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O2 won't let me transfer my AT&T iPhone to their network

Peel

Peel

macrumors 6502a
Original poster
Aug 30, 2004
579
89
Seattle
I will be moving from the States to London after the first of the year, and sent an inquiry to O2 yesterday asking them for the proceedure for ending my AT&T contract and establishing a new contract with O2 using my current iPhone. Here is the reply I received.
O2 Customer Service Rep said:
Thanks for emailing us to find how you can transfer your AT&T iPhone number to the O2 network.

To transfer your AT&T iPhone number to our network, you'll need a Port Authorisation Code (PAC).

You need to get in touch with the AT&T iPhone customer support team to get your PAC code.

When you receive your PAC, you also need to purchase another iPhone on our network. To purchase an iPhone, you'll need to take out a new 18 months contract with the iPhone.

You can purchase an iPhone for #269.00 from any of the options listed below:

1. Apple store or Apple website
2. O2 store or O2 website
3. Carphone Warehouse or Carphone Website.

For more information on this, please click on the link given below:

http://www.apple.com/uk/iphone/buy/

Please note you cannot purchase an iPhone using a Visa Electron card.

After you've got your PAC code and have purchased your iPhone, please reply to this email with the following information:

1) PAC code
2) existing mobile number
3) your temporary iPhone mobile number (this starts with a 0751).

When we receive this information, we'll forward your details to our dedicated iPhone activation team.

It'll take up to five working days for the your existing mobile number to be transferred to your O2 account on iPhone.

Meanwhile, you can use your temporary iPhone mobile number to make and receive calls until the above mentioned transfer is completed. You'll receive a text message and an email confirmation when your mobile number is transferred.
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Making me buy a new iPhone when my existing one is in perfect shape is utterly mad. Does anyone know if there is a physical/functional difference that would preclude me existing iPhone from being transferred to the O2 network?
 
Peel said:
I will be moving from the States to London after the first of the year, and sent an inquiry to O2 yesterday asking them for the proceedure for ending my AT&T contract and establishing a new contract with O2 using my current iPhone. Here is the reply I received.

Making me buy a new iPhone when my existing one is in perfect shape is utterly mad. Does anyone know if there is a physical/functional difference that would preclude me existing iPhone from being transferred to the O2 network?
Click to expand...
I doubt that there is any physical difference at all but your iPhone is locked to AT&T whereas the British ones are locked to O2.
 
CD3660 said:
I doubt that there is any physical difference at all but your iPhone is locked to AT&T whereas the British ones are locked to O2.
Click to expand...

But surely AT&T could send the appropriate code to O2. Or if AT&T de-authorized the iPhone, then O2 should be able to deal with it like it was a new unauthorized iPhone.
 
Peel said:
But surely AT&T could send the appropriate code to O2. Or if AT&T de-authorized the iPhone, then O2 should be able to deal with it like it was a new unauthorized iPhone.
Click to expand...

This is the very sucky part about contracts. AT&T will probably not only not let you transfer the phone to their network, but will charge you an early termination fee as well. Everyone wants your money, and situations like this is how they get more of it. I hope they end up being nice about it, but I wouldn't get my hopes up too much.
 
Peel said:
But surely AT&T could send the appropriate code to O2. Or if AT&T de-authorized the iPhone, then O2 should be able to deal with it like it was a new unauthorized iPhone.
Click to expand...

I would get on the phone and deal directly with AT&T first. You probably will find yourself in better hands if you're discussing with people on the phone rather than e-mail that way any questions that may arise, such as the dense notion that you have to buy a second phone, can be asked and answered.
 
adrianblaine said:
This is the very sucky part about contracts. AT&T will probably not only not let you transfer the phone to their network, but will charge you an early termination fee as well. Everyone wants your money, and situations like this is how they get more of it. I hope they end up being nice about it, but I wouldn't get my hopes up too much.
Click to expand...

Actually when I talked to AT&T they seemed very reasonable. Because I'm moving outside of their coverage area (they do ask for proof of the move) they will end my contract without a fee, and in doing so they said that the iPhone would be de-authorized. So it seems to be only O2 that isn't being nice.
 
Peel said:
Actually when I talked to AT&T they seemed very reasonable. Because I'm moving outside of their coverage area (they do ask for proof of the move) they will end my contract without a fee, and in doing so they said that the iPhone would be de-authorized. So it seems to be only O2 that isn't being nice.
Click to expand...

