Blackberry or Iphone decision to buy from USA

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riahon

937 posts

Ultimate Geek

#26451 23-Sep-2008 13:21

Hi
I just got text from friend who arrived in the States and is highly tempted to buy either a blackberry or iphone and bring back here. As I know nothing about these devices I wonder if anyone here has recently brought one over and if so what model blackberry or iphone should he consider.
Also are there any limitations on bringing one over, eg internet, wifi etc.
Cheers

zocster

1788 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

#166510 23-Sep-2008 13:26

lucky you! well if it is for you that is, at the end of the day, the apple is a media device, if you use more for office etc it's the blackberry!

I tend to go for winmo really!

bobmeister

106 posts

Master Geek

#166514 23-Sep-2008 13:33

Over the past few months I have used a Blackberry, Windows Mobile (HTC Touch) and just bought an iPhone a couple of weeks ago.

It is primarily a business tool (of course), but I have to say, apart from the battery life on the iPhone and signal strength before the 2.1 update, in all other respects the iPhone (IMHO) is streets ahead of anything I have used in the past.

The apps are brilliant and the other day I connected to my Laptop and the thing automatically updated the OS to iPhone 2.1. Ever tried updating the OS on the other types.

Hope this helps.

riahon

937 posts

Ultimate Geek

#166574 23-Sep-2008 17:38

I sort of expected the blackberry would suit him more as I predict he would use it more for business purposes so it would probably need to open word and excel documents. Anyone have any ideas what is the latest and greatest blackberry at the moment. He said that they are only $89 which sounds cheap but I wonder if that price is for a contract over there.

zocster

1788 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

#166575 23-Sep-2008 17:41

riahon: I sort of expected the blackberry would suit him more as I predict he would use it more for business purposes so it would probably need to open word and excel documents. Anyone have any ideas what is the latest and greatest blackberry at the moment. He said that they are only $89 which sounds cheap but I wonder if that price is for a contract over there.

You can follow all the latest and greatest on this site here. I am intrigues by the flip phone!

corksta

2208 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

Subscriber

#166579 23-Sep-2008 17:53

According to what I know and the research I've done your friend won't be able to buy an iPhone in the USA and bring it back here as it will be locked to the AT&T network.

Here's just one of the many web sites I found that all say the same thing:
http://forums.whirlpool.net.au/forum-replies-archive.cfm/1041336.html

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riahon

937 posts

Ultimate Geek

#166581 23-Sep-2008 17:55

zocster:
riahon: I sort of expected the blackberry would suit him more as I predict he would use it more for business purposes so it would probably need to open word and excel documents. Anyone have any ideas what is the latest and greatest blackberry at the moment. He said that they are only $89 which sounds cheap but I wonder if that price is for a contract over there.

You can follow all the latest and greatest on this site here. I am intrigues by the flip phone!

I just text him to check out the flip blackberry, if price is right might ask him bring me back one :)
What do I need to check when buying over there? eg frequency? hsdpa? locked? future proof to work on Telecom network?

zocster

1788 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

#166582 23-Sep-2008 17:57

riahon:
zocster:
riahon: I sort of expected the blackberry would suit him more as I predict he would use it more for business purposes so it would probably need to open word and excel documents. Anyone have any ideas what is the latest and greatest blackberry at the moment. He said that they are only $89 which sounds cheap but I wonder if that price is for a contract over there.

You can follow all the latest and greatest on this site here. I am intrigues by the flip phone!

I just text him to check out the flip blackberry, if price is right might ask him bring me back one :)
What do I need to check when buying over there? eg frequency? hsdpa? locked? future proof to work on Telecom network?

Just look at the specs and do a search on this site <------- left corner box there, re the telecom network see if it matches up.

riahon

937 posts

Ultimate Geek

#166583 23-Sep-2008 17:59

corksta: According to what I know and the research I've done your friend won't be able to buy an iPhone in the USA and bring it back here as it will be locked to the AT&T network.

Here's just one of the many web sites I found that all say the same thing:
http://forums.whirlpool.net.au/forum-replies-archive.cfm/1041336.html

Thanks for that. I had read that they can be unlocked or hacked to work here but he or myself would never consider doing that, just souns like too much work.
If it is possible to buy something over there, and at this stage it would probably be the blackberry, then all he would want to do is land here, put in sim and use it.

boby55

1539 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

#166584 23-Sep-2008 18:01

Under the current CDMA network you can not bring in a phone to use on telecom but once there new network is out It should if the freq are right and it isnt locked

riahon

937 posts

Ultimate Geek

#166589 23-Sep-2008 18:10

zocster:
riahon:
zocster:
riahon: I sort of expected the blackberry would suit him more as I predict he would use it more for business purposes so it would probably need to open word and excel documents. Anyone have any ideas what is the latest and greatest blackberry at the moment. He said that they are only $89 which sounds cheap but I wonder if that price is for a contract over there.

You can follow all the latest and greatest on this site here. I am intrigues by the flip phone!

I just text him to check out the flip blackberry, if price is right might ask him bring me back one :)
What do I need to check when buying over there? eg frequency? hsdpa? locked? future proof to work on Telecom network?

Just look at the specs and do a search on this site <------- left corner box there, re the telecom network see if it matches up.

Thanks again. I found comparison chart which showed the new flip 8220 has similar specs to the model that vodafone sell here now, the 8110. It has ticks next to 850/900/1800/1900 so does that automatically mean it will be totally compatible with Vodafone now and possibly telecom in the future?

n00dy

482 posts

Ultimate Geek

#166594 23-Sep-2008 18:39

I was over there a couple weeks ago and went to buy an i-phone (from 2 different Apple stores, in San Diago & San Francisco) but could not, you have to have a US social security number ( i did) and you have to have a US drivers licence, ( I didnt ) they were quite clear - Locked to AT&T however disconnection fee was only $179 $US.
As for the blackberry, again beware are the "pin" number assigned to the device for the blackberry licence is locked to the provider so you may find you get it connected here but can not use the blackberry email option, just had that happen with one sent over to me, (telecom 8830) tried to get blackberry to release the pin but they would not

bleater

57 posts

Master Geek

#167908 30-Sep-2008 09:17

Apple is now selling unlocked contract-free iPhones in Hong Kong, so there will be a bustling re-export market for unlocked iPhone 3G's operating out of HK in no time, I would say.

martin308

226 posts

Master Geek

#167950 30-Sep-2008 11:12

bleater: Apple is now selling unlocked contract-free iPhones in Hong Kong, so there will be a bustling re-export market for unlocked iPhone 3G's operating out of HK in no time, I would say.

Except that they are cheaper here in NZ and still unlocked.....

16GB iphone in HK = 6200 HKD = 1184.24 NZD

16GB iphone in NZ = 1129 NZD