Can an AT&T iphone be "unlocked" then used with Verizon??
 

I was at a party the other night and someone suggested that non Verizon iphone 5s, ATT&T example, are able to be unlocked and then used on Verizon.

I am looking to replace my wife's 5s that got wet a year or so ago and is now starting to malfunction on occasion.

Has anyone had any experience doing this?

I believe since the 5 or 5S, all iPhones have been unlocked. I have used my phone in Europe using their GSM network and SIM card, on my Verizon iPhone.

In theory, it should be ok to switch over to the other network. AT&T and Verizon use different network technologies...AT&T uses GSM and Verizon uses CDMA, so you need the right antenna. New iPhones (since 5 or 5S) have both antennas.

With the new business model; no contacts, I believe the cellphone companies will be more accepting of phones purchased elsewhere.

Think so
 

I do believe they do sell them unlocked but at a much higher cost.

I have bought and subsequently unlocked two AT&T GSM phones using the following link. Read the rules.

https://www.att.com/deviceunlock/#/

By the way... Verizon uses a CDMA, not a GSM network. Just unlocking shouldn't work.

More recent Verizon iPhones have chipsets that are capable of working on either a CDMA or a GSM network if I recall correctly. So if you have one of those and are on Verizon, you can move to AT&T or T-Mobile without having to get a new phone. You'd just need a new SIM card.
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bc