The iPhone Thread

nixie89 · 15th June 2011, 16:09

I got mine from the apple store in London and it's factory unlocked...those guys specified this phone has sn international warranty and can be taken for service anywhere under the sky

rtandon · 15th June 2011, 20:19

From http://images.apple.com/legal/terms/...iphone_OOW.pdf, point# 9.
Apple MAY limit service to country of purchase.

Same kind of sentence on http://images.apple.com/legal/warran...4_warranty.pdf, page 4 line#1.

Now this "MAY" causes issues.

Come to think of it, I remember a friend of mine getting service in USA for phone bought from UK. I also remember being denied service for my iPhone. So, go figure.

I think your best bet is to call Apple customer care and see what they say.

Mods, I'm not sure if it is ok to post links to AAPL docs, but these are in public domain. In case not ok to post then please remove and not give infraction.

Jaggu · 15th June 2011, 20:51

@ajay: am out of station till Saturday morning starting now, my card is/was almost 8 year old. It's layered so the rear cover might open up, just put some super glue that's all, ie if it opens up.

@selfdrive: bought it off eBay when iPhone 4 was launched in US for 700 bucks came with some adapters also. It's like a punch tool.

vasoo · 15th June 2011, 20:55

Apple has launched unlocked iphones in the US now.

Quote:

The unlocked iPhone 4 is being priced at $649 and $749 for the 16GB and 32GB models, respectively, and are available in black and white colors.

INR pricing looks decent at 29k and 33.5K respectively.

http://www.zacks.com/stock/news/5514...iPhone+4+in+US

mav2000 · 16th June 2011, 17:15

Thats quite close to the indian price....not worth the risk of buying from the US. But what I fail to understand is why we cant get service or warranty on Iphones bought outside of India. they show with IMEI no. on the Apple site, and almost everyone else in every other country enjoys international warranty...except us....

rtandon · 16th June 2011, 17:35

Now this is just an hypothesis.

If you bought an iPhone outside India and imported it then for it to be a legal import you would have to pay duty on it.
If you did not pay duty on it then it is illegal and probably AAPL discourages that.

I wonder if any one paid duty and has protection plan and then tried for service.

For folks who have been Mac users, before India allowed 1 laptop to be brought in without customs levy, were you able to utilize the international warranty?

Ajaybiz · 16th June 2011, 19:44

Had nice fight with Airtel and their service provider in Koramangala and got the SIM cut from them and made them to agree if it dosent work they are going to give me new micro sim card or they are going to loose all my connections, it was fun but painful that how they treat customers if they are cool headed and how things works once you loose your cool.
Thanks Jaggu.

Orko · 16th June 2011, 20:47

Quote:

Originally Posted by rtandon

For folks who have been Mac users, before India allowed 1 laptop to be brought in without customs levy, were you able to utilize the international warranty?

I've been a mac user since 93 and I can tell you no mac user I knew in those days risked buying it internationally. Macs were prone to failing unless kept in AC environments and the costs of repairing were immense. It was far more prudent to buy from an official reseller and get a service plan included with the purchase.

rtandon · 16th June 2011, 21:06

Quote:

Originally Posted by Orko

I've been a mac user since 93 and I can tell you no mac user I knew in those days risked buying it internationally. Macs were prone to failing unless kept in AC environments and the costs of repairing were immense. It was far more prudent to buy from an official reseller and get a service plan included with the purchase.

Orko, why buy from official reseller with service plan? Did they offer international warranty then?
Don't mean to question the judgement but want to know the reason. just to check on my hypothesis.

And if the reason for AAPL to refuse international warranty is to "force" users to buy from local country and help local carriers then, I wonder, if that would that change with them selling unlocked phones in US.

OT, Are you a He Man fan?

chevelle · 17th June 2011, 02:24

Quote:

Originally Posted by vasoo

Apple has launched unlocked iphones in the US now.

INR pricing looks decent at 29k and 33.5K respectively.

Apple Unlocks iPhone 4 in US - Zacks.com

The 3G doesn't work on T-Mobile - another GSM carrier of USA. Only edge or 2G will work.

I doubt if 3G will work in India. So while its still unlocked, its locked, if you know what i mean.

Technocrat · 17th June 2011, 02:34

Why would 3G not work on T-Mobile? Have they locked down 3G to AT&T in iPhone 4?

rtandon · 17th June 2011, 04:44

Quote:

Originally Posted by chevelle

I doubt if 3G will work in India. So while its still unlocked, its locked, if you know what i mean.

Errr, kyon dara rahe ho? 3G on iPhone works in India. Lot of folks on the forum are enjoying it.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Technocrat

Why would 3G not work on T-Mobile? Have they locked down 3G to AT&T in iPhone 4?

Apart from the carrier lock, T-Mo is on a different frequency band than what iPhone supports.

Hope this helps.

Technocrat · 17th June 2011, 06:09

Rtandon : that information is incorrect, I know various people who are successfully using T-mobile connection on iPhone 4, Infact I might be switching to T-mobile for my wifey's iPhone 4.

Orko · 17th June 2011, 08:04

Quote:

Originally Posted by rtandon

Orko, why buy from official reseller with service plan? Did they offer international warranty then?
Don't mean to question the judgement but want to know the reason. just to check on my hypothesis.
And if the reason for AAPL to refuse international warranty is to "force" users to buy from local country and help local carriers then, I wonder, if that would that change with them selling unlocked phones in US.

