AT&T Will Unlock Off-Contract iPhones Starting Sunday, April 8

AT&T has announced it will begin unlocking customers' iPhones once their 2-year contracts have expired. The move will free up the currently-locked devices to use a micro-SIM from any carrier offering a network compatible with the device.

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AT&T issued this statement to MacRumors:

Beginning Sunday, April 8, we will offer qualifying customers the ability to unlock their AT&T iPhones. The only requirements are that a customer’s account must be in good standing, their device cannot be associated with a current and active term commitment on an AT&T customer account, and they need to have fulfilled their contract term, upgraded under one of our upgrade policies or paid an early termination fee.

Last month, 9to5Mac reported that AT&T had agreed to unlock a user's off-contract iPhone 3GS under a "special one-time exception" after the user sent an email to Apple CEO Tim Cook about the issue. AT&T had previously refused to unlock the device, which the customer wanted to continue to use after moving to Canada, but relented after being contacted via Cook's office.

There have been many different hacks to unlock iPhones over the years, but this policy change will make it extremely easy for AT&T customers to legitimately and permanently unlock their iPhones for use on any network.

Top Rated Comments

brendu Avatar
143 months ago
AT&T you just kept my business for doing the right thing.
Score: 26 Votes (Like | Disagree)
tray3 Avatar
143 months ago
Yayy!!!

Finally!! :)
Score: 21 Votes (Like | Disagree)
petrucci666 Avatar
143 months ago
My fellow Americans, the day has come.
Score: 13 Votes (Like | Disagree)
3bs Avatar
143 months ago
I'm not in the US but I'm excited to hear they're finally going to unlock them! I'm happy for you guys :p
Score: 12 Votes (Like | Disagree)
outphase Avatar
143 months ago
The ground feels cold.
Score: 12 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Mr Fusion Avatar
143 months ago
AT&T you just kept my business for doing the right thing.
While I applaud them for doing this, they'll still be losing my business with the next iPhone for the throttling of my unlimited data plan. :cool:
Score: 10 Votes (Like | Disagree)

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