iPhone in the UK

[toby2604]

If the iPhone does get released in the US without a contract, does that mean I could get one shipped to England and not use the phone part, because of major costs and just use the rest? I know im probably dreaming but it would be good if I could What do you all think?

 

[ColsTiger]

If the iPhone does get released in the US without a contract, does that mean I could get one shipped to England and not use the phone part, because of major costs and just use the rest? I know im probably dreaming but it would be good if I could What do you all think?

If it is released as a Go Phone pre-paid version, then anyone could buy one at At&t.com and then just never activate the SIM card. I'm sure it will be subsidy locked to the Cingular/At&t network, so using your Orange (or whichever) SIM card probably won't be an option.

 

[bard108]

Hello there. First time poster so please be kind.

I was thinking about getting a US iPhone and bringing it home to the UK. Slightly worried about Jobs' vowing to destroy the hackers but i think if i avoid most updates it wont be a problem...

But i was wondering... i have my AT&T/unlocked model and come the UK release would i be able to slip an O2 sim in and it still be happy? Will it pick up the visual voicemail etc... or.... would it be possible to flash the phone with the UK firmware on release if i end up getting locked out?

I know the chances of anyone knowing the answer 100% is unlikely due to Apple shrouding itself in secrecy but any thoughts would be welcome.

Thanks

bard108

 

[ps49556n]

Hello there. First time poster so please be kind.

I was thinking about getting a US iPhone and bringing it home to the UK. Slightly worried about Jobs' vowing to destroy the hackers but i think if i avoid most updates it wont be a problem...

But i was wondering... i have my AT&T/unlocked model and come the UK release would i be able to slip an O2 sim in and it still be happy? Will it pick up the visual voicemail etc... or.... would it be possible to flash the phone with the UK firmware on release if i end up getting locked out?

I know the chances of anyone knowing the answer 100% is unlikely due to Apple shrouding itself in secrecy but any thoughts would be welcome.

Thanks

bard108

I am speculating that besides different wall chargers, the us, euro, and uk models are all identical, possibly to the point that the software is the same as well. I base this on the idea that having a single universal unit for worldwide distribution (with the exception of parts of asia) would create considerably larger profit margins....the software is what makes this iPhone so special, I see little reason why Apple would choose to produce euro/uk-only units.

With that said, the flaw with this theory is that foreign iPhones will be locked by firmware into their specific region/network.



To answer your question, it is too early to know for sure until people start testing this out for themselves.

 

[Dallas Phil]

If you notice on the ads for the UK iPhone, there is new button for iTunes. This must be when we are able to download songs etc's directly to the iPhone from iTunes.

 

[micirv99]

The only thing i would be wary of is....I have just unlocked my iPhone with simfree and it works with t mobile, virgin, orange but it wont work with an o2 sim, i cant figure it out and i don't think anyone else has had the same issue but just letting you know

 

[sweetice2007]

kinda strange that is, anyhow im getting my iPhone shipped in should arrive next week sometime - no way am i paing 269 AND 35-55 a month on a 18 month contract with 02 - they are crap ive had bad experiences with them. ah well i cant wait to get it!

 

[sweetice2007]

Hello there. First time poster so please be kind.

I was thinking about getting a US iPhone and bringing it home to the UK. Slightly worried about Jobs' vowing to destroy the hackers but i think if i avoid most updates it wont be a problem...

But i was wondering... i have my AT&T/unlocked model and come the UK release would i be able to slip an O2 sim in and it still be happy? Will it pick up the visual voicemail etc... or.... would it be possible to flash the phone with the UK firmware on release if i end up getting locked out?

I know the chances of anyone knowing the answer 100% is unlikely due to Apple shrouding itself in secrecy but any thoughts would be welcome.

Thanks

bard108

You may have to play with some settings but it should work fine

 

[sweetice2007]

If you notice on the ads for the UK iPhone, there is new button for iTunes. This must be when we are able to download songs etc's directly to the iPhone from iTunes.

which button?

 

[bard108]

which button?

the purple one

 

[bard108]

So... just come back from Carphone warehouse and the O2 store and they were both sure that the US model would only work with AT&T and you would not be able to just slip in an O2 sim come launch date. They more or less confirmed that O2 would be the roaming network when coming over here but gave no indication of the impact that would have on your bill... so no real new info there.

So let me ask another question, when the UK model comes out would it not be possible just to replace the AT&T encryption with an O2 encryption or just replace the firmware all together?

 

[sweetice2007]

So... just come back from Carphone warehouse and the O2 store and they were both sure that the US model would only work with AT&T and you would not be able to just slip in an O2 sim come launch date. They more or less confirmed that O2 would be the roaming network when coming over here but gave no indication of the impact that would have on your bill... so no real new info there.

So let me ask another question, when the UK model comes out would it not be possible just to replace the AT&T encryption with an O2 encryption or just replace the firmware all together?

Are they going to offer you the iPhone on a cash back deal ?

 

[bard108]

Are they going to offer you the iPhone on a cash back deal ?

What do you mean?

 

[sweetice2007]

you said they are going to discount the handset for you cos you have been with them for a while? or was that someone else

 

[bard108]

Nope. That wasn't me. I haven't been with O2 and would do everything possible to avoid being with them... but the unlimited data sounds tempting.

 

[sweetice2007]

i would never go with them id rather pay a certain amount on a pay as u go sim and use it through that....3 offer £5 data package FUP of 1gig on pay as you go, im going to be using this. suppose it depends on how much you use the net through your phone, i have a htc right now and i use roughly 2-300 meg a month when my limit is gig..

 

[bard108]

Thats something i'll need to look into. I'm on yodafone at the mo on a businesss contract and have the blackberry bundle put on even though i don't have a blackberry. My understanding was that gave me a lot more data usage for £10 a month. I think wifi will be my best bet for the long run though. I guess the annoying thing will be because it is on EDGE only is the speed the internet will be on other networks

 

[sweetice2007]

yep..again 3 have got the fastest connection speeds..though it will only be working on a 2g-2.5g connection grrr! have you found any applications that are similar to msn yet for the iPhone ? ou ordered your iPhone yet or you waiting on the uk vers?

 

[bard108]

I have a friend from the US who is happy to ship one for me but he is in the UK atm so it might be a little while till i see it. Just a bit worried that Jobs will be on the case of preventing unlocking it.

For msn i would assume you could use any web based messenger. There is one at h++p://wwwl.meebo.com/ (yes it is wwwl.) that does msn, yahoo, aim and g-talk. But the one i usually use is h++p://www.ebuddy.com/ and i assume they will both work fine on the safari browser.

 

[sweetice2007]

i don't think Apple will be able to prevent unlocking...they should be happy that so many people are buying it..whether its handset only or whether its on contract... going with o2 was a dumb idea..so expensive..but oh well.. some of the companies which provide the unlock software arent taking it on themselves to privde another unlock code if theres a future update which prevents unlocking for a short while..thats the only thing im concerned about but it still beats paying o2!