Buy an iPhone in Japan, use in USA Later?

[marc11]

I am in Japan for a couple of years more or less and needed a phone, so I went to SoftBank and purchased an iPhone4. At some point I will return to the USA, I am assuming I can go to AT&T and just buy a plan/sim card for the phone and use it in the US?

 

[Applejuiced]

I am in Japan for a couple of years more or less and needed a phone, so I went to SoftBank and purchased an iPhone4. At some point I will return to the USA, I am assuming I can go to AT&T and just buy a plan/sim card for the phone and use it in the US?

Ask softbank if they can officially unlock the iphone.
If they do you can use it with any sim. If its locked to softbank it wont accept any other carriers sim.

 

[Pilaf424]

No, my brother in the navy had to sell his USA iPhone to be then sent to japan to buy a whole new iPhone, I encourage you not to waste any money. If you have one, sell it and buy a new one in the country you'll be staying in.

 

[marc11]

Thanks. You are right, it is locked to SoftBank and they will not unlock it. No big deal, I am here for two years, by then the 5 or even 6 version will be out, so I will just keep this as an ipod for my kids and buy a new one when I get back to the USA.