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T-Mobile in the U.K. on Unlocked iPhone

markjewiss said:
Speaking as an ex-T-Mobile UK employee...

When you see the 'E' on your iPhone it means that the phone has detected the network and is able to use it. When you try to use the Internet, it fails because you have the wrong APN information is, as you said. I see that you later said that you'd put the correct APN details for Virgin in... when your phone is on, it won't be downloading data all the time - only when you've got an application running that is using an internet connection. You're charged by the amount of traffic you download, now how long you have a connection to the network for. Just thought I'd try and clear that up in case others got confused from what was said before...

Oh, and yes, Virgin use the TMUK network for all of their services that a customer would see, internal services (such as billing and provisioning) and customer services are provided by Virgin direct...

HTH,

M.
Click to expand...

entirely true, however the iphone continuously checks email etc.. therefore with out unlimited plan you will be using the internet alot, as was the problem with the guy who took his iphone abroad where thre is no unlimited data, he didnt use his internet but still got charged as a result of iphone checking

on a side note o2 suck, its too expensive in the uk im not paing £899 to have a phone for 18 months its ridiculous, ipod touch for me with a new cheap contract as well, not that you care but my two pennys nevertheless
 
AFAIK ALL Uk providers have some limited Edge coverage - even Vodafone but its certainly not everywhere. The best coverage is going to be from Orange then O2 and then Vodafone/T-Mobile are much of a muchness.

I can confirm Vodafone Edge coverage in Hamble (near Southampton) but not in:

Portsmouth
Southampton
Fareham
Reading

etc

The coverage in Hamble was totally regional and not an indication of any form of nationwide coverage.

The best thing to do is to experiment to see if you can get Edge where you need it the most - e.g. at home/at work or both if you are lucky. I live and work in Reading, Berks. O2 and Vodafone have no Edge coverage here but Orange definelty used to (not sure if they still do).

Neil
 
Lots (though not all) phones support Edge - all semi recent Blackberrys I can think of, a load of Motorola phones etc etc. I have a Vodafone Blackberry Pearl, my brother has an old Orange SPV smartphone and my friend has a Motorola on O2 with Edge.

Edge is now really old, so most phone companies dont publish lists of coverage for it anymore. Its really all about trial and error.

CD3660 said:
If this is not a really stupid question, how can you do that if you don't have an iPhone yet?
Click to expand...
 
lordjonny said:
entirely true, however the iphone continuously checks email etc.. therefore with out unlimited plan you will be using the internet alot, as was the problem with the guy who took his iphone abroad where thre is no unlimited data, he didnt use his internet but still got charged as a result of iphone checking
Click to expand...

Yep, that's correct and well pointed out. Based on that previous job I'm used to using a lot of different phones, and used to making them do things that a lot of users wouldn't think of. De-activating things like automated email checking for various reasons would be one of them. I don't know if you can even do that on an iPhone, but the point is most people don't want to do that, they just want the phone to tell them when they have new email.

I guess the main reason I forgot about that is I'm too used to having my employer pay my phone bill! :):)
 
Is that image genuine??

Of the two phones I mean? Cause there is a really exciting thing on the T-Mobile one aside from the Edge thing.... The phone has a little '1' icon on it... meaning visual voicemail is working!

Is this so?
 
markjewiss said:
Yep, that's correct and well pointed out. Based on that previous job I'm used to using a lot of different phones, and used to making them do things that a lot of users wouldn't think of. De-activating things like automated email checking for various reasons would be one of them. I don't know if you can even do that on an iPhone, but the point is most people don't want to do that, they just want the phone to tell them when they have new email.

I guess the main reason I forgot about that is I'm too used to having my employer pay my phone bill! :):)
Click to expand...

You can set Automatic checking to 'Off'... it might be that by default.
 
From: mycarewebform@o2mail.co.uk
Subject: O2 - iPhone (KMM245326xxxxxxxxxxxxx)
Date: 19 September 2007 11:38:29 GMT-04:00
To: nickdale
Reply-To: mycarewebform@o2mail.co.uk

Hello Nick,

Thank you for emailing us to find out if you'll be able to use your existing iPhone (purchased in the USA) on our network.

It isn't possible to use your existing iPhone on our network, as it'll be locked or latched to your existing Service Provider. You'll need an unlatching or unlocking code from your existing Service Provider. Once your phone is unlocked, you'll be able to use it on our network.

