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For all us on UK Networks... Help and Advice

If I understand correctly, its the baseband firmware that is the main sticking point to whether a phone will work on a network or not. Apple seem like they'll be keeping to one unified firmware version world wide. So those firmware releases, if they contain a baseband update, will be the same for phones in Europe and the US.

So taking a US iphone and restoring it to firmware 1.1.1 and activating via iTunes with O2 in November should be ok. I've had a look into IMEI numbers and it would seem that O2 would need to actively restrict the devices on their network by IMEI numbers to block the use of imported iPhones?

Please someone clarify :)
 
oelph@blueyonde said:
If I understand correctly, its the baseband firmware that is the main sticking point to whether a phone will work on a network or not. Apple seem like they'll be keeping to one unified firmware version world wide. So those firmware releases, if they contain a baseband update, will be the same for phones in Europe and the US.

So taking a US iphone and restoring it to firmware 1.1.1 and activating via iTunes with O2 in November should be ok. I've had a look into IMEI numbers and it would seem that O2 would need to actively restrict the devices on their network by IMEI numbers to block the use of imported iPhones?

Please someone clarify :)
Click to expand...

Can't see that working either unfortunately, take Blackberry as an example - if you use the Blackberry internet service you login via a page such as www.mobileemail.vodafone.net or o2email.co.uk If your Blackberry is registered as an o2 Blackberry you can't login via the vodafone site or visa versa.

Morale of the story - it's not hard to keep a database on the itunes activation servers of which IMEI's are logged to which carrier be it T-Mobile in Germany, AT&T USA or o2 UK.

Just because it's an iPhone and it's a certain firmware version does not mean it'll work on a network that it wasn't intended to (Although I wish that were different!)

If this 1.1.1 update doesn't update the baseband then the unlocks SHOULD hold. It's if Apple update the modem firmware say to improve power handling etc that the updates will most likely be null and void. Again unless they purposefully close the back doors the unlock uses they could simply be re-applied - we'll have to wait and see.

I can't see how if you update an unlocked iphone and the baseband is updated it'll brick the iphone though as when you flash a new firmware to any chip be it a bios or flash ROM, the first thing you always do is completely wipe whats there and re-write a new ROM image. As with most installs in computing be it O/S's or ROM images - updates are messy, clean installs are always preferable.

Of course this is all speculation and opinion unless we've got a hidden friend in Cupertino who can shed light on it (What are the chances...)
 
Disabling "background" EDGE usage

Project said:
Hmm, just thought of another sticking point for people looking to import and unlock.

We would still have to deal with the always on EDGE issue right? You cant turn off EDGE at the moment - that feature is coming with 1.1.1; but we do not know for sure whether 1.1.1 will work with existing unlocking features.

So if we were to get an iPhone with the current firmware, you would essentially still need an unlimited data package, right? Otherwise if you put a regular O2 SIM in there at £10 per 20MB, you might be incurring some hefty monthly charges.

Does anybody know of a way around this? I cant think of any pay as you go SIM cards that offer a data plan.
Click to expand...

i'm wondering this too... currently on Orange in the UK, who I understand have good EDGE coverage but high data rates. They do offer £5/month for evening/ weekend access (1000mb/month) but is it possible to circumvent the hidden/background data usage (eg mail checking for emails) simply by entering incorrect EDGE settings perhaps? I'd rather pay £6.99/month for Cloud Wi-fi access and not allow the phone to use EDGE/GPRS at all, if that is viable. :confused:

I expect what may happen in the future is that Orange et all begin to intro unlimited data plans to keep up (we hope!)

Thanks
 
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