Any advice on buying an iphone in the US?

[Driver]

My sister really really wants an iphone - can you buy an unlocked iphone in the states? Does anyone have any experience of buying one in the US? We will be in San Francisco for the first week and it would be great if someone else has already done the legwork - I really don't want to spend a week searching out one for her for the best price. It is not a huge priority for me but I'd like to help her if it is an easy task. She would rather own one outright than go on a plan. I know nothing so all advice will feed through to her - my phone just makes calls and takes calls and I'm very happy with that.

I am however looking at the Creative Zen mp3 players! Advice there will be welcome too!!

2 days to blast off and counting

 

[Driver]

Sorry guys - wrong forum - am moving it to Whirlpool. :arrow::arrow::arrow:

 

[thegurio]

You never know someone might be able to help here?

Having said that, why dont you get one from an Apple shop here (I think you can pick up an 8 gig version for about $800) and get here to change the charger over. The down side i guess is that they are 3g so might not work all that well...

I'll leave it to the experts that have one, and unlike me, have been to the US since they had it. I cant see it being an issue but you never know.

By the way, my theory is that this phone absolutely rocks and the only drawback is that the battery life is shocking!



Disclaimer: I own and iPhone and am smitten with it!

 

[Driver]

Thanks! I don't want to use it in the States though - my sister here in Australia wants one - she thinks they are wonderful too! She just thought if I was going to any tax free states (New Hampshire is one I'm going to) I might pick one up a bit cheaper than here. If it were me, I'd buy it here and get the Aust warranty etc. I'm a 'rather be safe than sorry' type of person for that amount of money. I'm happy with my little samsung - I push #2 and voila, there is Mr Driver! Doesn't take much to make me happy as you can see!

 

[simongr]

Remember if you buy here before you travel you can get the GST back at the airport under the tourist refund scheme.

 

[Platy]

Looked into this while in US a few weeks ago. The US phones we came across were "locked" to US carriers. So be very careful - phone must be unlocked and you need to know a local carrier in Australia will give you a plan on which you can use the thing - the local plans I have seen include a phone anyway. That said it may be worth checking out an Apple shop (there's one in Ala Moana Mall, Waikiki if you happen to be doing a HNL transit amongst many other locations) since that is a more likely place to get a non carrier specific (locked) phone (we didn't bother to wait and find out as the queue to buy the iPhone was out the door)!

Vodafone in Australia use to do a lot of "open" arrangements under their freedom branding, but are increasingly returning to lock in contracts, which include phone purchase.

Also be sure that any phone you buy has the latest software patches - the phone has been reported to have teething problems with its software (a claim I cannot personally verify) - so you don't want one that's been sitting in a box for a while, you want one fresh out of the factory!!!

My advice (with former experience in the telco industry) is to leave the thing well a alone for a few months...I don't think you'll find significiant savings anyway on the pricing I saw on my trip and the subsequent slide in the AUS $ against the US $...but things can change rapidly...

 

[NM]

With the A$ still dropping, the benefits of purchasing overseas is reducing. You could buy here and get the GST back when departing the country under the TBS. Just be aware that you need to include the value of the item (less appropriate depreciation) when completing your customs declaration form on arrival back into Australia.

 

[simongr]

Also be sure that any phone you buy has the latest software patches - the phone has been reported to have teething problems with its software (a claim I cannot personally verify) - so you don't want one that's been sitting in a box for a while, you want one fresh out of the factory!!!

The new software update came out yesterday(ish) for iPhone. Any new phone you get or old phone will automatically do a software update when you first (kind of) start it up.

Note that if you unlock a phone from the US there is a risk of it becoming a "brick" and being useless and you probably wont be able to install software updates.

Also if trying to buy a phone in the US you will need to sign up to a carrier contract that requires (amongst other things) a US social security number and/or evidence of residence in the US.

Frankly the only reason to get the iPhone in the US was because you couldnt get it here. Now you can get it here the reasons for me are overwhelming to get it here rather than there.

Now for me sadly I have a company issued BB which if i wanted to swap to an iPhone would require me to wear the entire cost of all calls/data on the phone which I am struggling to justify. I am living the iPhone experience vicariously through my iPod touch - though the call quality is very poor

 

[Platy]

The new software update came out yesterday(ish) for iPhone. Any new phone you get or old phone will automatically do a software update when you first (kind of) start it up.

Thanks for the clarification, Simongr. I guess things have changed since I bought a hot off the blocks N70 soon after launch and the thing was a nightmare ' cos the software wasn't up to scratch. :shock:

 

[IainF]

The new software update came out yesterday(ish) for iPhone. Any new phone you get or old phone will automatically do a software update when you first (kind of) start it up.
Not entirely true.. you can set Itunes to not do an auto update.

