Hey all,

This is a separate issue to Telstra or Optus unlocking, so I thought I could start a new one.

I'm having some trouble at the moment:
1. I bought a DSE outright, Vodafone locked iPhone 3G.
2. I am able to disable wireless and 3G but cannot disable GPRS at all, because the handset is locked and I cannot enter a fake APN.

I have tried to call 1555 Customer Connect but the system always hangs up on me (the automatic voice recognition system is not useful for iPhone unlocking and I want to go through to an operator but it keeps hanging up on my calls!).

I am getting charged $1 for every 5 minutes of usage and sometimes my iPhone 3G will connect via GPRS by itself (I have Push OFF, Fetch Manually, 3G OFF, not running any widgets or any app).

I am just going to bite the bullet and try to get my Vodafone locked handset unlocked for $75 however cannot get through to their operators to tell them...

Anyone else wanting to unlock their Vodafone handsets? I am losing $1 every 5 minutes... I keep checking my balance and it is slowly going down by $1 each time, and I keep checking my usage meter on the iPhone and seeing small KB's being sent sometimes and the 'internet loading' wheel spinning even when 3G and WiFi is OFF.

I need to stop this... and the only way I know how is to get it unlocked so I can enter a dummy APN.

Thank you for listening!

Settings summary:

I had most luck phoning 1555 at 8am just when they opened. I was still on hold for ages, but at least Lara didn't struggle to understand me and then cut me off and tell me to use the web!

Speaking of which though, does the normal unlock page work for iPhones?

Have you thought of going post-paid? You can add 100MB for $11.95.

The normal unlock page does not work for the iPhone.

And I cannot go on post-paid for various reasons.

Oh well... say hello to Lara from me then!

I have called three times and each time I have to sit and listen to the automatic stuff.

I can't get through for some reason because even though I ignore LARA and say I want to go to an operator, she puts me through but suddenly the call gets cut.

Annoying... I don't want to be paying $1 - I've just lost around 10 bucks.

UPDATE
Success!
I have gone through and spoke with an operator, who was able to bar my Internet completely (no GPRS, no 3G).

I asked about unlocking but he had no idea and I wasn't about to be transferred...



Biggest pain in the butt ever trying to get through to an operator/in a queue.

Internet is now disabled - as you can see, no EDGE/GPRS or 3G icon displayed. WiFi works and comes up when needed.

did they bar it or tell you what to do?

They barred it, upon my request.

I am going to call them up later, to request a network unlock for $75 but I really don't like my chances... their customer service number is very poor - it relies on an automatic voice recognition system and plays back scripts.

I am surprised of how bad your experience has been with Lara, it is always spot on for me and i never have to wait!

Perhaps it is the iPhone 3G rush (panic)?

When did you last use it/her? I last had to call in 2005 and remember it being just fine.

Now it is quite terrible and heavily automated/scripted. Not to mention the calls being dropped for no reason.

Try saying "complaint" or hit # five times next time you go through, that will usually get you through to an operator pretty quickly. Was something that was passed onto me and has worked.

Huy
do you know what exactly was loosing you money - i am interested to know as this applies to me

I do not know for sure.

Of course, I was able to "force" it to charge me $1... because on those occasions I was only connecting for around 2 seconds, just to see whether I have successfully disabled it or not!

First time: Just checking how fast 3G is (fast!).
Second time: Checking things like IP address (Vodafone's) and GPRS speed.
3rd: Mail.
4th: Weather/Stocks.
5th: Safari.

Something like that, that was my usage... I was just switching SIMs between my old phone and this iPhone. Even restoring it around 3 times just to try and figure out a way to get the iPhone to read an incorrect APN - I was using the second phone to set APNs and hopefully thought it would save on the SIM and not work.

I was also using Wireless Data Portal - Vodafone Australia to try and send the APN to the iPhone but did not work (as far as I can tell).

For some reason I noticed the spinning "loading" wheel a few times even when 3G was off, Wi-Fi was off and GPRS (EDGE) not in use. Just on the home screen.

So I went into Settings > General > Usage and yep, it had sent data... my settings were unchanged as above in 1st post (most were OFF, Manual, etc).

Reset your usage meter on the iPhone and then keep and eye on both your account balance and your usage meter to see if any KB's are being sent or received.

I really want my credits to expire so I can unlock, then go to Optus prepaid and port my number across.

well i am getting on a 29 cap - but i would still be charged similar to you - so i am worried. i think i am gonna have to be really careful with how i use it!

I have a Vodafone prepaid account, and I am not being billed as you describe, you might need to check the $1 charge, as that should be only if you are on a plan from before, and have simply used a new phone (ala iPhone).

You may have to get a iPhone plan.

check ur contacts i added some contacts and it used all my credit