On Call: Getting ready for the iPhone 3G

iPhone 3G

(Credit: Apple)

Q: If I buy an iPhone 3G in one country, can we then terminate the contract and reactivate in in another country with a local carrier?
--HSquared

A: If you buy an iPhone 3G, no one will stop you from canceling the service and paying an early termination fee to AT&T. Yet it's unlikely that you'll be able to take the same phone to another country and reactivate there. If you were successful in unlocking it from AT&T, it would certainly be possible to use it abroad, but good luck on finding an operator what would be willing to give you service. Personally, I'm not optimistic that a carrier in any iPhone 3G country would activate a former AT&T handset, particularly when they can sell you one of their own. Of course, you could buy a prepaid SIM card, but not all carriers may support prepaid iPhone service (for example, AT&T won't). And don't forget that while all iPhone 3Gs around the world will have the same specifications, handsets will be "branded" for their country of use. In short, you could make this work but you'll spend a lot of time and money making it happen. Even if you buy a non-contract iPhone 3G from AT&T, you'll be spending a lot of money up front. Why not just buy the iPhone in your chosen country?

For more iPhone 3G questions, see our FAQ. And by the way, have you heard how Rogers' iPhone 3G plans don't include unlimited data? That's pretty outrageous, and I hope our Canadian friends get a better deal.

Q: I have the old iPhone, but I don't have a Wi-Fi connection and I can't receive EDGE where I live. Will the iPhone 3G give me a better chance of receiving EDGE?
- Mik

The original iPhone

(Credit: Apple)

A: The iPhone 3G won't increase your chances of getting EDGE if you don't get it already. Though cell phones do play a big part in your call quality reception, they won't dramatically increase your data coverage. Also, while the new iPhone is offering 3G, it doesn't offer an improved EDGE capability over the current model.

Q: I am a satisfied Sprint "Simply Everything" customer, but I'm an iPhone fan as well. I've read about software that allows you to unlock your iPhone, however, I'm afraid that if I unlock an iPhone and use it on Sprint's network, I'll lose functionality. Do you have any experience with unlocked iPhones?
--Sharon

A: If you unlock an iPhone and use it on another carrier like T-Mobile, you will lose the visual voice mail feature and the 3G support but the handset will operate just fine otherwise. The main caveat is any software updates from Apple will "lock" the phone again to AT&T, so you'll have to download those at your discretion. But in your case, Sharon, I'm getting ahead of myself. Even if you unlock the iPhone it will not work on Sprint's network because Sprint uses an incompatible technology.

Q: I have a cell phone with AT&T that is $40 per month plus an extra $10 per months for a second line for my son. Can I cancel my service and take over his second line? And if so, can I transfer my contacts and phone number to his phone? Can I just replace his SIM card with mine?
- Joan

A: The beauty of GSM phones is that you can transfer your phone number and your contacts from one handset to another simply by switching your SIM card. So if you ever want to use your son's phone as your own, you won't have a problem. Yet you won't be able to cancel your service without canceling his as well. Because his phone is a "second line," it can exist only if your service is still in place. So don't get any ideas about getting cell phone service for only $10 a month. Conversely, you could cancel his second line anytime you'd like but you you may be liable for an early termination fee for that second line.

Kent German, CNET's cell phones guru, answers your questions about cell phones, services, and accessories and reports on the state of the industry. Send him a question!. For past columns, check out the columns in the On Call archive

[sweety_hm]

May I know the cost of unlocked IPhone 3G?

[techsavvtlady]

You c annot purchased a 3G iphone unlocked from a store. You would have to purchase the phone either purchase the unlocking software or take it a place that unlocks it

[kpepper]

Can you recharge the iPhone using other iPod rechargers i.e. radios, alarm clocks, etc. Also, can you play your music using those same media?

[woodboard]

Yes you can!! i do it all the time, play music trough the iPod fm transmiter in the car, play and charge the iphone on the JBL speaker (for the ipod).
may be you´ll get a message on the iphone that the device is not compatible and sugest to turn on the airplane option, just ingnore the warning and enjoy!

[lawgone]

Yes to both questions...at least I can on my current iPhone and would assume you would be able to on the new one. One note though, when playing the iPhone on external speakers you will usually need to put it in airplane mode so you can't receive calls. If you don't you usually here interference through the speakers.

[c yahoocm]

Mostly, sometimes the signals mess up the audio, but it will work fine in airplane mode. If you don't feel like doing that then I recomend the iHome for iphone

[Baums101]

Lets say I am paying for a phone for at and t that cost $40 per month. If I buy the iPhone 3g and switch the Sim cards with my other at and t phone( that costs $40 a month) and than cancel the iPhones service will my iPhone work with the other Sim card for $40 a month?

[c yahoocm]

No, the iphone has a specialized sim card for all it's networks and such bat it's worth a try

[Baums101]

Lets say I am paying for a phone for at and t that cost $40 per month. If I buy the iPhone 3g and switch the Sim cards with my other at and t phone( that costs $40 a month) and than cancel the iPhones service will my iPhone work with the other Sim card for $40 a month?

