Unlocked iphone 3GS Purchased in Australia

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Unlocked iphone 3GS Purchased in Australia

I am going to Australia and plan to buy a iphone 3GS there.

I know that in Australia the iphone is officially sold unlocked and it is automatically unlocked for all the Australian service providers.

My question is will the phone also be officially unlocked for service providers outside Australia (so that I can use a local SIM card in other countries). In particular; Sri Lanka, US, UK, India and Dubai?

If it is unofficially unlocked will it get locked again when I update the operating software or if I have in flight mode when I travel between countries and change the SIM card.

Would appreciate any help in this since I don't want to jailbreak.

Thanks

Linusmv

3GS

Posted on Feb 10, 2010 11:15 AM

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Answer 1

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wjosten

Level 10

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Feb 10, 2010 11:22 AM in response to linusmv

All iphones sold in Australia are sold as carrier locked. However, all the carriers do offer unlocking. An officially unlocked phone will work on any GSM network with the appropriate activated sim. A non-officially unlocked phone will be re-locked to the carrier it was originally locked to should you try to update software or restore the phone. An officially unlocked phone will not experience such.

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Answer 2

linusmv Author

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Feb 10, 2010 11:30 AM in response to wjosten

wjosten

Thanks for the prompt reply.

Forgive my lack of knowledge but does your reply mean that since it will be officially unlocked I will be able to use it for example in the Uk with a UK SIM card?

Also, before I leave Australia will I need to activate it with an Australian SIM card or can I activate it for the first time using a UK SIM when I get back to London?

I presume from your reply that there will no issue of it locking automatically when I update the operating software or move between countries since it was officially unlocked.

Regards

Sunil

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Answer 3

wjosten

Level 10

95,321 points

Feb 10, 2010 11:37 AM in response to linusmv

Forgive my lack of knowledge but does your reply mean that since it will be officially unlocked I will be able to use it for example in the Uk with a UK SIM card?

Yes. On any GSM network with the appropriate activated sim.

Also, before I leave Australia will I need to activate it with an Australian SIM card or can I activate it for the first time using a UK SIM when I get back to London?

You will have to activate the phone in Australia with whatever carrier you chose. After that, most charge an additional fee to unlock. You will have to contact the carrier for their terms & fees.

I presume from your reply that there will no issue of it locking automatically when I update the operating software or move between countries since it was officially unlocked.

Correct.

You should also be aware of the fact that the iphone warranty & support is country specific. If you buy an iphone in Australia, you will have to return the phone to Australia for ANY and ALL warranty & support issues.

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Answer 4

linusmv Author

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Feb 11, 2010 12:23 PM in response to wjosten

wjosten

Thanks for all your help.

Regards

Linusmv

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Answer 5

Feb 11, 2010 1:17 PM in response to linusmv

Buy the phone from the Apple shop directly either in Sydney or Melbourne. Guaranteed to be unlocked and will be activated there if you wish. Don't buy from other retailers (telstra, optus or vodafone) as they can only sell phones which are locked to their Australian network, on a plan or prepaid. You can still get them unlocked but it will cost you between $75 & $150 do so in which case buying the unlocked phone directly from Apple will cost you a lot less. Good luck.

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