I want to know where i can buy iPhone in the US. Unlocked or Locked one. My friends will come back home from US at 25 of December.

And from australia, i'm gonna go there for new year and i'm wondering about the tourist refund scheme. Do i have to bring the phone into the plane to have a TRS or i can put it in my luggage? And how much is the fix cost for unlocking?

Thanks..

Originally Posted by Raging_Ken

I want to know where i can buy iPhone in the US. Unlocked or Locked one. My friends will come back home from US at 25 of December.

And from australia, i'm gonna go there for new year and i'm wondering about the tourist refund scheme. Do i have to bring the phone into the plane to have a TRS or i can put it in my luggage? And how much is the fix cost for unlocking?

It is impossible to purchase a factory unlocked phone legitimately in the USA. Places offering a USA factory unlocked item on the web can't be trusted and are really offering an unlocked item from Hong Kong or Europe or wherever is cheaper.

You generally would have to carry the iPhone in your carry on luggage to have it under the TRS. You have to show the device and the reciept straight after you go through customs. Then you get the 10% tax credited to your specified credit card once the paperwork is processed (this takes a few days I think).

So an unlocked 32GB iPhone in Australia costs approx AUD$1040, this means you could get AUD$104 back from tax when you leave the country.

I am Australian and have purchased a factory unlocked 32GB 3GS from Australia. Haven't lived in Australia for a few years now, so I got a friend in Sydney to buy an unlocked 3GS from one of the Apple stores and post it to me in Norway.

Generally any warranty claims on an Australian iPhone are only valid in Australia.

Originally Posted by Olethros

It is impossible to purchase a factory unlocked phone legitimately in the USA. Places offering a USA factory unlocked item on the web can't be trusted and are really offering an unlocked item from Hong Kong or Europe or wherever is cheaper.

You generally would have to carry the iPhone in your carry on luggage to have it under the TRS. You have to show the device and the reciept straight after you go through customs. Then you get the 10% tax credited to your specified credit card once the paperwork is processed (this takes a few days I think).

So an unlocked 32GB iPhone in Australia costs approx AUD$1040, this means you could get AUD$104 back from tax when you leave the country.

I am Australian and have purchased a factory unlocked 32GB 3GS from Australia. Haven't lived in Australia for a few years now, so I got a friend in Sydney to buy an unlocked 3GS from one of the Apple stores and post it to me in Norway.

Generally any warranty claims on an Australian iPhone are only valid in Australia.

Yeah i know it's impossible to get a factory unlocked, but if i want to buy the locked one or software unlock where can i get it?

I think i read that we can get a cheque at the website, is it true? Because i'm planning to buy it on cash. Do the TRS have any limit to it? I'm a little bit confused from reading on their website. And do they charge for the unlock or the AUD$1040 is already with the unlock?

Originally Posted by Raging_Ken

Yeah i know it's impossible to get a factory unlocked, but if i want to buy the locked one or software unlock where can i get it?

I am not 100% sure of the situation in the US now. Last I heard you had to sign up for a contract then cancel after 30 days and pay the exit fee to get out of the contract. You then don't have to send the iPhone back to AT&T. I am pretty sure AT&T no longer offer the outright purchase option (which was still locked to AT&T but had no contract)

I would not recommend this as currently shipping iPhones only support a tethered jailbreak. As jailbreak is required to software unlock you are looking at a frustrating inconvenience if/when your iPhone goes flat or crashes.

You may have more luck with refurb iPhones directly from Apple, these are basically made of iPhones that were returned for some reason and the reports are that these are more likely to include the old bootrom that can be fully jailbroken.

Originally Posted by Raging_Ken

I think i read that we can get a cheque at the website, is it true? Because i'm planning to buy it on cash. Do the TRS have any limit to it? I'm a little bit confused from reading on their website. And do they charge for the unlock or the AUD$1040 is already with the unlock?

Apple Retail Store - iPhone at the Apple Store
You cannot pay cash. You do need to present ID during purchase.

