Apple Lists Rogers and Fido as Authorized iPhone Unlockers

In December of 2010 we wrote about Rogers/Fido and their new device unlocking policy, which included the iPhone at the end of your contract. After paying a $50 unlocking fee, the process happens via iTunes, as we detailed. Telus introduced a new device unlocking policy in November of last year, but it did not detail if it included the iPhone or not.

Apple’s iPhone support document page clearly details which “Carrier offers authorized unlocking”. Out of seven official iPhone carriers that list, only three are listed as authorized to unlock your iPhone: Rogers, Fido and SaskTel.

If you consider the money spent in your contract over the duration of three years, you would think your device would be unlocked for free, instead of paying yet another fee. It’s no wonder more and more people now choose to order factory unlocked iPhones from Apple to avoid device upgrade headaches year after year. Let alone a factory unlocked iPhone is the envy of the world.

The chart also lists which carriers lock their iPhones, offer Visual Voicemail, MMS, and Personal Hotspot.

AT&T and Verizon in the U.S. are listed, but they do not offer device unlocking. Our neighbours down south will be able to purchase factory unlocked iPhone 4S units in November, whereas Canada was able to pre-order unlocked units right on October 7th.

The iPhone 4S is set to debut on October 14th, with Canadian pre-orders already shipping. The iPhone 4S has already exceeded 1 million pre-orders in 24 hours for Apple, a new record.

Update 1: Make that just Rogers and Fido now.

Thanks Beetle!

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