Quick iPhone question

Ant84 · 17 Feb 2008 at 18:47

Thinking of buying a 16gb version tomorrow, but I'm not too well up on what the issues are with them.

I know you can 'jailbreak' them to allow use of any SIM, is that correct? I'd preferably want to use an O2 PAYG card in the phone, maybe my current Orange PAYG card, but would this cause any problems for me when firmware updates were sent from Apple?

Also heard an easy option is to 'jailbreak' the phone and use an O2 Simplicity tariff. Whilst this option seems excellent, my credit rating isn't great and I wouldn't like another possible rejection on file.

What would be the best option for me?

Cheers.

Ant84 · 17 Feb 2008 at 18:58

Thanks. So I'd have to unlock it as well as jailbreak it?

Can I do that myself or would I need to spend more money getting that done?

Ant84 · 17 Feb 2008 at 21:01

So if I want to use an O2 PAYG, I wouldn't need to unlock it?

Ant84 · 17 Feb 2008 at 21:13

Justin said:
No, just Jailbreak. But if you use the ZiPhone method, it will unlock it anyway.

Excellent, thanks.

Is it really worth spending all that money on something that may turn out to be problematic in the future, though? Would you recommend spending the extra £60 on the 16gb version over the 8gb?

Last thing, would I lose any functionality over the standard O2 contract if I had an O2 PAYG card in an iPhone?

Ant84 · 17 Feb 2008 at 21:34

Justin said:
Depends, do you really need 16GB? Or will 8GB be enough? Although £60 for double the memory isn't bad.

You will loose EDGE if you go for a PAYG sim, you will be able to use GPRS though. I think you can still use Cloud Wi-Fi though.

Right, would I have to pay to use Cloud?

Also, if I was to use the Wi-Fi on my home network through my router, I don't need to pay anything for that, do I? That's probably a ridiculous question but I really don't know much about them.

All I want it for is simple phone, SMS and music facilities. Plus the calendar stuff. I thought that instead of buying an iPod Touch, which I was planning to get, I'd get the iPhone instead. Since I don't really use any Internet/e-mail services on my phone when I'm out and about anyway, would O2 PAYG in an iPhone suit someone with my requirements?

Ant84 · 17 Feb 2008 at 22:23

One thing's for sure, if I do buy an iPhone, it'll be the most complicated and thought out phone purchase I've ever encountered!

Well I'm torn between sticking with my Orange PAYG and getting an O2 PAYG to use with it. I'm more than happy with how much I'm paying per month on Orange and what I get for my money, but which would be the best of the two?

Ant84 · 17 Feb 2008 at 22:50

Justin said:
But it's well worth the complicated-ness

If you're happy with the Orange deal you're on, then stick with it. But if you hardly use the mins/texts on the deal then PAYG might make more sense.

Great. Thanks for your help, Justin.

Which iPhone features would I be missing out on if I were to use a PAYG SIM as opposed to the standard contract?

Ant84 · 17 Feb 2008 at 22:58

Justin said:
EDGE, Cloud (I think?) and visual voicemail, think that's it.

I can easily do without those. I don't think I'd have ever used them anyway.

When the iPhone is finally available on all networks and PAYG, I'm guessing that there will be no firmware issues/phones being completely blocked, so I'll only have to be careful until then?