Well that's a very good start at least. I'm sure if you do this long enough and end up talking to just the right person it will work out ok.
 
Peel said:
Actually when I talked to AT&T they seemed very reasonable. Because I'm moving outside of their coverage area (they do ask for proof of the move) they will end my contract without a fee, and in doing so they said that the iPhone would be de-authorized.
Click to expand...
That's very understanding of them but I would be suprised if you get a similar approach from O2. They are more likely to be inflexible and avaricious, wanting more of your money for a new iPhone. You could always unlock it, at least possibly to the point that you could use it with a non-iPhone O2 sim card:

http://www.iphoneunlockuk.com/
 
No promises that this will work BUT as I understand it IF your iPhone is on firmware 1.1.2 which is the latest update... Then IT will work with an O2 SIM.

My understanding from reading the technical stuff on other sites is that the latest firmware unlocks the iPhone for SIM cards from iPhone networks in countries where it is available, ie O2, T-mobile, Orange - the phone will accept regional SIMs from those countries.

Of course you will have to activate it in iTunes and sign up for a new contract but in theory your iPhone should still work. Of course you need to get a contract O2 SIM that has not been used which may be hard!
 
The US iphone only has a FCC certification logo, it does not have a EU logo.

AT&T doesn't have to unlock your iphone. O2 doesn't have the unlocking codes because they didn't sell you your US iphone. Apple doesn't care.
 
Welcome to Apple's new Cell Phone World.

The AT&T iPhone is only for AT&T. The O2 iPhone is only for O2.

Legally, you will need to reset and sell your iPhone here. Move to the UK, prove to AT&T the move to release your contract, then, by an O2 Phone.
 
Wondering what purpose the PAC code you quote serves?

If they don't let you use the existing phone, why authorize a port?

I'm practically in the same situation, moving to London from NYC at the end of January. Haven't talked to either AT&T or O2 yet.
 
You could also consider emailing the heads of AT&T or O2. I think the most you'd get out of anyone is a no fee out of your contract though. If you could get that though you could sell your U.S. phone and buy the UK one.

Also remember I'm sure in the UK, like here, you could get yourself a free O2 phone (whatever they give away there) to sell or something, and then replace it with a new O2 iphone.
 
Slightly on the same theme but a little advice. Your hardest thing in moving to the UK will be passing the credit check.

The US and UK credit agencies don't talk to each other and you will be completely unknown in the UK when you arrive (in terms of credit history).

My experience is that you will find it very difficult to get any mobile phone contracts or credit cards etc. I moved back from the US 2 years ago and had a lot of problems re-activating my dormant credit file. It took a good 6 months before I could get a mobile phone.

You might find the best thing to do would be to jailbreak your existing iPhone and get a Pay as you go sim over here.

Sorry to be negative on your move over. I have moved internationally a number of times and know that there are a few hurdles to overcome the biggest one being the credit checks. Its a fantastic opportunity to move internationally and you won't regret it.
 
samab said:
The US iphone only has a FCC certification logo, it does not have a EU logo.
Click to expand...
Fortunately, the FCC, CE, CRTC, etc compliance statements and logos are mandatory for a product to be sold, not to be used. You could even potentially build your own handmade cell phone in your garage, and as long as you take care to ensure it conforms with relevant standards, you'd be able to use it without landing yourself in any trouble at all.

However, if it can be demonstrated that any electronic device is causing harmful interference to other equipment, then it can be confiscated and you (the end-user) my face a fine or other punishment, regardless of whether or not it happens to carry any particular regulator's logos.

AT&T doesn't have to unlock your iphone. O2 doesn't have the unlocking codes because they didn't sell you your US iphone. Apple doesn't care.
Click to expand...
Alas, very true. You're in the unfortunate position that you are totally at the mercy of the service providers' whims to decide on their own how (or whether or not) to cater to your situation. A little civilized telephone negotiations never hurt anybody's chances though.
 
CD3660 said:
No, they've been wise to this trick for a while now. If you do it this way round it will cost you a couple of hundred pounds to change to an iPhone contract.
Click to expand...

Interesting. AT&T still lets us do it here. After all, you're suppose to be able to upgrade to iPhone, whenever you want.
 
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