Buying an unlocked iPhone in Belgium

cojomo2 · 08-06-2009 11:58AM #1

Hi,

Looking to buy the new iPhone without any kind of sim lock . I got the 3g one in Italy with no probs, but Belguim is a lot closer.....

so..I have heard that the Belgian ones are completely unlocked..and I have also heard that although its not operator locked, it is country locked, does any1 know if this is true?

also, when the 3g launched, was it available immediately without contract in Belgium as it was in Italy?

Thanks for any info

Tom Dunne · 08-06-2009 12:06PM

No idea to any of your questions.

However, I do recall a thread somewhere about buying a phone in Belgium. Do a search, it's either in this forum, or the Mobiles/PDA forum (most likely the latter - I didn't move over all threads on the iPhone

).

cojomo2 · 08-06-2009 12:52PM

Thanks for the tip..going by what others have said, the iPhone 3g is sold on pay as you go totally unlocked in Belgium. I hope the same will apply for the new iPhone 3gs model that will be announced later today.

thepostman · 08-06-2009 02:00PM

What sort of time period are we looking at before we see this in the shops? My Ma is going to Belgium this Thursday. And im off to Italy on the 24th what are the chances of it being available in the shops by then?

3DataModem · 08-06-2009 02:04PM

cojomo2 wrote: »

so..I have heard that the Belgian ones are completely unlocked..

100% true.

cojomo2 wrote: »

and I have also heard that although its not operator locked, it is country locked, does any1 know if this is true?

False. They are DEFINITELY NOT country locked, despite what some people (including some shop staff in Belgium) will tell you.

When you buy a phone in Belgium there is no bundled price plan. You just take it off the shelf and buy it. If you want a pre-pay or contract sim you purchase it alongside it, but there is no discounting.

3DataModem · 08-06-2009 02:08PM

HOWEVER there is a (small) downside to buying in Belgium.

If it develops a problem you will have to ship it to Belgium to get repaired. The GOOD news is that you can ship it directly to the company that does the repairs on Apple's behalf. I have the website address and will PM it to you.

It cost me seven euro to ship my phone to Belgium and they DHL'd it back to me quicksmart (actually, a replacement).

cpu-dude · 08-06-2009 02:14PM

3DataModem wrote: »

HOWEVER there is a (small) downside to buying in Belgium.

If it develops a problem you will have to ship it to Belgium to get repaired. The GOOD news is that you can ship it directly to the company that does the repairs on Apple's behalf. I have the website address and will PM it to you.

It cost me seven euro to ship my phone to Belgium and they DHL'd it back to me quicksmart (actually, a replacement).

Not true, I bought an iPod Touch from Japan and got it repaired in the UK. Apple even sent me the stamped address box to send it in as well.

OP, I'd wait a bit - a new iPhone is almost cetainly going to be introduced today at 6PM. WWDC

cojomo2 · 08-06-2009 02:33PM

thepostman wrote: »

What sort of time period are we looking at before we see this in the shops? My Ma is going to Belgium this Thursday. And im off to Italy on the 24th what are the chances of it being available in the shops by then?

Its possible but unlikely they will be available in the coming few days.
Most likely they wont be available till Friday July 17th.

thepostman · 08-06-2009 02:38PM

Why the 17th? Hope not im going home the 14th would hate to miss it by 3 days.

mobius42 · 08-06-2009 02:52PM

The 17th was mentioned in some recent rumors. As with all things Apple, don't believe anything until you hear Phil Schiller or Steve Jobs say it!

cojomo2 · 08-06-2009 03:05PM

thepostman wrote: »

Why the 17th? Hope not im going home the 14th would hate to miss it by 3 days.

well the last 2 went on sale in mid July, and both went on sale on a Friday..so if that trend continues, then July 17th would be likely

Simon201 · 08-06-2009 04:07PM

And you could fly there with Ryanair on, say 15 July for €2!!

(edit) mmmm... €615 for a 16 gig is a bit hefty tho!

Leiva · 09-06-2009 10:15AM

3DataModem wrote: »

HOWEVER there is a (small) downside to buying in Belgium.

If it develops a problem you will have to ship it to Belgium to get repaired. The GOOD news is that you can ship it directly to the company that does the repairs on Apple's behalf. I have the website address and will PM it to you.

It cost me seven euro to ship my phone to Belgium and they DHL'd it back to me quicksmart (actually, a replacement).

3 datamodem
please send me the details also as i wanna purchase the new 3gs (when released) and use my Vodafone sim in it .

Will i have all the features and bells and whistles as a regular O2 customer if i get a Belgian iphone ,what i am trying to say is there things a O2 customer can use but i cant (on vodafone)

3DataModem · 09-06-2009 10:19AM

mixednuts wrote: »

Will i have all the features and bells and whistles as a regular O2 customer if i get a Belgian iphone

Yes. Other than visual voicemail (which O2 doesn't support anyway).

mixednuts wrote: »

what i am trying to say is there things a O2 customer can use but i cant (on vodafone)

No.

