Question on parallel imported iPhone

Forums › Apple iOS and devices › Question on parallel imported iPhone

richgamer

224 posts

Master Geek
Inactive user

#22525 30-May-2008 15:19

the shop parallel imported(www.parallelimported.co.nz) is selling iPhones. in the photos i saw a jailbreak icon which means that they are selling unlocked iPhones in new zealand. but when users plug the iPhone into their pc itunes will just update the firmware and their iPhone will be useless right? are parallel imported doing everything legally?

scottjpalmer

6032 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 790

Moderator

ID Verified

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#134451 30-May-2008 15:42

I wouldn't assume that what you see in the photo is what is supplied when it comes to applications.

gehenna

8667 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 3883

Moderator

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#134453 30-May-2008 15:55

I don't see how this crosses the legal boundary if they are selling iPhones that haven't been tampered with. Once you attempt to jailbreak it thats when the legal ambiguity crops up. I'd say they are just showing a photo and not actually selling "unlocked" iPhones - unless they specifically say they are...

but to answer the question - itunes won't do anything to the phone unless you tell it to. they could be on any firmware version, but a restore or wipe doesn't take place until you manually do so. if you plug these in they'll just pair with your itunes the same way an ipod does and then you start using it.

freitasm

BDFL - Memuneh
80650 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 41031

Administrator

ID Verified

Trusted

Geekzone

Lifetime subscriber

#134455 30-May-2008 15:58

Please, please...

To make these discussion more worthwhile make sure to post in the right forum. I have just moved it to the "Mac OS X Mobile forum" which is more on topic than the "Off Topic forum".

Also make a somnewhat meaningful subject. "Parallel imported" means nothing to a lot of people and won't bring in many answer and discussions.

Referral links: Quic Broadband (free setup code: R587125ERQ6VE) | Samsung | AliExpress | Wise | Sharesies

Support Geekzone by subscribing (browse ads-free), or making a one-off or recurring donation through PressPatron.

Fossie

1240 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

#134496 30-May-2008 18:47

You do know that iTunes won't magically update the iPhone. You have to
1. Tell it to download the update.
2. Let it install the update.
3. Confirm the update.

marmel

1924 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 226

ID Verified

Trusted

#134509 30-May-2008 19:44

There are no legal issues at all with unlocking a phone that you have paid for and own, it's your property and you can do what you want with it.

Itunes will not update any firmware on your iphone unless you give it permission to do so.

kinetic

91 posts

Master Geek

#134530 30-May-2008 21:57

Yes, Paralell imported are selling iPhones, and if you ask them "yes" they will "unlock" them for you, so you can use them with NZ's selection of telecommunication providers.

They will even upgrade your old iPhone's firmware to the latest version if you take it in to them and pay a very small service fee. (I think it was like $15-$22)

And yes you can upgrade the firmware on a older firmware "unlocked" iPhone yourself if you wish, you just have to follow the correct steps.

4th MacBook Pro 2.8Ghz Core2Duo, 4GB Ram, 500GB HDD (7200rpm), 9600M GT 512MB + 94000M GT

3rd MacBook Pro 2.53Ghz Core2Duo, 4GB Ram, 320GB HDD (7200rpm), 9600M GT 512MB + 9400M GT

2nd Macbook Pro 2.5Ghz Core2Duo, 4GB Ram, 200GB HDD (7200rpm), 8600M GT 512MB
1st Macbook Pro 2.4Ghz Core2Duo, 4GB Ram, 200GB HDD (5400rpm), 8600M GT 256MB

Xnet Fusion: Torrent plan, VFX, using Linksys SPA2102

Lego

Shop now for Lego sets and other gifts (affiliate link).

richgamer

224 posts

Master Geek
Inactive user

#134631 31-May-2008 17:33

but if people buy an iPhone they expect it to work. if they bought the iPhone from parallel imported and put their vodafone sim card in it, it won't work. they have to unlock the iPhone but by unlocking the iPhone your using jailbreak which is a 3rd party app and it has some bugs and errors in it. i wonder if parallel imported tells the customers this.

and what happens when vodafone nz gets the iPhone. will people be able to use itunes to update the firmware from apple which will include vodafone nz's profile in the firmware?

freitasm

BDFL - Memuneh
80650 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 41031

Administrator

ID Verified

Trusted

Geekzone

Lifetime subscriber

#134632 31-May-2008 17:36

richgamer: and what happens when vodafone nz gets the iPhone. will people be able to use itunes to update the firmware from apple which will include vodafone nz's profile in the firmware?

If the rumours are correct the new iPhone is a different hardware. The first generation iPhone was never released for Vodafone so I doubt Apple would ever update the firmware on the old device to the new operators. In other words: buy a locked first generation iPhone knowing that you might never get it 100% officially unlocked or updated to use with Vodafone.

Referral links: Quic Broadband (free setup code: R587125ERQ6VE) | Samsung | AliExpress | Wise | Sharesies

Support Geekzone by subscribing (browse ads-free), or making a one-off or recurring donation through PressPatron.

scottjpalmer

6032 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 790

Moderator

ID Verified

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#134633 31-May-2008 17:37

I am sure parallel imported have sold a few iphones in the past months, any issues of that nature that would affect everyone will most certainly have been sorted out so don't stress about it

sproyd

79 posts

Master Geek

#134680 31-May-2008 21:28

I highly recommend Kiwi iPhone over Parallel Imported if you want to buy an on-shore iPhone. Great service, and with Parallel Imported they tend to shaft you on guarantees (that happened to one of my friends).

iPhone 2.5G Stats

4GB, Firmware 2.1 Carrier: VFAU
MSI Wind Stats
MSI Wind - WinXP, 6-Cell, 2GB Kingston RAM, 1.08 bios with 24% O/Clock Guide Here - Peripherals: Samsung 2253BW, Logitech Dinovo Edge, MX Revolution, Z-10

Peppery

919 posts

Ultimate Geek
+1 received by user: 188

Trusted

#135758 5-Jun-2008 19:52

I thought all of Parallel Imported's iPhones were unlocked? The store display one they have definately was (note the row of icons down the bottom).