Will an unlocked iPhone come back to haunt me?

[phillu]

Guys,
I'm sorry if this has been covered before. I read 8 pages of the iPhone thread but it's a needle in a haystack and Google didn't help either.

I've just bought an iPhone from Carphone Warehouse and my intention is to jailbreak, activate and unlock it. My worry is that Carphone Warehouse ran a check against me using my debit card.
I don't understand why Apple and the providers don't just keep track of all IMEI's of phones sold and then blacklist them if they're not activated with a contract.
What exactly can they do when that phone doesn't show up activated in the next few days? They know who I am and where I live!

P.S. I'm not paranoid, I swear. Just think this is wide open to get screwed by Apple and O2. :god:

[kevsy]

I know around 10 people that have purchased the uk iphone through apple and cpw and iunlocked the phone and had no issue's at all. They had the same thoughts but nothing has come from it.

I had a u.s iphone myself and i thought they may do the same as i purchased it from new york and they take your address there and could do the same as I'm never gonna use it there with a uk address so the same could be said about the imported one's but I cant see them doing anything about it so you will be safe.

[Sqweeky Badger]

i was wondering this also... but people have been jail breaking these things for a long time now and nothings happened yet...they cant just flag the IMEI no because the phones not stolen... you paid for it the contracts by the by for me because if they really wanted you to have a contract they would give you the phone for free...

but il wait for a response from someone who has read up on the terms and conditions... because i want to know what i do if i break the dam thing, do i just use the house insurance, mine covers phones watches and rings out and about

[phillu]

Well, IANAL but the problem as I see it is that you sign a contract saying that you will sign up for an 18-month contract with O2. If you don't activate it you are technically in breach of contract and they have a right to seek damages from you. Those damages could amount to the value of an 18-month contract :eek:...

Being cautious here but so tempted to rip the plastic off the box!

[RobM83]

My jailbroken and unlocked iPhone has been running on Vodafone no problem at all and has not once missed a beat :)

You buy the iPhone as a boxed product. There are no savings to be made by signing the contract, so you haven't benefited in any way, so there is nothing that Apple, O2 or CPW can do about it.

CPW do make you sign something to say you agree to take the phone home and activate it via iTunes, but you take that paper away with you and they don't keep a copy ;)

[phillu]

Yeah, Rob, I noticed that too! I was very keen to make sure there was no copy of that being kept.
I think I need to overcome the paranoia and open the box! :clap:

[RobM83]

You really don't have to worry, the only people who will be worrying about jailbroken iPhones is O2, as they have invested a lot of time and money into this, hoping to get more contracts out of it. But since you haven't had anything to do with O2, having bought a boxed product from CPW, you have nothing to worry about.

CPW have go their money and Apple have theirs, plus Apple realise how much money they are making from the unlocked iPhone world so wont be knocking on your door :)

[phillu]

Yeah, cheers buddy. I actually have an O2 contract, which I just renewed for a free N95, which I then sold and bought an iPhone with the proceeds!
I was wondering what information O2 get about the iPhone purchased when I started thinking how easy it would be to track me down!

[phillu]

Actually, on that, if I use an O2 post pay SIM in an unlocked iPhone, will Visual Voicemail work?

[Inked]

Actually, on that, if I use an O2 post pay SIM in an unlocked iPhone, will Visual Voicemail work?

Nope, unfortunately visual voicemail only works with Sims that have had it activated on.

[phillu]

Ah well. I'm gonna go for it and unlock the iPhone!

Thanks for all your replies lads!

[Inked]

Go for it, I got mine from the apple store last week and its fantastic.