Let’s get right on the subject and explain what the SIM-Lock iPhone IMEI Check service is, why it is important and how to “translate” its results for using it to our advantage.
Even though this article will be focusing on the iPhone SIM-Lock IMEI Check, the same “principle” can be applied to other devices and Smartphones, such as Android or Windows.
SIM-Lock iPhone IMEI Check – The What!
The SIM-Lock iPhone IMEI Check service, can find your iPhone’s IMEI number in Apple’s GSX databases, and identify its SIM/Carrier/Network Lock status.
The GSX database (Global Service Exchange) is Apple’s single service, repair and order management tool for Apple partners to provide service business with Apple worldwide. GSX Web Services is a data exchange that enables partners to integrate their applications with GSX (Info was taken from lightspeed).
This database contains ALL active IMEI numbers and also holds all of their values, such as SIM-Lock, Network Identification (Currently Active, Currently Locked to, in which network it was activated in the first time, etc..), which makes it the only accurate and up to date source for identifying the SIM-Lock status of an iPhone.
The Why – SIM-Lock iPhone IMEI Check
Knowing the SIM-Lock status of an iPhone is very crucial, especially before purchasing one.
It will allow you to figure out if this iPhone you are planning to buy will be able to work with a Mobile Network that you want OR it will work with only one specific Carrier.
For instance, if you want to buy a Locked iPhone from USA, but you are living in Europe, then you will not be able to use it with a european carrier, only with a USA one. To this case, you want the report of the SIM-Lock iPhone IMEI Check service to be UNLOCKED.
How a SIM-Lock iPhone IMEI Check looks like
The looks of the report depends on the company that will provide it to you.
Some companies provide you exactly the report straight from Apple’s GSX databases, and others “translate” it so users without experience can easily comprehend it.
Below you can see how a SIM-Lock iPhone IMEI Check GSX report and how a more user friendly report looks like:
As you can see, the Raw GSX SIM-Lock iPhone IMEI Check report is difficult to understand, since it has values that require technical knowledge to “translate” them.
On the other hand, the user friendly report, quickly informs you if your iPhone is Locked, in which carrier, its blacklist status and the iCloud status.
If you want to read more about the iPhone IMEI Check reports, you can read our iPhone IMEI Check article, which contain much more details and information.