new model iphone-getting an unlocked one in Italy??

cojomo2

Hey,

I got my iphone 3g , unlocked in Italy. I have since sold it, and Id like to get my paws on the new model as sson as it comes out (likely July 17th)..

So, I was gonna book flights to Italy, but heard that Belguim also sold unlocked handsets, so I did a search on Wiki to see what other countries sell their phones unlocked, and according to wiki, only Singapore do?

And Italy dont?..see below..
Italy

Italy has SIM locking laws that the carriers must specify the amount of subsidies, and subscribers can obtain unlocking codes after 9 months by paying 1/2 of the listed subsidies. The SIM lock must be removed within 18 months.


So does this mean that the new iphone may actually be network locked in Italy this time around?..see link below for full details..

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SIM_lock

jester77

Have a look here, this list is for the 3G model

marymc

I'd love to know more about this too. I'm heading to Italy for a wedding in early July anyway, so if I can get an unlocked iPhone 3GS, it will make it all worth while!

I have a Nokia 5800, but I've always wanted an iPhone too. And while it still isn't perfect, at least it has goddamn VIDEO now, and 32gb. And cool stuff like App Store and Compass make up for areas where Nokia beats it.

Evergreen

cojomo2 wrote: »

So does this mean that the new iphone may actually be network locked in Italy this time around?..see link below for full details..

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SIM_lock

Do not rely on Wikipedia, it is the largest database of lies in the World.

Check out this list of carriers approved by Apple around the World on this link http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1937

Itlay Vodafone and TIM are both listed as not having carrier locks on their products

culabula

cojomo2 wrote: »

Hey,

I got my iphone 3g , unlocked in Italy. I have since sold it, and Id like to get my paws on the new model as sson as it comes out (likely July 17th)..

So, I was gonna book flights to Italy, but heard that Belguim also sold unlocked handsets, so I did a search on Wiki to see what other countries sell their phones unlocked, and according to wiki, only Singapore do?

And Italy dont?..see below..
Italy

Italy has SIM locking laws that the carriers must specify the amount of subsidies, and subscribers can obtain unlocking codes after 9 months by paying 1/2 of the listed subsidies. The SIM lock must be removed within 18 months.


So does this mean that the new iphone may actually be network locked in Italy this time around?..see link below for full details..

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SIM_lock

But, as a buyer of an iPhone in Italy, like myself, you KNOW, that the iPhone is not sim, carrier or network-locked over there. (and that it's far cheaper to buy there than in Belgium or France).

cojomo2

culabula wrote: »

But, as a buyer of an iPhone in Italy, like myself, you KNOW, that the iPhone is not sim, carrier or network-locked over there. (and that it's far cheaper to buy there than in Belgium or France).

yep i know that its the case for the 3g model, i was wondering if things were changing with the new version. The apple website verifies nothings changing tho..

Evergreen

There is no such thing as country locking, that just defeats the whole point of having a GSM phone with International roaming

cojomo2

Evergreen wrote: »

There is no such thing as country locking, that just defeats the whole point of having a GSM phone with International roaming

No it doesn't, from what i have read, if a phone is country locked, it wont accept foreign sim cards, that doesn't mean you can roam on the original sim it came with...

culabula

cojomo2 wrote: »

yep i know that its the case for the 3g model, i was wondering if things were changing with the new version. The apple website verifies nothings changing tho..

Italian Law is not iPhone-dependent!

culabula

cojomo2 wrote: »

No it doesn't, from what i have read, if a phone is country locked, it wont accept foreign sim cards, that doesn't mean you can roam on the original sim it came with...

SIM-locked, network-locked, never heard of country-locked.

Mcloke

Can anyone tell me approx how much the iphone 3g cost in Italy on release...just to give me an idea of how much the new one might cost over there

Evergreen

Mcloke wrote: »

Can anyone tell me approx how much the iphone 3g cost in Italy on release...just to give me an idea of how much the new one might cost over there

If it's any help, an unlocked 3G 16GB from Orange in France cosats EUR 709, not sure if that includes VAT or not though.

culabula

Mcloke wrote: »

Can anyone tell me approx how much the iphone 3g cost in Italy on release...just to give me an idea of how much the new one might cost over there

You only have to look on the TIM or Vodafone Italy websites.

My 16GB white cost 569€ from TIM, unlocked. I believe the 8GB was 499€.

These prices contrast very favourably with those in France and in Belgium. In addition, cojones2 has pointed out that a further 20€ can be saved by buying SIM-free from around Roma Termini.

jammer84

Does anybody know if the iPhone can be got sim free over in the Algarve? I know a lad who will be over there until Sunday.

cojomo2

culabula wrote: »

You only have to look on the TIM or Vodafone Italy websites.

My 16GB white cost 569€ from TIM, unlocked. I believe the 8GB was 499€.
These prices contrast very favourably with those in France and in Belgium. In addition, cojones2 has pointed out that a further 20€ can be saved by buying SIM-free from around Roma Termini.

not really, the difference isn't huge , the 8gig in belgium is 525euro, 16gig is 625.

cojomo2

jammer84 wrote: »

Does anybody know if the iPhone can be got sim free over in the Algarve? I know a lad who will be over there until Sunday.

according to apple website, the iphone 3g is offered by both vodafone and optimus in Portugal. Both are sold with network locks, however vodafone offer authorised unlocking subject to certain conditions...(you will have to ask them what these are, it could be something as simple as just requesting it to be unlocked, or there may be a fee involved)

jammer84

cojomo2 wrote: »

according to apple website, the iphone 3g is offered by both vodafone and optimus in Portugal. Both are sold with network locks, however vodafone offer authorised unlocking subject to certain conditions...(you will have to ask them what these are, it could be something as simple as just requesting it to be unlocked, or there may be a fee involved)

Cheers.

Where is this info on the apple website. I cannot seem to locate it anywhere?

cojomo2

jammer84 wrote: »

Cheers.

Where is this info on the apple website. I cannot seem to locate it anywhere?

here:
http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1937

jammer84

cojomo2 wrote: »

here:
http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1937

Thank you!