What to do with UK iPhone when moving to the US
May 19th 2010, 12:57 pm
#1
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Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 24
What to do with UK iPhone when moving to the US
Hello everybody,
I have an Apple iPhone (3G) on an O2 monthly contract.
I was just wondering what my options are in regard to using it in the US.
Can I buy a 'Pay as you go' sim card in the US and put in my phone once I get out there? Will I be able to hook up to free 3G internet like I do here in the UK?
What do you think my options are?
I have an Apple iPhone (3G) on an O2 monthly contract.
I was just wondering what my options are in regard to using it in the US.
Can I buy a 'Pay as you go' sim card in the US and put in my phone once I get out there? Will I be able to hook up to free 3G internet like I do here in the UK?
What do you think my options are?
May 19th 2010, 1:05 pm
#2
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 22,105
Re: What to do with UK iPhone when moving to the US
Sell it on Ebay before you move and use the money to buy a new one here.
May 19th 2010, 1:48 pm
#3
Sleepless In Chicago
Joined: Sep 2008
Location: Chicago.
Posts: 3,601
Re: What to do with UK iPhone when moving to the US
Hello everybody,
I have an Apple iPhone (3G) on an O2 monthly contract.
I was just wondering what my options are in regard to using it in the US.
Can I buy a 'Pay as you go' sim card in the US and put in my phone once I get out there? Will I be able to hook up to free 3G internet like I do here in the UK?
What do you think my options are?
I have an Apple iPhone (3G) on an O2 monthly contract.
I was just wondering what my options are in regard to using it in the US.
Can I buy a 'Pay as you go' sim card in the US and put in my phone once I get out there? Will I be able to hook up to free 3G internet like I do here in the UK?
What do you think my options are?
May 19th 2010, 1:53 pm
#4
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Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 24
Re: What to do with UK iPhone when moving to the US
Hmmm, just had a look on apple's website. $70 a month is the minimum plan. Think it's probably best if I give up on the idea of owning my beloved iphone until I'm more financially secure over there. 
OK, second question:
What's the cheapest way of having a cellphone which has free 3G so that I can always check my email, have access to the internet etc...
OK, second question:
What's the cheapest way of having a cellphone which has free 3G so that I can always check my email, have access to the internet etc...
May 19th 2010, 2:06 pm
#6
Sleepless In Chicago
Joined: Sep 2008
Location: Chicago.
Posts: 3,601
Re: What to do with UK iPhone when moving to the US
I would keep a hold of the iPhone though, you can still use it on wireless, no?
May 19th 2010, 2:13 pm
#7
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Re: What to do with UK iPhone when moving to the US
What I guess I mean is; UNLIMITED 3G access thingymajig, for the cheapest monthly price.
Emails, Facebook, Twitter, Ebay, Google Map...... that's all I use a mobile phone for these days. Never use it to make calls.
p.s. What's the USA equivalent of Carphone Warehouse, Phones4U etc ? Trying to look online to get an idea of phone plans and prices in the US, but struggling to find a good website.
Emails, Facebook, Twitter, Ebay, Google Map...... that's all I use a mobile phone for these days. Never use it to make calls.
p.s. What's the USA equivalent of Carphone Warehouse, Phones4U etc ? Trying to look online to get an idea of phone plans and prices in the US, but struggling to find a good website.
Last edited by aklor; May 19th 2010 at 2:18 pm.
May 19th 2010, 2:37 pm
#8
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Joined: Oct 2003
Location: Avon Lake, OH
Posts: 5,270
Re: What to do with UK iPhone when moving to the US
Sprint has the cheapest all in deal, but they are rubbish. But they may be good if where you are going has good Sprint service. I pay $30 a month on top of the monthly charge with Verizon. There are a few places that have multi-provider stores, Best Buy for instance, but usually it's the providers stores that are more available.
May 19th 2010, 4:30 pm
#9
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Re: What to do with UK iPhone when moving to the US
Thanks Duncan.
Do you or anyone else know if it's possible to get a pay monthly phone from Verizon/AT&T etc.... and then just take out the sim-card and put it in an unlocked iPhone?
Do you or anyone else know if it's possible to get a pay monthly phone from Verizon/AT&T etc.... and then just take out the sim-card and put it in an unlocked iPhone?
