Can you buy the iPhone 4 in US and use it anywhere?

[carrollf]

Sorry if this has been covered.

I live in Ireland and am travelling to the US on June 27th. Will I be able to buy the iPhone 4 (contract free for $700???) and bring it back to Ireland to use here? Will there be any issues with activation and/or usage here? I presume there are no region restrictions built into it?

 

[LimeyBastard]

Won't the wall charger be different? Aren't you 3 prong like Britain?

 

[siurpeeman]

it might be contract-free, but it's still carrier-locked to at&t.

 

[carrollf]

Good point! never thought that it would still be carrier locked!! No way around this I guess until an unlock gets released??

 

[dieburnbot]

You could wait until July when the iPhones are released in Hong Kong and **** and then import it from there. They won't be carrier locked, but will probably cost a pretty penny.

 

[Cod3rror]

it might be contract-free, but it's still carrier-locked to at&t.

What control freaks Apple are, you pay $700 and they still want to tell you what you can and can't do with it.

 

[TZRaceR6]

What control freaks Apple are, you pay $700 and they still want to tell you what you can and can't do with it.

Traveling from the UK to US and using 02 service, automatically changes to AT&T as soon as I step off the plane. However, I'm still being charged 02 rates. STick to just wifi and you will be good.

Or get a contract with them with bogus info and just leave the country with your phone. What are they gonna do? Nothing. Soo as an unlock code shows up you're golden.

 

[old-wiz]

Or get a contract with them with bogus info and just leave the country with your phone. What are they gonna do? Nothing.

They check IDs when you get a contract. If you try to fool them with bogus info you could get the spooks on your tail.

 

[yg17]

Or get a contract with them with bogus info and just leave the country with your phone. What are they gonna do? Nothing. Soo as an unlock code shows up you're golden.

You won't be able to start a contract without a social security number.

 

[maflynn]

You won't be able to start a contract without a social security number.

And a US based credit card.

 

[Chupa Chupa]

No. The US (ATT) phone is locked. Yes, even if you go "no contract." They only way you would be able to use it in Ireland is to use ATT's Int'l data plan, which would be ridiculous for a native, or to jailbreak and unlock, which is kind of a pain, especially when you need warranty service and need to unjailbreak.

 

[alphaod]

You won't be able to start a contract without a social security number.

You can get a contract without SSN if you are willing to put down a $500-$1000 deposit.