Home - News , Popular , Unlocked Phones , Verizon - Nice! Verizon Just Unlocked Everyone's iPhone 4s For Use On US and International GSM Networks

It looks like Verizon has bulk unlocked every Verizon iPhone 4s for use on GSM networks worldwide, including on US GSM operators like T-Mobile and AT&T. A user on Apple's forums posted what is looks like a copy of an internal memo to Verizon customer support representatives announcing the new policy:I was skeptical of such largess from Verizon until I started seeing multiple users posting on other forums that their Verizon iPhone 4s had unlocked itself. Here are a few:I'm really pleased with this unexpected consumer friendly move by Verizon. Contrary to what many think they didn't have to do it. There's no law or FCC regulation requiring carriers to unlock phones. The voluntary unlocking agreement that the major carriers signed and that went into effect Feb 11 only requires carriers to unlock phones on customer request and only if the carrier considers the phone fully paid for. Verizon apparently asked Apple to unlock all locked iPhones that were originally Verizon phones, even ones that are running on a Verizon MVNO or don't have active service on any carrier. They didn't have to do that.The 3G-only iPhone 4s isn't subject to the special rules that Verizon has to follow as a condition for using its 700 Mhz C block LTE spectrum. Those rules require Verizon phones that use the C block, like the iPhone 5 and latter, to be sold unlocked. The iPhone 4s doesn't use the C block and isn't bound by those rules. So Verizon really did go the extra mile for their customers, former customers and even non-customers who bought a used Verizon iPhone 4s. I hope the other carriers, especially TracFone which won't unlock phones at all and Sprint and T-Mobile which appear to be making it as hard as possible to get their phones unlocked, follow Verizon's example. Unfortunately, I doubt they will.Image: pixabay