Purchasing Iphone In Czech Republic, Will it Work In UK Options

[steveuklad1]

Hi All. I know that Vodafone dont yet have the iphone for sale in the UK yet. But vodafone do sell it in Czech Republic and some other EU countries. My question is that I will possibly buy one out in czech when I am there to use it here in place of my current Nokia E71. Does anyone know if my uk vodafone sim will work in it as it? Will i be able to use vodafone live?
Many thanks in advance all.
Steve

[DPH]

It would be sim locked to a Vodafone Czech sim card so would have to be "jailbroken" to accept the Vodafone UK sim, then you would have to reconfigure all the settings to get things like Live! working. It's quite a headache to do all that only to have to do it all over again the next time Apple release an update as it will revert back to it's locked state, and the unlock method may not be the same either, so will have to wait for the hackers to crack the code again.

Personally for me it's a lot of work and a constant battle each time new software is released so isn't in my opinion a viable option, others may say different of course. Check out the HTC Magic as an alternative - a cracking bit of kit, my lodger got one a couple of weeks ago and it's the first phone I have seen in a long time that I think could replace my Nokia N95 8GB. The android interface is really slick, and the applications available grow by the day, if I get one (which I am strongly leaning towards) I might even write a few little applications myself if I can't find something which caters for the ideas I have got in my head already.

[steveuklad1]

Hi DPH - I'll take your advise and I appreaite it. I'm gonna wait until Sept/Oct 09 to get one when vodaphone uk bring it here to the uk..... Or i think I might just pay the circa £300 to vodaphoe to let me out of my current contract and go to o2 and get a free one there, as I cant get a free upgrade with vodaphone until Feb 2010 and if i did want to stay with vodafane and get a phone with them in sept/oct i'd still have to pay circa £300.

I had a look at that phone you mentioned, but iphone tick me box

Steve

[steveuklad1]

Hi DPH - Thanks for the update - I may defect to another network that supplies iphone and pay my £300 termination cost to voda phone as iphone not arriving here with vodafone till sept 09
Steve

It would be sim locked to a Vodafone Czech sim card so would have to be "jailbroken" to accept the Vodafone UK sim, then you would have to reconfigure all the settings to get things like Live! working. It's quite a headache to do all that only to have to do it all over again the next time Apple release an update as it will revert back to it's locked state, and the unlock method may not be the same either, so will have to wait for the hackers to crack the code again.

Personally for me it's a lot of work and a constant battle each time new software is released so isn't in my opinion a viable option, others may say different of course. Check out the HTC Magic as an alternative - a cracking bit of kit, my lodger got one a couple of weeks ago and it's the first phone I have seen in a long time that I think could replace my Nokia N95 8GB. The android interface is really slick, and the applications available grow by the day, if I get one (which I am strongly leaning towards) I might even write a few little applications myself if I can't find something which caters for the ideas I have got in my head already.

This post has been edited by steveuklad1: May 17 2009, 09:57 PM

[Claire_Vodafone]

Hi steveuklad1 and welcome aboard to the forum!

I have to agree with DPH in alot of ways here.... I can see that you have decided at his advice to wait until we launch the iphone later this year and I would recommend you do this too, I wouldnt shell out your hard earned pennies on cancelling a contract now instead of waiting until September.

Unlocking such a handset prior to that will cause you such a headache!

Have a look at the HTC Magic, I have to also say that its looking likely for my next upgrade and Im a huge Nokia fan, so this is groundbreaking for me!

Have a look at what the Magic does, in this link here.


Claire

eforum Team

[steveuklad1]

Hi Claire
Yea I'm gonna wait till sept. Only thing I'm a tad miffed at is that if i want it in sept 2009, I have to pay circa £300 for it whan it arrives, or wait till Feb 2010 when I get my free upgrade... Reason for being miffed is that I spend a fortune with Vodafone circa £100 per month - There's no good will I'm afraid

I'm a high user hence hiigh bills cos I make alot of calls and text to czech republic.

I looked at the HTC yes mentioned, but the iphone still wins for me.

Cheers
Steve

Having read some of the reports where people have obtained an iphone

Hi steveuklad1 and welcome aboard to the forum!

I have to agree with DPH in alot of ways here.... I can see that you have decided at his advice to wait until we launch the iphone later this year and I would recommend you do this too, I wouldnt shell out your hard earned pennies on cancelling a contract now instead of waiting until September.

Unlocking such a handset prior to that will cause you such a headache!

Have a look at the HTC Magic, I have to also say that its looking likely for my next upgrade and Im a huge Nokia fan, so this is groundbreaking for me!

Have a look at what the Magic does, in this link here.


Claire

eforum Team

[steveuklad1]

Hi All

Anyone know why if you get a iphone from czech from a vodafone store and bring it back that you have issues with it trying to use it on uk vodafone network- cos its connecting to Vodafone network here in the as well as the Czech.

Cheers
Steve

[Kirsty_Vodafone]

Hi Steve

I was sad to read that you're having problems with your new iphone.

I was a bit confused by your post as to what was not working.

What kind of problem are you having with the network exactly?
Did the phone connect to the network when you were in the Czech Republic?
Were you using a Czech or Vodafone UK SIM at the time?
Have you now jailbroken the phone to use the UK SIM in it?
Are you getting any error messages?
Which services aren't working?

I know this is a lot of questions but it will help me to narrow down what is causing the problems for you so we can fix them.



