Iphone 3gs in Italy

Question

Iphone 3gs in Italy

hello guys!
i have a big dilemma regarding an iphone 3gs.
My friends have given me an unlocked Iphone 3gs as their Christmas gift. The problem is I'm based in Italy and I was wondering if I can use it there or if it is completely useless! Do I need to ask it unlocked? Where can I do that? How much does it cost to me?
Hope someone can help me!!!!
Thanks guys!
A

Macbook, Mac OS X (10.6)

Posted on Dec 25, 2009 10:21 AM

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Answer 1

roaminggnome

Level 10

106,401 points

Dec 25, 2009 10:43 AM in response to albertcrombie

I don't understand.

If your friends gave you an unlocked iphone, why do you need to get it unlocked?

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Answer 2

akarelin

Level 1

40 points

Dec 25, 2009 11:59 AM in response to albertcrombie

You have to put a sim-card into the iPhone, install iTunes on your computer and connect the phone to it. It will than be activated and ready to be used.

Please note that using iPhone requires you to have a data plan. Otherwise you might end up with a tough bill to pay (or no credit left if you're prepaid).

Good luck and merry christmas!

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Answer 3

Dec 25, 2009 3:08 PM in response to albertcrombie

@rominggnome they told me they got it from the apple store without the contract. i was just concerned if I can use it in Italy. Merry Christmas

@akarelin thank you! i'll make sure I have a data or Internet Service Subscription so i will not be billed so much! Thanks again and Merry Christmas!

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Answer 4

roaminggnome

Level 10

106,401 points

Dec 25, 2009 3:10 PM in response to albertcrombie

Without contract and unlocked are two entirely different things.

Where did they get the iphone (what country)?

Many countries do not sell unlocked iphones (i.e. the U.S.).

Did they say the iphone was unlocked? or simply did not require a contract?

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Answer 5

akarelin

Level 1

40 points

Dec 25, 2009 3:54 PM in response to roaminggnome

iPhone is sold unlocked in Italy as the law prohibits operators/manufacturers from selling sim-locked phones.

It is also possible to acquire unlocked iPhones in France and Germany.

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Answer 6

Dec 26, 2009 2:22 AM in response to albertcrombie

@rominggnome i wasn't so clear i'm sorry. They said they bought it without a contract and they bought it in the US. As you told me that in the States they sell it locked, that means that I have to make it unlocked, right?

@akalerin I've heard that in Italy they sell it unlocked but it's way to expensive! I was so desperate to have an iphone but I can't afford it (I think that's the reason my friends gave it to me). A 16gb iphone costs 860$, while the 32gb 1000$.

Going back to my question... so I need to get it unlocked, right? do you know where I can make it unlocked? I'm in NY now. How much will it cost me?
Thanks guys for the time! I appreciate it!!!

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Answer 7

wjosten

Level 10

95,369 points

Dec 26, 2009 2:26 AM in response to albertcrombie

If you bought the phone in the US, that means its carrier locked to AT&T. AT&T does not, has not & will not unlock iphones. You're SOL.

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Answer 8

Dec 26, 2009 8:49 AM in response to wjosten

oh ok thanks! i guess I have to do it by myself. thanks though and happy holidays!

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Answer 9

wjosten

Level 10

95,369 points

Dec 26, 2009 9:00 AM in response to albertcrombie

You've been warned: You run the risk of having a nice paperweight.

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Answer 10

Dec 26, 2009 9:06 AM in response to wjosten

Ya i know thanks though! have no other options: turn it back to the store, or keep it! thanks for your help though! Happy Holidays!

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Answer 11

Jan 16, 2010 10:36 AM in response to akarelin

I believe it is the usual way to disregard the law by italian Telephone companies. According to law you cannot sell a locked sim and they sell a "locked" iPhone. The informations are not so clear but after some research I ended with the following impression.
If you buy a iPhone you need to call the Company and have the IMEI registered in their database: of course if you buy from Vodafone you are obliged to call them and so on. With their data plan you connect to an APN which sound iphone.vodafone.it. Since APN is no more changeable you are obliged to follow them. Whit other phones you use the APN web.omnitel.it (omnitel is the old company name of Vodafone in Italy). Vodafone has also other low cost data-packages for normal phones with a different APN that limit the connection to wap.
I am not sure if one can use the "normal" APN with the iPhone supplied by Vodafone Italy. I do not know the situation of other companied but shoud be the same. If you buy from Apple it is the same story: you need to call one of the TLC and register the iPhone to use it on their "iPhoneAPN" so you are again limited.
Now.... why should i buy an iPhone in Italy and loose my freedom ??
I have a touch phone with WM6.1 which is definitely bad compared with iPhone but.... I can use any APN, use the same data and telephone contract on 2 SIM with same number. I use it to call and with WMWIFIRouter it makes a good WLAN. AND I CONNECT MI IPOD TOUCH TO THIS WLAN...
Nobody control my freedom. And I create my wlan with the same telephone and different SIM according to the speed of the net or even the country (Europe is several countries and the TLC forse you to pay a lot of money on roaming especially on data connection. So if you are Italian and making holydays in Greece better buy a local SIM. My system works, but if I had an iPhone...???
I will not buy an Iphone until I will be sure to use it as any Computer or Telephone FREE.. FREE to decide which telephone company to use, from which country and change accordingly the APN and sure that future upgrades will not limit my freedom again.
It is time that Apple takes side to put all this telephone companies in their right position: they just give us connections exactly in the same way as the power companies give us electricity from wall plugs.
And just to end.... is it legal this APN Limit in Italy ?
Walter

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