unlocked 3G iPhone in Hongkong for $900

[watergun]

So can I just get this straight :

If I buy an iPhone from Hong Kong and pay the whole contract in order to unlock it, will I be able to bring it back to the UK and use it on O2's network?

Does anyone have such experience?

It will be unlocked right out of the box.

You only need to pay around HK$5600 for the handset + prepayment (which will be rebated to you every month for the next 23months). The cheapest monthly plan including one additional mandatory add-ons service is HK$215 per month. For this plan, 16GB costs HK$3700 + $1700 prepayment. Also, you need to pay in advanced for the first month subscription --> Total ~HK$5600.

There are some documents to present before you can get the iPhone here:
1. HK identity card
2. Proof of HK residential address (electric bill, water bill, phone bill, etc)
3. HK credit card from which your monthly bill be charged to

Alternatively (which is easier and probably cheaper), you can buy from unofficial shops such as shops in Sintat building Mongkok. 16GB is going for ~HK$8000 as of today. 8GB is HK$1000 cheaper.

 

[tom2517]

It will be unlocked right out of the box.

You only need to pay around HK$5600 for the handset + prepayment (which will be rebated to you every month for the next 23months). The cheapest monthly plan including one additional mandatory add-ons service is HK$215 per month. For this plan, 16GB costs HK$3700 + $1700 prepayment. Also, you need to pay in advanced for the first month subscription --> Total ~HK$5600.

There are some documents to present before you can get the iPhone here:
1. HK identity card
2. Proof of HK residential address (electric bill, water bill, phone bill, etc)
3. HK credit card from which your monthly bill be charged to

Alternatively (which is easier and probably cheaper), you can buy from unofficial shops such as shops in Sintat building Mongkok. 16GB is going for ~HK$8000 as of today. 8GB is HK$1000 cheaper.

But be careful, a lot of the HK dealers actually sells US version masked as HK version. They will solder one of those turbo SIM card right into the iPhone and so even though you think you put your card into the phone and the iPhone recognize it as your own carrier's SIM card, but in fact, the iPhone was fooled already.
If you do buy HK version, make sure the box and also the iPhone (Setting>General>About) has the correct country code. HK version is MB489ZP/A
MB496ZP/A
MB500ZP/A

 

[some12b]

Sorry - double post!

 

[some12b]

Firstly, the iPhone will be unlocked when you get it, you don't need to pay off the contract. And secondly, why would you want to pay a fortune for an unlocked phone and then use it on O2?

I travel between the UK and HK frequently, so I want the iPhone to be able to use both networks in UK and HK. It just so happens that I'm with O2 in the UK.

According to what you say, the iPhone is unlocked already; does that mean I can plug in my UK sim straight away?

It will be unlocked right out of the box.

You only need to pay around HK$5600 for the handset + prepayment (which will be rebated to you every month for the next 23months). The cheapest monthly plan including one additional mandatory add-ons service is HK$215 per month. For this plan, 16GB costs HK$3700 + $1700 prepayment. Also, you need to pay in advanced for the first month subscription --> Total ~HK$5600.

There are some documents to present before you can get the iPhone here:
1. HK identity card
2. Proof of HK residential address (electric bill, water bill, phone bill, etc)
3. HK credit card from which your monthly bill be charged to

Alternatively (which is easier and probably cheaper), you can buy from unofficial shops such as shops in Sintat building Mongkok. 16GB is going for ~HK$8000 as of today. 8GB is HK$1000 cheaper.

I prefer buying it from 3HK so I can continue upgrading the firmware (can I do that in UK with a HK iPhone?) without too much hassle.

I guess when I plug in my UK sim, iTunes will automatically configure it for me?



Thanks a lot chaps!