Will American iPhone work with UK phone networks?

Question

Will American iPhone work with UK phone networks?

I am considering buying an iPhone but I am moving to London for a year to go to school. I am wondering if I can buy and American iPhone and use it on any of the British networks. I know that people all over London and the UK have iPhones too, and that they are compatible with British mobile networks. Can I insert a British SIM card into and American iPhone. I don't want to sign up with At&T and be stuck in a contract and pay international roaming charges for a whole year.

Thank you!

-Nichole

iphone 3G, iPhone OS 3.1.3

Posted on Jul 18, 2010 4:02 PM

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Answer 1

Jul 18, 2010 5:41 PM in response to nicholeproffitt

All US iPhones are carrier locked to AT&T. AT&T will not provide an unlock for any reason. Either buy an unlocked iPhone in the UK or pay international roaming charges for a year.

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Answer 2

CyBeRino

Level 1

70 points

Jul 18, 2010 7:31 PM in response to nicholeproffitt

American iPhones will technically work with british networks, yes. But as said above, they are locked to AT&T. Unfortunately, AT&T won't unlock an iPhone even to save your toddler's life, so if you get an iPhone 4 in the US you're stuck with them or illegal unlocking which is a rather giant pain in the ***.

However, in Londen iPhone 4 is sold without a carrier lock of any kind, so you can buy one there without a contract and continue to use it when you go back to the US. That does require paying full price for the phone, however. The other option is to buy it subsidized from one of the carriers that do that, and have them unlock it. O2 will do this after a year, I believe for free.

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