iPhone specific SIM cards....?

[Ranger 6]

Had a call from one of the major networks to try and sell me some stuff - ultimately I'm not interested and am looking at making the swap to an iPhone at my next upgrade.

Now, this is where it appeared to get funny - the sales chap tried to tell me that while I could buy an unlocked iPhone from various vendors, I wouldn't be able to use my existing SIM card as the iPhone needs a spcific SIM and that they would issue me with one should I choose to change to one.

So, as my current tariff (which includes mobile data and email etc) is really very cheap, my question is can I use my existing SIM card(supplied new last year) in an unlocked phone such as this. That would give me more freedom as I wouldn't be locked to an 18 month contract and the overall cost wouldn't be that much more.

Oh, yes - if anyone has any better places for unlocked phones.....

[Nat_H]

The chap is wrong.

I am using the same SIM card from my Nokia 8800 Sirocco, which was then used in my Nokia 8800 Sapphire Arte, and in now in my 3GS, which originally was an O2 handset.

And in regards to getting an iphone, O2 payg for £400 ish, and £15 for them to factory unlock it is quite a cheap way to get one.

Edited by Nat_H on Thursday 15th April 16:12

[HellDiver]

I'm using my O2 iPhone SIM in my Nokia X6. Works 100%.

[JB!]

i had my sim changed when i upgraded in store... was told due to the data volumes?

[Primo]

Bullst scare tactics.

I use my vodafone sim in my jailbroken and unlocked iPhone. No issues. £20 a month for 600mins, unlimited texts and unlimited web. Will get into a new one when they are released in the summer....but will probably be able to get a vodafone one instead.

[LukeBird]

It doesn't need a specific SIM card for an iPhone, but if you have a SIM card that isn't 3G then he isn't talking complete BS.
You will need one of those if you want to use the 3G data side of the phone.

[randlemarcus]

He's probably half-read an article about the teeny weeny SIM for the iPad, and mixed them up. Either way, he's talking bks.

[Mr E]

Primo said:

Bullst scare tactics.

Yup. It's astonishing the amount of crap that some people will come out with.

(I am aware this is pot calling...)

[Ranger 6]

LukeBird said:

It doesn't need a specific SIM card for an iPhone, but if you have a SIM card that isn't 3G then he isn't talking complete BS.
You will need one of those if you want to use the 3G data side of the phone.

That's the key for me, I do have a 3G SIM in my current Nokia E71 - thanks

Thanks for all the useful comments - I did think it was 'BS scare tactics' but not being completely sure I thought I'd ask the real experts!

[Mattt]

Unless he was accidentally/deliberately confused with the iPad?

Edit: Marcus said above.

Edited by Mattt on Thursday 15th April 17:02

[Ranger 6]

Nat_H said:

....And in regards to getting an iphone, O2 payg for £400 ish, and £15 for them to factory unlock it is quite a cheap way to get one.

This does appear to be cheap - but, all the info I can find locks the PAYG phone to a 12 month limit.

[Nat_H]

Ranger 6 said:

Nat_H said:

....And in regards to getting an iphone, O2 payg for £400 ish, and £15 for them to factory unlock it is quite a cheap way to get one.

This does appear to be cheap - but, all the info I can find locks the PAYG phone to a 12 month limit.

From another thread;

Nat_H said:

Driver Rider said:

Nat_H said:

Only if its a Conttact 02 iphone.

PAYG is straight away, well 14 days from the time you request it.

so if i get PAYG i wont have to unlock the phone ever again assuming i suse the same sim card? the reason i ask is because i went into town today and the staff didn't seem to have a clue.

This is what I did;

I bought the phone from Carphone wehouse (3GS 16gb) for £440, + £20 top up as O2 charge £15 to unlock the phone, and you must have the £15 on the account for the 14 days they take to up lock.

Then filled in this form

O2 have this on their site;

"Firstly, complete the unlocking form - it will take up to 14 days for the iPhone to be unlocked and we'll text you to confirm the unlock request. Then place a non-O2 sim into the iPhone and connect to iTunes via a USB cable. iTunes will confirm that the iPhone has been successfully unlocked. "

Around 14 days later, you will notice your balance reduce by £15, and then then next day you'll get a text from O2 saying its unlocked.

Insert the SIM of the provider you want to use, and then plug it into itunes, where you will get this screen;




Now my phone works on Vodafone.

[Bada Bing]

doesnt sound right to me.

Why waste £15 its easy to unlock if you jailbreak it!

[Primo]

Bada Bing said:

doesnt sound right to me.

Why waste £15 its easy to unlock if you jailbreak it!

Can't unlock the latest firmware yet though!

[Nat_H]

Bada Bing said:

doesnt sound right to me.

Why waste £15 its easy to unlock if you jailbreak it!

Because you can't update it via itunes when new the new OS comes out?

And it will "just work" with any SIM, and no d!cking around required. Worth more than £15 to me imo.

Edited by Nat_H on Thursday 15th April 17:33

[Targarama]

Bada Bing said:

doesnt sound right to me.

Why waste £15 its easy to unlock if you jailbreak it!

Because some people don't want the hastle of jailbreaking, and they must forever remember not to hit the 'update' button in iTunes. A little fiddly for some.

I'm running an O2 PAYG 3G, unlocked by me, was on T-mobile, now on Vodafone £20 a month. Works just fine.

[Racefan_uk]

Bada Bing said:

doesnt sound right to me.

Why waste £15 its easy to unlock if you jailbreak it!

Probably because when it's unlocked legitimatly, you don't have the issue of not being able to update the phone regularly like you do when it's been jailbroken? (I don't know for sure, it's just a guess) The software updates go through as normal without you having to reset and re-jailbreak each time?

[beakr]

Could the bloke have meant that the iPhone ideally requires a iPhone specific plan. From what I recall "special" iPhone services won't work on a normal plan (visual voicemail etc)

However, saying that, the big networks all offer iPhones now so this isn't really a big factor.

[Ranger 6]

Nat_H said:

From another thread;

Nat_H said:

Useful stuff....

Thanks, that's the process I found, looks like the furore about 12 month limits has gone now then if it's that easy

[ccr32]

beakr said:

Could the bloke have meant that the iPhone ideally requires a iPhone specific plan. From what I recall "special" iPhone services won't work on a normal plan (visual voicemail etc)

However, saying that, the big networks all offer iPhones now so this isn't really a big factor.

This is what I was thinking - not sure if visual voicemail is a network-activated thing, or handset/sim activated...