Unlocking a UK cell phone to use in Canada
#1
Unlocking a UK cell phone to use in Canada
Hi Everyone,
I have read as many posts as I can regarding cell phones so I don't repeat. Most of the discussions have been about different service providers and the best contracts offered. I havent come across one that answers my question (if there is one and I have missed it, please forgive me!)
I have an Iphone 4S on an o2 contract. The contract is on a month to month basis so I can cancel the contract whenever I want.
I wondered what people experiences have been getting an Iphone unlocked so it can be used in Canada.
Should I unlock the phone in the UK or wait until I get to Canada?
Has there been any experiences of the unlock phone not working once in Canada?
Are there other means to using a UK cell in Canada?
Sorry for all the questions! But I hope someone could answer them?
Thank you
Sparrow
I have read as many posts as I can regarding cell phones so I don't repeat. Most of the discussions have been about different service providers and the best contracts offered. I havent come across one that answers my question (if there is one and I have missed it, please forgive me!)
I have an Iphone 4S on an o2 contract. The contract is on a month to month basis so I can cancel the contract whenever I want.
I wondered what people experiences have been getting an Iphone unlocked so it can be used in Canada.
Should I unlock the phone in the UK or wait until I get to Canada?
Has there been any experiences of the unlock phone not working once in Canada?
Are there other means to using a UK cell in Canada?
Sorry for all the questions! But I hope someone could answer them?
Thank you
Sparrow
#2
Forum Regular
Joined: Aug 2008
Location: Kamloops, BC
Posts: 222
Re: Unlocking a UK cell phone to use in Canada
I have just requested my iphone 5 be unlocked. I told them it was to use abroad. They have sent an email saying it has been done and all I need to complete the process is put a foreign sim card in and connect to itunes.
I was/am also on o2. Hopefully i will get a new sim in the next week or so and can confirm if it was successful!
I was/am also on o2. Hopefully i will get a new sim in the next week or so and can confirm if it was successful!
#3
Re: Unlocking a UK cell phone to use in Canada
I brought an iphone 3gs with me from the UK and was also with O2. I got it unlocked in the UK (had to pay £20 I think). It worked perfectly here in Canada. What I do remember is that to complete the unlocking process I had to re-set and restore the phone via iTunes. If you are able to put another sim card in from a UK provider and it’s recognised, then the unlocking has been successful.
#4
Re: Unlocking a UK cell phone to use in Canada
O2 should unlock your phone for free. I've had 3 phones with O2 (an iPhone 3G, and iPhone 4, and an HTC One S) and O2 unlocked all three of them for free.
O2 | Help | Unlocking an O2 mobile to use on a different network
O2 | Help | Unlocking an O2 mobile to use on a different network
#5
Re: Unlocking a UK cell phone to use in Canada
O2 should unlock your phone for free. I've had 3 phones with O2 (an iPhone 3G, and iPhone 4, and an HTC One S) and O2 unlocked all three of them for free.
O2 | Help | Unlocking an O2 mobile to use on a different network
O2 | Help | Unlocking an O2 mobile to use on a different network
#6
Re: Unlocking a UK cell phone to use in Canada
I have just requested my iphone 5 be unlocked. I told them it was to use abroad. They have sent an email saying it has been done and all I need to complete the process is put a foreign sim card in and connect to itunes.
I was/am also on o2. Hopefully i will get a new sim in the next week or so and can confirm if it was successful!
I was/am also on o2. Hopefully i will get a new sim in the next week or so and can confirm if it was successful!
I look forward to your message!
Good luck
Sparrow ;
#7
Re: Unlocking a UK cell phone to use in Canada
I brought an iphone 3gs with me from the UK and was also with O2. I got it unlocked in the UK (had to pay £20 I think). It worked perfectly here in Canada. What I do remember is that to complete the unlocking process I had to re-set and restore the phone via iTunes. If you are able to put another sim card in from a UK provider and it’s recognised, then the unlocking has been successful.
I'll have to find another SIM card or at least borrow one from somewhere!
Sparrow
#8
Re: Unlocking a UK cell phone to use in Canada
O2 should unlock your phone for free. I've had 3 phones with O2 (an iPhone 3G, and iPhone 4, and an HTC One S) and O2 unlocked all three of them for free.
