iPhone 3GS without O2?

BigFish75

Hi all,

Long story short is I'm a very disgruntled Blackberry Storm user and having tried out a friends iPhone 3GS have decided to switch allegiance. The problem I have is that I'm on the Vodafone network and can't switch to O2 as there isn't an O2 signal in my house. We're in a black spot.

My question is what's the best way to get an iPhone 3GS for use on the Vodafone network? I don't want a weird 'jail break' version which can't be updated when Apple release new firmware/os updates via iTunes, I want to make sure the device I get can be upgraded and used for a few years.

All replies, recomendations and PM's much appreciated.

Fish

J-blk

Your only real option would be to get an officially unlocked iPhone from the countries that sell it that way (Italy and Greece that I know of, but there are others) and use it over here with Vodafone. It'll be pricey though, as you'll be paying the full unsubsidized price - and expect an even bigger premium if you get one of them off eBay or something (as opposed to you or someone else picking one up in one of the above countries).

I have a 3G on Vodafone but I'm using one of those "weird" jailbreak solutions .

CivilEx

BigFish75 wrote: »

Hi all,

Long story short is I'm a very disgruntled Blackberry Storm user and having tried out a friends iPhone 3GS have decided to switch allegiance. The problem I have is that I'm on the Vodafone network and can't switch to O2 as there isn't an O2 signal in my house. We're in a black spot.

My question is what's the best way to get an iPhone 3GS for use on the Vodafone network? I don't want a weird 'jail break' version which can't be updated when Apple release new firmware/os updates via iTunes, I want to make sure the device I get can be upgraded and used for a few years.

All replies, recomendations and PM's much appreciated.

Fish

Give your account manager / customer care a call about this. Rumour has it they are offering the iPhone to some that threaten to leave....

bertie4evr

You can still update when Apple releases one,you'll just have to wait a week or two.

BigFish75

Thanks all.

So if I don't have any Greek or Italian friends and I don't want to risk (or pay) the eBay option what can I do? Get a local unlocked or jail break device? Is there a reliable place to get such a thing and if so what can I expect to pay?

Fish

Dammer

There are really only a few options open to you.

1. Get a friend from Italy Belgium or Greece to buy one or hop on a plane and head over there yourself. They sell iPhones unlocked, so depending on supplies and stock levels. I also heard that you can get unlocked iPhones in Australia.

2. Buy a ready to go version iPhone 3G S or a 3G one from O2 and then you can jailbreak and unlock it by reading the instructions at iclarified.com (BUT!! only iPhones with certain basaeband revs can be unlocked) *

3. Sign up to O2 and get an iPhone that way :mad:

4. The eBay route.

Did you take any holidays this year, maybe combine a holiday with a shopping trip. It should be quite nice in South Italy and Greece this time of year.

Personally I'm thinking of getting one from a friend in Australia, if the rumour is true, the 32 GB version works out at about €610 plus postage and friend not ripping me off

There are a couple of regular posters from boards that might have additional info. I believe a few took same day flights to Brussels and purchased an iPhone 3G S that way.


* Do not do this option

J-blk

Good post, Dammer - in fact, OP, I think that lays out pretty much all the options for you.

Dammer wrote: »

2. Buy a ready to go version iPhone 3G S or a 3G one from O2 and then you can jailbreak and unlock it by reading the instructions at iclarified.com (BUT!! only iPhones with certain basaeband revs can be unlocked) *

TBH, this works out the cheapest I believe and many here, myself included, are quite happy to mess with the device and jailbreak/unlock it (even when Apple releases new updates, the jailbreak is never that far behind these days).

However, from your original post, I get that you are not looking for a technical solution that may come with additional hassle down the line and you want an unlocked iPhone that "just works". In that case, I have to agree with Dammer, this is probably not the way to go for you.

If you end up getting one from the countries that sell them unlocked, ask here first if anyone has had any comeback with Apple regarding warranty service. Since the phone is not hacked in any way, I would expect them to honor the warranty if you bought it somewhere else in Europe but you never know with these things until it matters .

snollup

Hi all,

Headingover to the US in the next couple of weeks. Can I get one over there that will work on Voda here?

Thanks.

J-blk

snollup wrote: »

Headingover to the US in the next couple of weeks. Can I get one over there that will work on Voda here?

Not really. They don't sell them as pay-as-you-go, neither do they sell officially unlocked ones. You have to sign up for a full 2 year contract with AT&T and you'd also require a US billing address. The EU countries that sell them factory unlocked are a better option or you can buy a pay-as-you-go on O2 and unlock it yourself.

Dammer

Actually there is another option!

5. adverts.ie - That is if you are ok with a second hand iPhone. There is bound to be someone with one in "as new" condition.

Can't believe I forgot that! I only got an N95 - 8GB on adverts.ie a couple of months ago

Good luck finding what you want.

