"US GSM/VZW N61/N56 Service Policy": what is it and how to unlock it?

When we talk about blocking an iPhone on a particular operator, users are well aware of what they are dealing with and how to solve the problem. But when the problem lies in the regional blocking, there are more questions than answers: there is no operator to which you can directly apply for the unlock, and Apple's support answers that this is not their competence. How to be?

First, let's look at the question - what does "regional blocking" mean and what results of IMEI checks for the iPhone allow us to use this term? Regional blocking means the binding of the phone to a specific region / country where the operation of this device is supported. These phones are not tied to a particular operator and can accept all SIM cards within the boundaries of their region. The problem occurs when the owner leaves the region (traveling on the World) or sells the device to another country. It is noteworthy that the user is often unaware of the problem until suddenly does not face it. If you will buy a device with a regional lock, your GSX report results from the Apple database can look like this:

• Next Tether Policy ID: 2320 Next Tether Activation Policy Description: US GSM/VZW N61/N56 Service Policy
• Next Tether Policy ID: 51  Next Tether Activation Policy Description: US GSM Country Default Policy
• Next Tether Policy ID:52  Next Tether Activation Policy Description: US GSM Service Policy

All these results mean one thing - the iPhone / iPad works inside the country, but is blocked at the international level. After we sorted out the question - "what is this lock", let's consider how to remove it. There are two services:

1. USA GSM iPhone [for policy: US GSM Country Default Policy or US GSM Service Policy]
2. USA GSM / VZW iPhone [for policy: US GSM / VZW N61 / N56 Service Policy]

Both services work with a chance of 50-85% for success for any models and in the specified time can solve the problem.

Trying to solve the issue yourself (and free of charge) is possible only in the case of the iPhone 6 / 6S models on which the "Replacement" was made. It's about phones that stand in the status of "unlocked" with the specified date of the unlock, but which continue to display the message: "Sim Not Valid". Example of the result of the check:

Serial Number: C5ХХХХХХХХХХХХХInitial Activation Policy ID: 2354 MEID: Activation Policy Description: US Loaner and Service NPI 2014 Picker policy IMEI: **** Applied Activation Policy ID: 2320 Part Description: iPhone 6s Plus Applied Activation Policy Description: US GSM/VZW N61/N56 Service Policy Product Version: 9.2.1 Next Tether Policy ID: 2320 Last Restore Date: Next Tether Activation Policy Description: US GSM/VZW N61/N56 Service Policy Bluetooth MAC Address: First Unbrick Date: 09/30/15 MAC Address: DC2B2A972C09 ICCID: 82014463277958ХХХХХХLast Unbrick Date: Unbricked: Unlocked: true Unlock Date: 09/30/15

The problem with the phones iPhone 6 / 6S, which is actively shared in the community of Apple, is due to a system failure in the Apple database: there is no synchronization between the Verizon Wireless databases and Apple servers. After replacing the board for these model devices, an incorrect activation policy was assigned. And now when you try to check the IMEI number for the Apple server, an error always comes back. Such phones will work with other US operators, but they will not be able to work with SIM cards of operators of other countries, which is extremely inconvenient if you were going to travel with your favorite phone, rather than buying a new one on the occasion of a trip. Or if you decide to sell the SIM Free iPhone 6 / 6S model from the US.

Unfortunately in Apple, not all support staff are aware of this issue. Very often they give "advice" to apply for an unlock to the "operator", although this answer is at least absurd, since the device is unlocked and there was no binding to the operator initially. You will need special perseverance in communicating with an Apple consultant. You will need to do the following:

1. Inform the adviser that the phone is not blocked (in accordance with FCC recommendations) and that the phone does not have a contract with any operator. 
2. Ask for a second level technical support specialist or a senior level consultant who is authorized to send a request to Apple's engineers to correct the problem for their part.
3. Provide a document confirming the fact of the replacement. You must at least have information about the order number. According to this data, the employee will be able to verify that the replaced phone has the same activation policy as the original one. It will be good if you have a receipt for this phone before the replacement was made.
4. Wait for the result