I live in Indonesia, and my friend is coming home to Indo from UK for christmas. I'm planning to ask her to get my an iPhone 3GS from UK.. Where can she buy the phone? And is it come already unlocked (factory unlock) or we need to use software such as blacksnow to unlock it? Because i saw in the internet we can ask for the carrier (o2) to have it unlock, is there any difference with the one we get in Singapore/Hongkong?? Thanks..

Hong Kong, sells factory unlocked iPhones direct from Apple, they cost a lot $US900 or so depending on which model you buy.

You want to be 100% sure that the iPhone is factory unlocked when you buy it as o2 will not unlock it for you when you get to the UK. O2 will only unlock iPhones they sell.

Don't know about singapore, you can probably get them there unlocked but it might just be resold Hong Kong iPhones (ie more expensive and more risk of being ripped off)

Originally Posted by Olethros

Hong Kong, sells factory unlocked iPhones direct from Apple, they cost a lot $US900 or so depending on which model you buy.

You want to be 100% sure that the iPhone is factory unlocked when you buy it as o2 will not unlock it for you when you get to the UK. O2 will only unlock iPhones they sell.

Don't know about singapore, you can probably get them there unlocked but it might just be resold Hong Kong iPhones (ie more expensive and more risk of being ripped off)

I'm a little bit confused with the 2nd paragraph. So basically i can buy the iphone at 02 and ask them to unlock it for me right? And basically it's factory unlocked right? How much will it cost to ask them to unlock it for me??

I'm trying to calculate will it be cheaper that buying in Australia and have them unlock it for me.. Thanks for the answer.

Im sure all phones in the UK are locked to carrier on a contacts, but ones you're out of contact you can apply to have then unlocked.

The link below is useful for what phones are locked & unlocked etc
Locating iPhone wireless carriers

Originally Posted by n350z

Im sure all phones in the UK are locked to carrier on a contacts, but ones you're out of contact you can apply to have then unlocked.

The link below is useful for what phones are locked & unlocked etc
Locating iPhone wireless carriers

I believe you can pay out your contract with o2 now. Need to confirm this with o2.

Originally Posted by Olethros

I believe you can pay out your contract with o2 now. Need to confirm this with o2.

Originally Posted by n350z

Im sure all phones in the UK are locked to carrier on a contacts, but ones you're out of contact you can apply to have then unlocked.

The link below is useful for what phones are locked & unlocked etc
Locating iPhone wireless carriers

How much will it cost to payout your contract? And for the link, i think you should check it again because there it said that in the UK, the iphone is LTC, but we can have an authorized unlock..

Originally Posted by Raging_Ken

How much will it cost to payout your contract? And for the link, i think you should check it again because there it said that in the UK, the iphone is LTC, but we can have an authorized unlock..

You need to talk to the carriers in the UK about these costs. They vary depending on which plan you purchase the iPhone with.

I would guess that the cost to get a new iPhone now and pay out the contract would range from a little more expensive than an unlocked phone from overseas to maybe as much as two times the cost. It all depends on the plans.

The carriers may also have a minimum period that you need to have the contract for before you can request to pay out the rest of the contract. This is usually at least a month.

Originally Posted by Olethros

You need to talk to the carriers in the UK about these costs. They vary depending on which plan you purchase the iPhone with.

I would guess that the cost to get a new iPhone now and pay out the contract would range from a little more expensive than an unlocked phone from overseas to maybe as much as two times the cost. It all depends on the plans.

The carriers may also have a minimum period that you need to have the contract for before you can request to pay out the rest of the contract. This is usually at least a month.

Thanks for the info.. I'll tell my friend to ask it to all the carrier..

To get the iPhone unlocked on O2 you goto the link on their website and fill the form out with your mobile number and IMEI no. then wait for a text 3or4 days later telling you you can replace the sim card and connect to itunes. Mine now connects to O2 and Orange and Tmobile, haven't checked others.

This costs free for contract phones (i have had my contract only 3 months) and it costs about £15 for on PAYG.

Originally Posted by paultart

To get the iPhone unlocked on O2 you goto the link on their website and fill the form out with your mobile number and IMEI no. then wait for a text 3or4 days later telling you you can replace the sim card and connect to itunes. Mine now connects to O2 and Orange and Tmobile, haven't checked others.

This costs free for contract phones (i have had my contract only 3 months) and it costs about £15 for on PAYG.

If i bought it at the store, and i use simplicity card, can i ask them to unlock it on the spot without paying or i still have to pay for the unlock (15 pounds)? Man, this is really confusing. And it's midterm time in the UK, my friend don't have the time to ask.