iPhone - Page 2

But nothing will prevent anyone from fiddling around with one and find the way to do so whether you're in the US or not. We will probably start seeing unlocked iPhones being used in other countries. I'm pretty much sure that a few of the ones that have been sold are already being taken apart by hardware/programming enthusiasts to see its inner workings.

Have people been able to unlock cell phones and send text messages on a different carrier?

From what I understand an unlocked phone can use voice, but not data capabilities of a competing network. If so that would cripple the functionality of the iPhone since data is some of its best features.
Well then again maybe you could still use WiFi so it might not be all that bad.

I did pick one up...it is a pretty amazing device....OS is fast as well as safari when in wifi...Edge isnt the fastest on the planet but it will work when needed and it works well when just pulling down email, updating weather/stocks/etc.

I had a HORRID time with activation...was trying to port over my VZW # and it just wouldnt do it...i finally gave up and took a default ATT # and it activated in literary 30 seconds...I called ATT and I can port my number over now with no issues...

well there's one (mostly) happy customer.


(I'm just a tad envious )

Agreed, and I'm definitely not switching to AT&T for this.

Unlocked (retail) phones can be used on any type of networks. Some phone carriers though program special features to be used on their network only, for example, T-Mobile phones come with a special T-Zones feature letting you access other downloads for your phone. So do AT&T, Verizon as well as other company specific branded phones as well. Whether your current carrier allows you to send data, voice or text messages to other carrier is strictly up to the carrier (see CLEC). Various carriers in other countries or areas allow you to send data and text messages to other carriers for a small fee but that depends mainly on an agreement between carriers or local government and country regulations regarding CLECS. Edit: To make a long story short regarding CLECs, a CLEC is a company that leases lines in bulk from an established larger carrier (AT&T for example) at a lower price and is able to offer these lines at a discount to the end user while still making a profit. The creation of CLECS allows for pricing competition breaking up local and country wide monopolies. * whadya you know, finally, the knowledge acquired from a sucky phone company not related to the ones mentioned he used to work for is being put to use. *

I don't have that problem with my unlocked phone.

im waiting until my carrier switches over to GSM before i pick up an iphone. there is only one carrier in canada who will (likely) have them in the near future but im not with that one and they wont come close to matching the deal i already get. its just a waiting game really. it looks like a nice phone but by the time i can get it better will be out there, if not a newer version of the iphone...

not only do i regularly send texts/data between different carriers but i do it between different countries too. never had an issue with an extra fee or it not working. even when i text someone in europe.

Whether the carrier charges a fee for data transmission or text messaging is strictly up to the carrier. I think this happens in Mexico, you can send text messages to phones from other carriers but they charge a small fee for that.

I bought a used locked T-Mobile branded phone for my younger brother for dirt cheap on eBay and had it sent to my country. I unlocked the phone, put in my brother's SIM card and it worked sending text, data and pictures without problems.

Later flashed the phone with retail firmware though as the T-Mobile special features have no use here and they removed a couple of features from the phone to put their stuff in it. I also bought a new T-Mobile branded unlocked phone for my sister and it worked here without problems as well.

Haven't flashed that phone nor she needs me to, still, the special T-Mobile features are on the phone menus just that they don't work here. Both phones are GSM.

Thanks for the Carrier 411.

What I know regarding carriers:

We have AT&T. We have had them for 8+ years.
Around here AT&T has had superior service over other carriers since the 80s.
We were kinda upset when Cingular (Formerly Pacific Bell in this area) purchasesd AT&T. When we renewed upgraged phones we had to switch to Cingular customer service (which was worse than AT&T). Now they change the name back...yatta yatta yatta

Any who....my wife's phone died about 4 months ago from getting wet. (it was my fault) since she did not yet qualify for new phone discount she purchased a used unlocked T-Mobile phone from e-bay. She CAN use voice, but CANNOT send text messages on it.

I know other countries are very different than the U.S. with regards to wireless standard. And for that reason other countries have better cell phones.

first person to get this on the forums gets banned

Perhaps Cingular has a different data sending standard or perhaps the phone has special T-Mobile programming for sending text, you may solve this by using a retail firmware on the phone but forum rules don't allow that type of discussion to go on around here *coughPMcough*.

Don't do it--smart men buy the right item at the right time. Wait for version 2.0, get a better product, maybe even at a lower price.

I wouldn't buy one. Spending $600 on a crippled device just isn't that bright.

Northsquad???