Factory unlocked iphone 4 in Belgium

cojomo2

Ok, the plan is to go to Belgium the night before launch day, up early and try my luck.

Question is:

Are phones in Belgium still , by law, sim free?

and, is it likely they will have it ready to go on launch day? Did they with the 3g and 3gs?

Thanks.

Gumbo

cojomo2 wrote: »

Ok, the plan is to go to Belgium the night before launch day, up early and try my luck.

Question is:

Are phones in Belgium still , by law, sim free?

and, is it likely they will have it ready to go on launch day? Did they with the 3g and 3gs?

Thanks.

sorry cant answer the question but if they are can you bring me back one

Kevin!

Yup. Italy, HK, Singapore, Australia, New Zealand, Belgium and a few others still are I think due to legal requirements.

RonanC

I bought a 16GB 3GS for €500 last month. This was tax free however. I believe the normal price is ~€615.

Creamy Goodness

when is belgium due to release it?

guil

sometime in july

whiterebel

Jesus, we're not going through all this crap again are we? Is it really only a year since "I'm flying to Rome". "have they got supply in Belgium" "have they got the iPhone in Australia in a shade that matches the colour of me knob.....":rolleyes:

seamus

Creamy Goodness wrote: »

when is belgium due to release it?

guil wrote: »

sometime in july

The same time as Ireland.

Is it really worthy flying to Belguim just for an unlocked one? Could you not wait for an unlock and then just buy one here?

cojomo2

is it worth it?

Well, last time I went, I paid about 20 euro for flights, stayed in the Sheraton hotel(about 25 euro each), had a good night out, enjoyin the Belgian beers, and picked up an iPhone the following morning...

Not exactly hassle...

fdevine

I had intended to buy a 3GS in Italy last year, but the price was closer to €700 for the 32Gb. I don't recall the Belgian price.

Decided to buy through O2 here for €609 instead. Five minutes had it unlocked and jailbroken.

Hardly worth the extra expense of flights, transfers, accommodation, food/drink etc. only to find out the phone is close on €100 more than here (albeit unlocked)

Would love an unlocked iPhone4 but the sums (c.€200 extra) don't justify travelling to get one.

cojomo2

fdevine wrote: »

I had intended to buy a 3GS in Italy last year, but the price was closer to €700 for the 32Gb. I don't recall the Belgian price.

Decided to buy through O2 here for €609 instead. Five minutes had it unlocked and jailbroken.

Hardly worth the extra expense of flights, transfers, accommodation, food/drink etc. only to find out the phone is close on €100 more than here (albeit unlocked)

Would love an unlocked iPhone4 but the sums (c.€200 extra) don't justify travelling to get one.

You can always bring an extra couple back and sell them @ 50-100 quid profit to offset the expense if you like..you will have no problem shifting them..

deano_rich

Hi, I've been reading this and other threads on factory unlocked iphones..

If I were to travel to belguim for a factory unlocked iphone, is it possible to buy international warranty too?

Thanks,

cojomo2 wrote: »

You can always bring an extra couple back and sell them @ 50-100 quid profit to offset the expense if you like..you will have no problem shifting them..

Leiva

cojomo2 wrote: »

Ok, the plan is to go to Belgium the night before launch day, up early and try my luck.

Question is:

Are phones in Belgium still , by law, sim free?

and, is it likely they will have it ready to go on launch day? Did they with the 3g and 3gs?

Thanks.

Lol
Cojomo is it groundhog day ?

I am starting the process again myself to get my hands on a 4G .
My 32gb 3gs is up on adverts ( all bells a whistles included ) and aunty Mary in Australia will be doing me a favour again ;-)

Evergreen

seamus wrote: »

Is it really worthy flying to Belguim just for an unlocked one? Could you not wait for an unlock and then just buy one here?

Here, here!! I remember all of this going on last year and thought that the 3GS must be some phone if everybody is planning to fly to Rome and Belguim just to get it.

Vodafone upgraded my 3G to 3GS for free during the year and I have to be honest, the only real difference is that there is an App for a compass on the 3GS and I could tether to my laptop. I rememeber thinking that I would be very dissapointed if I had flown abroad specifically to buy an unlocked model for top dollar.

My advice, take it easy and when you get a 4G you get a 4G. Remember, as phones go it is a very average phone

Johnmb

Besides not being stuck to a particular carrier, are there any other benefits to getting a factory unlocked phone?

Zonda999

Johnmb wrote: »

Besides not being stuck to a particular carrier, are there any other benefits to getting a factory unlocked phone?

