Apple iPhone...
Aug 31, 2008 | 12:13 pm
#1216
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2005
Programs: BA Gold, A3 Gold, FB Gold, Bonvoy LTP, Accor Gold
Posts: 14,859
I understand you can buy one for several hundred dollars elsewhere but why should I? I've fulfilled my contractual requirements and am quite happy to stay with AT&T. I am also quite willing to fulfill the requirents in country xyz. But why should I not be able to use only one iPhone for them?
AT&T pay the subsidy that got you your iPhone cheap. They want to make their money back. Part of the way to do that is to sting you when you travel abroad. They don't want you putting a local SIM in it when you're away, any more than they want you putting a T-Mobile SIM in it in the USA. Beyond this, though, Apple may not want you using the iPhone on a network they can't control, either. You're a victim of their business decisions.
Sep 7, 2008 | 1:57 pm
#1217
Suspended
Join Date: Jun 2008
Posts: 459
Roaming Issues with Iphone 3G
I think this is not widely discussed as many people might not have taken their Iphone 3G abroad, but for the past 2 months I have tried to roam with the Iphone in a number of places (Japan, Australia, China, US, etc...) and 1 thing I find annoying is that it does not pick up the carrier automatically some of the time and require reboots. Also I have disabled data roaming and did not switch off 3G, which caused more problems (as many discussed 3G reception issues etc....) Also when I take it back to my home country, it requires a few reboots to get it working.
It is definitely NOT as seamless as my Blackberry.
It is definitely NOT as seamless as my Blackberry.
Sep 8, 2008 | 11:28 am
#1218
Join Date: Jun 2001
Location: Madison NJ; Watopia
Posts: 3,161
iTunes 8 and iPhone firmware 2.1 tomorrow?
Personally, I'm hoping for turn by turn GPS ^
"The 3G iPhone has no doubt had a bumpy introduction to the market. Signal issues, system crashes and other glitches have plagued users. Most recently, a glaring security flaw allowed people to bypass the password lock code and gain access to the iPhone's contact list. Firmware update 2.1, believed to be announced at tomorrow's Apple event, might fix everything."
http://www.informationweek.com/blog/...iphone_fi.html
"The 3G iPhone has no doubt had a bumpy introduction to the market. Signal issues, system crashes and other glitches have plagued users. Most recently, a glaring security flaw allowed people to bypass the password lock code and gain access to the iPhone's contact list. Firmware update 2.1, believed to be announced at tomorrow's Apple event, might fix everything."
http://www.informationweek.com/blog/...iphone_fi.html
Sep 8, 2008 | 6:36 pm
#1219
Join Date: Jan 2000
Location: SoCal to the rest of the world...
Programs: AA 1MM EXP. UA 2MM Lifetime Plat
Posts: 6,742
I think this is not widely discussed as many people might not have taken their Iphone 3G abroad, but for the past 2 months I have tried to roam with the Iphone in a number of places (Japan, Australia, China, US, etc...) and 1 thing I find annoying is that it does not pick up the carrier automatically some of the time and require reboots. Also I have disabled data roaming and did not switch off 3G, which caused more problems (as many discussed 3G reception issues etc....) Also when I take it back to my home country, it requires a few reboots to get it working.
It is definitely NOT as seamless as my Blackberry.
It is definitely NOT as seamless as my Blackberry.
Apple could have done a LOT better field testing of this....
Sep 8, 2008 | 6:48 pm
#1220
Original Poster
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Join Date: Sep 2000
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This is a known issue with the Infineon basedband chipset, this is NOT an Infineon problem per say, but an implementation problem... Apple does not have optimal software running on the baseband chipset - hence all these issues. Other phone mfr's who use this same chipset addressed these issues some time ago. Deploying for network isn't as simple as write code and it works, there are WAY too many deviations on cell site infrastructure and equipment which cause grief to the phone software.
Apple could have done a LOT better field testing of this....
Apple could have done a LOT better field testing of this....
If I had to make a guess, I'd say Apple initially looked at Qualcomm, but got scared away by the lawsuits or wanted chips when the ITC had banned them.
Sep 8, 2008 | 6:58 pm
#1221
Join Date: Jan 2000
Location: SoCal to the rest of the world...
Programs: AA 1MM EXP. UA 2MM Lifetime Plat
Posts: 6,742
Of course, the "funny" thing is that Apple claimed last year that there was no chipset out there that could do what they want, but they still went with this fairly old 3G chipset that was around ages before they sold everyone the EDGE iPhone
If I had to make a guess, I'd say Apple initially looked at Qualcomm, but got scared away by the lawsuits or wanted chips when the ITC had banned them.
If I had to make a guess, I'd say Apple initially looked at Qualcomm, but got scared away by the lawsuits or wanted chips when the ITC had banned them.
Sep 8, 2008 | 7:05 pm
#1222
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Sep 10, 2008 | 6:09 am
#1224
Moderator, Argentina and FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2000
Location: MIA / EZE
Programs: Lord of Malbec & all Wines Argentine. AA EXP / Marriott Lifetime Gold / Hyatt Explorist / Hertz PC
Posts: 36,223
Whats the latest on purchasing an Iphone in the USA that includes carrier discounts.... is one able to cancel the plan in say 10 days and still enjoy discounts or do plan terminations have some sort of penalty clauses? Im hoping to buy the latest IPhone version in the US and hack it to be able to use it with my Argentine GSM provider.
Costs for IPhones here are almost USD500 and a couple of FTers have told me you can get an IPhone in the States for around $250, but with a carrier agreement/contract. Thanks.
Costs for IPhones here are almost USD500 and a couple of FTers have told me you can get an IPhone in the States for around $250, but with a carrier agreement/contract. Thanks.
Sep 10, 2008 | 6:19 am
#1225
Join Date: Jun 2002
Posts: 960
Whats the latest on purchasing an Iphone in the USA that includes carrier discounts.... is one able to cancel the plan in say 10 days and still enjoy discounts or do plan terminations have some sort of penalty clauses? Im hoping to buy the latest IPhone version in the US and hack it to be able to use it with my Argentine GSM provider.
the second problem is that there is no unlock for the iphone 3g at this time, other than spoofed sim cards (which reportedly can get stuck inside due to the tray).
Sep 10, 2008 | 9:29 am
#1226
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: Tri-State Area
Posts: 4,728
Sep 10, 2008 | 9:40 am
#1227
Join Date: Oct 2000
Location: Carlton VIC
Posts: 1,420
Just think of the miles
Sep 10, 2008 | 9:50 am
#1228
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: Tri-State Area
Posts: 4,728
Hey, just noticed your location: Shanghai CN. Can you confirm whether China can unlock yet?
Sep 10, 2008 | 6:03 pm
#1230
Join Date: Oct 2000
Location: Carlton VIC
Posts: 1,420
I've heard that the official launch in China will be in December. No idea how they'll be offered, locked or unlocked.
I ended up buying in NZ while visiting family. Cheaper than China and unlocked and unencumbered.