Will iPhone 3GS work in India? Need advice

[Xanny]

Hi,

Im thinking of getting an iPhone from the US in late July this year and I want to get it working in India. Although 2 operators provide me the iPhone service here i don't really like their plans. Also, the iPhone 3G [S not released yet] here costs around 600 USD [after conversion]! So I just wanted to clear up some doubts I had.

1) Can i buy the iPhone 3GS without the AT&T contact and unlock it here? eg: eBay etc.
[p.s. My cousin already has an iPhone 3G with the AT&T contract if this could help]

2) Will the 3.0 Unlock work with the Indian GSM operators?

3) My operator here provides 3G service, will it work after unlocking? Any other services which won't work?

4) Can i buy Apps from the App store in Indian currency using credit card? [Don't know whether the apps I buy prices get billed with the AT&T]

Thanks in advance.

 

[darngooddesign]

4) Can i buy Apps from the App store in Indian currency using credit card? [Don't know whether the apps I buy prices get billed with the AT&T]

App purchases will work just like music purchases.

 

[Xanny]

App purchases will work just like music purchases.

thanks for the quick reply... any1 have idea about the rest of the questions?

 

[patrickvanzandt]

1) Can i buy the iPhone 3GS without the AT&T contact
Yes, for the "with contract" price plus US $400 = US $599 for 16GB and US $699 for 32GB

...and unlock it here?
If and only if an unlock is available for 3GS. We don't yet know when/if an unlock for 3GS will be available in the community. Monitor http://blog.iphone-dev.org/ or @iphone_dev for updates

2) Will the 3.0 Unlock work with the Indian GSM operators?
I don't see why not. iPhone is quad-band. So once it's unlocked, it works with every GSM carrier worldwide

3) My operator here provides 3G service, will it work after unlocking?
It depends upon what frequency your carrier provides 3G service on. From http://www.apple.com/iphone/specs.html:

If your carrier's 3G is 850, 1900, or 2100 MHz, then yes.

Any other services which won't work?
Visual Voicemail -- this is dependent upon proprietary network setup on the part of your carrier; only the official carriers have this. On an unofficial carrier your voicemail will work as it does on every other make and model of phone.

4) Can i buy Apps from the App store in Indian currency using credit card?
Sure, I don't see why not. Just sign in with your apple.co.in Apple account.

 

[Xanny]

Thanks for all the clariifications and the quick reply patrikvanzandt, BUT...

1) Can i buy the iPhone 3GS without the AT&T contact
Yes, for the "with contract" price plus US $400 = US $599 for 16GB and US $699 for 32GB

I didn't quite get you here.. you mean even if i want/don't want the contract i WILL have to pay the $400?

BAD APPLE! ---><---


Also can I know which countries provide the factory unlocked iPhone?
Probably ill fly down there and pick it up for $199 instead of paying the $400 extra.. hehe

 

[Xanny]

After some digging through the website, i found the following countries sell the iPhone factory unlocked.


Taiwan
Thailand
Belgium
Czech Republic
Greece
Hong Kong
Italy
Luxemborg
Macau
Malaysia
New Zealand
Russia
Saudi Arabia
Singapore
Slovakia
South Africa
Turkey
United Arab Emirates