News
Unlocked iPhones sold by Orange not ‘country locked’
By Charles Starrett
Senior Editor, iLounge
Published: Friday, December 14, 2007
News Category: iPhone
Contrary to a claim published today, iLounge has confirmed with Orange that unlocked iPhones sold by the company are not limited to French-only SIM cards. A story claimed that unlocked iPhones sold by Orange were somehow “country locked,” and unable to work with SIM cards other than those from other French carriers. “Once legally (through Orange Customer Service) unlocked, the iPhone will operate with any SIM card, including foreign ones. But some applications like ‘Visual Voice Mail’ may not work abroad,” Orange’s Louis-Michel Aymard told iLounge in an email. In addition to offering clarification to the unlocking issue, Aymard also told iLounge that the percentage of unlocked iPhones sold by Orange was “a lot smaller than 20%.”
Share This Article & Win an iTunes Gift Card. Comments
If you have a comment, news tip, advertising inquiry, or coverage request, a question about iPods or accessories, or if you sell or market iPod products or services, read iLounge's Comments + Questions policies before posting, and fully identify yourself if you do. We will delete comments containing advertising, astroturfing, trolling, personal attacks, offensive language, or other objectionable content, then ban and/or publicly identify violators.
Recent News
- iPodweek newsletter coming shortly
- Ngmoco releases Rolando 2: Quest for the Golden Orchid
- L.A.-based band uses iPhone to record new single
- iPhone patent filings: haptics, fingerprints, karaoke, packaging, more
- Apple, developers wrestling over App Store pornographic content policy
- AT&T memo touts record-breaking iPhone 3GS launch
- New iPhone 3GS ad highlights video features
- Winners of iPWR SuperPack Giveaway announced
- iLounge announces Tekkeon myPower Giveaway
- Nike+ site updated, adds some iPhone/iPod touch access
Recent Reviews
- Gameloft S.A. Castle of Magic
- Altec Lansing BackBeat 903 Wireless Stereo Headphones
- id Software Doom Resurrection
- Blackmagic Design Video Recorder with H.264 Encoding
- Ultimate Ears UE 4 Pro Custom Monitors
- Kensington Bluetooth Stereo Headphones with Microphone
- Avantalk Multimedia Wireless Speakerphone BTSP-200
- Apple iPhone 3GS (16GB/32GB)
- Apple iPhone OS 3.0
- Ozaki iCommand Controller for iPod shuffle 3G
Recent Articles
- Weird + Small Apps 19: A.D.D. Lite, Archon Classic, iYamato, Warpack Grunts + More
- Ask iLounge 6-26-09
- Instant Expert: Secrets & Features of Apple TV 2.4
- Weird + Small Apps: Blue Block, Guess!, Idiot Test, ThreadBound, Water Toy, myXident, StamPa + More
- Ten Things You Didn’t Know About Apple’s iPhone 3GS
- Editorial: Why No Lines at iPhone 3GS’s Launch is Good For Apple, and You
- The One-Page Guide to iPhone 3G, 3GS, and iPod touch Differences
- Editorial: Developers’ iPhone OS 3.0 Features Work, With Key Caveats
- Editorial: In-App Purchasing Shame - $1-per-Minute GPS is Here, is Psychic Friends Next?
- Instant Expert: Secrets & Features of iPhone OS 3.0
1
This notice, Is 100% true???
Thanks..
Posted by josep on December 17, 2007 at 5:56 AM (PDT)
2
There are many reports to the contrary. Furthermore, even if you buy “unlocked” phone, the unlock takes 7-10 days wait and can be only done withinn the Orange network. There are, howeve, claims, that if you sync with iTunes using non-orange SIM, it will execute the prepaid (100EUR) outside of France.
The support at Orange has as many variable answers as there are people working there.
Posted by Canook on December 21, 2007 at 3:49 PM (PDT)
3
I can confirm phones are country locked. Called Orange they said it is an Apple issue. Called Apple, they say Orange should not have advertised their phones as fully unlocked. Called Orange again and now they admit it. They would reimburse me. Received a mail from Apple saying this COULD be taken care of. Asked about being more specific: they replied case is closed, they dont guarantee a solution, but I could hope in one.
Apples loses a few points for me today.
Posted by smemobox on January 16, 2008 at 3:33 AM (PDT)