Leiva · 09-06-2009 10:27AM

3DataModem wrote: »

Yes. Other than visual voicemail (which O2 doesn't support anyway).

No.

Thanks 3data ...your a gent , i wasnt lazy with my question and i have been reading up , been able to update these "factory unlocked" phones on apple itunes with no worries is a big plus .:D

I will get one as soon as u let me know where .

Ta Again.

M.

3DataModem · 09-06-2009 10:31AM

mixednuts wrote: »

I will get one as soon as u let me know where .
.

Pretty much any phone shop in Belgium, and some big electronics stores.

I got mine in Saturn.

Do a search on the apple belgium website;

http://apple.viamichelin.com/b2b2c/fra/dyn/controller/DLAmbiguous;jsessionid=sd5Bc8qTxnEVyKhZT9-bITk?ie=UTF-8&productId=88544&pim=false&E_dl=210509161kS7J209160113030666834DEAL2a115false0v1203311000cYnJ1eGVsbGVz000011000h100110a1011011011103fra588544081102MA00&strChoice=0

Then give them a ring, ask if they have stock, then walk in with a credit card.

cojomo2 · 09-06-2009 10:31AM

any1 know the release date for Belgium?

3DataModem · 09-06-2009 10:32AM

Sorry if my above posts are abrupt - I really am happy to help but am pretty busy at the moment.

Suggestion to mods; if I draft a guide to buying a factory unlocked iphone in Belgium will you sticky it?

Leiva · 09-06-2009 10:35AM

Great idea

Tom Dunne · 09-06-2009 10:42AM

3DataModem wrote: »

Sorry if my above posts are abrupt - I really am happy to help but am pretty busy at the moment.

Suggestion to mods; if I draft a guide to buying a factory unlocked iphone in Belgium will you sticky it?

Only if you promise not to type it in pink and use a small font.

3DataModem · 09-06-2009 10:44AM

Tom Dunne wrote: »

Only if you promise not to type it in pink and use a small font.

Wilco. ETA some time this evening.

Tom Dunne · 09-06-2009 10:45AM

3DataModem wrote: »

Wilco. ETA some time this evening.

10-4.

cojomo2 · 09-06-2009 12:10PM

Belgian release date is the also June 26th.

Bad news for me. I wont be able to get there till 30th June...

Is it pointless? i.e are they likely to be sold out? Did they sell out withing the first few days of release everywhere(Ireland) last year? AHH Crap...

Tom Dunne · 09-06-2009 01:03PM

Flying out on the 27th of June (Saturday) and back Tuesday the 30th, €80 with Aer Lingus.

jammer84 · 09-06-2009 01:07PM

would it be possible to buy one online from Brussels and have it shipped to Ireland?

cojomo2 · 09-06-2009 01:10PM

Tom Dunne wrote: »

Flying out on the 27th of June (Saturday) and back Tuesday the 30th, €80 with Aer Lingus.

Hi Tom..

are you going or are you just letting us know the cost?Thought you wernt gonna bother upgrading?

when the 3g was released here, did it sell out in the 1st week? U think i'll have any luck in belgium on the 30th?or is it too late..

Tom Dunne · 09-06-2009 01:25PM

jammer84 wrote: »

would it be possible to buy one online from Brussels and have it shipped to Ireland?

I wouldn't imagine so.

cojomo2 wrote: »

Hi Tom..

are you going or are you just letting us know the cost?Thought you wernt gonna bother upgrading?

when the 3g was released here, did it sell out in the 1st week? U think i'll have any luck in belgium on the 30th?or is it too late..

Just letting you know the cost.

I won't be going over, at least not yet. I am playing the waiting game.

jammer84 · 09-06-2009 01:35PM

For me it's either a sim free one (won't get to Belgium so guess thats out of the question) or end contract with Vodafone - about €100 and then purchase a new contract with O2 and get the 32gb iPhone.

I taught I heard recently though that Vodafone carried out some tests on the iPhone and they passed the testing for it? I taught I heard in a conversation somewhere also that O2 were loosing the exclusivity rights towards the end of this year. Not sure how accurate that was cuz O2 people are saying that they are remaining the exclusive carrier over on the O2 forums...

cojomo2 · 09-06-2009 02:10PM

Tom Dunne wrote: »

Flying out on the 27th of June (Saturday) and back Tuesday the 30th, €80 with Aer Lingus.

booked mine...departing June 30th, returning July 1st.

Ryanair. Total cost including cc charges, fees, etc etc 12(twelve) euro.

Leiva · 09-06-2009 03:18PM

Cojomo
fancy a few extra "BOB" to pick me up one.;)

Gekko · 09-06-2009 03:45PM

um are you sure that a pay as you go version of the iPhone 3GS will be released straight away and the same time as the contract ones?

Or are you buying the old model?

Buying an unlocked iPhone in Belgium

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