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Arg - Need help - what a predicament!

jonjamesm

jonjamesm

macrumors regular
Original poster
Nov 4, 2008
143
0
I'm being offered an Iphone 3g 16 GB for £160 pounds!

The only problem is that handset is BLOCKED - the seller lost his phone, got the handset blocked, got a new one on insurance and then found his phone.

Its basically an ipod touch, but I want it as a phone.

How easy would it be to get it unblocked?

Answers on a postcard - cuz this is a great deal, no? Or do you all think it sounds dodgy as foooook?
 
I don't think you'll be able to get it unblocked easily - basically it's now the same as a stolen phone in the eyes of the networks. Anyway, it isn't that great a deal - brand new iPhone 3G on £35/mo contract is £159. Even if you want to use it PAYG I'd steer clear, probably a lot more trouble than it's worth.
 
The networks will have no interest in unblocking it as it'd open them up to a very simple fraud using their insurance.
 
I've since been told the handset works fine, like a say its as effective as an ipod touch.

Its just blocked on 02 - as in if I unlock it to orange (which I would need it to be). It'll work. - further thoughts?
 
jonjamesm said:
Its just blocked on 02 - as in if I unlock it to orange (which I would need it to be). It'll work.
Click to expand...

No it won't. If a handset is blocked it's added to a database shared by all the networks, so it won't work on any. If that wasn't the case, people would steal phones, unlock them and sell them for use on another network. The only way to get a blocked phone working again is to reprogram it, which is a criminal offence. Seriously, is it worth it?
 
No, your right - its not worth it... but the guy has just offered me £100 for it to use an ipod touch.

Thats pretty neat though - right?
 
that's still a pretty good deal. If you're not in love w/ o2 and plan to use a different carrier it's a good buy.

What info from the phone do they use to block it on a network?
 
liquidh2o said:
that's still a pretty good deal. If you're not in love w/ o2 and plan to use a different carrier it's a good buy.

What info from the phone do they use to block it on a network?
Click to expand...


Well as stated before, and as I found out today blocking the phone on one network blocks the phone on all networks.

Dunno how they do it, must be something in the handset.

But 100 quid for an ipod touch (even if it is in a 2g housing) - let me know what you think
 
liquidh2o said:
What info from the phone do they use to block it on a network?
Click to expand...

The IMEI number, I'd imagine.

jonjamesm said:
But 100 quid for an ipod touch (even if it is in a 2g housing) - let me know what you think
Click to expand...

If you're happy to use it as a Touch (with the bonus that it has a camera as well, of course) then it's an OK deal. Just remember it won't have any warranty coverage though (at least, I can't see them warrantying a phone that's been reported lost).
 
In order to use it as a Phone you need to change the IMEI, which unfortunately is illegal. Now, depending on whether the insurance is with a different company than o2, your friend might be able to tell o2 that he found his phone and it will be unblocked, but then that opens up a risk that your mate will get done for Insurance Fraud.

£100 for a 16gb iPod touch is a steal tho.
 
You can change the IMEI easily just google it, but it is illegal but so is walking across the street when it's red and we do that all the time.
 
sparkyms said:
did you check where the OP was from and the currency of purchase?

Are you suggesting he send the phone abroad to change his IMEI? Nice..
Click to expand...

No I'm not. Use of a spoofed IMEI is illegal in the EU, regardless of where the change was performed.

It was more just an FYI type thing -- I'm well aware that it's illegal in (what I presume is) the OP's country.
 
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