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%.”
Related Stories
- Game updates begin appearing for Game Center
- Apple posts iPhone Configuration Utility 3.1 for Mac OS X
- Apple releases iMovie 1.1 for iPhone 4 and iPod touch 4G
- iPod nano 6G interface, iPod + iPhone family photos posted
- iPhone 4/iPod touch 4G camera comparison photos, video posted
- iOS 4.1 for iPhone, iPod touch now available
Comments
If you have a comment, news tip, advertising inquiry, or coverage request, a question about iPods/iPhones/iPad or accessories, or if you sell or market iPod/iPhone/iPad 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
- Game updates begin appearing for Game Center
- iPod touch 4G teardown: Only 256MB of RAM
- Apple posts iPhone Configuration Utility 3.1 for Mac OS X
- Apple releases iMovie 1.1 for iPhone 4 and iPod touch 4G
- The Wallee iPad case doubles as wall mount
- iPod nano 6G interface, iPod + iPhone family photos posted
- iPhone 4/iPod touch 4G camera comparison photos, video posted
- iOS 4.1 for iPhone, iPod touch now available
- Fall 2010 iPod lineup now in stores
- iOS 4.1 required for iPod touch-to-iPhone FaceTime
Recent Reviews
- Apple iPod shuffle (Fourth-Generation)
- Line 6 MIDI Mobilizer for iPhone + iPod touch
- IK Multimedia Amplitube iRig for iPhone, iPod touch and iPad
- Cave Dodonpachi Resurrection
- Electronic Arts R-Type
- Parrot AR.Drone Wi-Fi Quadricopter for iPhone, iPod touch + iPad
- Griffin XL 3 Meter USB to Dock Cable
- Griffin PowerBlock Plus Universal
- Mind Crew Mayan Puzzle
- Pyramid Distribution Motz Tiny Wooden Acorn + Emotion Speakers & FM Radios
Recent Articles
- Instant Expert: Secrets and Features of iOS 4.1 for iPhone + iPod touch
- Editorial: iTunes Ping - Apple’s Facebook Rival, Or Much, Much Less?
- iPhone + iPad Gems: Epic Citadel, Let’s Create! Pottery HD, No, Human, Social, Twitter + More
- Instant Expert: Secrets & Features of iTunes 10
- Editorial: How Apple Quietly Killed $149 Video iPods… And More
- Small Apps + Updates: AirCoaster, Edition29 Cinema and Architecture, Gravilux, Midnight HD + Uzu
- iPad Gems: ABC Song, Interactive Alphabet, Little Explorers ABC Wildlife, Little Sky Writers + More
- Ask iLounge 8-27-10
- Small Apps + Updates: Blaze Fire Puzzle, iLookGangsta + Top Gun 2
- iPhone + iPad Gems: Inkling, Pedlar Lady, abc PocketPhonics + Intro to Letters, by Montessorium
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)