US sim free Iphone 4 work in the UK

Daleboy16 · 02-10-2010, 14:33

Hi

I might be going to Florida on holiday next year and was toying with the idea of buying an sim free I phone 4 and bring it back to the uk to use with my current contract Vodafone sim card, but work colleague was told in summer when looking at the I phone 3gs that if he bought one in the states it would not work in the uk. Is the any truth to this I thought with it been sim free it should work without any problems am I wrong

Regards,

moox · 02-10-2010, 14:42

Quote:

Originally Posted by Daleboy16

Hi

I might be going to Florida on holiday next year and was toying with the idea of buying an sim free I phone 4 and bring it back to the uk to use with my current contract Vodafone sim card, but work colleague was told in summer when looking at the I phone 3gs that if he bought one in the states it would not work in the uk. Is the any truth to this I thought with it been sim free it should work without any problems am I wrong

Regards,

Are you sure you can even buy an iPhone 4 SIM-free? I've heard that even if you pay full price, you still have to sign up for service at the same time.

It is only available on AT&T, so there is no issue with multiple networks like the UK has.

Daleboy16 · 02-10-2010, 15:16

No am not thats one of the things I need to look into but that sounds like a major rip off buying full price and still having to sign up for a contract

davethorp · 02-10-2010, 15:29

According to HERE the handset is only available in the US with an AT&T contract and not available sim free like it is over here

Gormond · 02-10-2010, 15:30

Quote:

Originally Posted by Daleboy16

No am not thats one of the things I need to look into but that sounds like a major rip off buying full price and still having to sign up for a contract

You can't buy a SIM free iPhone in the USA, they are subsidised and locked by AT&T which is why they are so cheap, you are required to take out a contract for it to work.

We are one of the few countries that sell iPhones unlocked which is why many people buy them when on holiday here.

Gormond · 02-10-2010, 15:39

Quote:

Originally Posted by davethorp

According to HERE the handset is only available in the US with an AT&T contract and not available sim free like it is over here

Indeed people think the iphone is cheap in the USA which is certainly not true.

The cheapest you can get an iPhone 4 for in the USA is $200 + 24 month contract of $55 / month ($1520 total) and this doesn't include sales tax (VAT here). Also all you get for that is 450 mins (calls made and received) and 200MB of data. Text messages are 20 cents each (send and receive).

We get a far better deal on phones here.

psionic · 02-10-2010, 15:44

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gormond

You can't buy a SIM free iPhone in the USA, they are subsidised and locked by AT&T which is why they are so cheap, you are required to take out a contract for it to work.

We are one of the few countries that sell iPhones unlocked which is why many people buy them when on holiday here.

Yep, UK, France and Canada are SIM free. Not sure about Asia and other countries that have just started selling the iPhone 4. But USA is locked into 2 year contracts with AT&T.

Daleboy16 · 02-10-2010, 21:20

I guess I better start saving then guys

machare · 02-10-2010, 21:37

Quote:

Originally Posted by Daleboy16

I guess I better start saving then guys

There are differences between the ways that 3g type networks work in Europe and the US. I do know that my Nokia phone will not work properly in the US for this reason.

call100 · 02-10-2010, 23:50

The iPhone is Quad band so will work here or the Us......and Vice Versa....

digimon900 · 05-10-2010, 05:04

The i-phone on AT&T has no SIM card in it. Its connected to the network using the IMEI number and an authorization code. There is nowhere to put the SIM card in.

prking · 05-10-2010, 07:20

Quote:

Originally Posted by digimon900

The i-phone on AT&T has no SIM card in it. Its connected to the network using the IMEI number and an authorization code. There is nowhere to put the SIM card in.

What? Where did you get that idea?

psionic · 05-10-2010, 10:25

Quote:

Originally Posted by digimon900

The i-phone on AT&T has no SIM card in it. Its connected to the network using the IMEI number and an authorization code. There is nowhere to put the SIM card in.

What's the little tray on the side for?

digimon900 · 05-10-2010, 22:40

Quote:

Originally Posted by psionic

What's the little tray on the side for?

There is No SIM card. Apple are now making chipsets for Verizon another wireless carrier that does not use SIM cards in ANY of its phones, the I-phone will be available on verizon soon.

psionic · 05-10-2010, 23:32

Quote:

Originally Posted by digimon900

There is No SIM card. Apple are now making chipsets for Verizon another wireless carrier that does not use SIM cards in ANY of its phones, the I-phone will be available on verizon soon.

