After reboot always wants to connect to iTunes

I am on vacation and traveling overseas. (Buenos Aires if anyone is interested). I rely on the iPhone and oMaps to get around and back home again.

Was in an internet cafe and tried to connect to the internet but it wasn't working so I thought I'd just give it a restart. On starting up I get the "Connect to iTunes" screen.

In a strange part of town - with no maps - and I don't speak spanish at all! Was not happy...

By fluke I managed to get home and then connected the phone and all happy. Thought I don't want this to happen again - so turned it off to check. Sure enough on reboot - Connect to iTunes.

Even flick to Airplane mode - Connect to iTunes.

This is unacceptable when your phone locks you out completely.

In case it makes any difference here are the details:
iPhone bought outright in Australia and unlocked by Optus from their network.
I normally use a Three sim in the phone - which shows it is unlocked.
Got a Claro SIM in Argentina. It is prepaid.
3GS with latest OS

Any ideas on why this is happening?

Thanks.

Glenn.


The iPhone works great until apples paranoia/greed for cash screws ya at the most inappropriate time!

Not or ever has been jailbroken.

Modem Firmware 05.11.07 if that matters...

Glenn.

Not actually doing a restore. It just has the connect to itunes screen. When I am at home it connects to the WiFi and downloads mail (can see the AirPort logo up the top). So the thing is running - just wants to call home for some reason before it will let me in.

Once connected to iTunes it only takes a few seconds and it is back to normal. Until it restarts that is...

It was bought new. I contact the Telco and asked them to unlock it. And they did. In Australia I don't use the phone with the telco I purchased it from - clearly showing it was unlocked. And if it wasn't unlocked I doubt connecting it to iTunes in Argentina would somehow get it working albeit until a reboot.

Did what I probably should have done first. Restored... Now it is happily restarting without phoning home...