1800 027 167 or contact your Telstra account representative.
Enterprise and government: simply contact your Telstra account representative.
I fail to see, in any way at all, how this is Telstra’s fault. You were advised to sync your phone with iTunes (which is not Telstra’s rule, it’s Apple’s) and the phone will unlock. If you did not sync your phone correctly, that’s 100% your fault, not Telstra’s.
I rang Telstra this morning to unlock 2x iphone4S as I am traveling overseas tomorrow. I spoke to someone straight away and all i had to give are the IMEIs and my account numbers. The customer service rep was very polite and yes – like everyone else mentioned on here – was told that the unlock will take 5 hours and up to 3 days. He also told me that I need to sync my phones.
since the iphone4s has the wifi itune sync function, I did the sync as instructed and after approx 5 hours, I plug in another sim (not telstra) and rebooted the phone. I noted the Apple logo flashed with a blue glow around it and straight away the phone pops up a message “activation required”. I clicked next and it did the job !! So for everyone who are concerned, it is not hard at all. And the phones were unlocked in less than 3 days ! Great work Telstra.
Called Telstra today and the rep failed to unlock my phone. He told me that the phone should already be unlocked and technically any sim card would work in it. Despite me telling him that my China Sim Card was not allowing me to move pass the ‘Sim not Valid’ page. Tried an Optus Sim card, didn’t work either. Don’t know what they are doing, but I’m not pleased.
hey can you tell me how you did it and what are the steps of doing it?
So fed up with this!
Spoke with the girl in the Telstra shop when buying the phone and she told me that the phone was already unlocked for international roaming, I asked her to confirm with her manager as I had heard different, her manager assured me that it was unlocked so I decided it must be true so therefore bought the phone just before travelling international and didnt think i needed to get it unlocked.
Few weeks later whilst in Philippines and hey presto, NO SERVICE! so I got onto Telstra and they said they would unlock it for me, but that was 4 weeks ago and nothing seems to have happened, have backed-up and restored my phone a few times but still nothing…..even after i do i dont recieve any message saying that the phone is unlocked? i am now in the uk and have tryed it again but still no avail.
fed up, stressed and pissed off!
can anyone shed any light for me?
having the same problem as Mark D! despite several calls to Telstra nothing seems to work …… have also backed up, restored, but syill no ‘congratulations your phone is unlocked’ message
Erin and Darren read my post on 7 Nov as shown here.
I decided to phone Apple today and they took the serial numbers and assured me that my phones were unlocked and confirmed that iTunes now doesn’t say they are unlocked when you restore your phone for the first time so all good and I am happy. Thanks once again. Bob
I’m getting an iPhone 4S on Monday and as soon as it arrives, I’ll be calling to unlock it, rather get things sorted in case I decide to go overseas again in the near future.
Would I have to really back anything up or should I be right to go?
Call up now and they will have apple unlock it before you get it then just run setup as normal after that grab a $2 sim from another provider and check it, My 2 I got was as easy as that.
If its a prepaid its not so easy.
Is there a way to tell with the 4S if unlocking has been successful without inserting a non Telstra sim card?
Actually, I think I have an AT&T sim from when I was in the US a while back. Would that be good enough to test?
Vanessa,
You do need to be sure so its wise to get another providers sim to use and check.
The AT &T may work if set to roaming from USA and also it must be a mini sim.
It maybe easier to just buy a $2 prepaid sim from anyone but telstra and test the phone.
Wayne
Nothing happens when I connect my iphone to itunes. How do I know that it’s unlocked? I really don’t want to pay international roaming on Telstra and I need to get in touch with overseas friends while I’m overseas.
I am located in philippines, my friend in australia sent me an iphone 4 purchased in telstra. I already have the device and It is still locked. is there a way to unlock the device even it is in philippines without the Telstra sim card?
Thanks!
Hey just wondering im getting an iphone 4s this week and previously had a 3gs therefore have a normal sized sim. The sim is with telstra and im wondering can they transfer my plan onto a micro sim?
Hi Brendan.
Just picked up a new 4s 16gb today upgraded from a nokia with a full size sim card to the micro in the 4s. The staff at the telstra shop transferred and backed up my details to my old sim then all details to my new micro sim. All straight forward new contract new screen cover and new case all under 40min with delays as only one printer.
Cheers
ChrisR
Same problem in thailand. Very frustrating. Also they did not activate my Memo service. Email to them got a generic response but no action yet.