Note that if you unlock a phone from the US there is a risk of it becoming a "brick" and being useless and you probably wont be able to install software updates.
Very small risk I believe, I have got 2 iphones from the USA earlier this year and have had not one problem with either of them.
Also if trying to buy a phone in the US you will need to sign up to a carrier contract that requires (amongst other things) a US social security number and/or evidence of residence in the US.
No ID is required at the Apple store, only if you buy from the carrier stores
Frankly the only reason to get the iPhone in the US was because you couldnt get it here. Now you can get it here the reasons for me are overwhelming to get it here rather than there.
I agree with this mainly due to possible warranty issues

Now for me sadly I have a company issued BB which if i wanted to swap to an iPhone would require me to wear the entire cost of all calls/data on the phone which I am struggling to justify. I am living the iPhone experience vicariously through my iPod touch - though the call quality is very poor
I have both an Iphone and a BB 8707v (3G)..having both gives me the best of both worlds...but I don't have to pay for the calls.....:mrgreen:

Just to add to Simon's comments....

 

[thegurio]

Did the same update come out for the iPhone? If it did i'll connect it up and update - hopefully it will have an A2DP profile! Like has been said before, with my experience of updates it can sit in the box for 12 months and still be good after an update...


I too would choose to get one here or warranty, volt compatibility etc. Having said that however, you can pick one up from a Apple shop. Failing that you can get one from Telstra like i did for $60 a month with $160 odd up front. Includes 150mb of data (which is necessary considering how this thing needs data....

And im sure that the other carriers have got some good deals, however with Telstra that only usable network here i dont bother looking elsewhere.

And no i don't have nay affiliation with Telstra - just surprised at this deal, in fact so surprised i bought 3!

EDIT: Seems the update is available tommorow! Not to worry - heres to hoping that it helps the battery life heaps...

 

[ozscot]

My understanding with AT&T in the States is you have to Activate the phone before leaving the store, whether an AT&T or Apple Store.

Activation involves signing up for a contract. Even if you were to unlock the phone, ie modify the software to allow it to work with another carrier's SIM card, you'd still be up for AT&T's contract - presuming you can get one in the first place without local credit rating and ssn.

AFAIK the utilities available for unlocking and jail breaking the iPhone do not yet work with the current operating system which will already be installed when you get a new handset now.

I'd suggest it's all too hard, and as Simongr says now you can get one through the local retail channel there's better alternatives, with the telocs offering plans and outright purchase deals.

Cheers,
Steve.

 

[Febs]

I think there's a bit of confusion.

iPhone 1 (no longer available) - You purchased it for $399/$499USD, then were "obliged" to activate it at home. Of course, only ~50% of people did. The rest hacked them and used them on whatever network they felt like (like me ).

iPhone 2 (current 3G iPhone) - You purchase it on contract, and sign up in the shop, just like Australian carriers have been offering since mobile phones were released in Australia. Or you buy it outright...for $929AUD or so (for the 16gb).

I really don't know of any way to get around it now, apart from of course buying it outright.

AFAIK the utilities available for unlocking and jail breaking the iPhone do not yet work with the current operating system which will already be installed when you get a new handset now.

They do, but the restriction is in the purchasing of the iPhone.

Cheers,
- Febs.

 

[Driver]

I sent a link to this thread through to my sister - she is grateful for the sound advice given here and has decided to bide her time for a little - in the hope that the price will come down a little here in Australia and the phone will become more readily available unlocked. Thanks for your posts - it was all a bit confusing as, when she rang the Apple Sydney store as well as the Canberra one where she lives both said she could not buy unlocked whereas her local Vodaphone said the Canberra store is selling unlocked - waiting will not be a bad thing - maybe they will improve the battery!

 

[simongr]

waiting will not be a bad thing - maybe they will improve the battery!

Waiting is a terrible terrible thing!

The battery issues are meant to be addressed by the latest software update.

 

[Driver]

Waiting is a terrible terrible thing!

Oh, I would have to agree and I am not as patient. If I wanted it, I'd just get it :!: Life is too short :!::!:

 

[winfred]

A few of my friends bought iPhones on the internet through a web retailer (I think based in China). They got the iPhone 3Gs 16g for around $500. The website I think is www.elecaon.com. They said the phones they got are genuine but I don't think there is warranty on them as Apple here would not service them.

 

[drewbles]

A few of my friends bought iPhones on the internet through a web retailer (I think based in China). They got the iPhone 3Gs 16g for around $500. The website I think is www.elecaon.com. They said the phones they got are genuine but I don't think there is warranty on them as Apple here would not service them.

Also not likely to be genuine phones. Keeping in mind, Apple sell the handsets via any retail store in Australia now (this is an old thread), unlocked and available to use on any carrier. You can buy them from Welcome to the Apple Store - Apple Store (Australia) .

Do not buy these kinds of things from dodgy online stores. You're only asking for trouble (and that store doesn't exist anyway)

 

[notzac]

Also not likely to be genuine phones. Keeping in mind, Apple sell the handsets via any retail store in Australia now (this is an old thread), unlocked and available to use on any carrier.

Agreed - the advice at the top of the thread is very old and only really applied to the 1st gen iPhones that weren't available in Australia. The iPhone 3G and 3GS were both released locally and are available either subsidised from the carrier of your choice or outright from Apple - and handsets bought outright from Apple are unlocked, so you don't have to worry about that either. Given that the iPhone 3GS can't be unlocked by anyone but Apple (yet), this is extremely important if you're looking at something from overseas.

 

[winfred]

Phones are genuine but source is questionable. The website can't be access at times.

I would not buy from them myself but my friends who bought from them said they will buy from them again.