AT&T Unlocking Some In-Contract iPhones

The current policy of AT&T is to offer iPhone unlocks to customers who are no longer under an active commitment. While it seems as if this is still the policy, there have been reports of users receiving unlock codes, despite being well within their contract commitment. Some are claiming to have received unlock codes for their iPhone 4S. The buzz is due to AT&T’s device unlock portal, where customers can submit a form to potentially unlock their iPhone.

Benefits of unlocking your iPhone
There are some great benefits to being able to unlock your iPhone. With a new iPhone 5 being announced this week, an unlocked iPhone 4S would see a higher resale value than if it weren’t unlocked. If you are sticking with your current phone, there are still reasons to give it a try. Should you travel outside of the US, you’ll be able to purchase a microSIM that would work in an unlocked device. The cost savings from using AT&T’s international service as compared to a local prepaid microSIM is significant. Finally, should you want to use your iPhone on T-Mobile, this gives you the flexibility of using your iPhone with another carrier in the US, outside of AT&T.

Since the page has gone up, it’s been hit or miss for most. The process reportedly takes anywhere from 5-7 days. There is no reason not to give it a try and see if your iPhone slips through AT&T’s cracks.

If you submit the form, let us know how you fare.

Written By

Christopher Meinck is the Founder and Editorial Director at everythingiCafe. You can also find him co-hosting on everytingiCafe :the show. His obsession over smartphones started with a Handspring Treo 180. While the phones have changed, the obsession continues. You can find him on Google+ and Twitter.

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