I had 2 Iphone 4s and took both to Thailand one for a Thai lady friend and BOTH worked fine with a Thai Happy sim in them, It took a 5 minute call to Telstra before going to have them both unlocked, Honestly it is not that hard to do or get done if on a plan.
Great, so if i am traveling in other country what is phone number service i can call by locate sim to request unlock my phone?
Well why they waste their employees time and ours as well keep an automated process like Vodafone everything online. Phone is bought from Telstra IMEI reg and unlock. Simple
Its a good idea to get the terminology right. That way there is no misunderstanding when making the request of the Telstra rep.
Roaming and International Roaming is using your phone overseas with the Telstra sim in it via agreements that Telstra has with one or more of the wireless carriers in the country you are visiting. The calls you make will be billed to you by Telstra.
Unlocking the phone allows you to replace the Telstra sim with a sim card you have purchased from a wireless carrier in the country you are visiting.
Hi guys,
I’ve probably missed it somewhere but I’ve just brought an iPhone4s outright and it is locked to the Telstra network.
I have called telstra to unlock so I can connect to Vodafone Australia and this was more then 12hrs ago, however they did advise that this could take up to 3 days.
Ive backed up my iPhone and also restored it and on iTunes it says copy our iPhone has now been unlocked, BUT IT STILL HAS NO SIGNAL. Can someone please tell me what the hell I have missed!
Thanks heaps
I just called them everything seemed fine
Has anyone sucsefully done this?
If so, how did you have to wait?
Yep I’ve done mine and 6 others in my fleet. I didn’t get any confirmation messages on the handset, or in iTunes telling me it was successful but when I put a Virgin SIM in last night it worked. Mind you, I did make a couple of stressful phone calls to Telstra and Apple who both assured me it was unlocked before I tried the different SIM.
I gave my son my old 3GS without realising it was still locked to Telstra. Unfortunately he has an Optus sim, but I rang Telstra yesterday (Sunday!) and the lady I spoke to was extremely helpful. She explained the process I would need to follow but that I would have to wait about 5 hours before I did it. I wasn’t in a hurry, so I didn’t bother until this afternoon and it was really simple. No stress, no hassles. Very pleased with their service.
how much does it cost????
With Telstra there is no charge.
I’ve just returned from two weeks in the US and this is exactly how to unlock your iPhone and get it working with a pre-paid card in the US. Thanks for all the comments previously to help me figure out what to do.
In Australia, I called 12511 and requested to have my phone unlocked. I had to give her my IMEI # (General > About). I was told to wait 72 hours, then run and update on iTunes and you will get a popup saying there is a carrier update. I waited the 72 hours (it may have been unlocked sooner). IMPORTANT: do not run the Update as I was told (doesn’t hurt to run this, but doesn’t do what I was told), you need to Restore. Once the Restore is done, you will get the carrier update notification in iTunes. I also went to my Telstra account and requested International Roaming, so I was able to send a text to my husband when I arrived (and had backup just in case this didn’t work). I then went to a T-Mobile store (check their websites for locations – I went to Pleasant Hill, CA). Since they didn’t have any mini-sim cards on hand, the guy just cut down a regular sim card for me with a sim cutter (might be worth purchasing one of these if you plan on travelling to a few countries – $5 on amazon.com). I signed up for a $2/day plan and for my two week stay, I had all inclusive phone, sms, internet, maps (including pinpointing my location if I was lost), skype etc. for $30. I used the phone 100% as I do at home and was able to call Australia via Skype if I needed to. I just had a US phone number. Good luck. It was very easy to sort out once I knew what to do.
Called Telstra to unlock iphone 4s. Gave the lady the imei number and 2 minutes later she said to wait 72 hours before restoring the phone on itunes.
Tried making a call with a Vodafone sim card immediately after without plugging it into itunes..
waaalaa the call was successful.
works fine and was simple.
thanks telstra!!
This worked OK on an iPhone 4 with two exceptions:
1) Never got the “congrats” message
2) AT&T Sim in states will not allow data usage . . . Any thoughts on “fixing” that?
Guys
i don’t know what you have all been doing
i managed to unlock my iPhone 3gs while in Malaysia last year. no problems. rang +61439125111 and gave them my Imei.