Kirsty
eForum Team

[MatC_Vodafone]

Hi everyone,

Just as a correction to the information mentioned above, we've not been given any specific information, internally or otherwise, to suggest thet Vodafone will be definitely getting the iPhone.

That's not to say that we're completely ruling it out, just that we're not aware either way of whether it's going to happen or not. If we do hear something, then we'll let you all know

Apologies for any confusion!

All the best,

MatC
eForum Team

[steveuklad1]

Hi Kirsty

I dont have an iphone, I wanted to get one from Czech as vodafone sell them there in there stores. And reading what everyone has said it appears to be a problem buying a phone there for use here in the uk with your uk sim card.

To be honest, I'm thinking for just paying vodafone the £300 to get out of my contract and go the the network in the UK that offers them, as its such a great peice of kit and has may features I like and would use.

Steve

Hi Steve

I was sad to read that you're having problems with your new iphone.

I was a bit confused by your post as to what was not working.

What kind of problem are you having with the network exactly?
Did the phone connect to the network when you were in the Czech Republic?
Were you using a Czech or Vodafone UK SIM at the time?
Have you now jailbroken the phone to use the UK SIM in it?
Are you getting any error messages?
Which services aren't working?

I know this is a lot of questions but it will help me to narrow down what is causing the problems for you so we can fix them.



Kirsty
eForum Team

[steveuklad1]

Hi Mat

Why are vodaphone selling the iphone in czech and other euopean countries?? and not here in the sad slow uk??

Steve

Hi everyone,

Just as a correction to the information mentioned above, we've not been given any specific information, internally or otherwise, to suggest thet Vodafone will be definitely getting the iPhone.

That's not to say that we're completely ruling it out, just that we're not aware either way of whether it's going to happen or not. If we do hear something, then we'll let you all know

Apologies for any confusion!

All the best,

MatC
eForum Team

[mr nice]

Hi Mat

Why are vodaphone selling the iphone in czech and other euopean countries?? and not here in the sad slow uk??

Steve

erm...........02 exclusivity in the UK, not for other countries

Nice

[James_Vodafone]

Heya Guys,

I'm afraid Mr Nice is correct here and we don't have any specific information regarding us getting the Iphone however as soon as we know we will update our coming soon section for you.

James
eForum Team

[jeffster_uk]

YES, Steve, an iPhone bought in the Czech Republic WILL work here, with no problems - You just need to buy the iPhone

See here :

http://forums.macrumors.com/showthread.php?t=569134

This post has been edited by jeffster_uk: Jun 9 2009, 12:38 PM

[steveuklad1]

Hi

THANKS for the update, that's great news. I'll buy it this weekend as I'm out there again as I am most weekends.

One other quick question, is does vodafone live work on your iphone?? As i use that alot as it's in my package

Cheers

Steve

YES, Steve, an iPhone bought in the Czech Republic WILL work here, with no problems - You just need to buy the iPhone

See here :

http://forums.macrumors.com/showthread.php?t=569134

[Bibbs]

Hey guys, I thought I'd post here instead of a new thread.

I'm off to Portugal soon, anychance of picking up a PAYG VF iPhone and then using my UK sim?

How would I find out if VF Portugal sim lock their iPhones?

As you can imagine, Google just throws up so much hear say and TurboSim Adverts ..

(I believe Orange in France can't lock them by law, but I've also read that VF Australia lock theirs even though there si more than one carrier selling the phone).

[jeffster_uk]

Steve,

I havent got an iPhone yet - The details on the MAC forum were from someone else, not me.

Would be interested to know how you get on with yours...

Regards,

Jeff

PS - How come you get out to Prague most weekends ? Job ? If so, can I have one ?

Hi

THANKS for the update, that's great news. I'll buy it this weekend as I'm out there again as I am most weekends.

One other quick question, is does vodafone live work on your iphone?? As i use that alot as it's in my package

Cheers

Steve

[steveuklad1]

Steve,

I havent got an iPhone yet - The details on the MAC forum were from someone else, not me.

Would be interested to know how you get on with yours...

Regards,

Jeff

PS - How come you get out to Prague most weekends ? Job ? If so, can I have one ?

Hi Jeff

My partner, she is czech and I have a house there too

Also, there is a new iphone the 3G S

have a look http://www.macrumors.com/iphone/

Cheers

Steve

[jeffster_uk]

Steve,

You lucky sod ! Is your house in Prague

I love the place, spend time in Pardubice as well as Prague (Go over 3 / 4 times a year)

Yeah, heard about the 3GS....O2 pricing is way OTT !

Would be great if you drop me a line at (email removed), as well as posting your experiences of your new iPhone on the forum

Dekuji !


Jeff

Hi Jeff

My partner, she is czech and I have a house there too

Also, there is a new iphone the 3G S

have a look http://www.macrumors.com/iphone/

Cheers

Steve

[steveuklad1]

Hey guys, I thought I'd post here instead of a new thread.

I'm off to Portugal soon, anychance of picking up a PAYG VF iPhone and then using my UK sim?

How would I find out if VF Portugal sim lock their iPhones?

As you can imagine, Google just throws up so much hear say and TurboSim Adverts ..

(I believe Orange in France can't lock them by law, but I've also read that VF Australia lock theirs even though there si more than one carrier selling the phone).

Hi Bud

I'm not sure to be honest. But go to this forum and check out what is written there, I got this link from Jeff below http://forums.macrumors.com/showthread.php?t=569134
Also there is a new iphone 3GS coming out 19th June in the uk I think have a look here http://www.macrumors.com/iphone/

Let me know how you get on.

Steve