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US sim free Iphone 4 work in the UK
Daleboy16
02-10-2010
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
I guess I better start saving then guys
machare
02-10-2010
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
The iPhone is Quad band so will work here or the Us......and Vice Versa....
digimon900
05-10-2010
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
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
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
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
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
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
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:

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
I-phone for verizon is definitely in production and will be available in early 2011
prking
07-10-2010
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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