O2 | Help | Unlocking an O2 mobile to use on a different network
O2 | Help | Unlocking an O2 mobile to use on a different network
#10
Forum Regular
Joined: Feb 2013
Location: Manchester
Posts: 32
Re: Unlocking a UK cell phone to use in Canada
Hi all,might be wort mentioning that I have recently unlocked my iPhone 5 with EE, it didn't work properly & turned out to be a problem with the phone that wasn't apparent until it was unlocked. I took it to apple, who reset it but it still didn't sort it, so they replaced it.
I'd make sure you unlock yours before your phone is out of warranty, whether IRS here or over there. If it's a Apple, it won't matter where you take it back to, but it will need to be under warranty if there are any probs, so the sooner the better maybe?
I'd make sure you unlock yours before your phone is out of warranty, whether IRS here or over there. If it's a Apple, it won't matter where you take it back to, but it will need to be under warranty if there are any probs, so the sooner the better maybe?
#11
Re: Unlocking a UK cell phone to use in Canada
As others have said, unlock it in the UK before you go. You will need to do a full factory restore on the phone for it to fully be unlocked, so make sure you backup the phone before doing this.
You can test if it is unlocked by getting any friend that happens to have a SIM card that is a) from another network, and b) is the right size (think the 4S uses a micro sim).
You can test if it is unlocked by getting any friend that happens to have a SIM card that is a) from another network, and b) is the right size (think the 4S uses a micro sim).
#12
Re: Unlocking a UK cell phone to use in Canada
Right - for those who say you have to restore the phone to unlock it - as long as the phone is on iOS 7 that is not the case anymore. The providers are all misinformed about this. Case in point - I had the provider unlock two iPhones in the past year, a 5s and a 5c, unlocked from Telus and Rogers respectively, and whilst the rep insisted I had to restore the phone, I switched off my phone, popped in my Vodafone SIM card, switched my phone back on, and all that happened was a little "activating" loading bar came up and within 2 mins phone was unlocked. I then switched my phone back off, put back in my normal SIM, switched my phone on again and was good to go. No losing my info needed
The only thing is you need to be near a reliable Wi-Fi hotspot (ie one at home, not at the coffee shop) for the unlock to process without restoring.
The only thing is you need to be near a reliable Wi-Fi hotspot (ie one at home, not at the coffee shop) for the unlock to process without restoring.
#13
Re: Unlocking a UK cell phone to use in Canada
Hi all,might be wort mentioning that I have recently unlocked my iPhone 5 with EE, it didn't work properly & turned out to be a problem with the phone that wasn't apparent until it was unlocked. I took it to apple, who reset it but it still didn't sort it, so they replaced it.
I'd make sure you unlock yours before your phone is out of warranty, whether IRS here or over there. If it's a Apple, it won't matter where you take it back to, but it will need to be under warranty if there are any probs, so the sooner the better maybe?
I'd make sure you unlock yours before your phone is out of warranty, whether IRS here or over there. If it's a Apple, it won't matter where you take it back to, but it will need to be under warranty if there are any probs, so the sooner the better maybe?
In the UK it seems it is free and immediate. (which is how it should be)
#14
Re: Unlocking a UK cell phone to use in Canada
We unlocked our iPhone 4s's before we got here and they worked fine, we went to Australia for three weeks in November/December and again worked fine. We then upgraded to the 5s, so I'd suggest unlock in the UK and you will be fine
#15
Re: Unlocking a UK cell phone to use in Canada
Right - for those who say you have to restore the phone to unlock it - as long as the phone is on iOS 7 that is not the case anymore. The providers are all misinformed about this. Case in point - I had the provider unlock two iPhones in the past year, a 5s and a 5c, unlocked from Telus and Rogers respectively, and whilst the rep insisted I had to restore the phone, I switched off my phone, popped in my Vodafone SIM card, switched my phone back on, and all that happened was a little "activating" loading bar came up and within 2 mins phone was unlocked. I then switched my phone back off, put back in my normal SIM, switched my phone on again and was good to go. No losing my info needed
So only option is to put a new SIM card in and see what happens. How will I know if it hasn't worked?
I miss the old phones where you just changed the sim and switched it back on again and hey presto! None of this messing about restoring mumbo jumbo