If I bought an unlocked iPhone off Craigslist, would I be able to take it to any carrier and get service, and could I use my current number? All cell phone stuff confuses the hell out of me. Thanks for any insight!
An unlocked iPhone will work on any carrier and will have the same number as that on the SIM card.
Not sure if the Craigslist’s guys scam you with a stolen phone or not really unblocked etc.
Generally, an unlocked iPhone will work on most carriers. Talk to your carrier to find out for sure. It’s not guaranteed that it will work with all carriers.
The other thing you have to worry about with used iPhones is that if they are still attached to the owner’s iTunes account. If it is, then you won’t be able to do the setup since it will ask for their login info. You want to make sure they they have detached the phone from their account. If you are worried about it, meet up in a place which has wifi, reset the phone, and go through the setup screens. Make sure you can enter your own iTunes account or are given an option to create a new account. If it asks for the original owner’s info, then it’s still attached to their account.
Thanks guys!
There are two different kinds of “locks.”
There is a “Carrier lock” which restricts the phone to a specific telephone system (ATT, T-Mobile, Verizon, etc.)
Then there is “iCloud lock,” which turns the phone into the worlds most highly-engineered paperweight unless it is removed. Of the two, unlocking the iCloud lock is WAY more important.
If you have doubts, I suggest that you have the craigslist seller meet you at a local store for your cell carrier, do a phone factory reset, create your own account on it, add it to your account and make a test call, and then pay the seller.
The seller will have to take a little more time out of their day to do this, but it also demonstrates that you’re a serious buyer.
There’s probably still some way to scam you even if this works, but I bet it’s beyond the average craigslist-scammer’s abilities.
Also make sure the phone has the system your preferred operator uses. Either GSM or CDMA. ATT & T-Mobile are GSM. Verizon is CDMA. Apple has different versions of their phones for the different systems. Ask for a zoomed in picture of the back of the phone that shows the model number. For example: My iPhone 6S has model # A1688 and is GSM (I use T-mobile).
Edit: Note that this is independent of ‘unlocked’ status. Even an unlocked GSM phone can’t be used on verizons network (and vice-versa) because the hardware is incompatible.
Different carriers use different frequencies and radio types, like GSM, CDMA, LTE.
Most carriers have a page that will let you check the IMEI of a phone to ensure it will connect to their network.
Here is Verizon’s:
https://www.verizonwireless.com/od/prepaid/bring-your-own-device/#/checkDevice
Here is AT&T:
Google for “carriername imei check” to find others. You might also want to call your chosen carrier and ask them if that IMEI is on a list of stolen, and therefore blocked phones.
Everyone has addressed the other part of your question, but not this. If you’re in the U.S., the answer is almost certainly yes, assuming the number you want to transfer is associated with an account you control. The FCC mandates number portability both for wireless numbers and landline numbers. This Verizon page offers a way to check whether your specific number is eligible to be ported. Of course, they offer it in terms of switching to Verizon, but if you can transfer it to them, you can transfer it to someone else as well.
If you’re somewhere other than the U.S., or you just want more detail, Wikipedia’s page is pretty good. The carrier you select should be able to provide you with specific guidance. I might as well keep using Verizon for examples, so here is theirs as an example. There may be a fee associated with moving the number.