UK iPhone in RSA

A

Art Vanderlay

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Hi folks,

my sister is moving from Edinburgh to Capetown.

I'd like to give her an iphone as a gift - my one had a problem and needed fixed so i upgraded to a 3G model, but they have replaced the original with a brand new iphone (original model)...

You guys got the iPhone yet, or it's about to launch? Info online is a bit confusing...

I'm wondering if any of you can help me out with the straight dope - what should she do with this phone?

- register with a service provider there? - you heave official tarrifs, yeah? i hear you guys are getting screwed without unlimited data transfer...

- or does she need to get it unlocked when she gets there for ease of use?

Any info appreciated..

Thanks
 
So if i unerstand correctly you need to unlock the NON 3G iPhone? (Your old 2G iPhone) ?

If so, piece of cake.

If your talkin about the 3G - there is no software unlock as of yet, but there is a hardware unlock - sim card adapter which you insert into the sim card slot with your sim card which unlocks it for you.

See my sig for the iPhone thread where you can get more information and ask more questions ;)
 
kris860911 said:
Grrr, touchy subject :)


Grrr, touchy subject :D
Click to expand...

​

Sorry folks. :-(

Checked and she is an existing Vodacom customer - she's been a regular visitor to South Africa -- would the best thing not be to upgrade her account with them to a legit iphone tarriff, without the oodles of rand they're charging for the phone itself - cos she already has one - ?

Is it even possible to do this?

Or would she be better off with an unlocked phone - over here there's only one carrier with an exclusive deal with apple, and it sucks a bit too but I've never considered the jailbreak cos of fears once you do upgrades etc - but if unlocking is the best option, I shall point her towards the tips and tricks thread...

Many thanks,

Art
 
At the moment, Vodacom SA does not have an iPhone tarrif.

She has two options with her iPhone.

1) Use prepaid. Exepensive, but you can control what you spend
2) Take out a contract. We have weekender contracts (off peak minutes only) and Talk Contracts (Anytime Minutes). With her contract, she will get a free phone. Take the most expensive free one. Take the free phone, sell it, and use the sim card in the iPhone.

Cellphones and mobile data here cost alot. There is no way around it.
 
Art Vanderlay said:
​

Sorry folks. :-(

Checked and she is an existing Vodacom customer - she's been a regular visitor to South Africa -- would the best thing not be to upgrade her account with them to a legit iphone tarriff, without the oodles of rand they're charging for the phone itself - cos she already has one - ?

Is it even possible to do this?
Click to expand...

Like Broken said. Vodacom has not released any info on the iPhone here yet.. SO we can only speculate...

btw, welcome to MyBB, hope u stay even after you have found your answer :)
 
kris860911 said:
Like Broken said. Vodacom has not released any info on the iPhone here yet.. SO we can only speculate...

btw, welcome to MyBB, hope u stay even after you have found your answer :)
Click to expand...

Sure I'll drop in here and there, and will direct mt sister accordingly - this forum is the same skin as my football team in Edinburgh... we just signed a player form the Kaiser Chiefs.

So what's the bottom line: do you guys actually have iPhones yet? I'm sure I saw a pre-order webpage somewhere during my trawlings, thought it was for vodacom but evidently not... or have they been delaying release?
 
Art Vanderlay said:
Sure I'll drop in here and there, and will direct mt sister accordingly - this forum is the same skin as my football team in Edinburgh... we just signed a player form the Kaiser Chiefs.

So what's the bottom line: do you guys actually have iPhones yet? I'm sure I saw a pre-order webpage somewhere during my trawlings, thought it was for vodacom but evidently not... or have they been delaying release?
Click to expand...

Yeah some of us have iPhones..

I had to unlock mine before i could use it on ANY network here in SA.. Thats what you sisters going to have to do if she wants to use it here in SA. Im also on Vodacom Prepaid.

The unlock procedure is simple enough.. Heres a nice guide to get her on the latest firmware -

http://www.iclarified.com/entry/index.php?enid=1557 - For Mac
http://www.iclarified.com/entry/index.php?enid=1572 - For Windows
 
broken1 said:
At the moment, Vodacom SA does not have an iPhone tarrif.

She has two options with her iPhone.

1) Use prepaid. Exepensive, but you can control what you spend
2) Take out a contract. We have weekender contracts (off peak minutes only) and Talk Contracts (Anytime Minutes). With her contract, she will get a free phone. Take the most expensive free one. Take the free phone, sell it, and use the sim card in the iPhone.

Cellphones and mobile data here cost alot. There is no way around it.
Click to expand...

The SIM card would still not work in the iPhone as it hasn't been officially released here yet.. Would still not pick up a Vodacom signal..

Maybe when the iPhone is officially released it will work but we'll see about that when it's actually released :)
 
Art Vanderlay said:
So what's the bottom line: do you guys actually have iPhones yet? I'm sure I saw a pre-order webpage somewhere during my trawlings, thought it was for vodacom but evidently not... or have they been delaying release?
Click to expand...

They're supposed to be launching it here soon but they haven't yet, there's no official launch data yet as far as I know. Basically if the iphone's unlocked she should be able to use it on any network here.
 
I see...

Have they been tantalising you with "Coming this Spring" and "Coming this Summer" and basically not getting their act together and atually releasing the darn things?

I imagine this will mean that you get the 3G version, I suppose no reason to release original - unless they offer it as a cheaper option.

It's ridiculous you don't have them yet - just looked at a list of countries who do. It includes the global superpowers of Liechtenstein, Nicaragua and St. Kitts and Nevis.

!
 
Art Vanderlay said:
IIt's ridiculous you don't have them yet - just looked at a list of countries who do. It includes the global superpowers of Liechtenstein, Nicaragua and St. Kitts and Nevis.

!
Click to expand...

This is Africa. Your sister's chance of getting mugged will increase many times just by disembarking the plane. iPhone delays of a few months
are the least of our concerns.
 
Art Vanderlay said:
I see...

Have they been tantalising you with "Coming this Spring" and "Coming this Summer" and basically not getting their act together and atually releasing the darn things?

I imagine this will mean that you get the 3G version, I suppose no reason to release original - unless they offer it as a cheaper option.

It's ridiculous you don't have them yet - just looked at a list of countries who do. It includes the global superpowers of Liechtenstein, Nicaragua and St. Kitts and Nevis.

!
Click to expand...

The usual marketing with no actual product launch:rolleyes:, they skipped the original version and are going straight to 3G although some people did import the original unofficially. St Kitts & Nevis, that's just depressing. :D
 
PeterCH said:
This is Africa. Your sister's chance of getting mugged will increase many times just by disembarking the plane. iPhone delays of a few months
are the least of our concerns.
Click to expand...

Fair play sir. Was just a bit of flipancy - apologies if I came over as a bit of a breast.
 
Syndyre said:
The usual marketing with no actual product launch:rolleyes:, they skipped the original version and are going straight to 3G although some people did import the original unofficially. St Kitts & Nevis, that's just depressing. :D
Click to expand...

Haha. MY thoughts exactly.

Although, we are better than them at sooccer (allegedly) 73rd vs 160th on FIFA listings
 
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