iPhone SIM Lock question

[tallpaul86]

Been looking at an iPhone now for quite a while now however the only barrier for myself is that O2 is the only approved carrier/retailer of the iPhone in the UK (i wouldn't entrust them to make me 2 slices of toast let alone provide my telephony services)

Now T-Mobile being my preferred network provider, i do know that the iPhone is being sold in Germany on the T-Mobile network - instead of going through all the hassle of unlocking and only being able to use half the features (or worst still having to settle for the iPhone 2G :o ) could you not purchase an iPhone locked to T-Mobile Germany through eBay Germany for example? I would've thought with it being locked to T-Mobile already i would've assumed that it would be a simple of case of insert sim card, input a few settings and Robert's your mother's brother

Or is it a bit more complicated than that? Ideally i'd rather save up for the iPhone 3G with the GPS etc built in...

[ieani]

I seek an answer to the same question. I am moving to Germany in a year, so a two year contract here is worthless. However, Tmobile is here and they are the iphone provider in germany so I dont see why I couldnt buy a german one, use it here for a year and then transfer it over within tmobiles system.

[huski]

Same here, I'm considering getting iPhone from O2 but don't want to be with that network. First, I travel rather often and roaming would kill me, second I simply want to have a choice.

[u49aa2]

Been looking at an iPhone now for quite a while now however the only barrier for myself is that O2 is the only approved carrier/retailer of the iPhone in the UK (i wouldn't entrust them to make me 2 slices of toast let alone provide my telephony services)

I would just call T mobile customer services and ask. However i am really surprise that you would prefer T-mobile over O2. I think O2 network is much stronger network than T-mobile (at least in the UK), i mean if i would to rank the networks her, it would be:

1) vodafone
2) O2
3) T-mobile
4)Orange