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Is there a difference between 'sim free' and 'unlocked' |
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#1 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: Feb 2005
Posts: 1,247
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Is there a difference between 'sim free' and 'unlocked'
I'm buying my first iPhone tomorrow. I plan on using GiffGaff as my service provider.
CarPhone Warehouse offer a "sim-free" iPhone for £489. Apple offer an 'unlocked' iPhone for £499. Is there a difference? Thanks. |
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#2 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: London, UK
Posts: 8,759
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No difference at all. Both mean they will take any sim card.
If you find an iPhone that is cheaper and locked to o2 then you can buy that as well because giff gaff run on the o2 network. |
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#3 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: Feb 2005
Posts: 1,247
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Quote:
No difference at all. Both mean they will take any sim card.
If you find an iPhone that is cheaper and locked to o2 then you can buy that as well because giff gaff run on the o2 network. |
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#4 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: Bristol (BBC1 West)
Posts: 15,143
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Not really. A SIM Free device is one sold without any form of subsidy from a network.
Potentially that might still be locked to a network. Always check with them when you buy it that it isn't locked to a network. |
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#5 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: London, UK
Posts: 8,759
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Quote:
Not really. A SIM Free device is one sold without any form of subsidy from a network.
Potentially that might still be locked to a network. Always check with them when you buy it that it isn't locked to a network. ![]() If it was a sim free phone from a network then yeh it would be locked to that specific network. e.g if you buy it from an o2 store it'd be locked to o2. Quote:
Originally Posted by classixuk
Oh really? So I could get an 02 PAYG sim and use that until my GiffGaff card arrives? thanks, might do that tomorrow and use O2 for the first month.
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#6 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: Jul 2001
Posts: 2,644
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Dont buy it from CPW if you want it unlocked.CPW iphones will lock to the first sim you put in it.Their term sim free doesnt mean unlocked.
"iPhone will lock itself to the network of the first SIM card that is used in the phone. Subsequently attempting to use it on any other network, for example by replacing the SIM card, may mean it becomes permanently unusable. SIM free iPhones can only be used with a UK-network SIM card, and will not accept foreign SIM cards." http://www.carphonewarehouse.com/mob...iliateId=78888 |
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#7 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: the wild world web
Posts: 28,132
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All my CPW supplied phones have so far been unlocked.
Of course there is always an exception. |
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#8 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: moon
Posts: 12,983
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iPhones are a special case, for most other phones you can take the below meaning.
Unlocked only means the phone can take a sim from any network provider. Sim-Free means the phone is a) unlocked AND b) unbranded i.e. there is no network software on the phone. For non-iPhones i.e. Androids and Windows Phones, sim-free is highly desirable as it means you should get all the features of the phone (e.g. on WP7 networks can choose to block the tethering feature) and it generally means you get an update for your phone as soon as the phone manufacturer has it ready, with a network branded device, your network decides if/when to give you that update. |
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#9 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: Norwich
Posts: 570
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No CAr phone warehouse iPhones lock to the first sim. Pay the extra £10 and get it from Apple.
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