The main model used around the world and on AT&T does use a MicroSIM though. I understand Verizon uses CDMA technology that apparently doesn't need SIM cards, but so far no iPhones have been released like this. It will be interesting to see when the Verizon model comes out if it will be cross compatible with the other networks and include a SIM tray for compatibility. This would be useful for those that travel a lot. Releasing an iPhone that only works on CDMA alone will limit it's flexability IMHO.

acer · 06-10-2010, 04:10

You can buy sim free in Qatar no phones sold in Qatar can be locked to a supplier its an open market.

MrKev · 06-10-2010, 08:13

Quote:

Originally Posted by digimon900

There is No SIM card. Apple are now making chipsets for Verizon another wireless carrier that does not use SIM cards in ANY of its phones, the I-phone will be available on verizon soon.

Incorrect. There are rumours of a CDMA iPhone for Verizon but at the moment they are just that - rumours. Apple are not selling nor have they announced a CDMA iPhone.

It's also utterly different from what you initially said:

Quote:

Originally Posted by digimon900

The i-phone on AT&T has no SIM card in it. Its connected to the network using the IMEI number and an authorization code. There is nowhere to put the SIM card in.

All AT&T iPhones (so ALL current US iPhones) use a MicroSIM on their GSM network.

digimon900 · 07-10-2010, 03:49

I-phone for verizon is definitely in production and will be available in early 2011

prking · 07-10-2010, 08:55

Quote:

Originally Posted by digimon900

I-phone for verizon is definitely in production and will be available in early 2011

Did you actually read that article? Just like your earlier post about AT&T, you are woefully mis-informed.

02-10-2010, 14:33	#1
Daleboy16 Forum Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Posts: 106	US sim free Iphone 4 work in the UK Hi I might be going to Florida on holiday next year and was toying with the idea of buying an sim free I phone 4 and bring it back to the uk to use with my current contract Vodafone sim card, but work colleague was told in summer when looking at the I phone 3gs that if he bought one in the states it would not work in the uk. Is the any truth to this I thought with it been sim free it should work without any problems am I wrong Regards,

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02-10-2010, 14:42	#2
moox Forum Member Join Date: Oct 2004 Posts: 14,645	Quote: Originally Posted by Daleboy16 Hi I might be going to Florida on holiday next year and was toying with the idea of buying an sim free I phone 4 and bring it back to the uk to use with my current contract Vodafone sim card, but work colleague was told in summer when looking at the I phone 3gs that if he bought one in the states it would not work in the uk. Is the any truth to this I thought with it been sim free it should work without any problems am I wrong Regards, Are you sure you can even buy an iPhone 4 SIM-free? I've heard that even if you pay full price, you still have to sign up for service at the same time. It is only available on AT&T, so there is no issue with multiple networks like the UK has.

02-10-2010, 15:16	#3
Daleboy16 Forum Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Posts: 106	No am not thats one of the things I need to look into but that sounds like a major rip off buying full price and still having to sign up for a contract

02-10-2010, 15:29	#4
davethorp Forum Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Preston, Lancashire Posts: 7,255	According to HERE the handset is only available in the US with an AT&T contract and not available sim free like it is over here

02-10-2010, 15:30	#5
Gormond Forum Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Scotland Posts: 15,714	Quote: Originally Posted by Daleboy16 No am not thats one of the things I need to look into but that sounds like a major rip off buying full price and still having to sign up for a contract You can't buy a SIM free iPhone in the USA, they are subsidised and locked by AT&T which is why they are so cheap, you are required to take out a contract for it to work. We are one of the few countries that sell iPhones unlocked which is why many people buy them when on holiday here.

02-10-2010, 15:39	#6
Gormond Forum Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Scotland Posts: 15,714	Quote: Originally Posted by davethorp According to HERE the handset is only available in the US with an AT&T contract and not available sim free like it is over here Indeed people think the iphone is cheap in the USA which is certainly not true. The cheapest you can get an iPhone 4 for in the USA is $200 + 24 month contract of $55 / month ($1520 total) and this doesn't include sales tax (VAT here). Also all you get for that is 450 mins (calls made and received) and 200MB of data. Text messages are 20 cents each (send and receive). We get a far better deal on phones here.

