Iphone Roaming
Jun 20, 2008 | 3:14 pm
#1
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Iphone Roaming
I know you have to sign a contract and here in the UK it is with O2.
I actually have no problems with that as the rate is reasonable (around 30GBP for unlimited data and the call minutes is enough for me)
However I want to know when I am overseas can I switch off the data function (as I heard it is like 10GBP for each MB). Also can you plub in another SIM in the local country and just not use the data function?
I actually have no problems with that as the rate is reasonable (around 30GBP for unlimited data and the call minutes is enough for me)
However I want to know when I am overseas can I switch off the data function (as I heard it is like 10GBP for each MB). Also can you plub in another SIM in the local country and just not use the data function?
Jun 20, 2008 | 3:27 pm
#2
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Yes, you can turn off data, and no; officially you can not plug a different sim card in the iPhone.
You can currently unlock the non 3G iPhone and use a different sim, but nothing is known about unlocking the 3G iPhone. There are some other ways around it but the simple answer is no.
You can currently unlock the non 3G iPhone and use a different sim, but nothing is known about unlocking the 3G iPhone. There are some other ways around it but the simple answer is no.
Jun 22, 2008 | 1:11 am
#3
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Go to Europe and splurge on a new iPhone there - they're sold mostly unlocked (you have to pay additional for that) and any SIM will work.
I haven't read up on this specifically since I'm not in the market for one, but I assume the 3G edition will be available for a high cost (plus awful dollar exchange rate) from those same European carriers in an unlocked format. Specifically, France's Orange provider sells them unlocked. There was a brouhaha about it last year, as there's some French law requiring phones be available without a SIM-lock as an option. I believe Germany followed suit. This year, with the much larger number of countries and providers, there may be additional options.
I haven't read up on this specifically since I'm not in the market for one, but I assume the 3G edition will be available for a high cost (plus awful dollar exchange rate) from those same European carriers in an unlocked format. Specifically, France's Orange provider sells them unlocked. There was a brouhaha about it last year, as there's some French law requiring phones be available without a SIM-lock as an option. I believe Germany followed suit. This year, with the much larger number of countries and providers, there may be additional options.
Jun 22, 2008 | 9:52 am
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http://iphone.vodafone.it (caution, link is in italian, however the price for the model is easily inferred)
My guess is also other carriers will resort to this kind of offer, for prepaid cards, and will keep an especially close eye to the offers of asian and australian carriers, which I expect to closely follow US prices.
Jun 22, 2008 | 11:23 am
#6
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Actually, no. That iPhone is not unlocked. It's locked to Vodafone and is sold without a contract so you can stick a Vodafone prepay card in it. The page doesn't mention anything about it being unlocked.
Jun 22, 2008 | 1:48 pm
#7
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Prepaid is not the same as unlocked. In fact, some prepaid phones in Europe are even more locked down than their contract phones, as they are network AND network subset locked (locked them to the operator AND their specific prepaid sims).
Jun 23, 2008 | 8:39 am
#8
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France only
Isn't, or WASN'T that for France iphones only, and for a short period of time? I think the pre-paid options are still available at expense, but I think they are still officially carrier locked.