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iPhone 3Gs - Italy and Belgium - unlocked?
- Thread starter olisones
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On a different note, does anyone know how 3 supports the 3GS in the UK? I'm planning on using it on my 3 SIM card when I return, and have no idea what to expect. Will I have to change the settings? I'm in the dark here, please help
Indeed, I would be interested in knowing this as well since I am planning on using a 3 Pay As You Go SIM when we're back in the UK, not least because they advertise 150MB each time you top-up your card and that's plenty for general travelling around (heck, that's worth about EUR 20 per month in Belgium with our crappy data plans on contract). I'm not expecting any problems but since I've not had the opportunity to test it out some advance information is always useful. Of course, I could probably just Google it or something...
This thread has gone quiet lately.
So ... How many of us are still looking to get an unlocked iphone 3gs?
I've been kept busy and had no opportunity to do anything about getting one, and I have noticed that the Pound to Euro exchange rate has not gone in our favour, and that stock in Italy still seems very low.
So did all the Handtec ppl get theirs or does the saga continue?
I am still waiting
Not good.I considered Handtec etc and they were too pricey and unreliable for my liking. If they had them in at that price - fair enough - but to mess so many ppl about - I couldn't take the stress!! LOL
Anyway, I'm off to Belgium at the weekend so I will get myself one or a few if I can. But as I want a white one, I think I've more chance of at least getting one. If not Ce la vie, I'll sample the Belgium beer and have a look around!
I just love my 3gs or as a fact iPhone. Truely awesome and my battery is pretty decent as I have used the 3gand the 1st gen before but it doesn't compare in terms to a a e71 or smthing but thing is e71 has nothing that would actually drain the battery.you can do loads of stuff on the iPhone
There are two Cami stores in Brussels, the one you want is at Charleroisesteenweg 215-221.
Directions from Brussels-South to Cami.
Directions from Brussels-South to Cami.
Thanks. I cant really follow that at I dont understand the language, but do those directions start at gare du midi? i.e is ''NMBS Station Brussel Zuid'' gare du midi? So is the best thing to hop on the train to 'Horta' and walk from there? Thanks again.
Also, is the other CAMI branch near place du mont?
Thanks.
Station Zuid is Gare du Midi. The french translations are a bit confusing. The Cami store is at Place Dumon. Check out their website for more info.
The Cami store is at Place Dumon. Check out their website for more info.Unlocked iPhone 3GS in Belgium
I am currently living in Belgium. Yes, they sell them completely unlocked and you can put whatever phone SIM you wish into it (currently using a Virgin PAYG sim). Selling for around the 550-600 euro price.
Good luck.
I am currently living in Belgium. Yes, they sell them completely unlocked and you can put whatever phone SIM you wish into it (currently using a Virgin PAYG sim). Selling for around the 550-600 euro price.
Good luck.
Well, I'm currently in France after a drive around Belgium, but not to Brussels.
No stock of Iphones found just yet - if any one knows of stock in Belgium, PM me where if you can! I'll have a phone around in the morning, but judging by what the stores have said about stock, I'm not feeling lucky.
Never mind - took the GF on a jolly around Belgium and France and accrurred brownie points!!
Short Supply
Just a bit of feed back about my experiance of phoning around stores in Belgium, 2 places told me that Apple are holding back stock until all the Iphones sold to Belgium, have been registered. Another reason could be mobistar holding stock back to see how the bundled law review goes in a month or so.
It appears that a lot of ppl who have paid deposits for Iphone to be reserved and not yet picked them up ???, (perhaps because they don't have the money yet). Because they have paid for them, they have to keep them, and won't sell them.
Because these phones are not registered, Apple only send a similar number out to Belgium that have been registered.
Sounds plausible, and this is what I have been told by 2 stores, its the stores holding the phones on deposits/lists that are causing the problem.
Personally, I'd give them a upto a week to collect, and then sell it, and put them to the bottom of the list!
Regarding the bundled law review. It seems that the belgium law saying you cannot bundle something together is up for review/being challenged in a few months, so stock piling iphones ready for the law to change so they can be tied to contracts if the law changes could be a reason too.
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Both seem plausible, and the belgium situation could well be a mixture of both. There is still stock in bits, but as they say the situation is not good.
France:
They have some stock but the deal is 659e plus 100e to unlock from orange, but they are not sure how long the unlock takes. But 759e is a bit pricey me thinks - hence they still have stock.
So, What are your thoughts on that lot? crap hey! lol
Just a bit of feed back about my experiance of phoning around stores in Belgium, 2 places told me that Apple are holding back stock until all the Iphones sold to Belgium, have been registered. Another reason could be mobistar holding stock back to see how the bundled law review goes in a month or so.
It appears that a lot of ppl who have paid deposits for Iphone to be reserved and not yet picked them up ???, (perhaps because they don't have the money yet). Because they have paid for them, they have to keep them, and won't sell them.
