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I have an iPhone 2G from the USA, and it's still unlocked on 3.1. My iPhone 3G is also unlocked, but when I upgraded to 3.1, I created a custom ipsw file that didn't include the baseband upgrade. More info from the iPhone dev team:
future, please don’t bug us about it - we’ll release when we have something ready.
"If you are using a 3G iPhone with ultrasn0w and rely on ultrasn0w to obtain cellular service, then you should only upgrade to 3.1 with a PwnageTool created .ipsw. - Stay away from Apple’s direct updates as described here and here please get up to speed on the whole subject by reading the information contained in these posts."
Where did you buy your 3G? Aren't phones in Sweden unlocked anyway?
My iPhone 3G is bought in January 2009, and I've got an 18 month contract. So in the summer of 2010 my phone will be legally unlocked. I think it's not possible to buy an unlocked iPhone in Sweden, even now. Pay-as-you-go-plans are available, as with regular contract plans, but either way you're stuck with the carrier for at least 12 months.
i have a new iPhone 3GS, unlocked by the carrier in Australia. i gather the process when I arrive in Vancouver to get set up with a pay-as-you-go plan will be as you describe above - by a cheap 7-11 phone deal with airtime from SpeakOut and use the SIM in that phone for my iPhone, and buy a pay-as-you go plan from SpeakOut.
is this the same process if I want to use Rogers pay-as-you-go plans with my iPhone 3GS (unlocked and purchased outside Canada)?
JJ
Rogers might also allow data on its pay-as-you-go plans, so you should be careful -- the iPhone uses a lot of data in the background even when you're not aware of it. It checks e-mail, checks for updates to your apps, etc.
That's why Speakout is a good deal for people who don't need mobile data (other than wifi). There's no chance of accidentally using it.
Do you agree or have any opposing views on the statements after "... Iphones can be used on the Pay As You Go service however"?..... [excuse the u/c below]
"In your recent email, you have informed us that you're moving to Vancouver from Australia and would like confirmation that you will be able to use your unlocked iPhone 3GS on the Rogers Pay As You Go service with the purchase of a new SIM card.
• You do have the option of using Rogers Pay As You Go service with an unlocked phone.
• You would need to purchase a Rogers SIM card to activate an unlocked phone. The cost of a SIM card is $40.00+tax available at any Rogers outlet.
• Iphones can be used on the Pay As You Go service however;
• Pay As You Go service supports internet access through the WAP browser only. The iPhone is a full HTML device and it does NOT support WAP.
• Also, Pay As You Go does NOT support the extensive iPhone data features such as visual voicemail, email, Maps with GPS, YouTube, etc.
• Please note also that non-Rogers phones are manufactured with unknown specifications and are not tested internally, we are unable to guarantee their functionality on our network.
• It is possible that you could experience ISSUES with dropped calls.
• As well, the internet browser and text messaging will NOT work, as their configuration is not the same as ours. ...."
If what Roger's customer service team says is correct, it would seem that pay-as-you-go is not a good option for my non-Rogers iphone 3GS. It's a major if I can't use text messaging and I would like the option to use the internet browser and some of the iphone data features.
Appreciate your comments. If anyone else viewing this message has gone through this process recently - I'd be happy to read your experiences and/or recommendations.
J
Just drop by a 7-11 and pick up the cheapest Speakout phone instead. They usually have a promo going where you can get a discount on the phone (for example, you could get the Nokia 1208 or similar for $30 in August with a $100 airtime purchase). Then just swap the SIM card into your iPhone.
I wouldn't pay $40 just for a Rogers SIM. That's insane.
Texting works just fine with 7-11 Speakout on the iPhone. I use it every day.
And you can always just use wifi for your data access. Read and write your e-mails and then next time you're near a wifi zone, it will send and receive them, etc.
As for buying a new 3GS, you can get one from Rogers for C$699/$799 16/32GB.
http://www.rogers.com/web/content/wireless-prod...
Thank you for the post
WiFi definitely works on both my original iPhone, and my iPhone 3G with Speakout SIMs.
The Speakout tech support guy is just confusing WiFi with 3G or Edge connectivity. He doesn't know what he's talking about.
Is your phone from Fido?