[blabtech]

the cost of the new iphone is going to be $199 for 8GB $299 for 16GB or add $500 to either price to get that model iphone without a contract. I think that last option is just way too much money.

Come check out my blog .... http://blabtech.blogspot.com

I wrote my thoughts on the iphone

[c yahoocm]

IT'S $400!

[woodboard]

I want to give the iPhone 3G to a friend as a present... but just the phone, let him choose the service. can i do that? buy an iphone at apple store, take it home without activation and just wrap it on paper as a present??
thanks

[c yahoocm]

I doubt it, but try calling the apple store, 1800MYAPPLE

[techsavvtlady]

No you cant do that if you want to purchase the phone from a store. They are now requiring activation in store at the time of purchase for the 3g iphone. You can always by one on Ebay and do it that way.

[rxfowl]

Will there be updates to download for the original iphone?

[c yahoocm]

Yes Right Around July 11th they will come out with the 2.0 software update wich does not inclued 3g, you should be able to download it via Itunes. Check out http://www.apple.com/iphone/softwareupdate/ for more info.

[beaconseries]

yepp! and the ipod touch

touch uplate: $9.95
iphone: free!

[techsavvtlady]

Yes the 2.0 software shoud be out this week as well. I believe tht the update will be free through itunes but dont quote me on that one

[papasaund]

Tmobile will cary the Iphone in Germany if I get one from there (phone only) will be able to maintain the Tmobile relationship here in the united states without constant unlocking....etc?

[c yahoocm]

MOst likely, but t mobile will give you a whole bunch of fees for roaming and being so far from germany. Your better off just switching to AT&T.

[techsavvtlady]

You have to remember that when you buy a phone, the phone is branded... if you go outside that country, and you find a carrier that will provide you service, its gonna cost you. You would be better off purchasing the phone here and getting ATT if you want all the features the 3g iphone has to offer

[iPhone_4G_please]

No you won't. Even though they are the same network if the iphone is locked to T-Mobile Germany and say you want to use it on T-Mobile in the UK I know for a fact it will still need unlocking.

[GMD884]

I saw someone at a pool that had an iPhone with a white back and it was not in a case. I think it was the iPhone 3G!!!!!!

[c yahoocm]

It was probably from gold Stiker, the modify all kinds of products like that. Or it could have beem a sticker Skin instead.

[Bwaanaa]

I am fom Canada. I think it is outrageous that Rogers will be charging $115.00 a month for 2GB iphone whereas you can get unlimited data with AT&T in the US for only $35.00 (Or is it $30.00?). This is what happens when the govenment doesn't allow competition. Not only that, the AT&T contract is for 2 years whereas the Roger's contract is for 3 years. That means that over a 3 year period we will be paying over $3000.00 extra! No matter how you look at it, it really is exploitation. But the consumers have the power to fight this exorbitant price by just boycotting Rogers and not buying the phone at all. Then lets see who wins.

[c yahoocm]

Canadian or US currency for the $115?

[kpepper]

Thanks for letting me know--you both just further confirmed my decision to take the leap into the new iPhone!

[c yahoocm]

I,ve heard that you can trade in your old iphone for the 3g one at no extra charge is you bought it post may 27 '07??????????

[techsavvtlady]

That is correct!

[bigjack5577]

I currently have a <one year old company provided ATT phone with a 3G SIM card.
A. Could I buy a non contract Iphone and insert my current SIM card in the new I phone and have it will work?
B. Buy an Iphone, commit to a contract, insert my current SIM card to get all of the bells and whistles of this Iphone?
Will either one work or does any have any sugestions as my company is OK with either.

[kt_92]

is 250mb of data likly to sustain an average iphone 3g internet user if its mainly being used for msn sorta stuff

[iPhoneUser]

Bwaanaa - read your first sentence aloud. There's your problem eh. Take your free health care and calm yourself down. If you can't afford it, don't buy it.

Meanwhile, state-side, I grabbed the 2.0 firmware last night. I actually was watching TV at about 10pm est and saw some news about people in Australia or New Zealand getting the iPhone 3G, and thought, hmmm, wonder if you can get the firmware yet. Sure enough, one quick google search later, found a link and thought, why not, if it's bricked, I'll go get the new one tomorrow. And now I can see why so many people are having issues. People, it literally took me almost 45 minutes last night, and that was with essentially no traffic on iTunes (2.0 not that great, AppStore C- : no SlinBox App???) So, Apple clearly did not think this release through. Shoot, would it of killed them to just email the file to all previous and eventual iPhone customers, say, a week in advance, and 'time-lock' it so it's not usable until today? People then have a week window to grab the file from the Apple server. Or, just count the number of iPhones you're gonna sell and make sure your servers can handle that. Seriously, the better part of the world is trying to access iTunes...did ol' Steve-o really think people were going to leave the phones in the boxes for a few days? Spend more money on infrastructure and less on those clearly-overproduced commercials. What'd the 3G commercial cost to produce? Bet it was 7 or 8 figures. Think what that money would do if spent on servers and bandwidth. The commercial could've just been a black screen with white letters: "3G - 2.0 - 7/11/08" and everyone would've known what it meant. Pretty lame there Apple......