Buying iPhone overseas

[docjames]

Am contemplating buying a 3GS. To avoid the usual debate, there are a million phones on the market, but the iPhone has the best combo of features for me (as assessed by me, for me). Please dont make this a iPhone vs othwer thread.


What i want to know is if I buy one overseas, will it work in Australia?

(what i want to do is continue on my current plan and just add a browsing pack). Similar to if i buy the phone outright at an apple store here in Australia, then go to Telstra and "connect" it with an update of my current sim / plan. Will this work?


I am aware of the rampant trade in fake iPhones, so as always, caveat emptor!


Thanks in advance.

 

[samh004]

What i want to know is if I buy one overseas, will it work in Australia?

Yes. But it has to be unlocked. Last year you could buy an iPhone in HK for much less than you could here, but now the exchange rates have made the price about the same (for unlocked phones).

If you're looking for the out-the-backdoor-of-the-factory phones, they're cheaper, but might be locked and require a hack to work, which could mean that applying software updates becomes a problem. Also be careful you get a rest-of-the-world iPhone that way, as China is just about to begin selling their own iPhone (without wifi).

The most hassle-free way is just to plonk down the AUD$1040 with Apple, either online or at a store.

(what i want to do is continue on my current plan and just add a browsing pack). Similar to if i buy the phone outright at an apple store here in Australia, then go to Telstra and "connect" it with an update of my current sim / plan. Will this work?

That will work, I updated my old SIM to a 3G capable one and bought a more credit so I could get more data and it's worked perfectly fine. The iPhone, at least in Australia, doesn't need anything special. We don't have visual voicemail unfortunately.

 

[docjames]

Thanks samh004.

Will be looking mostly in HK and SIN (or London, NYC or Abu Dhabi) so will ensure it is "unlocked". Will really only look at reputable places (not really gutsy enough to buy at a market / "factory back door".

I'm not fixed on buying one, will only buy if it's a reasonable deal otherwise will do without the stress / hassle and just buy when i get back to Australia (? are they for sale at arrivals duty free)?

Already have 3G sim in current phone so that'll make it easy.

 

[samh004]

Thanks samh004.

I'm not fixed on buying one, will only buy if it's a reasonable deal otherwise will do without the stress / hassle and just buy when i get back to Australia (? are they for sale at arrivals duty free)?

Already have 3G sim in current phone so that'll make it easy.

I don't believe they're available on arrival as Apple likes to limit who can sell them. You can buy iPods generally though.

When you first turn on the phone and enter your SIM, it'll need to be plugged into your computer and connect to the internet to "validate" itself. It's also able to download updated carrier settings that way.

Bear that in mind when you get it.

 

[notzac]

It's possibly worth pointing out that the unlock hacks don't work on the iPhone 3GS as yet, and the only countries that are selling the iPhone factory unlocked direct from Apple are AU, NZ and HK (to the best of my knowledge).

They're otherwise the same handset, so I can't see any reason that one bought in HK wouldn't work in AU.

 

[Aggi]

We nearly bought an iPhone in NYC in June from an electronics store but luckily realised that it was a fake. The seller admitted it was a fake when I asked him why the phone didn't have the Apple logo on the back. Although his suggestion that we don't turn the phone on until we get back to Australia should have rang alarm bells!!!
The Apple store told us that they are only allowed to sell iPhones to American citizens.

 

[thegurio]

Personally i think some things just arent worth saving a bit of money on... You can get an iPhone on a very cheap plan from Tel$tra - I personally save about $300 a month with the one that I'm on at the moment. The issue i can see is warranty, when i got mine i also got another 3. Two of them have been taken back for warranty fixes and I can be fairly sure that they wouldn't of done that if it was bought OS.

As has been said, yes it will work and all you need to do is change the actual plug to make it AUS compatible as all they are is a USB convertor. If you're charging from your computer it's no different at all. Having said that if they will only sell to US citizens then i guess it's another nail in the coffin. Personally, i would get one before you go as they come into their own on a trip!

Good luck and let us know how you go...

 

[djfuzz]

The most hassle-free way is just to plonk down the AUD$1040 with Apple, either online or at a store.

I agree - buy it from Apple within 30 days of departure and get the GST back, that'll knock it back to about $945 for 32GB or $799 for 16GB - you're unlikely to get it much cheaper elsewhere without either going on a two year contract and finding a creative way to unlock it (still pending as noted above).

