AT&T Won’t Unlock iPhone After Contract Expires

 1260 802270297 Fad3C4D826
Photo by Stillframe

Many wireless companies will unlock cell phones after the initial one- or two-year contract has been fulfilled. But AT&T says the iPhone is “different” and won’t be unlocked at the end of the contract:

AT&T will unlock phones for customers once they have fulfilled their contracts, which typically run one to two years. One big exception: Apple’s iPhone, distributed exclusively in the USA by AT&T. “That’s different,” says AT&T spokesman Mark Siegel.

USA Today.

DON'T MISS
O2 To Unlock iPhones After Contracts Expire

About the author

Leander Kahney

is the editor and publisher of Cult of Mac, and author of three books about technology culture: Inside Steve’s Brain, the New York Times bestseller about Steve Jobs; Cult of Mac; and Cult of iPod. Leander has written for Wired, MacWeek, Scientific American, and The Guardian in London. Follow Leander on Twitter @lkahney and Facebook.

(sorry, you need Javascript to see this e-mail address)| Read more posts by .

Posted in iPod |

  • Aaron

    AT&T Will not unlock the phone because they sell it exclusively. They did the same thing with the Razor. If the iPhone becomes available on other carriers, AT&T will then give out the unlock code. And don’t bother begging the customer service rep you are talking to, AT&T doesn’t tell it’s front line reps the information.

  • Electroboy

    Ah well……guess we’ll just have to unlock them ourselves. Sorry AT&T. Needs must.

  • Danielito PantalonDelFuego

    you know what else is different, at&t?

    alltel.