Any reason *not* to unlock iPhone 3G on O2?

applemax

macrumors 65816

Original poster

• Jan 20, 2010

• #1

I was thinking about unlocking my contract iPhone 3G as O2 offer an official option to do so. There's several months left on my contract - is there any reason not to do this? Does unlocking it with O2 change anything I should know about? Thanks 😀

 

robbieduncan

Moderator emeritus

• Jan 20, 2010

• #2

There is no reason not to. It changes nothing with regards to still using it on O2.

 

fabian9

macrumors 65816

• Jan 20, 2010

• #3

applemax said:

I was thinking about unlocking my contract iPhone 3G as O2 offer an official option to do so. There's several months left on my contract - is there any reason not to do this? Does unlocking it with O2 change anything I should know about? Thanks 😀

Click to expand...

No, there is no reason not to do it.

I have been thinking about why O2 actually offers the unlock, still not really sure since they don't have to by law until after the end of the contract. The best reason I could come up with is that if people unlock and change providers, they'll still have to pay O2 until the contract finishes. This basically means free money for O2 since they won't have any more costs associated with the customer.

Fabian

 

F

freep

macrumors member

• Jan 20, 2010

• #4

I dont know if this is still the case but an official unlock used to disable tethering.

EDIT: see here for more info: http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?threadID=2151255&tstart=0

 

applemax

macrumors 65816

Original poster

• Jan 20, 2010

• #5

freep said:

I dont know if this is still the case but an official unlock used to disable tethering.

EDIT: see here for more info: http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?threadID=2151255&tstart=0

Click to expand...

Interesting... Can anyone confirm this? Because, I actually use tethering 😀

 

F

freep

macrumors member

• Jan 20, 2010

• #6

applemax said:

Interesting... Can anyone confirm this? Because, I actually use tethering 😀

Click to expand...

I have an unlocked iPhone and yes it does remove the tethering option from the menu and I have yet to find a way to get it back. It doesnt bother me too much as I dont pay for tethering but I dont really understand the reasoning behind removing the option from unlocked phones. If you use tethering, I wouldnt get an unlock just yet until Apple decide to allow tethering on unlocked phones.

 

applemax

macrumors 65816

Original poster

• Jan 20, 2010

• #7

freep said:

I have an unlocked iPhone and yes it does remove the tethering option from the menu and I have yet to find a way to get it back. It doesnt bother me too much as I dont pay for tethering but I dont really understand the reasoning behind removing the option from unlocked phones. If you use tethering, I wouldnt get an unlock just yet until Apple decide to allow tethering on unlocked phones.

Click to expand...

OK, did you unlock it officially through O2?

 

F

freep

macrumors member

• Jan 20, 2010

• #8

applemax said:

OK, did you unlock it officially through O2?

Click to expand...

Yes - I was in the same boat as you (unlocking before my contract was up just to keep my options open).

 

W

wenglish

macrumors member

• Jan 21, 2010

• #9

Does AT&T do the 'official' unlock when you have met your 2-year committment?

 

OllyW

Moderator

Staff member

• Jan 21, 2010

• #10

applemax said:

Interesting... Can anyone confirm this? Because, I actually use tethering 😀

Click to expand...

I've still got the 'Set Up Internet Tethering' option on mine. 😕

wenglish said:

Does AT&T do the 'official' unlock when you have met your 2-year committment?

Click to expand...

No.