iphone 3G in Hong Kong really network unlocked?

[msantoso]

read somewhere in tuaw that iphone 3G in Hong Kong, Italy and one more country available totally network unlocked, but will a firmware upgrade lock it? anyone using it yet?

maybe later might be possible to create ipsw dump file from this unlocked phone for use w/ locked phone?

i really like some apps like the remote app, facebook, bloomberg, just purchased enigmo yesterday, boxoffice w/ location support, ebay, and the coming wordpress app is going to make this phone even better. oh and vnc is now available too.

[ubersalad]

read somewhere in tuaw that iphone 3G in Hong Kong, Italy and one more country available totally network unlocked, but will a firmware upgrade lock it? anyone using it yet?

maybe later might be possible to create ipsw dump file from this unlocked phone for use w/ locked phone?

i really like some apps like the remote app, facebook, bloomberg, just purchased enigmo yesterday, boxoffice w/ location support, ebay, and the coming wordpress app is going to make this phone even better. oh and vnc is now available too.
Apple has a list of countries that are not required to have locked phones.

[adamerr]

Apple has a list of countries that are not required to have locked phones.

source/ link to list?

[ubersalad]

source/ link to list?
http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1937

[coolb0yalex]

i'm incredibly upset apple won't unlock US iPhones. I mean, cmon. we need to travel!

[sye46]

i'm incredibly upset apple won't unlock US iPhones. I mean, cmon. we need to travel!

what does this have to do with Apple? it has everything to do with AT&T.

[myrsky]

It has to plenty to do with Apple.

[watergun]

Here is a screenshot from my iPhone on HK Smartone-Vodafone network, instead of 3HK which is the only authorized HK operator currently. I have managed to update from 345 to 347 firmware without any problems lock-wise. I can still use Smartone sim card.

I personally never tried using sim card from other countries but there are many people from China and Macau buying iPhones 3G from HK. I think this indicates that HK iPhones 3G is really unlocked.

[msantoso]

i saw in apple document (given in this thread) that in HK there's 2 providers selling iphone 3g, that is 3 and Vodafone.

when you upgrade from 345 to 347, does it need activation? or it's activated? how do you do the upgrade? direct from iTunes Update button?

some HK site says that it still needs to subscribe to 2 years contract to buy the unlocked phone

[ubersalad]

Here is a screenshot from my iPhone on HK Smartone-Vodafone network, instead of 3HK which is the only authorized HK operator currently. I have managed to update from 345 to 347 firmware without any problems lock-wise. I can still use Smartone sim card.

I personally never tried using sim card from other countries but there are many people from China and Macau buying iPhones 3G from HK. I think this indicates that HK iPhones 3G is really unlocked.
There was a thread somewhere that these phones are locked by country. So you can't actually use sim cards from other countries. How? I don't know.

[msantoso]

the statement below is taken from iphone.three.com.hk FAQ Section

Will standalone iPhone 3G handset be available for sale?

No. The iPhone 3G needs to go with a series of data-centric tariff plan in order to perform its best. 3 Hong Kong has tailor-made a series of data tariff plans, coupled with unique contents and applications, allowing 3G users to fully indulge in the mobile Internet world.

[i0dium]

There was a thread somewhere that these phones are locked by country. So you can't actually use sim cards from other countries. How? I don't know.

Has anyone been able to confirm this? Are Hong Kong iPhones country locked or not?

[watergun]

Has anyone been able to confirm this? Are Hong Kong iPhones country locked or not?

Altho I've never used any other countries' simcards, I did See some iPhone users in Macau and China so...

[kamiboy]

The strange thing about Apples official list is that it list the belgium Mobistar iPhone as operator locked while people have confirmed that it indeed is not and works on networks outside of the country.

Puzzling.

Also, I think some form of hardware difference makes the unlocked iPhones unlocked. How else would they know if they should be unlocked when they are firmware restored?

[kanon14]

The iPhone 3G in Hong Kong should be unlocked. It works with 2 different carriers' sim cards I tried. I'll be visiting Canada next week so I'll definitely test out Rogers/Fido sim card too. I'll let you know by then

[zainjetha]

hardware differences? i think this is highly unlikely? maybe by serial number or IMEI.. or so..

[kamiboy]

hardware differences? i think this is highly unlikely? maybe by serial number or IMEI.. or so..

That is what I mean, I think the hardware difference is the part number. Each country has its own group of part numbers. You can look them up here.

http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1937

But the list either has some confirmed errors or Apple is just straight face lying about some of the facts.

