In india there are only two telecom companies which offer iphones ie Airtel & Vodafone with prices ranging in 30000Rs. But its surprising to know that Airtel officially allows you to unlock the handset and use other networks after buying a handset from them. Though this is not a statement from the official Airtel but from the Apple website where it shows that this ‘Carrier offers authorized unlocking‘.
Unlocking a iPhone would take not more than 10minutes in total but its not officially allowed, but in this case it can be allowed and here is a reason which i personally feel is true. AT&T and other networks in US & UK offer this handset under a contract which means that you need to continiously pay some monthly charges along with handset EMI for 2 years duration during which the company is going to recover the handset cost and also make money through the consumer calls. But in India, Airtel is selling the handset for 3x times the US price of 199$ which means that Airtel is already over charging their subscribers, hence they dont have to worry even if their customers move away to other networks after purchasing the handsets from them by unlocking.
Wow that’s great.. The QuickPWN team is already working on the iPhone 3.0 OS unlocking and when its released, the iPhone 3GS should be allowed by Airtel then 🙂
I m tracing Air tel from past 2 days to get a clairification on this. If we believe to Apple we can get an officially unlocked iPhone with an additional fee or requirement but the Air tel guys are totally unaware of the whole shit.
Can I buy a iPhone 3G S in US and use it in India by unlocking. How can I unlock a iphone?
Hope Apple with Airtel or Vodafone comes with an arrangement of 2 yrs contract for iphone user with the service provider. So that we can have same type of costs of the device as in other countries.
Lets see if this can be ever worked out.
Rohan
Hi, I got my iPhone unlocked OFFICIALLY, which I had got from Airtel 13 months ago. It was painful though. For 1 week, I wrote mails to NodalOfficer.KK@airtel.in & 121@airtelindia.com, but it did not help.
Then my friend visited the Airtel Showroom where I had bought the iPhone. And those guys finally got it unlocked. I had send them email at kk.brandshop1@airtel.in.
Total time taken : 2 weeks
Actual unlocking : 1 day (rest of the time went in just emails & visiting Airtel)
The Airtel interface that worked: Airtel showroom where I had bought the iPhone.
Earlier, on request, Airtel unlocked iPhone after 12 months. Though currently it seems that Airtel no longer officially unlocks it http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1937.
Now I am successfully using my iPhone in Finalnd with a local operator.
Nalin,
I have been trying to get airtel in chennai to unlock my iPhone for over a month now I have tried customer care, the nodal officer, and the showroom.
do you have a contact point at airtel who can help..
X
I too tried at the same 3 places, but for me the Airtel Showroom guys did the processing which worked. Sorry, but I don’t have any specific contact. Maybe you could try the showroom guys who helped me : kk.brandshop1@airtel.in. I first contacted them on 25th Jan and on 28th it was unlocked. Hope this helps, good luck.
Which what is the address of the showroom in bangalore, who can I talk to there… Please help
It is the showroom on 100feet road in Indiranagar (near the flyovers at 100 feet road and Airport Road intersection). My friend spoke to the store manager there (a lady if I remember well). Good luck, I know it is painful…
Hello guys,
I have been searching for people who face the same problem as me. At last here I am.
I bought my Iphone 3G officially for Airtel on the 1st day it was launched in India at Airtel Showroom in Cunningham Road in Bangalore. Since then I am with Airtel. Now I thought I should get my phone unlocked since its been 2 years now. As per the Terms and Conditions of Airtel, the phone can be unlocked after 12 months. I tried to call Customer care and went to a Airtel Showroom, but these people don’t even know what I am talking about. Whom should I talk to ? I want to unlock it officially.
Thanks
I think no one has the answer to my question ? I am still waiting for Airtel to help me out.
Good news, Nodal officer just called me and informed that my iphone is unlocked. I need to restore the phones settings manually via tunes to complete the unlock. Will update after everything is done.
Thanks,
Senthil
I have been around all places at airtel chennai to get my phone unlocked, without any success. do you have any e-mail from airtel confirming the unlock or the contact information of the person at airtel that can get this done?
I want to go to airtel and tell them to refer with xyz.. and unlock mine.
X
To start with let me confirm that I have still NOT yet unlocked my iphone.
I got a mail from Airtel stating that they have unlocked it from their end and they asked me to restore my phone to factory settings which will complete the unlocking process. i tried doing that, but dint help.
I have wrote back to Airtel asking them to confirm if they have unlocked from their end.
Xavier – I will update this post with contact info of the nodal officer once I get my phone unlocked. I just want to make sure everything works right with this person.
Thanks,
Hi guys,
I am in the same boat as most of you. I hate being cheated…especially after I have paid a whopping 36100Rs for this phone!! I am thinking of filing a case against Airtel for illegal trade practice and cheating. After all, I bought this phone from them only because they offered unlocking. Would any of you be interested in taking part in the class action suit against Airtel. I feel that there is strength in numbers!!
Because of all this I am even beginning to hate Apple! I want to sell off my Macbook Pro and have nothing to do with Apple!
hey guys…wanted to update you on the situation. Airtel finally unlocked my iPhone!! I am glad it did. All the best to the rest of you! In future, if any of you intend to buy an iphone from Airtel or Vodafone…get the terms and conditions in writing…
i bought iphone 3gs 16gb from airtel showroom cchetpet chennai on april 19th … m trying trying n called n mailed umpteen time airtelindia. & 121… oh my god they still dint activate my 500mb free offer plzzz anybody tell how to get this offer ppl n 121 told ” sorry we dint know anything about this offer” we connect u to our higher official or forwarding to them blaaa …. still know reply … its really paining to know that i m cheated …
plzz give whom i should contact the person who is incharge of selling iphone himself told me sorry i tried i couldnt contact person who is incharge of activating this offer…. i tried 121@airtelindia.com, called 121… no use same reply….
Hello everybody,
iPhone has not been available in India for last 3-4 months (from any official outlet of Airtel / Vodaphone in Delhi). And surprisingly Airtel customer care is not aware of this!!!
I just bought “Unlocked” iPhone-4 from USA and travelling back to India.
Will I face any problem or it will start working immediately after I put Airtel sim (since this is unlocked piece from USA) and I shall be able to sync with my computer.
Or I shall have to do some process…..can someone help me in this…
Thanks in advance.
When u say unlocked…is it factory unlocked or is it jailbroken ? If it is factory unlocked…u should not have any problem using it on Airtel’s network..If it is jailbroken…take care that you do not restore the phone to factory settings….if you do…you will not be able to use your phone
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