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Free iPhone Unlocking from Telstra

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Free iPhone Unlocking from Telstra
Go to Deal
anthony on 15/10/2010 - 18:31 exchange.telstra.com.au (3455 clicks)
Last edited 15/10/2010 - 23:56

We’re now removing the fee to unlock your handset to give you the freedom to change the SIM in your iPhone™ when you travel overseas.

If you have purchased an iPhone™ 3G, iPhone™ 3GS or iPhone™ 4 from Telstra and would like to remove the network lock restriction, all you need to do is contact Telstra.

When you contact us, make sure you have your details: your mobile number, your iPhone™ serial number and your iPhone™ IMEI number. You can locate these by pressing the Settings app, scroll down and select General then press the About tab.

Applies to Pre Paid, Outright and iPhones on a contract.

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closed Comments

  • JDogman on 15/10/2010 - 18:36
    +5

    +ve from me anthony!

    But to Telstra: Should've been free from the get go! Shame on you Telstra but Kudos to anthony!!

    Edit: Hence, this +ve is to Anthony (not so much telstra! :P)

    • anthony on 15/10/2010 - 18:42
      +3

      Should’ve been free from the get go! Shame on you Telstra

      I dont know much about the iPhone but dont all carriers charge an unlock fee?
      I am pretty sure that all iPhones are sold locked (maybe it is an Apple rule) so the unlock fee is a great way for all the carriers to make extra money from the iPhone as I keep hearing that there is not much money in selling Apple products.

      I know that the iPhone was the only phone which Telstra sold on a plan which was locked.

      Not sure why you were negged!

      • ryang on 15/10/2010 - 19:15
        +7

        Here's how it works;

        • You buy phone on contract, it's free/cheap because it's subsidised by your contract. Phone is locked.

        • You buy a phone outright, it's more expensive, no lock in contract. Phone is NOT locked.

        What happened here is;

        • You buy the iPhone outright, it's expensive, BUT it's locked to Telstra. Worst of both scenarios.

        So now Telstra is manning up and actually not being a douche for once. Bravo…..

        • Thrawn on 15/10/2010 - 21:53
          +3

          Incorrect. The primary reason for locking phones is because they are often sold in both subsidized contract and on subsidized prepaid.

          When on subsidized contract it can usually be unlocked for free since you're bound to the contract anyway.

          When on subsidized prepaid, unlocking carries additional conditions/costs.

          • djones145 on 16/10/2010 - 08:50

            @Thrawn: actually on ozbargain recent someone posted the iphone for 900 LOCKED and it was outright (no plan)

            quite crazy
            was locked to telstra outright….

        • anthony on 15/10/2010 - 23:43

          You buy phone on contract, it’s free/cheap because it’s subsidised by your contract. Phone is locked.

          I have never had a locked phone when I have signed a contract

      • danoot on 19/10/2010 - 15:48

        Virgin will happily unlock your iphone for free. Not sure if this carries over to the network provider, though.

        • jv on 19/10/2010 - 22:37

          only after 12 months it's free

    • Alzori on 15/10/2010 - 19:01

      Isn't it still common for all phones to be locked? Or am I just a network patsy still believing in the terrible old ways of the past :P

      Either way, brilliant! Another great plus for getting iPhones through Telstra. They are being quite nice recently, it's surprising.

      • martyn on 16/10/2010 - 06:58

        Most contract phones aren't locked these days, iPhone is the exception and my understanding was that unlocks have to go through Apple and they charge the carriers a fee. Kudos to Telstra as they are the only ones offering a free unlock afaik.

        • TrendyTim on 16/10/2010 - 11:52
          +1

          Actually, Telstra are the last to not charge a fee for it, 3/Voda and i believe even optus said unlocks would be free months ago.

          Telstra tole me that Apple charged them for the unlock i didn't believe it. Apple shouldn't charge the carriers (especially since they make $600+ profit on the phone), but apple will charge as much as they can for whatever they can.

          • martyn on 16/10/2010 - 17:40

            @TrendyTim: I stand corrected :) haven't paid much attention to iPhone world since I was considering an iPhone last year….

  • saine on 15/10/2010 - 18:39

    Can anyone confirm if this works with prePaid as well as planed iPhones?

