Anyone buy an Iphone 3G S in Italy?

nulabert

Heading to Rome, Italy in the next 2 weeks and thinking of blowing the cash on an Iphone 3G S. Has anyone bought one?

dingding

Yes got a pre-pay one with TIM and am using it on the 3 Ireland network with no problems

Other posts about it here.

jd83

Is there any sites that ship unlocked iphones from belgium or italy?

randomer

I bought the iphone 3g on ebay from Italy. There was a premium of about 200 euro about the store price including shipping.

I have seen a few Iphone 3G S on ebay already. The prices range from 670 - 1200 euro.

Fingleberries

www.expansys.ie or www.expansys.com - but they add a healthy percentage profit for themselves. If you get a cheap enough flight to Italy, you might still end up ahead of their prices.

Mcloke

dingding wrote: »

Yes got a pre-pay one with TIM and am using it on the 3 Ireland network with no problems

Other posts about it here.

Was that the 3gs....was there any stock issues?

G-Money

Let us know how you get on nulabert. I'm heading to Italy in September and may pick up one as well.

nulabert

Just checked O2 last night, they have the 16 gig for €500 and the 32 for €600 on speak easy whereas the same phone in Italy (Ok, its unlocked) is €620 and €720.

So, is it worth the extra 100 and get a unlocked Iphone in Italy or should i get an O2 and do the bit of work unlocking/jailbreaking here every time the firmware updates?

any thoughts? I am still leaning towards an unlocked italian iphone, it might be better for resale next year when the next generation or whatever it will be called comes out!

Grim_Wreeper

I bought an italian iPhone off ebay from Italy... It works amazing!! never had any problems with it..

FYI You'll obviously need to buy the right adapter

G-Money

I think I'd rather have a factory unlocked iPhone. The problem with hacking them I think is that it's grand until Apple updates something on the iPhone and you have to be careful not to pick up the update if it's going to render it locked again.

The argument for a factory unlocked iPhone from Italy versus a contract phone with O2 is an open and shut case. The cheapest contract iPhone 3GS that O2 have will set you back arounud 900 euro at least. This is made up of the 199 euro charge to get the phone, plus a 40 euro a month tariff for a minimum of 18 months. I got a return flight from Dublin to Milan for 105 euro taxes and everything included so even if you added that on to the price of the Italian phone, added in 1 night in a cheap hostel or something, it's still probably cheaper. And that's just the 16 GB version of the 3GS. The 32GB version will set you back about 1200 over the 18 months. And that's assuming you don't spend more than 40 a month on your bill.

TrueDub

grandmaster wrote: »

The argument for a factory unlocked iPhone from Italy versus a contract phone with O2 is an open and shut case. The cheapest contract iPhone 3GS that O2 have will set you back arounud 900 euro at least. This is made up of the 199 euro charge to get the phone, plus a 40 euro a month tariff for a minimum of 18 months. I got a return flight from Dublin to Milan for 105 euro taxes and everything included so even if you added that on to the price of the Italian phone, added in 1 night in a cheap hostel or something, it's still probably cheaper. And that's just the 16 GB version of the 3GS. The 32GB version will set you back about 1200 over the 18 months. And that's assuming you don't spend more than 40 a month on your bill.

But should you not factor into your calculations the cost of whatever phone plan you use for the subsequent 18 months?

I say this because the cost you've quoted for the contract phone with O2 includes the phone & data plan for those 18 months, while the cost of the unlocked one only includes the phone & relevant travel, it doesn't mention the cost of the other plan.

I've no argument with your approach, but I think you're missing something in your figures.

culabula

iPhones shipped from Italy

http://www.benm.at/

Mcloke

TrueDub wrote: »

But should you not factor into your calculations the cost of whatever phone plan you use for the subsequent 18 months?

I say this because the cost you've quoted for the contract phone with O2 includes the phone & data plan for those 18 months, while the cost of the unlocked one only includes the phone & relevant travel, it doesn't mention the cost of the other plan.

I've no argument with your approach, but I think you're missing something in your figures.

Yes his calculations are not comparable...if you are to include the cost of a monthly plan then you must include the cost of the plan you intend to be on.

A fairer comparison is the PAYG price €609 (you could minus free credit) vs the Italian phone €720 (ish). The Italian phone will cost you more in the short term but if you believe that the monthly plan or PAYG plan you opt for on a different network balances out that extra cost/freedom to move network or you just really want to be with ..... over O2 then it makes the Italian phone worth the extra money
Resale value is probably better for the Italian version also!

cojomo2

culabula wrote: »

iPhones shipped from Italy

http://www.benm.at/

Deliver to dublin?

Mcloke

cojomo2 wrote: »

Deliver to dublin?

