HT201643: Use cellular networks on your iPhone and iPad while you travel internationally

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inbavaria
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Q: Will an iPhone 4S work with a UK Vodafone SIM card?

My daughter will attend university in Scotland and I tried to get her a UK iPhone, but Vodafone won't give her a 2-yr contract with an iPhone because she is not a UK resident.  I am considering buying her an iPhone 4S in the US if it will work with the Vodfhone (or other GSM) SIM card in Scotland.

Many thanks in advance.

JR

Posted on Aug 17, 2012 2:46 PM

by wjosten,Solvedanswer
wjosten wjosten
Level 10 (94,627 points)
iPhone
A:

If officially unlocked, it will work just fine. If she has any issues though, she'll have to mail the phone back to you for all warranty & service. They won't touch a US iPhone in Europe. Might be cheaper to just purchase an unlocked iPhone in the UK. You can only purchase unlocked iPhones from Apple in either the US or the UK.

Posted on Aug 17, 2012 2:52 PM

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inbavaria

Q: Will an iPhone 4S work with a UK Vodafone SIM card?

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  • by wjosten,Solvedanswer

    wjosten wjosten Aug 17, 2012 2:52 PM in response to inbavaria
    Level 10 (94,627 points)
    iPhone
    Aug 17, 2012 2:52 PM in response to inbavaria

    If officially unlocked, it will work just fine. If she has any issues though, she'll have to mail the phone back to you for all warranty & service. They won't touch a US iPhone in Europe. Might be cheaper to just purchase an unlocked iPhone in the UK. You can only purchase unlocked iPhones from Apple in either the US or the UK.

  • by varjak paw,Helpful

    varjak paw varjak paw Aug 17, 2012 2:53 PM in response to inbavaria
    Level 10 (169,890 points)
    Aug 17, 2012 2:53 PM in response to inbavaria

    You would have to buy an unlocked (aka SIM-free) iPhone, available in the US only directly from Apple. It should then work with an GSM provider offering suitable service. Whether Vodaphone or any other UK carrier will give her service as a non-UK resident probably will not have anything to do with where she buys the phone itself, though.

     

    Regards.

  • by inbavaria,

    inbavaria inbavaria Aug 17, 2012 3:44 PM in response to inbavaria
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Aug 17, 2012 3:44 PM in response to inbavaria

    Many thanks wjosten and varjak.  I'll give it a try.

    Cheers,

    Jerry