Going to buy iPhone 3G, how to avoid activation?

[0405453a]

Hi all,

I know the iphone 3G unlock is coming soon, i'm comfortable with unlocking it since i unlocked my 2g version fairly easily.

However, i know for the iphone 3G you have to get it unlocked at the 02 store here in the UK. I don't want to sign up to a lengthy and expensive contract rather than my existing one. Even if you buy it online you still have to go instore. Is there any way i can avoid this?

Thanks

 

[Ninja Dom]

There are two ways of buying an iPhone 3G in the UK.

The first is on an 18 month consumer or 24 month business contract. This requires a credit check done in store after which the phone will be activated with your sim card and ready to use.

The second is to buy a PAYG handset. This requires no credit check or in store activation.

Either way once you have the phone you can run Pwnage Tool 2.2.1 (Mac) and jailbreak the phone with the Cydia Application Downloader that you will need for the 3G iPhone unlock.

Remember that the 3G unlock being released shortly will only work on the 02.11.07 baseband/modem firmware or earlier.

 

[kalkfi]

If you know anyone in Italy or one of the other countries that sells the iPhone sim free, you could just have them buy you one and ship it to you. Yes it is more expensive as far as just the cost of the phone is concerned, but think of how much you will save vs. the end result of a 2 year contract.

Myself and some buddies did the math for where we live and the phone with the contract would end up costing 3100 Euro minimum for the 2 years (if you never went over you min's, SMS, or data), and that is with a limited data plan. Unlimited is not offered for the iPhone in Finland (last time I checked).

So with the soft unlock being so close I would look into this option.

But that's me. Good luck, Kal

 

[Tokiopop]

You cannot unlock the iPhone in the O2 shops.
And you can get it on PAYG for £391 (16GB) with 12 months free data, and they will not activate in-store.