Wonder how that works for a Pay Monthly customer that purchased a 3GS PAYG phone to use with their pay monthly sim?
Is it 12 months from the date of the 3Gs or still at the end of the Pay Monthly contract?
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iPhone Unlock in UK - 10th November
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Wonder how that works for a Pay Monthly customer that purchased a 3GS PAYG phone to use with their pay monthly sim?
Is it 12 months from the date of the 3Gs or still at the end of the Pay Monthly contract?
As the PAYG iPhone was sold to be used as a PAYG phone, I would be very surprised if it was anything but 12 months from when you bought the 3GS.
I expect you're right but it's slightly annoying as O2 and Apple were offering that as a valid upgrade path to the 3GS.
Ah well. As long as I can get it unlocked before I'm travelling again.
I've been wondering about this too. I bought a 3GS in July 2009 with a PAYG SIM and sold my 3G with the SIM as a locked O2 PAYG phone. My contract's up in January, but my 3GS will be less than 6 months old.
I'm not so sure. The webform is only interested in the type of account, suggesting that O2 are attaching the unlock to the account, rather than the phone hardware.
Also, if O2 did attach the unlock to the hardware, there would be problems identifying warranty replacements and they'd be obliged to unlock the PAYG customers who bought our 3G handsets, even though they haven't done their year with the company.
Anyway, we'll know in a couple of weeks at the latest.
When you took out you're contract they would've scanned the multiple barcodes on the box. One of those is the IMEI. The IMEI is linked to your account. It is more than likely that the IMEI will be provided to Apple, who will then provide you with an unlock
Yes. Thank you captain obvious.
However, if that were the case, then there'd be no need to ask me for my phone's IMEI, would there?
Let's just wait and see, shall we?
If not, the weather forecast round these parts will be looking pretty black...
Meh, been called worse.
And O2 don't ask for your IMEI on the unlocking form, just your phone number.
In your case, I would think the original 3G will be unlocked as it's that IMEI that is referenced on your account, not the 3GS you brought.
As for warranty replacements, I don't have a clue how that would work, unless Apple update O2.
I had to fill in my IMEI number in part 3 of the registration.
Apple scans the replacement phone and connects it to iTunes to register it to your account before you leave the store.
Interesting. Its either security or too catch people out. Why ask for info they should have.
Guess I'll have to wait like cal6n suggested. I don't do waiting well...
That will activate the iPhone, but I dunno if that will update O2's systems. When my parents brought their 3GS, they had to go to the O2 store to buy credit and register. I was distracted by that point so can't remember accurately
Page now live...
http://shop.o2.co.uk/update/unlockmyiphone.html
Unlocking your iPhone
From 10 November, the iPhone can be unlocked for O2 customers in the UK.
Pay Monthly customers
Your iPhone can be unlocked at anytime free of charge. If you unlock your handset and place a non-O2 sim into it, you will still have to honour the remainder of the minimum term on your contract.
iPhone Pay & Go customers
For iPhone on Pay & Go, unlocking can take place 12 months after you've bought your iPhone for a one-off £15 fee which will be deducted from your airtime balance.
What do I need to do?
Firstly, complete the unlocking form - it will take up to 14 days for the iPhone to be unlocked and we'll text you to confirm the unlock request. Then place a non-O2 sim into the iPhone and connect to iTunes via a USB cable. iTunes will confirm that the iPhone has been successfully unlocked.
Having trouble unlocking your iPhone? Visit our FAQs section.
Well there you go (bolded bit), answers my question perfectly. Thank god O2 have seen sense and will unlock now even with contract to run.
http://shop.o2.co.uk/update/unlockmyiphone.html
Unlocking your iPhone
From 10 November, the iPhone can be unlocked for O2 customers in the UK.
Pay Monthly customers
Your iPhone can be unlocked at anytime free of charge. If you unlock your handset and place a non-O2 sim into it, you will still have to honour the remainder of the minimum term on your contract.
iPhone Pay & Go customers
For iPhone on Pay & Go, unlocking can take place 12 months after you've bought your iPhone for a one-off £15 fee which will be deducted from your airtime balance.
What do I need to do?
Firstly, complete the unlocking form - it will take up to 14 days for the iPhone to be unlocked and we'll text you to confirm the unlock request. Then place a non-O2 sim into the iPhone and connect to iTunes via a USB cable. iTunes will confirm that the iPhone has been successfully unlocked.
Having trouble unlocking your iPhone? Visit our FAQs section.
Well there you go (bolded bit), answers my question perfectly. Thank god O2 have seen sense and will unlock now even with contract to run.
Been live for a little while I'm afraid. However someone in a different thread got an early response and was told it wasn't yet possible
Sorry not been following multiple threads, just refreshed the link and it came up, didn't see it here so I posted.Been live for a little while I'm afraid. However someone in a different thread got an early response and was told it wasn't yet possible
I'm just relieved I can unlock NOW (ok then within 14 days) instead of having to pointlessly wait until January to physically use another SIM in my 3G. All the reports suggested you'd have to wait until you were literally out of contract which never made logical sense to me. I can now bin the god awful Crackberry my new employer provided me with and use my iPhone with my work Vodafone SIM. Saves me 3 months of pain and frustration.
exactly the same for me :-( I don't even want to switch but having the option would be good.
The Simplicty deals are good as MMS and voicemail are incl in allowance.
Grrr I do hate o2 though!
Ahhh ****... I'm in the same situation except I've been using a PAYG 3GS with an iPhone contract. Expecting the same kind of response here too then!
If it is being opened up to all networks, I wish Apple would start to sell completely sim free models so we don't have to buy a pay as you go model and pay a fee to top it up before we can get it out of the door!
Excellent news!
Given this, I'm going to Germany next month, anyone know if there's a nice and cheap PAYG option for data roaming purposes over there?
Given this, I'm going to Germany next month, anyone know if there's a nice and cheap PAYG option for data roaming purposes over there?
Its Apple's legislation apparently and there's nothing O2 can do about it. Figures. That revenue-on-each-phone-sold nectar must be hella sweet
What do Apple get from it though? At the end of the 12 months, my PAYG phone will have earned them no more money than it did a month after I purchased. I'd happily pay the "fine" to get it unlocked.
Apple gets kickbacks for each phone sold and from all tariff payments i.e. on all 18-24 monthly tariffs and from 12 months worth of top-ups for PAYG = Profit!
Its brilliant really.
You have a 3GS, so obviously you haven't had it 12 months, which means that O2 look at when the device was brought by checking the IMEI. Or they look at your account and see that the IMEI provided doesn't match the one on your account.
So, anyone that brought a 3G with a contract, then brought a PAYG 3GS, will not get the PAYG 3GS unlocked because it was sold within 12 months.
Not surprised really if that is the case.
Guess I'll have to wait until February then *sigh*
Yeah I do understand that but what I'm saying is that Apple got their kickback when I bought my 3GS on PAYG (which was a valid upgrade path).
My PAYG sim is probably in a landfill site now. They're not going to get anything else off me in respect of the PAYG iPhone no matter how long they make me wait!
I wonder why the iPhone is only available from phone companies that people hate.
O2, or AT&T, it seems that most iPhone users want to get away from these companies.
If they let you do it any time, people would buy them up in bulk, unlock them and sell them.
If they get no more money from you between now and when the 12 months is up is not the point.