I think maybe iTunes looks at your iPhones, part number, IMEI, whatever unique hardware unchangeable marker of an unactivated iPhone hooked up to it and then maybe takes the correct action, such as unlocking and activating the so called unlocked ones.

[mkoesel]

That is what I mean, I think the hardware difference is the part number. Each country has its own group of part numbers. You can look them up here.

http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1937

But the list either has some confirmed errors or Apple is just straight face lying about some of the facts.

I think maybe iTunes looks at your iPhones, part number, IMEI, whatever unique hardware unchangeable marker of an unactivated iPhone hooked up to it and then maybe takes the correct action, such as unlocking and activating the so called unlocked ones.

This makes much sense. I agree with your conclusion.

I had been wondering about this myself. It seems like a reasonable approach to unlocking a US (or other locked) iPhone would be to find a way to cease control of the communications between the iPhone and iTunes and fake the part number/IMEI/whatever. I have no idea what that would entail, but it would give you the huge advantage of not having to jailbreak the phone and not having some hacked software or hacked SIM piggyback. In effect it would be a completely legit iPhone that iTunes thought was from a different country.

[kamiboy]

This makes much sense. I agree with your conclusion.

I had been wondering about this myself. It seems like a reasonable approach to unlocking a US (or other locked) iPhone would be to find a way to cease control of the communications between the iPhone and iTunes and fake the part number/IMEI/whatever. I have no idea what that would entail, but it would give you the huge advantage of not having to jailbreak the phone and not having some hacked software or hacked SIM piggyback. In effect it would be a completely legit iPhone that iTunes thought was from a different country.

Yes, ever since I found out about legit unlocked iPhone back at the 1st gen iPhone I thought that it would be just a matter of time before the so called hackers would be able to copy the legit unlock process and would put an end to all the ugly software modification hacks. But here we are months later and nothing, some people just don't care about jail breaking their iPhone and all they want is a simple unlock and activation without any ugly hacks, but the hacker community has ignored that.

[ubersalad]

Yes, ever since I found out about legit unlocked iPhone back at the 1st gen iPhone I thought that it would be just a matter of time before the so called hackers would be able to copy the legit unlock process and would put an end to all the ugly software modification hacks. But here we are months later and nothing, some people just don't care about jail breaking their iPhone and all they want is a simple unlock and activation without any ugly hacks, but the hacker community has ignored that.
I am sure if unlocking the phone is as easy as a text message from your carrier, these groups won't bother with releasing their own custom firmware.

[zainjetha]

Yeah I wish my iPhone didnt have to be jailbroken to be unlocked.. It's actually crazy...

[kamiboy]

To hell with the hackers soon i'll be getting a legit unlocked 3G and will never look back.

[cruxed]

The iPhone 3G in Hong Kong should be unlocked. It works with 2 different carriers' sim cards I tried. I'll be visiting Canada next week so I'll definitely test out Rogers/Fido sim card too. I'll let you know by then

hey kanon, let us know if the SIM card from another country works for you :)
Thanks!

[scottdk]

I'm going to get an unlocked iPhone 3G from HK. so 2 Questions.
1. did your HK phone work in Canada with a Canadian SIM?
2. when it's "Activated", it's not then locked to that Network is it? You can freely switch Networks SIM cards?
3. Is activation required again when you switch carrier's SIM cards?

OK 3, make that 3 questions...

I like to get prepaid Sim cards when I travel. And reactivation might not be possible in remote areas of Laos, for example. (Tango Lao had free international SMS messaging and very cheap international calls when I was there 2 years ago. All for just a $5 prepaid sim, including $5 worth of calls - almost an hour of international calls. Amazing deal)

Thanks
Scott

[isianto]

I'm going to get an unlocked iPhone 3G from HK. so 2 Questions.
1. did your HK phone work in Canada with a Canadian SIM?
2. when it's "Activated", it's not then locked to that Network is it? You can freely switch Networks SIM cards?
3. Is activation required again when you switch carrier's SIM cards?

OK 3, make that 3 questions...

I like to get prepaid Sim cards when I travel. And reactivation might not be possible in remote areas of Laos, for example. (Tango Lao had free international SMS messaging and very cheap international calls when I was there 2 years ago. All for just a $5 prepaid sim, including $5 worth of calls - almost an hour of international calls. Amazing deal)

Thanks
Scott
1. I think so
2. yes, I use Indonesian sim card for the iphone that I got from hongkong
3. The activation is only plugging in to the itunes (at least for me when I put Indonesian sim card)
and for sure I can upgrade the firmware and still use the Indonesian sim card withouth unlocking it

[stil]

Once the iPhone is activated, you can just switch sim cards anytime. I have a HK iPhone in China. Updating firmware is no problem.

http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a197/Bissessar/photo.jpg

[Theaser]

It has to plenty to do with Apple.

