So i noticed that they are selling unlocked iphones in HK now for 5400 HKD or about 700 US. Since i already have about half of that in HKD sitting in my room from previous trips, i was thinking maybe i can pick one up during my trip there next month.

anyways my question is if i were to get one, could i use it here in the US with AT&T? would it have the same functionality as if i were to buy it from at&t (if i decide to tack on the data plans and whatever else is needed)?

says here that i can just stick in any sim card and just activate it with itunes.
http://store.apple.com/hk/browse/hom.../family/iphone

whats involved with the activation process?

and im i going to be stuck with a UI in Chinese?

 

I thought the iphonea don't have sim cards. If this was legit it would be all over the internet. Why would you pay 700 for a phone that you can get for 200-300 here? Even if you had to cancel your current plan and upgrade you will still be paying less than 350

 

they do have sim cards, and i cant cancel my plan since im under a family plan and i just renewed so even if i got one i would be paying 400 for the phone and then renewing for another 2 years.

i would be paying 400 anyways since i already have about $300US in HKD already.

and it is legit, i just posted a link to the apple website in HK

 

iphones have sim cards.

The issue you would have is actually activating it...you need to do that at an apple store or an at&t store...so you'd have to have an "in" in order to get it activated.

i'm sure you have posted this already, but why don't you just buy an iphone from at&t since you are going to use it on at&t anyway?

 

i'd just bite the bullet and get the iphone from at&t...exchange your HKD for some US dollars...

 

the thing is, the iphone there is fully unlocked meaning i could stick in any sim card.

 

I've purchased a few unlocked phones from overseas, and they all were plug and play. I didn't have to activate them. I'm not too sure about iphones, but I don't see why they would be any different.

 

Not necessarily, the networks that use SIM cards here are GSM (AT&T and T-mobile). The EVDO network (Sprint and Verizon) don't use SIM cards. If you are using AT&T, ensure that it is unlocked for GSM.

 

yea i wasnt counting on using it with sprint or verzion. Im pretty sure it would work, just dont know what goes on with the activation process with iTunes.

 

the reason why im considereing this option is because i already renewed my contract with AT&T this past December, so i have until December of next year before i am eligible for an upgrade. Also its a family plan so i cant cancel my account and start over. And i wont be able to get the iphone for 400 and renew for another 2 years.

I figure since i already have about 300US in Hong Kong dollars, It would leave me with getting the iphone for the same $400 and not have to renew my contract.

 

matt do you really want the Iphone?

 

the first generation could be unlock. Still waiting to see the new one unlock and if you have ATT why bother

 

yes.

 

Buy one. Come home, put in your SIM card, and use it at you leisure. It will work fine, iTunes will activate it for you...iTunes will know it's an unlocked phone by it's IMEI/Serial#.

It will work just like one you bought from here, except you can use any SIM you want from any provider. AND, it's the SAME price as they're charging for a locked one without a contract here in Canada at least.

 

Thanks

 

I don't understand your logic about $300US you have in HKD. If you are going to Hong Kong, you can use that money for other stuff. You are going to spend money there anyway. Go buy yourself a girl!

If you plan on staying with AT&T, just buy one here, even if you have to pay full price of $400. That is what you expect to pay for the unlocked phone anyway.

If you were planning on using it on another GSM service, I could understand, but not if you plan on sticking with AT&T.

 

If it's already unlock, it should work fine when you bring it here. Same for unlock here and bring to Asia (1st gen Iphone unlock).

 

My Iphone is unlocked, its quite easy to unlock an Iphone with Quickpwn.
IMO unless you are getting a deal theres no point but do what you will daniel son.

 

im not sure if i am going to stick with at&t, and if i were to pay full price i would be extending my contract another 2 years, which i dont want to do.

and since my phone is in a family plan im not in charge of whats going on with it.

 

just a heads up if you REALLY want to get an iphone 3G in HK. since the 3G model can't be unlocked with pwnage 2.1 yet the alternate route to get it unlocked is by using a turobsim (sort of a piggy back circuit that sticks to your simcard to trick the phone that it is actually unlocked). normally you would see the turbosim card because it has to be attached to your simcard before inserted to the phone, but the genius invented the following:



what is this you asked? this is simply a turbosim card physically soldered onto the simcard reader of the phone.



with this device embedded inside the phone, you'd think it's a genuinely unlocked iphone 3G that you are buying. but wrong! it is actually a locked model with a turbosim installed. let alone this will void the warranty, too.

if you are to buy an iphone 3G in HK, make sure you get it from a big retail chain or from a carrier and not some shady shops in mk.

if you happen to find one, make sure its model is one of the following, as they are the genuine model # for a HK iphone 3G
MB489ZP/A
MB496ZP/A
MB500ZP/A

hope it helps...

 

i would be ordering from the apple store online in HK, so i doubt they would send me a faux unlocked iphone 3g.

 

Ummm FYI the unlocked China iPhone 3G model doesn't come with wi-fi or 3G capability. So basically its a 1st gen iPhone without wi-fi in 3g iPhone body. So don't get one! It's teh suxor!!!

http://www.engadget.com/2008/09/26/c...one-3g-launch/

 

umm... Hong Kong != China

 

OH sorry I don't follow the Chinese politics.

 

dude someone's selling a 16gb 3g on ebay for $500 unlocked by apple...

he has a few like 89 or something in stock

 

PM me link?

 

i think i might not get one, dont really have $700

 

i take it you have an old iPhone? the new ones can't be unlocked that way.

 

yup, theyre gonna sell there. thats a grip tho.
you dont need an "in" for this.
replace the sim. plug into itunes.
i might actually pick up several of these trhough my verndor.

source: rep (me)

 

i think i am going to place and order tonight or when i come back to hong kong on the 5th