Comments on: Movistar: Apple will not allow us to unlock your iPhone

By: Mike

Mike — Sun, 04 Oct 2009 17:48:59 +0000

James,

Tell them there is a ruling by the CMT that forces them to unlock your phone once they have recovered the subsidy, which is usually around 12 months. Also, tell them many people are having theirs unlocked after 12 months (which is true!), and ask for a claims form.

The key seems to insist as much as possible, eventually they will give in.

By: James Young

James Young — Sun, 04 Oct 2009 12:11:50 +0000

I have an iPhone 3G on18 month contract with Movistar Spain.I was told both by the shop and “customer services” that I can have it unlocked legally by them after one year has expired. Although I am happy to stay with Movistar when I am in Spain I would like to be able to use a UK SIM when I am in the UK.
Today is the one anniversary and, surprise, surprise, Movistar have changed the rules for iPhones and I now have to be with them for two years before they will unlock it. Has anyone else had this problem or is this incorrect information? Seems that there is now only one route to go…!

By: Kunfoo

Kunfoo — Wed, 08 Jul 2009 08:08:59 +0000

Apple say Movistar Spain should unlock it. Doesn’t say, when, but clearly in the table here it says that “Carrier offers
authorized unlocking”…

http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1937

By: Mike

Mike — Wed, 18 Mar 2009 12:46:39 +0000

Samuel,

There are some shops in Spain offering them, but my guess is they bring them from abroad. In Italy you can buy them unlocked at the store, while in France they will sell them unlocked but only with a contract you have to keep for 6 months. If I remember right, the going price for 16Gb was 650€. Good luck!

By: Samuel MIkel Bowles

Samuel MIkel Bowles — Wed, 18 Mar 2009 10:13:49 +0000

Mike, where did you find the option to of buying a factory-unlocked version of the phone? Was that through Telefonica? I’d love to purchase a phone that way. Especially if it meant I didn’t have to deal with Telefonica.

By: Tobbi G.

Tobbi G. — Sat, 13 Dec 2008 22:02:38 +0000

Did you get any other answer from Apple? I am living in Spain myself and about to buy an iPhone via Movistar but need to be able to use it with my Icelandic sim card (I am from there and go quite regularly).

Tobbi G.

By: Mike

Mike — Wed, 26 Nov 2008 07:08:19 +0000

Rob,

Thanks for the tip – I think eventually I will grab a factory-unlocked version, which now go for around 600€ (16GB). I updated to 2.2 as I do development work with it, so I guess it will have to wait a little longer for Dev Team

By: Rob

Rob — Tue, 25 Nov 2008 16:39:30 +0000

As for unlocking, your best bet is waiting for the software unlock that the Dev Team is coming out with very soon. DO NOT update to 2.2, if you do hope for that software unlock in the future, as it contains a baseband update.

I don’t believe Spain has any law that makes it illegal for a company such as Telefonica to provide a locked phone, just like the US. From what I understand, Orange in France can unlock the phone (for lots of money) As far as I know, they’re one of very few countries. Otherwise, Apple calls all the shots with their phone.

Once the dev team comes out with the unlock, you can keep your contract and not pay an extra penny to unlock. Hope this was helpful.

By: craig

craig — Wed, 12 Nov 2008 14:13:09 +0000

movistar are a nightmare to deal with seems that the right hand don’t know what the left is doing!

I had the same problems with my 3g phone, I resolved this by ordering a “turbosim” from eBay for around 10 euros. I am now litteraly making this post on my iPhone running a vodafone sim!

Hope this helps!

By: Mike

Mike — Wed, 29 Oct 2008 06:54:00 +0000

Troll comments deleted.