Hi

Im terribly sorry if this has been posted before.

I have a 3G iphone I picked up on contract with Optus. I asked them to unlock the phone. A day later I received the SMS which told me to connect to iTunes. I restored. I am pretty sure I got some updated carrier settings.

But the phone is otherwise the same. I cannot see any different menus for entering APN/EDGE settings.

I then put in a Virgin SIM. No APN/EDGE settings to see there either. But mobile internet works.

Then I put in a telstra sim (that did not have data activated). It picked up the 3Telstra network and I could make telephone calls (obviously no data).

When I tried these two sims out I did not do a restore afterwards (I was away). I though maybe thats why there are no APN settings.

So I got home and tried a restore with the virgin sim in which I know has data activated. Still no APN menu/settings.

I just popped in a Vodafone sim (prepaid live, no data) and I get "no sim". I have yet to try restoring while the vodafone sim is in there.

Apologies for the long post, but the reason im anxious is that my brother is taking this phone overseas in a couple of weeks and I need to be able to get it to work with italian sims.

More importantly I want to know that it will work WITHOUT having to do a restore with iTunes every time. Otherwise he would have to take a computer as well as the phone, which was the whole point of taking it to begin with.

Any ideas as to how to confirm that it is unlocked?

And do you have to restore to get "updated carrier settings" every time you change a sim?

And have anyone on Virgin have APN settings to enter or are they entered automatically when the "updated carrier settings" arrive.

Any help appreciated

Cheers
Len

It should work without a restore, upon new SIM insertion.

And you've pretty much confirmed it is unlocked, haven't you?
1. Optus notified you via SMS.
2. You restored.
3. New carrier settings.
4. Inserted a variety of SIMs such as Optus, Virgin, Vodafone, Telstra... they all work. If I'm reading your post correctly.

The APN settings are read from the SIM. Some carriers don't allow you to see it or edit it yourself so that is where alternative methods come in, such as jailbreaking to access the files and editing them yourself, or using an external site such as APN Changer to apply a new APN yourself without jailbreaking.

Once unlocked, it remains unlocked. There should not be a need to restore.

Thanks Huy

So to be sure, you do not need to restore to get the updated settings?

What about connecting to iTunes to get the carrier settings for the sim just inserted? Do you still need to do this?

If my brother wants to use an italian sim card will he be able to sync with any iTunes to get the updated carrier settings?Or will he have to take his laptop with his iTunes.

And will itunes only provide the carrier settings for "approved" telco's such as Optus and Voda and whoever is the official supplier in Italy?

Cheers
Len

From what I have read on this forum, you do not need to restore to switch carrier SIMs. I haven't got an unlocked iPhone 3G myself (yet) so I cannot test this feature for you (and I don't have any other SIMs lying around from other carriers).

I think iTunes and the updated carrier settings was a 'one off' to let your iPhone know that it is now in an unlocked state. You shouldn't have to do this in future, I suspect.

Even if you have to restore (which I doubt), he could still set it up as a 'new' iPhone which would be a pain but could be up and running still - unless taking the laptop isn't a problem. I still think it's not needed though.

I believe it should work on any carrier however it would be best (probably...) to use it with an 'approved' (iPhone selling) carrier in that country. Apple may have restrictions in place to prevent 'non-approved' carriers BUT I doubt this is the case. Only one way to find out? Put the SIM in and see.

Hi Huy

I think your right about not having to restore every time. Thats a relief.

I will confirm whether you need to do an itunes sync for carrier settings by grabbing a three sim from a mate at work and trying it out.

If the iPhone can manage to figure out the data settings for three without the itunes sync and getting updated carrier settings then I will feel comfortable sending him overseas with the phone alone.

If it doesnt work I will then try it on a different itunes to my own, if it can get the carrier settings that way, without disturbing the content and settings of the phone, then all he will have to do is find someone with itunes 7.7.

Sound about right?

If you try on a different iTunes, then it will just charge the iPhone or ask whether you'd like to erase content and settings and start from scratch I believe (I haven't tried this, since I don't plug my iPhone into random machines or ones that aren't mine).

If iTunes detects a foreign (new) iPhone, then I think it will ask whether you'd like to delete everything and set it up as a new phone (or cancel and don't do anything, except charge it).

well ill let you know how it goes. if I had a three sim here at home I could check it now but it will have to wait.

once unlocked you should be able to access the APN menu, if you cant then something is wrong

id suggest deleting your restore firmware from your itunes prefs folder then allowing it to download again before restoring it again

even with optus? I have heard they hide it from you unless your with telstra or three.

if I cant get another carrier to work (other than virgin which worked before I unlocked anyway) I will try this restore thingy you are talking about.

Cheers
Len

Being able to view/edit the APN once unlocked is not entirely true. This is only half the story and it is also up to the carrier to allow you to do this.

Some carriers may let you edit without being unlocked, but being unlocked is not a pre-requisite to being able to view and edit the APN. Even if you are unlocked, it may not be viewable/editable. That is my interpretation. Either, or. But not and (in most cases).
Source:
iPhone: How to view or edit the APN setting

hmmm, just thinking, do you think my questions about italian sims and whether my brother would have to take his laptop to get updated carrier settings would be something for the apple genius bar?

How would they know?

They're not responsible for selling the iPhone really since the Apple Store has reps who do the signs up and stuff (as far as I know) and they have no part in the unlocking themselves (as geniuses). I doubt they are trained in this because it's something the Apple techs do on their end with IMEI and carriers.

Also I think if you ask about 'foreign' usage they're not going to really know either since they should know about local Australian issues?

By all means try, but don't expect them to know about what happens with carriers, using it overseas, things outside their 'genius' knowledge (though I am happy to be proven wrong here!).

OK,

just tested on a three sim

IT WORKS- just had to add the APN settings (the APN setting preference "cellular data" does miraculously appear when a 3rd party sim is inserted).

Didnt need to sync with itunes, didnt need to restore.

Yay - can send it overseas now without worries.

Thanks to all who replied.

Cheers
Len

Sorry if any one has already asked this before but how much if you are on a plain dose it cost to unlock you phone if you are with telstra or optus. Vodaphone just told me that i will have to pay $75 for a phone that i have already payed for and a contract i am locked in for 24 mounths.

$0.

Vodafone should not be charging you $75 if you are on contract with them for 24 months. They are charging this for outright purchases.