topic Re: Re: Using an EE sim in a US unlocked phone in Archived Posts

Re: Using an EE sim in a US unlocked phone

KSA88 — Wed, 16 Jun 2021 19:48:57 GMT

My son is moving to the US and has a UK iphone with a EE pay as you go SIM. Can he use his phone in the US with a SIM card from any network there?

Thanks

Re: Re: Using an EE sim in a US unlocked phone

XRaySpeX — Wed, 16 Jun 2021 19:58:16 GMT

@KSA88 : It's not the SIM currently being used that matters, but the phone it's in. Is it an EE phone? If so, it'll need to be unlocked from EE before it can be used with a US SIM.

Where did you yourself get this device itself originally? Did you buy it yourself new direct from EE or from a 3rd-party reseller or is it 2nd-hand? The unlocking process & costs are different. Was it originally on contract or PAYG? How old is it? EE won't unlock contract devices less than 6 months old.

Re: Re: Using an EE sim in a US unlocked phone

KSA88 — Wed, 16 Jun 2021 20:44:12 GMT

Yes, it is a EE phone. Do I just bring it into an EE shop to be unlocked?

Re: Re: Using an EE sim in a US unlocked phone

Northerner — Wed, 16 Jun 2021 20:48:13 GMT

Hi @KSA88

Please see here:

https://ee.co.uk/help/help-new/getting-started-and-upgrading/unlock-your-phone/unlock-a-ee-device-to-use-with-another-network

Thanks

Re: Re: Using an EE sim in a US unlocked phone

EssexBoyEE — Wed, 16 Jun 2021 21:32:25 GMT

It's not as simple as that I'm afraid, Unlock a UK / Euro iPhone and Bobs your Uncle for the use in the rest of the World.

Post GSM and 3G, a lot of Regions went there own way for 4 and 5G Radio Bands, in particular the USA which use some of their Bands are unique the the US and Canada, whilst you may get some form of Service it may be very basic or non existent outside of the City Areas.

My advice would be to try and find which US Carrier you intend to use and then double check with the iPhone Model number as not even the US Networks are comparable with each other in the same State.