May 19th 2010, 4:31 pm
#10
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Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 88,023
Re: What to do with UK iPhone when moving to the US
What I guess I mean is; UNLIMITED 3G access thingymajig, for the cheapest monthly price.
Emails, Facebook, Twitter, Ebay, Google Map...... that's all I use a mobile phone for these days. Never use it to make calls.
p.s. What's the USA equivalent of Carphone Warehouse, Phones4U etc ? Trying to look online to get an idea of phone plans and prices in the US, but struggling to find a good website.
Emails, Facebook, Twitter, Ebay, Google Map...... that's all I use a mobile phone for these days. Never use it to make calls.
p.s. What's the USA equivalent of Carphone Warehouse, Phones4U etc ? Trying to look online to get an idea of phone plans and prices in the US, but struggling to find a good website.
Also please be aware that whatever price you are quoted that will not be your final monthly bill. On top will be many extra taxes etc and it's very difficult to sort out what is what. In the US you are also charged for incoming as well as outgoing calls
Last edited by Jerseygirl; May 19th 2010 at 4:34 pm.
May 19th 2010, 4:38 pm
#11
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Re: What to do with UK iPhone when moving to the US
double post
Last edited by Duncan Roberts; May 19th 2010 at 4:43 pm.
May 19th 2010, 4:42 pm
#12
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Re: What to do with UK iPhone when moving to the US
Not all companies here use sim cards, T-Mobile does for sure and Verizon for sure doesn't. I think AT&T do and Sprint don't but I'm not sure. I believe if the company uses CDMA they don't have SIMs if they are GSM they do, don't quote me on that. I don't know how the iPhone works, just that it's locked to AT&T here if you buy it.
May 19th 2010, 5:29 pm
#13
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Re: What to do with UK iPhone when moving to the US
What service to use will really depend on where you'll mostly be using it though.
Duncan was right about who have sim cards though...and data usage will be the biggest issue, you don't get much on a cheap plan or PAYG type of deal.
May 19th 2010, 8:11 pm
#14
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Re: What to do with UK iPhone when moving to the US
You need to cancel your contract before you do anything as AT&T will not touch your phone if it's still locked .
I rang Apple about this and there is a complete unlock function found on O2's site here
Once it's unlocked completely you can take it to the US and sign it up with AT&T (who I believe are still the only carrier). It must be completely unlocked though
I rang Apple about this and there is a complete unlock function found on O2's site here
Once it's unlocked completely you can take it to the US and sign it up with AT&T (who I believe are still the only carrier). It must be completely unlocked though
May 20th 2010, 10:41 am
#15
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Posts: 5,214
Re: What to do with UK iPhone when moving to the US
Sell it on ebay and start fresh when you arrive. Not only will you get a pretty good price for it, but there is a new iPhone being introduced in the US on June 22 or so.
There is no free 3G service to speak of, and very few plans that will allow unlimited data without some other monthly contract.
Verizon is a CDMA-based system. They do not use SIM cards but hardwire the phones. ATT & T-Mobile are GSM systems. There is no real carphone warehouse or site like that, but occasionally small mom and pop places here and there. Best Buy offers some phones, but not all. Most of the retailers have exclusivity deals with specific carriers.
Your best bet is to start with the major carriers websites:
Verizon
ATT
Tmobile
Sprint
You could always just get an iPod touch and scour for free wifi nets where you are located. Not a perfect solution but probably the cheapest (no monthly fee). AT&T and TMobile have 'hot spots' around the country but the coverage is basically in major cities and airports and the like. McDonalds and Starbucks and whatnot.
There is no free 3G service to speak of, and very few plans that will allow unlimited data without some other monthly contract.
Verizon is a CDMA-based system. They do not use SIM cards but hardwire the phones. ATT & T-Mobile are GSM systems. There is no real carphone warehouse or site like that, but occasionally small mom and pop places here and there. Best Buy offers some phones, but not all. Most of the retailers have exclusivity deals with specific carriers.
Your best bet is to start with the major carriers websites:
Verizon
ATT
Tmobile
Sprint
You could always just get an iPod touch and scour for free wifi nets where you are located. Not a perfect solution but probably the cheapest (no monthly fee). AT&T and TMobile have 'hot spots' around the country but the coverage is basically in major cities and airports and the like. McDonalds and Starbucks and whatnot.