I have my first experience with an iPhone, so really need some guidance and advice. I have got a second hand iPhone 4S – OS 5.1.1. I was told that it is SIM locked to a certain network.
When I switched it on it had Apple's Terms & Conditions on the screen which I had to accept or decline to proceed. After restart it asks me to insert a "valid sim card".
Questions:
- I am wondering if this is standard to get T&C on the screen after restore or this phone never been activated?
- If this iPhone has never been activated – can it be activated with a different carrier's SIM card to what it was supposed to be locked to?
- If I try to activate it with a SIM card from a different carrier – what is the chance that it stops working and becomes a "brick"?
Best Answer
Yes it is standard to get the T&C after restore.
Activation is irrelevant. You'll either need to jail break the phone and unlock it, or ask the carrier the phone was intended for to unlock it.
No, inserting a SIM card from another carrier won't "brick" it. It just won't work in the phone.
Something to consider, the iPhone 4S uses a smaller sim card than standard phones do. When upgrading to a 4S from a 3GS I had to sand my SIM card down to fit (I like to use prepaid service so I'm not under a contract).