Spugsy

Ok so I'm going to bite the bullet and get one, despite having an iPod touch which is the same but no phone capability.

How much does it usually cost? Also is it worth waiting a while? Is there a new iPhone coming out?

Ta.

Mogs

iPhone 5 is being released in Oct 2011.

Oyibopeppeh

Yep 21st October apparently

Bahtatboy

In UAE? Maybe in the US.

I think Etisalat website has the prices. Mine costs between 1k and 4k a month depending, obviously, how much I use it to and from abroad.

Millsyisland

I'd never trust either Etislut or Du with a data package, so I bought a factory-unlocked iPhone from emiratesavenue.com in Dubai and put my Wasel sim card in it, so I just need to be somewhere in wifi coverage to use the internet and certain apps etc (as you currently have to for your iPod Touch).

You either need to get a new micro sim card though, or cut your existing one down using one of the templates off the internet.

Spugsy

That's not a bad idea as I use wi-fi everywhere. How much was the phone?

Millsyisland

They're currently quoting the 16gb at 2699 and 32gb at 2949 - slightly more if you want white. Here's their website:

http://www.emiratesavenue.com/buy-in...Phones/iPhone/

I've bought two from them (one for me and one for the missus) and had no problems with them or the phones on either occasion (touch-wood).....

shiva

Don't get an iPhone package deal buy the phone separately and get a data package separately, more data for less cash that way plus etisalat won't have disabled your phone

Tillybean

Thanks for this post as I am currently debating between an iphone, Samsung Galaxy S/S2 or HTC Desire/Desire S.

Anybody use an android and if so, pros/cons over the iphone or other phones available.

For info, I use mine to text a lot, surf the web a bit, want to listen to music etc, oh, and use it as a phone!!

Spugsy

Can you get pay as you go data packages?

mummy2dolly

http://www.etisalat.ae/index.jsp?lan...000c24a8c0RCRD

I pay 145dhs/month for 1GB, I use the 3G a LOT and never go over with this one....

csdf

On a related note, as part of E-life you get 8 hours of free Etisalat hotspot use / month. Does anyone know how to actually use this? What username/password are you supposed to use?

Autonomy

2 months ago I was going to get an iPhone but as I looked into it and thought about it more I really was convinced it was not the best device out there (and I love Macs) - I went for the Samsung Galaxy S2 (http://www.samsung.com/global/microsite/galaxys2/html/).

I think it was 2599dhs - my wife has the iPhone 4 and this thing just is streets ahead. Amazing screen, much better camera, not tied down to using itunes, easy file transfer and updates, Android apps are just as good as iTunes. The phone looks better, is much slimmer etc. The specs are pretty amazing as well...

All in all - I'm a big fan. iPhone advantages - the user interface, chunkier, easier to use, perhaps more apps - but that is changing fast...

Etisalat 1GB data package is more than enough for me.

Spugs - go check them out in store before you buy iPhone...

Edit - also it is not miniSim - just regular SIM, unlike iPhone

Edit 2 - One thing - the S2 battery is not so great - only just about full day on 1 charge

Autonomy

yes - you can be on prepaid WASEL for phone and also data.

weescot

I bought an ulocked iphone from a store near Waitrose in Dubai Mall for about 2800 back in June. They cut my du pay as you go sim to a micoro sim and I got a free data package for a month. Since then I pay as I go separately for calls and data either scratch card or online. Easy peasy. I wish I had done it ages ago.