Bringing back an iPhone to the UK

[Nye]

Hi all,

Im going to NYC in a months time and I was wondering - if I bought an iPhone there and activated it via "DVD John's" Theory (http://nanocr.eu/2007/07/03/iphone-without-att/) therefore using it without calls,would

-this be legal?
-is it a waste of time and better to buy a 16GB ipod touch?
-could apple update their systems and deactivate my iphone?
-does this theory even work?

I need your views, please!

 

[Applespider]

Using it without calls? You're nuts. You'd be better off with the iPod Touch - buying that out there should save you £50 and there's no hacking, no worries not to mention 16GB rather than 8GB.

Or, since you're not going for a month, wait and see if the UK iPhone is announced by then so you can make a proper call. I'm in the US in early October and I'm hanging off making buying decisions until there's more info.

 

[Nye]

cool, thanks.

 

[zwida]

I don't think it would be illegal. I just travelled to London with my iPhone (and an international roaming plan) and didn't have any issues coming through customs. It's not like you'll be illegally using the device; you'll be be using a very crippled device.

I'm sure Apple could update the firmware to cripple any phone not activated through AT&T (or active on the network), but I can't see why they would. AT&T might want them to, but I don't think they have that kind of pull over Apple.

All that said, you'll be able to buy a fully functioning iPhone in the UK very soon. Why not wait for the real deal? (I probably wouldn't be able to wait either, I'm just throwing it out there.)