Another option is to jailbreak and unlock it, since there's a 3G unlock now.
It was definitely a Rogers phone. I'm wondering if he installed the latest iphone update if that might affect the Speakout sim card from working. Are you using the latest firmware, or an older one?
Is there an error message you're getting?
I don't remember an error message. My friend put the Speakout sim in his locked 3G iphone and nothing appeared in the top left corner of the screen where it would say Rogers or Speakout. He went to network settings and saw a Speakout option, so the phone must have recognized that there was a Speakout sim in it, but even when we selected it, it would not connect to the network and no calls could be placed.
I guess I'll try to find someone else with an iphone and see if I can try it in theirs.
Thanks!
I picked up an iphone through my wife's Rogers account. She was entitled to a hardware upgrade. We activated it through her sim card and called tech support to have all the data blocked. I turned off the 3G setting and put in the Speakout sim card and it works. However, we're noticing that when we are away from wifi, an E shows up in the top left corner beside where it says Speakout. Because we don't have a data plan on the Rogers account (we put the Rogers sim card back in the old phone) the iphone might still connect to the Edge network even with the Speakout sim inside, and cause some big charges to the Rogers account.
Have you had any issues with this E and charges, or is your phone off contract making this a non-issue?
Thanks!
Thinking about doing this my self for me and my son.
By the way, thank you so much for this information!! I have wanted an IPhone since they came to Canada and could never afford the rate plans.
You should now be able to unlock any iPhone (including the 3G) using the pwnage too (google it!).
Thanks for the great article.
Anyway, if it will work with a 7-11 SIM, it will definitely work with a Rogers SIM too.
If it's a Rogers-locked phone, then yeah, you can use a Rogers SIM.
Does the phone still use 3G connection when on WiFi? Also, does text messaging work as it normally would? (Didn't see it mentioned on this page.) And since there is no data plan, pictures cannot be sent - right?
Thanks,
Kenneth
No big deal, though, because you can use WiFi which is faster than both 3G and Edge. And it's free. You connect to your home WiFi network, or to public ones (internet cafes, etc).
Text messaging works just the same as it does on any other phone or system.
Pictures can be e-mailed using the built-in e-mail program. It works just fine using WiFi.
I'm getting the phone within 2 weeks and will try this with SpeakOut. I'll stop by with questions/comments if I have any!
Then you put the SIM in your iPhone, and as far as Speakout is concerned, you're still using their phone.
No Rogers involvement at all (other than 7-11 Speakout using the Rogers GSM network).
Thank you I can now use my iPhone again.
Thank you Thank you Thank you
The iPhone has free wi-fi too.
Even though I love my Nokia 5200 tri-band phone from SpeakOut, I want the iPhone for it's interactivity w/ my dell mini 9 hackint0sh. I love apple products, but cannot stand contracts and excessive fees (hence the hackint0sh).
Anyway, I'll probably buy a Rogers iPhone off a buddy of mine, and that will last me a few years.
Calculating my usage on the SO plan: $200-250/year = $600-750/3 years
Rogers: basic plan is $25+$6.95activation+some hidden charge that you never know about/month=$360-400/year = $1080 - $1200/3 years
Bottom line: Rogers will rape you for having a neat little gadget.
Will let you know if this worked.
pz
Speakout doesn't have mobile data. So to access the internet (for Safari, e-mail, etc) you'll need WiFi nearby.
Texting works just fine on Speakout, though, since you don't need internet access to text.
Got the iPhone and it works great with SpeakOut.
Just wondering if you'll be buying the new iPhone 3Gs or just updating your current phone with the new 3.0 software. The Rogers site says they're selling the iPhone device without contract, but prices aren't available yet. Any idea how much it'll be for the 8, 16, or 32 GB?
I'd like to sell my 3G now and just get the new 3Gs on the 19th - but if the price is super expensive, I'll just stick with my 3G.
Thanks,
Kenneth
I think the new prices are $99 for the 3G, $199 for the 3GS 16GB, and $299 for the 3GS 32GB. I think they're on the rogers website: http://tinyurl.com/mk9m3m
Did you load the 3.0 on your 3G? I haven't yet, but does MMS work?