Apple HK also sells them outright, so that might be worth a look in, but may be online only.

By getting it here outright and unlocked you can do exactly what you intend to - I did exactly the same thing with Telstra, and it ends up working out pretty well, especially given the fact that you're not locked into paying out Telstra if you want to change at any time.

 

[SnowYeti]

If you buy it from overseas, your warranty will still work at the genius bar here at Apple Stores.

For peace of mind, I think it's worth paying the extra $200 or so to buy it here.

You know it's geniune, you know it will work and you know you're protected with warranty and Fair Trading if Apple for some unforgiving reason don't help with any warranty or other problems.

The phone will work here, and visual voicemail is on its way to some carriers, I think Voda is first.

 

[odysseus]

I don't believe they're available on arrival as Apple likes to limit who can sell them.

I don't think you can buy anything on arrival aside from alcohol/cigarettes. It's not the full duty free store, unless it's changed since I was last through.

 

[samh004]

The Apple store told us that they are only allowed to sell iPhones to American citizens.

That's because in the US AT&T has an exclusive deal, so you have to sign up to a 2 year contract to have an iPhone there, hence selling a phone to an international customer would get Apple and AT&T no where.

Apple HK also sells them outright, so that might be worth a look in, but may be online only.

The price difference between HK and AU these days is about $40 + the cost of a plane ticket.

I don't think you can buy anything on arrival aside from alcohol/cigarettes. It's not the full duty free store, unless it's changed since I was last through.

Well there's fragrances I think, but you make a good point, electronics seem to be only available on departure. I never look anyway though.

 

[docjames]

Thanks, it seems like it's not worth the hassle, will just buy in Aus and try and get the GST back.

 

[MrGreg]

A friend bought one in Hong Kong back when the 8GB 3G was released mid last year. He said it was about $110 cheaper than in Aus.

I think your best bet would be to buy it here, and try to get it GST free if you can. That's roughly $800, which is roughly the same as some of the cheaper ones around the world.

 

[ric_melb]

I am on my third IPhone 3G. First two were replaced within first six months for faults. Whilst I love the phone, it appears they are prone to develop faults. To ensure warranty service from Apple, I would also recommend buying the phone in Australia.

 

[docjames]

OK, OK i'm convinced, buy in Aus and try and take it o/s to get the gst back.

 

[medhead]

I am on my third IPhone 3G. First two were replaced within first six months for faults. Whilst I love the phone, it appears they are prone to develop faults. To ensure warranty service from Apple, I would also recommend buying the phone in Australia.

Who did you go through for warranty? Apple or phone company. I've just realised that the mic/clicker thing on the ear phones is non functional. Only used the damn ear phones about 8 times in 11 months

 

[Mal]

I don't think you can buy anything on arrival aside from alcohol/cigarettes. It's not the full duty free store, unless it's changed since I was last through.

Yeah, the rules have been changed, and they can now sell a larger number of items on arrival in Australia. Apple stuff can be bought in Syd etc, although I'm not sure it's fully displayed.

 

[ric_melb]

Hi medhead, Optus told me that Apple handle all warranty issues, so I made an appointment for the Genius Bar at the Apple Shop at Chadstone.
In each case they replaced my phone with a new one. They dont repair your phone. However a friend of mine has just had his 3GS phone replaced, and tells me he ended up with a refurbished phone in exchange. He was not happy.

 

[medhead]

Hi medhead, Optus told me that Apple handle all warranty issues, so I made an appointment for the Genius Bar at the Apple Shop at Chadstone.

Cheers ric_melb, unfortunately no Genius bar in Adelaide.
But I'll give the local apple reseller a shot. Did try online support but the want my CC details to charge $37, in case I don't return the defective product in 10 days or if they decide it is not a warranty item. Bit much for the dodgy headset that comes with the phone (rrp of $39). If I have to pay I'd rather pay $100 for the better headset they offer.

 

[Skyring]

We nearly bought an iPhone in NYC in June from an electronics store but luckily realised that it was a fake. The seller admitted it was a fake when I asked him why the phone didn't have the Apple logo on the back.

I was contemplating buying one in Shenzhen last year - in the land of "genuine fakes" - and it had the Apple logo on the back. What gave it away was the lack of polish in the user interface. It looked similar enough to fool someone who hadn't used an Apple product.