Not sure about the iphone specifically because i dont have one but in general, another benefit is that you're able to get updates straight away, rather than having to wait for them to be approved by the network

Oh, and if you're the type to get a new phone every year, then its worth mentioning that a factory unlocked iphone will sell quicker and fetch more, so its fair to say, you're going to a lot of effort and paying more but you should get more money for it if you sell it on within a year or so of being released

whiterebel

Zonda999 wrote: »

Not sure about the iphone specifically because i dont have one but in general, another benefit is that you're able to get updates straight away, rather than having to wait for them to be approved by the network

Oh, and if you're the type to get a new phone every year, then its worth mentioning that a factory unlocked iphone will sell quicker and fetch more, so its fair to say, you're going to a lot of effort and paying more but you should get more money for it if you sell it on within a year or so of being released

Doesn't work that way for the iPhone. Apple release and you can chose to update or not, depending on your jailbreak status. Not so much money in the unlocked phones now that O2 and VF will do it under certain conditions. Still better money than locked, but the difference will be dropping all the time, as more and more unlocked come on the market. The iPhone 4 will of course be worth a lot more factory unlocked, but as people have choice now, maybe not so much.

Mellor

I don't think they are sim free in Australia anymore.
I was just on the Apple site (Australian) and couldn't buy a sim free 3GS, had to take a contract with AT&T.
I'll check in the actual store later

Danbo!

I think what people are forgetting here is that the new iPhone is going to use a micro sim. No one knows what networks will be catering for this (o2 and voda probably) but this could be the end to using random plans on an iPhone. If you go in and ask for a micro sim, they know you have an iPhone, and so they stick you on the iPhone plan.

Unlocked versions will not work on meteor or three unless they offer micro sims!

whiterebel

Stee wrote: »

I think what people are forgetting here is that the new iPhone is going to use a micro sim. No one knows what networks will be catering for this (o2 and voda probably) but this could be the end to using random plans on an iPhone. If you go in and ask for a micro sim, they know you have an iPhone, and so they stick you on the iPhone plan.

Unlocked versions will not work on meteor or three unless they offer micro sims!

O2 and VF have confirmed they are getting Microsims - Don't forget they are for the iPad as well.....Ian Dempsey has been saying every morning this week that Three are doing the iPhone from August, on his radio show

seamus

Stee wrote: »

I think what people are forgetting here is that the new iPhone is going to use a micro sim. No one knows what networks will be catering for this (o2 and voda probably) but this could be the end to using random plans on an iPhone. If you go in and ask for a micro sim, they know you have an iPhone, and so they stick you on the iPhone plan.

Initially maybe, but the whole point of a micro SIM is to save space - afaik the size of the actual SIM chip hasn't changed in 15 years, only the size of the card which houses it has changed. So I can see other manufacturers moving to MicroSim very quickly to save space, as it doesn't require you to do anything different with the SIM, software-wise.

ntlbell

seamus wrote: »

Initially maybe, but the whole point of a micro SIM is to save space - afaik the size of the actual SIM chip hasn't changed in 15 years, only the size of the card which houses it has changed. So I can see other manufacturers moving to MicroSim very quickly to save space, as it doesn't require you to do anything different with the SIM, software-wise.

Wasn't this introduced into the Ipad?

I thought I seen a video of a guy in the guardian slicing his sim with a blade to make it a "micro" SIM?

seamus

ntlbell wrote: »

Wasn't this introduced into the Ipad?

Yep, but the iPad hasn't been released in Ireland yet, so we don't have any MicroSIMs in Ireland at present. If someone is using a 3G iPad here, they've probably shaved down a standard SIM.

Danbo!

Ah ok, I assumed the actual workings of the sim had changed also. There are probably already sim-cutters available somewhere if its just a change in shape so.

ntlbell

Stee wrote: »

Ah ok, I assumed the actual workings of the sim had changed also. There are probably already sim-cutters available somewhere if its just a change in shape so.

I think the guy was just using a razor blade IIRC

heffo500

you can buy a sim card converter on ebay.


http://cgi.ebay.com/Convert-standard-sim-card-micro-sim-card-Adapter-/260613436191

like a paper punch.seems easy to use

Gumbo

Stee wrote: »

Unlocked versions will not work on meteor or three unless they offer micro sims!

the mods on the meteor forum have confirmed that they will be stocking micro sims to cater for the iPad market.

Hi paddyc
We will be stocking iPad sims.

Also, iPhone users are welcome on our network. We've great Bill Pay Smart plans to support this.

