Big news! UK iPhone owners subscribed to O2 will indeed be allowed to unlock their iPhones for other carriers, according to Matthew Key, CEO of O2’s parent company, Telefonica Europe.
“Once the iPhone becomes available on other UK networks, we will allow O2 customers to unlock their iPhones, although of course they will still need to honour any outstanding contract period they have. At the end of their contract period, they are entirely free to move to another operator — though naturally we hope they won’t want to!”
As previously reported, Orange is set to begin carrying the iPhone on the 10th of November, while Vodafone will begin selling iPhones in the first quarter of 2010. O2 has had exclusive UK rights to the iPhone since 2007, and until now has not needed an unlocking policy, or formally announced one. It is common for companies in regions with multiple iPhone carriers to allow switching services if there are no contractual obligations.
Link: www.macnn.com
November 9th, 2009 at 22:37
Does that mean the phones will unlock themselves, or will we need to go and get it unlocked ourselves?
Thank you for your help
November 10th, 2009 at 08:53
Gabriel;
You need to complete an online form at
http://www.o2.co.uk/unlockmyiphone
Contract customers need to complete the full term of their contract, or i believe they can buy out the rest of their contract early.
PAYG customers can unlock their iPhone’ as well, but will need to pay £14.97, which is taken from their Airtime balance
Hope this helps!
November 10th, 2009 at 10:28
The iPhones wont unlock themselves, you will have to contact O2 and request an unlock code. Im pretty sure that O2 will charge for this altho can anyone confirm how much?
November 10th, 2009 at 11:37
Here are some confirmation of prices from here:
http://www.trustedreviews.com/mobile-phones/news/2009/11/10/O2-Improves-iPhone-Tethering-Deal—Will-Unlock-Handsets/p1
£14.97 to unlock your O2 iPhone.
Sounds reasonable to be honest!
Hope this helps!
November 10th, 2009 at 11:40
Also found this to
http://shop.o2.co.uk/update/unlockmyiphone.html
Pay Monthly customers can get their phones unlocked free of charge
Found that link in the comments section on the above website.