Using a China Unicom prepaid 3G SIM card in my iPhone 3GS

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simonyoung

8 posts

Wannabe Geek
+1 received by user: 1

#72898 4-Dec-2010 13:14

We're going to China from 9th-19th December, and I'm keen to use my iPhone there. Not so keen on paying 10c/10kb for data roaming! I've read different things about the prepaid SIM cards that China Unicom provides, does anyone have any experience or advice on whether these prepaid cards would work?

Key questions:

1. Would Chinese SIM cards fit in my Vodafone NZ iPhone 3G? I've heard that they are different sizes
2. Would using another SIM card break the phone? (Displaying my tech ignorance here ... my iPhone was purchased from Dick Smith and registered through Vodafone, it's not jailbroken and I'm not even sure what "unlocked" means)

Thanks

nzbnw

2374 posts

Uber Geek
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Spark NZ

#412807 4-Dec-2010 13:34

1) I doubt it, a SIM is a SIM that comes in the card (credit card size) format that breaks down to the Mini size (what most people refer to as a SIM), and the Micro (iPhone 4, iPad type SIM.

2) If your phone was purchased in NZ, then it will be unlocked, and be used with almost any GSM / WCDMA carrier internationally or at home on one of the two alternative networks to VFNZ.

You will need to ask your new carrier for their APN settings, and input these into your iPhone to get data to work. Apart from that, signup to a data plan and away you go.

nzbnw

simonyoung

8 posts

Wannabe Geek
+1 received by user: 1

#412814 4-Dec-2010 14:24

Thanks! Much appreciated

taneb1

544 posts

Ultimate Geek
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Mercury

#413931 7-Dec-2010 10:55

From doing some quick googling and looking at this (http://hk.smscaster.com/ebay/images/China-Unicom-Dual-Number-Prepaid-SIM-1111.jpg) which I assume is the Sim Card your talking about as long as your iPhone is unlocked (Which all iPhones sold in New Zealand are) then you should be fine!

You may have to change a few settings for the Internet APN but if you have an iPhone 3G the internet will work fine.

Any comments made are my personal views and does not represent those of my employer

simonyoung

8 posts

Wannabe Geek
+1 received by user: 1

#414118 7-Dec-2010 16:41

Thanks Tane!