International Use of iPhone

[iYorkies]

Hello,

I travel a fair bit between 2-3 countries and have a local plan for each carrier. If I pick up a carrier unlocked iPhone from one of the carriers, can I safely use it in the other countries (when i swap the sim card) without it being re-locked?

I would also like to be able to perform firmware updates. Will iTunes recognize my phone as a carrier unlocked phone by IMEI?

Thanks so much!

 

[McGiord]

As far as I remember if you buy it in France, you are stuck with the French carriers only. If you mention which countries are, more people might be able to give you better answers.
I unlocked my original iPhone in the past and it worked fine, but I'm not sure about the official unlocked ones.

 

[fedup flyer]

As far as I remember if you buy it in France, you are stuck with the French carriers only.

Nope, I had a conversation with an Orange Rep a few months back. You can buy an iPhone from them but it cost an additional 100 Euros to have it unlocked.

 

[paulcdb]

complete list of countries that sell unlocked iphones are...

Belgium
Czech Republic
Greece
Hong Kong
Italy
Luxembourg
Macau
Malaysia
New Zealand
Russia
Saudi Arabia
Slovakia
South Africa
Thailand
Turkey
United Arab Emirates

Yes, i've been bored

 

[iYorkies]

As far as I remember if you buy it in France, you are stuck with the French carriers only. If you mention which countries are, more people might be able to give you better answers.
I unlocked my original iPhone in the past and it worked fine, but I'm not sure about the official unlocked ones.

Good point. It'll either be Malaysia or Singapore.

 

[McGiord]

Nope, I had a conversation with an Orange Rep a few months back. You can buy an iPhone from them but it cost an additional 100 Euros to have it unlocked.

I not writing that you cannot buy it unlocked, you can buy it unlocked.
What I'm trying to express is that it would work with any French carrier but not work with other countries' carriers.

I am not in France, so I cannot confirm this.

 

[molala]

Good point. It'll either be Malaysia or Singapore.

Singapore sells unlocked phones (by law). You can get it from SingTel. That's where mine is from and I use it in the UK.

 

[ubercool]

complete list of countries that sell unlocked iphones are...

Belgium
Czech Republic
Greece
Hong Kong
Italy
Luxembourg
Macau
Malaysia
New Zealand
Russia
Saudi Arabia
Slovakia
South Africa
Thailand
Turkey
United Arab Emirates

Yes, i've been bored

Not bored enough, I hear that Singapore also sells them unlocked.

 

[iYorkies]

Singapore sells unlocked phones (by law). You can get it from SingTel. That's where mine is from and I use it in the UK.

Excellent. Thanks for the information.

 

[fedup flyer]

I not writing that you cannot buy it unlocked, you can buy it unlocked.
What I'm trying to express is that it would work with any French carrier but not work with other countries' carriers.

I am not in France, so I cannot confirm this.

That is the whole point of buying an factory unlocked phone...so you can use it on other carriers in different countries.