You'll need to visit our website using the link www.o2.co.uk/iphone for the most up to date information on iPhone. Our website is being regularly updated with all the information that's currently available. You should be able to find the answers to your query under the 'iPhone' section on our website.

You can also visit the link below for more information about the iPhone launch in the UK:

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

Once again we thank you for your interest in iPhone and O2.

I hope you'll find this information useful. If there's anything else we can do for you, please reply to this email.

You can also visit our online help centre at:

http://www.o2.co.uk/help

Important - When you email us please provide: your date of birth, postcode and mobile number as it helps us answer your query faster.

Kind regards,

----------------------
O2 Customer Service

Getting your query right the first time you email us is very important to us. If your query has not been resolved this time, please reply to this email with the words 'Need More Help' in the subject field and we will deal with your response as a matter of priority.

O2 (UK) Limited, Registered Office: 260 Bath Road, Slough, Berkshire SL1 4DX. Registered in England No 1743099.

Ok so I just got this email from O2! - Do they advocate unlocking? - It seems so!... Im mailing back to see if once unlocked I'll be able to use full O2 features and what tariff i'll need etc.. but it does seem that they don't mind too much about unlocks or indeed tariffs!!!!
Last edited by npdale : Today at 04:59 PM. Reason: Thought it would be prudent to remove the Customer Assistants name and my ref since I am still enquiring :)
 
npdale said:
From: mycarewebform@o2mail.co.uk
Subject: O2 - iPhone (KMM245326xxxxxxxxxxxxx)
Date: 19 September 2007 11:38:29 GMT-04:00
To: nickdale
Reply-To: mycarewebform@o2mail.co.uk

Hello Nick,

Thank you for emailing us to find out if you'll be able to use your existing iPhone (purchased in the USA) on our network.

It isn't possible to use your existing iPhone on our network, as it'll be locked or latched to your existing Service Provider. You'll need an unlatching or unlocking code from your existing Service Provider. Once your phone is unlocked, you'll be able to use it on our network.

You'll need to visit our website using the link www.o2.co.uk/iphone for the most up to date information on iPhone. Our website is being regularly updated with all the information that's currently available. You should be able to find the answers to your query under the 'iPhone' section on our website.

You can also visit the link below for more information about the iPhone launch in the UK:

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

Once again we thank you for your interest in iPhone and O2.

I hope you'll find this information useful. If there's anything else we can do for you, please reply to this email.

You can also visit our online help centre at:

http://www.o2.co.uk/help

Important - When you email us please provide: your date of birth, postcode and mobile number as it helps us answer your query faster.

Kind regards,

----------------------
O2 Customer Service

Getting your query right the first time you email us is very important to us. If your query has not been resolved this time, please reply to this email with the words 'Need More Help' in the subject field and we will deal with your response as a matter of priority.

O2 (UK) Limited, Registered Office: 260 Bath Road, Slough, Berkshire SL1 4DX. Registered in England No 1743099.

Ok so I just got this email from O2! - Do they advocate unlocking? - It seems so!... Im mailing back to see if once unlocked I'll be able to use full O2 features and what tariff i'll need etc.. but it does seem that they don't mind too much about unlocks or indeed tariffs!!!!
Last edited by npdale : Today at 04:59 PM. Reason: Thought it would be prudent to remove the Customer Assistants name and my ref since I am still enquiring :)
Click to expand...

yeah sounds good! keep going, a definate iPhone buyer here if I can use one of their regular SIMs
 
OK sorry i'm coming into this late just been put onto it by a mate.

I have an unlocked iPhone on O2 ( with E showing but no connecting ), that said i only have the wap.02.co.uk settings in there and O2 will NOT give me the EDGE settings and said i have to get them from Apple ( and that's not likely for a while ) .

I have had the phone with a T-Mobile & Vodafone sim in and made calls so it does work, that said i didnt send a text message but i'm not sure how it picks up its SMS settings as i didn't enter anything in the phone to get it working.

The only things i've notice that doesn't work is the voicemail , when i'm on the phone it doesn't go to voicemail. If the phone is off then still no voicemail however if i divert the phone to 901 ( with O2 ) then it works.

Also you'll need to use a key combination To set voicemail button.

