Originally Posted by Olethros

This is just what I have read, I'm sure many sellers don't bother paying the extra few quid to do an IMEI check (even though it's worth it for them if they later get a demand for a refund)



definitely a UK model. Did you get a box with it? On the box they have an extra digit MC603B/? where? is usually L, A or X
I don't know how much of a "hard and fast rule" but I've only ever seen the X on unsubsidised phones (these should always be unlocked and can only be purchased without a contract directly from Apple)
However Apple can add/remove any phone to the "unlocked" list, so this is just a guideline.

Other than that, wait till after iOS 5.0 is released. Historically, most unlocks are released within a few months of a major new iOS version/iphone hardware.

Thanks. I understand from the seller it was locked to Three UK. I've got an active pay monthly SIM from 3 somewhere (£0 contract they do/did, a lot of people took it as it's a trick to improve credit rating). When I find it I'll see what happens and if I can call 3 to unlock it, but I doubt they will as I didn't buy the phone...

Thanks again

It is locked to 3UK, my contract SIM works in the iphone, after restoring it to undo the hack.

Now appealing to Three to get the lock removed, they said no and I've got it escalated.

I don't understand their reasoning that it's to protect against fraud & stolen phones -
If the phone is stolen/"found"/involved in a insurance scam then, locked or unlocked, the IMEI can be barred, and that bricks the phone.

Unlocking the phone doesn't make it any easier to change the IMEI (which is illegal anyway). Not unlocking the phone doesn't mean they retain the power to magically bar it, as they'd have been able to bar it with the phone unlocked!! :\

Carriers can be very inflexible about this. Remember that IMEI blacklisting is their last resort deterrent. The phone is then non functional and not only have they lost any remaining subsidy owing on the phone, they also cannot count on the phone bringing any usage revenue.

Apple supposedly has deals with the carrier to get a cut of the usage revenue over the period of the contract. I'm not sure how this is handled when the carrier decides to blacklist a phone. Maybe that has something to do with it.

By keeping phones carrier locked but not IMEI blacklisting them. The carrier can guarantee that any additional usage (even with a new owner - as in your case) will result in revenue for them and not a competitor.

Also, the carrier could still choose to blacklist the phone in a few months from now if the original owner repeatedly refuses to continue paying back the remaining subsidy on the phone until the contract term is up.

This is why I always buy outright/unlocked phones. Carrier subsidised phones are a world of pain.