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The iPhone master race

It has now been a little over one week since AT&T appear that it would officially unlock customer'due south iPhones if they met sure requirements. The resulting rush overloaded back up representatives, with sources inside AT&T telling ExtremeTech that the queue exceeded 10,000 at its highest points last week. Those early adopters as a result waited nearly a week in some cases for the unlock to be authorized.

Why did the queue grow then large, so fast? The unlocking process, and AT&T's rules on eligibility we're told. While unlocking about phones tin can be done without the interference of the manufacturer, Apple does information technology differently. Access to the tool is limited to technical support and members of AT&T's "unlock" team, so talking to a regular former customer support rep is non going to do you whatsoever good.

Later on verifying you meet the requirements, the technical support representative then enters your IMEI (the telephone'south identification number) into the tool provided past Apple, which in plow activates the unlock and sends the confirmation electronic mail to the user. If you contact customer support, those representatives tin only open a instance ticket, which depending on workload could take days to resolve, our source says.

So what's the quickest road to unlocked elation? Brand sure all your ducks are lined up before attempting to unlock your iPhone. The issue is a much less painful process. Based on my own experience and what we're hearing, here's how to legally unlock your iPhone in brusk club:

i. Verify you're eligible. Check your account to ensure it is paid up-to-date. Make sure the iPhone you are attempting to unlock is non attached to an business relationship that is under contract. That basically means an old iPhone that'south under a programme which is still nether contract is likely not eligible. The easiest phones to unlock will be those that are not associated with any account and over ii years old, information technology seems. If y'all're ineligible, exist prepared to pay the early termination fee to unlock.

iPhone settings: IMEI 2. Make a note of your IMEI. The technical support representative will need this number, and then it's a good idea to jot information technology down now. The IMEI tin be establish past borer Settings, and then Full general, so Nearly, and then scrolling to the bottom. The IMEI is a 15-digit number. Write information technology down and place information technology to the side.

3. Backup your device now. If you haven't synced in awhile, now'southward the fourth dimension. The unlock process requires a wipe of the device. Connect the iPhone to iTunes and allow it to back up. If you use iCloud, many of your settings and bones information is probable already backed up to the cloud, but better to be safe than sorry.

iv. Call AT&T direct. Call into AT&T'due south customer support. Don't use the company'south online support organisation, or in-store representatives. Follow the prompts and press "2" for Technical Support when the options for the main carte is listed. Select option "0" to speak with a representative. Make clear that you lot're attempting to unlock your eligible iPhone. If you're not, you will need to tell them you agree to pay for the early termination fee for the right to unlock the device.

At this indicate, the process is in AT&T's easily. They should procedure your unlock immediately since you are talking to a representative with straight admission to the tool. Expect for the electronic mail to confirm the unlock has been processed.

5. Reconnect your iPhone to iTunes. After receiving the email, re-pair your device with iTunes. Under the "Summary" tab and "Version" section, click on Restore. Permit the device to restore as normal. When the restore completes, iTunes will display the message "Congratulations, your iPhone has been unlocked." If you wish to restore your information, click "Go along," otherwise it is safety to disconnect.

Delight annotation that if you are taking the iPhone to a different carrier, some settings will need to be changed in order for features similar spider web surfing and picture messaging to work. Although it varies from carrier to carrier, many are happy to provide you lot with the necessary settings to ensure proper functioning. For example, T-Mobile has easy-to-follow directions to set up an iPhone.

Your performance may vary, and on some carriers, it all the same may be necessary to jailbreak in club for all features to work. For example, iPhone users on T-Mobile experience MMS receipt issues — it appears an fix but available for jailbroken phones will fix that issue co-ordinate to what nosotros're seeing.

Either way, good luck and happy unlocking!