Thanks
Meteor talk to us

Source

Mellor wrote: »

I don't think they are sim free in Australia anymore.
I was just on the Apple site (Australian) and couldn't buy a sim free 3GS, had to take a contract with AT&T.
I'll check in the actual store later

thats strange, their website still states the 3GS is sim free

http://store.apple.com/au/browse/home/shop_iphone/family/iphone?mco=MTAyNTQzMjI#faqs

BearsyBoo

Ill be in hong kong around release time, thinking of picking a few up and sell on when i get home, anyone have an idea what the retail price in hong kong will be?? would it be cheaper as its a tax free city??

Gumbo

wardy32 wrote: »

Ill be in hong kong around release time, thinking of picking a few up and sell on when i get home, anyone have an idea what the retail price in hong kong will be?? would it be cheaper as its a tax free city??

i'll buy one from you subject to price!
dont mind paying a bit extra to cover the hassle

BearsyBoo

kceire wrote: »

i'll buy one from you subject to price!
dont mind paying a bit extra to cover the hassle

a buyer already!!! seems im to a winner haha.. would have to check the prices etc first see if its worth my while.. just looking here seems i need to order tehm online and get them delievered seems a bit strange.. wll have to do a bit more research :D:D

Gumbo

wardy32 wrote: »

a buyer already!!! seems im to a winner haha.. would have to check the prices etc first see if its worth my while.. just looking here seems i need to order tehm online and get them delievered seems a bit strange.. wll have to do a bit more research :D:D

yeah unless theres an apple store near your hotel you may have to order them and get them delivered to your hotel.

BearsyBoo

yeah theres an apple resseller four doors down from my hotel.. score!!! gonna give them a phone call later and see will they be stocking it and what price..

Gumbo

wardy32 wrote: »

yeah theres an apple resseller four doors down from my hotel.. score!!! gonna give them a phone call later and see will they be stocking it and what price..

happy days!

whiterebel

kceire wrote: »

i'll buy one from you subject to price!
dont mind paying a bit extra to cover the hassle

Some craic returning it to HK if it goes wrong.......:eek:

Gumbo

whiterebel wrote: »

Some craic returning it to HK if it goes wrong.......:eek:

thats the risk alright!
but i'll buy one up north on PAYG if the prices are similar.

Mellor

kceire wrote: »

thats strange, their website still states the 3GS is sim free

http://store.apple.com/au/browse/home/shop_iphone/family/iphone?mco=MTAyNTQzMjI#faqs

I now know what happened, I went to the store via a link in an email (from apple) about the iphone 4.
When I typed in store.apple it auto completed.
I was actually in the US store, the email previous was an overrode the re-direct.


Still sim free here.

I went in last night and had a go of the iPad. It has a bit of a markup over the US price here, bit not much.


I had a go of the iPad. It's better than I expected. Interface is slightly different to iPhone

Deep Thought

wardy32 wrote: »

a buyer already!!! seems im to a winner haha.. would have to check the prices etc first see if its worth my while.. just looking here seems i need to order tehm online and get them delievered seems a bit strange.. wll have to do a bit more research :D:D

mmmmmmmmm.......sounds intresting, possible buyer aslo

vinnycoyne

Let's not turn this thread into a marketplace. Keep that to either adverts.ie or PM.

Pulse8

Heres soemthing Ive been wondering, kinda have an idea of the answer already but just looking for confirmation

A PAYG version bought say from Vodafone in Belfast Im guessing will be specifically locked to Vodafone UK....would there be any glimmer of hope that a Vodafone Ireland sim would work in it or are the sim locks territory defined also aswell as network defined?

seamus

Pulse8 wrote: »

A PAYG version bought say from Vodafone in Belfast Im guessing will be specifically locked to Vodafone UK....would there be any glimmer of hope that a Vodafone Ireland sim would work in it or are the sim locks territory defined also aswell as network defined?

They're just network defined. Vodafone UK is an entirely separate network to Vodafone IE. Although they're run by the same parent company, from your phone's POV it is a different service provider. If you're driving at or near the border and do a network scan, you'll pick up the Irish and UK networks, registered by your phone as distinct networks.

So no, your UK-locked phone won't work on the Irish equivalent network.

cojomo2

what about buying one in belfast, topping up with a few pounds and have it unlocked by 02 ik pretty much straight away?

Johnmb

cojomo2 wrote: »

what about buying one in belfast, topping up with a few pounds and have it unlocked by 02 ik pretty much straight away?