It seems to link you to the italian apple store which will only allow you to deliver to italia

G-Money

I never claimed to be a mathematician

My own situation is that I'm PAYG with Vodafone and to be honest, I wouldn't use more than 20-30 EUR per month in credit. I have the free texts to any network thing too so at the moment I wouldn't be using 40 EUR a month which is O2's cheapest contract tariff.

I don't know what their PAYG rates are like but for some reason I have an inherint dislike of O2 so I'd like nothing more than to have an iPhone working perfectly on some other network

Mcloke

grandmaster wrote: »

I never claimed to be a mathematician

My own situation is that I'm PAYG with Vodafone and to be honest, I wouldn't use more than 20-30 EUR per month in credit. I have the free texts to any network thing too so at the moment I wouldn't be using 40 EUR a month which is O2's cheapest contract tariff.

I don't know what their PAYG rates are like but for some reason I have an inherint dislike of O2 so I'd like nothing more than to have an iPhone working perfectly on some other network

Then Belgium or Italy here you come there PAYG rate is cost of phone and then if you top up €20 in one go per month then you get unlimited calls/texts but only to O2 customers which is somewhat limited. Max cost of data is 99c per day up to a max of 50mb.

vigos

Not sure where to post this as there are many threads on buying new iphone

expansys now have their prices up and they´re a bit scary

http://www.expansys.ie/d.aspx?i=183742

32 GB €1,109.99

16 GB €1,009.99

Looks like it could be cheaper to fly to Italy!

Elessar

I'm currently deciding between the 3Gs, N97 and HTC hero to upgrade my iPhone 2G.

If O2 are selling them on pre-pay, can I just walk into an O2 shop, buy one and unlock it (when the unlock becomes available)? Or do they force you to sign up and port your number over to their horrendously expensive network?

Gekko

vigos wrote: »

Not sure where to post this as there are many threads on buying new iphone

expansys now have their prices up and they´re a bit scary

http://www.expansys.ie/d.aspx?i=183742

32 GB €1,109.99

16 GB €1,009.99

Looks like it could be cheaper to fly to Italy!

Phonesonline.ie is cheaper for pre-orders

eirlink

just secured a 32gb job via my contact in modena....
7 something to my door........happy days

i assume i just turn it on and activate via itunes, am i correct?

G-Money

Good question. Am planning on picking up a 3Gs when I'm in Italy and was wondering can I wait till I get home to unpack and activate it with my Irish sim.

Tom Dunne

eirlink wrote: »

just secured a 32gb job via my contact in modena....
7 something to my door........happy days

i assume i just turn it on and activate via itunes, am i correct?

I believe so.

From reading others (have a look at the Belgium Sticky on this forum), people simply came home and inserted and Irish SIM and activated it without problems.

eirlink

thanks Tom...will look up that thread

i rang my contact in modena and he told me the salesperson confirmed the 3gs was fully unlocked at time of purchase and told him to " enjoy" his purchase !

G-Money

Eirlink, which store did your friend get the iPhone 3Gs from?

eirlink

well it wasnt a TIM one anyway.

he just went downtown modena, shopping centre phone shop, walked in, paid up , got phone and left.

nulabert

So basically, the difference between buying say an Iphone in Italy €620 versus an O2 speak easy €520 is 100 quid, And for that you don't have to unlock it or jailbreak it.

Anyways, i'll get the Italian unlocked one Monday week when i'm in Rome. I'll post the details when i get back.

culabula

eirlink wrote: »

well it wasnt a TIM one anyway.

he just went downtown modena, shopping centre phone shop, walked in, paid up , got phone and left.

I had no need to activate when I got mine using the same method last year, nor did I have to input an APN. However, FW 2.2.1 required the APN and therefore, possibly, the activation.

eirlink

my mates card was rejected when he went to pay for the phone as it was an unusually high payment, but anyway no worries as he is paying cash next time. He has gone away for holidays for 2 weeks so he will buy it on his return.

Anyway, in the meantime, im looking for some guidance re charges, data add-ons etc.

Considering it fully unlocked, which is the best option to go with regarding avoiding high charges.I am currently with voda and have been for years. I have 10 months left on contract with them, and i am aware they will grease me for breach ( 10x monthly rate i believe) so.....what would you advise?

I will be using the 3gs for:
a few outgoing calls per day
sending and receiving around 5 e-mails daily
sending around 10 sms per day
light enough browsing, inc gmail, eircom net , sky etc

i have a headache exploring all this data lark, esp with voda who have confused me with their " live internet" as opposed to "full "internet and have been advised by them i can get a 1gig data add on for 10 euro per month?
i could also go with porting to o2, but i have a headache trying to get around their charges / packages.

the most important thing is i want to keep my 087 number so , there in lies my dilemma.

i know you guys will advise well, so i appreciate your thoughts.

thanks

culabula

eirlink wrote: »

my mates card was rejected when he went to pay for the phone as it was an unusually high payment, but anyway no worries as he is paying cash next time. He has gone away for holidays for 2 weeks so he will buy it on his return.