Ya, I got the new 16GB 3GS! It's smokin'! The speakout sim works beautifully as well (took a while to activate though, which had me worried). BE AWARE when buying a no contract phone from Rogers WITHOUT a Rogers wireless account: NO REFUND/RETURN/WARRANTY. That's fine with me since this is an Apple product, which is still under Apple's 1 year warranty :)
Thanks for this website. It convinced me to get the iPhone (even though i'll live on the street for a month, lol).
Cheers
I wonder if the iPhone from Apple would be unlocked if you get it without a contract?
I've just visited one of Apple stores. They sell only locked phones, you have to choose Rogers or Fido, and they'll provide a particular SIM card. So I guess I have to choose Rogers to use SpeakOut. BTW, Rogers is decreasing their Buyers Preference/Remorse policies from 30 days to 15 days:
http://www.iphoneincanada.ca/iphone-news/bad-ne...
This is great. One question though, must I buy an 'activated' iphone or can I purchase one already in the box?
JD
Some simple arithmetic:
1) savings by kicking Robbers to the curb: $1000
2) bought iPhone for $800 and Otter case for ~$100 = $900
3) spent money on Skype service for 3 years (at least until GoogleVoice comes along): ~$100
Difference = $0 (all rough estimates, but basically, it pays off to kick one of the big boys out of your life).
With Skype, if you sign up for a plan like mine (you can cancel anytime), you can forward your calls from Skype to any landline/mobile for free. This means that I stay logged in at home all the time, so when someone Skypes me and I dont answer, the call is forwarded to my iPhone while Im on the road (SpeakOut charges of 25 cents/min kick in)!! Confused me the first time some1 Skyped me while I was driving (shows up on mobile as "unknown").
Also, Skype gives you free voice mail, but SpeakOut already gives this option free of charge.
Anyway, by canceling my landline with Rogers and NOT signing up for one of their outrageous iPhone plans (thus saving upwards of $2000/3yrs) AND by using Skype I have almost everything I need, and still saving money.
Now if only GoogleVoice came though with that invite, I won't even need Skype to call free anywhere in the world. Its coming real soon :)
Hope this helps some.
Let's hear how you are saving and still enjoying your new toy.
PS I did neglect to mention that I spend roughly $200/year on SpeakOut, but this is not a back breaker since Robbers would have been much more expensive.
Mister
Have you been able to receive text messages on the SpeakOut SIM which are sent from Skype? I tried out your Skype suggestion and got the 2.95/month deal but for some reason when I try to send a text to my SpeakOut iPhone from Skype it never goes thru.
Sounds insignificant but this means I cannot setup my Skype CallerID to match my SpeakOut phone number, since Skype sends a Verification text-message to my SpeakOut phone which I do not receive. It would be great to match my Skype CallerID with my SpeakOut # so that everyone whom I call with Skype will actually pickup instead of ignoring the 012-345-6789 phone number.
Did you have this problem, and did you find a solution?
JD
From memory, I dont think I received a 2nd message from Skype. I only received 1 sms from Skype from +99999 number giving me a confirmation code. I thought there was supposed to be a 2nd one confirming the call forwarding, but no, that was the only sms I got from them. Try it again, maybe the server had a brain fart...
Hope this helps
Mister
The one downside of Skype is that sms is not as cheap as SpeakOut's: it's $0.126, basically 13cents per text (SpeakOut is 5 cents).
The only time I used Skype SMS was during the call-forwarding activation. I wouldn't use it to Skype otherwise.
Wait for GoogleVoice to get to Canada, and then you'll enjoy some free SMS. To preview the service, set up your google calendar to send you an SMS reminder. It is free for me. :)
Wondering if you have details for someone who's never owned a cellphone before about this...the phone you got from Rogers, how exactly did you activate it? I'm interested in getting my hands on a legally unlocked iPhone and using Speak Out with it...and using wireless for all the other functions. I'm wondering if paying the full price for an iPhone that's not activated with Rogers/Fido means that it's "unlocked" or what exactly. If I'm going to fork over $800 or thereabouts for an iPhone that doesn't require me to activate it with a certain carrier, I want to be sure that I can still get OS updates and the like without the thing bricking.