Because these phones are not registered, Apple only send a similar number out to Belgium that have been registered.
Sounds plausible, and this is what I have been told by 2 stores, its the stores holding the phones on deposits/lists that are causing the problem.
Personally, I'd give them a upto a week to collect, and then sell it, and put them to the bottom of the list!
Regarding the bundled law review. It seems that the belgium law saying you cannot bundle something together is up for review/being challenged in a few months, so stock piling iphones ready for the law to change so they can be tied to contracts if the law changes could be a reason too.
------------------------------
Both seem plausible, and the belgium situation could well be a mixture of both. There is still stock in bits, but as they say the situation is not good.
France:
They have some stock but the deal is 659e plus 100e to unlock from orange, but they are not sure how long the unlock takes. But 759e is a bit pricey me thinks - hence they still have stock.
So, What are your thoughts on that lot? crap hey! lol
The 3GS works fine on the 3 network in the UK. I'm using mine now to post this! I was using a 3G iPhone before this also without problems. 3 have always had the best data network in the UK by a mile. Prior to my iPhone lovin' I was using a HTC Tytn I and II which I thought I would miss the slide out keyboard from but to be honest I haven't. A do miss the TomTom sat nav.....
Well, I decided to waste my time on Saturday by trumping over to Leuven and seeing if Easy-M, FNAC or Mobistar had received any stock. Mobistar were, unsurprisingly, thoroughly unhelpful and simply suggested paying about EUR 120 to reserve one. FNAC had no stock and thought that it would be about a month before they got any. However, Easy-M were much more useful. The chap I spoke to there reported that his shop on Bondgenotenlaan receives about 20 iPhone 3GSs per week so it seems that stock is trickling through, although he did note that he'd have liked a stock of about 100, so that gives an idea of demand. The 16GB version is the one that they receive the most but 32GB is the one that most people want. So, if you want to get a 3GS sooner then your best bet is to go for a 16GB version. I am now resigned to having to wait a month for mine.
Thanks for that update!
Thanks for that update!
I second that. I'm currently using the 3GS on 3UK and it is an extremely good, fast user experience.
The fact that you can also access Planet 3 to check your usage is a bonus. Now all we need is a native 3UK iphone Skype app and mobile life would be perfect.
Btw just saw that the BOW website in Italy is selling the 3GS 32 at 729.90 Euros and seems to have plenty in stock. Not sure about their shipping policy though...
If people are still struggling to get a factory unlocked 3GS, I just received my 32GB 3GS for £600 from Australia (to the UK). I picked a reputable seller on ebay (Ausluck). Took a week to arrive.
I still thank my lucky stars that I got one on day 1. I find this stock shortage quite bizzare when you consider that all other countries appear to have no issues. I can only imagine, as said above, that Mobistar themselves are restricting the supply in the hope that they can start insisting on contracts.
Poor Belgian consumers - they have the misguided idea that subsidised GSM's are cheaper...
Hi Every1,
can some in Belgium let me know if I got this rite:
I want to get to the CAMI store on Chaussée de Charleroi, I will be coming from Charleroi Airport:
1. get coach/bus from airport to Gare du Midi
2. Then get the Metro to 'HORTA'
3. walk straight down Rue d'Irelande till I hit a T junction, then swing left up towards Chaussee de Charleroi
That it?
1 more thing: Is the Metro station in sight from Gare du Midi, or is it a bit of a walk? And is it obvious which metro to get on to go to Horta station?
Thanks so much for any1 that can help.
can some in Belgium let me know if I got this rite:
I want to get to the CAMI store on Chaussée de Charleroi, I will be coming from Charleroi Airport:
1. get coach/bus from airport to Gare du Midi
2. Then get the Metro to 'HORTA'
3. walk straight down Rue d'Irelande till I hit a T junction, then swing left up towards Chaussee de Charleroi
That it?
1 more thing: Is the Metro station in sight from Gare du Midi, or is it a bit of a walk? And is it obvious which metro to get on to go to Horta station?
Thanks so much for any1 that can help.
hey EuphoricaL was the £600 the total you paid? I mean how much did the unit cost, and how much did you have to pay for delivery and import/VAT charges?
Has anyone else had units shipped in from Italy? Just wondering how much import/VAT and postage that cost.
And is anyone using an iPhone on Orange? There has been plenty of people talking about other networks working all right, but what about Orange?
I got mine from Italy.
There is no import tax / VAT if you live inside the European Union, remember
i live in belgium and was frustrated at the wait and the total lack of stock of the black 32gb 3gs so i also in the end purchased from this seller 5 days postage it has arrived today !
i paid including postage 1,238.00 AUD
=
723.619 EUR
anybody with experience in factory unlocked ( sim-free ) iphone in the uk .. if you activate the phone using your O2 sim card. then travel abroad can you put the sim card of a different country without a problem ?? any precautions you need to take ??