Anyway, in the meantime, im looking for some guidance re charges, data add-ons etc.

Considering it fully unlocked, which is the best option to go with regarding avoiding high charges.I am currently with voda and have been for years. I have 10 months left on contract with them, and i am aware they will grease me for breach ( 10x monthly rate i believe) so.....what would you advise?

I will be using the 3gs for:
a few outgoing calls per day
sending and receiving around 5 e-mails daily
sending around 10 sms per day
light enough browsing, inc gmail, eircom net , sky etc

i have a headache exploring all this data lark, esp with voda who have confused me with their " live internet" as opposed to "full "internet and have been advised by them i can get a 1gig data add on for 10 euro per month?
i could also go with porting to o2, but i have a headache trying to get around their charges / packages.

the most important thing is i want to keep my 087 number so , there in lies my dilemma.

i know you guys will advise well, so i appreciate your thoughts.

thanks

If you're not travelling abroad and wish to keep your number, then just get the full internet add-on from Vodafone. It's simple enough and will allow you to do just about everything on your iPhone.

If travelling abroad, then I'd get a 3 Ireland SIM with add-on which may also be used in certain territories abroad without penalty.

As for your number, there isn't a dilemma. Should you migrate to another network, you just bring your number with you.

nulabert

So the 500mb internet live can possible for roaming, whereas the full internet ISP promo 1gb they are advertising cannot? Can both the internet live and ISP be used for tethering?

culabula

nulabert wrote: »

So the 500mb internet live can possible for roaming, whereas the full internet ISP promo 1gb they are advertising cannot? Can both the internet live and ISP be used for tethering?

50mb.

I used it with great success on a Macbook/N95 while in Paris last week. I also used it in an iPhone but it will only send/receive mail as you cannot enter the proxy needed, in an iPhone.

I requested that the Live! tethering file be created and it has been done, but I have not tested it yet. Logically it should work as the proxy resides in the settings on the Mac.

G-Money

Did you get your iPhone in Italy Nulabert?

ScabbyLeg

I'm considering flying to Italy just to pick one up, hop back on the plane and fly home!
So, does anyone know which airports in Italy have Apple stores or TIM (right?) shops nearby...or better yet in the airport itself?

Not really important which airport I fly to, but a main one I would guess and probably not a "Ryanair" airport.

Thanks!

cojomo2

ScabbyLeg wrote: »

I'm considering flying to Italy just to pick one up, hop back on the plane and fly home!
So, does anyone know which airports in Italy have Apple stores or TIM (right?) shops nearby...or better yet in the airport itself?

Not really important which airport I fly to, but a main one I would guess and probably not a "Ryanair" airport.

Thanks!

i got a 3g one there a few months back..Used ryanair to fly to rome..got the coach to termini station(about 20mins if i can remember)..there ,there are some shpos selling sim free phones..they had the 3g when i was there, they may well have the 3gs too. Failing that..just go into the city, around via del corso i think, there are a couple of vodafone and tim shops there, thats where I got mine.Flights cost me about 130 return i think(book a couple of weeks in advance)..

ScabbyLeg

Thanks for the quick reply there cojomo.

I just looked up the flight schedules and it looks like a good option is to fly to Milan Malpensa... and it gives me a good few hours to get me into the city and even snap a few photos!

I'm sure the question has been asked a million times- but do I need anything special with me when buying the phone? Here in Germany you need all sorts of crap just to buy a PAYG phone!

cojomo2

ScabbyLeg wrote: »

Thanks for the quick reply there cojomo.

I just looked up the flight schedules and it looks like a good option is to fly to Milan Malpensa... and it gives me a good few hours to get me into the city and even snap a few photos!

I'm sure the question has been asked a million times- but do I need anything special with me when buying the phone? Here in Germany you need all sorts of crap just to buy a PAYG phone!

well, i heard that some people needed some national identity no. to show they were a citizen of italy..but i just walked in with cash in my hand, no problems whatsoever...then again, i bought mine about 6 months after the launch date, when demand had been satisfied and most shops had stock just sitting there...


also, just take note, according to the TIM website, they have no stock at all.
http://www.tim.it/consumer/o90626/prodotto.do

ScabbyLeg

I was on the fence about going tomorrow when I checked back here. In my excitement I never even thought they wouldn't have stock!

Probably better off not spending the 600 euro...

cojomo2

ScabbyLeg wrote: »

I was on the fence about going tomorrow when I checked back here. In my excitement I never even thought they wouldn't have stock!

Probably better off not spending the 600 euro...

600?is that how much the flight cost?or were u talking about the iphone?

eirlink

619 euro for a 16 gig on iitalian soil
getting there is extra



as for convenience,,,,,,fly to Bergamo....walk out of the termini across the strada, buy, then walk back & check in

ScabbyLeg

Yep, I meant the 600 euro as the cost of the iPhone. No way I'd pay so much for flights!