    • anthony on 15/10/2010 - 18:43

      I think it might, the website only says iPhone. It does not say anything about iPhones on a plan.

      If someone with an iPhone can confirm then I will make a note in the post.

      • ol mate on 15/10/2010 - 18:49

        IMO give it a try. If they say no then refer them to the website and ask where it says its not for free.

    • g12345567 on 16/10/2010 - 08:26

      Even if this doesn't apply to prePaid phones. After 3 months telstra unlocks the phone for free. Although you will probably be stuck with Telstra branding and menus.

      Also says on the web site you need to use the latest itunes to complete the unlock process.

  • 777 on 15/10/2010 - 18:41
    +1

    awesome, atleast someone is rightfully providing the services at no cost

  • POWERevolution on 15/10/2010 - 18:43
    +2

    Lol …about time!

    • [Deactivated] on 15/10/2010 - 19:04
      +1

      was gonna say the same, pretty silly for locking it in the first place

  • user27 on 15/10/2010 - 18:50
    +31

    its a sad day when telstra removes an unreasonable and unfair restriction and it's considered a bargain

    • [Deactivated] on 15/10/2010 - 19:36

      is it really an unreasonable and unfair restriction? you sign a 24 month contract and then after the contract expires the phone is unlocked, this fee waiver is only good if you want multiple sim cards?

      • cynicor on 15/10/2010 - 23:47
        +2

        As you've signed the contract and have to pay for the phone, why should it be locked? They get your money anyway…

      • winter on 16/10/2010 - 15:12
        +1

        After the contract expires, the phone is still locked. You still had to pay a $150 unlock fee.

  • bbqwer on 15/10/2010 - 19:28
    +1

    very very good deal.

    apple selling iphone 4 32gb 999aud

    ebay selling locked telstra about 850aud ( free unlocking from telstra , make ebay is the best deal ) !!!

    good job telstra , love it

  • aldog on 15/10/2010 - 19:43

    My phone was purchased outright from Fone Zone as I use prepaid. Phoned Telstra up just then - all they required was my IMEI number; they then put me on hold for a couple of minutes and the lady said it was unlocked. Easy as that.

    Just informing people that there's about a 30 minute wait right now to get served, however.

  • Untameable on 15/10/2010 - 19:58
    +8

    I'm pretty sure this wasn't entirely voluntary, people had complained to the ACCC and were getting their unlock fees waived on a case by case basis.

  • max123 on 15/10/2010 - 20:09

    Just Got mine unlocked had to wait for 30 mins on hold but worth it…………..

  • POWERevolution on 15/10/2010 - 20:14
    -1

    I'm wondering would this really freebie or better in forum?

  • pepitovfr on 15/10/2010 - 20:20

    So this free unlock offer only applies to people who bought their phone outright from Telstra? ie. not on a contract.

    • ol mate on 15/10/2010 - 20:26
      +1

      it applies to everyone.

      • che0173 on 15/10/2010 - 20:44
        -8

        everyone? obviously not. what if you're on optus?

        • uraha on 15/10/2010 - 21:04
          +5

          it's already free if you were on optus. you would've known that

  • ol mate on 15/10/2010 - 20:27

    Anyone knows what time they close on Friday nights ?

  • jack4109 on 15/10/2010 - 20:46
    +3

    Wow Telstra, welcome back to Earth. How was the trip to Mars?

  • sparkles on 15/10/2010 - 21:00
    +2

    Been on hold 30 minutes now. They are obviously getting hammered. Either that, or no ones there at all and they are hoping everyone will just hang up eventually.

    • sparkles on 15/10/2010 - 21:32
      +2

      Gave up waiting after in excess of an hour listening to trance-inducing hold music after being transferred to the "unlocking area". For an offer that's meant to generate warm fuzzies, it's having the entirely opposite effect. Honestly, they would have a cheek to charge $150 for this service. Good luck peeps.

  • lazed on 15/10/2010 - 21:06

    They've always unlocked the phone if you told them you're going overseas.

    • Minotaur on 15/10/2010 - 21:10

      Not always, I tried it about 6 months ago on my 3GS and the guy wouldn't budge from the $150 fee

      • lazed on 15/10/2010 - 21:15

        Strange.. I've had a relative and a mate do it successfully.. maybe depended on who you spoke to..??

