Using an unlocked iPhone the first time...

[brikis98]

Here's the scenario: I should be getting a factory unlocked iPhone 3GS pretty soon. I'm a current AT&T customer, but I only have a phone plan and no data plan. Some questions:

1. Since it's unlocked, I should be able to just drop my SIM card in and go, right? No in-store activation necessary?
2. If so, when I first turn the iPhone on, does it try to download anything over 3G? Since I don't have a data plan, I'm not going to start using Google Maps or Safari right away, but I just want to make sure the phone doesn't automatically start downloading anything.

Oh, and b4 anyone asks: I got the phone unlocked (rather than through AT&T) because I'll be taking it abroad pretty frequently and yes, I'll be adding a data plan eventually, but can't do so for the first week or so.

New question:

Does AT&T know what phone you're using if you got an unlocked one and put your SIM in it? It seems like they don't, as right now I have an unlocked Sony Ericsson X1, but the AT&T website thinks I have a Motorola V180 (which I've never actually owned). As a result, the website allows me to add "Data unlimited" to my account, which looks like an unlimited data plan for just $15/month. If I add this data plan and then move my SIM card to an unlocked iPhone, will the data plan work? It would be pretty sweet to only have to pay $15/month rather than the $30/month of the normal iPhone data plan...

 

[ChAoTiCpInOy]

No activation is necessary.

You might want to go to Settings -> General -> Network then turn data roaming off. But I'm pretty sure since you don't have a data plan it won't try to download anything over 3G.

 

[gorcorps]

Originally posted by: ChAoTiCpInOy
No activation is necessary.

You might want to go to Settings -> General -> Network then turn data roaming off. But I'm pretty sure since you don't have a data plan it won't try to download anything over 3G.

Oh it will try whenever it can do use data.

From what I hear OP you need to call ATT and have them completely disable data access to your account to make sure it won't connect and charge you per kb used. It's the only way to be totally sure it's not going to connect to anything as the settings on the phone can be changed and some apps can fark with the settings enough to allow you to connect again.

 

[pm]

I agree with Gocorps. It should be just fine but just to make sure, I would call up AT&T and ask them to block all data access.

How/where did you get a factory unlocked iPhone 3G S? And if you don't mind, how much was it? I've been researching where I could buy one and I haven't found anything aside from Ebaying one from Hong Kong.

 

[R Nilla]

This may also be of use to you but as others mentioned the safest route is to disable data for your account through AT&T.

 

[Suspicious-Teach8788]

Originally posted by: R Nilla
This may also be of use to you but as others mentioned the safest route is to disable data for your account through AT&T.

I used unlockit.co.nz also for my mom's iPhone. Hope she doesn't somehow mess it up.

 

[Viper0329]

Originally posted by: pm
I agree with Gocorps. It should be just fine but just to make sure, I would call up AT&T and ask them to block all data access.

How/where did you get a factory unlocked iPhone 3G S? And if you don't mind, how much was it? I've been researching where I could buy one and I haven't found anything aside from Ebaying one from Hong Kong.

You could try Italy. I have an unlocked 3g that I bought from TIM, but I bought it while I was physically in the country.

 

[brikis98]

Thanks for the replies folks, but I have a new question:

Does AT&T know what phone you're using if you got an unlocked one and put your SIM in it? It seems like they don't, as right now I have an unlocked Sony Ericsson X1, but the AT&T website thinks I have a Motorola V180 (which I've never actually owned). As a result, the website allows me to add "Data unlimited" to my account, which looks like an unlimited data plan for just $15/month. If I add this data plan and then move my SIM card to an unlocked iPhone, will the data plan work? It would be pretty sweet to only have to pay $15/month rather than the $30/month of the normal iPhone data plan...

 

[Cheesetogo]

Originally posted by: brikis98
Thanks for the replies folks, but I have a new question:

Does AT&T know what phone you're using if you got an unlocked one and put your SIM in it? It seems like they don't, as right now I have an unlocked Sony Ericsson X1, but the AT&T website thinks I have a Motorola V180 (which I've never actually owned). As a result, the website allows me to add "Data unlimited" to my account, which looks like an unlimited data plan for just $15/month. If I add this data plan and then move my SIM card to an unlocked iPhone, will the data plan work? It would be pretty sweet to only have to pay $15/month rather than the $30/month of the normal iPhone data plan...

I think that the $15 one gets you EDGE access only, whereas $30 gets you 3G. I'm not positive though.

 

[pm]

Well, I tried to get an officially unlocked one in Poland, and Austria - both places that sell them unlocked and without a contract, and the price that they quoted me about $850 for the 16GB iPhone 3GS, or just shy of $1000 for the 32GB version. So I punted on an officially unlocked one. $850 is out of my budget. It was slightly cheaper in Poland... but still the price is both countries was more or less the same. I think the difference was exchange rate fluctuations (Poland's not on the Euro).

I'll almost certainly buy one through AT&T in the next couple of days and will unlock it with the new Ultrasnow 3GS unlock and then decide if I want to use it on T-Mobile (and pay the $175 + 1 month service to break my contract), or keep it with AT&T. I'll have a month to decide what I want to do... (the reason to keep it on T-Mo would be the lower monthly fee).

 

[Wonderful Pork]

Originally posted by: Cheesetogo

Originally posted by: brikis98
Thanks for the replies folks, but I have a new question:

Does AT&T know what phone you're using if you got an unlocked one and put your SIM in it? It seems like they don't, as right now I have an unlocked Sony Ericsson X1, but the AT&T website thinks I have a Motorola V180 (which I've never actually owned). As a result, the website allows me to add "Data unlimited" to my account, which looks like an unlimited data plan for just $15/month. If I add this data plan and then move my SIM card to an unlocked iPhone, will the data plan work? It would be pretty sweet to only have to pay $15/month rather than the $30/month of the normal iPhone data plan...

I think that the $15 one gets you EDGE access only, whereas $30 gets you 3G. I'm not positive though.

That's not really true, the phone will connect to any network available and transfer data over that. The $15 v $30/mo is a scam by AT&T. If you have a 3G Moto Razr or other "regular" phone its only $15/month. Of course smartphones will transfer more data, so it may be understandable.

Anyway, it may be possible for AT&T to identify the phone via IMEI over the network. There are rumors that they do sweep the network and identify misappropriated iPhone plans. I don't know this to be true, but there are stories on MacRumors and HoFo.

Personally I wouldn't risk it. I'd probably just have AT&T block data on my line and be done with it.