iPhone 3G - newbie queries

[chan2004]

Hi,

I am planning to gift an iphone 3G to my brother.

He currently is in middle east and travels a lot. I plan to buy it in switzerland.

My question is
1) What is this locking and unlocking concept in iphone?
2) won't it work for other sims?
3) is there any common problems faced in iphone

thanks

 

[TonyHoyle]

1. iphones are sold locked to the carrier of the country they're bought in. The exception is countries where this practice is illegal. 3rd party unlocks are available for the 2G iphone to get over this restriction. Non exist (yet) for the 3G iphone.
2. No. see 1.
3. Depends on what you're expecting it to do.