US 2G iphone - can it work in UK?

bunyboy · 13-11-2009, 1:45 PM

A friend has just returned from living in the USA for a few years and asked if he could use the iphone he bought out there in the UK... Is it possible for him to unlock it and put it a UK sim (the o2 simplicity for example) and get minutes, texts and internet access like a UK iphone?

I assume it needs to be jailbroken and unlocked but worry it is even more complicated than that??

StevieDvd · 13-11-2009, 2:38 PM

I believe all 2G iphones can be jailbroken and unlocked now so yes he would be able to jailbreak it and unlock to use any sim.

Never done a 2G myself so best to point him at the iclarified instructions.

bunyboy · 13-11-2009, 3:33 PM

thanks for the reply.

i get the impression that not all iphones can be unlocked like this, am i right? i ask because his other option is to get a new iphone but he needs to be able to use it in the US as he still has to go back quite often and would like a phone where he can swap the sim when travelling... would that be trickier with a new iphone?

richcandy · 13-11-2009, 6:17 PM

Hi

A 2G iPhone can be jail broken and unlocked, sometimes when there is a new firmware then it takes a while for someone to work out how to unlock the handset but currently yes it can be done.

If you buy a new handset in the UK on contract then O2 will unlock it for you but you are still tied into the contract. If you buy an iPhone on PAYG from O2 you need to wait a year and then they will unlock it for £14. Of course there is nothing to stop you buying a new iPhone on either contract or PAYG and then just getting it jail broken and unlocked.

Alex

bunyboy · 13-11-2009, 7:16 PM

does that mean the 2G iphone he has from the US can be unlocked without having to be jailbroken? I think he'd rather just unlock it if he can...

StevieDvd · 13-11-2009, 8:45 PM

It could be unlocked by the original US phone carrier if they do that for older iphones (like O2 are doing now over here).

The unlock otherwise needs a jailbreak. Apple are no longer making the 2G iphone and the jailbreak/unlock that is available works because apple can't change the hardware of the 2G that the jailbreak uses. The 3g unofficial unlock uses gaps in software which apple can and do change.