Sprint Denies Report of Unlocked Micro-SIM in iPhone 4S

Yesterday, Macworld reported that Sprint would be selling the iPhone 4S with an unlocked micro-SIM slot, potentially allowing users traveling abroad to simply slip in a local micro-SIM card and avoid high roaming costs.

sprint iphone 4s preorder now
Ars Technica now reports that Sprint has reached out to deny this report, indicating that the iPhone 4S will not work with international micro-SIMs.

However, while Sprint will now support international roaming on GSM networks with the appropriate monthly plan, the company will not be selling the phone unlocked for use with international microSIMs. Ars asked Michelle Mermelstein, a Sprint wireless device public relations representative, to confirm that the Sprint iPhone 4S would not work with international microSIMs. “That is correct,” Mermelstein said. “I believe Verizon’s device works the same way.”

Sprint customer service agents have also been offering similar information in response to questions about international travel with the iPhone 4S.

iPhone 4S has World Mode Capabilities with the pre-inserted SIM card. However, you will not be able to use non-Sprint SIM card with it, due to technology differences. If you purchase iPhone 4S you will be able to use it internationally with Sprint Services.

Note: International capabilities will be locked and you will have to call Sprint to activate.

The iPhone 4S, officially set to launch on Friday, is a world-mode device capable of supporting both GSM and CDMA networks, but carrier locking and other requirements will substantially limit that flexibility for customers purchasing subsidized versions of the device.

Related Forum: iPhone

Popular Stories

iPhone SE 4 Vertical Camera Feature

iPhone SE 4 Rumored to Use Same Rear Chassis as iPhone 16

Friday July 19, 2024 7:16 am PDT by
Apple will adopt the same rear chassis manufacturing process for the iPhone SE 4 that it is using for the upcoming standard iPhone 16, claims a new rumor coming out of China. According to the Weibo-based leaker "Fixed Focus Digital," the backplate manufacturing process for the iPhone SE 4 is "exactly the same" as the standard model in Apple's upcoming iPhone 16 lineup, which is expected to...
iPhone 16 Pro Sizes Feature

iPhone 16 Series Is Just Two Months Away: Everything We Know

Monday July 15, 2024 4:44 am PDT by
Apple typically releases its new iPhone series around mid-September, which means we are about two months out from the launch of the iPhone 16. Like the iPhone 15 series, this year's lineup is expected to stick with four models – iPhone 16, iPhone 16 Plus, iPhone 16 Pro, and iPhone 16 Pro Max – although there are plenty of design differences and new features to take into account. To bring ...
bsod

Crowdstrike Says Global IT Outage Impacting Windows PCs, But Mac and Linux Hosts Not Affected

Friday July 19, 2024 3:12 am PDT by
A widespread system failure is currently affecting numerous Windows devices globally, causing critical boot failures across various industries, including banks, rail networks, airlines, retailers, broadcasters, healthcare, and many more sectors. The issue, manifesting as a Blue Screen of Death (BSOD), is preventing computers from starting up properly and forcing them into continuous recovery...
iphone 14 lineup

Cellebrite Unable to Unlock iPhones on iOS 17.4 or Later, Leak Reveals

Thursday July 18, 2024 4:18 am PDT by
Israel-based mobile forensics company Cellebrite is unable to unlock iPhones running iOS 17.4 or later, according to leaked documents verified by 404 Media. The documents provide a rare glimpse into the capabilities of the company's mobile forensics tools and highlight the ongoing security improvements in Apple's latest devices. The leaked "Cellebrite iOS Support Matrix" obtained by 404 Media...
Apple Watch Series 9

2024 Apple Watch Lineup: Key Changes We're Expecting

Tuesday July 16, 2024 7:59 am PDT by
Apple is seemingly planning a rework of the Apple Watch lineup for 2024, according to a range of reports from over the past year. Here's everything we know so far. Apple is expected to continue to offer three different Apple Watch models in five casing sizes, but the various display sizes will allegedly grow by up to 12% and the casings will get taller. Based on all of the latest rumors,...
tinypod apple watch

TinyPod Turns Your Apple Watch Into an iPod

Wednesday July 17, 2024 3:18 pm PDT by
If you have an old Apple Watch and you're not sure what to do with it, a new product called TinyPod might be the answer. Priced at $79, the TinyPod is a silicone case with a built-in scroll wheel that houses the Apple Watch chassis. When an Apple Watch is placed inside the TinyPod, the click wheel on the case is able to be used to scroll through the Apple Watch interface. The feature works...

Top Rated Comments

tekkierich Avatar
167 months ago
Sprint, you let me down

I am a TMobile customer currently using an original 2G iPhone jail broken. I am going to be in a line on Friday buying an iPhone. I would have bought it from you, or who ever will have an unlocked international SIM slot. I guess as no one does, I will go with AT&T for the HSPDA+

Sorry Sprint, short sightedness just lost you a customer.

A contract is a contract, and I understand to get a subsidized phone I will need to be locked into a plan for two years. Why you can't just let me do what I want to with my phone (impacting your data network in no way) as long as my monthly check to you rolls in, I have no idea.

Annoyed.
Score: 8 Votes (Like | Disagree)
iVoid Avatar
167 months ago
Okay... so no longer considering buying the Sprint iPhone.

Nice sales job, boneheads. :P
Score: 5 Votes (Like | Disagree)
ApplLover Avatar
167 months ago
What a load of horse crap. I guess the best bet is to just buy the factory unlocked iPhone and use it with AT&T in the US and anyone else outside the country.

It seems you cannot use the factory unlocked on the CDMA networks.

AT&T wins I guess.
Score: 5 Votes (Like | Disagree)
OrangeSVTguy Avatar
167 months ago
Too good to be true?
Score: 5 Votes (Like | Disagree)
lobster68w Avatar
167 months ago
It's time the US actually protect the consumer for once and pass a law to get rid of this locking crap. It's your phone, you should be able to use it where you want. They all ready penalize you when you leave early to recoup the subsidy. Cell phones in the US are ridiculously overpriced.
Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)
mister880 Avatar
167 months ago
Well that's a let down.. I'm out of the country about 30% of the year. That feature alone would have got me to switch from ATT to Sprint!

Best of both worlds! Unlimited Data at home and freedom when abroad...

That's too bad! Sprint if you ever see this there are a lot of business customers who travel internationally that would love to have a feature like that!

@19.95 per megabyte abroad with ATT I usually just turn my iPhone off and use a cheap local burner or Skype.

Kevin
Mister880
Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)