buy iphone 3gs from the US

[janplank]

Hi everyone.

I know a friend who is going to America next week. I was wondering if I could ask him to buy me an Apple iphone 3gs.

If there is anybody out there that has experience in this, please tell me. I am due for an upgrade on the 20th of april 2010.

1. Should I spend the $200 - $300 for an Iphone?
2. will my friend have to pay extra cost (customs, vat etc) on top of the cost of the phone he paid in the US when he gets back to SA?
3. will the phone work with a vodacom network / simcard?
4. if the above works and something goes wrong with the phone, will the warranty still cover it?
5. if the phone is not compatible with our network, can I unlock the phone in some way (I've heard about jailbreak...)
5. let's say the phone is covered by the warranty, will it still be covered if "jailbreaked"?
6. any other implications I didn't think of?
7. should I just forget the idea of getting a cheap iphone and wait for my upgrade? (I was thinking of getting the sony ericsson satio)

choices...choices...choices....

 

[Glock26]

No
Yes
No
No
Yes, but not reliably
No
USA not a good source. Get from Uk or Hk where they cme factory unlocked. Minimum about $800.
Yes

 

[Pooky]

1. Should I spend the $200 - $300 for an Iphone? Yes they are awesome!
2. will my friend have to pay extra cost (customs, vat etc) on top of the cost of the phone he paid in the US when he gets back to SA? If he declares it, then yes I think.
3. will the phone work with a vodacom network / simcard? No it won't.
4. if the above works and something goes wrong with the phone, will the warranty still cover it? I don't think so, because you will have to unlock it and jailbreak it.
5. if the phone is not compatible with our network, can I unlock the phone in some way (I've heard about jailbreak...) You can, as long as it is not the new 3.1.3 firmware, then you have to connect it to you computer every time you wish to switch it on. (I stand to be corrected).
6. any other implications I didn't think of? If you are able to unlock it, then when Apple release updates in the future you might be inhibited from using them as your phone will become unusable.
7. should I just forget the idea of getting a cheap iphone and wait for my upgrade? (I was thinking of getting the sony ericsson satio) No. When your upgrade comes along you should opt for a contract without a phone and therefore pay reduced rates (like me, I pay R99 for R200).


Hope that helps somewhat.

 

[janplank]

what will happen if he doesn't declare it? if someone asks, its a present :erm:

so it seems that it is not a good idea to get it from the us. Lets say someone from new zealand buy an iphone there and give it as a "present" to me? I've heard their phones are unlocked, not sure if it is true though....

if the phone is already unlocked, do I still need jailbreak?

Whats that you said about paying half on your contract. I am on vodacom topup 315. for which network is that?

 

[Pooky]

what will happen if he doesn't declare it? if someone asks, its a present :erm:

so it seems that it is not a good idea to get it from the us. Lets say someone from new zealand buy an iphone there and give it as a "present" to me? I've heard their phones are unlocked, not sure if it is true though....

if the phone is already unlocked, do I still need jailbreak?

Whats that you said about paying half on your contract. I am on vodacom topup 315. for which network is that?

Unlocking is different to jailbreaking. Unlocking means opening your phone to all networks, jailbreaking means making the iPhone be able to install third party applications not accessible through the iTunes store. My phone is unlocked, but I have jailbroken it.

I am on MTN, it is a use your own phone contract. I pay R99 per month, and get R200 airtime and 25 free sms's... Pretty cool.

 

[news24]

what will happen if he doesn't declare it? if someone asks, its a present :erm:

so it seems that it is not a good idea to get it from the us. Lets say someone from new zealand buy an iphone there and give it as a "present" to me? I've heard their phones are unlocked, not sure if it is true though....

if the phone is already unlocked, do I still need jailbreak?

Whats that you said about paying half on your contract. I am on vodacom topup 315. for which network is that?

Seeing that sourcing an iPhone from the states is not such a good idea, then, you can ask your friend to buy an iPad for you.

 

[janplank]

Unlocking is different to jailbreaking. Unlocking means opening your phone to all networks, jailbreaking means making the iPhone be able to install third party applications not accessible through the iTunes store. My phone is unlocked, but I have jailbroken it.

So I guess that if it's a new phone, there is a good possibility that the phone might have the latest firmware that will prevent me from using jailbreak?

seems like a lot of trouble to go through to get a cheap iphone...

 

[Synaesthesia]

Plus you can't just plonk down $200 for an iPhone - you have to sign a contract, then opt out of the contract. An iPhone without contract is like $500-700.

 

[surfs-up]

Plus you can't just plonk down $200 for an iPhone - you have to sign a contract, then opt out of the contract. An iPhone without contract is like $500-700.

I remembered seeing something like $ 800.00 for an iPhone WITHOUT a contract. If you think you can get an iPhone for $ 200.00 then you are in for a surprise. To get it for that price, you need to:
1. Be a US citizen
2. Produce a social security number
3. Sign a contract, where you pay $ 200.00 cash...... BUT will be billed every month for the next 2 or 3 years.
2. Provide a US address etc

Basically the same as when you take out a contract here - because at that price, you are paying the iPhone off in instalments over a few years.

 

[janplank]

What a load of crap to be a us citizen...