First, for them to sign that stupid exclusivity deal with ATT

[dave006]

I'm going to get an unlocked iPhone 3G from HK. so 2 Questions.
1. did your HK phone work in Canada with a Canadian SIM?
2. when it's "Activated", it's not then locked to that Network is it? You can freely switch Networks SIM cards?
3. Is activation required again when you switch carrier's SIM cards?

OK 3, make that 3 questions...

I like to get prepaid Sim cards when I travel. And reactivation might not be possible in remote areas of Laos, for example. (Tango Lao had free international SMS messaging and very cheap international calls when I was there 2 years ago. All for just a $5 prepaid sim, including $5 worth of calls - almost an hour of international calls. Amazing deal)

Thanks
Scott

1. I think so
2. yes, I use Indonesian sim card for the iphone that I got from hongkong
3. The activation is only plugging in to the itunes (at least for me when I put Indonesian sim card)
and for sure I can upgrade the firmware and still use the Indonesian sim card withouth unlocking itFirst, if it is Unlocked, than any current valid GSM SIM should work, there is not need to do anything special for a prepaid SIM other then a possible change in settings for data usage.

Everyone, please note that activation step requires iTunes to make an internet connect to the iTunes server to validate IMEI of the phone. In the case of a true "Factory Unlocked" iPhone 3G this is as simple as checking that the IMEI is registered in the DB.

Dave

[Dreamer2go]

Yes
Hong Kong iphones are really network unlocked.

I'm from HK, in the US at the moment for college.
I bought the iphone in HK apple store...shipped to my HK home, then my parents shipped it to US for me.

I am using AT&T's SIM card at the moment, but I was in HK for the winter holidays. I just popped in my CSL SIM card...it took a while to read it, but I can guarantee you it works like a charm.

[aseem01]

Hi, I will be in HK for about 5 hours due to transit from one flight from another. Will it be possible for me to buy an unlocked iPhone 3GS or an unlocked iPhone 4? If yes, can somebody help me, from where exactly in HK can I get one? I don't have an address in HK, so I can't order online.

[ekk20]

Only the phones purchased from Smartone and Three will be locked?


What if I buy it from a reseller like Broadway/Fortress?

[matthewyip]

Only the phones purchased from Smartone and Three will be locked?
No. They are all officially UNLOCKED. No matter purchased with contract or without contract.

What if I buy it from a reseller like Broadway/Fortress?
All iPhones sold by Apple authorized resellers and official carriers in Hong Kong are all officially unlocked.

[aseem01]

[QUOTE=matthewyip;10602786]No. They are all officially UNLOCKED. No matter purchased with contract or without contract.

Good.. so it is possible to buy unlocked iphones from HK without any contract... right.??

[ugokutana]

Good.. so it is possible to buy unlocked iphones from HK without any contract... right.??

Yes. BUT, as far as I know, when you buy your iPhone, you have to present them document certifying you are living in HK.

[ekk20]

No. They are all officially UNLOCKED. No matter purchased with contract or without contract.


All iPhones sold by Apple authorized resellers and official carriers in Hong Kong are all officially unlocked.

<33

I'll consider the contract then. It's much like financing the phone. I'll still have to calculate prices though.

[chiefroastbeef]

Like others are saying, all iphones sold at authorized retail outlets are unlocked including service providers. My family have bought iphones from both 3 and Broadway and they all came unlocked ready to use.

KEEP THIS IN MIND: If you bring the HK iPhone back to your home country and need repair, your home country can tell you to send the iPhone back HK for repair. That is what happened to my friend in Knoxville who bought his iPhone at the HK airport, he needed service on it because of a battery issue. Luckily I am in Hong Kong, took it in, and they replaced the iPhone with a new one.

[chiefroastbeef]

Hi, I will be in HK for about 5 hours due to transit from one flight from another. Will it be possible for me to buy an unlocked iPhone 3GS or an unlocked iPhone 4? If yes, can somebody help me, from where exactly in HK can I get one? I don't have an address in HK, so I can't order online.

You can probably buy an iPhone 3gs right at the airport. iPhone 4 isn't out yet in HK, the rumor is on July 30th, but the service providers (3, Smartone Vodafone, CSL) hasn't released any news as of yet I do not think (currently in the US, so I am not up to date).