Going to look at a used iPhone

[lizardboy]

I'm going to look at a used 4GB iPhone someone is selling on Craigslist. If I just take the AT&T SIM card out of my Samsung Blackjack and put it in the iPhone, will I be able to tell if it's working or not? Anything else I should be aware of when checking out the phone?

Thanks

 

[Boo Boo]

power it off then on with sim

if it works your good

 

[pm]

Actually, you can swap SIMs on an iPhone without powering it off - but Boo's advice is good. Power-cycle it. But you won't be able to swap SIMs unless the phone has been unlocked... you don't mention if it's unlocked or not, but locked phones require a specific SIM from AT&T (that comes with the iPhone). You can't just put any AT&T SIM in - unless it's been unlocked.

Check the headphone jack - despite the recessed nature, there's been some failiures.

Check the IMEI of the phone matches the number on the back of the phone - there was an unlock bug that screwed up the IMEI.

I'd also check the firmware version and how they unlocked it. The first round of 1.0.2 firmware unlocks messed with stuff best left alone, the second round of unlocks is more reversible. So if the phone was unlocked with the original unlock, it can be a complicated flow to undo this.

So if the phone is running firmware 1.1.1 then it was unlocked with the newer method(easiest check is just to see if the purple iTunes icon is on the screen, but you can also dial *5001#12345#* (field test code), or go to Settings -> General -> About.

If it's running 1.0.2 and was unlocked with the "original" method (and not Anysim 1.1 or IPSF) then understand that it will likely be a bit of work to get it to 1.1.1. "Virginizing" as they call it, is not a simple process. There's no harm in running a 1.0.2 with the original unlock, but it's a bit of a pain to upgrade.

 

[lizardboy]

Thanks guys - it's not being advertised as "unlocked," so I don't think the owner has even tried. She just wants an 8GB model. I'll be sure to check the other items PM mentioned...thanks again.

 

[pm]

Almost all of my points apply to unlock iPhones - but, like I said, if it's not unlocked you shouldn't be able to put you AT&T SIM into it.

Good luck.

 

[pm]

Double post. Sorry.

 

[lizardboy]

Originally posted by: pm
Almost all of my points apply to unlock iPhones - but, like I said, if it's not unlocked you shouldn't be able to put you AT&T SIM into it.

Good luck.

you mean "should" - right? iphones are locked to work w/ AT&T (Cingular), that's where my SIM card is from

 

[Wonderful Pork]

no, locked iphones only work with the SIM they came with. You need to hack it to get it to work on yours.

 

[pm]

Right. I did mean "should not". You need the special AT&T SIM that it came with. I'm sure if you buy this 4GB that AT&T will give a new one that will work, but you'll need to sign for one of the iPhone plans. If want you want to keep your current plan or SIM, you need to unlock it.

I love my 4GB iPhone but really dislike the restrictions from Apple/AT&T.

 

[Aimster]

No.

It will not work like that.

From what I heard they give you a simcard for it when you buy the phone and you must activate it on itunes or something.

Plus if you have the old AT&T contract (before Cingular merger), you have to get a new contract.

 

[lizardboy]

Well, I ended up picking up an 8GB today (for $250!!!). All I had to do was swap the SIM card from my Blackjack to the iPhone, then activate it via iTunes. I waited on hold for a while, but once they told me what to do, it only took about 5 minutes to go through the activation process. I was already an existing AT&T customer, so this probably made it much easier. When I got my Blackjack a few months ago, AT&T gave me a new SIM card at the time (says "3G" on it) because the old Cingular SIM card from my RAZR would not work in the newer phones, I think this is why people think you need a "special" SIM.

Thanks for all the advice, I'm very impressed with the phone so far.

 

[AnyMal]

Originally posted by: lizardboy
Well, I ended up picking up an 8GB today (for $250!!!). All I had to do was swap the SIM card from my Blackjack to the iPhone, then activate it via iTunes. I waited on hold for a while, but once they told me what to do, it only took about 5 minutes to go through the activation process. I was already an existing AT&T customer, so this probably made it much easier. When I got my Blackjack a few months ago, AT&T gave me a new SIM card at the time (says "3G" on it) because the old Cingular SIM card from my RAZR would not work in the newer phones, I think this is why people think you need a "special" SIM.

Thanks for all the advice, I'm very impressed with the phone so far.

I hope you're aware that you just locked yourself into a new 2-year contract. Darn shame, the workaround activation is so easy.

 

[gordita]

Originally posted by: lizardboy
Well, I ended up picking up an 8GB today (for $250!!!). All I had to do was swap the SIM card from my Blackjack to the iPhone, then activate it via iTunes. I waited on hold for a while, but once they told me what to do, it only took about 5 minutes to go through the activation process. I was already an existing AT&T customer, so this probably made it much easier. When I got my Blackjack a few months ago, AT&T gave me a new SIM card at the time (says "3G" on it) because the old Cingular SIM card from my RAZR would not work in the newer phones, I think this is why people think you need a "special" SIM.

Thanks for all the advice, I'm very impressed with the phone so far.

possible to share how you scored a 8gb iphone for $250?
PM would work also....

 

[lizardboy]

Originally posted by: gordita

Originally posted by: lizardboy
Well, I ended up picking up an 8GB today (for $250!!!). All I had to do was swap the SIM card from my Blackjack to the iPhone, then activate it via iTunes. I waited on hold for a while, but once they told me what to do, it only took about 5 minutes to go through the activation process. I was already an existing AT&T customer, so this probably made it much easier. When I got my Blackjack a few months ago, AT&T gave me a new SIM card at the time (says "3G" on it) because the old Cingular SIM card from my RAZR would not work in the newer phones, I think this is why people think you need a "special" SIM.

Thanks for all the advice, I'm very impressed with the phone so far.

possible to share how you scored a 8gb iphone for $250?
PM would work also....

Just dumb luck really. I happened to look on Craigslist just a few minutes after someone posted an 8GB iPhone for $250. I almost didn't e-mail the guy b/c I figured it was some sort of scam, but went ahead & e-mailed him just in case. He had the original receipt (in his name), the box, all the accessories, and the IMEI number matched up...so I bought it. He said all of his friends & family were on Sprint so he was switching back...he'd already bought a Blackberry Pearl (?) to replace the iPhone. I think he just didn't realize that he probably could have sold it for at least $100 more.

So far everything's working great, it has a small scratch on the back, but other than that it's in mint condition.

 

[lizardboy]

Originally posted by: AnyMal

Originally posted by: lizardboy
Well, I ended up picking up an 8GB today (for $250!!!). All I had to do was swap the SIM card from my Blackjack to the iPhone, then activate it via iTunes. I waited on hold for a while, but once they told me what to do, it only took about 5 minutes to go through the activation process. I was already an existing AT&T customer, so this probably made it much easier. When I got my Blackjack a few months ago, AT&T gave me a new SIM card at the time (says "3G" on it) because the old Cingular SIM card from my RAZR would not work in the newer phones, I think this is why people think you need a "special" SIM.

Thanks for all the advice, I'm very impressed with the phone so far.

I hope you're aware that you just locked yourself into a new 2-year contract. Darn shame, the workaround activation is so easy.

I already had ~20 months to go on my Cingular contract, so it didn't really matter to me. Plus I'm saving $20/month by switching from the Blackjack data plan to the iPhone data plan.