  • cuteq on 15/10/2010 - 21:13

    has been trying tonight without luck, got hang up twice..!~ will try 2morrow… + from me~! thx

  • phazor on 15/10/2010 - 21:23
    +2

    Glad to see Telstra improving after they got rid of that idiot trujillo, who pulled the race card when people blamed him for how crap Telstra is.

  • whiskey299 on 15/10/2010 - 21:28
    +3

    A very positive step in the right direction.

  • bob_wangkar on 15/10/2010 - 21:37

    oh yea…this is great!
    though i dont have any relations to telstra in anyways…
    this is a great leap for the consumer market !

  • KRRacing on 15/10/2010 - 22:12
    +1

    If I bought my iphone second hand from Ebay and call Telstra to unlock my iphone, will they do it? Or must it be the person who the iphone is registered to can get it unlocked?

    • Ecstatic on 16/10/2010 - 02:12

      Yes. As long as it's locked to Telstra's network, you just need to give them the IMEI number.

    • donwarra on 16/10/2010 - 12:27

      How did you go kr did you get it unlocked without original simcard

      • KRRacing on 19/10/2010 - 00:28

        I tried calling them myself and the first question they asked was my account number with them and since I don't have it then they asked me to ask the first owner to unlock it. Luckily for me, the first owner was willing to call them and now my iphone has been unlocked. FYI, I inserted a Telstra prepaid SIM the whole time until it is unlocked

  • andyken on 15/10/2010 - 22:23

    i paid $129 for unlocking my iPhone 3G last year, :(

    • Bend on 15/10/2010 - 23:36

      call and ask for a refund?

    • Ecstatic on 16/10/2010 - 03:53
      +1

      last year

  • eyao70 on 15/10/2010 - 23:04

    I got my iPhone 3GS free unlock at Telstra 6 month ago, just call them and tell them on the plan want unlock, simple.

  • wildthing1 on 16/10/2010 - 00:04
    +1

    What about second hand Telstra iPhone which is out of contract? Does it qualify?

    Cheers.

  • ij on 16/10/2010 - 02:12
    -3

    so will they unlock it for free if you are not travelling overseas?

    • venu on 16/10/2010 - 02:45
      +8

      Since you lack the ability to read. Il help you out.

      Audio File: http://vozme.com/speech/en-fm/39/393196d291d06ccb5a4847c2569…

    • polkadots610 on 16/10/2010 - 03:06

      How would they know whether you are travelling overseas or not.. I just said I was going to head back to Singapore for a holiday and I was given a unlocking code for my phone. Not questions asked!

    • pauly on 16/10/2010 - 03:40

      ij, you negative vote is not valid. There isn't an explanation as to what the negative vote is for. For more details on negative voting, please read the voting guidelines.

      Vote revoked.

  • Icedvovo on 16/10/2010 - 10:30
    +2

    Not bad. But it's like Charles Manson buying you a lollypop.

    Underneath they're still basically evil.

    Anyone called to see if you can get anything else unlocked? I'll wager this was an Apple-driven initiative, not Telstras.

    • Icedvovo on 16/10/2010 - 10:37
      +1

      And I'll also wager the real incentive was to get people to pass on their old iPhone to friends and family leaving them free to update to the iPhone4.

      Telstra still 'bend the truth' with everything they do. For instance, since they first released a mobile service in the early 90's the coverage claim was xx% of the POPULATION, and the population is only in 13% of the country. They still claim "Telstra's Next G network now provides mobile broadband access to 99 per cent of Australians…" That's people coverage, not area. So, still 99% of 13%. Very clever use of words.

      How do I know all this? I used to write their ads. ;)

      Evil company. Always has been, always will be.

      • TrendyTim on 16/10/2010 - 11:56
        +1

        Whats the point in covering areas of desert that almost no one will ever go to, if you want coverage there you get a sat phone.

        The unlocking fee was the only problem i had with chosing telstra for my iP4, but i went with them anyway for coverage even in the suburbs that 3 and Voda barely cover (Ringwood).

        • Icedvovo on 16/10/2010 - 12:08

          It's not the coverage I have a problem with, it's how the information is presented. Deliberately ambiguous and downright misleading.