G-Money

I was searching last night trying to find TIM and/or Vodafone stores in Milan and I was having trouble finding them. Anyone know where abouts in Milan sells iPhones?

nulabert

Well, I'm just back from Rome, Via Oxegen for a night - 35 Degrees to Muck and Rain - Lovely!!!!

Anyways, Iphone in hand and going to get it up and running this evening.


Here's a few pointers for anyone heading over to pick one up.

1) Vodafone One shops (official Shops) will not sell you an iphone without a contract - this was my experience on wednesday the 8th July in Rome.

2) Asking where you can get an Iphone and getting an answer is like asking for an organ donation. I did several shops trying to find the equivalent of the Carphone Warehouse in Rome - ie, a shop that sells more than one phone company and that was hard work.

3) Eventually i found this one, they sell for Vodafone, Wind & Omnitel: Not sure exactly the name of the shop, it has 2 names on the till and credit card receipts:

Mobile One S.R.L & Omnitel-Wind

Address: Via dei Serpenti, 118
Phone: 06 474 2888 Roma

4) They need a passport - no getting around this one, i didn't have it on me and had to come back. They take a copy of it.

5) Cost : €619 for 16gig and €719 for 32gig

5) How to get to Shop: From Termini Train Station (This is the main train station and where the bus (€4e/w) from Ciampino (ryanair) drops you, you can take the metro to Cavour, one stop. Then its a 10 min walk. You could walk and forget the metro from Termini Station in 20-30 mins.

I think if you flying out on a day trip, have your home work done. I thought Vodafone would just hand it out, they had it displayed on the shelf with the price tag but they wouldn't sell it. It wasn't the language barrier either, the girl have v good English - she said that was the current policy, i needed to sign up to a contract!!


Also
I see on my bag there is another one of these shops in the chain in Rome - Via Taranto, 57/a Tel 06 70392500.

G-Money

Good info Nulabert, let us know if you have any problems activating it. Out of curiosity, which model did you go for? I assume it was either the 16 or 32 GB 3GS?

I'm heading to Milan in September and thinking about getting one and I had thought about looking for a Vodafone shop but it looks like they might not be the place to go.

nulabert

Well grandmaster, i went for the 32gb - i figured if i was handing over that sum of money, i wanted the best you could get!!!!

Set up is child's play -

1) Download the current version of Itunes
2) Put in your sim and connect to computer
3) The only option you have in itunes is a Iphone Restore so click that
4) Itunes downloads the V3.0, its about 292mb and installs it onto iphone when its downloaded
5) Itunes then says, "Congratulations, your Iphone has been unlocked"

And thats it!!!:D

Now, if i could figure out a way of getting the contacts from the sim card to Iphone - I'm sure its simple enough.

EDIT: its easy alright, but the contacts need some sorting out : http://applenews.in/2009/01/how-to-import-contacts-from-sim-to-iphone-2g-3g/

G-Money

Cool, did you activate it with an Irish sim or did you use an Italian sim?

G-Money

One other thing, I assume you used a credit card to buy it? If so, did you have any trouble using it in Italy? I'm with BOI and they seem to be having issues with credit card fraud in Italy so I reckon I may have to phone them before I leave and tell them I may be making an expensive purchase when I'm there so not to block the card.

nulabert

Cool, did you activate it with an Irish sim or did you use an Italian sim?

Yea, Vodafone Ireland. My data ISP bundle is starting on wednesday so i'll set that up and see how that goes

One other thing, I assume you used a credit card to buy it? If so, did you have any trouble using it in Italy? I'm with BOI and they seem to be having issues with credit card fraud in Italy so I reckon I may have to phone them before I leave and tell them I may be making an expensive purchase when I'm there so not to block the card.

I've used my BOI creditcard a lot in the last 10 years abroad, only got skimed once in India and the bank stopped the illegal transactions.

My brother always rings the bank to let them know when he's travelling and he never has any bother with his card.

Leiva

Anyone traveling to Italy let me know ...will pay small fee for troubles

G-Money

Thanks for the info Nulabert, just need to find a place in Milan that will sell them without a contract!

Deep Thought

nulabert wrote: »

Set up is child's play -


3) The only option you have in itunes is a Iphone Restore so click that
4) Itunes downloads the V3.0, its about 292mb and installs it onto iphone when its downloaded
5) Itunes then says, "Congratulations, your Iphone has been unlocked"

A

EDIT: its easy alright, but the contacts need some sorting out : http://applenews.in/2009/01/how-to-import-contacts-from-sim-to-iphone-2g-3g/

Hi nulabert

So even though the phone has v3.0 installed...it still downloads it an re-installs on the phone ?