The AUD$1040 option includes factory unlock, which is currently the option I would recommend due to the earlier mentioned tethered only jailbreak

Yes I do believe you can get a check from TRS. You need to have one receipt for all the purchases you claim.
There is no limit on TRS, the limit is on the other side when you arrive back in your destination country. This limit varies by country.

Originally Posted by Olethros

I am not 100% sure of the situation in the US now. Last I heard you had to sign up for a contract then cancel after 30 days and pay the exit fee to get out of the contract. You then don't have to send the iPhone back to AT&T. I am pretty sure AT&T no longer offer the outright purchase option (which was still locked to AT&T but had no contract)

I would not recommend this as currently shipping iPhones only support a tethered jailbreak. As jailbreak is required to software unlock you are looking at a frustrating inconvenience if/when your iPhone goes flat or crashes.

You may have more luck with refurb iPhones directly from Apple, these are basically made of iPhones that were returned for some reason and the reports are that these are more likely to include the old bootrom that can be fully jailbroken.



Apple Retail Store - iPhone at the Apple Store
You cannot pay cash. You do need to present ID during purchase.

The AUD$1040 option includes factory unlock, which is currently the option I would recommend due to the earlier mentioned tethered only jailbreak

Yes I do believe you can get a check from TRS. You need to have one receipt for all the purchases you claim.
There is no limit on TRS, the limit is on the other side when you arrive back in your destination country. This limit varies by country.

For the US one, i think i'm gonna give up.. Hahaha It's too complicated man, just like from UK. I don't really understand and it's gonna be a bother for my friend.. They don't have any limit for the TRS but they have a limit for buying the phone.. How many can a person buy?

I just read in a forum in my country (Indonesia) that the australian factory unlock cannot be update because they checked region or something, is that true? Btw thanks a lot for answering my question. Can't help to notice that you're the one who always answer my question mate.

Originally Posted by Raging_Ken

For the US one, i think i'm gonna give up.. Hahaha It's too complicated man, just like from UK. I don't really understand and it's gonna be a bother for my friend.. They don't have any limit for the TRS but they have a limit for buying the phone.. How many can a person buy?

I just read in a forum in my country (Indonesia) that the australian factory unlock cannot be update because they checked region or something, is that true? Btw thanks a lot for answering my question. Can't help to notice that you're the one who always answer my question mate.

yes you can update, my 3GS came with OS 3.0 and i have restored to 3.0, 3.0.1 and 3.1. All of this was performed in Norway. There is no region check that I know of. I have seen that this was also mentioned with Belgian or French unlocked iPhones but I think this is an urban myth.

With all 3GS models, you have the limitation of ECID/SHSH and Apple has the ability to refuse to sign SHSH requests for a specific OS. Now only 3.1.2 will be signed by Apple. This pushes people to upgrade to newer OS versions. The firmware umbrella and Cydia offer solutions for this (if you are quick to back up your ECID SHSH first)

As for a limit on the number of iPhones you can purchase - I have heard the limit is generally two. This is the biggest reason they ask for ID, so you can't just go to each apple store and buy two from each then sell them back in your home country.

Originally Posted by Olethros

yes you can update, my 3GS came with OS 3.0 and i have restored to 3.0, 3.0.1 and 3.1. All of this was performed in Norway. There is no region check that I know of. I have seen that this was also mentioned with Belgian or French unlocked iPhones but I think this is an urban myth.

With all 3GS models, you have the limitation of ECID/SHSH and Apple has the ability to refuse to sign SHSH requests for a specific OS. Now only 3.1.2 will be signed by Apple. This pushes people to upgrade to newer OS versions. The firmware umbrella and Cydia offer solutions for this (if you are quick to back up your ECID SHSH first)

As for a limit on the number of iPhones you can purchase - I have heard the limit is generally two. This is the biggest reason they ask for ID, so you can't just go to each apple store and buy two from each then sell them back in your home country.

Oh they limit is 2 per people/credic card.. Got it mate.. So i think i can buy 12.. hahaha Thanks a lot.. This answer all my question, btw you're a mind reader, aren't you? Hehehe