I know the difference between unlocked and not unlocked very well thanks! lol
Quite obviously you don't, otherwise you would realise that to use a U.S. iPhone (which comes locked to AT&T) on O2 is not possible without it being unlocked, and at the moment no unlocking method exists for 1.1.2. short of spending quite a lot on a TurboSim (which would defeat the object of saving a little money by sourcing the iPhone in the U.S.A.).
It is irresponsible of you to give advice which is plainly wrong and could result in someone like the original poster importing a phone which turns out to be unusable. After all it is him and others like him, not you who would have to suffer the consequences and financial loss,
May I remind you that it was you who made the following erroneous statement in post no. 3 of this thread:
It appears the 1.1.2 update unlocks the phone for any SIM that has the iPhone available in that country officially (O2 in UK, T-Mobile in Ger, Orange in Fra)...
It does nothing of the sort! I have done extensive research on this topic, and last week managed to jailbreak and activate a brand new 1.1.2 U.K. iPhone to work on a non-iPhone O2 sim. I used the following knowledgeable guide which I suggest you read:
http://hackint0sh.org/forum/showthread.php?t=15849
If you can be bothered to read it and the very long thread that follows it, you will see that it confirms what I say:
1. You cannot unlock a 1.1.2 iPhone.
2. The best you can do is to jailbreak and activate it to work with any sim card from
the carrier to which it is locked.
3. Therefore, a U.S. iPhone can be made to work with any AT&T sim, a U.K. iPhone with any O2 sim, a German iPhone with any T-Mobile sim etc etc. It is not a mix and match situation.
Thake a look at the FAQ on the first page of the guide if you want further confirmation:
F.A.Q:
Q) Can this tutorial work on German iPhones / US iPhones?
A) Yes it does.
Q) My iPhone won't work with <insert name> simcard! Whats going on?!
A) If you can read, this guide does not tell you how to UNLOCK your iPhone. It allows you to jailbreak & pass activation. Therefore, a UK iPhone running 1.1.2 will only work on O2 simcards, a DE iPhone running 1.1.2 will only work on T-Mobile, and so on...
Please be sure of your facts before posting misleading information.