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Unlocked Italian phone in UK (Photos!)
- Thread starter spinstorm
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and your point?
Unlocked phones have a habit of working on their hardwares network no matter the carrier.
eg my unlocked iPhone 2g works fine on T-Mobile AT&T/Cingular in the USofA and O2 Vodaphone DT in the EU.
and your point?
Unlocked phones have a habit of working on their hardwares network no matter the carrier.
eg my unlocked iPhone 2g works fine on T-Mobile AT&T/Cingular in the USofA and O2 Vodaphone DT in the EU.
His point is the 3G iPhone isn't meant to be unlockable yet.
That shows the real reason Apple didn't go with Vodafone in the UK, there isn't room to fit their name on.
I'm glad to see confirmation that it can be done. Esp as I'm off to Italy later in the year.
Now I just need to know how you got it.
Many thanks.
Also, I wonder if you'll keep the unlock following a software update from Apple.
Now I just need to know how you got it.
Many thanks.
Also, I wonder if you'll keep the unlock following a software update from Apple.
I should be making a stop in Italy at some point this year, hope to pick up a factory unlocked 3G iPhone as I'd like to be able to upgrade to new versions of the firmware without worrying about 'bricking' like I do with my current iPhone.
I got it off eBay but at a large premium - we are talking £650 for an 8GB iPhone unlocked!
Obviously you take a risk getting it off ebay but the guy I got it from had good feedback so I took the chance!
As for activation - all you have to do is put ANY SIM in the phone and iTunes will activate the phone.
You do NOT need an italian SIM to activate it.
However if you were to buy it in italy you would have to buy a pay as you go SIM and give the phone shop your name and contact information because italian law requires anyone who buys a phone there to register it to themselves.
Obviously you take a risk getting it off ebay but the guy I got it from had good feedback so I took the chance!
As for activation - all you have to do is put ANY SIM in the phone and iTunes will activate the phone.
You do NOT need an italian SIM to activate it.
However if you were to buy it in italy you would have to buy a pay as you go SIM and give the phone shop your name and contact information because italian law requires anyone who buys a phone there to register it to themselves.
You make it sound so easy.
I'm surprised there aren't more on eBay.
I'm holding out for white one though.
Then again rumour has it that my network of choice (and employer) will be selling the iPhone later this year. But that's for another thread.
Congrats on getting one though. I am jealous.
I'm surprised there aren't more on eBay.
I'm holding out for white one though.
Then again rumour has it that my network of choice (and employer) will be selling the iPhone later this year. But that's for another thread.
Congrats on getting one though. I am jealous.
@ spinstorm
I think you have answered this but I just want to be sure. Is it possible when getting a factory unlocked iphone from abroad that it can be activated via itunes in the UK. I am considering getting my relatives in New Zealand to purchase an iphone on my behalf as they are due to visit the UK soon.
It would simply be too much hassle for them to download itunes and activate it in NZ and I would also want to make sure that the handset is not relocked when updating firmware via iTunes.
Hope you can help,
Thanks.
I think you have answered this but I just want to be sure. Is it possible when getting a factory unlocked iphone from abroad that it can be activated via itunes in the UK. I am considering getting my relatives in New Zealand to purchase an iphone on my behalf as they are due to visit the UK soon.
It would simply be too much hassle for them to download itunes and activate it in NZ and I would also want to make sure that the handset is not relocked when updating firmware via iTunes.
Hope you can help,
Thanks.
http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1937?locale=en_GB
That page lists all the countries that currently have iPhone 3G and if they are locked, unlocked or can be unlocked by the network.
New Zealand is down as TBD - in other words I don't know if it is unlocked or not!
If it is locked then it won't work here in the UK - it simply won't accept any SIM other than a New Zealand SIM!
And then even if you have a SIM from there to activate it with - no other SIM from the UK will work with it unless the devteam come up with an unlock!
That is the best information I have direct from Apple!
However if the phone is factory unlocked then any SIM will activate it including UK SIM cards.
That page lists all the countries that currently have iPhone 3G and if they are locked, unlocked or can be unlocked by the network.
New Zealand is down as TBD - in other words I don't know if it is unlocked or not!
If it is locked then it won't work here in the UK - it simply won't accept any SIM other than a New Zealand SIM!
And then even if you have a SIM from there to activate it with - no other SIM from the UK will work with it unless the devteam come up with an unlock!
That is the best information I have direct from Apple!
However if the phone is factory unlocked then any SIM will activate it including UK SIM cards.