I am considering buying an unlocked iPhone, but have a few questions. I have browsed this forum for the specifics I am after but am still a little confused about a few things.

1 - I currently have a CDMA phone on a Telstra plan, and have been advised by Telstra that I can purchase a prepaid Starter Kit, transfer my existing number over, and then upgrade the sim to Next G. My understanding is that the iPhone is not a 3G phone, but from these forums I see that some people are using Next G sims or plans. Will a Next G sim card work with an unlocked iPhone, and what are the limitations if any?

2 - If I purchase an unlocked iPhone with v 1.1.2 firmware, will it sync contacts, calenders etc seamlessly with iTunes. The Apple iPhone videos show an activation process via iTunes. Is this avoided via the unlocking process?

3 - If the rumoured 1.1.3 firmware update eventuates, is this an automatic update process via iTunes or does it have to be selected for update? What I mean is could the firmware update happen automatically on docking the iPhone, and disable the phone or similar because it has been unlocked?

Thanks for any help or advice.

Yes all the Syncing should work perfectly


iTunes lets you no there is a update available. With a dialog box Giving you 3 options

1. ignore 2. Download only 3. download and install

Consider waiting until they are legally available here.

Advantages:
1. No stuffing around with unlocking procedures.(That may or may not work)
2. No voiding of warranty.
3. Technical support.
4. Have the latest version available with any new features included.
5. Applecare


PS : Kyle - K Quote......"Yes all the sinking should work perfectly"......

only if you put it in a bowl of water...

I have fixed the spelling mistake

1 [ intrans. ] go down below the surface of something, esp. of a liquid; become submerged : he saw the coffin sink below the surface of the waves.
• (of a ship) go to the bottom of the sea or some other body of water because of damage or a collision : the trawler sank with the loss of all six crew members.

lol

What silverdreamer said. You've waited this long, what's another few months? It's obvious Apple are going to keep adding cool new features via software updates - wouldn't you rather just update it with peace of mind every time.

Ive made a decision if there is no mention of a new iphone this keynote I am canceling my 3 contract and getting an iphone.

Question though. If I get an iphone now, what happens when the legit ones come to australia will I be able to use and oversease iphone as a new phone? Or is there diffrnent builds etc.

Don't bother just get the Motorola Raza $199 and wait for the iPhone release.

"legally" what are you talking about?

There is nothing unlawful about buying and using an iPhone in Australia.

1. No procedures - just slip in a TurboSIM or a Chinese copy.
2. Slip out the TurboSIM or the copy and Virginise befor returning to Apple.
3. Just call or email Apple for tech support, but no one I know ever needed any.
4. The latest version is the latest version. Why wait for the next version as you will be forever waiting - remember VHS, DVDs, iPods, Plasma TVs, LCD TVs, etc, etc.
5. See 2. above

Get an iPhone and enjoy !

Someone said recently its all because it's not approved by whatever governing body in Australia yet. So operating it on a GSM network here would, technically, be illegal yes? Not that it'll stop me

2 - Yes, contacts from Address Book, Calendars from iCal as you would expect, music from iTunes etc. Activation is avoided, yes.

3 - It is not automatic. It has to be selected. You choose to upgrade/restore before anything happens or is downloaded.

Thanks for the info folks.

I got an 8 GB iPhone unlocked via turbosim and it's working faultlessly on a Telstra Next G prepaid sim.

Mail, Safari, Maps, YouTube etc all work fine via both wi-fi and Edge.

I can't believe how intuitive and easy this thing is to use.

Highly recommended.

For the dummy

OK, just to be clear, because I'm not great at this stuff! I just buy a turbosim, buy any version iPhone regardless of firmware etc, make a small cut to my sim and insert into turbosim, slip it into the iPhone and Im done? No stuffing around with unlocks etc. Is the turbosim susceptible to upgrades to the firmware.

I hope you don't come to regret your impatience.

macsyd,

I purchased the iPhone already set up and supplied with turbosim and a precut sim card to show what was required. I simply cut my Telstra Next G sim card in the same way and installed it with turbosim on top. The phone was supplied running v1.1.2 software and with the additional apps "Installer 3" and "iWorld" installed. So unfortunately I don't know whether just installing a turbosim will work, or if there is other installation to be done.

silverdreamer.

"I hope you don't come to regret your impatience."

So do I, but I doubt it.

The phone and turbosim were supplied with a limited 12 month warranty.

Future software upgrades may still work. That has yet to be seen.

And above all else, I get to use the iPhone now at an affordable price (for me anyway). When it is eventually released here, you can bet that the total cost of the initial plans made available for its release will be very pricey, because whoever ends up being the contracted carrier will be well aware that early adopters will pay whatever it costs, within reason.

In the mean time I will have used the phone, with all it's features, for long enough to know whether I wish to buy an Australian one down the track should I have any problems with this one. And at this stage I would do so if required.

Regards.