          That's a corporate culture of deception that runs right to the core.

          • Tenebrae on 16/10/2010 - 13:37

            @Icedvovo: I agree with what you are saying, but can you name any companies to which the same claims don't stick?

            • Icedvovo on 16/10/2010 - 13:45

              @Tenebrae: It's true, they all play the same game. However, Telstra set the trend in the late 80's early 90's when they were still Telecom Mobilenet.

              It just irks me when they come out occasionally and pretend to be everyone's friend when they do so much else badly. As I said, it's like Charles Manson offering you a lollipop. It's still Charles Manson.

  • dammit on 16/10/2010 - 10:52

    thanks for this, about time telstra :)

  • Minotaur on 16/10/2010 - 11:07

    Trying again this morning, 1800IPHONE doesn't put you directly through to anyone in the unlocking department no matter what menu options you select, was told 125111 was a better number to call. Did that, said "unlocking" at the menu but still got put through to the faults department any way. So they said they'd transfer me to the unlocking department but I ended up back to faults. Currently on hold AGAIN, but since this one seems to be taking a while, hopefully it's the correct department this time.

    • TrendyTim on 16/10/2010 - 11:57

      The unlocking team probably diverted the calls, because they were overrun.

      • Minotaur on 16/10/2010 - 12:58

        I don't have a problem with this, but if they don't tell any body else in other departments, it wastes everybody's time

    • pauly on 16/10/2010 - 12:33

      [edit]: nvm.. both numbers are the same, and the business number probably requires you to have a dedicated Telstra rep.

  • netsurfer on 16/10/2010 - 12:33
    +2

    Fantastic news… except.. the unlocking team is not picking up my call. Forever on hold.

    Before this was announced, I was able to talk to iPhone unlocking team. They refused to unlock it for free (the reasons they gave me made feel like Tel$tra believe I cannot afford to pay the monthly bills).

    • sparkles on 16/10/2010 - 14:04

      I'm going to wait and try on a weekday because I'm not sitting on hold for yet another hour. Even a recorded message would be better than wasting customers time hoping someone, anyone might answer. It's really poor service and simply a big middle finger to the customer..

  • Minotaur on 16/10/2010 - 13:44

    Perhaps Telstra should just send through an unlock request for every IMEI that they have recorded as being locked to them. They would have this list, and the number of people that call asking what the "Your phone is now unlocked" message is about would be substantially less than the number of people calling to get their phone unlocked.

  • meph3x6 on 16/10/2010 - 13:47

    Good to see telstra catching up with the other telcos (optus at least).
    Although the optus unlock process was completely automated: punch in number, IMEI, then get a message when it's ready to be unlocked via iTunes. None of this having to talk to "people".

    • mrsquiggle on 16/10/2010 - 13:49

      Hi, do you a number i can call to get to this automated service?

      • meph3x6 on 16/10/2010 - 13:57
        +1

        Optus iPhone Network Unlocking Service

        1300 075 395
  • mrsquiggle on 16/10/2010 - 13:48

    Has anyone had any success unlocking, without being an actual current telstra customer?

    As in, you got a hand-me down that was locked to Telstra?

  • sparkles on 16/10/2010 - 13:57

    Has anyone managed to speak to anyone in the unlocking area since this was announced? This is pretty lame if they don't actually have the capacity to follow through.

    • rhazz on 16/10/2010 - 14:37

      Just tried calling but didn't get through to unlocking department cause its a weekend..
      So I ended up speaking to someone in billing enquiries who took down my request and will forward to iPhone unlocking department, who will then phone me in 72hrs confirming my request.

      A bit of a long winded process, but guess we'll see in a couple of days!

  • winter on 16/10/2010 - 15:09
    +2

    I walked out of the Telstra store after the refused to remove the lock for free just yesterday :S

    • anthony on 16/10/2010 - 16:44

      It was just announced yesterday so the person you spoke to might not have known about the new offer.

      • winter on 16/10/2010 - 17:50

        Maybe it was the day before that again. Anyway I think I'm off to sign off for a Telstra contract!

  • mellosweep on 16/10/2010 - 15:22

    It was illegal to charge a fee to unlock the handset, that's the real reason why they are getting rid of it. It was going to be contested in court otherwise and they have no legal standing on charging this fee.

