USA iPhones

Forums › Apple iOS and devices › USA iPhones

paul151

261 posts

Ultimate Geek

Trusted

# 44968 29-Oct-2009 20:03

I had a quick look through the forum but can't find something that answers this directly - apologies if there is more info elsewhere.. do point me to it.

I'm not very iPhone literate but want to know if I purchase one in the USA brand new, can I bring it over here and run it in NZ via Telecom or Vodafone?

Does it require unlocking of some sort? What are the issues / pitfalls I should be aware of - assuming this is a starter?

Thanks, Paul.

1 | 2 | 3

1575 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

# 268247 29-Oct-2009 20:10

Yes it will work but you will have to unlock it. Unlocking tends to be reasonably straight forward these days. Keep in mind though you will have no warranty.

chiefie

I iz your trusted friend
5845 posts

Uber Geek

Mod Emeritus

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

# 268249 29-Oct-2009 20:14

iPhone warranty is country-dependent. AND to be honest, you best wise get it from Vodafone (unlocked, with plan) or from Apple Online Store (unlocked)

Internet is my backyard...

«Geekzone blog: Tech 'n Chips Takeaway» «Personal blog: And then...»

Please read the Geekzone's FUG

paul151

261 posts

Ultimate Geek

Trusted

# 268253 29-Oct-2009 20:20

Is it legal to unlock these phones? Do you risk 'breaking' them when you run the unlock software?

If it's legal and the process is straight forward I can't see why folks would not opt to spend $299 US and bring a high end model into the country.

I'm guessing then you sign up to a plan with a NZ telco or some type of pre-pay plan?

Agency BBS | fsxNet | Agency News | Total FM

marmel

1575 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

# 268256 29-Oct-2009 20:25

Unlocking is fairly easy and will not brick your phone, there were some horror stories with the original iphone but I think it is nearly impossible to do it wrong these days.

The only issue is that iphones are only sold on contract in the US, you cannot buy them outright.

Some people that have friends inthe US have had them purchase them on a contract and then pay the contract break fee which I think is around $170US and still save themselves quite a bit of money.

LennonNZ

2385 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

# 268257 29-Oct-2009 20:30

$299 is on an ATT plan.. you can get an iPhone for $0 in NZ if you want to go onto a certain monthly plan with Vodafone.

Legal to unlock? you'll have to ask a Lawyer.
Breaking them? Well there is a small chance.. but I've never had a bricked iPhone I can not get alive again

USA Iphones are carrier locked.. (you need to "hack" them) to work outside AT&T's netowkr . NZ iPhones are carrier unlocked so you can use any carriers sims with them (even overseas ones).

better to just get a NZ one.. (outright or on a vodafone plan) (check store.apple.co.nz)

paul151

261 posts

Ultimate Geek

Trusted

# 268292 29-Oct-2009 21:21

Thanks guys... good advice / info .. will ponder.. I'm in no great rush.

Agency BBS | fsxNet | Agency News | Total FM

antbs

370 posts

Ultimate Geek

Trusted

# 268417 30-Oct-2009 08:28

Currently there is NO unlock for iPhone 3GS 3.1.2. OTB One is being worked on but may never be available. So currently you CAN'T bring an iPhone from the US and get it to work here.

Just thought I would clarify that.

paul151

261 posts

Ultimate Geek

Trusted

# 268548 30-Oct-2009 13:17

Thanks antbs

NZCoderGuy

513 posts

Ultimate Geek

Trusted

Kiwi Dev Studios

# 268559 30-Oct-2009 13:53

antbs: Currently there is NO unlock for iPhone 3GS 3.1.2. OTB One is being worked on but may never be available. So currently you CAN'T bring an iPhone from the US and get it to work here.

Just thought I would clarify that.

When you mention no Unlock for 3.1.2 - you are meaning at present you cannot JailBreak them? There is a difference between JailBreaking and simplying Unlocking. Unlocking according to teleco's means opening the phone up to use on other networks - and most if not all support this for a small-ish charge.

Also JailBreak = Against Apples T&C's (more than likely illegal/void warranty)
Unlock = Up to Service Provider to unlock the phone from the designated area.

In Australia (I just got back from holiday last week) - most Teleco's like Vodafone/Optus/3 had a charge of around $70-80 to unlock the mobile from the network lock. (and its a once off cost).

--
Stephen
twitter/ NZCoderGuy / KiwiDevStudios

Behodar

6697 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

# 268593 30-Oct-2009 15:14

AT&T will not unlock an iPhone, and the unofficial unlocks do not work with the latest phones.

antbs

370 posts

Ultimate Geek

Trusted

# 268638 30-Oct-2009 17:43

gtxboyracer:
antbs: Currently there is NO unlock for iPhone 3GS 3.1.2. OTB One is being worked on but may never be available. So currently you CAN'T bring an iPhone from the US and get it to work here.

Just thought I would clarify that.

When you mention no Unlock for 3.1.2 - you are meaning at present you cannot JailBreak them? There is a difference between JailBreaking and simplying Unlocking. Unlocking according to teleco's means opening the phone up to use on other networks - and most if not all support this for a small-ish charge.

Also JailBreak = Against Apples T&C's (more than likely illegal/void warranty)
Unlock = Up to Service Provider to unlock the phone from the designated area.

In Australia (I just got back from holiday last week) - most Teleco's like Vodafone/Optus/3 had a charge of around $70-80 to unlock the mobile from the network lock. (and its a once off cost).

Yes.. I do know the difference between unlock and jailbreak..

Currently there is no unlock for 3GS iPhone OTB. As well as this now there is NO jailbreak for 3GS iPhone's that were just released with the new bootroom. blackra1n and PwnageTool will not work on the most recent 3GS iPhone's.

AT&T which are the only ones to sell iPhone's in America will under no circumstances unlock iPhone's. Even if an unlock for 3GS iPhone OTB was found it would void warranty. Just to clear that up.. unlocking and jailbreaking voids the warranty covered by Apple.

oldmaknz

536 posts

Ultimate Geek

# 268779 31-Oct-2009 12:51

Any iPhone 3GS purchased from now (well, a short while ago) on cannot be jailbroken or unlocked, and anyone with any iPhone who have upgraded their baseband (by doing a normal firmware upgrade) cannot unlock their phone since the exploit is fixed in the new version.

Read http://blog.iphone-dev.org to see if your phone can be jailbroken or unlocked.

old3eyes

8150 posts

Uber Geek

Subscriber

# 268791 31-Oct-2009 14:16

A good reason not to buy an iPhone. Apple are a pack of control freaks..

Regards,

Old3eyes

MikeyPI

450 posts

Ultimate Geek

# 268868 31-Oct-2009 19:42

old3eyes: A good reason not to buy an iPhone. Apple are a pack of control freaks..

*falls off chair...

I thought i was the only one..

GerryAttrick

56 posts

Master Geek

# 272621 13-Nov-2009 08:42

Maybe its still worth the risks of getting a USA iphone and paying disconnection fees if this price reduction takes place

http://www.t3.com/news/apple-plans-iphone-3gs-price-cut-to-tackle-motorola-droid?=42039&cid=OTC-RSS&attr=T3-News-RSS

a 3GS iphone at $US99 can't be all bad surely and I understand unlocking AND jailbreaking are easily available now. At that price who cares about a warranty even?

1 | 2 | 3