Hobbes

J-blk wrote: »

Your only real option would be to get an officially unlocked iPhone from the countries that sell it that way (Italy and Greece that I know of, but there are others)

You can buy officially unlocked iphones in Ireland (expansys.ie) but the phone is not subsidized by the carrier, as such you looking at over twice the price (at least).

banquo

€1,119.99 for a 32gb 3GS from expansys.ie

J-blk

Hobbes wrote: »

You can buy officially unlocked iphones in Ireland (expansys.ie) but the phone is not subsidized by the carrier, as such you looking at over twice the price (at least).

banquo wrote: »

€1,119.99 for a 32gb 3GS from expansys.ie

What justifies that price? :eek: Vodafone.gr sells an officially unlocked, no contract (so no subsidy) iPhone 3GS 32GB for €668,99 (it's the price in the upper right of the page, before the listing of the price per contract):

http://www.vodafone.gr/portal/client/eshop/detailsWithRates-29901,5182.action

costacurta

J-blk wrote: »

What justifies that price? :eek: Vodafone.gr sells an officially unlocked, no contract (so no subsidy) iPhone 3GS 32GB for €668,99 (it's the price in the upper right of the page, before the listing of the price per contract):

http://www.vodafone.gr/portal/client/eshop/detailsWithRates-29901,5182.action

It's a shame though that you can't order it to Ireland

Hobbes

J-blk wrote: »

What justifies that price? :eek:

It isn't that they are charging more. They are charging the normal price. When you buy the device via O2 contract/pay as you go the O2 people pay part of the costs for that.

Same for most phones.

€1,119.99 for a 32gb 3GS from expansys.ie

Expansys don't put on all the costs until you place the order. I would guess it is more like 1,300.

J-blk

Hobbes wrote: »

It isn't that they are charging more. They are charging the normal price. When you buy the device via O2 contract/pay as you go the O2 people pay part of the costs for that.

Same for most phones.

Yes, but my point is that in Greece (for example) you buy the unsubsized phone for €669, no contract, no commitment and unlocked by Apple. So how did Expansys arrive at almost €1300?!

Even O2 is selling the pay-as-you-go 3GS 32GB at €609:

http://www.o2online.ie/wps/wcm/connect/O2/Home/Shop/Phones/iPhone/iPhone+3GS/Speak+easy

There is no subsidy for pay-as-you-go phones so it seems the full price of a 32GB 3GS unsubsidized is between €600-€700... (though for O2 for example, you're still officially locked to their network).

Hobbes

Yes, but my point is that in Greece (for example) you buy the unsubsized phone for €669,

Are you sure that is for a 3GS phone? Sounds about right for 3G phone in Greece.

J-blk wrote: »

There is no subsidy for pay-as-you-go phones

I would think that for a locked to network phone there may be. But I could be wrong.

J-blk

Hobbes wrote: »

Are you sure that is for a 3GS phone? Sounds about right for 3G phone in Greece.

It's definitely a 3GS and for a 32GB model at that (there is no 32GB 3G anyway, it tops out at 16GB). It doesn't "advertise" it as unlocked but Greek legislation doesn't allow carriers to sell any phone locked to a network. There's a 2nd carrier in Greece that also carries the iPhone, Cosmote and their price for an unsubsidized one is the exact same €668,99:

http://www.e-cosmote.gr/cosmote/eshop.portal;jsessionid=Kc1ynVyBLD6HVWhj1N5R6vPchXYPN6KMnM9hLPlnGyJqDBvpyYdS!361180556?_nfpb=true&_pageLabel=Iphone&portlet_66_13_actionOverride=%2Fportlets%2Feshop%2FeshopWizard%2FshowHandsetFullStory&_windowLabel=portlet_66_13&sku=E00-0181-7000-022&handsetsPath=iphone&subcategoryId=CP00-CP00-CP00-CP165&makeYourOwnPrepaid=false

Unfortunately, much like O2 here, both carriers report it as "out of stock" .

Hobbes wrote: »

I would think that for a locked to network phone there may be. But I could be wrong.

I could be wrong on that one myself - but I always figured that a prepay is pretty much a "no commitment" phone for the operators and they don't subsidize them at all, regardless if they are locked to their network or not.

Hobbes

Well whatever about the price appears they are selling like hotcakes for expansys. Looks like they sold 14 units just today.

J-blk

Hobbes wrote: »

Well whatever about the price appears they are selling like hotcakes for expansys. Looks like they sold 14 units just today.

:eek: That's mental! I love the iPhone (I had the original, now the 3G) but > €1000 is way too much for any phone...

banquo

That's crazy. I mean, who would but it? With that kind of cash you'd think only a business would buy it, but they'd have some deal with a network surely. And anyone who wants it unlocked to any network is surely going to be with some network that provides it. Can't be worth that much to stay with Meteor, etc.