Also, as Speak Out doesn't work outside of Canada, I should be able to switch out the SIM card if I travel to a pay as you go, if I wanted/needed to, right? I'm seriously thinking of purchasing a cheap Nokia through 7/11, and once I find the iPhone I'm looking for, pulling the ol' switcheroo. I'm assuming this would be the same thing essentially as what you did, right?
Looking for some verification/confirmation on this, as like I said I've never owned a cellphone before, and there's a lot of conflicting information/unverified information out there to sort through...but I'm already quite fond of Apple's products and would really rather have an iPhone than the other phones I've seen. (Minus the nefariously gouging contracts and plans.)
As for unlocked phone, I highly doubt that Rogers would be selling completely unlocked phones anyway given their contract with Apple. Not sure whether you can buy a completely unlocked iPhone anywhere in North America.
My iPhone is jailbroken and if needed, I'll unlock it myself using the dev-team's tools (pwnage tool, redsnow, yellowsnow or whichever is the newest). Anyway, if you are seriously hesitant about this, buy the SO phone 1st. Once you have the courage to fork over $800, activate it using the SO number.
TIP: I noticed that after doing the activation using the SO #, my GCalendar SMSes are now free! Previously, to send an SMS reminder to ur celly, it deducted 5cents. Now it is free for some reason. Probably due to activating the SO# with Rogers' phone.
Cheers
I've been thinking of doing just that; at the very least, the SO phones aren't so pricey. Twenty bucks for a new phone and a bunch of airtime that won't run out for a year sounds pretty darn good to me.
I've come across listings that indicate places (outside of North America) where factory unlocked phones can be purchased; in fact, Apple has an online list of wireless providers worldwide from whom you can find such phones. Apparently the difference is that Apple produces these phones specially for those markets, so all you have to do to activate them is go on iTunes, and it recognizes the phone as being one that was never locked to a particular carrier in the first place; you can freely update it without worrying about bricking it. In some countries, the carriers will unlock phones for a fee, but these are not the same as factory unlocked. They seem to sell for roughly what you paid for your phone, in that range. (I also heard someone recently in a class I was taking mention that he'd had a friend in Greece purchase such an iPhone for him-Greece is one of the places on Apple's list—and uses it in Canada with a different SIM.)
I'm guessing such a phone would work with the SO plan beautifully, and would be "unbrickable" if I can coin a phrase. Now all I have to do is plan a trip to one of these lovely nations to buy me an emancipated iPhone...or else lobby Steve Jobs to make it easier for us free market loving masses to simply buy the phone as-is and use it however we damn well please.
Given the number of poor-looking hipsters I've seen with iPhones lately, I'm guessing a lot of people in Canada aren't using their phones strictly with Fido or Rogers. Apple might as well acknowledge that fact already.
Thanks so much for your prompt reply!
Cheers, kooky.
Has anyone tried the Roger's Pay-As-You-Go-SIMcard in the iphone? If so, did it eat up your $$$?
im buyin an iphone 3g from someone
ive never had a rogers phone before
so would i only have to lke go to rogers and get a prepaid sim or
please get back to me
so would i have to follow the steps you put?
like buy a prepaid sim card thing and im fine?
please get back to me
ive never had a rogers phone before
so when they activate it
would i ask for the prepaid sim?
or
There is a deal on now for ~$145 which gets you a NOKIA phone and $125 worth of minutes ($100 + $25 which comes with phone). You end up paying $20 for the phone.
Because in Canada it requires activation only but those prices are not what
we experience.
Sincerely,
Charles G. Pedley
905-228-2161
===========================
SAVE $20 PER MONTH?
www.Best-Canadian-HiSpeed.com
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www.integrity-marketing.com
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1. It is unlocked (either with Ultrasnow or Pwnagetool, or bought already unlocked).
or
2. It is locked to Rogers. Since SpeakOut SIM cards share an ID with Rogers SIMs, so they look the same to the phone.
Thanks!
Rogers is currently the only GSM operator in Canada. That's why they exclusively have the iPhone. As well, other companies also use the Rogers network, such as Fido (owned by Rogers), 7-11 Speak Out, and Petro-Canada Mobile.
Take a look here:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Canadian_m...
