@ MANTAGON - I also chatted with Jonathon S approx 15 minutes ago and received a NO. Apparently they (Sprint) are now starting to get their CSRs on the same page after giving out the wrong information for the past week.

When I told him that my account has never been authorized for international service because I have always had a spending limit, the answer was I would not be able to use the phone outside of the US on any GSM network!! This is insane, especially considering I've signed up for a 2 year contract.

TO Sprint, I guess this is the end of our 12 year love affair - CIAO....and hello AT&T or pre-paid carrier. I'm sorry to be the one to tell you that you're definately going to lose plenty more customers over this. While it's nice you are the only carrier still offering unlimited plans, if I purchase an unlocked Iphone from Apple, I will still not be able to activate service on your network anyway. So what benefit is there for me to stay when I can only use my so called "world phone" in the continental US? Where is the logic in this?

I am quite PO'd after spending over $1K pre-ordering 3 Iphones that you failed to make an official annoucement or post anything on your website regarding this ridiculous policy change. I guess the joke is on me especially when I remained a loyal customer and waited for you to get the Iphone all these years!

IntenanionalTraveler wrote:

 

I Just talked to a rep who told me they are still waiting answers from higher up or Apple. He promised to notify me if he gets an answer before Friday.

Let's see what happens.

Thanks, I'll be anxiously watching this thread until Friday so please keep us posted.

@ Sprint (and anyone closely following this thread) I urge you to think about this:

With the release of the unlocked Iphone 4s next month, don't  you think it's in your best interest to unlock the GSM/SIM portion? As  Apple has stated, the unlocked versions will not work on Sprint or  Verizon, so is it worth it to lose your customer base whom you have already locked in for 2 years to have them go contract free to AT&T and T-Mobile? You decide.

From Apple's website:

The  unlocked iPhone works only on supported GSM networks, such as  AT&T  in the U.S. When you travel internationally, you can also use a   micro-SIM card from a local GSM carrier. The unlocked iPhone will not   work with CDMA carriers such as Verizon Wireless or Sprint.

I hope Sprint revises the policy to allow unlocking the Iphone 4S GSM portion upon request. I travel to countries in Latin America where Sprint only offers Voice & Text (but no data) through their GSM partners.. Why would I want an Iphone for only voice/text while travelling?

I will be getting my Iphone 4S on Friday/Saturday and keep it for 1 or 2 weeks until Sprint clears this out... If they decide to keep it GSM locked, I would sadly return the Iphone and go to AT&T where I can get a factory unlocked version.

Quick reminder to all... Sprint Return policy is no longer 30 days... it's 14 days. http://www.sprint.com/landings/returns/

and the saga continues!!! Here's to hoping Sprint does the right thing and not anger or scare away new or existing customers. 

P.S. - Sprint nobody is going to use your international roaming, noone can afford it,  you are much better off making your customers happy and unlocking the SIM for international bands.

Does anyone have emails for any executives or any people high up in sprint that we can point to this thread? Perhaps they are just not aware of the backlash this will cause.

engadget just had the following update

http://www.engadget.com/2011/10/12/sprint-and-verizon-confirm-iphone-4s-micro-sim-unlock-for-intern/

Update:

Our source article was incorrect, and Sprint  has told us that its SIM will not be unlocked, adding that the card will  not even be removable.

Our SIM does not come out of the device - I believe the same is true  of Verizon's iPhone but you would need to confirm that with them.  Customers can sign up for one of our international rate plans and use  this phone all over the world. When traveling internationally, there is a  setting that must be turned on within the device to connect to GSM. The  phone will work with a SIM that is provided within the device out of  the box. International voice and data charges are on a pay-as-you-go  basis and vary based on the country where the customer is using their  phone; a list of rates is available at www.sprint.com/international.

Seriously?? Sim is not even removable????

wow!! And the saga continues. I've never heard of an unremovable SIM. LOL

The real question is why did it take a slew of published articles to get Sprint to make an official statement on this? I think that purposely misleading your customers up to the day of launch is bad, bad business!!