iphone 3gs model number

Question

iphone 3gs model number

Hi, I want to upgrade to a 3gs, but require a factory unlocked unit, which is very difficult to buy in the UK. I have been offered a new unit from south Asia with the model/part number MC133ZP/A....Is the the same spec as the UK, and should all the usual features such as WIFI, GPRS etc be there? (I read on wired.com that for legal reasons unlocked iphones supplied for the Chinese market do not have these normal 3gs features).

Also, as the UK telecoms market is now opening up to iphone with Orange and Vodafone offerinfg the iphone next year, will Apple then retail 'un locked' iphones in the UK?

Thanks

iphone 3g

Posted on Oct 7, 2009 4:33 AM

Reply

Answer 1

akarelin

Level 1

40 points

Oct 7, 2009 4:41 AM in response to Graeme - Morse

Buying and iPhone abroad (in your case – outside EU) would leave you without warranty. So I don't think it's a really good idea.

As far as getting your hands on a factory unlocked unit – there are shortages reported more or less all over EU (Spain, Switzerland, Italy – the latter being a country that bans factory locking). I'd suggest you waited a bit until the product you're looking for is newly available on regular basis.

I would also suggest you watched UK Apple Store ( http://store.apple.com/uk) closely as at some point in near future they're going to start selling unlocked units.

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Answer 2

RipVega

Level 1

0 points

Oct 23, 2009 5:55 AM in response to Graeme - Morse

That is the same model I have - purchased in the UK but comes from HK.

All features and functions work just as you'd expect.

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Answer 3

Tamara

Level 6

13,744 points

Oct 23, 2009 6:06 AM in response to Graeme - Morse

It's not up to Apple whether the iPhone is sold locked or unlocked. It is a decision made by the carrier.

Rather than taking a risk by buying a phone from an unauthorized source, why not wait and see if Orange or Vodafone UK will be offering an unlocked version?

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