Type *5005*86*121# then CALL

Drop me a message if you have any questions. I have 3 more phones arriving on a plane shortly so can some testing, however i'm not going to be messing with my working phone :)

Also note that this is with US firmware 1.02 and NOT 1.1.1
 
I have to say that I'm beginning to wonder whether it is worth going down the import and unlock route.

Perhaps too many uncertainties about what features will work and if so how well, not to mention potential warranty problems and the possibility that Apple might manage to turn it into an expensive paperweight.

Signing up with o2 might seem an expensive option at first sight but I'm a firm believer in the concept of 'false economies' and do try to avoid them. At least I would have consumer rights and peace of mind.
 
CD3660

I'm beginning to come to the same conclusion :(

the import&unlock scenario leaves us without:

visual voicemail
EDGE internet access (potentially no access at all)
and the constant risk of it becoming a brick :(

There are two downsides to going with an 18 month o2 contract that might be non issues, if they are then I might be swaying in that direction:

1) WHEN the 3G iphone 2 comes out in the first 6 months of next year (probable?) will we be able to simply buy the new version and add it to our 18 month contracts? or will buying the new phone 'reset the 18 months?

2) If scenario one is possible WITHOUT having to renew the 18 months would we then be able to sell our 'unlocked' iphones as a sort of ipodtouch (i.e without the phone part)?

Basically as much as I WANT the iphone I know that there will be a better version available at least once during the life of teh 18 month contract so the ability to easily upgrade without extending the contact would be vital.
 
paulinbognor said:
CD3660

I'm beginning to come to the same conclusion :(

the import&unlock scenario leaves us without:

visual voicemail
EDGE internet access (potentially no access at all)
and the constant risk of it becoming a brick :(

There are two downsides to going with an 18 month o2 contract that might be non issues, if they are then I might be swaying in that direction:

1) WHEN the 3G iphone 2 comes out in the first 6 months of next year (probable?) will we be able to simply buy the new version and add it to our 18 month contracts? or will buying the new phone 'reset the 18 months?

2) If scenario one is possible WITHOUT having to renew the 18 months would we then be able to sell our 'unlocked' iphones as a sort of ipodtouch (i.e without the phone part)?

Basically as much as I WANT the iphone I know that there will be a better version available at least once during the life of teh 18 month contract so the ability to easily upgrade without extending the contact would be vital.
Click to expand...

EDGE will work. At present O2 are just keeping the settings close to their chest but when it comes out you'll be able to view the settings on any iphone. I'm off to the Apple store this afternoon to have a look at the phone on display to copy the settings to my phone :)
 
just got an email from t-mobile... apparently they dont support EDGE :S

This goes against all information so far lol
 
will the t-mobile Web & Walk package work with the iPhone ?

might be tempted to go with them rather then o2 for contract
 
i have been following this thread now as i am also intested in tmobile uk, it seems some people have got their wires crossed on this thread, if you are checking the setting in an apple store for edge settings than sureley you are in america? which i would assume doesnt help us with UK?
 
speakerwizard said:
if you are checking the setting in an apple store for edge settings than sureley you are in america?
Click to expand...

No, as I understand it the poster will be checking settings at the Apple store in Regent Street, London, where they have operating demo phones.

However, I assume that his interest is in using an iPhone imported from the U.S. with an ordinary o2 sim, rather than T-Mobile U.K.
 
Guys,

You dont need O2 to give you edge settings. You just need to know the APN for O2 which according to: http://www.mobileshop.org/usertech/gprssettings.htm
is

APN Name: mobile.o2.co.uk
username: mobileweb
password: password

Also please stop getting confused about Edge coverage. ALL the phone providers in the Uk will have small patches of Edge coverage even T-Mobile - oddly enough in Regent St London. T-Mobile will not offer you visual voicemail no matter what anyone says.

For Edge, Orange has the most coverage, then O2 then Vodafone/T-Mobile have some.
 
"No, as I understand it the poster will be checking settings at the Apple store in Regent Street, London, where they have operating demo phones."

oo, i didnt know they had them on display there :)
 
speakerwizard said:
"No, as I understand it the poster will be checking settings at the Apple store in Regent Street, London, where they have operating demo phones."

oo, i didnt know they had them on display there :)
Click to expand...

I had a look for one yesterday they didn't seem to have any on display, but the place was such a zoo I may have missed it.....

ShadoW
 
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