[rinestone]

Like an asshole, I mistakenly bought an iphone 4 to use in Colombia, but it's Verizon and doesn't have a SIM card slot. I've since bought an AT&T iphone but I'd like to be able to sell one of them.

I know around 6 years ago you didn't need a SIM card in Colombia with the carrier Movistar. I know Tigo & Comcel require SIM cards. Anybody know if my Verizon iphone is useless here? My fear is that it is, but I'm hoping there may be somewhere to use it. Otherwise it's essentially and ipod, nothing more.

[Gringuito]

All of the mobile phone systems in Colombia require SIM cards. In addition, you need to make sure your AT&T iPhone 4 is bought factory unlocked as there isn't a software unlock for the newer iPhones. The initial iPhone 4s could be unlocked with software.

[MiXX]

You must have a baseband of:

1.59.00
2.10.04
3.10.01
1.00.05/06
4.10.01


to unlock your iphone 4 rinestone, so yeah, your Iphone 4 from Verizon is useless without a baseband named above. Even the new one you purchased from ATT will be locked, and there is no FM unlock for the new F/W shipped with the new iphone 4 not listed above.

Your best best is to buy an already unlocked iphone 4 which run about 700USD-900USD ** They're not easy to come by.

gsmarena.com

Mixx

[rinestone]

thanks for the help fellas. from what i've been told by someone i trust, there is a chip for at&t iphones that aren't factory unlocked that'll do the trick. but i'll find out first hand and report back. it's not enough that i have to cut down my SIM card, but i also may have all these issues. hope all turns out well, thanks for the info..

[Dash Global]

(09-26-2011 04:04 PM)Gringuito Wrote:  

All of the mobile phone systems in Colombia require SIM cards. In addition, you need to make sure your AT&T iPhone 4 is bought factory unlocked as there isn't a software unlock for the newer iPhones. The initial iPhone 4s could be unlocked with software.

What do you mean their isnt software to unlock newer Iphone4?

I just bought an Iphone4 in Korea and plan on using it in Colombia next year.

[rinestone]

(09-26-2011 07:51 PM)Dash Global Wrote:  

(09-26-2011 04:04 PM)Gringuito Wrote:  

All of the mobile phone systems in Colombia require SIM cards. In addition, you need to make sure your AT&T iPhone 4 is bought factory unlocked as there isn't a software unlock for the newer iPhones. The initial iPhone 4s could be unlocked with software.

What do you mean their isnt software to unlock newer Iphone4?

I just bought an Iphone4 in Korea and plan on using it in Colombia next year.

they've yet to invent a phone that some dude living in his parent's basement can't get around.

you will probably have to make a colombian sim card into a 'micro-sim' though. you can youtube a link on how to do it, but let me know if you have trouble and i'll forward it. seems pretty simple to me.

[Gringuito]

If you have a "legal" SIM card (i.e. you didn't buy if off the street) you can exchange the normal sized SIM card for the smaller one at a Comcel/Movistar/Tigo office. Apple now sells original unlocked iPhones directly from their website for $649/$749 for the 16/32GB version. Just look at the bottom of the Buy iPhone page.

[rinestone]

(09-27-2011 09:31 AM)Gringuito Wrote:  

If you have a "legal" SIM card (i.e. you didn't buy if off the street) you can exchange the normal sized SIM card for the smaller one at a Comcel/Movistar/Tigo office. Apple now sells original unlocked iPhones directly from their website for $649/$749 for the 16/32GB version. Just look at the bottom of the Buy iPhone page.

thanks man, i really appreciate that. mine is legal through comcel and before you told me that, i would have cut it up to fit it into that little tray. appreciate the info. i'm surprised they're that 'cheap' down here- electronics are usually through the roof- that's only $100-$200 more then US price- not bad

[rinestone]

you can unlock an iphone4 but it's a bit of a nuisance. Took it to a place north of chapinero in bogota and they did it. The catch is that every once in awhile you have to reset it by jumping rough a bunch of hoops like turning it off and in, airplane mode, dial 112, etc. also you can't update the latest iPhone software. In the end, I think I'd rather just buy one down here at the added expense

[MiXX]

(01-28-2012 10:54 AM)rinestone Wrote:  

you can unlock an iphone4 but it's a bit of a nuisance. Took it to a place north of chapinero in bogota and they did it. The catch is that every once in awhile you have to reset it by jumping rough a bunch of hoops like turning it off and in, airplane mode, dial 112, etc. also you can't update the latest iPhone software. In the end, I think I'd rather just buy one down here at the added expense

Let me make clear some points as I am an iPhone techie/junkie.

If you plan on traveling the world, you can now buy a factory unlocked iPhone 4S for about $700USD (16GB) directly from apple.com or visit any apple retail store. If you do this, you NEVER have to worry about software updates that lock your phone ever again, and can travel the world worry free, just make sure you carry a sim card cutter with you (amazon). You also do not have a signed contract with AT&T, and can leave anytime if you think the grass is greener at T-Mobile (it's not!)!

The iPhone 4 however, is a completely different story. There is only 1 unlockable baseband (you bought it locked) on the iPhone 4, that baseband is 1.59.00 found on the very first releases of the iPhone 4. Apple does not sell unlocked versions of the iPhone 4.


You can run the latest firmware 5.0.1, but your baseband aka "Modem Firmware" MUST be 1.59.00 on the iPhone 4 to be able to unlock it. Keep in mind that if you intend to run iOS5 on your iPhone 4, you must use a custom ipsw (iPhone software update) made through REDSNOW (redsnow.com) THESE 1.59.00 baseband iPhone 4 devices ARE EXTREMELY HARD TO COME BY, AND CAN GO FOR 500USD on amazon if you find one.

Bottom Line: There are other "jumping through hoops" methods named above, but my time abroad is precious, and I don't want to spend my day searching fro a magical sim card or questionable codes to temporarily unlock my iPhone, or worse, have it brick on me in the middle of a text or booty call, which you also risk by doing the method described in Post No. 9.

If everything I have written here is TOO TECHIE/GEEKY FOR YOU, DO NOT FUCK WITH YOUR IPHONE, YOU WILL BRICK IT!!!

BUY THE UNLOCKED IPHONE 4S if you want to use your iPhone in any country with GSM operators. Your time is more precious than saving a couple of hundred dollars on a locked one.


Mixx