That's what I was planning on doing at one point. But given the replies as to the benefits of having a factory unlocked phone, it simply won't be worth it if the carrier you plan on being with will supply them with a subsidy. With the UK becoming fully multi carrier now, there's a good chance Ireland will too, so I'd suggest waiting until it is released here to see if you're carrier will supply it rather than rushing up north to buy one on the 24th only to realise you could have saved a few hundred Euro a month later.

cojomo2

Johnmb wrote: »

That's what I was planning on doing at one point. But given the replies as to the benefits of having a factory unlocked phone, it simply won't be worth it if the carrier you plan on being with will supply them with a subsidy. With the UK becoming fully multi carrier now, there's a good chance Ireland will too, so I'd suggest waiting until it is released here to see if you're carrier will supply it rather than rushing up north to buy one on the 24th only to realise you could have saved a few hundred Euro a month later.

well, if your chosen carrier does indeed start to offer the iPhone 4, its true, you will save 250-300 euro vs the ready to go price you will pay in the north, but most likely, you will have to sign up to an iPhone specefic (code for overpriced) price plan for 18 months, so there won't be much in the final cost ..but at least you will have an unlocked unit from the north..handy if you travel a bit..

5500

Presumably there will be an unlock available online within a few days after it being released? Will it be worth a trip to Belfast to buy PAYG on release day or are there likely to be simularities in the PAYG price down here?

Being on meteor I cant see them lauching it anytime soon or at all so I'm wondering where is going to work out cheaper to buy

Gumbo

eireal wrote: »

Presumably there will be an unlock available online within a few days after it being released? Will it be worth a trip to Belfast to buy PAYG on release day or are there likely to be simularities in the PAYG price down here?

Being on meteor I cant see them lauching it anytime soon or at all so I'm wondering where is going to work out cheaper to buy

the difference is if you buy a PAYG unit up north, top up with £15, O2 will officially unlock the phone for you, leaving you with a Factory Unlocked iPhone which you can update etc etc without the worry of wether your jailbreak etc etc will still stand.

if you buy the PAYG unit down here you have to top up with €150 before O2 will officially unlock it for you.

jailbreak and unlocking is one way to go but personally i would rather a properly factory unlocked unit.

whiterebel

kceire wrote: »

the difference is if you buy a PAYG unit up north, top up with £15, O2 will officially unlock the phone for you, leaving you with a Factory Unlocked iPhone which you can update etc etc without the worry of wether your jailbreak etc etc will still stand.

if you buy the PAYG unit down here you have to top up with €150 before O2 will officially unlock it for you.

jailbreak and unlocking is one way to go but personally i would rather a properly factory unlocked unit.

O2 have just released info on their new tariffs in the UK for BillPay and they have seriously slashed minutes and data. It wouldn't surprise me to see the £15 unlock increase too, as they seem to be moving in line with what we are charged here.

5500

Just to clarify thats O2 in the north who will unlock it not O2 down here? Can you simply buy the phone PAYG, top up with £15 and call them straight away to get it unlocked?

G-Money

I was in Italy last September and couldn't get an iPhone. The only place that had them were 3 and they wouldn't sell me one without a contract. It was frustrating as the service in the shop was incredibly slow. I was waiting for about an hour to get served. I could see them going and getting iPhones from their stock room for other people too.

In the end I just bought a 3GS from O2 here and unlocked it via the hacks that were available. I then got it properly unlocked from O2 over the past few months so it's grand now. I've no plans to upgrade to the 4G as I don't think it offers enough to make it massively different than the 3GS. Am a little surprised they didn't bump the capacity from 32GB either.

Gumbo

eireal wrote: »

Just to clarify thats O2 in the north who will unlock it not O2 down here? Can you simply buy the phone PAYG, top up with £15 and call them straight away to get it unlocked?

yes, heres the online form you fill in. you just have to make sure you have 15 pound credit on the phone as they take the money from your credit.

http://shop.o2.co.uk/update/unlockmyiphone.html

Frankmagnet

kceire wrote: »

yes, heres the online form you fill in. you just have to make sure you have 15 pound credit on the phone as they take the money from your credit.

http://shop.o2.co.uk/update/unlockmyiphone.html

Great, that is my plan if this option is still going for the 4. Does anyone know if you can pre order a PAYG phone from o2 up north?

Gumbo

Frankmagnet wrote: »

Great, that is my plan if this option is still going for the 4. Does anyone know if you can pre order a PAYG phone from o2 up north?

currenty you can only subscribe for info alerts and you must provide a northern phone number on the site. might be no harm trying it and entering a googled business number and click the email alert instead of the phone call alert.

https://iphonelatest.o2.co.uk/

or otherwise ive just figured out that once you begin the mobile number with 07 and any combination of numbers so you have 11 in total you can register for info.