Hi guys,

I've been away from here for a while but know there has been a LOT of discussion on the iPhones, so forgive me if this has already been asked:

I live in Australia, and since the CDMA network is going to be turned off very early next year, we are really forced to switch to the NextG network, commonly know as 3G. Since (as far as I know) it's not possible to buy a 3G iPhone yet, I would have to get the current (GSM???) iPhone, which really isn't much good in rural areas (this is where it will be used a lot) because they only have CDMA towers. When are the 3G iPhones due out, or is there another option. Seems silly to buy a conventional mobile phone and then have to discard/sell that when the iPhone is available in 3G.

Thanks,
iTM

PS I guess it's a complete hardware change from GSM to NextG on the actual phone right? ie you can't get a software switcher to change the phone to the NextG network later??? Sorry, don't know much about M/phone workings

Nobody knows when the 3G iPhone will be out. But if I had to guess, 2008 sounds about right. No dates though, of course. Only Apple know.

Yes you need hardware for 3G. No magic software will transform a GSM phone into a 3G phone.

OK, speculation is rife, but this rumour suggests that the 3G hardware may be hidden in the 2G iPhones...But it looks as though this has been proven to be impossible.

yeah I refuse to purchase an iphone unless it had a) applecare, and b) 3g

Actually.. good question I guess.. If you bought an iphone, could you purchase Applecare as well? or is that an international only thing?

One would assume that because you could very well legitimately buy an iPhone whilst living in the States, then move to Aust/elsewhere, that AppleCare for the iPhone would be worldwide... Thus, you may need to buy the AppleCare with the iPhone (ie from USA), but then it would function here...

Of course, that's logical... And we all know what happens to logic when mixed with business...

Okay so say you call apple in australia saying "zomg my phone is broken" The next question really would be I wonder if they will fix it here? or will they ship it back to the US?

I wonder...

At the moment, since the iPhone isn't available in Aust, I reckon that you could buy AppleCare from the US, but of course, any repairs/warranty claims must be performed in the US - since all phones are coming from there (basically).

Until Australia has the iPhone, there's no point in getting AppleCare unless you plan on going back to USA everytime something goes wrong/needs repairs, since Australia certainly won't repair an iPhone (since they don't know the procedures etc... since it is not officially out here).

So if you're going to get an iPhone right now, you're stuck without warranty/AppleCare, it's a risk you'll have to take onboard with having the latest gear.

Mmmm. So what are the rest of you guys with iPhones going to do once GSM isn't supported anymore? Sell them huh? As for me sounds like I'd better hold fire until the official 3G iPhone is delivered in AUS???

Well, you can get one on eBay at the moment for around $800.... *lol* If you can't find anyone in the USA to use as a shipping address instead that is...

We get another phone obviously. I've lost count of the number of mobiles I've owned but it would be close to 35-40 over the years since my 1st mobile a Nokia 121 way back in the early 90's.

I upgrade my phone probably once every 4-5months. though the iPhone looks a keeper at the moment.

I've got an XDA O2 Atom Life and Blackberry Curve 8310 sitting unused under my desk at the moment

God help the landfills if I every throw out my other collection of phones

When is GSM phasing out? Even if i keep i iphone for two years - it would be the longest time I had an iPod ever

CDMA is the network that's being phased out, not GSM.

GSM will be next though. It's best to move with the times I guess..

GSM will be here for a while yet. My iPhone is safe

GSM will be phased out I believe, just a matter of time. Anyway, GSM isn't much good for me in rural localities. For instance if I went up to any of the island communities above Darwin, CDMA is the only network there. Hence, GSM won't fit the bill. NextG is my only real option.