02-10-2010, 15:44	#7
psionic Forum Member Join Date: May 2002 Location: Crystal Palace TX Posts: 19,702	Quote: Originally Posted by Gormond You can't buy a SIM free iPhone in the USA, they are subsidised and locked by AT&T which is why they are so cheap, you are required to take out a contract for it to work. We are one of the few countries that sell iPhones unlocked which is why many people buy them when on holiday here. Yep, UK, France and Canada are SIM free. Not sure about Asia and other countries that have just started selling the iPhone 4. But USA is locked into 2 year contracts with AT&T.

02-10-2010, 21:20	#8
Daleboy16 Forum Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Posts: 106	I guess I better start saving then guys

02-10-2010, 21:37	#9
machare Forum Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Posts: 901	Quote: Originally Posted by Daleboy16 I guess I better start saving then guys There are differences between the ways that 3g type networks work in Europe and the US. I do know that my Nokia phone will not work properly in the US for this reason.

02-10-2010, 23:50	#10
call100 Forum Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 6,572	The iPhone is Quad band so will work here or the Us......and Vice Versa....

05-10-2010, 05:04	#11
digimon900 Forum Member Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Pennsylvania USA Posts: 3,830	The i-phone on AT&T has no SIM card in it. Its connected to the network using the IMEI number and an authorization code. There is nowhere to put the SIM card in.

05-10-2010, 07:20	#12
prking Forum Member Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Weston-super-Mare Posts: 9,167	Quote: Originally Posted by digimon900 The i-phone on AT&T has no SIM card in it. Its connected to the network using the IMEI number and an authorization code. There is nowhere to put the SIM card in. What? Where did you get that idea?

05-10-2010, 10:25	#13
psionic Forum Member Join Date: May 2002 Location: Crystal Palace TX Posts: 19,702	Quote: Originally Posted by digimon900 The i-phone on AT&T has no SIM card in it. Its connected to the network using the IMEI number and an authorization code. There is nowhere to put the SIM card in. What's the little tray on the side for?

05-10-2010, 22:40	#14
digimon900 Forum Member Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Pennsylvania USA Posts: 3,830	Quote: Originally Posted by psionic What's the little tray on the side for? There is No SIM card. Apple are now making chipsets for Verizon another wireless carrier that does not use SIM cards in ANY of its phones, the I-phone will be available on verizon soon.

05-10-2010, 23:32	#15
psionic Forum Member Join Date: May 2002 Location: Crystal Palace TX Posts: 19,702	Quote: Originally Posted by digimon900 There is No SIM card. Apple are now making chipsets for Verizon another wireless carrier that does not use SIM cards in ANY of its phones, the I-phone will be available on verizon soon. The main model used around the world and on AT&T does use a MicroSIM though. I understand Verizon uses CDMA technology that apparently doesn't need SIM cards, but so far no iPhones have been released like this. It will be interesting to see when the Verizon model comes out if it will be cross compatible with the other networks and include a SIM tray for compatibility. This would be useful for those that travel a lot. Releasing an iPhone that only works on CDMA alone will limit it's flexability IMHO.

06-10-2010, 04:10	#16
acer Forum Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 192	You can buy sim free in Qatar no phones sold in Qatar can be locked to a supplier its an open market.

06-10-2010, 08:13	#17
MrKev Forum Member Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Durham Posts: 1,636	Quote: Originally Posted by digimon900 There is No SIM card. Apple are now making chipsets for Verizon another wireless carrier that does not use SIM cards in ANY of its phones, the I-phone will be available on verizon soon. Incorrect. There are rumours of a CDMA iPhone for Verizon but at the moment they are just that - rumours. Apple are not selling nor have they announced a CDMA iPhone. It's also utterly different from what you initially said: Quote: Originally Posted by digimon900 The i-phone on AT&T has no SIM card in it. Its connected to the network using the IMEI number and an authorization code. There is nowhere to put the SIM card in. All AT&T iPhones (so ALL current US iPhones) use a MicroSIM on their GSM network.

07-10-2010, 03:49	#18
digimon900 Forum Member Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Pennsylvania USA Posts: 3,830	I-phone for verizon is definitely in production and will be available in early 2011

07-10-2010, 08:55	#19
prking Forum Member Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Weston-super-Mare Posts: 9,167	Quote: Originally Posted by digimon900 I-phone for verizon is definitely in production and will be available in early 2011 Did you actually read that article? Just like your earlier post about AT&T, you are woefully mis-informed.

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US sim free Iphone 4 work in the UK