Tonight i rang the same number for my iPhone 4s from Las Vegas NV USA and in 30 mins put in the Tmobile sim and turned the phone on with one of the many free wireless internet spots they have here. DONE!!
i was Quoted up to 72 hours but telstra just don’t trust Apple to unlock it any earlier.
i have no idea why you guys are having so much trouble!
This is a typical Telstra “we’re doing the right thing by you” promo… Don’t leave Australia without first testing that thy have unlocked your phone…. I had mine unlocked in Australia 2 weeks ago did all of he syncing and back up of my phone only to find myself in the uk with the phone still locked and now it won’t accept my Telstra sim I have SOS only.
Curious – why doesn’t Telstra just not lock them in the first place…. make life so much easier all around.
“All iPhones purchased from Telstra are locked to the Telstra mobile phone network and as a default will only work with a Telstra SIM card. This will still be the case.”
“We’re now removing the fee to unlock your Post-Paid handset to give you the freedom to change the SIM in your iPhone™ when you travel overseas.”
Excuse me if I’m being dumb….but doesn’t this mean that it only ‘unlocks’ it for overseas use? And STILL locked to Telstra re the first sentence?????? Im confused…. going by this, after unlocking will it work with an Optus SIM??????
My friend came over from the UK recently and had to switch his phone to a different 3G band to get it working with a Telstra SIM… maybe in the UK it uses a different band (frequency) that you can switch to to make it work?
On the other hand, I called Telstra today to unlock my phone, the girl insisted I had ROAMING enabled, which I kept telling her was not what I wanted… anyway I explained what I needed from her as I am going to Europe in 12 days and she put me on hold, then seemingly there was some progress as she asked for my IMEI and phone number, DOB etc.
She told me it was all done, no further comments. Now over 10 hours later, I’ve restored my phone but either I missed a message saying it was unlocked or there wasn’t one. Going to pop over to the shop and grab a $2 vodafail sim to test.
Thanks everyone for your helpful comments… I hope my \band\ comment was helpful to those already OS.
Hi i wish to unlock my iphone 3 however i have recently bought an iphone 4 and my number has transferred to the iphone 4. When i call up do i need to supply my mobile number? and if so what do i do because there is no longer a number on this phone.
Thanks for anyones help
If i get the $2 sim card to test my iphone 4. Will it work or not? ppl told me that i have to get the micro sim to test the iphone whether telstra is unlocked..anyone know about this? Thanks!
Christine, yes you need a microsim to test it.
I upgraded to an iphone4 and asked in Telstra shop in Darwin to unlock old 3 ph. Twice I have been told to ring apple it is not a Telstra issue!
Hi,
A friend of mine has just flown over to New Zealand, with the intention of using a local carrier while he’s there.
He didn’t take his SIM card with him, and has only now discovered that his handset is still locked.
Is it possible to unlock the phone without him having his Telstra SIM card with him?
Well I’m in Europe now. Got a vodafone UK sim which, surprise surprise will not work as my iphone is still locked. And I can’t call telstra as my UK sim is only useful in my tablet now and my telstra one is useless.
I got mine succesfully unlocked- sort of. It took a few days. Before that point I could not use foreign wifi spots. Afterwards I could use foreign wifi spots.
BUT! I could not put in a foreign sim card. I ended up using my iphone for wifi spots and bought a cheap 15 Euro phone to use in Europe. Problem- I found very few sim cards actually worked in multiple countries. Double check when you get a prepaid phone in Europe that you can use the phone and, most importantly, recharge it easily when you leave the country. Lebara UK worked OK for me in multiple countries.
OK, so now I’m home, and I’m using my telstra sim card again. BUT the internet in Australia (from my telstra sim card) seems to be really slow compared to previously. IDK what’s happening.
Guys, there is a “trick” to unlocking your phone. Here are a few step that should work. I called telstra and my phone was unlocked in an hour.
1) Plug your phone into a PC or Mac with latest iTunes installed.
2) Select backup to this computer, then hit the Sync button. This could take some time depending on data on the phone.
3) Click “check for update” in iTunes you may need to install any updates. This can take some time
4) Put in the new sim if you have it, then click “restore” this will wipe the phone but you will be able to restore it from the backup in step 2.
5) Now connect to WI-FI or PC to activate your phone. You will be asked if you would like to restore from a backup to return all your content.
GOOD LUCK!
Cheers
Sam
Thanks Peter, did as you suggested and all was fixed within 5 minutes, called Telstra from overseas.