Rogers is currently the only GSM operator in Canada. That's why they exclusively have the iPhone. As well, other companies also use the Rogers network, such as Fido (owned by Rogers), 7-11 Speak Out, and Petro-Canada Mobile.
Take a look here:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Canadian_m...
Thanks for getting back so quick. Ok. Virgin is not GMS.... so I can't use it with them then.
If I go with speakout, to connect to internet, I need to near WiFi... I'm in Vancouver BC. How do I know where WiFis are?
I have a problem with my Iphone 2G(Unlocked/Jailbroken to 3.0 with redsnow 0.8). When I insert the Speakout simcard into the Iphone, it would get a bar signal for a few seconds then switches to no service and stayed that way. I tried the simcard on the speakout phone and on another unlocked phone and it would work perfectly with full signal.
Can anyone help me with this problem?
Thanks.
I have a 2G (unlocked with redsnow) and it works no problem with 3.0 firmware. No issues.
Have you tried doing a total reinstall (not a restore from backup) ? I know a lot of people had problems when they updated from 2.2 to 3.0 instead of doing a clean install.
Check the dev team site for more help: http://blog.iphone-dev.org/
It's definitely not a problem with Speakout, like you said, since it works just fine in the speakout phone.
UPDATE: I think the problem might be the phone using the 04.05.04_G baseband. Anyone know how to downgrade this baseband with the phone running 3.0 or 2.2.1 firmware?
PS. I'm only talking about the iPhone 3GS.
With SpeakOut, my SMS doesn't work on my iPhone. Why doesn't it work, because SpeakOut doesn't support data through text messages?
Also, if I set up my voicemail on my SpeakOut account will the Voicemail button work on my iPhone by automatically dialing my number > prompt for my pass > play my voicemail?
I think you'll have to program your voicemail number -- it won't work like the iPhone visual voicemail feature. You can get your voicemail number from Speakout customer support.
Thanks again for all your advice earlier this year. It's been working great! I do have a quick question for you though.
My wife has a Rogers cell and we got the iphone through her upgrade option. After activating the iphone with her sim card, we put that card back in her old phone and I started using the Speakout sim card in the iphone. When I would check Usage, it always showed 0 data sent and received. Recently, the power button got stuck, so Rogers sent a replacement phone. I never registered it through itunes; i just popped in the Speakout Sim card and it worked. However, when I check Usage after a week of use, it now shows 10 kb of data sent. Has that ever happened with you? I don't think it's a lot, but I'm curious if there will be a data change on my wife's cell phone bill (since they think her sim is in the iphone) or if it's impossible.
Thanks!
tinytanks
I wouldn't worry about it. As long as you have your Speakout SIM in the phone, there's no way for Rogers to charge your Rogers account. The SIM is your identity.
You really helped me and a whole lot of other people alot about how to have a prepaid iphone. However, i just wanted to ask if it is possible to jailbreak/hack a locked iphone. For example, whould i be able to jailbreak/hack an iphone which is locked to Rogers.
THANKS. PLS REPLY
You won't need to either unlock or jailbreak a Rogers phone to use a Speakout SIM. Speakout SIMs identify themselves as Rogers SIMs, so they work without unlocking.
If you do need to unlock, you'll need to pwnagetool and install ultrasnow (depends on your version of iPhone and OS). Check http://blog.iphone-dev.org/ for more info.
Thanks for replying.
I just wanted to ask if I can still jailbreak my iphone even if i'm using a Speakout SIM?
Thank You
The only advantage 7-11 has is that all denominations of top-ups last 1 year. On Petro-Canada, most are only for 6 months. Not a big deal for most people.
It should work just fine.
MMS doesn't seem to work for me. An error always appears. Is it because of Speakout or is it me?
1. The iPhone is unlocked (either factory unlocked or unlocked using other methods)
or
2. The iPhone is a Rogers iPhone, locked to Rogers (not Fido, Bell or any other carrier)
shows you how to get data pay as u go for 10 bucks a month
GUNIT!
I just added the unlimited internet for 7 bucks through Speak Out on my iPhone 3G, but it doesn't work.
I've followed this site to add a profile that worked for him, but no luck.
http://www.binarysearchtree.com/index.shtml
Have you tried it out and does it work for you and how did you get it to work? :)