  • Icedvovo on 16/10/2010 - 15:35
    -1

    I say unless we see evidence of at least one person getting their phone actually unlocked we have a just cause for a Neg Vote.

    So far it's a Vapour Deal.

    • anthony on 16/10/2010 - 16:42

      Read the thread, at least one person I can think of has already said they have had it done for free

      Why would telstra write on their own blog something which is not true?

  • aldog on 16/10/2010 - 18:06

    How long should it take for your phone to be unlocked? I thought it was instantaneous?

    I phoned last night, provided my IMEI and the lady said it was done. I tried putting a Voda sim in it today, but without success.

    Someone else told me that it can take 2 weeks to be unlocked? What the?

    • meph3x6 on 16/10/2010 - 18:26
      +1

      With optus it took roughly 24 hours for them to SMS me back that the unlock was successful. Initially they said it could take 72 hours. As I understand it (from reading on whirlpool), they need to inform apple that you wish to unlock your iphone. Then when you receive word that it is ready, you need to perform a restore on your iphone in itunes…
      Did you do a restore?

      This is all assuming telstra is the same as optus when it comes to unlocking iphones…. Has anyone on telstra actually been unlocked yet?

      • griftr on 20/10/2010 - 14:51

        unlocked both a Telstra and an Optus phone recently.

        Optus process is as you described it but i was within 24 hours for me. They seem to have to wait for Apple to kick off at their end.

        But Telstra was pretty much instantaneous.

        Maybe Optus queue their requests and send them out in one hit.

        I didn't need to pay for the unlocks with either provider. If you have two services existing with Telstra there was no charge. If you held your contract for longer than some set period, there was no charge with Optus.

        PS be sure to back up your phone before you do the restore. It will nuke your data.

        Also, if you want to keep a previous version of your OS, do some research. There are ways to avoid upgrading to the latest OS if want to keep your existing for whatever reason.

    • Chriss on 16/10/2010 - 19:07

      just unlocked today and it works with voda sim. no restore is required just connect your phone to itune go to your iphone setting and reset all setting. once restarted you should have a message on itune telling u that your phone has been unlocked. be careful you need o do this within 72 hours from the time you called telstra or you need to call them again.

  • atlas on 16/10/2010 - 20:56

    Strange… I unlocked mine 9 months ago and never had to pay a fee. Just simply called them up. I bought the phone outright, but locked, from an online vendor.

  • Bam Bam on 16/10/2010 - 21:27

    Tried to do both my iPhones today. 30 min on hold. 1st phone couldn't unlocked because operator couldn't find IMEI number. (Chase that up next week). 2nd iPhone unlocked easily. Thanks for the great tip!!

  • donwarra on 16/10/2010 - 21:34

    can confirm one telstra iphone 4 now unlocked rang 10.30 said wait 7 hrs to restore with itunes. After restore when restarted and synced says your iphone is now unlocked.

    • cgpilk on 17/10/2010 - 09:14

      So it must be an Apple restriction.

  • Frantic on 16/10/2010 - 21:42

    2 weeks away from end of 24 month contract.. go figure :/

  • Minotaur on 16/10/2010 - 22:26

    Hoping they're open tomorrow (Sunday)

  • cgpilk on 17/10/2010 - 09:13

    Sudden out break of common sense.

  • aldog on 17/10/2010 - 12:38
    +1

    Mine's unlocked now - I went the long way around it and upgraded to 4.1 and did a backup and restore.

    Here's a thread at whirlpool on the topic:
    http://forums.whirlpool.net.au/archive/1030764

  • uniqinsanity on 17/10/2010 - 16:54
    -3

    so, what happens if you paid to get your phone unlocked before? i paid to get my iPhone 3G unlocked last year. wouldnt refund would they? the bastards

    • winter on 17/10/2010 - 17:33

      fail

    • Minotaur on 17/10/2010 - 18:46
      +2

      No, same as if you buy a TV from somewhere and then expect them to refund the difference in price to what it costs now

  • Minotaur on 17/10/2010 - 19:15

    Not happy… just spent 30 minutes on hold to finally speak to someone, who then took my IMEI number then told me after a few minutes that the unlocking servers have been down for the past 15-20 minutes

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