Moving to Australia from the USA, can I take and use my iPhone?

[drewnews]

I spoke to AT&T and they told me I would have to sell my iPhone that I currently have and buy one from within Australia.... I don't think this sounds right, plus be without music and movies durring the flight? No Thanks! If I bring my iPhone with me to Australia, are there servecies that will allow me to simply swap out my sim card so that it would be the same as a local phone? If anyone has any information on this it would be a great help. I am moving to Melbourne for the next 2 years for grad school... Still need iPhone!


Thanks!
Andrew

 

[natebookpro]

Do you have the original or the 3g? You can unlock the original pretty easily. I believe they came out with an unlock for the 3g about a week ago, but I havnt read into it too much yet.

 

[Chundles]

You can certainly use your iPhone. I'd take it to one of the many carriers down here who sell the phone and see if they'll unlock it for you. The iPhone can be purchased unlocked down here.

Not sure if you'd have any success but it's worth a shot. You could also just buy a phone outright here, have it officially unlocked then you'd be able to use it anywhere.

 

[Peterkro]

If it's a 3G jailbreak it and download yellowsn0w and you'll be good.

 

[vandozza]

FYI Telstra has the largest network and by far the best coverage (something like 98-99% of the population,) and its an iPhone friendly 850mhz 3G (dubbed NextG by Telstra.) However their data prices are amongst the worst in the world (I havn't researched any facts at all to back this up, just personal opinion!) $10 AUD for 150MB $29 AUD for 300MB, $59 AUD for 1GB etc etc...

Optus, 3, and Vodafone are the alternate carriers. Optus has the second biggest 3G coverage, but it's mixed 900mhz/2100mhz (only half iPhone compatible.) Their data prices are much better. Personally I had lots of trouble on Optus though, and wouldn't be going back in a hurry.

3 and Voda's 3G coverage is really limited to metro areas. Their pricing is ok, but 3G coverage is very limited. (Worth considering if you aren't leaving Melbourne often though!)

3 has a good BYO iPhone plan with decent data allowances (but if you roam outside 3's coverage onto the Telstra network, you'll pay something like $1650 per GB from memory... don't laugh... it's true.)

 

[drewnews]

Thanks!

Cool, Thanks for all the replies! I have heard a bit about VodaPhone. I'll probably look into that service because I am addicted to data streams. Those prices you mentioned are crazy! So it looks like when I venture out of the city I'll have to keep my data and web surfing addiction under control.