Back in the day, one went with official resellers with service plans because one was assured of periodic check-ups and replacement of parts in case of failure. I don't remember if there was international warranty then... I doubt it. Also, the duties on importing a computer was quite steep then, if I recall correctly. It didn't make much sense to get it from abroad and risk being without a service plan. Apple Care protection started sometime in the late Nineties and, I think, international warranties came soon after that. Back then, Macs were an extremely niche purchase; Apple only made computers, no phones or iPods or anything. And it was such a small community that everyone—users, resellers and service engineers—knew each other quite well. If something went wrong, you knew exactly who to call.

Quote:

Originally Posted by rtandon

OT, Are you a He Man fan?

Not really. My name in Bengali is pronounced Or-ko.

prashant.dinkar · 17th June 2011, 08:48

Hey Guys ,

I want to buy an Factory unlocked iPhone to use in India .
New Factory Unlocked White Apple iPhone 3GS 16GB OS 4 | eBay

Is it a good deal ? $522 for 3GS 16GB?
Any pointers to better deal . I want to buy it from US only as I won't be having a heart to shell out the money in INR

15th June 2011, 16:09	#3301
nixie89 BHPian Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Chennai Posts: 40 Thanked: 29 Times View My Garage	I got mine from the apple store in London and it's factory unlocked...those guys specified this phone has sn international warranty and can be taken for service anywhere under the sky
	() Thanks

15th June 2011, 20:19	#3302
rtandon BHPian Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: 1.37N 103.92E Posts: 71 Thanked: 41 Times	From http://images.apple.com/legal/terms/...iphone_OOW.pdf, point# 9. Apple MAY limit service to country of purchase. Same kind of sentence on http://images.apple.com/legal/warran...4_warranty.pdf, page 4 line#1. Now this "MAY" causes issues. Come to think of it, I remember a friend of mine getting service in USA for phone bought from UK. I also remember being denied service for my iPhone. So, go figure. I think your best bet is to call Apple customer care and see what they say. Mods, I'm not sure if it is ok to post links to AAPL docs, but these are in public domain. In case not ok to post then please remove and not give infraction.
	() Thanks

15th June 2011, 20:51	#3303
Jaggu Team-BHP Support Join Date: May 2004 Location: Bangalore Posts: 20,215 Thanked: 15,906 Times	@ajay: am out of station till Saturday morning starting now, my card is/was almost 8 year old. It's layered so the rear cover might open up, just put some super glue that's all, ie if it opens up. @selfdrive: bought it off eBay when iPhone 4 was launched in US for 700 bucks came with some adapters also. It's like a punch tool.
	() Thanks

16th June 2011, 17:15	#3305
mav2000 BHPian Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Bangalore Posts: 621 Thanked: 315 Times View My Garage	Re: The iPhone Thread: Update iOS 5 announced! Thats quite close to the indian price....not worth the risk of buying from the US. But what I fail to understand is why we cant get service or warranty on Iphones bought outside of India. they show with IMEI no. on the Apple site, and almost everyone else in every other country enjoys international warranty...except us....
	() Thanks

16th June 2011, 17:35	#3306
rtandon BHPian Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: 1.37N 103.92E Posts: 71 Thanked: 41 Times	Now this is just an hypothesis. If you bought an iPhone outside India and imported it then for it to be a legal import you would have to pay duty on it. If you did not pay duty on it then it is illegal and probably AAPL discourages that. I wonder if any one paid duty and has protection plan and then tried for service. For folks who have been Mac users, before India allowed 1 laptop to be brought in without customs levy, were you able to utilize the international warranty?
	() Thanks

16th June 2011, 19:44	#3307
Ajaybiz BANNED Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Bangalore Posts: 1,440 Thanked: 320 Times View My Garage	Re: The iPhone Thread: Update iOS 5 announced! Had nice fight with Airtel and their service provider in Koramangala and got the SIM cut from them and made them to agree if it dosent work they are going to give me new micro sim card or they are going to loose all my connections, it was fun but painful that how they treat customers if they are cool headed and how things works once you loose your cool. Thanks Jaggu.
	() Thanks

17th June 2011, 02:34	#3311
Technocrat Senior - BHPian Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: GTA Posts: 14,813 Thanked: 2,700 Times	Re: The iPhone Thread: Update iOS 5 announced! Why would 3G not work on T-Mobile? Have they locked down 3G to AT&T in iPhone 4?
	() Thanks

17th June 2011, 06:09	#3313
Technocrat Senior - BHPian Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: GTA Posts: 14,813 Thanked: 2,700 Times	Rtandon : that information is incorrect, I know various people who are successfully using T-mobile connection on iPhone 4, Infact I might be switching to T-mobile for my wifey's iPhone 4.
	() Thanks

17th June 2011, 08:48	#3315
prashant.dinkar BHPian Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Ellicott City/New Delhi Posts: 79 Thanked: 53 Times	Re: The iPhone Thread: Update iOS 5 announced! Hey Guys , I want to buy an Factory unlocked iPhone to use in India . New Factory Unlocked White Apple iPhone 3GS 16GB OS 4 \| eBay Is it a good deal ? $522 for 3GS 16GB? Any pointers to better deal . I want to buy it from US only as I won't be having a heart to shell out the money in INR
	() Thanks